with vivacity more particularly called Mary which is by Interpretation exalted and to the highest acclivities of acquir'd Honour was she manuducted when seperate by eternal Decree to be Mother to the Son of God and rais'd above the level of ordinary capacities in believing the Angels Revelation for which all Generations shall call her blessed both for Faith and Example her Faith and Chastity at first view inclining her Beholders her Admirers and Followers to that high way of the upright i. e. vertue Modesty with self denial which is above not dareing to tread in those so did and impure paths of Wantonness Conceitednesse or uncleannesse leading to Hel beneath She was indeed found with Child but it was by the Holie Ghost this woman removing the Curse due to man for Insobriety became by Samplar another Eva not for being beguil'd but for believing the Mother of all living or of all that would live by beautifying their lives with Angelick continence becoming Mothers to the Son of God conceiving by the Holie Ghost who again helpeth them to keep their vessels in Sanctification and Honour The thoughts as the shade of the Iuniper tree frighting and debarring the Serpents of Corrupt resolves from entrance and avoiding the deplorable issue of enflamed lost in the remotest imaginations tending thereunto subjugating every thought to the Captivity of Reason which by and by brings it under subjection unto Christ and perpetually deterreth unclean Spirits from nestling in the Soul or heart by remembring the wo due to them who neglect so great Salvation about this time as it were BORN by this Woman this Virgin unto whom the Angel was sent as unto a Virgin in body and mind being every whit holy not for one day but dayly which all ought to be and shal at last be acquir'd maugre all seeming difficulties by girding the Sword of Honour upon our thigh denying ungodliness and worldly lusts by which we not only conquer and Triumph but with our Virgin woman Magnifie the Lord for doing great things not only for us but in us ADAM is said not to be deceived but the woman she being beguiled by the Serpent brought forth Death Adam consenting to her Mary alone believes Ioseph consenting and aiding her in things requisit life is brought forth by them to destroy that Death conceived by the other two Eva Adam's wife became the mother of Death Adam yeelding Mary Iosephs espoused for which she is called woman brought forth life Ioseph attending therefore she 〈◊〉 called a Mother she conceived that life by Faith therefore a Virgin yet brought forth in sense wherefore she is also called woman How men are born all men know but not that way but on this wise was the birth of Iesus Mat. 2. that it might be strangely differenc'd from other products of the womb For when his Mother Mary was espoused to Ioseph she was found with Child having already conceived that Ioseph should not mistake him for his Son yet she was espoused so Josephs wife that the world should not charge her with whordome or her Son with Bastardy so zealous is God that the ugly stain of incontinency be avoyded pretiously esteemed among the very Heathen for a Laconian Lady being demanded of the Dowry she brought her Husband Answered I brought chastity to his bed Mary was found a Virgin Mary was made a Woman for her Honors defence for her lifes security Adulterers being stoned and that more honourably she might travel as in Iewrie or sojourn as in Egypt with a man and some will have her made a woman that is espoused that from the devil might be concealed Christs birth and conception for though from the prophesies before runing by the translation of the kingdom to the romans by the weeks in Daniel by the Angels Message he might have a conjectural knowledge of the Messiah near to be revealed but a certainty thereof might not be obtained for the foresaid reasons WAS not Evah when first took out of man a pure Virgin yet is she not called woman Christ is BORN on this wise that like the High Priest he miâ—ht not be defiled by his Father or his Mother for by his Father in Heaven in him is no darknesse and from his Mother on Earth he receives no guiltinesse being in her Virgin estate as the former though a Woman when a Virgin was tempted to distrust this Virgin in a womans estate not contradicting Truth but overcome by Faith and Admiration becometh pardon the allusion the Mother of Eternal Salvation to all that obey The Serpent encompas'd the woman the Angel encompas'd the Virgin and the Virgin woman without man encompas'd man Man thereby reaping the benefit of that he never sowed nay of that he never believed was in the Earth For notwithstanding of that which is Fabled of Periclio the Mother of Plato that she brought forth not devirginated yet the wise admiring at that peace in the days of Augustus Caesar enquiring at their gods its duration had no other Response then that peace should endure untill a Virgin brought forth a Child which so gladned the Spirit of the people that a Temple was builded called Peace and engrav'd on its front The eternal Temple but this their conceit miscarried for the same night Christ was BORN in Bethlehem that temple was ruined by an earthquake in Rome upon whose ruines in after ages was erected a Church called S. Marys I know there are who â—ighting against this Temple of peace triumphs as did Titus over Ierusalem at length leavâ— it as the temple of that City without one stone upon another in raseing the very being of it from Records alleadgeing with those circumstances it was never buâ—ded save in Authors brains But this being a day of joy and gladnesse of peace and Union we shal not enter the lists for combate accounting it easier to believe or misbelieve the story then travel to infringe the objectors Authority by digging up the foundations of that if so twice ruined structure THE first we read to have been named Mary was Miriam Sister of Moses a Prophetess the same with it but she keep'd among the Virgins and because of an Ethiopian woman murmured against the Goodman her Brother But our Mary because found with Child is numbred among women rejoiceing that Shiloh unto whom the gathering of all people was to be born of her betrothed providence cloathing Reputation by alloting her a supposed Husband discovering thereby her Genealogy for greater Fame both towards her self and Son he being reputed the Son of Ioseph which was the Son that is to omit dark and endlesse reckonings the son in Law to Heli Marys Kinred being Numbred Luke 3. the custome of the Jews not allowing Families to be computed by women yet this is clear from both that being of the house of David and reckoned by S. Matthew from Abraham Salvation by Jesus came to his Sons but S. Luke reckoning from Adam intimats Redemption by him also to be intended by
in the Church from all generations sent his Servants the Prophets who though dead yet speak to purchase proselyâ—s unto piety by powerfully convinceing the world of sin and terrifying men from unrighteous courses by the Terrour of the Lord even by those judgements he is purposed to execute upon all that are ungodly by which the strongest holds sin hath erected hath become like Iericho's walls flat so powerful hath been the breath of their mouths from which Energy came that confidence of Lactantius who with open mouth transacts witâ— his Readers that if they give him a Covetouâ— man an Ambitious man a Libidinous man by a few Scripture Texts actuated by the Spâ—â—rit he shal instantly present them with a liâ—beral an Humble and a Chast man And if any Rampier of Belials erection had brav'd it 〈◊〉 opposition to those precepts of pious deportment making avarice and lust with impudence and power Rapine Effusion of blood Oppression and Injustice so far to enlarge the Philacteries of their Jurisdiction that like Augustus Cesar they tax all the World compelling even man-kind to pay Contribution Goodness joins with Omnipotence and by wonders and Miracles GOD gives check to unbelief making it as Pharaoh's Chariots first move softly and next overthrows it in the Sea of Admiration making Faith first transcendently to triumph next resolve upon obedience and godly holiness argued into them by convinceing prodigies the intellectual faculties of the Soul not being so deprav'd but will prompt the organs of the Speech to say This is the finger of GOD. Which holy violence if yet more obstructed through the frequency of visions the customableness thereof not inforceing but nauseating the Heart as cloyed with signs and wonders the Almighty compassionating the phrensy displays once more the Ensigns of his power and for creating in men new hearts and disuniting them from their beloved lusts causeth Truth to be embraced by representing for its verity unwonted Spectacles as here he did the Jews a generation fatted and surfeited with miracles putting Divinity it self to devise a new device for reclaiming them from stale and Frantick combateings against Heaven and for confirming them against their old wonted Apostacy and back-slideing Creats a new thing in the Earth makeing a woman to compass a man PROVIDENCE is but a continued Creation a series of the things at first created which Creation is not only the production of things out of pure nothing by an irresistable fiat but also out of matter by it selfe through any vertue inherent not disposed to be the origen or parent of such or such a Substance as Adams rib was not in nature in its utmost activity capable to produce of its self or give the constituent parts of such a Harmonious body as Eva had receiving the power for that by its inlargement extension and apt composition in symetry of parts alone from the great IEHOVAH who stilâ— continueth the beings at first created by thâ— same alsufficiency they were formed anâ— wherein they are commanded to subsist whicâ— being observed and indeed expected in the turns and returns of the year forsooth by natural reason and experience createth 〈◊〉 wicked men a neglect of prejudice against their maker which putteth God by way of reâ—venge upon some and in manner of advice to others and for Caveats unto all to form stâ—ange effects from not imaginable causes that the Dreadfulness or Loveliness thereof may thunder or allure men into a reformation which to perfect our Prophet orders his Hearers to consider this new thing viz. A womans compassing a Man THAT a woman should be created out of man is an old thing that man should be produced out of a Woman is an ordinary thing that a Woman should embrace a man is no strange thing but search records and a woman's encompassing a man is a new thing in the Earth so new that it is the prerogative of the Lord of Glory alone and an act whereof he boasts yea invits to wonder at its creating by which is hinted that as it was never done so neither is it after to be expected purposeing still to have it a new thing and under that notion to be rever'd THE words by some are understood as predicting a change in the Iewish Church now groaning under onerous oppression being enfeebled by broyls and tyranny labouring to be delivered and here promised strength against and power to overcome the Masculin sword of the conquering Babylonians but this being no such new thing since Egypt was before destroy'd they may be interpreted to be the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ according to Ieremiah Speaking of her whose womb without the Knowledge of a man encircled a MAN That MAN That singular MAN with an Emphasis as the word Gaber originally imports hold out mighty strength a MAN in his strength a man not old not a boy but in perfect ability and full strength and was and is and which is yet to come yet still a MAN so that the woman is Mary a Daughter of the house of David and the Man is Iesus Son of the most high GOD whose Conception and Nativity in the flesh was indeed a strange thing and prophesied of as a sign and as a wonder futurely to be accomplished this sign the Lord giving that a Virgin should bear a Son Isa. 7. joyning Heaven and Earth for his animation God man for his Constitution A new thing yet an old thing because foretold it is an old thing yet a new thing because but now Created that Israel who had been married in Truth Righteousness and Iudgement might leave her dissolute Harlot-like Conversation and return to the first Husband of her Youth who upon her penitence purposeing graciously to accept her as a chast Virgin that Truth might spring out of the Earth confirmeth his word by this astonishing miracle of a Womans encompassing a Man which ratifies Gods tendernesse to all posterity unto all mans issue who will Spiritually dive into the depth of this Abyss and secure the Treasure therein unto himself by application Kissing the man with the Kisses of his mouth that is doing Homage to the Son least he be Angry THIS being the feast of our Lords Incarnation called Theophania because the Lord appeared and sometimes the Nativity because the Lord was BORN it shal be as apples of Gold upon pictures of silver to descant upon the thing it self viz. A womans compassing a man next upon the strangeness of that thing or as it is a new thing in the Earth A Woman that is in sex and yet a Virgin that is in condition receiving the first compellation from her wombs fruit-fulnesse in which she conceiveth and nourisheth man as if she were not properly a Woman whose womb had not bred a man neither shal man be happy but by this Woman this womb Mans bearing this Virgin 's encompassing she saveing all by this Child 's bearing though a Virgin an expression from the bodies vigorous and beautiful motion
the Prophets For say they to us a Child is born to us a Son is given Child yet before his Mother was he was a Son a wise Phisician and tender Saviour the omnipotent God to us is given a Child a Son respecting his two natures the first viz. Child expressing him real MAN as he was and cleared to be from his Genoâ—ogy from his soul body eating wearinesse fasting sleeping weaping from his being called Man the son of Man besides such representatives as GOD made of him under the Law as the seed of the woman of Abraham a Prophet from among your Brethren and Davids righteous branch The other word SON expressing him real God which he was being called alwayes the Son of God after his Resurrection after which time that phrase the Son of man is never used He is the everlasting Son of the Father Creator of all things giver of eternal life from the beginning confessed by the Angels demonstrated by his fasting by his miracles and that in the Temple where never miracles were wrought by man that being the place wherein God significantly would have his Son to be noticed and he proved from his working therein to be the Lord who was suddenly to come thereto Malach. 3. It being the house of his Father IN short by his suffering dying riseing from the dead he declared himself to be the Son of God with power for never MAN neither Moses Samuel nor any that called upon his Name neither Priest nor Prophet wrought miracles at their Death but he thâ— exploit of Sampson was rather wonderfulâ— then miraculous and came far short of thosâ—â—â—upendious actings at our Saviours giving up of the Ghost but at his rising from the grave so far he declared himself to be God that these words the Son of MAN are noâ— mentioned he said it behoved the Son of maâ— to suffer but being raised it was ought noâ— Christ to have suffered HOW elegantly hath S. Paul Philip 2. differenceâ— I shou'd have said united these two in these words who being in the forâ— of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God herein is the truth of his Son-ship and first part of his nature but made himself of 〈◊〉 reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men here is the truth of his Child-hood the other part of his being the Apostle expounding the Prophet would have said He was given to us who was in the form of God and born for uâ— who made himself of no Reputation this is the beginning middle and end of his nativity even to adore reverence that Love of God we who after he had made all things yet made himself MAN so mans good before this Child was born as a Son he governed all things but for nothing was he born save to serve that men might injoy all things and if the biâ—th of this Child this Son be accounted fabulous either by Iew or Greek because incredulous I passe the Vengeance shown on a lewd painter intending to draw our blessed Saviour in the form of Iupiter An. C. 436. whose hand by the Divinity of Christs power withering was again refreshed by Prayer Repentance and â—aith in the two natures though reason could not unfold the Union But let me know why the diseased lyon seeks out an ape by whose ugly tricks he as it were laughs himself into health how or what can cause an ovel ball of Virgin wax cast into the salt Sea fill it self with fresh water why should the Iew doubt of Marys Virginity since he believes the bush burned and was not consumed that Gideons fleece was wet and all the ground dry that Daniels stone was cut out of the Mountains without hands All these were antecedent to this the Spirit trolling us forward to believe the Mystery of the Incarnation from a Virgin overshadowed she being like the porch in Ezekiel 4.4 through which none was to pass because the Lord hath entred in by it he was the occult seâ—d which had we wanted we had been like to Sodom 1. Isa. he is the fruit of Davids body to sit upon Davidâ— throne other sons are the fruit of the Loins Psal. 132. but Christ was purely a fruit oâ— the belly for from Iosephs piety for Iesuâ— Dignity for the Honour of the Holy Ghost as we know Mary to have been a Virgin before her Conception so she is believed to have remained a Virgin ever after HIS Conception in the womb being the fund and bottom of all that followed in hiâ— Mediatory office in it resteth the inscrutablâ— Mystery of the two natures the possibility whereof in the Union of our capacious Souls with our finit infirm bodies is somewhaâ— cleared but admit this should not be reflected upon Heaven it seem'd resolves that thâ— A. B. C. of our profession should be wholâ—ly superstructed upon faith that the 〈◊〉 and Ground-sale might be conform to thâ— roof and both to stand upon his ipse 〈◊〉 the word of the Lord the Femal being 〈◊〉 only placed for the parent not a man to coâ—â—passe a woman whereby a man may be bâ—â—gotten but a woman a MAN by whicâ— Iesus was organiz'd AND if heathens beliâ—ved the possibility of Minervahs concepâ—ion in the brain of Iupiter without a woman may it not from truer gâ—ounds be trusted that Iesus was framed in the womb without a man it is certainly fabulous that Budda should have gendred in his side a Virgin buâ— for this truth what direful things have not been suffered and what consolation hath it not bred And the newnesse of the thing in the uniting God and man is said to have been registrat'd in the book of Heaven it self for all to see the Learned observing by their tables that upon the observed day of our Lords nativity viz. December 25. their fell the greatest conjunction of the eight and ninth speares in head of Aries that ever was and nature is not able to effect the like say they unlesse the world continue thirty or fourty thousand years a strange conjunction upon earth represented by another in heaven imports the Almighâ—y would have it wonder'd at HER name Mary imports a star and that of the Sea too designed in this particular to be eyed by such Mariners or rather questionists who in sailing through the Ocean of Divine Revelation Mysteries will needs be exerciseing the plummet and by the line of reason â—athâ—me in the depth of the wisdom of God or coast it by the shoar of their own interest opinion faction or concernment Mary in this being a better pilot by her own motion above her own reason in how can these things be steared towards the bay of Faith and of dependance in Be iâ— according to thy word and to her Honour cast anchor within the port of God's verity and omnipotency with God all things being possible and their striking sail saved her own Soul bringing him forth who is made to us of God
most august serene Lord Iesus who was by the Spirit given to this woman and by whom is published Heaven to be at peace with men and women uniting these two together and both unto it self that peace might be on Earth and goodwil towards each other and both give glory by submission unto God ceasing from contention Salvation comeing by Iesus and Honour with Christ to men who are but dust and ashes WHEN the Almighty doth wonderously men should be surably affected here is a Prophet created a King anointed a Priest consecrated a Phisician born what more a Saviour encompassed let this be your tydings Christ is born in Bethlehem and leave your flocks ascending to him who came down in your heart and love for in your Salvation there is utility in his Vnction swavity in his INCARNATION Majesty for he hath bowed the heavens and is to be found in the swadling cloâ—ths of Precepts Sacraments and Promises of all which the Angels of the Church have told you because of which heavenly testimonies expect not a star in the air I mean a new miracle or a new good way of your own chuseing but draw near and behold this new thing proclaiming it to each other as the two cousings Mary and Eâ—izabeth that Jew and Gentile may both rejoice together in the birth of their common Saviour and that with hast our Saviours birth as his doctrinâ— being prolifick dischargeth oscitancy and slouth having a proper work which must industriously be gone about viz. Sanctiâ—y the digâ—ity of the Spirits working in thiâ— supernatural manner having morally a coercive power to suspend terâ—en matters and carry the soul to the hilly Country by affection in the sweetest Cell of the Souls complacency and thence again to issue orders unto all faculties to abstain from filthinesse to Love the Lord to speak good of his Name CHRIST being as at this time born as at this time the Angels sang the Heavenly host praised the Shepherds glorified which in our leading pious holy and Religious lives shal also satisfactory to God and Jesus our Lord be performâ—d for which this new thing was created the World being grown old exceeding old that is thin crazy and bare Adams disobedience the Angels fall Cain's slaughter Lamech's Murder Nimrod's oppression the Giants Impurity Babels Confusion c. had so marred the visage of this Earth that the heavens groaned to be delivered from its aspect from its scent as if Mezuntus Tyranny had been anticipated who tyed living men to stinking carcasses for their death and his own sport But at last God sent his Son in flesh with water that the Earth as the Garden of the Lord being well watered and as Pharao'hs Kine made fresh faire and well favoured or as David of a goodly countenance in imitation of this woman by humility for though she was Mother of our Lord she visited First in charity for she came to help the aged Elizabeth to assist the conceived and comfort her cousing now impregnat in her dolors burthens longings faintings and domestick affairs in her Modesty she was a teeming woman and at the time of her delivery Mary the Virgin returned home in her Oratory she spake so well that the Bab of grace leaped in the others womb And lastly in her Civility for she saluted Elizabeth no question but with civil honour and Religious reverence for the Mother salutes the cousing the cousing Mary and the Baptist both all with earnestnesse and serious holinesse mixed with joy or if you please in imitation of the MAN in Love for as the Son of our Mother he is come down that we may kiss him with the kisses of our mouth in comforting the shepherds when cloathed with darknesse and it may be with sadnesse were comforted with joyfull tydings in suffering he endured the worst a stable a manger for all his innate worth and former glory he fretted not at 〈◊〉 he cryed it was for mans sorrow in doing he went about doing good and so let us compasâ— each other with Religious delight celebratâ—ing this feast very near as old as the Gospel not now only but alwayes with the Church â— Virgin yet the Lambs wife by Faith hope and Charity that they being found with us 〈◊〉 Ioseph Mary and the Bab were by the shepâ—herds may live as they soberly righteously and godlily which perfected we shal not be cast out of the heaven of the Church with Lucifer nor out of the paradise of powerâ—full ordinances with Adam but enter into the new Ierusalem which is above by vertue of this new thing created in Ierusalem beâ—neath THE method of obtaining which 〈◊〉 included in the marrow and significancy 〈◊〉 such names whose bearers were more peculiarly grandiz'd in the history of Incarnation Ioseph by interpretation is addition Mary bitternesse Zacharias minding the Lord Elizabeth peace of my God Gabriel strength or man of God and Iohn gracious now a good Name is in Herauldry accounted an accomplishment gentilizing the vertuous And we find in godly saints accrewment of honour to be attended with change of names for the case in hand let this days solemnity add one cubit to the stature of your knowledge touching the pravity and bitternesse of natural self by reflecting upon what the Lord hath now done for our indwelling with him becomeing men of God inspirited with peace when the Spirit shall write on the table of the heart Grace Grace teaching us all our life long to celebrat on Christmas that is Christs-feast in the old Saxon the holy Eve of that Eternal yule or Iubile in the holy Hebrew where old Emanuel now Iesus shal be worshipped with everlasting Jubilation FROM this MANS encompassing the Holy Ghost pleads for Israels returning and 〈◊〉 this back-sliding age would suffer a word of Exhortation I should motive for Modesty now Pharaoch's physicians wold sense a childs â—onfinement in the womb a womans nourishing of her fruit or how the Egyptian midwives would retail the particulars couched in the expression I presume not to know but there is a MAN and a WOMAN in the text and the copula joining them together is chast and comely there is mention made of the attire of an Harlot Prov. 7. and we read of the solicitations of a whore Gen. 39. but the knowledge of Christ ought to instill sobriety in all our converse Men Woman Women Men at meeting or a part contriving the contexture of their discourse the Methods of their thoughts the sentiments of their soul to be spirited with that vertue A Father observes that Ioseph gave no assistance to Mary she swadling she laying him in a manger he not dareing to touch so holy a Bab whom he Knew to be none oâ— his It 's also and there from incumbent 〈◊〉 the mystical beholding of our Lord to returâ— from our irreverent behaviour and give hiâ— his just devoir how unseemingly wil soâ—â— touch Christ in the Supper as if the 〈◊〉 were their own bread and wine when it
the incarnation to the Gentiles found in the Royal line and appears in the person of the the King of the Jews Iesus the Saviour of the whole Earth Whose Mothers Kinred is reckoned under Iosephs name as being one with Mary she being his wife Luke 3. and Heli's Daughter which Iâ—seph a Carpenter became a Foster Father a reputed or supposed Father to the worlds Master-builder and great Architecture of heaven and Earth his espoused having conceived in her womb about the age as is said of fifteen being fitted early for her Saviours intertainment by Sanctity and pudicity contrary to that Famous Helene upon whose eyes it s recorded none could look securely there being thence emitted rays destructive to purity enflameing the breast unto concopiscence but from this woman say they there was such emanations of beaming Continence as not only denyed such reflections but extinguished their being as the sun-beams do an ordinary fire I shal swear to none of these yet know that though Nebuchadnezars furnace be seaven times more heated then usually it no way impedeth Iesus the Son of God from making it his gallery but the least spark of natural lust indisposeth the soul for being a receptacle for that holy Child Iesus he being both separate from sinners and sin can have no Communion with Belial nor his imps yea if a David by entertaining of a lust lose the warmth or forfeit the sense of heavenly joy or Mary at a feast who hath ears to hear let him hear lose her Son and Saviour they must both regain their Consolation with sorrow and Care and acknowledge with Naomi that their Names are Mara that is Mary by interpretation also bitterness All our Saviours actions have in their womb instructions to the world concerning Converse and particularly his being BORN of a woman Virgin doctrinaâ—s to Virgin-like simplicity as some therefore abstaines from wickednesse for fear of pain others of shame or such like Carnal grounds let Believers make no provision for the flesh that Iesus may be formed in them more and more that his left hand may be under their head and his Right hand embrace them the former healing and justifying the other embraceing and felicitating the fiâ—st applying his merits the last assureiâ—g his reward the one offering food the other medicine yet behold the Phisician and his first cure for the Souls support is innocence attested in his Manlâ—sse conception that we shewing freedom from the deformity of brutal desires Manlike may be capaâ—le to convers with heavenly intelligâ—nces crying out in our acts with those in Theodoret who being ignorantly through Cunning made to offer incense unto Idols we are Christians we are Christians keeping fresh the Image of Holinesse becomeing Familiar as it were with Angels Outstripping that modest heathen Archytas who refuseing to utter an immodest word yet desireing to sense his discourse pouâ—traid upon the wall with a coal somewhat significative to his purpose which is but to trapan sanctity and shutting our Organ that is our ear against ribâ—uldry to offer it an inlet by the eye an orâ—an apt enough to smutt the soul and sufficiently politâ—ck to captivat the heaâ—t wiâ—h it s own consent and betray it to destructive conceptions DRAW near you that are Virgins and behold this Virgin you that are Mothers and behold this Mother you that give suck and behold this Nurse you that aâ—e with Child and behold this womb you that are widows and behold this woman no Maid no Wife you that are begotten of Men and born of woman and behold this MAN encompass'd by a woman born for all kinds of condition wherein woman can be found begotten of Man that all living as she in breeding in Châ—stity may be encompass'd by this MAN secur'd against shame and misery by imitating this womanâ— Genâ—us this Marys warrinesse this womanâ— temperance this Virgins holinesse this Maids retiredness for its probable the Virgin was alone when the Angel accosted her and it may be conjectur'd at some good exercise as appeareth by his salutation Thâ— Lord is with thee the Religion of the Hebrews teaching them to blesse in the Name of the Lord whom they found diligent and well imployed as Boaz did his Reapers and the Reapers again their master IMITAT also this Marys cleannesse for the Virgin was pure in heart that is in eye in ear in feet in tongue walk and apparel her compositum being cloathed crowned with the vertues as with so many robes and diadâ—ms of stares defending her by nature unfortified ear from the assaults of immodest utterance by bashfulnesse gravity and censure disdaining to soyle or smutt her purer soul with the reports of obscenity acted either on the Theatre or seen in the wardrop the habit but warping toward kindling of Concupisence in any being condemned in the solidity of her Judgment accounting it equally destructive to be casually an incentive of as studiously to become a pander to lust in any the Angels salutation her Royal stemme and pedigree cleareth all this and more As if her word had been like that of Heraclius the Emperour Insania lâ—ta voluptas estimating the usual trivial finical delights of the Daughters of men to be dangerous and their Gamboles to be very madnesse because either being or forming or bordering upon pollution yet according to the Accute Maxime in the Holy State of Virginity counted it Virginitie to be unspotted not unmarried encompassing her self with Resolves of piety industry and purity in all conditions therefore she Saw GOD and that with her eye the invisible being in her and of her and to her made visible the Father through the Spirit erâ—cting a mansion place in her womb for the Son she having had a repository for the Almighty his Law revealed to his Servants in her heart from which issued an aptitude and disposition inclining heâ— body rather to Kneel then Dance Ought not this to perswade future Ages for applauding and consenting to consciouâ— sanctimonious behaviour Christ being thâ—â— born for this cause or then his coming had been casting pearls before swine and the product of Christian profession little different from the frantick actings of the fableâ— Jewish Armillus with them the same thâ— Antichrist is with uâ— who before the comeing of the Messiah with them is to be boâ—â— by oâ— breathed from a Marble image of Virgin unto whom the wicked of the world shall be gathered for incestuous copulation And under him their Leader bandy against heaven HOW advantageously hath the Hoâ—â— Ghost baptized our Saviour so to speak with variety of names titles and comparisons and how comfortably doth he expatiat upon that subject that in all doubts fears or discouragements his Name is as oyntment poured forth Cant. 1.3 the word Messiah the expression Christ the phrase oyntment being all one holding up the tapestry shewing the devout the inside of his worth that the savour of his works merits and offices may bind up and restrain the deluding pleasures
Wisdom to cure our folly righteousness to remove our irregularity Sanctification to wash away uncleannesse and Redemption to obliterat our guiltinesse AND verily she had her reward and shall have for may we not see with Elizabeth blessed is she that believeth and in temptations to pride to avarice in the surges oâ— a tempestuous world among other Saints Mary as a star may be veiwed and as a copâ—py followed in this her act of relying upoâ— Gods Testimony which is thought no sooâ—â—er to be done then Christ was conceived That Holie thing said the Angel pointing aâ— it were then at him now in her womb the person of the Son of God bodily formed of heâ— flesh bloud not by transmiting the deity into the substance of flesh or flesh into that of thâ— deity but by uniting both in one subsistinâ— person so that neither the Godhead was manned nor the Manhood Goded but both though dâ—stinct really united qualifying the Impassible to suffer the Immortal to dy and the Eternal God who had ever been to be by a Mystery not to be apprehended and is the Mystery of Godlinesse God humbling himself for men that is for their good to men because born a MAN above men for though like them he was born of a woman yet was he unlike them in so far as in her he was formed by the Holy Ghost and born of her a religious virgin in him also the God-head bodily abideing CAN we do here lesse then cry out blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps that gave the suck the womb bearing him who is the Author of all blessednesse to us the virgin becoming Spouse to the Father Mother to the Son and habitation to the Spirit hail Mary thou art highly favoured being made the restorer of thy sex sorrow in bringing forth imposed for sin by thee not felt when from thee we received Iesus God from the Father Christ man from the Mother therefore blessed art thou among women the blessed fruit of thy Virginity expressing a blessing to all the Daughters of Eva abideing in following after or cleaving unto thy pattern set them of Simplicity and Faith even in thine in their Child bearing thou as a star emitting beams of light upon the earth from thy breasts giving food to him who giveth meat to all flesh beareth the price of mans Redemption the mean of the Angels confirmation in thy armes thou art highly favoured God workâ—ng in thy belly three wonders for our astonishment and cureing of our heart first in preserving thy Virgin purity in integrity though in flesh 〈◊〉 the Ark was covered with pure gold in frucâ—tifying thy Virginity and makeing it conceive as the bush burned and was not consumed Lastly by an meffable joining of earthly thinâ—s and heavenly together thou 〈◊〉 Iacobs ladder touching both thou art highâ—ly favoured For in thee God becomes MAN a Virgin turns a Mother and the heart of mâ—â— believes all being peâ—swaded thou aâ—t the Mother of our Lord yet thy Lords handâ—maid that is our Lords Servant for thoâ—â— was made by him and if God be terrible oâ—â— of his holy places how much more wonderfull when he appears out of thy bowels having been compass'd by thy womb Thoâ— art highly favoured therefore Hail Mary 〈◊〉 heavenly salutation while thou was upon Earth yet on Earth thy worshipping of him ought to expound unto us its robbing him of his just devoir to pray unto thee since he was born by thee to become the Author of eternal Salvation to all that believe and to thy ignorant adorer I imagine that is I conceive thou sayes Man what have I to do with thee seing he is the Lord thy God worship thou him for it s written him only shalt thou serve c. THE english word compass is known and the root Sabab is of the same sense importing round about or on every side whence some apply the word to the Church who should after much wandring and wantonnesse cleave to embrace the Lord her Husband as the barren womb doth a man but this being no new thing we make progresse in our first interpretation affirming the words sound a retreat to the Church in her unprosperous war against God perswading to a Reformation of life upon this new Creation beseeching them as els-where the Apostle by the Mercies of God and of our Lord Iesus Christ who to cultivat our barren souls had first appointed the bloud of beasts in sacrifice next our own in Circumcision and when both failed the desiâ—ned effect by this new thing his last and great work that from his mouth the mouth of a Bab the bloud of a Lamb of this Lamb of God we might be perswaded to bring forth fruit upon the sight of such pure innocency who not being heard when he thundered might be heard when he weeped yea loved and obeyed descending unto Earth that he might be kissed of such who while he sat in heaven was not feared God purposeing to ereat nothing to save the impenitent this being done to enforce abhorrency of every evill way and the newnesse of it causeing wonder might the more to enflam godliness the worthies Kings and Prophets of the former ages not knowing not seeing this that is knew it not saw it not fuâ—filled for though it be said The Lord hath created a new thing in the Earth yet the time of utterance sheweth it only to be prophesied of because of which the People of the prophets generation might be ascertain'd that it should be as if it been past and gone God speaking of things that are not as though they were and to come as though already done so in after ages A woman did compass a man ENDVED he was in probability with a rational Soul from the first instant of his glorious conception the Holy Ghost framing by his power his pure body withâ—ut those previous preparations of natural formation infusing likewise his Soul before the ordinary number of thirty six or fourty six dayes which casteth the birth upon the seventh or the ninth moneth for though he was like unto us in all things yet the exception of sin includeth such effect as emerge from it of which pain in conceiving or in bringing forth is to be exempted from his Mother or imperfection of parts or lack of a Soul from himself we speak not of the extension or delineation of his members which must be by time perfected but of his bodies organization which how smal so ever might be animated that be from the beginning mâ—ght be both God and man which of an Embrio could not properly be allowed and the body being immediatly the work of the Spirit of Power makes diffiâ—ult to grant the body of Christ to be shaped or figured according to the wonted manner of men the Scripture as leaving it doubtful expressing the Embrio which can neither be caâ—led Male nor Female fruit whereas Iesus must be reputed to have always been God and MAN and MAN here