to lay aside their differences, to love each other, to seek each other's welfare, and to banish envy, malice, pride, lust, passion, and covetousness-in all ages the most fruitful causes of difference among men. And 4th. By diffusing the principles of universal peace among nations. If the gospel of Jesus should universally prevail, there would be an end of war. In the days of the millennium there will be universal peace; all the causes of war will have ceased; men will love each other and do justly; and nations be brought under the influence of the gospel. O how should each one toil and pray that the great object of the gospel should be universally accomplished, and the world be filled with peace! Good will toward men. The gift of the Saviour is an expression of good will or love to men, and therefore God is to be praised. The work of redemption is uniformly represented as the fruit of the love of God. John iii. 6. Eph. v. 2. 1 John iv. 10. Rev. i. v. No words can express the greatness of that love. It can only be measured by the misery, helplessness, and danger of man; by the extent of his sufferings here and in the world of woe, if he had not been saved; by the condescension, sufferings, and death of Jesus; and by the eternal honor and happiness to which he will raise his people. All these are beyond our full comprehension. Yet how little does man feel it! And how many turn away from the highest love of God, and treat him with contempt! Surely, if God so loved us first, we ought also to love him. 1 John iv. 19. or, honor be to God. That is, the praise of redeeming man is due to God. The plan of redemption will bring glory to God, and is designed to express his glory. This it does by evincing his love to men, his mercy, his condescension, and his regard to the honor of his law, and the stability of his own government. It is the highest expression of his love and mercy. Nowhere, so far as we can see, could his glory be more strikingly exhibited than in giving his only-begotten Son to die for men. In the highest. This is capable of several meanings: 1st. In the highest strains, or in the highest possible manner. 2d. Among the highest ;-i. e., among the angels of God-indicating that they felt a deep interest in this work, and were called on to praise God for the redemption of man. 3d. In the highest heavens-indicating that the praise should not be confined to the earth, but should spread throughout the universe. 4th. The words "God in the highest" may be equivalent to the most high God, and be the same as saying 'Let the most high God be praised for his love and mercy to men.' Which of these meanings is the true one it is difficult to determine; but in this they all agree, that high praise is to be given to God for his love in redeeming men. O that not only angels but men would join universally in this song of praise! On earth peace. That is, the gospel shall bring peace. The Saviour was predicted as the Prince of peace. Isa. ix. 6. The world is at war with God; sinners are at enmity against their Maker, and against each other. There is no peace to the wicked. But Jesus 16. Unto Bethlehem. The city of came to make peace. And this he did, David, where the angel had told them 1st. By reconciling the world to God they would find the Saviour. These by his atonement. 2d. By bringing shepherds appear to have been pious the sinner to a state of peace with men. They were waiting for the com. his Make. inducing him to lay down ing of the Messiah. On the first intithe weapons of rebellion; to submit mation that he had actually appeared, his soul to God; thus giving him the they went with haste to find him. So peace which passeth all understand-all men should, without delay, seek the ing. 3d. By diffusing in the heart uni- Saviour. When told of him by the ser. versal good will to men-disposing men vants of God, they should, like these and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all 17 And when they had seen it, the things that they had heard and they made known abroad the say-seen, as it was told unto them. ing which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it, wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. a Le.12.3. shepherds, forsake all, and give no rest to their eyes until they have found him. We may always find him. We need not to travel to Bethlehem. We have only to cast our eyes to heaven; to look unto him and to believe on him, and we shall find him ever near to us, and for ever our Saviour and friend. 17. When they had seen it. When they had satisfied themselves of the truth of the coming of the Messiah, and had ascertained that they could not have been mistaken in the appearance of the angels. There was evidence enough to satisfy them that what the angels said was true, or they would not have gone to Bethlehem. Having seen the child themselves, they had now evidence that would satisfy others. And accordingly they became the first preachers of the gospel, and went and proclaimed to others that the Messiah had come.One of the first duties of those who are newly converted to God, and a duty in which they delight, is to proclaim to others what they have seen and felt. It should be done in a proper way, and at the proper time; but nothing can or should prevent a Christian recently converted from telling his feelings and views to others to his friends, his parents, his brothers, and old companions. And it may be remarked that often more good may be done then, than during any other period of their life. Entreaties, then, make an impression; nor can a sinner well resist the appeals made to him by one who was just now with him in the way to ruin, but who now treads the way to heaven. 19. Mary kept all these things. All that happened, and all that was said respecting her child. She remembered what the angel had said to her; what had happened to Elisabeth and to the a 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circum.cising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. b 22 And when the days of her b Matt.1.21. c.1.31. c Le.12.2,&c. shepherds-all the extraordinary cir cumstances which had attended the birth of her son. Here is a delicate and beautiful expression of the feelings of a mother. A mother forgets none of those things which occur respecting her children. Every thing they do or suffer-every thing that is said of themis treasured up in her mind; and often, often, she thinks of those things, and anxiously seeks what they may indicate respecting the future character and welfare of her child. ¶ Pondered. Weighed. This is the original meaning of the word weighed. She kept them; she revolved them; she weighed them in her mind, giving to each circumstance its just importance, and anxiously seeking what it might indicate respecting her child. In her heart. In her mind. She thought of these things often and anxiously. 20. The shepherds returned. To their flocks. ¶ Glorifying, &c. Giving honor to God, and celebrating his praises. 21. Eight days, &c. This was the regular time for performing the rite of circumcision. Gen. xvii. 12. ¶ Called Jesus. See Note, Matt. i. 21. 22. Days of her purification. Among the Hebrews a mother was required to remain at home for about forty days after the birth of a male child, and eighty for a female; and during that time she was reckoned as impure-that is, she was not permitted to go to the temple, or to engage in religious services with the congregation. Lev. xii. 3, 4. To Jerusalem. The place where the temple was, and where the ordinances of religion were celebrated. To present him to the Lord. Every first-born male child, among the Jews, was regarded as holy to the Lord. Ex. xiii. 2. By their being holy unto the purification, according to the law | cording to that which is said in of Moses, were acccomplished, they the law of the Lord, A pair of turbrought him to Jerusalem, to pre- tle-doves, or two young pigeons. sent him to the Lord. 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. b Mar.15.43. ver.38. c Is.40.1. Lord was meant that unto them be- circumcised, since he had no sin; it longed the office of priests. It was may be answered: 1st. That it was theirs to be set apart to the service of proper for them to fulfil all righteousGod, to offer sacrifice, and to perform ness, and to show obedience to the law. the duties of religion. It is probable 2d. It was necessary for the future usethat at first the duties of religion de- fulness of Christ. Unless he had been volved on the father; and that, when circumcised, he could not have been he became infirm or died, the duty de- admitted to any synagogue, or to the volved on the eldest son. And it is temple. He would have had no acstill manifestly proper that where the cess to the people, and could not have father is infirm or has deceased, the duty been regarded as the Messiah. Both of conducting family worship should be he and Mary, therefore, yielded obeperformed by the eldest son. After-dience to the laws of the land, and thus wards God chose the tribe of Levi in the place of the eldest sons, to serve him in the sanctuary. Num. viii. 13-18. Yet still it was proper to present the child to God, and it was required that it should be done with an offering. set us an example that we should walk in their steps. Comp. Note on Matt. iii. 15. 25. Whose name was Simeon. Some have supposed that this Simeon was a son of the famous Hillel, a distin23. As it is written, &c. Ex. xiii. 2. guished teacher in Jerusalem, and Pre24. And to offer a sacrifice, &c. sident of the sanhedrim. But nothing Those who were able on such an occa- is certainly known of him but what is sion were required to offer a lamb for a here related. He was an aged man, burnt-offering, and a pigeon or a turtle- of distinguished piety and reputation, dove for a sin-offering. If not able to and was anxiously expecting the combring a lamb, then they were per- ing of the Messiah. Such an old age is mitted to bring two turtle-doves or two peculiarly honorable. No spectacle is young pigeons. Turtle-doves. Doves more sublime than an old man, of piety distinguished for having a plaintive and and high character, looking for the ap tender voice. By Mary's offering these pearing of the Lord, and patiently waitshe showed her poverty. And our Sa-ing for the time to come when he may viour, by coming in a state of poverty, be blessed with the sight of his Rehas shown that it is not dishonorable to deemer. ¶ Just. Righteous before be poor. No station is dishonorable God and man; approved by God as a where God places us. He knows what righteous man, and discharging faithis best for us, and he often makes a fully his duty to man. Devout. This state of poverty an occasion of the word means a religious man, or a pious highest blessings. If with poverty he man. The original expresses the idea grants us, as is often the case, peace, of good reputation, well received, or contentment, and religion, it is worth of high standing among the people. far more than all the jewels of Gol-Waiting for the consolation of Israel. conda, or the gold of Mexico. If it be asked why, since Mary and the Saviour were pure from any moral defilement in his conception and birth, it was necessary to offer such a sacrifice; why was it necessary that Jesus should be That is, waiting for the Messiah, who is called the consolation of Israel because he would give comfort to them by his appearing. This name was often applied to the Messiah before he actually appeared. It was common to с 26 And it was revealed unto him | servant depart in peace, according by the Holy Ghost, that he should to thy word: not see a death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy a Ps.89.48. He.11.5. b Ge.46.30. c Is.57.2. Re.14.13. 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people: 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. d Is.52.10. c.3.6. Ac.4.12. e Is.42.6. 49.6. 60.3. Ac.13.47,48. That is, to make an offering for purification, and to present him to God. 28. Blessed God. Thanked, or praised God. swear, also, by "the consolation of Israel" that is, by the Messiah about to come. See Lightfoot on this place. The Holy Ghost, &c. He was a holy man, and was divinely inspired 29. Now lettest. Now thou dost let, respecting the Messiah about to appear. or permit. This word is in the in26. Was revealed. In what way this dicative mood, and signifies that God was done we are not informed. Some was permitting him to die in peace, by times a revelation was made by a dream, having relieved his anxieties, allayed at others by a voice, and at others by si- his fears, fulfilled the promises, and lent suggestion. All we know of this is having, by the appearing of the Mesthat it was by the Holy Ghost. Not see siah, removed every reason why he death. Should not die. To see death, should live any longer, and every wish and to taste of death, was a common way to live. Depart. Die. ¶ According among the Hebrews of expressing death to thy word. Thy promise made by itself. Compare Ps. lxxxix. 48. The revelation.-God never disappoints. To Lord's Christ. Rather the Lord's An- many it might have appeared improba ointed. The word Christ means anoint-ble when such a promise was made to ed, and it would have been better to use that word here. To an aged man, who had been long waiting for the Messiah, how grateful must have been this revelation this solemn assurance that the Messiah was near! But this revelation is now given to every man, that he need not taste of death till, by the eye of faith, he may see the Christ of God. He is offered freely. He has come. He waits to manifest himself to the world. And he is not willing that any should die for ever. To us, also, it will be as great a privilege in our dying hours to have seen Christ by faith, as it was to Simeon. It will be the only thing that can support us then the only thing that will enable us to depart in peace. 27. By the spirit. By the direction of the spirit. Into the temple. Into that part of the temple where the public worship was chiefly performed into the court of the women. See Note on Matt. xxi. 12. T The custom of the law. I an old man, that it should be fulfilled. But God fulfils all his word; keeps all his promises, and NEVER disappoints those who trust in him. 30. Thy salvation. Him who is to procure salvation for his people; or, the Saviour. 31. Before the face of all people. Whom thou hast provided for all people, or whom thou dost design to reveal to all people. 32. A light to lighten the Gentiles. This is in accordance with the prophecies in the Old Testament. Isa. xlix. ix. 6, 7. Ps. xcviii. 3. Mal. iv. 2. The Gentiles are represented as sitting in darkness, i. e., in ignorance, and sin. Christ is a light to them, as by him they will be made acquainted with the character of the true God, his law, and the plan of redemption. As the darkness rolls away as the sun arises, so ignorance and error flee away when Jesus gives light to the mind. Nations shall come to his light, and kings to thu 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall" and rising again of many in Israel; a Is.8.14. Ro.9.32,33. 1 Co.1.23,24. 2 Co.2. 16. 1 Pe.2.7,8. brightness of his rising. Isa. lx. 2, 3. And the glory, &c. The first offer of salvation was made to the Jews. John iv. 22. Luke xxiv. 47. Jesus was born among the Jews; among them had been the prophecies respecting him, and his first ministry was among them. Hence he was their glory, their honor, their light. To us it is a subject of special gratitude that the Saviour was given for the Gentiles. For, 1. We are Gentiles, and if he had not come we should have been shut out from the blessings of redemption. 2. It is he only that now 66 --can make our dying bed and fell unto destruction. Many that were proud, were brought low by his preaching. They fell from the vain and giddy height of their own self-righteousness, and were humbled before God, and then through him rose again to a better righteousness and to better hopes. The nation also rejected him, and put him to death, and as a judgment, fell into the hands of the Romans. Thousands were led into captivity, and thousands perished. The nation rushed into ruin, the temple was destroyed, and the people were scattered into all the nations. See Rom. ix. 32, 33. 1 Pet. ii. 8. 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. And rising again. The word "again" is not expressed in the Greek. It seems to suppose in our translation that the same persons would fall and rise again. But this is not its meaning. It denotes, that many would be ruined by his coming; and many others be made happy, or be saved. Many of the poor and humble, that were willing to receive him, would obtain pardon of sin and peace- should rise from their sins and sorrows here, and finally ascend to eternal life. ¶ And for a sign, &c. The word sign here denotes a conspicuous or distinguished object; and the Lord Jesus was such an object of contempt and rejection by all the people. He was despised, and his religion has been the common mark or sign for all the wicked, the profligate and the profane, to curse, and ridicule, and oppose. Compare Isa. viii. 18, and Acts xxviii. 22.-Never was a prophecy 34. Simeon blessed them. Joseph and more exactly fulfilled than this. ThouMary. On them he sought the bless- sands have rejected the gospel and fallen ing of God. Is set. Is appointed, or into ruin, thousands are still falling constituted for that, or such will be the of those who are ashamed of Jesuseffect of his coming. The fall. The thousands blaspheme him, deny him, word fall here seems to denote mis-speak all manner of evil against him, ery, suffering, disappointment, or ruin. There is a plain reference here to the passage where it is said that he should be a stone of stumbling, unl a rock of offence. Isa. viii. 14, 15. Many expected a temporal prince, and in this they were disappointed. They loved darkness rather than light, and rejected him, I Thus our departure may be like that of Simeon. Thus we may die in peace. Thus it will be a blessing to die. But, 3. In order to do this, our life must be like that of Simeon. We must wait for the consolation of Israel. We must look for his coming. We must be holy, harmless, undefiled, loving the Saviour. Then death to us, like death to Simeon, will have no terror,-we shall depart in peace, and in heaven, see the salvation of God. 2 Peter iii. 11, 12. But 4. Children, as well as hoary-haired Simeon, may look for the coming of Christ. They too must die; and their death will be happy only as they depend on the Lord Jesus, and are prepared to meet him. and would crucify him again if he were in their hands. But thousands also by him are renewed, justified, and raised up to life and peace. 35. Yea, a sword, &c. The sufferings and death of thy Son shall deeply afflict thy soul. And if Mary had not been thus forewarned and sustained by |