only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have ever lasting life SUCH was the unexpressible goodness of God Heb. 1.1 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 having in many parcels and in divers manners as the Apostle phraseth it revealed to men the things to come sometimes by Visions and Dreams as he frequently appeared unto Abraham and Jacob sometimes by the coming of his Spirit upon the Prophets 2 Pet. 1.21 for St. Peter informs us how holy men of God spake as they were taught being moved by the Spirit of the Holy-Ghost such were Isaiah Jeremiah and others sometimes by dispatching unto us those immaterial Embassadors of his the Holy and Blessed Angels on their Embassies of love to mankind that he might reconcile them unto himself and at last bring them to Glory But in this latter Age of the World he hath spoken unto us by his Son he hath vouchsafed a mercy of such a quality and noble extent it cannot but incite the most dull and fordid spirit to a pious commemoration of the Nativity of this Mediator betwixt God and Man especially if we reflect on our own unworthiness the nobility of the Person or on this as the only means for lapsed Mans recovery to his Primitive nay to a better state of happiness then that which our First Parents enjoyed Upon which account our Holy Mother the Church hath appointed this day for that solemn purpose that all devout Christians should meet together to celebrate the Birth of our Redeemer and to return our praises and thanksgivings to God for his unspeakable love to Mankind in sending his Eternal Son to assume our nature and to teach and give examples of holy life and at last to die for them rise again and ascend to Heaven All on this one design that every person in the World that shall receive and obey him shall be rescued from eternal death and then made partaker of everlasting life For this gift of his only begotten Son is a mercy of such a weight that we cannot sufficiently admire and esteem it We with the Husband-men in the Parable did evilly entreat the other Messengers he before sent unto us He now therefore sends us his Son saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they will reverence my Son Amongst the constellation of all the Glorious Attributes of God none shine with a more Orient Lustre than that of his Mercy This is his Benjamin in which he takes the greatest pleasures and most refined delight Insomuch that he would not manifest himself unto us in the Thunder-claps and Lightning-flashes of Mount Sinai but in the Mount of Olives a Mount of peace and sweetness for he so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that every one believing on him and receiving him should not perish but have everlasting life In which words I consider First The impulsive or efficient cause of Mans Redemption the love of God God so loved Secondly the persons to whom he express'd this love the World God so loved the World Thirdly The Instrument or Person by whom this Reconciliation was wrought the only Begotten Son Lastly The end or design of this Gift that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have life everlasting We begin with the First The word God is variously taken in Holy-Writ Exod. 22.28 sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abusively when it is attributed to Angels or Men. to express the grandeur and dignity of their office and place thus it is used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou shalt not revile the Gods So again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is a Judge amongct the Gods Ps 82.1 v. 6. ib. and so again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have said ye are Gods Sometimes the word is used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 falsly when they are erroneously stiled by this name and reputed as God as the Heathen Idols who were the Workmanship of men and thus it is used by Moses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Turn ye not unto Idols Levit. 19.4 nor make to your selves Molten Gods and so likewise by holy David Psalm 96 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For all the Gods of the Heathens are Idols but it is the Lord who made the Heavens But the word God is taken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a true and right sense when it is either used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the whole Sacred Trinity as that of St. John 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 4.24 God is a Spirit and so again by St. Paul Rom. 8.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If God be for us who can be against us Where is not meant any particular single Person but the Whole Trinity or Three Persons together And so when it is used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when one only of the Divine Persons are signified and St. Paul useth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord and so again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 17.3 This is life eternal that they know thee the Only True God and whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ Acts 20.21 Where by the word God is not meant all the Three but only the first Person the Father So also St. Luke useth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Church of God which he hath purchased by his own bloud So again by St. John 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God manifested in the Flesh in both which places is only meant the Second Person the Son So also St. Luke use it in another place only to signifie the Holy-Ghost Acts 5.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou hast not lied unto Men but unto God By the word God in the Text is chiefly understood the Father for though it may be applyed to all the three Persons yet because God the Father is the Fountain of action he is most properly understood by this term both in this and also in some other places of Scripture as that of the Apostle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 4.4 When the Fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law Rom. 8.3 and so again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God sending his own Son in the likeness of Sinful Fiesh Nay Our Saviour himself was so far from a scribing this action solely to himself that he doth not disown his mission that he received his authority from his Father to come into the World and save Sinners Thus you may may hear him declaring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am not come of my self but he that sent me is true John 7.28 whom ye know not And thus you have had the various readings of the word GOD in sacred History and the definition according to St. John is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God is love and what Justice is it for all men to conclude the same For our Creation was an act of the Almightys which proceeded not from any constraint and tye
the never-dying Worm to feed upon How well therefore is it stiled a Mistery that a God most perfect in himself who stood in no need or want should love so forlorn a Creature by reason of his sin at such vast and great distances from him who could do him small service and stand him in little stead Yet still this immense Being hath out of his Infinite Bounty given us the dear production of himself coeternal consubstantial and equal to the Father in respect of his God-head though inferiour to the Father as touching his Man-hood God and Man a Problem whose solution puzzleth all the Reason humanity possesseth a Riddle which cannot be unfolded but by Faith Did we not behold it through that Perspective but employ our reason to consider it we should as soon conclude to the Suns Union with a Clod or a Thoughts Corporeity as to believe immortality incarnate spirituality turn'd body and the infinite Ocean of goodness in so small a Vessel The composure of the World and the variety of Creatures was the effect of an Almighty Power that Man should be made after the Image of God wonderful enough but that God should be made like Man is much more admirable 'T was a greater demonstration of his Omnipotency that God should be made a like Creature than his formation of all Creatures Immortality put on Mortality and Incorruption dressed in the garments of Corruption We read that the Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with Gold whilst Shittim wood was in the midst which was to Typifie Christs Humanity decked and adorned with his God-head A Mystery so fruitful in Miracles that natural Reason cannot comprehend them Nature was stopt as to the result of an humane subsistence in whose place was intimately applyed the Personality of the Divine Word and this infinite subsistence was adorned with graces virtues and privileges superiment Dost thou wonder to see the Sea divided and stand upon an heap come here then and admire this boundless Ocean contained in the narrow Vessel of a Virgins Body Dost thou wonder to see the Bush in the midst of hungry Fire and not consumed behold a Virgin the Mother of a Son and yet her Virginity spotless and undefiled Dost thou wonder to see a Moses preserved in a Cradle of Bull-rushes behold the King of Heaven in a Manger Was it strange to see the Sun go back on the Dial of Ahaz how marvellous then is it to see the true Sun Light of very Light under a small cloud and the most glorious Candle of Heaven put under a Bushel Dost thou wonder the Bread of Life became Flesh look into the Sacrament of his Supper and see how he can turn his Body and Bloud into Bread and Wine to nourish the Souls of Men Dost thou wonder at the Wisdom of Solomon lo a greater than Solomon is here How did the Wisdom of God become foolishness for us and the Word it self speechless And He who is our God is He not also our Brother Rouze up thy self then O my dull and sordid soul mount up thy self even to the Heavens above slighting the things of the World as dross and dung if compar'd with the honourable Title of being the Son of God Many an express had been sent unto us from the Court of Heaven by those winged Embassadours the Angels But Oh infinite mercy He now sends his Legat à latere his Son from his bosom expecting he would be more honourably treated by us But alas how did we entertain him 'T is true he had his brows encircled with a Crown but it was of Thorns 'T is true he was a King but annointed with his own bloud or as the Evangelical Prophet stiles him a King of sorrows 'T is true he had a Purple Robe but it was of derision 'T is true he had a Bed-chamber but it was a Stable 't is true he had a Cradle but it was a Manger to compleat the saying which was written The Oxe lodged with his owner and the Ass and the Master were content with the same Crib Was he an Isaac a Son of Laughter or rather vir dolorum a man of griefs Was he clothed in his dress of Majesty or did he disguise himself in Purples and Furrs that he might enjoy ease and govern all the Nations of the Earth or rather was he not clothed with shame and dishonour Did not Heav'n nay the God of Heav'n descend to Earth that Earth might ascend to Heaven Thy Fore-head was furrowed with Thorns O blessed Jesu yet thou wouldst not frown We did chain those Arms which thou didst stretch forth to embrace thy Enemies and those who continually provoke thee to wrath thy Bowels of tender compassion yearned towards them who were ready to rake into thine with their bloudy hands Oh! most compassionate Son of the most merciful Father What shall we render unto thee for all thy mercies How shall we pay our acknowledgements whom shall we love to whom shall we resign our Wills and ways but unto thee and the Father of mercies who hath not thought the gift of his Son too great to confer upon us Oh blessed Incarnation oh happy day never will we forget thee but entirely devote our selves to his service and worship who hath this day called us to be his Son by adoption settle our affections and confirm us in this our resolution that by the influence of thy Holy Spirit we may obtain the end and purpose of thy Incarnation everlasting Which is the last to be considered And the words are easie to be understood for by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is meant whosoever shall receive and obey the doctrine of his Gospel and frame his life according to the rules thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall not perish but be rescued from eternal death and made partaker of eternal life but on the contrary if we disown him and reject his rules we shall receive no benefits by the merits of his death and Passion for though Heaven should become a desart yet he will not people it with persons refractory and disobedient but the sentence of the first Curse shall not be repealed but still hold valid and of force for if they will work their own destruction by refusing to lay hold on Christ this inconveniency happens unto them not from the inefficacy of Christs satisfaction or a defect of his commiseration 2 Pet. 2.1 and goodness towards his Creatures but from their own default because as the Apostle speaks they deny him by whom they were bought He purchased the souls of the whole World but if they will not accept of such a Ransom by believing on him and regulating their wills by his will they may be damned though he was offered up a Sacrifice for them thus the Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 8.11 thy Brother perish for whom Christ died For he died for all yet those only receive the priviledges thereof who believe on him by their obedience to his word For though
the Sun was placed in the Firmament of Heaven that the whole World might be cherished by the influence of its heat and light yet how many are there to whom it is not much beneficial for are there not some of so reserv'd and melancholy a disposition that they are more affected with darkness upon which account they creep into Grots and Holes to hide themselves from the glory of his Beams In like manner light came into the World and was offer'd up for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Catholick good of all but some loving darkness rather then light keep themselves baricadoed from his benign influence resisting the light of faith for otherwise he should not perish but have everlasting life Heb. 5.9 which is best interpreted by that curt yet full expression of St. Paul he is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him The Kingdom of Heaven is shut up against none though some are so unhappy as to exclude themselves for they are so far degenerated into Brutes that neither the dreadful apprehensions of an angry God a consuming fire or Worm that never dyes can frighten them into obedience or can the invitatory Charms of Holy things allure them thereunto or lastly can the modest shame of a base and ignoble action move them for like ill-distempered bodies they convert all wholsome food into their own corrupted humours saying unto God depart from us we desire not the knowledge of his ways who is the Almighty that we should serve him or what benefit accrues to us if we pray to him First they abhor the knowledge of his ways and commandments because they are contrary and speak against their works Secondly They refuse submission to his power perswading themselves he is not Almighty because sentence is not executed speedily but he is Merciful Long-suffering and Gracious And then lastly They will not pray unto him because they would ask that which is so repugnant to his supreme wisdom and goodness that they know he will not answer their petitions So that in short it is through themselves they perish and come not to bliss and glory because they decline the presence of God shutting up all the avenues of faith and charity through which he should come in unto them For God hath engaged his word not to be inexorable and the Creator hath protested and sworn that it is far from his thoughts to delight himself in the destruction of his Creature For can the charity of a grave and sober person upon earth pray for the conversion and salvation of all Nations and what shall the charity of Christ be limited or will they ravish him of his goodness No verily he would have none to perish but upon their submission he will embrace them with the arms of his mercy receive them for his own Children by Adoption give them the blessings of eternal life and make them partakers of his everlasting Kingdom Seeing then this was the end and drift of Christs Incarnation seeing God hath dealt thus graciously with us what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness How ought we to esteem and love him who so esteemed and loved us that he thought not his life and bloud too dear for us How ought we toesteem our selves since God hath thought us worthy to be esteemed of him Let us remember this and know that we are men How ought we to take heed that we neither spot or soil that flesh wherein God hath manifested himself For what are we the better that God hath given us his Son if there be not a mystical Incarnation in our hearts and his Nativity our spiritual Birth-day that being born anew Christ may dwell in us and we in him Was it not his purpose to be like us that we might be like him was he not born of a poor Virgin to teach us to be meek and lowly did he not take upon him the form of a Servant to teach us we must not Lord it over them who are beneath us How little did he value the pomp and grandeur of the World to set our affections on things above how contented was he in a mean condition to teach us not to take care for to Morrow How courteous was he to the meanest Clients to teach us humanity and brotherly kindness how liberal was he of doing good to teach us to be diligent in relieving the necessity of the Indigent How patient was he in suffering the the mockeries and scoffs of the ruder multitude to teach us not to pay evil for evil how patient was he amidst the sad tortures and pangs of the Cross to teach us not to repine at the chastisements and corrections of Heaven How little did he fancy the applauses of men to teach us not to court popularity or be fond of the praises of men How absolutely did he resign up his Will to the Will of his Father to teach us in every state to say Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven In a word how did he lay down his Life in full hopes of a glorious Resurrection to teach us to say Though after my Skin worms destroy my Body yet in my Flesh shall I see God whom I my self shall behold and not another These are the Beauties of Jesus to be equally admir'd and practised by us This is a Transcript of the Deity which we must carry always in our hearts for by the copying of it Christ knows who are his Let us then endeavour to follow our Exemplar as close as we can in these steps of his Holy Life Let us not slight that Love which is gone to prepare us a place in his Fathers House Let us make all things conspire to proclaim his Glory Let us conceive Christ in our heart by our believing and hearing his word and let us bring him forth in our life by giving all diligence to practice and perform it Let us look on the Mercy of this day as an hopeful assurance that God will never end his Love and good Will towards Men till he hath brought us thither where Jesus is Let us earnestly beseech him to guide us in those steps whereby he did ascend from Earth to Heaven Let us desire him so earnestly to subdue our Wills to His that it may be our Meat and Drink to perform his Heavenly Pleasure Which that it may be more effectually wrought for the Eternal Interest of us all let us fall down and say in sincerity of heart ALmighty God who hast given us thy only Begotten Son to take our Nature upon him and as this day to be born of a pure Virgin Grant thas we being regenerate and made thy Children by Adoption and Grace may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit through the same Jesus Christ our Lord To whom with the Father and Holy Ghost be ascribed all Honour Glory Might Majesty and Dominion now and evermore Amen FINIS