sat in darkness and the shadow of death, and has guided our feet into the way of peace;"[1] as Zacharias also, recovering from the state of dumbness which he had suffered on account of unbelief, having been filled with a new spirit, did bless God in a new manner. For all things had entered upon a new phase, the Word arranging after a new manner the advent in the flesh, that He might win back[2] to God that human nature (hominem) which had departed from God; and therefore men were taught to worship God after a new fashion, but not another God, because in truth there is but "one God, who justifieth the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith."[3] But Zacharias prophesying, exclaimed, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world begun; salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy [promised] to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He sware to our father Abraham, that He would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all our days."[4] Then he says to John: "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation to His people, for the remission of their sins."[5] For this is the knowledge of salvation which was wanting to them, that of the Son of God, which John made known, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said. After me cometh a man who was made before me;[6] because He was
- ↑ Luke i. 78.
- ↑ "Ascriberet Deo"—make the property of God.
- ↑ Rom. iii. 30.
- ↑ Luke i. 68, etc.
- ↑ Luke i. 76.
- ↑ Harvey observes that the Syriac, agreeing with the Latin here, expresses priority in point of time; but our translation, without reason, makes it the precedence of honour, viz. was preferred before me. The Greek is, πρῶτός μον.
