called, "The Son of God." The morning DIS C. of his birth was indeed "a morning with

"out clouds." No spot then fullied the face of heaven. Why, therefore, must fuch a mother, and fuch a fon, pay obedience to the law? The fon paid obedience, as when he submitted to be circumcifed, and to be baptised, not that he had any fin to be put off, or washed away, but because, being "made of a woman, and "made under the law," it became him to obey the law, or, as he expreffed it to John, who proposed the question at his baptism, "to fulfil all righteousness." In himself he was not a finner; but in our ftead, he was content to appear as fuch. The holy virgin placed herself, upon this occafion, on a level with other women, when she was fo much above them, to exhibit a pattern of humility and obedience, of gratitude and devotion, of regard and reverence for the ordinances of God, which no one is privileged to neglect or flight, but which all should attend, however they may fancy themselves not to need, or not

XVII.

DISC. to be benefited by them. Indeed, who can XVII. have the confidence and prefumption to ab

sent themselves from the temple, when they behold Mary there, whom all generations have agreed to call Bleffed! Let mothers, when, in the day of thanksgiving, they approach the altar, fet before them her bright example; and let us remember, that by her becoming a mother, we are become the heirs of everlasting falvation; joint heirs with him who was, as at this time, prefented in the temple.

"When the days of her purification "were accomplished, they brought him to Jerufalem, to present him to the Lord; as it is written in the law of the Lord;

66

Every male that openeth the womb, "shall be called holy to the Lord."

Great were the privileges from the beginning annexed to the first-born, Theirs was the pre-eminence in power and wealth; and before the defignation of the fons of Levi to the fervice of the altar, among the people

people of God, theirs was the priesthood DISC. also. After that event, they ftill continued, XVII. as before, heirs of a double honour and inheritance; they were ftill offered in form to God, though redeemed, at a certain price, from actual attendance in the fanctuary. Agreeably to this injunction, Jefus was brought by his mother at the proper time, and presented in the temple, as her first-born. He filled up the character, and highly exalted it. Befides being her firstborn fon, he was likewife πρωτοτοκος πασης XTIES, the first begotten, or first born of the whole creation, not only because he 85, is, wgo wavτwv, before all things, and all things, both in heaven and earth, were created by him, but also because he was begotten to inherit all things, and in all things to have the pre-eminence, fince all things were created 815 autov, for him, as well as d autou, by him; in which view he is styled abfolutely, Tov @gwтотоKOV, THE First-born, uniting in himself all that was from the beginning prefigured by the rights and honours

πάντων,

Coloff. i. 15, &c.

• Heb. i. 6.

of

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DISC. of primogeniture. He is ftyled, moreover, πρωτοτοκος εκ των νεκρων, the Firft-born, or Firft begotten from the dead, in regard of his being the first that rose from the dead, no more to die. And with allufion to the peculiar appropriation of all the first born to God, the affembly of redeemed fpirits is called, "the church of the firft born, written," or "enrolled, in heaven."

"The bleffed virgin" (fays Bishop Taylor) "had received a greater favour than "ever was received by the daughters of "Adam; and knowing from whence, and "for whofe glory she had received it, she "returns the holy Jesus as a gift to God "again; for she had nothing the world ❝ had nothing—fo precious as himself, of "which to make an oblation. Never was "there before an act of adoration propor"tionable to the honour and majesty of "the great God. But now there was; "and it was made, at the prefentation of "the child Jefus in the temple."

Let us not fail, by ufing them aright, to

return

XVII.

return to God all things we have received DISC. from him; and by a virtuous education dedicate our children to him who

gave them, bringing them early to the temple, and presenting them to the Lord.

Bear we likewife in mind, that he who was thus offered in the temple, afterwards offered, and still continues to present himself, to appear in the presence of God, for us. He it is, whofe precious blood, whose infinite merits, whofe prevailing fatisfaction, the church in her prayers prefenteth daily to God; and through whom alone ourselves and all our oblations are accepted in the heavenly places. Nay, at that hallowed hour when the eucharift is confecrated, Christ is, again, figuratively and facramentally, prefented in the temple on earth. For his fake, the Father is then well pleased with us: he hears our prayers, forgives our fins, heals our infirmities, and graciously accepts our facrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Think not, O man, who slightest and difparageft that holy ordi

nance,