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In this history of our Saviour's miraculous and immaculate conception, we have several things observable, as, 1. The messenger sent from heaven to publish the news of their conception of the son of God, an angel; an evil angel was the first author of our ruin; a good angel could not be the author of our restoration, but is the joyful reporter of it.
Observe, 2. The angel's name, Gabriel, which signifieth the power of God; the same angel who had many hundred years before declared to the prophet Daniel the coming of the Messiah.
Observe, 3. The place which the angel is sent unto, Nazareth, an obscure place, little taken notice of; yea, a city in Galilee, out of which arises no prophet; even there doth the God of prophets condescend to be conceived. No blind corner of Nazareth can hide the blessed virgin from the angel. The favours of God will find out his children wherever they are withdrawn.
Observe, 4. The person whom the angel is sent unto, To a virgin espoused, whose name was Mary; for the honour of virginity, Christ chose a virgin for his mother; for the honour of marriage, a virgin espoused to a husband.
Observe, 5. The message itself, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.
Where note, that the angel salutes the virgin as a saint, he doth not pray to her as a goddess. The church of Rome idolatrously uses these words as a prayer to the holy virgin (saying ten Ave Maries for one Pater-Noster) whereas they are only a salutation; declaring that she above all women, had the honour freely conferred by God upon her to be the mother of the Messiah. The original word signifies, not full of grace but freely beloved.
Compare Mary with other renowned women, and what had she besides this favour, more than they? Had she the spirit of prophecy? so had they. Had she the spirit of sanctification? so had they: and she had no more immunity and freedom from sin and death than they.
Accordingly, says the angel, Blessed art thou among women; he doth not say, Blessed art thou above women. Let the church of Rome be as copious as they will in the commendation of the mother, so they do not derogate from the glory of the Son.
But how senseless are they,
1. In turning a salutation into a prayer!
2. In making use of these words upon every occasion, which were spoken by an angel upon a special occasion!
3. In applying these words to her now in heaven, which suited with her only when she was here on earth, saying, Full of grace, to her who is full of glory; and, The Lord is with thee, to her that is with the Lord!
Observe, 6. The effect which the sight and salutation of the angel had upon the holy virgin; she was afraid. If Zachary before her was amazed at the sight of the angel, much more the virgin, her sex subjecting her to fear. All passions, but particularly the passion of fear, disquiets the heart, and makes it unfit to receive the messages of God. Therefore the angel instantly says unto her, Fear not, let joy enter into thy heart, out of whose womb shall come salvation. Thus the fears of holy persons do end in comfort: joy was the errand which the angel came upon and not terror. What little cause she had to fear the presence of an angel, who was so highly favoured of him, at whose presence the angels tremble! But we see the holiest person on earth cannot bear the presence of a holy angel, much less the presence of a holy God, nor stand before the manifestations of his favours:
Lord! how unable then will the wicked be at the great day to stand before the manifestation of thy fury! If the sight of a holy angel now makes the best of saints to quake and tremble, what will the sight of an infinitely holy and just God then do, when the wicked shall be slain by the brightness of his presence?
Observe lastly, the character which the angel gives of the person that should be born of the blessed virgin, He shall be great, and called the son of the Highest. Great, in respect of his person: Great, in respect of his offices: Great, in respect of his kingdom; for God would settle upon him a spiritual kingdom, of which David's earthly one was a type which shall never be abolished: though the administration of it by the word and sacraments shall cease at the day of judgment, when he shall deliver up the kingdom, in that respect, to his father. All other kingdoms, have had, or shall have, their periods, but the gospel-church, which is Christ's kingdom, shall continue till his kingdom of glory be revealed.