Vol. 2

;300 ST. LUKE.The Son of God, by being enrolled from his verybirth as true man, gives security, as one may say,for his obedience, humility, and the performance ofthe promises. It is hereby very visible, that hisgreatness, foretold by the angel, is not a humangreatness. The poverty, trouble, and subjection,to which Joseph and Mary are exposed, are the preparationfor the gift which they are going to receivefrom God.Let us learn to submit ourselves to everyordinance of man for the Lord's sake, and chiefly tothe royal power, since we see Jesus Christ beginningto obey, from, and even before his birth." 6. f And so it was, that, while they were there,the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."Christ, having submitted himself to the laws ofnature, and to an imprisonment of nine months, hidesthe glory of his birth, by being born in an obscureplace; he teaches us to wean ourselves from our owncountry, and from this whole present world, by beingborn in a journey ; he recommends poverty, mortification,and humility to us, by being born in a placeborrowed from the brute beasts,and destitute of allconveniences and of all assistance. How many instructionsare here for us, from this very first moment,if we can thoroughly understand them !Let us hearthem in the spirit of adoration and lowliness." T. And she brought forth her first-born son,and wrapped him in swaddling-clothes, and laid himin a manger; because there was no room for themin the inn."Jesus Christ is the first-born of the blessed Virginwe are in some sense her younger children. His