life cannot follow and as it is a true and old saying in diuinity Good workes follow him that is iustified * Aug. lb. de fide operibus Non praecedunt iustificandum that is They doe not goe before hee is iustified We doe not hold that an historicall faith iustifies but a liuely faith which inwardly is seene to God and outwardly shewed in good workes and loue to our neighbours Good workes though they be not causa regnandi that is The cause to make vs raigne in Gods kingdome yet they be via regni the way to the kingdome for though God will not reward vs propter opera that is for our works yet he will o Reu. 22.12 Rom. 2.6 reward vs secundum opera that is according to our workes And thus I haue a little exceeded my limits for I study not to be Controuersall but Doctrinall in freeing our * Eccles Angl. in Confess art 12. Iewels Apologie part 2. ca. 20. Zanch. Comment in 1. Thess 4. Luth. Com. Epist ad Gal. c. 5. v. 6. Church-doctrine from the calumniations of the enemies of the grace of God who like the Adder stoppes his eare against the voice of the charmer charme hee neuer so wisely or truely The summe of all is this That wee were not able to redeeme our selues nay no Saints could ransome vs for p Mat. 25.9 they can spare no oyle for our lampes no Angels redeeme vs for God layed folly on his q Iob. 4.18 Angels onely Christ Iesus must bee the r 2. Cor. 5.21 propitiation for sinne that knew no sinne who was made of a woman and made vnder the Law to redeeme vs from the curse of the Law and to iustifie vs by a liuely faith in him and his merits that we might receiue the adoption of Sonnes Now therefore to drawe to a conclusion What shall we render vnto the Lord for all his benefits bestowed vpon vs which benefits wee could not haue receiued but by Christs Incarnation By it we haue a Kingdome in possessionem Possesse the Å¿ Matt. 25.34 kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world His body in refectionem that is for our spirituall repast My u Iohn 6.5.5 flesh is meat indeede his blood in ablutionem that is for clensing vs he * Reu. 1.5 washeth vs from our sinnes in his blood his life in redemptionem for our redemption I x Ioh. 10.11 lay downe my life for my sheepe his Diuinity in visionem to behold it We y 1. Cor. 13.12 shall see him face to face his eternity in fruitionem that is in fruition * Ioh. 17.3 This is life eternall that they may know thee to be the onely very God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ Oh Beloued had I the tongue of an Angell or you the hearts of glorified Saints I could not vtter nor you conceiue the immeasurable measure of diuine benefits we receiue by the Incarnation of our Sauiour what shal we render for them Let * Psal 115.12.13 vs take the Cup of Saluation and giue thankes and prayse the name of the Lord. Let vs imitate those a Math. 2.11 Wisemen Who hauing found the Babe fell downe and worshipped him and opened their Treasures and presented gifts * Auruâ—â— soluitur quasi Regi magno Thus immolatur vt Deo Myrrha praebetur vt Redemptori c. Aug. in Ser. Epiphan Gold Incense and Myrrh Iuuencus Aurum Thus Myrrham Regique hominique Deoque dona ferunt that is Gold Frankincense and Mirrhe the Wisemen offer To him as King as man as God thâ—y proffer So let vs fall downe and worship this blessed Babe of Bethleem and let vs offer gifts First A liuely faith b 1. Pet. 1.7 which is more precious then gold Secondly heartie Prayers and Prayses which are as Incense vnto the Lord like the c Reu. 5.8 foure and twentie Elders fall downe before the Lambe hauing euery one Harpes and golden Vials which are the prayers of the Saints Thirdly Let vs offer Myrrhe b tter and contrite repentance for ouâ— sinnes considering that Christ who is the fountaine of al goodnesse was for our sinnes and sakes accounted as d Luther loc com tit de Christi passione Luther writes Omnium possimus reputatiuè coram hominibus imputatiuè coram Deo that is as the worst of all by estimation before men by imputation before God by estimation before men So the e Mark 3.22 Scribes blasphemed him He hath Beelzebub by Imputation before God for all our sinnes were imputed to him Propter scelera nostra attritus est sayth f Esay 53.5 Esay that is He was broken for our iniquities and wounded for our transgressions What shal I say more but with g Ioh. 1.29 Iohn Baptist Ecce Agnus Dei that is behold the Lambe of God which takes away the sinnes of the world At this fulnesse of time God sent this Lambe as a Lambe among Wolues to redeeme and to reduce to his fold the scattered flock of Israel Redemptor noster homo nascendo Agnus moriendo Leo resurgendo Aquila ascendendo factus est sayth h Greg. hom 4. Gregorie that is Our Redeemer made man by his Incarnation suffered as a Lambe in his passion shewed himselfe a Lion of the Tribe of Iudah in his resurrection and mounted as a diuine Eagle in his Ascension and now i Heb. 1.3 sitteth at the right hand of his Father By his Incarnation we are regenerated by his Passion redeemed by his Resurrection restored from death to life by k Ioh. 14.2 his Ascension he hath prepared an heauenly possession He was made of a woman and made the Sonne of man that we might be made the Sonnes of God he was made vnder the law and bond to the law that we might be freed from the bendage of the law Hee conquered the law by a double right as l Luther in textum Luther writes First as the Sonne of God Lord of the Law Secondly in our person which is as much as if we had ouercome the law our selues for his victorie is ours All this for our sakes that we might receiue the adoption of Sonnes and hath sent the Spirit of his Sonne into our hearts which cryeth Abba Father Let this meditation be euermore a Cordial of comfort the aqua vitae water of life to reuiue our sinne-sicke soules and perplexed consciences against Sinne Sathan and the Law which alwayes accuse vs terrifie vs and condemne vs let vs tell them boldly that they haue no power ouer vs for God the Father sent his Sonne maâ—â— of a woman and made vnder the Law to redeeme vs from the curse of the Law Let vs creepe into that hole which bloody * Aug. Manuel 〈◊〉 Longinus made with his speare in our Sauiours side there let vs hide our selues against our foes let vs plunge our bleeding conscience in his bloody wounds dolorous death victorious resurrection and glorious ascension and let vs firmely and faithfully beleeue that our Sauiour was borne liued died rose againe and ascended that wee might receâ—â—e and enioy the fruition of the adoption of Sonnes The dew of heauen which fell vpon the â—eece of n Iudg. 6.38 Gedeon fall downe vpon these our labours â—â—meditations and water them with the dew of diuine grace in all your hearts to his eternall glory and your endlesse comfort and that for Iesus Christ his sake our onely Lord Sauiour and Redeemer to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost three persons in Trinitie one eternall God in vnitie be ascribed euerlasting glory might and Maiestie Dignitie and Dominion Prayse and Thanksgiuing world without end Amen Tri-vni Deo laus gloria 2. MACCA 15.39 If I haue done well and as the story required it is the thing that I desired but if I haue spoken slenderly and barelâ— is that I could
qui rapit aliena sed ille auarus est qui cupidè seruat sua Aug. Charity is turned to brauerie and prodigality large houses but straite gates and the Porter Couetousnes keepes out Lazarus from any entrance In the better Times this was a time of charitable deuotion which is now turned to deuoration The rich feast and the poore fast they dine these pine they surfet these starue yet both seruants to one Master Oh you whome God hath blessed with a plentifull store t Ecclesiast 11.1 Cast your bread vpon the waters and after many dayes ye shall finde it Tanta est apud Deum hospitalitatis gratia vt ne potus aquae frigidae a praemijs remunerationis immunis sit sâ—ith u Ambros de offic Ambrose 1. God is so regardfull of hospitality and charity that a cup of cold water lacks not a * Si vere tua sunt expende ad lâ—cra pro terrenis coelestia commutato Ber. Ser. 20. reward Doe the works of mercy for God loues a cheerefull giuer There are many Christmasse-Non-residents that run to the Citty to liue in obscurity who should liue in their Country to keepe hospitality an Epidemiall disease as common as the tooth-ake * Auarus nec patientibus coÌ„patitur nâ—c miseris subuenit sed offédit DeuÌ„ proximum et seipsum Deo detinet debita proximo denegat necessaria sihi subtrahit opportuna Inn. de vilitate cond humanae against whom or to whom the poore cryes as the Infants did to their mothers in the destruction of Ierusalem Lament 2.12 Where is bread and drinke and finding none giue vp the ghost in the mothers bosome Oh you whom God hath made well-stored Stewards none are Treasurers open your-gates and let the King of glory his poorest members enter in if you will not remember * Ideo rogam Diues non exauditur in tormentis quia rogantem Lazarum non exaudiuit in terris Aug. hom de Diuite Diues he as a Gentleman as many are without Armes or Heralâ—y and because he shut his gate patuit atri ianua Ditis â—e passed the broad-gates of hell hee would not giue Lazarus micam panis a crum of bread he could not get â—fterward guttam aquae a drop of water to coole his â—ongue Shew mercy if yee expect mercy be mercifull 〈◊〉 your heauenly Father is mercifull * Foeneratur Domino qui largitur pauperi Prou. 19.17 He that giues to the â—ore lends to the Lord and his righteousnesse remaines â—r euer Prepare your selues and soules with pietie charity â—delity humility to welcome this fulnesse of Time put 〈◊〉 your wedding garments fidem perfectam charitatem â—rmatam a liuely faith a louely charity Behold The â—mmortall King of mans redemption comes vnto you Virg. I am noua progenies calo dimittur alto A God-man is sent from God to man Welcome him with all fidelity humility piety with â—ordiall sanctity and solemnitie If a mortall King should â—ome vnto you I knowe you would adorne your selues â—rouide a solemne preparation to entertaine him with â—ll duty and diligence Lo the greatest King of all in â—omparison of whome all earthly Kings are â—tomi â—oates and mites in a Reuel 19 16. cuius foemore scriptum Rex reâ—um c. In whose thigh is written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Behold he comes vnto you to lodge in â—he houses of your hearts by faith Behold I stand at the â—oore and knocke if any man heare my voice and open the â—oore I will come in vnto him and will sup with him and â—e with me Apoc. 3.20 Be thankfull to our Lord for the fulnesse of this Time â—e dutiful to serue him at al times And to end this point with the Psalmists b Psal 149.1.2 Licèt Deus cunctes dies creauerit singulariter tamen hunc Diem fecisse dicitur qui Domini natiuitate sacratus est in quo exultari conuenit et latari c Cass in Ps 11â— song Sing ye vnto the Lord a new song â—t his praise be heard in the Congregation of Saints let Israel reioyce in him that made him and let the children of Sion reioyce in their King And thus much or rather thus little of the first point the Time Quando when the fulnesse of Time was come The next part I am to touch is Quis who God sâ—â—â— his Sonne the Cardâ— and Basis of this Time and tâ—â—â— God sent his Sonne wherein I will obserue three things First the inseparable working of the Trinity in the work of mans redemption Secondly the confutation of the heresie of c Vide Vrsin doct Christ 2. par tit de deitate Christi Noetus et Praâ—cas hanc haeresin tenebant vide Aug. haeres 36. Sabellius who did maintaine the Son to be Eaudem personam cum patre Spiritu sancto that is the same person with the Father and the holy Spirit when wee see here that they be distinct God sent his Sonne 3. The manifestation of the heresie of d Aug. haeres 45. De hac haeresi vide Zanchium Theophilact in Philip. 2. v. 5. Photinus who denied the diuine nature of Christ affirmed here God sâ—â—â— his Sonne that is his naturall Son begotten from eternity For the first The workes of the Trinity be inseparable and indiuisible for as the Trinity were Agents in the creation of man Faciamus hominem Let vs make man Gen. 1.26 so Actors at the Redemption of man In this high and heauenly worke there concurred the wisdome of the Almighty Father the willingnesse of the All-mercifull Sonne the power of the All-sanctifying Spirit the Father willed the Sonne worked and the holy Ghost blessed the Father decreed the Sonne personally performed and the holy Ghost sanctifyed the worke of redemption in one word God sent his Sonne e Vide Musc loc com tit de Incar verb. Diuines to expresse this mystery vse this similitude imagining three virgins weauing of a coate and one to weare it so the three persons of the holy Trinity wrought in the Incarnation of the Word but the Sonne alone did put on the flesh for it was conuenient that He that was Sonne in the God-head should be Sonne in manhood Now as the Creation of all is attributed to God the Father in respect of the matter to God the Sonne in respect of the disposition of the forme and to God the holy Ghost in regard of the preseruation of both So the Redemption is attributed to the Father Pater per filiâ—â— taenquam fons as the learned f Vrsin doct Christ 2. par tit redemp p. 34. 5. Vrsinus the Father by â—â—e Sonne as the fountaine it is attributed and ascribed â—o the Sonne who effected it merito sua persona by his â—erits person and passion It is attributed to the holy Ghost Tanquam immediatè effector regenerationis as imâ—ediatly the effector of regeneration yea as that worâ—â—y Vrsinus saith again
the personall vnion of both Natures we may behold his most incomparable and incomprehensible compassion and affection to mankind which I can better admire with silence then expresse with vtterance Oh beloued had I sides of brasse that could not bee weaâ—y or an Anâ—els tongue to speâ—ke with II I should falâ— short in soâ—nd ng the bottome of this bottomlesse and boundlesse compassion Non mihi si centum voces linguae quoque centum sufficerent c. An hundred tongues and voicEs were not able To shew Christâ— loue herein proportionable Our Lord and Sauiour did so sitire nostram salutem so ardently thirst after our saluation that hee did vouchsafe to be borne of a woman Lambit vbera qui regit sidera tacet qui verbum est as e Aug. ser 5. de temp Austen that is He sucks the brests that rules the Starres he is an Infant and cannot speake and yet he is the Word great humility to assume our humanity made of a woman and made f Iohn 1.14 flesh and found in shape as a maÌ„ Phi. 2.7 He did not take Angelical nature and as the g Heb. 2.16 Author to the Hebrews He in no sort took the Angels but he took the seed of Abraham Vt nos aequaret Angelis minoratus est ab Angelis saith Anselmus that is That he might make vs equall to the Angels he made himself lower then the Angels So that there is greater affinity twixt God and man then twixt God and the Angels for he assumed our nature and was made of a woman Wee doe not reade in any place of Scripture that Christ did euer call the Angels fratres suos that is his brethren as he â—lles men h Psal 22.22 Heb. 2.12 Magna dignitas est fideliu quod nominantur filij Dei fratres filij Dei Vâ—igâ—â—ti c. Piscat Analis in Haebreos c. 2. v. 10.11 c. Narrabo nomen tuum fratribus meis that is will declare thy name vnto my brethren I may heere â—y vse the words of a Father Maritari noluit verbum â—t altiùs nubere non potuit carogloriosiùs that is The imâ—ortâ—l God would marry no higher then our nature our â—ture could neuâ—r marry more gloriously There is a three-fold affinity first legall by adoption â—condâ—y spirituall by regeneration Thirdly naturall 〈◊〉 generation We are Gods adopted Sonnes by Iesus â—hrist Ephes 1 5. Gods spirituall Sonne by regeneratiâ— Except a man be borne again of water and of the Spirit cannot enter into the kingdome of God Iohn 3.5 Indeed â—e are not Gods naturall Sonnes and yet Christ tooke â—r nature vpon him for there is but one Sonne of God â—r nature that is Christ Iesus Iohn 3.16 Math. 1.2 called Gods only Begotâ—n Sonne in respect of his Father and diuine nature first â—egotten in respect of his mother and humane nature 〈◊〉 God the Father called i Prudentius Hym. de Eulalia Virgine Duâ—andus rationab diuinorum lib. 4. ca. 48 § 2. Vide Ruffin in Symbol Omnipater that is the All-faâ—er of all men and all things by creation generally Of good men by adoption specially Of Christ by nature singularly We are only sonnes by fauor by adoption by grace â—at not by nature Oh what an immeasurable measure of â—ue was this that He who was Gods Son by nature and 〈◊〉 naturally God of the same essence with the Father â—d receiuing al which the Father hath sauing the persoâ—ll propriety who was so great did make himselfe 〈◊〉 little to make vs great as k Tertull. lib. 2. con Marc. Tertullian who beâ—me the Son of man that we might be the l Cyp. ser de cleemâ—syna Vide homo quomodo alle amauit te qui fecit te vt propter te factus ipse Hugo Sonnes of â—od whâ— being very God became very man that hee â—ight reconcile God to man and man to God who beâ—g so great that the heauens cannot conâ—aine him â—ould make himselfe so little as to be contained in the â—ombe of a Virgâ—n Filius Dei qui fecit nos factus est inâ—r nos as Austen that is the Son of God that made vs to be made like vs. A mercy or rather a mystery so great that I may say with m Esay 66.8 Psalm 2â— 1 Esay Who hath heard such a thingâ— who hath seene such things That hee who was the Lord of heauen and earth should become a seruant on earth a seruant to men Optimam dignitatis viam ostendit dominus nempe humilitatem Bas in hex Nay as Tertullian nullificamen populi that is esteemed as the outcast of men a worme and no man the scorne of men and the contempt of the people Psalme 22.6 it is such a wonder as since the heauens were made there is none to paralell it Rightly did the Prophet n Esay 9.6 Esay foretel his natiuity and name stiling him Wonderfull for he was wonderfull in his Conception wonderfull in his Incarnation The Scripture teacheth vs how man comes foure waies into the world 1. By the helpe of man and woman as all are vsually borne Iob. 14.1 2. Without any man and woman so Adam was created Gen. 1.26 3. Of a man without a woman so Eue was created Gen. 2.22 4. Of a woman without a man so Christ was borne Matth. 1.18 Wonderfull Incarnation that I may say with o Esay 53.8 Esay Who can declare his generation Secundum conditionem naturae natus ex foemina super conditionem naturae natus ex Virgine saith p Thom. 3. part q. 31. art 5. Thomas that is According to the condition of nature borne of a woman and aboue the condition of nature borne of a Virgin or as q Euseb emiss hom 1. de natiu Christi Eusebius Emissenus Datus ex diuinitate natiu ex virgine natus sic matre iunior datus quo nec pater antiquior qui erat datus est qui non erat natus est that is Giuen of God borne of a Virgin borne and so younger then his Mother giuen and so as ancient as his Father he that euer was was giuen and he that was not was borne Wonderfull Incarnation that He who was the * Non illius est silius fabri quem putatis sed fabricatoris omnium c. Chrysost sup Mat. 14. maker of the world and Father of Marie should be the son of Marie at God and man should in one person meete and that 〈◊〉 mother should be a pure Virgin and that this Sonne â—ould be the Sauiour of his mother Ipsum sanguinem â—em pro matre obtulit antea de sanguine matris accepit â—th r Hom. 1. de Natiuitate Christi Emissenus that is The same blood which he offered 〈◊〉 his mother he before receiued froÌ„ his mother yea as â—ombard Verus homo de homine propter homineÌ„ secunduÌ„â—minem super hominem that is True man of mankind Å¿ Lombard 3. sent dist 8. for