ST. JOHN BAPTIST'S DAY.

Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour by preaching of repentance; make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T is observable, that the Baptist's nativity is

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the only one (that of Christ excepted) which the church has thought proper to celebrate. The days appointed for the commemoration of other saints, are generally those on which they respectively ceased from their labours, and entered into their everlasting rest; the day of a good man's death being indeed the day of his birth, and this world no more than the womb in which he is formed and matured for his admission into a better where there is neither crying nor pain. But the nativity of St. John being designed, by the remarkable incidents that accompanied it, to turn the eyes of men towards one who was far greater-one, the latchet of whose shoes he confessed himself not worthy to unloose-the church keeps a day sacred to it, and directs us to begin our meditations by considering, as all Judea did when it happened, "what manner "of child" that should be, which was so wonderfully born. (Luke i. 66.)

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The Scripture account of Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of the Baptist, is concise but comprehensive. He was "a priest of the course "of Abia; she was of the daughters of Aaron;" and they were both righteous before God, "walking in all the commandments and ordi"nances of the Lord, blameless." (Luke i. 5, 6.) Zacharias adorned the holy office of the priesthood in most degenerate times by a corresponding holiness of life. From such a father, and a mother worthy of him, who graced the line of Aaron by a like sanctity of manners, the Baptist descended; that the Jews might have no possible objection against him, and that he might be a forerunner of one who was to exhibit the beauty of holiness to all the world.

The evangelical history having stated the character of Zacharias and Elizabeth, proceeds in the very next words to inform us that " they "had no child, because that Elizabeth was "barren, and they were both well stricken in 66 years. John was to be born of parents, from whom, according to the usual course of nature, no issue was to be expected; that the miraculous manner of his birth might excite the attention of mankind, and dispose them to listen to his voice when it should be heard in the wilderness; and also that it might prepare them for that great event which was taking place, as the prophet Isaiah had foretold; "A virgin shall conceive and bear a son. In circumstances parallel with those of St. John were born of old Isaac and Joseph, Sampson and Samuel, all of them illustrious forerunners of the Messiah, in one or other of His three characters, prophetical, sacerdotal, or regal. And, no doubt, God intended, by so often causing the barren "wo

"man to keep house and to be a joyful mother "of children," to make that power known, by which the incarnation of the Redeemer and the fruitfulness of the church were to be effected in the latter days; when, according to St. Paul, the prophetical injunction of Isaiah was obeyed, Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; "break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou "that didst not travel with child." (Is. liv. 1. Gal. iv. 27.)

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A son was promised to Zacharias "while he "executed the priest's office before God," as the ritual of the church enjoined, "in the order "of his course, and according to the custom." (Luke i. 8, 9.) The annunciation of the Baptist's conception happened at the time of incense, when his father, having put on the robe of honour, and being clothed like the great Mediator whom he personated with the garments of glory and beauty, entered into the temple; while the whole congregation of the people, assembled without, sent up their united prayers to be accepted at the throne of grace, through the intercession which was then making for them by the levitical priest, acting in the name of Him who was to arise "after the order of Melchize"deck, and not to be called after the order of "Aaron." (Heb. vii. 11.) While the joint prayers of priest and people were thus offered up with the blood of sprinkling and the sweetsmelling savour of the holy incense, an angel suddenly appeared to Zacharias as he was executing his office in the temple; that being the place to which those blessed spirits, when they visit these lower regions, ever delight to resort, as being the nearest resemblance to the happy mansions from which they descend.

But whether it be that the glory of celestial spirits overpowers the faculties of human nature, or that man, conscious of having sinned against heaven, naturally trembles at the sight of a messenger from thence; we find that the appearance of an angel had the same effect on Zacharias, the blessed virgin, and the shepherds: they were all" sore afraid." The angel therefore addressed him, saying, "Fear not, Zacharias, for

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thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth "shall bear thee a son." Zacharias had prayed for the redemption of Israel by the Messiah; and therefore was honoured by being made, in a wonderful manner, the father of His illustrious forerunner. The priest was anxious for the welfare of the church, and the man was blessed in his own private concerns. He sought "first "the kingdom of God and His righteousness,' and the blessing of a son was "added unto "him."-Thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name JOHN, that is, being interpreted, the grace or gift; " and many "shall rejoice at his birth:" not only thou shalt rejoice, and Elizabeth with thee, at the birth of a son so long despaired of, and such a son too; but it shall be matter of joy, at the time, to all who look for redemption; and afterwards, thousands and millions shall rejoice at the remembrance of it; the day shall be kept as a festival throughout all generations; with joy and gladness shall it be kept, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Encouraged by the example of Zacharias, let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, be never weary of waiting for His loving-kindness in the midst of His temple. Let it be the delight of their lives to execute their office, every one in that order and station

in which he is placed. So will God make them to hear of joy and gladness, and grant them to behold the success of their labours for the conversion of sinners and the edification of His people. The church, like Elizabeth, shall bring forth fruit in her old age; and her friends shall rejoice greatly, when they hear that the Lord hath shewed mercy on her. (Luke i. 58.)

Distrust of providence and the accomplishment of its designs, when appearances are on the other side, will sometimes invade the hearts of the best of men; and Zacharias himself so far partook of the incredulous spirit which at that period had possessed the synagogue, that he "sought after a sign." Whereby shall I know "this? For I am an old man, and my wife "well stricken in years.' How different, in a parallel case, was the behaviour of Abraham, which St. Paul has described. (Rom. iv. 18-21.) The demand of Zacharias, however, was complied with, and a sign was granted him in the punishment of his unbelief. The use of that tongue, which, instead of giving glory to God, had been employed in raising objections, was taken from him, and a silence of some months was imposed as a penance for the abuse of speech.

But when the wonderful child was born, who, even before his birth, entered on his prophetical office, and gave testimony to his Saviour in the womb, there declaring by his exultation, what he afterwards did by words, "Behold the Lamb "of God;" and Zacharias had acknowledged the GIFT of God, by directing that his name should be JOHN: then the mouth of the father was opened; and to shew us the proper employment of the tongue, when heaven grants the use of it, he "praised God." Faith restored