one in the schooles another before the councell and a third at the stake 1 Out of the Colledge came Libertines Cyrenians they of Alexandria Cilicia of Asia Act. 6.9 and disputed with him and were not able saith Luke to resist that wisedom and spirit by which he spake vers 10 VVisedom without spirit had bene ouer dull and â—â—â—ttie so many to one might easily haue ouercrowed him Spirit without wisedome had bene furie exception might haue bene taken to his intemperancie but wisedome going before as a guide and spirit following to set an edge vpon it this victorie was easily got 2 Since arguments could not preuaile of disputers they became sergeants they ranne vpon him vers 12 caught him and brought him to the Councell suborned false witnesses and produced them against him VVhereat Steuen was so litle daunted as all that sate in the Councell saw his face as the face of an Angel not onely for confidence and maiestie which was Angelical vers 15 but especially that heauenly ioy possessing his heart in that he was counted worthie to suffer reproch for Christ made him a cheerfull countenance This heauen he felt within him Act. 7.56 and lifting vp his eies he saw another about him readie to receiue him and the Sonne of man standing at the right hand of God Did Steuen espie him standing whom Paul affirmes to sit at the right hand of the Maiestie It is true Heb. 1.3 the King of glorie sits vpon the throne in the highest places But while his blessed Martyr Steuen shall stand before the Councell as a witnesse for Christ Christ will appeare standing before his Father as an intercessour for Steuen 3 Iustice will not conuict him they make a tumult Act. 7.57 stoppe their eares lest his words might pierce their hearts run vpon him all at once The reasons and accusations are blunt stones be sharpe enough they cast him out of the citie vers 58 and stone him and yet herein is his greatest triumph for he commends his soule by faith vnto God his praier in charitie for his persecutors and both were accepted of his soule receiued and crowned with glorie and the young man Saul at his conuersion enioyeth the fruite of Steuens prayer If Martyrs then be so happie so wise so valiant so chearfull so Angelicall that neither schoole nor court nor death nor diuell can preuaile further then to hasten their eternall blisse let S. Steuen be in the catalogue of ioyfull daies and let his example arme vs to fight vnder the same banner SAINT IOHN STeuen of a faithfull Christian full of the Spirit was made a Deacon a Martyr a leader of that band Iohn of a Disciple whom Iesus loued became an Euangelist an Apostle as an Eagle flying higher in diuine mysteries and looking more steadily vpon the Sunne of righteousnesse then others Steuen glorified God by his death Iohn by his long life Steuen by sowing his bloud Iohn by planting the Church in diuers nations did glorifie God Steuen by his example taught vs how to suffer Reuel 1.9 Iohn foretold in his Reuelation what things we must suffer both arme vs with patience in persecution Steuen offered himselfe at once Iohn by peece-meales whose life was a continuall martyrdome This Disciple excelled the rest in three prerogatiues 1 He was beloued of Iesus aboue other he writ more of his owne knowledge which he had seene with his eies and heard with his eares then others and left greater monuments behind him then others not of his owne fame but of the greatnesse of that little Babe which lieth in a manger and yet fils heauen and earth Iohn was knowne by the name of the Disciple whom Iesus loued but then what moued Iesus to affect Iohn more then the rest may be curious to enquire and more difficult to find out vnlesse it was because he was yonger then the rest of his followers and yet more constant and resolute For a yong man to follow Christ it is rare and therefore amiable If we vrge youth vnto that they tell vs as the diuell told Christ we torment them before their time Mat 8.29 For commonly the prodigall son is the yonger Luk. 15.12 Therefore since Iohn was like that purple wooll Heb. 9.19 wherewith Moses is said to haue sprinkled all the people both died in the woll himselfe with pietie and an instrument also to besprinkle others with the bloud of Christ it may be for this cause he was more loued then ordinarie So was yong Samuel fauoured of God so was Dauid a man after Gods owne heart for he was a man of God from a lad and so was little Daniel Dan. 10.11 a man greatly beloued as Gabriel telleth vs vnto whom no lesse reuelations were declared for the old Testament then were vnto Iohn for the new This louing affection vnto religious youth our Sauiour might learne of his Father as S. Paul learned of him to loue his yong scholler Timothie to whom he writ as often as vnto any Church which hee had planted A goodly motiue to shew especiall tokens of familiaritie vnto Iohn in suffering him to aske questions in secret to leane vpon his breast and to sucke wisedome from him Me thinks Iohn was vnto Christ among his Disciples as Beniamin was vnto Ioseph among his brethren twice beloued and brother on both sides by father and mother For Iohn was the adopted sonne of his heauenly Father by grace as also of his earthly mother by fauour For he spake from the Crosse to the Virgin of Iohn Ioh. 19.26 Behold thy sonne and to Iohn he said Behold thy mother This was the fruite of his constancie and perseuerance who staied by it when the rest fled who spake litle and held out when Peter said much Luk 22.33 and ranne away A sword pierced through his soule also as well as his mothers when his eies beheld the speare pierce the side of his Lord and Sauiour Ioh. 19.35 Thus was Christ Alpha and Omega vnto Iohn who was Aleph and Thau vnto Christ who began betimes and held out to the end Ezek. 9.4 marked in the forehead with the letter Thau the last letter of the Hebrew Alphabet 2 This is that Disciple which testifieth these things Ioh. 21.24 and we know that his testimonie is true Againe 1. Ioh. 1.1 That which we haue heard which we haue seene which we haue looked vpon which our hands haue handled of the Word of life declare we vnto you So he ended his Gospell and so he began his Epistles who saw and heard and felt more then the rest Mat. 17.2 He saw the Sonne of God in his glorie he saw him in his full eclipse he saw him when his face shone like the Sun and his garments glistered white as snow and againe when the same face was spit vpon Mat. 27.30 vers 35. and his garments deuided Hee saw him glorified on mount Tabor with Moses and
freedome and eternall blisse 2 In good time vnder Augustus when the world was quiet from the sword and at leisure to listen after the great field fought for our soules was our grand Captaine borne Then might the Gospell haue a free passage and the sound thereof be heard from Bethlem to Arabia from Ierusalem and Samaria vnto the ends of the world 3 In good time Mat. 4.9 when Sathan layed claime to all the kingdomes of the world for his owne and was inuested with that large title of the prince Ioh. 12.31 yea the god of this world VVhen a vniuersall deluge of sinne couered the face of the earth so as the holy seed of Abraham was become a viperous broode when the regions were white alreadie vnto haruest Ioh. 4.35 and that good corne that was left readie to shed out of the huske and perish in this fulnesse of time did the King of glorie arme himselfe with the frailtie of humane flesh and bloud to cast Sathan out of his kingdome to purge the world from him and prepare the good corne for the euerlasting barnes 3. Circumstance THe birth of this great King is a matter of estate for he is not crowned but borne a King Math. 2.2 the fulnesse of time wherein hee came maketh expectation not so much but the tankerd-woman of Samaria lookes for him Iob. 4.25 expectation makes prouision VVhere is then the place of his receipt VVhat citie shall entertaine him whose seate is in heauen Esai 66.1 and the earth his footstoole It must be Ierusalem at the least Mat. 5.35 For that is the citie of the great King But would you thinke this King should remoue his court from Heauen to Bethlehem the least among the thousands of Iuda Mich. 5.2 can you imagine he would take vp a stable there for his nurserie or a cratch for his chaire of estate or a poore carpenter and his wife for his courtiers Yet so it was and not without cause For vaine man at his first entrance to the world thought himselfe so goodly a creature that Paradise was too little for him he must be as God Therefore the mightie God to make amends looketh as low as man did high contents himselfe with a little Bethlehem the least of a thousand Miserable men the sonnes of Adam affect pomp and state too much God to reforme that boweth the heauens and comes downe nay boweth himselfe and comes downe like a showre of raine into a fleece of wooll Psal 72.6 and makes no noise Paul was sometimes glad for to grace himselfe with the place of his birth Tarsus a famous citie of Cilicia Act. 21.39 but hee that bringeth all honour with him from heauen will grace others but himselfe be graced of none Little Bethlem shall be honored by his noble birth when famous Ierusalem by his death shall dishonour her selfe Thus the great God who by birth made himselfe little delighteth much to make litle things great so went his Mothers song of him Luk. 1.48 He regardeth the lowlinesse of his handmaide and he that is mightie hath magnified me If the Scripture names be not emptie but carrie in them matters of prouidence then doth this Child of Bethlem performe what the name of Bethlem did promise It signifieth a house of bread Ioh. 6.33 and this is the bread of life which came downe from heauen vpon this day into Bethlem like Manna in the wildernesse Moses tels vs Exod 16.14 that bread was a small round thing vpon the grasse The Angell tels vs this is a little Babe layd in a manger Luk. 2.12 and yet this manger containeth more foode then the wildernesse and all the barnes in Aegypt for it feedeth Ierusalem and Samaria and the ends of the world VVrite this then in the catalogue of this dayes ioy that Christ was borne in Bethlehem 1. If it grieue thee that euer thou wast proud or high minded reioyce that Christ in Bethlehem became as lowly as euer thou wast loftie amends is made 2. If thou be little and base in thine owne eyes reioyce he that chose the least of the thousands of Iuda will magnifie thee 3. If thy soule long for foode and desire to be satisfied come downe from Bethauen vnto Bethlehem Hose 4.15 from that house of iniquitie which neuer brings contentment but vanitie and vexation vnto this house of Angels foode that blesseth the soule with euerlasting felicitie 2 Bethlem was but a little towne yet a towne though therefore some varietie of houses though but small Amongst these hee makes resort to an Inne It seemes there was but one in the towne and yet he makes choise of that Me thinkes he comes into the world as though hee meant not long to stay If he that built heauen and earth will neither build nor so much as hire an house for himselfe on earth but take vp an Inne his purpose is in short time to returne home to his Fathers house And this also is glad tidings for vs. For he hath giuen his word if he go before we shall not tarrie long after he is but gone to prepare a place for vs. Ioh. 14.2 In his Fathers house there be many mansions not made with hands but eternall in heauen Here we are strangers and pilgrimes and wayfaring men euen our fathers house where we are borne is but an Inne here to night and gone to morrow but our surest home our kindest Father our truest ioy and felicitie is in heauen else are we of all others most miserable 3 VVhat entertainment Christ found in this Inne is worth the enquirie S. Luke telleth vs there was no roome for him Luk. â— 7 yet roome enough for bibbers and blasphemers I make no question then the Sonne of God finding no roome in the Inne amongst men betakes himselfe into the stable amongst the beasts and yet whether worse beasts were in the Inne or stable might beare a question This Inne was not the holiest house in the towne nor this stable the cleanest place in the Inne yet this holy one of Israel comes to an Inne for he came not to call the holy but sinners to repentance This Sunne of righteousnesse may shine through a dunghill and yet the beames thereof gather no pollution albeit I must needs blame the Inne-keeper who assigned our Sauiour his birth-chamber in a stable like some mightie men who build themselues stately pallaces and if they haue any roome bad enough it is good enough for a chappell yet herein doth consist some part of our Christmasse ioy that Christ tooke a stable and made it a temple Mat. 2.11 where the VVise men worshipped and offered oblations Shall we then doubt of his abode in our hearts by his Spirit whose personall presence disdained not a stable Be it that we are more vncleane then stables polluted with sinne and corruption inhabited with many beastly affections like horse and mule without any vnderstanding
like vntamed haifers or wilde asse colts without yoke or bit yet the presence of his diuine Spirit will humble our affections cleanse our soules and sanctifie our members to make them temples of the holy Ghost 4 The worst roome in the Inne was too good for him but thankes be to God he hath gotten the best roome in the stable swadled and layed in a manger Luk. 2.7 and why in this place there was none but his friends and those that loued him well His mother sought out the most sweete and soft place in all the stable to repose the immaculate and tender Lambe of God in If any beast was there present to feede in the manger as likely at this generall taxing when the Inne was so full the stable was not emptie the very instinct of nature did teach them to know their owner and their maisters crib and after their fashion to worship the God of nature If sinfull man be that stable wherein the Sonne of God doth vouchsafe to repose himself assigne him the best roome lay him in the manger giue him thy heart where all thy affections vse to feed and solace themselues and that heart shall feele a heauenly ioy within it a peace of conscience which passeth all vnderstanding it shall send ioy into heauen amongst the Angels who reioyce ouer one sinner that repents Luk. 15.10 it shall fetch downe Angels from heauen with a companie of heauenly souldiers to sing glorie to God on high in earth peace and to pitch their tents about thee A man knowes not saith Salomon what a day may brîng foorth Prou. 27.1 Verily if one day brought foorth thus many ioyes when it brought forth the Sonne of God well may we crowne it with the Psalmist his Epiphonema Psal 118.24 This is the day which the Lord hath made we will reioyce and be glad in it S. STEVEN WHen the Sonne of God had put on man and couered his Deitie with a veile of flesh for dazeling our eyes great things by him were both done and suffered for vs. After that man therefore by vertue of those sufferings shall haue put on Christ Rom. 13 14. it is very meete that in token of thankes some thing be done and suffered by man for the name of Christ Bernard Non decet sub spinoso capite membrum esse delicatum since the Head was crowned with thornes to saue the bodie let not the foote disdaine to catch a thorne in defence of the head since Christ fought for vs in our owne flesh till he sweat againe and sweat till he bled and bled till he died let this blessed Martyr teach that the purest bloud in our sinfull bodies is not too precious to be powred out for his Gospell All confesse this to be true but some say it is too tragicall a farre vnfit meditation for this Feast these bloudie dayes of Steuen and Innocents might better haue bene referred vnto Lent to accompanie Good Friday For there be many wise men both from the East and VVest will with ioy henour Christ in the cratch that would be loth to follow him to the crosse S. Paul did fit the Kings humour well Act. 26.29 wishing that Agrippa were a whole Christian altogether like himselfe except those bonds For if Christianitie inflict bonds or draw bloud it is vnsauorie Vnsauorie indeede vnto flesh and bloud but he that hath well tasted of yesterdayes ioy in the birth of a Sauiour shall find it not allayed but well seconded by this dayes martyrdome The Apostles reioyced that they were accounted worthie to suffer for his name Act. 5.41 then sure there is some matter of dignitie in suffering and if they reioyced therein why should we be sad vpon this day Christ told vs before Ioh. 12.32 If I were lift vp from the earth I will draw men vnto me It seemeth there is some hidden vertue in the crosse of Christ knowne to none but those that feele the power of it by which he enticeth men to follow him with delight euen vnto death Therefore saith Paul 2 Cor. 12.10 I take pleasure 〈…〉 in necessities in persecutions in 〈◊〉 It is honorable thinkes Haman to be set vpon the Kings owne horse and haue it proclaimed before him Ester 6.9 This shall be done to the man whom the King will honour Our King of Heauen was neuer better mounted on earth then vpon an Asse and a Crosse The Kings on Palfreies that to teach humilitie this to arme vs with patience this shall be done to the man whom this King will honour VVhich makes S. Paul to glorie in nothing but in the Crosse of Christ who still as he is preferred to greater dignitie in the Court of Christ assumeth to himselfe more honorable titles To the Romanes Corinthians and the rest Sometimes he calls himselfe an Apostle somtimes a Seruant of Christ but the last of all is the most glorious in his Epistle to Philemon Paul a prisoner of Iesus Christ It is a Christian paradox yet that Apostle putteth vs out of doubt preferring it before the best in his 2. Epistle to the Corinth 〈◊〉 23. They are ministers of Christ I speake 〈◊〉 foole I am more why In stripes aboue 〈◊〉 sure in prison more plenteously in death often c. 3 There is a glorious companie of the Apostles a goodly fellowship of the Prophets but a noble armie of Martyrs as our Church hath well sung A noble and a royall armie indeede for there is no armie or hoast of God in heauen or earth which fighteth so like the King himselfe as the Martyrs do which ouercome by suffering for which victorie Steuen doth now enioy that which his name did signifie a crowne an eternall crowne of glorie If martyrdome then be delightfull that Saints take pleasure in it if it be to be affected as honorable that the Apostles glorie in it if as noble and royall it will crowne vs with glorie let it not grieue vs to recken it amongst our Christian triumphs The standard-bearer of this royall armie was S. Steuen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first Martyr in strict proprietie of speech that euer was the first 〈◊〉 of the Gospell of Christ that conformed the same with his bloud The Innocents lost their liues for Christ but it was in them no voluntarie oblation Iohn Baptist bare record of Christ but he died for a Legall truth It is not lawfull for thee to haue thy brother Philips wife Peter resolued to haue laid downe his life for Christ but hee was too weake Verily it was decreed that no man in zeale should lose a drop of bloud for the witnesse of Christ or his Gospell before Christ in the abundance of loue had shed his precious bloud for the loue of man After Christ had finished his course and was set at the right hand of his Father the first that entred the lists was this valiant Martyr Steuen who fought three notable combats