The Sacrifice of Thankfulness, Sermon 3 – Title page 1
CHRIST HIS STARRE: OR, The Wise-mens Oblation.
Matth. 2. II.
When they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary his mother, and fell downe, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their Treasures, they presented vntounto him gifts, Gold, and Frankincense, and Myrrhe.
THE Feast of the Epiphanie, or manifestation of Christ, as it is this dayes momorie; so I hauehave purposed this dayes exercise. As Relatu traditionis instruimur, There were three principal and notable Appearings of Christ on this Day. All which, Eodem die contigisse feruntur, sed alijs at que alijs annis, fell out the same day in diuers yeares, as they write.
So Maximus Episc. *Hom. 1. in Epiph. Hodie stella Magos duxit ad praesepium Hodie aquae vertuetur in vinum. Hodie baptizatus est Christus.Tribus miraculis ornatum diem sanctum seruamus. &c. wee keepe this Day Holy and Feastiuall, being honoured with three Wonders. This Day Christ led the Wise-men to himselfe by a Starre. This Day hee turned the Waters into Wine at the Marriage. This Day hee was Baptized of Iohn in Iordan.
According to these three distinct Manifestations of himselfe, they hauehave giuen this Day, three seuerall names.
1. Epiphania: Because Christ did appeare to certaine M…gi, by the direction of a Starre: and was by their report, made knowne to the Foxe Herod, and his Cubbes, many enemies in Ierusalem▪ (ver. 3.) Hee was troubled, and all Ierusalem with him.
2. Theophania: Because there was a Declaration of the whole Trinitie. Math. 3. 16.(Math. 3.) Of God the Father, whose voyce was heard from Heauen. Of GOD the Sonne to be Baptised; of whom was the testimonie giuen, This is my beloued Sonns, in whom I am well pleased. Of GOD the holy Ghost, who descending like a Doue, lighted on him.
3. Bethphania: Because, (Ioh. 2.) he shewed the power of his Deitie, at the Wedding, in changing their Water into Wine: So the Text (ver. 11.) This beginning of Miracles did Iesus in Can… of Gal…le, and manifested his glory.
4. Some hauehave added a fourth name from a fourth Wonder, that they say was wrought on this Day: Phagi…phania; Because Christ relieued Famem triduanam, Boski…er Ara. Caeli. Con ….the three dayes hunger of fiue thousand, with fiue Barley Loaues, and two litle Fishes.
I confesse, this Historie hath many obseruable poynts in it. It entreates of Wise-men, of a tyrannicall King, of troubled People, and of the King of Kings lying in swadling clothes. To discourse all these,
Virtutesque, virosque, et tanti incendia bell…; would exceed the limites of one cold houre.AE…ead. 1. I would therefore confine my short speach, and your attention, to the verse read.
Wherein mee thinkes, I finde a miraculous Wonder: That extraordinary Men, by an extraordinary Starre, should finde the King of Heauen in so extraordinary a place. Wise-men seeking a Starre, shewing a Sauiour lying in a Manger: But cernere oculis, docenter oraculis, the eye of Flesh sees somewhat; the eye of Fayth shall see more.
I may distinguish all into a
Direction.
Deuotion.
The Direction of God, the Deuotion of Men. By the Direction, they are brought to the Messias. By their Deuotion, they Worship him, and present him Giftes, Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. For the Direction, wee will borrow a litle of the Premisses; and therein consider
Gods Leading.
Their Following.
Gods Leading was by a Starre. They that delight to cast Cloudes vponupon the cleare Sunne, hauehave heere mooted many Questions about this Starre.
1. Whether this Starre were singular, or an heape of Starres. Our Romane aduersaries, to bring wilfull trouble on themselues and vsus, hauehave coniur'd a fiction from one Albumazar a Heathen; that the Signe in the Zodiacke, call'd the Virgin, is composed of so many Starres, as may aptly pourtray Virginem gestantem inter brachia filium, a Virgin bearing an Infant in her armes: And some of them hauehave thought that, this Starre.
Let Albumazar be the father of this opinion; and for a litle better authoritie, they hauehave motherd it on a Prophecie of Tiburtine Sibylla when Augustus boasted his super-humane Maiestie, Sibylla shewed him Virginem in coelo Infanti portam, a Virgin in Heauen bearing a young Child in her armes; with these wordes: Hic Puer maior te est, ipsum adora, Yonder Infant is greater then thou art, O Cesar, worship him.
But because the Father of this toy was an Ethnicke, and the Mother thought a Sorceresse, they hauehave (as somethinke, spight of his teeth) brought in Chrysostome Op. imperf. hom. 2. in 2. Math.for a God-father to it; or to an opinion, if differing from it, yet also exceeding the truth of this Historie. Whether of himselfe, or on their teaching, he sayes thus. This Starre appeared to them descending vponupon that victoriall Mountaine, hauing in it the forme of a little Child; and aboue him the similitude of a Crosse. But I confesse, (and loe the great vaunts of their vnitie) that many of them are of another minde.
Howsoeuer, the Text is plaine against it. (ver. 2.) foreign. Vidimus Stellam eius. Aster and astrum differ, as Stella and Sydus. Aster and Stella signifie one Starre: Astrum and Sydus, a knot of Starres; as any Signe in the Heauen, coacted and compounded of many Starres. The Euangelist heere vseth the singular and indiuiduall word; Wee hauehave seene his Starre, not Starres.
2. They question, whether this was a new Starre, created for the purpose; or one of those co-euall to the World. Chrysostome, Damaseen, Fulgentius, Chrys. Hom. 7. in Math. Dam. …ib. 2. de…fide. cap. 2. Fulgen. le Epiphan.with most others, are perswaded it was a new Starre. Houdemius an English man so sung of it,
Nouâ caelum Stellâ depingitur,
Dum Sol nouus in terris oritur.
T'was fitte a new Starre should adorne the Skies,Lib. 1. Christiados quatem. 38.
When a new Sunne doth on the Earth arise.
It is called by Augustine, Magnifica Lingua coeli: The glorious Tongue of Heauen.Serm. 3 in loc. It appeares, this was no ordinary Starre, ex
situ,
Motu,
Tempore Lucendi.
1. By the Site: The place of it must be (In aere terrae vicino, non ipsius meditullio ) in that part or Region of the Aire,Thom. part. 3. quaest. 35 art. 7 that was next to the Earth; otherwise it could not so punctually hauehave directed these Wise-men, that trauelled by it.
2. By the Motion. The course of other Starres is circular: this Starre went straight forward, as a guide of the way: in the same manner,Exod▪ 13. 21. that the Pillar of Fire went before Israel, when they passed out of Egipt.
3. By the Time of Shining. Other Starres shine in the night onelyonly, this Starre gaue light in the broad day; as if it were a Starre appoynted to waite on the Sunne.
Stella Luce vincens Luciferum,Houd. vbi supra.
Magos ducit ad Regem Syderum.
Of this Starre did that Coniurer prophecie.Numb. 24. 17. (Num. 24.) There shall come a Starre out of Iacob, &c. It was a true Starre, it was a new Starre; created by God in Heauen for this purpose: Not that the birth of Christ depended on this Starre, but this Starre on his birth. Therefore it is called Christs Starre, (ver. 2.) His Starre.
This Starre serued
To them Ad Ducendum.
To vsus Ad Docendum.
It led them really, let it also lead vsus figuratiuely to Christ: Them Per visum, vsus Per fidem.
By the consent of Diuines this Starre did prefigure the Gospell. And indeed: For what other Light directs vsus to Christ?
Not the Starre of Nature: Did not eueryevery steppe it taught vsus to tread, bring vsus further off? If it heard of him, it sought him, as Laban sought his Idols in the Tents: or as Saul sought his Asses in the Mountaines: or as Ioseph & Mary fought him among their Kinsfolks: Either in the Tents of soft ease and securitie: or in the Mountaines of Worldly dignitie: or among the Kindred of the flesh, friends and company.
Not the Starre of the Law: for this told vsus of a perfect obedience, and of condemnation for disobedience; of Gods anger, our danger; of sinne and death. This Starre would hauehave lighted vsus to Heauen, if we had no Cloudes of Iniquitie to darken it to our selues. And that which S. Paul speakes (Gal. 3.)Gal. 3. 24. The Law was our Schoole-maister to bring vsus vntounto Christ; is to be vnderstood of the legall Tipes and Sacrifices. Where, by an Oblation of the blood of Beastes, was prefigured the Blood of that Lambe, which should expiate all our sinnes.
The Gospell is this Starre; and blessed are they, that follow it: It shall bring them to the Babe Iesus. God hath fixed this Starre in our Orbe: but how few are so wise as these Wise-men, to follow it? That Starre was somtimes hidden, this shines perpetually. It is horror and shame to speake it; wee no more esteeme it, then if wee were wear…e of the Sunne for continuall shining.
I am loth to part with this Starre; but other Obseruations call mee from it. You heare Gods Leading, marke their Following. This is described Ex
Aduentu,
Euentu.
by their
Accesse.
Successe.
Veniunt, Inueniunt: They Come, they Finde.
Their Accesse.
Some hauehave thought that these Magi, hauing so profound skill in Astrologie, might by calculation of times, composition of Starres▪ and S…ellations of the Heauens, foreknow the birth of the Mes…ias. But this opinion is vtterly condemned by Augustine, De ciuit. Dei. lib. 5.and all good men. And it shall onelyonly helpe vsus with this Obseruation.
God purposed so plentifull a saluation by Christ that he calls to him at the first those, who were farre off. Farre off indeed; not onelyonly in a locall, but cere…oniall Distance. For place they were so farre; as Persia from India: from thence most Writers affirme their comming. For the other respect, he calls those to Christ, who had runne furthest from Christ; and giuen themselues most ouer to the Diuell. Magi…ans, Sorcerers, Coniuri…s consederates with Sathan in the most detestable arte of Witchcraft. These that had set their faces against heauen' and blasphem'd out a renuntiation of God and all goodnesse: euen at those Doores doth Gods spirit Knocke, & sends them by a Starre to a Sauiour.
Be our …innes neuer so many for number, neuer so haynous for nature, neuer so full for measure, yet the merciemercy of God may giuegive vsus a Starre; that shall bring vsus, not to the Babe Iesus in a Manger, but to be Ch…ist a King in his Throne. Let no penitent Soule despaire of merciemercy.
Christ manifested himselfe to two sortes of people in his swathing Cloutes; to these Magitians, and to Shepheards: the latter simple and ignorant,…erm. 2. De Epiph. the other learned and wicked. So August▪ In rusticitate Pastorum imperitia proeualet, in Sacrilegijs magorum imp…etas. Yet to both these, one in the day of his natiuitie the other in this Epiphanie, did that Sauiour, with whom is no respect of of persons manifest his sauing merciemercy. Whether thou be poore for Goods of the world, or Poorer for the Riches of grace, be comforted; thou mayest one day see the saluation of God.
2. Obserue their obedience: they Come instantly on Gods call. They hauehave seene his Starre, and they must goe to him. They regard not, that Herod was an enemie to the King of Persia their Maister; they come to his Court to enquire for Christ. When they are there, let Herod be neuer so troubled about the name of the true and new-borne King of Iewes; they hauehave the inward direction, the record of an ancient prophecie added by the Priests. ver. 6. from Micah. 5. 2. Thou Bethlem Ephratah, though thou be litle among the thousands of Iudah, yet out of thee shall hee come forth vntounto me, that is to be ruler in Israel. Hereupon they goe.
Obedience, when it hath the warrant, goes vponupon sound and quicke Feete Necfal…a fingit, nec vera metuit impedimenta. No obstacles can stay it, no Errors stray it, nor Terrours fray it: it is not deluded with toyes, nor deferred with ioyes. It …arries not with the young man in the Gospell, to kisse his Friends; nor with the Old man, to fill his Barnes: but Currit per saxa, perignes, through all dangers and difficulties, with a faythfull eye bent vponupon the Callers promises. And this is that other Vertue remarkable in these Wise-men.
3. Fayth. They come to the Priests made acquainted with the Oracles of God, to inquire of this King. The Priestes resolue the place of his birth from the Prophet: but though told of his Starre, they will not stirre a foote towardes him: Perhappes it might cost them their Honours or liues by the Kings displeasure; therefore they will poynt others, but disappoynt their owne soules.
Heere is a strange inuersion,Leo serm. 3. in Loc. cap. 3. Veritas illuminat Magos; Infidelit as obcoecat Magistro…: Trueth guides the Magitians, Vnbeliefe blindes the Priestes. They that were vsed to Necromanticke Spelles and Charmes, begin to vnderstand the truth of a Sauiour: whiles they that had him in their Bookes, lost him in their Hearts. Vtuntur paginis, quarum non credunt eloquijs: They turne ouer the leaues, and beleeue not their Contents. To what end were all their quotidian Sacrifices? If they were not types and figures of a Mes…ias, what other thing made they their Temples, but a Butchers shambles?
Now the Mercy and Grace of our Lord Iesus, keepe vsus from this apostate wickednesse. Let Trueth neuer speake it of vsus, that wee hauehave the Booke of the Lord in our Hands, not the doctrine in our Consciences. That wee hauehave Gods Seales, yet vn-marked Soules. That De virtutibus vacui loquim…: Greg. dial. lib. 3. cap. 37.Wee speake of the Graces, wee hauehave not.
It was once spoken of Greece, in regard of the ruines, (…ea of the vtter extinction, for Etiam periere ruinae) Gr…ciam in Graecia quaerimus, non inuenimus: Wee seeke for Greece in Greece, and can not find it. Let it neuer be sayd of vsus in respect of our recidiuall disobedience; Angliam in Anglia quaerimus; et non inuenta est: Wee seeke that famous Church of England in England, and finde it not. Many louelove to liue within the circumference and reach of the Gospell, because it hath brought Peace, and that Peace Wealth, and that Wealth Promotion: But if this Health or Quiet might be vpheld or augmented by that Romane Harlot, they would be ready to cry, Great is Diana of the Ephesians; and Christ might lodge long enough at Bethleem, ere they would goe to visite him. Our liues too prodigiously begin to pretend this: But, O faxit Deus, vt nullum sit in omine pondus. And for our selues, Bel. Let vsus not like the Priestes, direct others to a Sauiour, and stay at home our selues: nor like the Trumpeter, that encourageth others to the Battaile against the enemies of God, and our saluation, Nihil ipse nec ausus, nec potuit: our selues being Cowards,AEnead. and giuing neuer a stroke. It is not enough to tell the people of a Sauiour in Bethleem: Opus est etiam praeitione, aut saltem coitione, et pari congressu: Wee must goe before them, or at least goe with them.
For this cause I commend the Fayth of these Magi: Seeing the Priestes doctrine concurres with the Starres dumbe direction, though Herod will not leaue his Court, nor the Scribes their ease, nor the People their trades; yet these men will goe alone to Christ. When thou art to imbrace Religion, it is good going in company, if thou canst get them; for the greater blessinges …alles vponupon a multitude: but resolue to goe, though alone: For thou shalt neuer see the Lord Iesus, if thou tarry till all Ierusalem goe with thee to Bethleem.
WEe hauehave heard their Aduent or Accesse; listen to the Euent or Successe. They saw the young Child, with Mary his Mother.
God hath answered the desire of their hearts: they had vndertooke a long Iourney, made a diligent inquirie; no doubt their Soules longed with Simeon to see their Sauiour. Loe! he that neuer frustrates the faythfull affection, giues abundant satisfaction to their hopes. They saw the young Child with Mary his Mother. Obserue
Whom.
With whom.
Where.
they saw him.
Whom? The young Child▪ Meditate and wonder. The Ancient of dayes is become a young Child. The Infinitely great is made Litle. The sustainer of all things Suckes. Factor terrae, factus interra. Creator coel:, creatussub coelo. Aug ser. 27. delemp.He that made Heauen and Earth, is made vnderunder Heauen vponupon Earth. The Creator of the world is Created in the world, Created Litle in the world; they saw the young Child.
With whom? With Mary his Mother. Mary was his Daughter, is she now become his Mother? Yes; he is made the Child of Mary, A… de Temp. Ser. ….who is the Father of Mary. Sine quo Pater nunquam fuit, sine quo mater nunquam fuisset. Without whom his Father in Heauen neuer was; without whom his Mother on Earth had neuer beene.
Where? It is euident in S. Lukes Gospell, they found him lying in a Cratch. He, who sits on the right hand of the Maiestie on high,Esa. 40. 12. was lodged in a stable. He that Measures the Waters in his Fist, and Heauen with a Spa…ne▪ was now Crowned in a Manger, and swadled with a few Ragges. Here they finde neither Gard to defend him, nor tumults of people thronging to see him; neither Crowne on his Head, nor Scepter in his hand; but a young Child in a Cratch: hauing so litle externall glory, that they might hauehave saued their paine and seene many in their owne Countrey farre beyond him. Our instruction hence is, that.
God doth often strangly and strongly exercise the Fayth of his; that their perswasion may not be guided (Oculis, but Ora…ulis) by their Sight, but his Word. The eye of true Fayth is so quicke sighted, that it can see through all the Mistes and Fogges of difficulties. Hereon these Magi doe confidently beleeue, that this poore Child, lying in so base a manner, is the great King of Heauen and Earth. The fayth of man, that is grounded on the promises of God must beleeue, that in prison there is libertie, in trouble peace, in affliction, comfort, in Death life, in the Crosse a Crowne, and in a Manger the Lord Iesus.
The vse of this teacheth vsus not to be offended at the basenesse of the Gospell; lest we neuer come to the Honour to see Iesus. It was an argument of the Deuils breaching.…. 7. …8. HaueHave any of the Rulers, or Pharises beleeued on him? The great, the learned, the wise giuegive him no cr… dence. But this people that knoweth not the Law is Cursed: None but a few o… the rascall companie follow him. … hereof Simeon resolued his mother Mary. … set for the fall, as well as the risi…g againe of many … for a Signe which shall be spoken against. He should … but woe vntounto them that so esteemed …, to worke his will by … should apply a medicine contrary to … of the patient, he would hauehave litle … the disease. But such is Gods m…raculous working that he subdues Crownes to a Crosse, ouercomes … pouertie, ouerthrowes the … of the …, by … Folishnesse of the Spirit and sets knees a … in a Manger.
YOu see their Accesse, and the Euent or Successe; which poynts determine their Direction: Let vsus come to their
Deuotion.
Herein wee shall find a triplicitie; to follow the method of Augustines Glosse,Serm. … Adorant corporibus, vencrantur officijs, honorant muneribus: Christ had bestowed on these Magi three sorts of giftes; Goods Corporall, Spirituall, Temporall: And all these in a deuout thankefulnesse they returne to Christ.
In Falling downe, they did honour him with the Goods of the body.
In Worshipping him, with the gifts of the Minde.
In Presenting to him guiftes, Gold, Frankincense, & Mirrhe; with the goods of the World.
The Body and Minde, I will knit togeather, (They fell downe, and worshipped him.) It is fitte they should be partners in repentance, that hauehave been confederates in sinne. It is questioned, whether in transgressing, the body or the soule be most culpable? I am sure, either is guiltie. It is all one: a man that wants Eyes, carries a man that wants Feete: the lame that cannot goe, spies a Bootie; and tels his blind Porter of it, that cannot see: Hee that hath Eyes directes the way; hee that hath Feet trauels to it; but they both consent to steale it. The Bodie without the Soule wants Eyes: the Soule without the Body wants Feete; but either supplyes the other to purloine Gods glory: Discusse, whether more, that list; I am certaine, both the blind and the lame are guiltie. Both hauehave offended, both must in a repentant Oblation be offered to God. Therefore sayth Paul, not onelyonly Present your Bodyes … Sacrifice; Gal…. 2.but also, Bee transformed by the renewing of your Mindes. Bodily labour profites …tle, without the Soule; and it is a proud Soule that hath stiffe Knees. These Magi therefore giuegive both; Procidentes ador…uerunt eum.
Heere is one thing sticks horribly in the Papists stomackes; and like a Bone in the throat, will neither vp nor downe with them. They fell downe and worshipped him: Not her. This same leauing out of (Her) hath much vexed them. How much would they hauehave giuen the Euangelist, to put in (Illam.) They saw Him with his Mother: yet they Worshipped Him, not his Mother.
They hauehave troubled vsus and themselues with many Arguments, that though this was concealed, it was not omitted. And they are resolued to beleeue it, though they cannot prooue it; and that, though it be not so good, shall be as ready. Howsoeuer? they will confute the Magi in their practise: for they still Adorare eam, when perhaps they forget eum, and giuegive the Mother more honour then her Maker. It was but manerly in Bellarmine, to post-scribe two of his Tomes, with Laus Deo, virgini que matri Mariae: Prayse to the Lord, and his Mother the virgin Mary. Some (setting the Cart before the Horse) hauehave written (Laus beatae virgini, et Iesu Christo,) Prayse to the virgin Mary, and Iesus Christ: And they hauehave enioyned ten Auemaries, for one Paternoster. It is to be feared at last, they will adore her for their Sauiour, as they doe for their Mediatour, and shut Christ quite out of dores.
But let mee come out of Babel into Gods Citie. They fell downe, and worshipped Him. Let our Instruction hence be this.
God did euer so strangely qualifie the basenesse of Christ, that though hee seemed in mens eyes a contemptible obiect,Esay. 53. 3. and abiect; (Esa. 53.) yet hee was beautified with some certaine marke of his Diuinitie; that hee might be discerned to be more then Man. Heere when hee had an Oxe-stall for his Cloath of estate, hee had a Starre from Heauen to shine foorth his Glory. Now, when generally in the world there was as much thought of the man in the Moone, as of Christ the Sonne of Righteousnesse, behold Magitians come from the East, and prostrate themselues before him.
The eye of their Flesh, saw his ragges of Pouertie: the eye of their Fayth, saw his robes of Glory. Instead of the cold Stones and Pauement, they saw his Saphyres, Iaspers, Chrysolites. Instead of his Manger, they saw his Throne. For the Beastes about him, they saw armies of Angels attending him. For his base Stable, they saw Palatium centum sublime columnis; a Palace of many Turrets. They behelde Magnu… in paruo latere; that this little Child was a great King, yea a great GOD, yea a great King aboue all Gods. Thus, as Thomas in one of his Himnes.
Quod non capis, quod non vides,
Animosa firmat fides,
Praeter rerum ordinem.
What wee neither feele nor see,
Powerfull Fayth beleeues to bee.
When Christ was first reuealed to poore Shepheards, hee was not without a Qu…re of Angels singing his Glorie.Luk. 3. Let him be in the Wildernesse among wild Beastes,Math. 4. euen those glorious Spirits are his Pensioners, and minister to his wants.Math. 11. Hee comes hungry to a Figtree, to demonstrate his natural infirmitie: but finding no fruite on it, hee curseth the Figtree; Neuer Fruite grow on thee hereafter, to declare his Power. Must hee pay tribute? Yet the Kings Sonne should pay none: but hee is content to be a Subiect; hee will pay it: but hee bids Peter goe to the Sea,Math. 17. and take it out of a Fishes mouth. To shew his Humilitie, hee will pay it; but to shew his Diuinitie, he bids the Sea pay it for him. He that vndertooke the Miserie to be whipped;Math. 26. did also to prooue his Maiestie, whip the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple: Mark. 11.Which was no lesse then a miraculous Wonder, that a priuate man should doe it without resistance. Yea, when hee was dying betweene two Theeues, hee so qualifies the basenesse of the Crosse, that hee workes in the heart of one,Math. 27. to call him Sauiour, and to desire remembrance in his Kingdome. When his Soule was leauing his Body, as a man; euen then hee rent the Vaile of the Temple, shooke the Earth, tore the Rocks, opend the Graues; to prooue that hee was GOD.
Thus in his greatest humiliation, God neuer left him without some testimony of his diuine power that as beholding him hungry, thirsty, weary, weeping, bleeding, dying; wee say, O homo certè sure hee was a Man: So, seeing him to calme the Seas, commaunde the Winds, heale the Sicke, rayse the Dead, cast out Diuels, wee may say, O Deus certè, sure hee was GOD. Thus these conuerted Magitians behelde him, Hominem verum, though not hominem merum; a litle Child, a great GOD. To borrow a distich of a diuine Poet.
O strangest eyes, that saw him by this Starre,
Who, when by-standers saw not, saw so farre?
Men are especially taken with three things, Submission, Honour, Gifts. These Wise-men, therefore hauing Falne downe and worshipped him, doe now open their Treasures and present him Gifts; Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrhe.
Diuers of the Fathers hauehave diuersly gloss'd these Wise-mens Giftes.
Bern. They did offer Gold, to relieue Maries necessity; Frankincense, to sweeten the Stable; Myrrhe, to comfort the swadled Babe. Others thus.
They did offer Gold to Christ, as being a King: Frankincense, as being God: Myrrhe, as being Man, to die for the redemption of the World.
Ambros. An…bros. lib. 2. in. Lu….Aurum Regi, Thus Deo, Myrrham Defuncto, or Morituro. Gold for a King, Incense for God, Myrrhe for a Man, that must die: a speciall Vnguent to reserue the Body from corruption.
So Basil.Basil de homChristi generat. Vt Regiaurum, vt morituro Myrrham, vt Deo thus obtulerunt.
The same Hillary:H. lar. con. 1. in Matth. In auro Regem, in thure Deum, in Myrrha hominem confitentur.
All the Fathers, and other Writers, harpe on this string,Naz. orat in Christ natiu. Cypr. Ser. de stella et Magis, Aug. serm. de Epip Iero. lib. 1. com. in Math. Fulg. ser. vnico de Epiph. and sing the same note. Nazianzen, Cyprian, Augustine, Hierom, Gregory, Fulgentius; that in Gold, they acknowledged him a King; by Incense, God; by Myrrhe, a passible and mortall Man. So the Christian Poets hauehave sung.
Aurea nascenti fuderunt munera Regi:
Thura dedere Deo: Myrrham tribuere sepulehro.
So another. Sedul lib. 1.Aurum, Thus, Myrrham, Regique, Deoque, Hominique, Dona ferunt.
In generall learne two profitable Instructions.
1. They come not to Christ empty-handed. It was Gods charge to Israel (Deut. 16.) but wee thinke now,Deut. 16. 16. wee are deliuered from that Law,) Non apparebis in conspectu meo vacuus: Thou shalt not appeare before mee emptie. You plead, God cares not for our Sheepe and Oxen, or the fatte of our Rammes: for all the World is his. Hee requires it not for himselfe, though due to himselfe. GiueGive it then to his poore Ministers, to his poore members heere.
I know not how happily, I am falne into that I would neuer be out of, Charitie. Most men now-a-dayes (as it is in the Prouerbe) are better at the Rake, then at the Pitch-forke; readier to pull in, then giuegive out. But if the Lord hath sowne plentifull Seed, hee expects plentifull Fruites; an answerable measure, heapen, and shaken, and thrust togeather, and running ouer. If God hath made the Bushell great, make not you the Pecke small. Turne not the bountie of Heauen, to the scarcity of Earth. Wee louelove the retentiue well, but our expulsiue is growne weake. But as God hath made you Diuit… in arca, so beseech him to make you Diuites in conscientia. Accept not onelyonly the distributiue vertue from Heauen, but affect the communicatiue vertue on Earth.
As in a state politicke, the lieger Ambassadours that are sent abroad to lie in forraine Kingdomes, secureth our peaceable state at home. So, that wee dispearse abroad, makes safe the rest at home. The Prayers of the Poore by vsus relieued, shall preuaile with God for MercieMercy vponupon vsus. The happy solace of a well pleased Conscience shall reioyce vsus: and the neuer fayling Promises of God, shall satisfie vsus. Wee heare many Rich men complaine of losses, by Sea, by Debters, by vniust Seruants: wee neuer heard any man complaine of want that came by Charitie: No man is the poorer, for that hee giues to the Poore: Let him summe vp his Bookes, and hee shall find himselfe the richer. As God therefore hath layde vp for you In terra morientium, in this World: so lay vp for your-selues Interra viuentium, in the World to come. As you are rich in the Kinges Bookes, be rich in Gods Booke. If it were possible, all the World should miscarry, your Treasure in Heauen is in a sure Coffer: no Thiefe, Rust, Moth, Fire, shall consume that. You shall find God the best Creditor; hee will pay great Vsurie, not ten in a hundred, but a hundred, a thousand for ten.
2. Their Giftes were not slight and triuiall, leane, meager, staruelings; but Opimat, optima; eueryevery one the best in their kinds. Gold is the best of Metals, Frankin cense of aromaticall Odours, Myrrhe of medicinall Vnguents.
Match these Wise-men, O yee miserable times of ours. Rarò reddentem, rarissimè optima reddentem profertis. You seldome bring foorth a man that will giuegive; but almost neuer, one that will offer the best Gifts. Our lame Sonne must be Gods Clerke, our starued Lambe, our poorest Fleece, our thinnest Sheafe must fall for Gods Tenth. If wee giuegive him the Shales, the Huskes, the Sheards, the Shreds, of our Wealth, wee iudge him beholding to vsus.
God heares the Heauens, and the Heauens heare the Earth,Hos. 2. and the Earth heares the Corne, Wine, Oyle, and they heare vsus. Our valleys stand thicke with Corne, our Trees grone with the burden of Fruites, our pastures abound with Cattell & we returne God either nothing, or the worst we can picke out. Take heed, least God cursè our Blessings; Mal. 2. 2.and whiles our Barnes and Garners be Fatte, he withall send leannesse into our Soules.
Neuer thinke, ye miserable worldings, without openning your Treasures, and Presenting the Lord with liberall giftes; euer with these Magi to see the face of the Lord Iesus. Goe home now, and make thy selfe merry with thy wealth, whiles Christ stands mourning in the streets: applaud thy Wardrobe, whiles he goes Naked: saturate thy selfe with thy Fatte morsells, whiles he begges (vnrelieued) for the Crummes: beake thy Pamperd limbes at the Fire, whiles hee shakes through Cold: thy miseries is to come; thou shalt not behold thy Sauiour in his glory.
Generally their example hath taught vsus somewhat; to be Charitable, 1. Tim. 18.to be Ritch in Charytie. More specially they shall intruct vsus to particular Gifts.
Some hauehave alluded these three, Gold, Myrrhe and Frankincense, to the three Theologicall vertues; Fayth, Hope, and Charitie.
Auro virtus perhibetur Amantis:
In Myrrha bona Spes; Thure beata Fides.
By Incense they vnderstand Fayth: because as that is to be offered, so this is, to be reposed in God alone.
By Myrrh, Hope: that though death lay the body in the Cold earth, and send it to Putrefaction; yet Hope shall (as it were) embalme it with Myrrh, and giuegive it expectance of a better Resurrection.
By Gold, LoueLove and Charitie; the vse of it being such, as it can procure them to whom we giuegive it, necessary thinges to the sustentation of their liues. Et quid non venditur auro?
Others hauehave resolued it thus.
Pro Myrrha Lachrymas; Auro cor porrige purum.
Pro Thure, ex humili pectore funde precet.
Pure Heart thy Gold, thy Myrrhe be Penitence:
And deuout Prayer be thy Frankincense.
In a word:
1. Offer vp to God thy Frankincense, Supplication and Thanksgiuing.Psal. 141. 2. Psal. 141.) Let thy Prayer be set foorth before him as Incense, and the lifting vp of thy Hands as an Euening Sacrifice. Put this into Christs Censor, and it will make a sweete smoake in Gods Nosthrils.Psal. 50. 23. Whoso offereth mee Prayse, glorifieth mee. It shall perfume thy Soule, qualifie the stench of thy iniquities, and vindicate thy Heart from the suffocating Plague of sinne. Say then, (Psal 54.) I will freely sacrifice vntounto thee: Psal. 54. 6.I will prayse thy Name, O Lord, for it is good. Freely, for this must be Frankincense.
2. Next, present to him thy Myrrhe, a chast and mortified Li…e. Let thine Eyes, like the … of the C…urch (Cant. 5. 5.) droppe downe sweete-smelling Myrrhe: Let them gush foorth with pen…tent Teares, and thy Soule powre out flouds of sorrow for thy offences Wee hauehave sinned, we hauehave sinned: O let the Lord behold our Oblation of Myrrhe accept our Repentance.
3. Lastly, thou must giuegive thy Gold also: a pure Heart, tryed in the Furnace of Affliction and sublim'd from all corruption. And because God onelyonly knowes the Heart, and the World must iudge by thy Fruites; giuegive thy spirituall Gold to Christ, and thy temporall Gold to his poore members. Here take with thee three Cautions.
1. That all these Gifts be deriued from an honest Heart. It is said of these Magi, They opened their Treasurs, and presented vntounto him Gifts. Mans Heart is his Treasurie: thou must open that, when thou presentest any Gift to the Lord. He that comes with an open Hand, and a shut Heart, shall be answerd of God, as Belshazzar was of Daniel; Keepe thy Rewards to thy selfe, and giuegive thy Giftes to another.
2. That thy Gifts obserue the true latitude of Deuotion; which endeuours to extend it selfe to the glory of God, the good of thy Brother, and the saluation of thy owne Soule. And to all these three, may these three Gifts of the Wise-men be preferred. The Incense of Prayer, respects God: the Gold of Charitie respects our Neighbour: and the Myrrhe of Mortification respects our selues.
3. That you offer not onelyonly one, but all these. It hath been question'd, Whether these Magi did offer Singuli singula, or singuli tria: But the consent of Diuines is, that they gaue eueryevery one all, Semel et fimul. Thy Oblation will not be welcome, if any one of the three be missing; GiueGive then all.
Some will giuegive Myrrhe, but not Frankincense: Some will giuegive Frankincense, but not Myrrhe: and some will giuegive Myrrhe and Frankincense, but not Gold.
1. Some will giuegive Myrrhe, a strict Morall life, not culpable of any grosse eruption, or scandalous impiety: but not Frankincense. Their Prayers are thinne sowne; therefore their Graces cannot come vp thicke. Perhaps they feele no want; and then you know, Rarae fumant faliorbus Arae: In their thought, they doe not stand in any great need of God: when theydoe, they will offer him some Incense. These liue a morally honest life, but are scant of religious Prayers: and so may be said to offer Myrrhe without Frankincense.
2. Some will giuegive Frankincense: Pray frequently, perhaps tediously; but they will giuegive no Myrrhe, not mortifie or restraine their Concupiscence. The Pharsses had many Prayers; but neuer the fewer sinnes. These mocke God, when they so often begge of him, that his Will may be done, when they neuer subdue their affections to it. There are too many such among vsus, that will often ioyne with the Church in common Deuotions, who yet ioyne with the world in common vices. These make great smoakes of Frankincense, but let not fall one droppe of Myrrhe.
3. Some will giuegive both Myrrhe and Frankincense, but by no meanes their Gold. I will giuegive (sayth the Worldling) a Sober life; there's my Myrrhe: I will say my Prayers, there's my Frankincense: but doe you thinke I will part with my Gold? This same Gold lyes closer in mens Hearts, then it doth in their Purses: You may as well wring Hercules Clubbe out of his Fist, as a Penny from their heapes, to charitable vses.
You hauehave read (2. Sam. 24. 24.) how Areunah, like a King, gaue to the King Oxen for Sacrifice, and the Instruments for Fuell: But Dauid answered, Shall I offer burnt Offerings vntounto the Lord my God, of that which doth cost mee nothing? These men will giuegive God Oblations, and enough; prouided they cost them nothing. The Vsurer must saue his Gold for his idolatrous Eye, the Drunkard for his Host, the Lustfull for his Whore, the Proude for his Backe, the Epicure for his Belly: Can you hope they will part from their Gold?
Aurum omnes, pulsaiam pietate, colunt,
O this damn'd sinne of Couetousnesse; how many it keepes from the Grace of God, and the Gates of Heauen? Men thinke they can neuer hauehave Gold enough. They write of the Toad, that shee eates of nothing but the Earth; and thereof no more, then shee can hold in her foote at once: and the reason they giuegive is, that shee feares the Earth would be wasted, and none left. A fitte embleme of the Couetous, who feare to take their Portion of the thinges God hath giuen them vnderunder the Sunne, least they should want: when the vnrauelling the bottome of their Patrimonie, would last to ten frugall Generations.
How this Sicknesse grouels a man! how it stoupes him into Earth, into Hell! This Disease lyes in mens Bones. I hauehave read of a Beggar, that passed by a company of Rich men, and earnestly besought their Almes, complayning that hee had a secret Disease lying in his Bones, that hee could not earne his lyuing: They in charity gaue him somewat, and let him goe. One among the rest following him, would needes know of him, what that secret Disease should be, seeing that outwardly hee seemed to ayle nothing. Quoth the Beggar, you cannot see it, for it lyes in my Bones; and some call it Idlenesse. You see many a Rich man, whose cuppe of Wealth runnes ouer: you wonder to see him so miserable, both to himselfe and others. Why, there is a Disease that lyes in his Bones; that keepes him from working the workes of Charitie, from relieuing his distressed Brethren: you may call it Couetousnesse. They will part with any thing, so they may keepe their Gold. But we must giuegive our Gold too, with the rest: If wee offer not all, Christ will accept none.
I will ende with a Consolation; for who can shutte vp this Storie with aterrour? The Lord will so graciously prouide for his, that in their greatest ext…emitie they shall not be destitute of comfort. Though Mary trauell in her Trauell; for shee was deliuered in Bethleem, whither shee came to be taxed (Luk. 2.) and (likely) wanted necessarie prouision for her Infant and her selfe: beholde GOD will relieue their pouertie, and send them Gold from the East. As hee once in a Dearth, prouided for Iacobs Familie in Canaan, by a store of Bread in Egipt. Comfort shall come when, and whence wee least expect it. Rockes shall yeelde Water, Rauens shall bring Meate, rather then wee shall perish; euen our Enemies shall sustaine vsus. I hauehave been young, Psal. 37. 25.and now am old; yet hauehave I not seene the Righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging Bread.
By whom all things were made, and since hauehave stood:
By him they all shall worke vntounto our good.
To whom be prayse for euer. Amen.
FINIS.
PLAINE-DEALING, OR, A Precedent of Honestie.
PSAL. 37. 37.
Marke the perfect man, and beholde the vpright: for the end of that man is peace.
August. in Ioh. Hom. 2.
Simplex eris, site mundo non implicaueris, sed explicaueris. Explicando enim te à mundo, simplex; implicando, duplex eris.
LONDON, Printed by Thomas Purfoot, for Clement Knight, and are to besold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard, at the Signe of the Holy Lambe. 1616.