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onderful announcement was； 〃Behold the handmaid of the Lord； be it unto me according to thy word〃！ Luke 1：38。
The birth of a son to Zacharias； like the birth of the child of Abraham； and that of Mary； was to teach a great spiritual truth； a truth that we are slow to learn and ready to forget。 In ourselves we are incapable of doing any good thing； but that which we cannot do will be wrought by the power of God in every submissive and believing soul。 It was through faith that the child of promise was given。 It is through faith that spiritual life is begotten； and we are enabled to do the works of righteousness。
To the question of Zacharias； the angel said； 〃I am Gabriel； that stand in the presence of God； and am sent to speak unto thee； and to show thee these glad tidings。〃 Five hundred years before； Gabriel had made known to Daniel the prophetic period which was to extend to the coming of Christ。 The knowledge that the end of this period was near had moved Zacharias to pray for the Messiah's advent。 Now the very messenger through whom the prophecy was given had come to announce its fulfillment。
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The words of the angel； 〃I am Gabriel； that stand in the presence of God；〃 show that he holds a position of high honor in the heavenly courts。 When he came with a message to Daniel； he said； 〃There is none that holdeth with me in these things； but Michael ＇Christ＇ your Prince。〃 Dan。 10：21。 Of Gabriel the Saviour speaks in the Revelation； saying that 〃He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John。〃 Rev。 1：1。 And to John the angel declared； 〃I am a fellow servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets。〃 Rev。 22：9； R。 V。 Wonderful thoughtthat the angel who stands next in honor to the Son of God is the one chosen to open the purposes of God to sinful men。
Zacharias had expressed doubt of the angel's words。 He was not to speak again until they were fulfilled。 〃Behold；〃 said the angel； 〃thou shalt be dumb； 。 。 。 until the day that these things shall be performed； because thou believest not my words； which shall be fulfilled in their season。〃 It was the duty of the priest in this service to pray for the pardon of public and national sins； and for the coming of the Messiah； but when Zacharias attempted to do this； he could not utter a word。
Coming forth to bless the people； 〃he beckoned unto them； and remained speechless。〃 They had waited long； and had begun to fear； lest he had been cut down by the judgment of God。 But as he came forth from the holy place； his face was shining with the glory of God； 〃and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple。〃 Zacharias communicated to them what he had seen and heard； and 〃as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished； he departed to his own house。〃
Soon after the birth of the promised child； the father's tongue was loosed； 〃and he spake； and praised God。 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them： and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea。 And all they that heard them laid them up
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in their hearts； saying； What manner of child shall this be！〃 All this tended to call attention to the Messiah's coming； for which John was to prepare the way。
The Holy Spirit rested upon Zacharias； and in these beautiful words he prophesied of the mission of his son：
〃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 unto His people By the remission of their sins； Through the tender mercy of our God； Whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us； To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death； To guide our feet into the way of peace。〃
〃And the child grew； and waxed strong in spirit； and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel。〃 Before the birth of John； the angel had said； 〃He shall be great in the sight of the Lord； and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink； and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost。〃 God had called the son of Zacharias to a great work； the greatest ever committed to men。 In order to accomplish this work； he must have the Lord to work with him。 And the Spirit of God would be with him if he heeded the instruction of the angel。
John was to go forth as Jehovah's messenger； to bring to men the light of God。 He must give a new direction to their thoughts。 He must impress them with the holiness of God's requirements； and their need of His perfect righteousness。 Such a messenger must be holy。 He must be a temple for the indwelling Spirit of God。 In order to fulfill his mission； he must have a sound physical constitution； and mental and spiritual strength。 Therefore it would be necessary for him to control the appetites and passions。 He must be able so to control all his powers that he could stand among men as unmoved by surrounding circumstances as the rocks and mountains of the wilderness。
In the time of John the Baptist； greed for riches； and the love of luxury and display had become widespread。 Sensuous pleasures； feasting and drinking； were causing physical disease and degeneracy； benumbing the spiritual perceptions； and lessening the sensibility to sin。 John was to stand as a reformer。 By his abstemious life and plain dress he was to
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rebuke the excesses of his time。 Hence the directions given to the parents of John；a lesson of temperance by an angel from the throne of heaven。
In childhood and youth the character is most impressible。 The power of self…control should then be acquired。 By the fireside and at the family board influences are exerted whose results are as enduring as eternity。 More than any natural endowment； the habits established in early years decide whether a man will be victorious or vanquished in the battle of life。 Youth is the sowing time。 It determines the character of the harvest； for this life and for the life to come。
As a prophet； John was 〃to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children； and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just； to make ready a people prepared for the Lord。〃 In preparing the way for Christ's first advent； he was a representative of those who are to prepare a people for our Lord's second coming。 The world is given to self…indulgence。 Errors and fables abound。 Satan's snares for destroying souls are multiplied。 All who would perfect holiness in the fear of God must learn the lessons of temperance and self…control。 The appetites and passions must be held in subjection to the higher powers of the mind。 This self…discipline is essential to that mental strength and spiritual insight which will enable us to understand and to practice the sacred truths of God's word。 For this reason temperance finds its place in the work of preparation for Christ's second coming。
In the natural order of things； the son of Zacharias would have been educated for the priesthood。 But the training of the rabbinical schools would have unfitted him for his work。 God did not send him to the teachers of