The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-03-26
For TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
AFTER BREAKFAST NOTES.
Matt. j: 1926.
BY REV H. H. HALVES.
No. l..

v. 16.-"N0W the Dlrtn or Jesus was on
this wise." So Matthew begins his history
of the earthly life of Jesus. 1t is not the
beginning of the life of Jesus,-but of His
earthly life. From all eternity He was God.
To Us He is revealed as the second person Of
the Trinity. God came and clothed him
self in human nature and form. Here is
mystery; one person, in which dwelt two
distint natures, divine and human, each per.
| feet.
"His mother MAry"-was the instrument
which the Holy Ghost chose to use, in bring
ing Jesus into the world. Il is Gods way
to begin to undo the works of the devil,
where the devil began to work. As sin be-
gan with woman, 80 God makes woman the
starting point of that life which was to atone
for sin. Jesus was "msds of woman >
because, not only must He have no taint Of
natural deprsvity belonging to the children
of men, but also because "Adsm was not
deceived, but the woman being deceived, was
in the transgression." Tin. ii IA. Well,
now God has glorifed her Jesus, the Rs.
deemer, was "made of woman" Then
what more contradictory sight is ever beheld
on earth, than wOman rejecting Jesus =
God has given her an almost supernatural
power over man. If she will but consecrate
this influence to lead him up to better
home than was lost in Eden, what may she
not do! But with such power as God has
given her, what hurt may she work among
souls, as q reflector of the souls Saviour!
V. 20.-None of Joseph's blood was in the
veins of Jesus. The clothing in human ma
ture was the work of the Holy Ghost. So
He was calied the "Son of God" Then the
Holy Ghost is also God for this Son of God
was ''of the Holy Ghost" Here is the mys
terry of the Trinity. And how say some thal
the Old Testament saints knew nothing o
this mystery? Joseph was an Old Testa
ment saint; yet he shows no surprise at th'
cO-wOrking of the Trinity here. "The ange
of the Lord" "-(if not God himself, mes
seuger from God, Jehoyah) speaks to him
the Holy Ghost gives TO Mary, " that hol.
thing"-the Son of God-Jssuss The Faith
er; the Son; the Holy GhOStaF all here
V. 21.-"CalI his name Jesus; for b
shall save his people from their sins. Thi
is our loving Gods provision, not only t
save the lost, but to save "His people from
their SINS" What? Do Christians nee'
to be saved? Yes yesl as much as 18th
chief of sinners" No one on earth has sucl
consciousness of sin and unworthinesS as tn
true child of God No one on earth is les
able to save himself from the guilt and powe
of sin! No one on earth has more real trou
!. BILE and conflict with sin We do not reall
know what sin is, until, as followers of Jesus
we try to live against it. When the slime
comes to Jesus, We call him Christian
But now, for the first time, he begins sctua
, ly to find how strong and troublesome sin is
Now he repents more often, more truly tina
ever before. Now, as never before, he find
what mOthingness is all his strength sgsint
, sin. What then is his hope? "CaH H
name Jesus, for He shall save HIS psOp
from their sins" 1t s all there. 1t is 81
work for us all the days of our life. Becaue
q it is His work, we do not fall into the PEI
! dition of the ungOdly. Without Him, we ca
] do nothing, are nothing,
V. 23.-"God with u.s." Then who ca
be against US! Cannot "GOd with US" say
a us
V. 25-"And he called his name Jesus.
= Let US never forget its significance: "Jesus,
that is, "Ssviour." Just what we need.-
The best proof that God loves as, and do
; not Vant US to perish IN our sins God wan
to save US all. Why then should any pc
ishi Only because they will not come
= Jesus? Find any other reason, they canno
:. All reasons are lost in this one
+ The darkest hour in the history of al
& young man is when he sits down to study nc