Lower then the lowest then euen then the Lord raysed him out of the dungeon to set him with the princes of Egypt and made him ruler ouer the land g Gen. 41.43 when the Egyptians made the Israelites to serue them with rigor and made their liues bitter with hard bondage when they commanded all the male children that were spes gregis the hope of posterity to be destroyed so that there was little hope either of continuing posteritie or of returning into the Land of Canaan which God had promised to Abraham and his posterity a Gen. 13.15 then the eyes of the Lord out of his holy habitation looke vpon their affliction and then is his right hand stretched out to deliuer them out of Egypt and to bring them into that good land that hee promised b Exo. 3.1 when Egypt pursued them after their departure c Exo. 14.9 and there was behinde them an army of Egyptians before them the Red-Sea so that their hearts fayled them then the Lord worketh his wonders in the Sea and leadeth them through the depthes as through the d Psal 106.9 wildernesse When to Gideon iudging according to the outward appearance and by the misery which they indured vnder the Midianites the Lord seemed to haue departed from Israell then was he with them e Iud 6.13 then did hee arise to helpe them When Daniell must into the Lyons Denne and the King himselfe though hee laboured till the going downe of the Sonne could not deliuer him out of the hands of his Enemies then is his God whom he serueth able and willing also to deliuer him from the Lyons and to shutte their mouthes that they shall not hurt f Dan. 6. him And when Ionah though the Mariners tow hard to bring him vnto the Land must needes into the Sea so that hee thought himselfe cast out of Gods sight g Ion. 2.4 then doth God prepare a great fish to swallow and saue him h Ion. 1.17 causing Saluation to come out of the destroyer as meate out of the Eater i Iud. 14.14 It is then a faithfull saying vttered in the song of Moses k Deut. 32.36 The Lord will repent himselfe for his people when hee seeth that their power is gone and that there is none shut vp or left And this assurance that God will stand with vs when all the world forsaketh and fayleth vs must secure vs in all our trouble the end whereof wee cannot see the meanes to wade out of which we cannot find it must bee armour of proofe to keepe off all feares which through the weakenesse of our faith are readie to enter into our hearts a Maâ—â— 8 26. Etsi fractus illabatur orbis although the world should breake in peeces and fallon vs God is our refuge and strength b 〈…〉 1. a very present helpe in trouble therefore will we not feare though the Earth bee remooued and though the Mountaines be carried into the midst of the Sea though the waters thereof roare and bee troubled and though the Mountaines shake with the swellings thereof I haue but begunne to speake of the matters and misteries in this text and the swiftnesse of the time the sharpenesse of the weather inioyne mee to silence and to hold my peace from farther good words I will then according to our Sauiours counsell c Ioh. 6.12 gather vp the fragments that remaine concerning these wisemen their Countrie their comming to Hierusalem their enquirie for the new borne King the moouing cause and end of their comming and when I haue a conuenient time propose them vnto you To God the Father that sent his sonne made of a Woman and made vnder the Law for vs to the sonne that tooke on him the forme of a seruant and made himselfe of no reputation for vs and to the holy spirit which must leade vs into the trueth of these high and heauenly misteries three persons and one God bee honour and glory now and for euer Amen The end of the first Sermon The second Sermon AS Ionah at his second sending brought the same message to the Niniuites so I comming againe amongst you bring the same matter and text and as I promised gather vp the fragments the sundry circumstances of this Text that were left vnhandled In the ranke of these circumstances next to the time of their comming Christs birth of which with the amplifications coincident thereunto I haue spoken many things followeth the circumstance of the persons that come and make this enquiry Behold wise men came Now heere againe are vaine reasonings amongst the interpreters strifes to no profit but to the troubling and amasing of the hearers a 2 Tim. 2.14 what these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wise men were what their profession was whether they were Philosophers Priests Astrologers Sorcerers Kings or States-men Non nostrum inter eos tantam componere litem I meane not to arbitrate the first betweene them for cui bono what good is there in it whether they were all any or many of these it mattereth not dummodo salua maneat historiae veritas as long as the truth of the History remaineth safe b Beza in locum Onely to speake that for which wee may haue some light out of the text it selfe it seemeth to be most probable that they were Astrologers Viri siderum inspectionibus assueti c Cyprian Sermon de Magis stella Men acustomed to gaze vpon the starres spectandorum siderum arte pollentes a Leo Serm. 4. de Epiphan such as were skilfull in the art of gazing vpon the starres such as amongst the Chaldeans were called by the Prophet Viewers of heauen and Starre-gazers b Isa 47.13 because they are lead heere by a starre to seeke out this starre of Iacob that was newly arisen Amongst our aduersaries the Papists who speake things that they ought not for filthy lucres sake c Tit. 1 11. it is an vnwritten tradition and therefore say they to be receiued Pari pietatis affectu With the like deuotion that the Booke of the Old and New are d Concil Trident sessione 4. that they were Kings three Kings because they brought three gifts that their bodies after their death were translated from their Country to Constantinople from thence to Millaine from Millaine to Colon whither at this day there is great resort of the simple people who like the Athenians are in all things too superstitious e Act. 17.22 to adore them as holy reliques And to fill vp the measure of their fayning they haue found out three names for them also Iaspar Melchior and Balthazar And to this purpose they bring or rather wring and wrest the words of the Psalmist the Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts f Psal â—2 10 But constat hoc ex picturâ non ex scriptura
where somewhat to learne to get the wisdome of this world which GOD will destroy q 1. Cor. 1.19 and bring to nothing ought not wee that are children in vnderstanding that naturally cannot perceiue the things of GOD r 1. Cor. 2.14 that know nothing as we ought to know Å¿ 1. Cor. 8.2 to compasse sea and land if the candlesticke of the Gospell should not stand in our habitations that wee might follow Christ Iesus sit at his feere t Luk. 10.39 heare his preaching and learne the wisedome of God in a mistery euen the hidden wisedome which God ordayned before the world to our glory a 1. Cor. 2.7 Iacobs sonnes when the Famine was in the Land of Canaan went downe into Egypt once againe to buy foode for the famine of their houses b Gen. 42. 43. and shall not the true Israelites be as wise for their Soules as they for their bodies Labour more for the meate which endureth to euerlasting life which the Sonne of God shall giue vnto them then they for the meate that perisheth c Ioh. 6.27 And with Cornelius fetch Peter from Ioppae to speake vnto them words whereby they may be saued d Act 10.5 when he is not to be had at Cesarea Pharaohs daughter beeing to be married to Solomon which marriage was a Type of the misticall vnion betweene Christ and his Church must forgett hir owne people and hir Fathers house that she might be brought in to the King and hee take pleasure in her beautie e Psal 45 10. and they that will bee the spouse of Christ married vnto him in louing kindnesse and in mercy f Hos 2.19 must shake off all carnall affections to Countrie or Kinred to the World and the things of the World which hange on like so many clogges to keepe them backe lie in the way like so many Lyons to hinder them that they may runne after him and bee brought into his chambers g Cant. 1.7 must hate Father and Mother c That they may come to Christ and bee his Disciples h Luk. 14.26 And to bring the best Wine at the last to take for an example him that was the friend of God i Iam. 2.23 and Father of the faithfull k Rom. 4.2 Abraham when he was well striken in yeares being seauenty fiue yeares old so that hee could take no pleasure in trauelling getteth him out of his owne Countrie and from his kinred and fathers house where they serued other Gods l Ios 24.2 leauing all that he might goe into a Land which God would shew him to builde an Alter there vnto the Lord and call vpon his name m Gen. 12.1.2.7 and if we be Abrahams children and of the houshould of faith wee will doe the workes of Abraham herein a Ioh. 8.39 otherwise as Abraham shewed his faith by this worke of his in going out from Idolaters and separating himselfe from amongst them and comming into the Land of promise where hee serued the Lord for that that was a fruit of his faith the holy-ghost witnesseth b by Faith Abraham when he was called to goe out into a place which he should after receiue for an inheritance obeyed So on the other side mens little faith or rather flatte infidelitie is showne and knowne as well as if it were written in their fore-heads with a penne of Iron when with the rebellious Israelites in Moses time for the loue of the flesh pots of Egypt they would rather tarry in Egypt b Num. 11.5 where they cannot Sacrifice to the Lord without the abhomination of the Egyptians c Exo. 8.26 then goe out into the Land of Canaan where they might freely Sacrifice vnto him when with the Idolatrous Iewes in Ieremies time d Ier. 44.17.18 they can burne incense in Egypt to the Queene of Heauen and poure out drinke offerings to her to enioy plenty of victuals and keepe themselues out of want when with Lot they can pitch their Tents neere Sodome for the pleasantnesse of the Countrie e Gen. 13.10.12 when with Martha they trouble themselues about so many worldly matters that they can neuer bee at leasure to heare Christ f Luk. 10.42 and with those in the parable they preferre Farmes Oxen Merchandise Pleasures Profits all before their spirituall marriage with Christ g Matt. 22. yea with the Gergesens will rather thrust Christ out of their coasts then loose their hoggs to enioy him h Matt. 8.34 and to come neere vnto our selues beloued where shall faith bee sound amongst the men of this generation who when Christ is not now per longinqua querendus to be sought farre off when his word is not in Heauen that we should say who shall goe vp into Heauen for vs and bring it vs nor beyond the Sea that we should say who shall goe ouer the Sea for vs and bring it vs but is very neere vs a Deut. 30.12.13 and dwelleth plentiously amongst vs yea when hee himselfe dwelleth amongst vs hath his tabernacle in our costs from on high hath visited vs and walketh in the midst of our Candlestick b Reu. 1.13 when his Kingdome is come neere vs will not goe out to meete him will not with Nathaniell come and see him c Ioh. 1.46 with Zacheus stirre a foote take a little paines to see him d Luk. 19.4 nor with Dauid desire to come into his Temple to behold his beautie e Psal 27.4 to heare with their eares to see with their eyes and to handle with their hands him being the word of life f 1. Ioh. 1.1 who when he riseth vp earlie and sendeth vnto them his prophets wisemen and Scribes will not receiue his prophets in the name of a Prophet but account the preaching of his word foolishnesse g 1. Cor. 1.23 and are ready with the Athenians to say of them that bring it what will this babler say h Act. 17.18 Surely these men would be farre enough from going farre with these wise men to seeke him if they will not receiue him when hee commeth amongst them if now when he standeth at their doore and knocketh they will not let him in with Zacheus receiue him to house If when hee hath his house amongst them they will not come into his Courts nor worship him in the assembly of his saints amongst the old people of the Iewes all the males must three times in the yeare appeare before the Lord in the place which he should choose to put his name in euen in the feast of vnleauened Bread in the feast of weekes and in the feast of Tabernacles Some of them then must come from farre the Land being in length from Dan to Bersheba one hundred and sixtie miles in breadth from Ioppa to Bethlehem fortie and sixe miles i Deut 16.16 And to what a number all the males appearing Hieron Epist
Moses not one whose tongue is as the penne of a ready writer by a country Amos not a courtly Isaiah and by him that is rude in speech not one that commeth with excellency of words And so I tender them to your Honour in all humilitie with that farewell benediction of Iacob to his Sonnes going into Egypt God Almighty giue you Fauour in the sight of the Man c Gen. 43. â—4 Now the Lord of Lords who hath brought your Honour hitherto fasten you as a nayle in a sure place blesse your House that it may continue for euer before him and after fulnesse of Dayes Ritches and Honour heere on Earth giue you the fulnesse of Ioyes in his presence in Heauen Your Honors in all humble Duty BARTHOLOMEVV PARSONS The first fruits of the Gentiles In three Sermons preached in the Cathedrall Church at Sarum MAT. 2. VERS 1.2 1. Now when Iesus was borne in Bethlehem of Iudaea in the dayes of Herod the King behold there came wise men from the East to Hierusalem 2. Saying where is he that is borne king of the Iewes for wee haue seene his Starre in the East and are come to worship him I Cannot but ingeniously acknowledg heere with Chrysostome that Multa nobis opus est vigilantia c. Wee haue neede of much watchfulnesse many prayers that wee may passe through and learne the difficultie of this present place a Chrysost homil 6. in Mat. For the strife betweene the heard-men of Abrahams Cattell and the heard-men of Lots Cattell about their pasturage b Gen. 13.7 was neuer so great so irreconcileable as the strife betweene the sheepeheards of Israell is heere what these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wisemen were what their Profession what their Countrie when they came thence at what time after Christs birth they came to Hierusalem and Bethlehem what this starre was when and how it first appeared and rose how it guided them in their Iourney one as it was in the case of Ahab Saying on this manner and another on that manner a 1. King 22.20 Manasses being against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasses and both of them against Iudah b Isa 9.21 Amongst all which varieties and extreamities I holde it the best discretion to keepe that which is good for edification c 1. Thes 5.20 to cast away that which is but the fewell of contention rather to finde out and follow that which may minister the edifying which is in Faith d 1. Tim. 1.4 then to doate about vaine and vnprofitable questions e 1. Tim. 6.4 which doe but gender strife f 2. Tim. 2.23 To come to the Text then there is a word in it and it is Ecce Behold which is Nota attentionis promittens rem magnam a note of attention promising some great matter to follow after which serueth as an Index to poynt out vnto vs many admirable remarkeable things here related and which standeth as a Beacon on an hill to discouer a strange and vnexpected comming and enquirie not of enemies but of friends for the new borne Messias accompanied and attended with many circumstances of Times Places Persons Causes and Ends all of them full of admiration For is it not wonderfull in our eyes that such persons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wisemen shoulde come and enquire for him that they which sate in darkenesse should see great light g Matt. 4.16 and that light should spring vp to them which sate in the region and shadow of death that they to whome he was not spoken of should see and they that haue not heard should h Isa 52.12 vnderstand any thing of him k Ioh. 1.11 who comming amongst his owne was not receiued by his owne i Rom. 15.21 could haue none honour in his owne Countrey l Mat. 13.57 Nato Christi exultabat Chaldea saith Maximus m Maxim 9. homill in hunc locum When Christ was borne Chaldea was glad and all Hierusalem with her princes was troubled the Iewe persecuted him the wise man adored him Herod whetted his Sword the wise man prepared his gifts that they should come at such time as this king was newlie borne hauing no forme nor comelinesse no beautie that hee should be desired a Isai 53.2 no better Chayre of state then an Oxes Manger b Luke 2.7 before he had knowledge to refuse the euil to choose the good c Isai 7.15 and in the dayes of Herod the King who to attaine and maintaine his Crowne spared neyther Priest nor presbyterie rooted out all the posteritie of Dauid that hee could finde butchered the Infants of Bethlehem made hauock of all the nobilitie of Iury yea hated his owne flesh killed his owne brother Pheroras his owne wife Mariamne with all her kinred his owne Sonnes Aristobulus Alexander and Antepater d Ioseph Antiq lib. 16. c. 17. that they should come from the East leauing their owne people and their fathers house and beeing followers of the obedience that was in Abraham the Father of this new borne King who went out of his Countrie and from his kindred and fathers house vnto a Land that God shewed him e Gen. 12.1 with the religious Eunuch goe so farre a Iourney to worshippe f Act. 8.27 that they should come to Hierusalem that so Israell might know that God might prouoake them to Iealousie by them that are no people and anger them by a foolish Nation g Rom. 10.19 and Vt studio magorum damneretur pigritia Iudaeorum h Remigius apud Thomam in catena by the diligence of the wise-men the sluggishnesse of the Iewes might be condemned that they should come by the guidance of a Starre God creating a new Starre not to giue light by night i Ier. 31.35 but to bee a light to lighten these Gentiles that they might see and finde the way to that starre of Iacob k Num. 24.17 of which Balam had fore-prophecied and calling them per ea quae familiaria ijs consuetudo faciebat l Chrysost homil 6. in Matt. by those things which custome made familiar vnto them that they should come to worshippe him looking not on the things which were seene his outward contemptible appearance his beeing in the forme of a seruant but on the things which were not seene his eternall God-head and power his being in the forme of God and his thinking it no robberie to be equall with God a Phil. 2.6 yea and acknowledging him which was Rex Iudaeorum King of the Iewes to bee also Rex Seculorum b August serm 31. de temp the eternall King magnum aliquod latebat in paruo saith Saint Austin c August serm 35. de temp there lay hidde some great thing in that little one which those men the first fruits of the Gentiles which came so suppliant from so farre learned by heauen that shewed it not by the earth that brought them and by
1. Tim. 6.12 euen the Eyes and View of the present World and with Dauid not to be ashamed to speake of Gods Testimonies before Kings f Psal 119.46 not to swarue from Gods Testimonies though our Persecutors and Oppressors were many g Psal 119 157 Heerein wee must be followers of Christ Iesus the Author and finisher of our Faith who witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate the Iudge that condemned him h 1. Tim. 6.23 and of Abraham the Father of the Faithfull who built Alters to the Lord and called vpon the name of the Lord when the Canaanite an Idolatrous Nation that serued other Gods was in the Land i Gen. 12.6.7 For then wee especially shew that the loue of Christ is in vs when we abide with him in tribulation that wee come to him sinceerely when wee take vp the Crosse and follow him k Mat. 16.24 Non est magnum si tunc a Dei Testamonijs non declines cum te nullus persequitur It is no great matter if then thou goest not astray from Gods Commandements when no man persecuteth thee It is no great matter to bee as resolute as Peter when no daunger is at hand to march vnder the banner of religion when authority alloweth it honour and prosperity followeth it but then to indure when the heate of the Day ariseth when the firie tryall commeth is a proofe of our rooting and grounding in Christ The Deuill himselfe knoweth that Trouble is the best Triall of Religion and therefore thinking Iob to bee but a Temporizer one that serued God for wordly neede hee would haue him tryed by aduersity Lay now thine hand vpon all that hee hath and he will curse thee to thy face a Iob. 1.11 Scilicet vt fulvum spectatur in ignibus aurum Tempore sic duro est inspicienda fides Good gold from drosse is in the sornace tri'de And faith from falsehood in trouble descri'de The souldiers courage is not so well seene in the campe as in the battaile when they cloase together Pede pes densusque viruir foote by foote and man cloase with man The marriners skill is not so well discerned Cum placidum ventis stabit mare When there is not a wagge of winde as when vnâ Eurusque Notusque ruunt creberque procellis Africus c. When all the windes hurry together And the constancy and courage of the souldier of Iesus Christ is best seene and showne when tribulation ariseth when he can indure to the end though he be hated of all men for Christs sake b Matt. 10.22 It is the protestation of the Church of the Iewes That their heart was not turned backe nor their steps declined from Gods way though God had sore broken them in the place of Dragons and couered them with the shadow of death that they had not forgotten the name of their God nor holden vp their hands to any strange God though for his sake they were killed all the day long and counted as sheepe for the slaughter c Psal 44.18.19.20.21.22 Shidrach Meshach and Abednego would not forsake the Lord their God whom they serued to fall downe before the idole that Nebuchadnezzar had set vp though the Kings anger were the messenger of death vnto them but were euen fortiores ignibus stronger then the fire it selfe d Dan. 3. Daniell would not intermit his ordinary deuotions which he had formerly vsed no not for a little time though the decree of his casting into the Lyons Denne were signed and vnalterable according to the Law of the Medes and Persians a Dan. 6. Let vs not then be ashamed of Christ and his Gospell when for the same we come before the Herodes the Princes of this world but let vs confesse him boldly before them who when they haue killed this mortall body the baser part cannot come neere our immortall soule the better part And let vs not with Nichodemus be such cowardly professors that wee should come to h m by night b Ioh. 3. doing the workes of light in the darkenesse nor with Ioseph of Arimathea bee his Disciples in hidde-locke for feare of trouble c Ioh 19 38. nor with the Parents of the blinde man d Ioh. 9.22 and many of the Iewes beleeue in him but not dare to confesse him for feare of being put out of the Synagogue e Ioh. 12.42 but let vs be stronge in the Lord and in the power of his might that we may be able to stand and withstand in the euill day f Eph. 6.10.13 let vs with Paul be ready not be bound onely but also to die at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord g Act 21.11.12.13 not passe for all that may happen nor reckon our life deare so that we may fight the good fight of Faith and a good Conscience and let vs cast our expences count what it will cost vs and resolue to indure the heate of the day as Chrysostome did to beare whatsoeuer the Empresse Eudoxia would inflict vpon h Histor tripart lib. 10. cap. 18. him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he i Chrys in Epist ad Cyriaeum Episcopum If the Empresse will banish mee let her banish me the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof If shee will saw me asunder let her I haue Esay for an example If she will throw mee into the Sea I remember Ionas If she will cast me into the Fornace I haue the three Chrildren that counsell me this If she will cast me to wilde beasts I remember Daniell cast to the Lions in the Denne If shee will stone mee let her I haue Stephen the first Martyre If she will take mine head let her take it I haue Iohn the Baptist If shee will take my goods let her take them naked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I return The Apostle telleth me that God accepteth not the person of man and if I should yet please men I were not the seruant of Christ and Dauid armeth me saying I spake before Kings and was not ashamed I haue beene sufficiently accountable for the first particular I passe to the next the moouing cause that bringeth them to come and enquire For we haue seene his starre in the East Of all the senses wherewith God hath indued man for preseruation of nature there are two the hearing and the seeing that are as windowes wherby he reueileth Diuine misteries and conueieth supernaturall truthes vnto the minde For by hearing he acquainteth vs with his will and word faith commeth by hearing a Rom. 10.17 and let h m that hath an eare heare what the spirit saith to the Churches b Reu. 2.7 And by seeing his workes either of nature in the creation and preseruation of the vniuersall or beyond nature in the wonders that he doth we learne that the workeman is God alone that none is like him c Isai 46.9 and that he