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SECTION II.

The Divinity, Humanity, and Office of the Logos-the Mind, or Word of God, manifested in the Messiah, or Christ.

JOHN i., 1-19.

In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with God, and the Logos was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made which was made. In him was the Life, and the life was the Light of men. And the Light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness did not apprehend it. *

The testimony of John the Baptist concerning the Messiah,

Christ Jesus.

There was a man whose name was John (which signifies Jehovah's grace, or favour) sent from God. The same came as a witness, to bear witness concerning the Light, that through him all might believe (or have faith). He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness concerning the Light. That was the true Light which coming into the world enlighteneth every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not. He came to his own and his own did not receive him. But to as many as received him he gave power to become the children of God, even to those who have faith in his name. Who were born (or regenerated) not of bloods (animal vital

St. John commences his Gospel with an account of the divine mystery of the Logos, concerning which Eusebius has written most elaborately in his recently recovered work, Theophaneia. It appears to me best in this instance and some others to retain the original word Logos, as I regard it as a divine and definite proper name, which does not admit of any adequate translation. It has been rendered by the critics very variously, as Mind, Intelligence, Reason, Wisdom, or Word. Other writers have endeavoured to form analogies between the Conscience, Mind, and Spirit of God, and those of man; but these divine mysteries transcend the powers of human definition. For the Theophanies, hypostases, and manifestations of God, being infinite, cannot be completely apprehended by finite beings.

principles), nor of the will of the flesh (the action of sensuous elements), nor of the will of man (the action of human agencies), but of God. *

And the Logos was made an incarnation, and tabernacled among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of [the Monogen,] the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that cometh after me is above me, for he was prior to me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace upon grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

SECTION III.

Birth of John the Baptist foretold.
LUKE i. 5-26.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now advanced in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

* This verse is regarded as one of the most difficult. It, perhaps, alludes to principles of animalism and sensuosity, which, according to the cabalists, are specific constituents in human nature opposed to spiritualism. The words flesh and blood bear in Scripture a great variety of significations relative to the context. In the next verse flesh seems to signify the same as incarnation.

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou

shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to those of children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife advanced in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and lived retired five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he regarded me, to take away my reproach among men.

SECTION IV.

The Annunciation of Christ's Birth to the Virgin Mary.

LUKE i. 26-39.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,* to a *Nazareth is supposed to signify devotion, or consecration. It might originally have owed its name to the Nazarites, or

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virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.† And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and she considered in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS (the Saviour). He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the Power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also this holy offspring of thine shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

SECTION V.

Interview between Mary and Elisabeth.
LUKE i. 39-57.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into the city of Juta; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation devotees, and ascetics, who settled there. These Nazarites, or Nazaræans, with whom John the Baptist and Christ seem to have been closely related, are not to be confounded with the Nazarenes, which is a distinct name for the inhabitants generally. * David signifies the beloved.

† Mary signifies princess.

of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. And Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden : therefore, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that worship him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

SECTION VI.

The Birth and Naming of John the Baptist.

LUKE i. 57, to the end.

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called

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