is preserved; whereas in that related by Matthew and Mark we find the parable of the Sower, of the Tares, of the Mustard Seed, of the Leaven, of the Hidden Treasure, of the Pearl, of the Drag-net, of the Lamp, and of the Seed growing in Secret. Why are the two cases so differently treated? Read back and you will see. In the former instance the disciples were unprepared for writing. When Jesus entered Simon's boat and asked him to put out a little from the land, he and the other fishermen were standing in the water washing their nets after toiling all night at their occupation. In the other case there is nothing to show that the disciples were not, as usually, in attendance on their Lord, and ready to take notes of His discourses.

Chapter VII

THE BIRTH, INFANCY AND EARLY LIFE OF JESUS. THE GENEALOGIES

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OTHING could more fully demonstrate how extremely scrupulous the Evangelists were to use only authentic written materials in the composition of their works than the manner in which they severally deal with the birth, infancy and childhood of our Lord. No fact is more essential to the claims and to the doctrines of Christianity than the supernatural birth of its Founder. Without that the cardinal truths of the New Testament fail, and the Christian scheme of salvation falls to the ground. Other essential facts are recorded in detail by all the Evangelists; while the primary fact, the exceptional manner of the Christ's coming into the world, the miraculous method of His incarnation, is not even mentioned by Mark and John. Yet none had a higher conception than John of the transcendent dignity of his Lord. The strong antagonism that Naturalists have at all times shown towards the fourth Gospel has ever gathered round its teaching concerning the exalted nature and attributes of the Word that was made flesh and dwelt amongst men. If there is any element of truth in the old tradition that Mark's Gospel contains the substance of Peter's preaching, the omission from this Gospel of any mention of the birth of Christ is hardly less remarkable than the silence of John. For Peter's views of the divine majesty of Jesus were quite as pronounced as John's, as a perusal of his two Epistles will prove. Nor can it be questioned that, at the time when Mark's, much more John's, narrative is supposed to have been written or redacted, very clear

and decided views prevailed amongst believers on this subject. There is but one way of explaining this omission. It is that Mark and John had no written material to make use of and each declined to include in his book anything built on a less substantial basis.

This leads to the enquiry, Whence and how did Matthew and Luke obtain their accounts of our Lord's birth and infancy? These accounts when compared are found to be most remarkable and interesting. They dovetail into one another almost as if they had originally formed a single consecutive story. They are easily pieced together thus :

LUKE I.

5 There was in the days of Herod, King of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the 6 daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances 7 of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8

Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God 9 in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the II hour of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord 12 standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zacharias was 13 troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name 14 John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice 15 at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the 16 Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children 17 of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God. And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I 19 am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel

answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good 20 tidings. And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until

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the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst 21 not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people

were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the 22 temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he con23 tinued making signs unto them, and remained dumb. And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

24

And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid her25 self five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among

men.

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto 27 a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was 28 Mary. And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly 29 favoured, the Lord is with thee. But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found 31 favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and 32 bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great,

and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall 33 give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end, 34 And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not 35 a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost

shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee wherefore also that which is to be born shall be called holy, the 36 Son of God. And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her 37 that was called barren. For no word from God shall be void of power.

38 And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

39 And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with 40 haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias and 41 saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the

salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was 42 filled with the Holy Ghost; and she lifted up her voice with a loud

cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit 43 of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my 44 Lord should come unto me? For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

46 And Mary said,

My soul doth magnify the Lord,

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And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

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He hath shewed strength with his arm;

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For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaiden :

For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;

And holy is his name.

And his mercy is unto generations and generations

On them that fear him.

He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.
He hath put down princes from their thrones,

And hath exalted them of low degree.

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Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

MATTHEW I.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was 19 found with child of the Holy Ghost. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was 20 minded to put her away privily. But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife : 21 for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that 22 shall save his people from their sins. Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

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Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
And they shall call his name Immanuel;

24 which is, being interpreted, God with us. And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife.

LUKE I.

57 Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and 58 she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her kinsfolk heard