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.
Ver. 20. But while he thought on these things] And was not so well advised upon his course, God, who reserveth his holy hand for a dead lift, expedites him. The Athenians had a conceit that Minerva (their goddess) drove all their ill counsels to a happy conclusion. The superstitious Romans thought that an idol, which they called Vibilia, kept them from erring out of their way. a The Divine providence is our Vibilia, that will not allow us to miscarry, so long as we have an eye to the pattern that was showed us in the mount, Exodus 25:40. In the mount will the Lord be seen, b Genesis 22:14; Proverbs 3:26 .
Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him] As of old he had done to Daniel, being caused to fly swiftly, or with weariness of flight (as the Hebrew hath it), with so good a will he did it, as thinking he could never come soon enough. Daniel 9:21; Revelation 1:9 .
Joseph, thou son of David] Albeit a poor carpenter. A man may be as high in God's favour and as happy in russet c as in tissue. "I know thy poverty" (saith Christ to that Church), but that is nothing, "thou art rich," Revelation 2:9 .
Fear not to take unto thee] viz. from the hands of her parents, who have, by all right, the disposal of their children as a chief part of their goods. Therefore when Satan obtained leave to vex Job and to touch him in his possession, he dealt with his children also, Job 1:11,19 .
For that which is conceived in her] "That holy thing," Luke 1:35, that Holy of Holies wherein the "Godhead dwelleth bodily," that is, personally; and is called the Son of God, saith the angel there. Yet not in respect of his human nature, for then there should be in the person of Christ two sons, viz. one of the Father and another of the Holy Ghost. Besides, Hebrews 7:3, he is "without father," as man, and "without mother;" as God. All that can be gathered out of that place in Luke is, that he that was so conceived of the Holy Ghost was the natural Son of God. The union of three persons into one nature, and of two natures into one person, these are the great mysteries of godliness. The well is deep, as she said, and we want wherewith to draw (αντλημα), John 4:11 .
Is of the Holy Ghost] As the efficient, not as the material cause. The virtus formatrix, the formative faculty which the Virgin had not, is ascribed to the power of the Holy Ghost, framing and fashioning Christ of the substance of the Virgin sanctified miraculously and without man's help. But if no mother knows the manner of her natural conception, what presumption shall it be for flesh and blood to search how the Son of God took flesh from his creature? It is enough for us to know that he was conceived of the Holy Ghost, not spermatically, but operatively, yet secretly and mystically; the Virgin herself knew not how. Fearfully and wonderfully he was made, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Psa 139:14-15 Ephesians 4:9 .
a Jun. Emblem. Ab erroribus viarum Dea Vibilia liberat. Arnob. adver. Gentes.
b Becilleia in stultitia tua (ait Rab. Solomon ex Talmud. Hieros.), i.e. in rebus in quibus es stultus, aderit tamen tibi Dominus.
c A coarse homespun woollen cloth of a reddish-brown, grey or neutral colour, formerly used for the dress of peasants and country folk. ŒD