mise of Salvation by His Son. In like manner the
Second Lesson, when combined with its Responding Canticle, may be an
Act of Praise to God, for the Coming of the Saviour, or for the Spread
of the Gospel. We must therefore now discuss the connection between
the Second Lessons and their attendant Canticles.

_Benedictus_ and _Nunc dimittis_ praise God for the Coming of His
Son--_Jubilate Deo_ and _Deus misereatur_ praise Him for the Spread of
the Gospel.

Benedictus.

_Benedictus_ is the Hymn of Zacharias upon the first beginning of the
actual Coming of Messiah. "The horn of salvation was virtually raised
up when the Incarnation became an accomplished fact" (Godet). The
birth of S. John the Baptist was foretold to his father Zacharias, and
the name by which he was to be {84} called. Zacharias showed his faith
in the Angel's message by giving him this name--John--which means
_God's mercy_. _Benedictus_ is a Hymn upon that name. There is a
Psalm, well-known, we are to suppose, to Zacharias, upon the same
theme. It is number cvi. in our Bible. From it a very large
proportion of the leading words of this Hymn are taken. _Blessed be
the Lord God of Israel_ (_v._ 48), _visited_ (_v._ 4), _redeemed_ (_v._
10), _salvation_ (_v._ 4), _spake_ (_v._ 2), _since the world began_
(_v._ 48), _from our enemies--from the hands of all that hate us_
(_vv._ 10, 41), mercy (_vv._ 1, 7), remember, remember the covenant
(_vv._ 4, 7, 45), _being delivered_ (_v._ 43), _righteousness_ (_v._
3), _all the days of our life_ (=at all times, _v._ 3). Some of these
come twice in the Hymn, or in the Psalm, and leave comparatively few
leading words unaccounted for.

There are, however, two verses in the Hymn which require further
notice. The word _anatole_ is translated _dayspring_ in the last
couplet, because it is treated here as giving light to those who sit in
darkness. But in Zech. iii. and vi. it is used of Joshua the son of
Zerubbabel and translated _Branch_. The thought of Joshua the High
Priest as prefiguring Jesus our High Priest suggested the idea of the
Branch, but its other meaning suggested the star of the East ushering
in the day.

Distinguish between the Zacharias who speaks and the Zechariah of the
Old Testament, the prophet whose words he uses. Note that Joshua and
Jesus are the same word, and that the prophet's words about Joshua are
used by John's father about Jesus. {85} Also there are references to
Psalm cxxx