For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
Ver. 44. Leaped in my womb] More like a suckling at the breast (as the word signifieth) than an embryo in the womb (βρεφος, puer recens natus the boy newly formed, 1Pe 2:2). The Spirit then worketh, even in unborn babes that are elect, some kind of saving knowledge of Christ, answerable to faith in those that are grown up. The babe's motion here was not natural, but spiritual (saith one). Therefore John was sanctified in the womb, and did really rejoice at the presence of Christ in the Virgin. Now sanctification presupposeth justification, and that, faith. Yea, this joy was a true effect of faith in the Messiah; therefore infants are capable of faith: thus he. Seminal faith we cannot deny them.