To grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
      (1.) In sending the Messiah, God has made a gracious visit to his people, whom for many ages he had seemed to neglect, and to be estranged from; he hath visited them as a friend, to take cognizance of their case. God is said to have visited his people in bondage when he delivered them (Exodus 3:16; Exodus 4:31), to have visited his people in famine when he gave them bread,Ruth 1:6. He had often sent to them by his prophets, and had still kept up a correspondence with them; but now he himself made them a visit.