ANDREW. God's wind came upon the ocean of life, and washed up the waters a little into a channel, and that is birth. They run up farther, and that is living. MR. ALCOTT. I should like to have all your emblems but have not time. There is no adequate sign of birth in the outward world, except the physiological facts that attend it, with which you are not acquainted. Naming of Spirit Incarnate. Why did they call the child John? SEVERAL. Because the angel told them to. RECORDER. The Hebrew word John means gift of God. They felt he was so kindly given that they called him Gift. (See Note 87.) MR. ALCOTT. Why did the people marvel? FRANKLIN and OTHERS. Because it was the custom to name children from relations. JOSEPH. And the people did not know that the angel had told them to name him John. MR. ALCOTT. What loosed Zacharias' tongue ? ANOTHER. His faith.. LUCIA. The child was born, and it was said that he should speak then. CHARLES. It was promised that he should speak. FRANK. Because God did not want to make the angel tell a lie. FRANKLIN. It was a reward of his obedience. WILLIAM B. He gave up a natural desire to name him from himself. Influence of MR. ALCOTT. Why was it "noised abroad ”? SEVERAL. It was a great event to have a child born from such old parents. MR. ALCOTT. And in the country, especially a hilly country, the people being imaginative, seem quite disposed to look beyond external things. They are apt to think singular events typify, or are a sign of, something supernatural. (See Note 88.) They wondered what kind of child this would be. Analysis of the Zacharias. How had the Lord "visited his people"? (See Note 89.) LEMUEL. He had visited their spirits. FRANKLIN. By sending John to tell that Jesus was coming. MR. ALCOTT. What is it to redeem a people ? EDWARD B. To save them from sin. MR. ALCOTT. A man who loves to eat and drink, an intemperate man, a passionate man, is a slave to the body; and when his spirit is released from his body, by renewing thoughts, that withdraw his attention from his body, he is redeemed, just as a prisoner taken out of a dungeon is said to be redeemed from captivity. (See note 90.) What is meant by "horn of salvation"? CHARLES. A great deal of mercy. MR. ALCOTT. What is meant by "house of David"? FRANKLIN. Jesus was a descendant of David. MR. ALCOTT. What enemies are mentioned here? MR. ALCOTT. What fathers are meant here? (No answer.) It is a promise, on condition of holiness, of giving blessings. And the oath ? (Here it was found necessary to discriminate between profane swearing and judicial oaths, which they had confounded. (See Note 91.) Is there any such promise to us, as was made by that covenant? CHARLES. It is made to all good people. MR. ALCOTT. What is meant by "prophet of the highest "? CHARLES. Announcer of Jesus Christ. MR. ALCOTT. What is it to "give knowledge of salvation"? CHARLES. To tell us how to be good, and forgive our sins that are repented of. MR. ALCOTT. What is "day-spring"? CHARLES. Righteousness, wisdom. MR. ALCOTT. (See Note 92.) CHARLES. Emblems of John and Jesus. What is it to "sit in darkness" ?. To be wicked. MR. ALCOTT. If John was the day-spring, who was the risen sun ? ALL. Jesus. MR. ALCOTT. What is it to "wax strong in spirit”? CHARLES. To stand fast by God. FRANKLIN. To grow better and better. MR. ALCOTT reads. "And he was in the deserts." CHARLES. In the country; at his father's house. Prejudice. EDWARD B. Why are Jews held in such contempt, when Jesus was born a Jew. FRANKLIN. Because they killed Jesus, and said, "his blood be on us and our children." EDWARD B. And Jews are mean, avaricious. (Mr. Alcott explained the last characteristics by the oppressions they had suffered.) MR. ALCOTT. Who think it is a wicked prejudice ? ALL. There are no right prejudices. Subject. MR. ALCOTT. What has been the subject of this conversation? NATHAN. Putting spirits into bodies. MR. ALCOTT. And the nativity, or birth of spirit in the flesh. CONVERSATION IX. MARRIAGE OF SPIRIT. CONJUGAL RELATION. Spirit Incarnate. Vision of Joseph, from the Sacred Text. - Idea of Birth. -- Emmanuel. Mr. Alcott began the conversation by reading the Before the Vulgar Era, 5. Julian Period, 4709. Nazareth. * Isa. vii. 14. VISION OF JOSEPH. MATT. i. 18 to the end. Constancy. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife : 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son and he called his name JESUS. After the reading Mr. Alcott asked what interested them most. Idea of Birth. JOSIAH. I thought most of Jesus' being born.* EDWARD C. I thought I saw Jesus come down from heaven, when you read. WILLIAM B. When mothers have children they are always good, better than at other times. Mary's vision had made her good better than other people, and so her child was better. LUCY. I liked the angel's appearing to Joseph and telling him not to be afraid. SAMUEL T. It was beautiful where the angel came to Joseph in a dream. AUGUSTINE. The birth was so peculiar, because the child was different, more holy than other children. If such a child should come again, there would be the same signs and wonders, that the father and mother might get ready to take care of it. (See Note 94.) ALEXANDER. The angel came, so that Mary and Joseph might become good; so that they could teach their child, lest he should have faults. JOHN B. I imagined the angel, but I cannot put my idea into words. Constancy. FRANK. The angel ought to have told Joseph that it would be wrong for him not to marry Mary, after he had promised to. (See Note 95.) MR. ALCOTT. And what did you think being born was? JOSIAH. It is to take up the body from the earth. The spirit comes from heaven, and takes up the naughtiness out of other people, which makes other people better. And these naughtinesses, put together, make a body for the child; but the spirit is the best part of it. (See Note 93.) ED. |