Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ...maintain such a dignity, which must have tempted the Blessed Virgin to hesitate in accepting the Divine call. 'What might not she have to be, to do, to endure, to surrender, to look forward to, who in a moment learned in the depth of her obscurity that she had been chosen and was called out of all mankind to be the mother of the 'Son of the Highest, ' the 'Son of God, ' the Christ.'"1 It was a tremendous crisis in the history of the world, a crisis in which the salvation of mankind, for a time at least, lay trembling in the balance. Would God be suffered to become incarnate for us men and for our salvation, or would His merciful design, for a season at least, be thwarted? The decision lay with Mary, and we may well thank God that it was the right decision. In the face of all that awaited her, by the grace of God, the Blessed Virgin accepted with complete self-surrender the wondrous call of God, and uttered the eventful words, --"Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it unto 1 Dean Church's Human Life and its Conditions, 2nd Edition, p. 173. me according to Thy Word."5 In that central moment, the everlasting Son of the Father, Who took upon him to deliver man, did not abhor the Virgin's womb. He began to take human form, and Mary became the Mother of God.2 Well may we make the words of one of our English bishops, the pious and affectionate Bishop Hall our own, --" But how gladly do we second the Angel in the praise of her, which was more ours than his! How justly do we bless her, whom the Angel pronounced blessed. How worthily is she honoured of men, whom the Angel proclaimed beloved of God! O Blessed Mary, he cannot bless thee, he cannot honour thee too much, that deifies thee not! That which the Angel said of thee, thou...
