no uncertainty,
no question in his mind, for this name had been predicted by the angel,
and Zacharias showed by his decision and firmness that he believed
absolutely in the fulfillment of all that the angel had promised
concerning the career of the son who was to be regarded by his fellow men
as a gift of divine grace and a prophet of divine appointment. It usually
happens that a public confession of faith results in new joy and in wider
testimony. It was surely so in the case of Zacharias: "His mouth was
opened immediately, ... and he spake, blessing God." His thanksgiving was
voiced in a hymn which, for hundreds of years, has been sung daily in
Christian worship. It is indeed a Christian hymn and a hymn of the
nativity; for while its occasion was the birth of John, only one stanza
refers to that event; the whole burden of the thanksgiving refers to the
approaching birth of Jesus and to the salvation which he is to bring.

This hymn is named the Benedictus from the first word in the Latin
version. It is an ecstatic expression of gratitude to God for his
boundless goodness. The poem possibly may be divided into five stanzas of
four lines each; but there is a definite pause after the third of these
stanzas when the thought turns from the work of Christ to the specific
mission of John.

The first strophe, vs. 68, 69, speaks of the redemption of Israel as
already accomplished in the gift of the Christ who is about to be born and
who is described as "a horn of salvation," that is, a manifestation of
saving power. He is to appear as a son and heir of David the king.

The second stanza, or strophe, vs. 70-72, indicates that the salvation
from all enemies is in fulfillment of the promises made through the
prophets and cherished by the ancient fathers and embodied in the holy
covenant made with Israel of old.

The third stanza, vs. 73-75, describes the nature of this salvation which
was assured by the oath to Abraham; it is to be such a deliverance from
political oppression as to make possible for Israel a true, priestly
service of God, as a nation holy and righteous before him.

In the fourth stanza, vs. 76, 77, the singer turns to address his own son
whose birth has given occasion to the song. He declares that John is to be
recognized as a prophet of God whose divine mission will be to announce
and to define the promised salvation as in its essence not a political but
a spiritual redemption consisting in the remission of