to the nurture and training of Jesus. On the other hand, the greatest prophets and saints had not been brought up in solitude. Moses, Samuel and David had had brothers and sisters. It might be God’s will that the Messiah should experience in this, as in other things, the common lot of man. Whichever way the Divine guidance might lead them, we may be sure that the response of Mary would be still as before, ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.’ Even if the language