A Qusestion asked by the Lord Jesus Himself, when on the earth, and within the hearing of many classes of people,-Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees, disciples, and also the multitudes. What a throng surrounded Him that day, and how different the thoughts of each, and how perplexing this question must have been to most of them; and by it the thoughts of many hearts were revealed. A question never needed more than in this our day,-a question for all times, all classes, and all places; and, dear reader, I put it before you, whether a professing Christian or not, saint or sinner, "What think ye of Christ?" Strange and startling thoughts and statements are afloat, and have been for some time, concerning the peerless person of God's beloved Son – Jesus, the Lord.

It is of all importance that each should have correct and right thoughts about Him, of whom it is written, '' His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father [Father of Eternity, Heb.], The Prince of Peace," (Isaiah 9:6), and "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting," (Micah 5:2,-margin, "the days of eternity.") Let us, then, trace out, if but imperfectly, in the fear of God and with a holy reverence, some of the beauties and glories that are His, remembering as to His greatness "no man knoweth the Son but the Father." (Matt. 10:, 27.)

Of His greatness in Creation, a careful reading of Prov. 8:, 22-31, John 1:, 1-18, Col. 1:, 12-19, Heb. 1:, will leave no doubt in the believer's mind, that He was with the Father in Eternity, and that it was He by whom all things were created. Creation, then, is presented as the work of His hands, and by Him all things subsist; not only this world in which we live, but all those mighty orbs in their immensity are upheld, sustained, and cared for by Him. Well we might as we read, trace out, or even think, of His person, work, ways, or word, fall down before Him as holy men of old, and exclaim, "We are unworthy to unloose the laches of His shoes,"-a place assigned to the meanest slave. (Dan. 10:, Rev. 1:, John 1:, 27.) For soon the very earth created by Him and for Him will shine with His glory from pole to pole and from sea to sea. How careful should we be to curb every vain and unholy thought or word about One so great, so mighty in Himself and in all His ways, as Jesus Christ the Lord.

Let us now note a few of the precious foundation truths concerning His incarnation, and lowly life of love, grace, and compassion; and, as we do so, may it be with somewhat of the holy awe that would characterize the priest of old, as he entered the most holy place to take down the beautiful veil and cover the ark ere it commenced its wilderness journey. (Num. 4:5, 6, 15; 17-20.) None but priests could witness such; none but they could do such work; none but they, sanctified and anointed, could tread the sacred inclosure; they only could see the separate parts, and what passed before their eyes were but the types; and shall we who have the antitypes, "the body which is of Christ," approach with less reverence the person and glories of the Lord Jesus? God forbid; for truly, '' without controversy great is the mystery of godlinesss. God was manifest in the flesh, justified
in the spirit," &100:(i Tim. 3:, 16.) Yet it was blessedly true, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself," (2 Cor. 5:, 16,) and is yet true, "In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Col. 2:, 9.)

The angel announced to Mary not only the manner of His conception, but also the character of His humanity. " The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee." (Luke 1:, 35.) And to Joseph he adds, "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. "(Matt, 1:, 20.) In these two passages we get clearly set forth the manner of His conception; and in this, Mary, of all women, appears alone, and a contrast. Of none other was this ever said, – neither Eve, nor yet of Eve's many daughters. And in this our Blessed Lord appears alone. Of none other born of woman could such language be used. Even a John, although filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb, yet his conception was after the order of nature,- Elizabeth his mother, Zacharias his father. Not so Jesus. Mary was truly His mother, according to the flesh. He was "the seed of the woman," yet not the seed of man. The Holy Ghost came upon her, and that which was conceived in her was of the Holy Ghost. How important, then, is clearness on such a wondrous truth,- a truth which lies at the very foundation of our most holy faith.

Now we will look more closely at the character of His humanity; and, as before said,-and we do well to emphasize the fact,- that, as to the humanity of the Lord Jesus, He stands alone. The angel continues, by saying, '' and that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Of no other was it ever said, "that holy thing." Adam was created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26),- sinless, innocent, also upright (Eccl. 7:29); yet it was never said of him, "that holy thing." Nay, this was reserved for Another,- even Adam's Lord.

Since the fall, of none can it be said, as to their humanity, that it was even as Adam's was, sinless, innocent. Humanity, in all born of woman after the course of nature, is sinful humanity,-and a perfect contrast to what Adam's was originally. Sinful-ness is now inherent in all, as set forth by the psalmist, "I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Ps. 51:5.) It only requires time in each case to make it manifest. The tree bears fruit after its kind. But when we turn to the Lord Jesus we learn that His humanity was of another character altogether,-not, as now, humanity sinful, nor yet that of Adam before the fall,- humanity innocent only, but humanity of a new and higher character, "that holy thing." And when we speak of His humanity, let it be understood this includes His very body of flesh and blood, not simply as we who are born again derive a new life, a new nature, but His very body, "that holy thing." True, "in all things He was made like unto His brethren," "was made in the likeness of sinful flesh," "and tempted in all things like unto us," yet it must be remembered, and with a holy care, it was only like or likeness, and in this "sin apart." Apart from all such thoughts as sin being in His nature, or even the thought of His nature being susceptible to such by trial or temptation, how careful the Holy Spirit is in the word of truth in guarding the sacredness of His person, "tempted like as we,-sin apart." (Heb. 4:15, Gk.)

How blessed to view our Lord as such:truly man, yet, "sin apart;" true flesh and blood, yet, "sin apart;" true humanity, but "that holy thing."

Next, let us never confound the character of the Lord's humanity with new birth, true of all children of God, nor count them a parallel. It is true, when men are born again, they get a divine life and nature, yet their bodies remain the same, there being no change in this respect. For this change we await His return, when our bodies will be changed and suited for the new life given at new birth,- bodies of glory like unto His "body of glory." (Phil. 3:20, 21.)Yet this is all future for us, not true yet. Of Jesus only could it be said, as to His birth and His humanity, "that holy thing." Hence the manner of His conception and the character of His humanity was not a parallel with the new birth; and these facts, so clear in sacred Scripture, we cannot emphasize too firmly. To confound the Lord's humanity with Adam's originally, or his race fallen, or yet with new birth, is to miss the mark, to make a great mistake, and belittle the greatness and perfection of the blessed Lord. He will by and by have a people in the glory, redeemed and glorified in a humanity just like His own, and with Himself, far beyond what Adam's was, even as His own is far beyond Adam's, and new birth is the first step toward this glorious end, but only the first step.

He was, as to His humanity, the true "meat offering" of Lev. 2:, made of fine flour (that holy thing) mingled with oil (conceived of the Holy Spirit), – no sin, but holy, harmless, and undefiled. This is our Saviour and our Lord; and how the Holy Spirit ever delights in the pages of Holy Writ to unfold the fullness and greatness of the person and glory of Jesus, God's beloved Son, "that in all things He might have the pre-eminence," and "that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father."

Let us now note, for a space, that period of His life on earth from His birth until about the age of thirty. It would seem the shepherds were the first to visit the babe, as instructed by the angel of the Lord; and after they found Him, as they were told, "wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger," they returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had seen and heard. Truly blessed were the eyes that saw what they saw, and the ears that heard what they heard. This appears to be on the first day.

It was at an after period that the wise men from the East (Gentiles) who had seen His star, came that journey; and when they came they found Him in the house, with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped Him, and presented unto Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Again, when but eight days old, He was circumcised, according to the law, and received His name "Jesus," as was told Joseph.

Then, if Lev. 12:2, is carefully read with Luke 2:22-39, we learn thirty-three days after His circumcision, (making forty in all from His birth,) '' when the days of the purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him before the Lord, and a sacrifice was offered." At this time, Simeon, a just and devout man, guided by the Holy Spirit, came to the temple, and taking the child in his arms, said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."

Anna, also a prophetess of a great age, coming in at that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

When He is twelve years old they go up to Jerusalem again, at the feast of the passover. At this time, when in the temple, He astonished the doctors there, by "His understanding and answers," all perfect in its place. He says to Mary, "Wist ye not I must be about my Father's business ?"Yet we are told He went down with His parents to Nazareth, and was subject to them, and increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. One verse in Mark 6:3 would lead us to believe He worked with Joseph (His reputed father) as carpenter; and no more do we know of this eighteen years of His life until He is baptized by John. Little is recorded in the first twelve, and less as to the after eighteen, except what we may gather from Lev. 6:19-23, which we believe furnishes us with a beautiful type of what that period was. It is the exceptional meat-offering of the Jewish ritual, and offered only upon the day the High Priest was anointed. In Lev. 2:we get instruction with regard to the regular and continual meat-offerings, mingled with oil and anointed with oil, which set forth the whole human life of the blessed Lord while upon earth, as conceived of the Holy Spirit and anointed at the banks of Jordan, His whole life from the manger on to the cross. This meat-offering furnished food first for God, then for the priest. God the Father found in that perfect life what gave Him joy and pleasure. Yea, every step of it was what glorified God. (John 8:29; 17:4.) We also (as priests) find in that perfect life, as recorded in the word of God, what is as meat and drink, which give the heart joy and gladness, especially that period from His anointing on to the cross, described more fully for us. But this exceptional meat-offering of Lev. 6:gives us more what that period of His human life was during His first thirty years from His birth on earth until His showing to Israel as the Anointed. This exceptional offering, if noted with care, was made with oil (not anointed); hence very clearly sets forth His life ere His anointing.

The priests did eat of the regular meat-offerings of Lev. 2:, but of this exceptional offering of Lev. 6:they ate none. This was all for Jehovah,- all was put upon the altar. '' This is the offering of Aaron and his sons, which they shall offer unto the Lord in the day he is anointed:the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat-offering perpetual; half of it in the morning and half in the evening, In a pan it shall be made with oil. And when it is baked, thou shalt bring it in, and the baked pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savor unto the Lord. And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it:it is a statute forever unto the Lord:it shall be wholly burnt, for every meat-offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt:it shall not be eaten." (Lev. 6:20-23.) All, all was put upon the altar, and the holy fire consumed all; "it was wholly burnt," and every part of it "a sweet savor to the Lord," or a savor of delight to Jehovah. And let us again note, this was upon the very day the high priest was anointed; and this day represents the very day the Lord Jesus was anointed by the Holy Ghost; anointed as prophet (i Kings 19:16), as priest (Lev. 8:1-12), and before the sacrifice was offered up; and as King also (i Sam. 16:12, 13). His life-work was more as prophet. When rejected by His people, we believe His first priestly work was at the cross, "to offer up Himself." (Heb. 7:26, 27.) This work being completed at the cross, He has now gone into the sanctuary with all the value of His atoning work, and abides there a priest until He appears again to Israel, to introduce the Millennium, when they shall behold Him not only as Priest but King and Priest. (Zech. 6:13.) But at Jordan, when owned by God the Father and anointed by the Holy Ghost, He was at that time both Prophet, Priest, and King. Hence this anointing of the Lord Jesus answers to the type of Lev. 6:, when as High Priest He was anointed; and how suitable that at this time such a meat-offering should be offered. At that time it was said that the whole offering was a savor of delight, '' a sweet savor" to Jehovah; as in Matt. 3:, "my beloved Son, in whom I have found all my delight." (Gk.)

Now we can understand, as we look back, why very little is given unto us,-comparatively nothing-of those thirty years before He was anointed. He (blessed be His name!) was ever '' that holy thing,"-proper material, as Lev. 6:, for the holy fire to feed upon. This holy fire was burning during the whole thirty years, from its morning to its evening, as Lev. 6:,- not the fire of God's wrath and hot displeasure, as some have strangely said, but the fire, emblem of God's holiness,-ever feeding upon a perfect object of delight; in all this Jesus appears alone. Adam's life was not this, nor yet any of Adam's race.

Of Jesus, and Jesus alone, could Lev. 6:be true. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight" (Gk.), as in Lev. 6:"A savor of delight to Jehovah." (Heb.) Every moment of this period of thirty years was this, for God the Father. Bethlehem's manger, for a brief space, held that "savor of delight." The shepherds, and also the wise men, beheld this One-"the savor of delight." Simeon held such in his arms and gave thanks, and Anna spake of Him to all who looked for redemption in Israel. Egypt never had before nor since such an offering in her land. (Matt. 2:14.) Scribes and Pharisees, when He was but twelve years of age, beheld Him the true meat-offering in the temple, the true answer to the Lev. 6:meat-offering. And when He went down to Nazareth, and was subject to His parents, and worked as a carpenter, until the age of thirty, every moment, at every step, in every place, His whole life was for God His Father, an object of supreme delight. As we look back and think of such, we can but worship and adore. Strange that any should ever, with the few brief notices of this period in the gospels, have thought otherwise. We need to curb our thoughts and control our pen as we write of One whose glories shine so prominently from beginning to end in the pages of the Holy Scriptures. A. E. B.

(To be continued.)