96 



REV\ JOHN HUNTLEY SERINE, ON 



conception ; and she probably voiced popular opinion. Moreover, 

 motherhood is the general lot of womankind. 



When, however, Gabriel explained the matter, Mary showed her 

 faith, (1) in the miraculous conception, (2) that God would make it 

 right for her with Joseph, and (3) that He would make them both 

 strong to bear the incredulity, which must have been very hard 

 to bear, on our Lord's part, as well as on that of Joseph and Mary. 



Mr. Rouse praised the tender eloquence with which the paper 

 closed, and added : In making this comparison, the author has been 

 able to show a sort of analogy between Joan of Arc, in delivering 

 her countrymen (already distracted by civil broils) from the 

 scourge of the English invasion, and the Virgin Mary, in becoming 

 a willing instrument for bringing into the world the Great Deliverer 

 of mankind ; and he has shown in each a striking self-surrender for 

 the purpose. But as regards the visions that Joan alleged herself to 

 have had of Michael the Archangel, St. Margaret, and St. Catherine, 

 she could at her trial say nothing as to their forms nor whether they 

 wore crowns or jewels nor whether Michael had long or short hair. 

 She knew him from them simply by their voices and because they 

 told her. She could only say that she saw the glorious faces of all 

 and that they were always the same, and that the voice that came 

 from each was beautiful, gentle, and humble. We may well conclude, 

 therefore, that what happened was that she, a God-fearing and pure 

 maiden, deeply grieving over the distresses of her country, did 

 actually hear a voice from time to time urging her to go to the 

 deliverance of her country, and in her reveries associated this with 

 the faces of the archangel and of the saints which she had seen por- 

 trayed in her village church. 



Now we know that Christians have from time to time declared 

 that, in a season of great perplexity, they have distinctly heard a 

 voice of guidance, which they have followed to lasting profit. And 

 why should not God, through one of His angels, thus speak to cheer 

 and strengthen those whose hearts are perfect towards Him, however 

 little or much they may know of Bible truth 1 But far oftener no 

 voice is actually heard, yet a strong conviction springs up in the 

 mind touching the right course to pursue, and is proved by its 

 results to be God-given. 



While Joan the Maid was delivering her country, France, from 

 the English, the famous Ziska was rescuing his country, Bohemia, 



