Hugh Binning, Works, p. 434:
O! what soul can rightly conceive it without ravishment and wonder, without an ecstasy of admiration and affection! – that the Lord should become a servant! – the Heir of all things be stripped naked of all! – the brightness of the Father’s glory, be thus eclipsed and darkened! – and in a word, that which comprehendeth all wonders in the creation, – who made all things, – be himself made of a woman! and God become a man; and all this out of his infinite love, to give a demonstration of love to the world; so high a person abased, to exalt so base and low as we are! There is a mystery in this, a great mystery, a mystery of wisdom, to swallow up the understanding with wonder; and a mystery of love, to ravish the hearts of men with affection, – depths of both, in the emptiness of the Son of God.
O! what soul can rightly conceive it without ravishment and wonder, without an ecstasy of admiration and affection! – that the Lord should become a servant! – the Heir of all things be stripped naked of all! – the brightness of the Father’s glory, be thus eclipsed and darkened! – and in a word, that which comprehendeth all wonders in the creation, – who made all things, – be himself made of a woman! and God become a man; and all this out of his infinite love, to give a demonstration of love to the world; so high a person abased, to exalt so base and low as we are! There is a mystery in this, a great mystery, a mystery of wisdom, to swallow up the understanding with wonder; and a mystery of love, to ravish the hearts of men with affection, – depths of both, in the emptiness of the Son of God.
