especial messenger of Messiah. (See Dan. ix. 25; comp. S. Luke i. 19, 26; Dan. viii. 16; ix. 21-23; S. Matth. xviii. 10; Heb. i. 14; S. Luke ii. 8, &c.) The archangel Gabriel was chosen from the highest ranks of heaven to announce to the prophet the far off, and to Zachariah the near approach of the Messiah, and we can imagine how gladly now he speeds his way to Nazareth, to repeat with far higher meaning the words he had spoken ages back to the prophet Daniel, (See Dan. x. 10, 19, "Fear not thou," &c.; comp. Judges vi.; Ruth ii. :) though never before had such a salutation sounded in mortal ears as this, "Hail,” &c., the first announcement of Him Who was to give peace as the world cannot give it. And a fitting messenger of such a message was the angel whose name means "Fortitude of GOD," when He came to tell of Him Who is not only the Peace, but the "Everlasting Strength" of His people, "for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength, and He shall keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him."

Consider the wonderful humility and prompt obedience of the Blessed Virgin, the acceptance of all the trial that would be involved in this marvellous exaltation of her to be the Mother of GOD. "Ancient writers," says Williams, "compare this obedience of the Blessed Virgin with the conduct of Eve." And now indeed, as well as in the LORD's Passion (see Collect) were fulfilled the mysterious words, "Let Us make man in Our Own image," and the devil's false promise, "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil;" and wonderful it is to reflect how thus Satan was overreached; (comp. Gen. iii.,) that man through "the Seed of the woman

1 "Fear not:" comp. the angel's greeting, Dan. x. 12; S. Mark xvi. 6; to Hagar, Gen. xvi. 7-9; to Gideon, Judges vi. 12, 23; to Manoah, Judges xiii. 3-20; to Joseph; to Zacharias; and now to Mary; to the shepherds; to S. Paul, Acts xxvii. 24; to S. John, Rev. i. 17; comp. Dan. viii. See Williams on the Nativity.

should be elevated to God's Right Hand to be in CHRIST as GOD, and to know also the good, the infinite goodness of GOD." (Gen. iii.; S. Luke i., ii.)

The angelic prophecy only echoes what we have already considered concerning the Divine mystery the Incarnate GOD, the Holy Child JESUS; we may add other texts as foreshadowings of this great announcement, as Gen. xvi. 11; xvii. 19; Numb. xxiv. 17; Judges xiii. 3; 1 Sam. i. 20; 1 Kings ix. 5; 2 Kings ii. 20; vii. 9; S. Luke ii., the shepherds; Prov. ix. 1; xxv. 25, (glad tidings of great joy ;) Cant. ii. 8; Isa. xix. 1; xlviii. 6, 7; Jer. xi. 16; Ezek. xvii. 3, 22; xliv. 2; Dan. iii. 25; vii. 13; ix. 24; Hosea i. 11; Joel ii. 23; S. Luke i. 30 ; &c., &c.

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin follows soon after the angelic message; GOD having with tender care told her how she might find sympathy from her cousin Elizabeth, who would understand all, from His wonderful dealings with herself. (S. Luke i. 36.)

Here, to the shelter of that holy home, with her wondrous secret pondered over in her heart, the Blessed Virgin at once proceeds, for "in those days," says the sacred narrative, "Mary arose, and went with haste into the hill country, into a city of Juda," i.e., Hebron,1 or "fellowship." (See Josh. xxi. 9-11.)

Here, on beholding her, Elizabeth at once prophesies concerning her, (see the wondrous narrative, S. Luke i. 40-45,) and the full joy of the holy Virgin's heart breaks forth at once in that Divine Song, which is the unceasing evening thanksgiving for the Incarnation throughout the whole Catholic Church of CHRIST, called in our Prayer Book "Magnificat,2 or the Song of the Blessed Virgin." Compare the Songs of Han

1 One of the Cities of Refuge; see Holy Innocents' Day for the meaning of their names.

2 The Hymn of the Blessed Mary can be traced in use in the Daily Service of the Church as far back as the sixth century. The English Church has used it at Vespers or Evensong for at least eight

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nah and Miriam, and "how these holy women made in some mysterious way to typify and represent the Church;" for this "hymn seems throughout to be spoken in the name of the Church, as it has been so adopted from the earliest ages." (Gal. iv. 27.)

This is indeed the Hymn to which nothing can be added, and nothing taken from it; embracing all the Gospel, its mercies, its precepts, its doctrines, "its judgments, its covenant with the true Israel of God, and the fulfilment of all the prophecies going before. It is the hymn of the LORD, the hymn of the Church, the hymn of all hymns, the hymn evangelical, the perpetual incense of the evening sacrifice rising daily before God," with "the prayers of the Saints," and as such is used as the responsory Canticle between the Old and New Testament Lessons at Evensong.

"And Mary abode with her about three months." (S. Luke.)

What a wonderful time was that whilst the Blessed Virgin and Elizabeth abode together in holy communings, in "hymns, and psalms, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in their hearts to the LORD;" preparing together for the wondrous Events which were to make one the " Mother of the LORD," the other that of His great Forerunner, and show forth before His people Israel "the things which had been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Few and short are the words of Holy Scripture about the Blessed Virgin Mother. She herself says little after the meek reply, "Behold the handmaid of the LORD," &c. to the Angel, and the one inspired burst of song at the meeting with Elizabeth. We are told hundred years. Its present position is the same as that in the ancient service books. There are English versions of it as early as 13901400. This Canticle is sung (as the others are) to the praise of the Personal Word revealed in the written Word, to the praise of God in CHRIST revealed in the Old as well as in the New Testament. See Annotated Prayer Book.

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only she "pondered these things in her heart," and with what deep love and humility, what wonder and contrition that heart was filled as she thought on the wonderful things which He, the High and Mighty One Who inhabits eternity, had deigned to reveal to her, we see plainly from her inspired hymn. Filled with such holy hopes and fears, such humble trust and lowly love, she left the shelter of the holy priest's house at Hebron, and "returned unto her own house," at Nazareth, to await in quiet peacefulness the great day, which had been foretold by the Angel, and trusting in his "Fear not, Mary," could leave all to the Loving Care which would make all plain before her. (S. Luke i. 26-56.)

Joseph is warned in a dream; (S. Matth. i. 18— 25;) the Angel Gabriel returning with an especial message to him, to be the guardian and protector of the Holy Virgin. Observe GOD's "care for His Elect," (Wisd. iii.,) the reward of her patient trust in Him.

Observe also S. Joseph's simple, holy, obedient faith, his careful justice and patient love, and the praise bestowed on him by Scripture, "a just man," &c. Comp. S. Luke xxiii. 50, where the same praise is given to another Joseph, to whom the high honour of the care of the Incarnate LORD is once more committed. He two "was a good man and a just." (See Footprints of the LORD, Easter-tide, for more on this.)

Observe next how the holy Angels minister to the LORD in every step and event of His life on earth. S. Luke i. 13, 19, 26, 30, 35; S. Matth. i. 20, 24; iv. 11; S. Mark i. 13; S. Luke ii. 10, 13, 21; xxii. 43, 28. They also always have ministered, and always do minister to His faithful ones in like manner. Heb. i. 4, 7, 14; Gen. xvi. 7; xxii. 11; xxiv. 7, 40; xlviii. 16; Numb. xx. 16; 1 Kings xiii. 18; Isa. lxiii. 9; Dan. iii. 28; vi. 22; S.

Luke i. 13; S. Matth. xxviii. 5; Acts x. 3; xii. 8, 11; Rev. i. 1, &c. &c.

Shortly after the vision of the Angel, Joseph and Mary commence their journey to Bethlehem, in Judah, to be taxed, (S. Luke,) and so ends the sacred period of the Annunciation and Visitation. The Circumcision of S. John Baptist took place immediately after the departure of the Blessed Virgin from Hebron. (S. Luke i. 56-80.)

The Church has always kept vividly alive the honour due to the Blessed Virgin Mother and her pre-eminent sanctity. But while, alas! an excess of honour has sought to raise her too high, seeming even to interfere with the prerogatives which belong to GOD alone; among ourselves want of faith in the Incarnation has led on the other hand to a most painful and irreverent depreciation of her who is indeed most "blessed" among women, whom the HOLY SPIRIT sanctified to become the very "mother of GOD, our LORD," and therefore as claiming from us "all but adoring love," one to whom an Archangel could say, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured," &c.

We are taught by our two great, and three minor Festivals on which she is commemorated in the Prayer Book, what is the true course; to esteem her very highly above all other saints, and yet ascribe all her honour to the glory of GoD, as what she herself would most rejoice at, in whose words we daily sing, "My soul doth magnify the LORD, and my spirit hath rejoiced in GoD my SAVIOUR."

1 "The Church of England commemorates the Mother of our LORD on five days in the year. Three of these are black letters, i.e., July 2, Sept. 8, Dec. 8. The two others which commemorate great events of our LORD's Life and the work of salvation are not only remembered, but required to be kept holy, and are the great Festivals of the Annunciation and the Purification." See Annotated Prayer Book.