That Jesus was born of Mary is a plain historic truth to which all must
accord belief. "Yes," said Renan, who did not regard Christ as the Son
of God, "this story of Jesus is no fable, but a true history Christ
really lived." The miraculous birth was a fulfilment of prophecy. When
the angel told Mary that the child to be born of her would be the Son of
God, he cited Isaiah's prophecy for the confirmation of her faith, and
indeed the same truth had been foreshadowed when the promise was given
to Eve that her seed should bruise the head of the serpent. The first
Adam had no human father. He was the Son of God. It was therefore
fitting that the second Adam should resemble the first in this respect,
being in a sense infinitely higher than our first father the Son of God,
His only Son. It was fitting too that He who was to assume the nature,
not of any branch of the human family but of universal man, should be
conceived by the Holy Ghost. Other faiths than Christianity are limited
in their adaptation to races. The religion of Mahomet is not practicable
save in Eastern latitudes. The Koran enjoins as duties practices that
cannot be carried out in Western countries. The faiths of Brahma and
Buddha find followers only under Eastern skies, and even Judaism
required observances which could be rendered at Jerusalem only. All
faiths but Christianity are narrowed down by the nationalities of their
founders or adherents. It is otherwise with the religion of Jesus of
Nazareth. He came from God with a mission and a message for the world.
In comparison with the severe requirements of the law and the grievous
exactions of religions devised by men, His "yoke is easy and His burden
is light." With Him there is "neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free."[079] With Him there
are no distinctions of sect, or country, or caste. "In every nation he
that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him."[080]