January 10

Made of a Woman.—Galatians 4:4.

IN contemplating the Divine perfections attributed to Jesus, we feel that we are in the presence of proper and essential Deity, and exclaim, "This is the true God and Eternal Life." But as the Saviour of the world, we are called likewise to contemplate his inferior nature; for the Godhead no man hath seen or can see. Jesus was seen and heard, so that it is manifest, that the Divinity was enshrined in that which men could behold. It has been conjectured by many, that Angels are clad in some refined aerial, material vehicles, that they possess a sort of spiritual body. Be this as it may, we know that the Son of God tabernacled among us, and that tabernacle was formed of human flesh. While he was therefore truly and properly God with God, he was as truly and properly, man with man. In the language of the Apostle, "He was made of a

Woman." Mary the espoused wife of Joseph, was his mother. She was the highly favoured of the Lord; the chosen vessel to conceive and bring forth the Saviour of the world. He was really and truly fashioned of her flesh; he had all the constituent parts of humanity, with all its weaknesses and infirmities, yet without sin. Though made of a woman, yet that woman was a virgin, and the conception was produced by the mysterious overshadowing of the Holy Ghost. (Luke 1:35.) As man, Christ was possessed of a reasonable soul. He possessed all the qualities, mental and moral, which belong to human nature; so that he was made "in all things like unto his brethren." (Hebrews 2:17.) Who can adequately conceive of the condescension of Christ, in thus assuming the nature of man? Had he veil'd himself in a seraph's form, it would have been an act of amazing condescension; but he stooped lower than this, he became the brother of man, man who had lost the divine image, and thrown off his authority; yet he assimilated himself to this creature's likeness, and was found in fashion as a man. Angels have attempted to fathom this profound mystery, but are not able. How has God exalted our species in this astounding act! Here we are raised above angels, for Christ took not upon him their nature, but ours. In this assumption of human nature, Christ became the kinsman of every child of man. Adam's varied family, in all its lengths and breadths, are united in one brotherhood with the Incarnate

Son of God. The subject loudly demands our highest wonder, love, and praise; and should induce us to seek after a complete conformity to his likeness, who, though God over all, yet for our wellbeing and salvation, was "made of a woman."