Female Scripture Biography, Volume II / Including an Essay on What Christianity Has Done for Women

by F. A. Cox

The mother of Jesus here adopts the prophetic style, speaking of the future character of her illustrious Son as though he were already born, and had attained to that eminency to which he was predestined. She extols him as "God her Saviour," more enraptured with the hope of salvation through his name, than with the honour of her maternal connexion with him. We need feel no surprise at her assigning this title to her anticipated offspring, when we recollect that she was at the moment divinely inspired, and that she had been previously informed by the angel Gabriel of his being "the Son of the Highest." This was no doubt understood by the Virgin Mary as expressive of his divine personality. He did not, indeed, become the Son of God by his miraculous conception; but it was the reason of his being called so. Thus he is called the Son of God as raised from the dead, no more to return to corruption, but he was not constituted such by these events. It was a declaration of what he was antecedently to his conception by the overshadowing influence of the Holy Spirit.

In Mary's exclamation, "magnifying the Lord," and "rejoicing in God her Saviour," are used as convertible terms, denoting the same sentiment and source of joy. And how rational and noble was this feeling! Where should an immortal creature seek happiness, but in God the Saviour? What are all the fleeting possessions and enjoyments of time, in comparison with the "pleasures" which are at his "right hand for evermore?" How awfully infatuated are those who aim to attain real felicity independently of the sovereign good!--Mary continues,

FOR HE HATH REGARDED THE LOW ESTATE OF HIS HANDMAIDEN: FOR, BEHOLD, FROM HENCEFORTH ALL GENERATIONS SHALL CALL ME BLESSED.

This is the language both of piety and inspiration. It implies that sense of the divine condescension which characterizes humility, intimating the unmerited nature of the mercy she had experienced, as well as her unexpected elevation from the lowest condition. She states, that it is her happiness, and not her excellences, for which she anticipated the congratulations of succeeding times. She was conscious that the honour and the glory belonged to God, and that the felicity of her circumstances, not the merit of her character, deserved admiration. It was neither the glory of her descent, nor the multitude or splendour of her virtues, that attracted the regards of Heaven, and influenced the movements of Providence in passing by the palaces of greatness to the cottage of Mary: but "so it seemed good in his sight:" and while, with impious vanity of spirit, many are flattering themselves that their imaginary virtue will recommend them to the notice, and secure the favour of Omniscience, it will be found, to their ultimate confusion, that "this" only "is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent."

FOR HE THAT IS MIGHTY HATH DONE TO ME GREAT THINGS; AND HOLY IS HIS NAME.

There is a singular propriety, in thus introducing the sanctity of the divine nature and character. In the production of that body which was "prepared" for the Son of God, nothing of the infection of sin, which attaches to the corrupt nature of man, was suffered to stain "the holy child Jesus." He was, indeed, "in all things made like unto his brethren, yet without sin." Although his miraculous conception did not exempt him from human infirmities, it prevented the possibility of his being contaminated by human guilt.

The name of God is frequently mentioned in Scripture; and, in general, we are to understand by it the revelation of his character, by whatever methods, to his intelligent creation; and to hallow or pronounce it holy, is devoutly to adore every such discovery. His name is written on the works of nature, but shines with pre-eminent lustre in the wonders of redemption; and the spirit of ardent devotion traces all these manifestations in order to pay a suitable homage to them. To pronounce the name of God holy, is then virtually to attribute to the Supreme Being a grandeur and a majesty perfectly unique, and which distinguishes him from all other beings in the universe.

AND HIS MERCY IS ON THEM THAT FEAR HIM, FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

The spirit of Mary takes an elevated station, looking back upon past ages, and anticipating the glory of future times. The incarnation of Christ is represented as an act and an evidence of divine mercy, not only to her, but to all who by the fear of God are interested in this new dispensation. The promise of a Saviour was almost coeval with the world; and during the long succession of ages which had since elapsed, and the infinite diversity of events, so perplexing to the human eye and so apparently fortuitous, the love of God was pursuing its high purpose. The frequent intimations given to the ancient patriarchs, and to the prophets of Israel, proved that the eternal Ruler of the universe was producing, by a vast series of preparatory means, the last and best days of time, when the "Sun of Righteousness" should rise upon the world "with healing beneath his wings." An omnipotent arm was incessantly accomplishing the determinations of an omniscient mind. No power could impede the march of his mercy to the predestined point; no casualties defeat his great design; and no lapse of years, or revolution of centuries, diminish the ardour of infinite love, to secure the felicity of his people. The Lord was never "slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;" for it must never he forgotten, in estimating the movements of eternal Providence, that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

But this language is not merely, nor, perhaps, chiefly retrospective. Those who fear God in all ages, participate the mercies dispensed to man through an incarnate Redeemer. Under the Christian dispensation in particular, they are fully communicated, and will enrich the people of God to the end of time. The thousands and myriads of the human race, that apply to "the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness," cannot diminish its efficacy or exhaust its fulness; but the last preacher that exists upon the earth previous to that final hour, when "the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible," will be able to proclaim the blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God, as cleansing "from all sin," with equal confidence to that which inspired the first herald of these "glad tidings to perishing sinners." HE HATH SHOWED STRENGTH WITH HIS ARM; HE HATH SCATTERED THE PROUD IN THE IMAGINATION OF THEIR HEARTS.