Luke 1

In this all a Christian's comfort lies. Great was the work of creation, but greater the work of redemption: it cost more to redeem us than to make us; in the one there was but the speaking a word, in the other shedding of blood (Luke 1:51). The creation was but the work of God's…

It was a great honor to Moses to be a temporal savior; but what is it to be the Savior of souls? Christ is called the Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69). He saves from sin (Matthew 1:21), from wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

The purest virgin that is, her soul is stained with original sin? Answer. This knot the Scripture unties (Luke 1:35). The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and overshadow you, therefore that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. The Holy Ghost shall…

Faith is the chief work which the Spirit of God works in a man's heart. In making the world God did but speak a word, but in working faith he puts forth his arm (Luke 1:51). The Spirit's working faith is called, the exceeding greatness of God's power.

2. The world was the work of God's fingers (Psalm 8:3). Conversion is the work of God's arm (Luke 1:5). 3. In the creation God worked but one miracle, he spoke the word; but in conversion he works many miracles: the blind is made to see, the dead is raised, the deaf hears the vo…

1. I begin with the first, the Preface to the Preface, vaiedabbur elohim, God spoke all these words, saying, etc. This is like the sounding of a trumpet before a solemn proclamation, [God spoke;] other parts of the Bible are said to be uttered by the mouth of the Holy Prophets (…

This is the diamond in the ring, it outshines all other comforts. 2. If we are fearers of God, we have a reverent awe upon us; we tremble at sin, and fly from it as Moses did from his rod turned into a serpent (Luke 1:50). His mercy is on them that fear him.

But fear your God. And there is honey in the mouth of this command (Luke 1:50). His mercy is upon them that fear him.

The creation was the work of God's fingers (Psalm 8:3). Redemption was the work of his arm (Luke 1:5). In the creation God gave us ourselves, in the redemption he gave us himself: by creation we have a life in Adam, by redemption we have a life in Christ (Colossians 3:3).

I will take away the stony heart, and give you a heart of flesh. Yet further, the power and Godhead of the Holy Ghost appeared in the effecting the glorious conception of our Lord Jesus Christ; the very shadow of the Holy Ghost made a virgin conceive (Luke 1:35). The Holy Ghost…

A king may pardon a traitor, but will not make him one of his privy council: but whom God pardons he receives into favor. I may say to him, as the angel to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:30): You have found favor with God. Hence such as are forgiven are said to be crowned with loving-k…

Matt. 16:16. You are Christ the Son of the living God. Luke 1:35. The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, the power of the most High shall overshaddew you, therefore also shall that holy thing which shall be born of you, be called the Son of God. John 1:1, 2, 3. In the beginning was…

Q. But whether is there any way of deliverance already found out, and man actually recovered? A. Yes, the Lord has wrought redemption, and raised up a horn of salvation for his people (Psalm 111:9; Luke 1:69). Q. Is God himself then the author of man's deliverance?

Q. What ought to be the life of them that are in Christ? A. A course of holy obedience, and service to God all the days of their life (Luke 1:74, 75; 1 Peter 1:14, 15, 16, 17; Titus 3:8; Ephesians 2:10). Q. What is the general rule of obedience?

So Paul says, Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ: Ephesians 1:3: beginning his Epistle with this kind of blessing, that is, by praising God. And so Zachary after the birth of his…

But if we look for any reward at the day of death, we must labor in the works of godliness all the days of our life; for, therefore were we redeemed. Luke 1:74-75. In the whole book of God, we find but one man that lived wickedly, and repented at his end: that is, the thief upon…

Thus Hannah, that was barren, the Lord made to keep house, and to be the joyful mother of a son, sings her song of praise (1 Samuel 2:[1]): My heart rejoices in the Lord, my horn is exalted in the Lord, my mouth is enlarged over my enemies; because I rejoice in your salvation. M…

But the whole story is filled with gross effects of ignorance and incredible fables, being only a dream of some superstitious monastic. But the ancients grounded their imagination on the kindred that was between his mother and Elizabeth the wife of Zechariah the priest, who was…

The Syriac renders it in this place by [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] pure; which is an inherent qualification; as it does (1 Timothy 2:8 and Titus 1:8) by [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Pious, Holy, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], says Hesychius: [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]; Pure, Right…

2. The Apostle has an especial respect to the Incarnation of Christ, without the concurrence of man in natural generation. This is expressed in answer to that enquiry of the blessed Virgin, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? (Luke 1:34, 35). This was the true Tabernacle…

For where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty, namely, to serve God not in the oldness of the letter, but in the newness of the Spirit. And it is declared that this was the great end of bringing in the New Covenant, in the accomplishment of the Promise made to Abraham, namely…

And three things do concur hereunto. 1. A recapitulation, collection and confirmation of all the promises of grace that had been given to the Church from the beginning, even all that was spoken by the mouth of the holy Prophets that had been since the world began (Luke 1:70). Th…

The Vulgar Latine rendets it by Iustificationes; from the inclusion of Ius, Iustum in the signification of it. In the new Testament it is used, Luke 1:6, Romans 1:32, chap. 2:26, chap. 5:16, chap. 8:4, Hebrews 9:1, ver. 10, Revelation 15:4, chap. 19:8. And in no one place does i…

And although by reason of the wisdom, cunning and skill which they had received in an extraordinary way, they framed, made and reared a Tabernacle most artificial and beautiful; yet when all was done, it was but the work of men's hands. But the constitution and production of the…

This is the first thing on record in the Scripture. So God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, since the world began (Luke 1:71), that is, the first revelation of God to the Church concerning the Messiah, with all that succeeded. So Christ is said to be a Lamb slain from th…

This appurtenance of them to the Ark, the Apostle expresseth by the Preposition [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] from the Hebrew [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] now this preposition is so frequently used in the Scripture to signify, adhesion, conjunction, approximation, appurtenance of one t…

And if the High Priest did at any time minister in this part of the Sanctuary, he did it not as the High Priest, but as a Priest only; for all his peculiar service belonged to the most Holy Place. In process of time when the Priests of the posterity of Aaron were multiplied, and…

For whereas he has chosen to glorify all the properties of his nature in the Person and Mediation of Christ, he does not only declare his grace in giving him, but also his truth in sending him according to his word. And this was that which holy persons of old did glorify God in…

They had this promise still to plead, and rested therein, notwithstanding all the interveniencies which oft-times seemed to render the case of that people very desperate. See their faith expressed (Micah 7:18, 19, 20; Isaiah 7:13, 14, 15; chapter 53; Luke 1:70, 71, 72, 73). And…

Deuteronomy 18:18: A prophet will I raise up to you; which was Christ himself. So God raised up a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David (Luke 1:69), that is, with an extraordinary power and glory. So was this priest to arise, not springing out of, nor succeeding in…

(2.) The incense that was burned every day in the Sanctuary by the priests in their courses. This represented prayer (Psalm 141:2), and was always accompanied with it (Luke 1:9, 10). This also was a type of the continual efficacy of the intercession of Christ (Revelation 8:4).

For this would have rendered him every way unmeet for his whole work of mediation. See (Luke 1:35; Hebrews 7:26). He prepared him a Body consisting of flesh and blood, which might be offered as a real substantial sacrifice, and wherein he might suffer for sin, in his offering to…

1. [in non-Latin alphabet], it brings forth [in non-Latin alphabet]. This word properly signifies the bringing forth of a woman that has conceived with child, [in non-Latin alphabet] (Luke 1:31). And so it is constantly used in the New Testament, and not otherwise but only in th…

(2) Sometimes by living in sins of omission; when they will not attend to every known duty. Luke 1:6: they did walk in all the ordinances, and commandments of the Lord: when any known duty, or ordinance of Christ is neglected, and men continue so to do, how does Christ rule in t…

The Synod having said, That the parents in question are in covenant, because the tenor of the covenant is to the faithful and their seed after them in their generations (Genesis 17:7). The Reverend Author in his answer hereto, pag. 24. says, That the sealing of this covenant to…

In those first beginnings of the Gospel, even pious persons, and men fearing God, such as the Eunuch, and Cornelius, must have further instruction, and preparation, before they could be baptized: may a man from there infer, that now in the Christian Church constituted, a Christi…

1. In life. The Angel did comfort the Virgin Mary, Luke 1.28. The Angel did stop the mouths of the Lions that they could not hurt Daniel, Daniel 6.22.

And therefore by this confession the church of God is distinguished from all other companies of men in the world which believe not, as Pagans, heretics, Atheists, Turks, Jews, and all other infidels. This name Jesus was given to the son of God by the Father, and brought from hea…

2. A righteous man is devoted to holiness: the priests under the law were not only washed in the great laver, but adorned with glorious apparel (Exodus 28:2), the emblem of a righteous man who is not only washed from gross sin, but adorned with inward sanctity; he is what he see…

Observe first, that Jude places his service among his titles: he might have urged other things to render himself honorable to the world, but he does not stand upon those things, it is enough for him to say, Jude a servant. As Jude the Lord's Cousin calls himself his servant, so…

So Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1): when she received the mercy of a son, 'My soul,' said she, 'rejoices in the Lord' — not in the mercy, but in the God of the mercy. And so Mary (Luke 1:46): 'My soul does magnify the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior' — the word signifies 'to mak…

God will come to those that are seeking him and waiting for him (Isaiah 25:9 and 26:8). When Christ came in the flesh, he was first revealed to them who were waiting for the consolation of Israel, and looking for redemption in Jerusalem (Luke 1:25, 38). And in that great out-pou…

That Christ had been foreknown before the foundation of the world, Peter testifies (1 Peter 1:20). That He would come, according to that foreknowledge and eternal appointment, God had promised from the foundation of the world through the prophets (Luke 1:70). Hence He was called…

From hence cometh it, that we fear not in greatest dangers (2 Kings 6:16; Psalm 3:7; Psalm 27:3); that in the time of affliction, we are patient (Proverbs 20:22; Hebrews 10:33); without all murmuring to hold our peace (Psalm 39:10); receiving them as from a father (Job 1:21; Psa…

26. Afterwards, his brother came forth, whose hand held the heel of Esau; therefore every one called his name Jacob. Luke 1:59. And it was so on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the babe, and called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 62. Then they made signs to…

It is true, the high priest's praying for them was nothing to the soul's advantage of him or them if Christ was not made use of, both by him and by them; yet it was typical, and to show this much, that they were to improve Christ's Intercession as well as his Sacrifice and Satis…

This was Christ's personal privilege; and to lack this, is not our sin: to have it, was Christ's glory: but the nearer any is to God, the more heavenly are the affections. Secondly, when God framed the human nature and human soul of Christ, he created a more noble and carefully-…

Now he was made King, not on such terms, as he might destroy all his subjects, (for all mankind are his subjects to Arminians.) But he is made King (Psalm 72:11) that all nations may serve him; that he should deliver the poor, needy, and helpless; and redeem their souls from vio…

Or else secondly, [In] the bowels, is put for [Instar] Like the bowels, or After the bowels, according to the analogy of the Hebrew phrase: And so then the meaning were this, Like as the bowels of Jesus Christ do yearn after you, so do mine. [Bowels] are a metaphor to signify te…

We look at God as a Father, and we walk before him not in fear, but in liberty; and therefore we are free from the fear of death, to which, some are all their lifetime subject to bondage (Hebrews 2:14-15). Now this is a spirit of liberty, to have the heart set free from all fear…