The Seraphims Wings to Raise Us Unto Heaven, Sermon 6
THE SIXTH SERMON.
LVKE 2. 14.
Glorie bee to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will towards men.
WHat Iob propheſied, time hath verified: that when the corner ſtone was layd, the ſonnes of God reioyced, and the ſtarres of the morning praiſed him together. Chriſt our Sauiour is the ſtone of the corner, that lyeth in the foundation of his Church: the ſtarres of the morning are the glorious Angels and Citizens of heauen, that ſhine as Iaſper about the throne of God, and cry Hoſanna in the higheſt: Bleſſed is hee that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hoſanna in the higheſt: whereupon (ſaith Ambroſe,) Laudatur in coelis, videtur in terris. The ſhew and manifeſtation of his preſence is in the earth: but the celebritie and declaration of his glory is in the heauens. For if the Pſalmiſt would hauehave a trumpet blowne in the new moone. Blow the trumpet in the new moone. There is a trumpet of praiſe and glorie, that muſt ſound and bee lifted vp, ſhall I ſay in the new Moone, or rather in the feaſt of Tabernacles? Whilſt the Tabernacle of God is with man, and (to ſpeake in the phraſe of Nyſſen) foreign, not Iſrael, but the Lord of Iſrael dwelleth in a tent, or a booth: and is receiued into the darke manſion and earthly Tabernable of humane fleſh and mortall corruption. Yee hauehave a preſident from the Angels, though hee were not a Sauiour to them, but to vsus. (For he tooke not the Angels, but the ſeede of Abraham:) Yet doe they begin the Antiphone and teach vsus how to ſing. Though we may not compare with their knowledge and vnderſtanding: yet may wee emulate their pietie and deuotion. My prayer ſhall be that which the Apoſtle vſed in the behalfe of the Romanes, foreign the God of patience and conſolation make yee like minded, that with one mouth yee may praiſe God, euen the Father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: ſaying and ſinging as it is in my Text, foreign. Glorie to God in the higheſt, on earth peace, good will towards men.
That which I hauehave read vntounto you, is a ſacred Hymne, and diuine Embaſie: where there is diſcouered a threefold benefit of our Sauiours incarnation.
The firſt is foreign, the louelove and good will of him that dwelt in the buſh. Good will towards men.
The ſecond, foreign, peace and reconciliation with God the Father. On the earth peace.
The third is foreign, honour and glorie, and that from the nobleſt creatures: I meane the Angels, that dwell in the height and ſublimitie of eternall bleſſedneſſe.
Glorie to God in the higheſt, on the earth peace, good will towards men.
But that which ariſeth moſt clearely from this fountaine, is a bleſſing receiued, and a bleſſing returned.
A bleſſing receiued, and that is peace. On the earth peace.
A bleſſing returned, and that is Glorie.
Glorie to God on high.
In the firſt wee note the Motiue, foreign, diuine louelove and ſpirituall adoption.
Good will towards men.
In the ſecond wee note a circumſtance, foreign ▪
In the higheſt.
Either locall, and ſo by the higheſt, we vnderſtand the heauens.
Or perſonall, and ſo by the higheſt, we vnderſtand the Angels.
Glorie be to God on high, on the earth peace, &c.
Glorie bee to God on high.
For the heauens ſend downe, and the clouds drop righteouſneſſe.
On the earth peace.
For ſaluation and Iuſtice are come forth, it brings them forth together.
Good will towards men.
For we are ſatisfied with the abundance of his louing kindneſſe, Grace and Mercy, compaſſion and bounty from God the Father, and from our Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
Who ſo great and eminent, that he may not honour God? it is the practiſe of the Angels.
Glorie to God in the higheſt.
Who ſo powerfull and magnificent, that hee ſhould not embrace peace? it is the onelyonly bleſſing on the earth.
On the earth peace.
Who ſo amiable and preualent, that hee ſhould not ſtand by this grace? it is the onelyonly ſtay of life and happineſſe.
Towards men good will.
O the diuine maieſtie of this heauenly Sacrament: where hee that is deſpiſed of his owne, is the attonement for his enemies: hee that lyeth among the beaſts, is the ſecuritie of man: hee that cryeth in a ſtable, is magnified in heauen, and that by an hoſt of ſpirituall ſouldiers, ſaying and ſinging: Glorie to God on high, on earth peace, good will towards men.
Yee hauehave now ſeene the notes of my ſong. I ſhall reſume them in their order, though to vſe the words of Iohn, I am not worthie to vntie the latchet of his ſhooe. Ligatura calceamenti ligatura myſterij, (ſaith Gregorie) the latchet of his ſhooe is the myſterie of his birth. For the brightneſſe of the Godhead lyeth ſhadowed and ſhrouded vnderunder the veile and couer of his manhood: diuinitie in humanitie, power in infirmitie, maieſtie in humilitie, immortalitie in frailtie, life in death, and Chriſt in the fleſh. O let not that be wanting in you towards me, which abounds in God towards all. I meane voluntas bona, a good will and beneuolous diſpoſition whilſt I begin with my firſt note, foreign. Glorie to God on high.
It is well the Angels ſet glorie before peace. For there will be no peace with man, if there be not glorie to the Lord: it is one of thoſe peculiars, which he reſerueth to himſelfe, the firſt is vengeance, and therefore ſaith Moſes, Vengeance is mine, and I will repay; the ſecond power, and therefore ſaith the Euangeliſt, The Lord hath giuen all power to his Sonne; the laſt and chiefeſt is Glorie, and therefore ſaith Eſay, I will not giuegive my glorie to another. Indeed the Lord made all things for his glorie, and if he be not glorified in their actions, hee will bee glorified in their puniſhment by the ſeueritie of his iuſtice. This made the Apoſtle to exclude eueryevery creature from the fellowſhip hereof, To the King euerlaſting, inuiſible, immortall, and onelyonly wiſe God, bee honour, and glory. And the Pſalmiſt is diſtinctly negatiue, by a perfect abdication from himſelfe and others. Not vntounto vsus, not vntounto vsus, but to thy name be the glorie. That wee may ſay vntounto her, as Ioſeph vntounto his Miſtris. My Lord hath committed all things vntounto my hand, and kept nothing from me, but onelyonly thee which art his wife: How ſhall I do ſo great wickedneſſe, and ſinne againſt my Lord? The Lord hath committed all things vntounto our hands, ſent vsus his Angels, giuen his Sonne, powred forth his Spirit, multiplyed his graces, and kept nothing from vsus, but this glorie, which is eſpouſed to him from euerlaſting. How ſhall wee do ſo great wickedneſſe as to ſinne againſt the Lord, and ſpoile him of his glorie? Yet there is an inward glorie wherein wee may reioyce, proceeding from a good conſcience, The holy Ghoſt bearing witneſſe to our ſpirits, that we are the Sonnes of God. For glorie, and honour, and peace, ſhall bee to eueryevery ſoule that doth good: to the Iew firſt, and alſo the Grecian. Yea and an outward glorie too, ſo it bee limited within the bounds of pietie and charitie. I meane the honour of God; and the benefit of our neighbour: In Deo, ſecundum Deum, propter Deum, (as the learned hauehave diſtinguiſht:) Firſt in Deo, from God, as the Author and fountaine: then ſecundum Deum, not after the will of man, but after the will of God: Laſt of all, Propter Deum, to the honour of God, and the aduancement of his Goſpell. O gloriam licitam (ſaith Tertulltan) ſuch Philotimie is very iuſtifiable, and worthy of man, the image of his Creator. It is the onelyonly crowne which the Lord hath ſet vponupon his head, Coronaſti eū, Thou haſt crowned him with glory & worſhip. God forbid I ſhould deterre any from that ſpirituall ambition and Chriſtian emulation, whereunto the Apoſtle doth excite, Whatſoeuer things are iuſt, whatſoeuer things are honeſt, whatſoeuer things are of good report, if there be any vertue, any praiſe, foreign Thinke of theſe things, and conſider them with vnderſtanding. Agreeable to that of Tertulltan in his Gloriam quaerimus de quibus ſalutem ſperamus. Wee may glorie in that, which furthers our good, and tends to our ſaluation. It is the emptie ſhadow of humane vanitie, and proud vſurpation of diuine equalitie, that is to be condemned, when men glorie, as if they had not receiued: and arrogate that to themſelues, which is due vntounto God: Like Herod that was conſumed of wormes, becauſe hee delighted in the praiſe of men, and tooke that to himſelfe which belonged to his maker: In which ſence that of Seneca may be vſed, Quid ni tui miſerior, ſi pantonimica obſtrepuerint inſtrumenta, &c. Hee is much to bee pitied, that is euer receiued with the cry and applauſe of vulgar admiration. It is better for mee to die (ſaith the Apoſtle) then any ſhould cauſe my reioycing to be vaine. And it were better for vsus to bee had in execration, and to bee made Anathemaes to our brethren, then any ſhould cauſe our reioycing to bee vaine and emptie, without reſpect vntounto God, and the praiſe of his annointed: that which I read in Saint Bernard is very good, Si ante veſtrum tribunal ſtare oporteret, &c.
O my brethren, if I were to ſtand before your tribunall, I would delight in your praiſes: if I were to be tryed by my owne ſentence, I would reſt ſatisfied with mine owne opinion. But what a vanitie, yea what a madneſſe is it? ſince the Lord is to bee my Iudge, not to ſeeke the approbation of his goodneſſe, and to make his glorie the crowne of my reioycing? Remember then I beſeech you, the voyce of thoſe many thouſands in the Apocalyps, Worthie is hee, that was ſlaine, to receiue honour, and wiſedome, and riches, and power, together with that generall acclamation, when all the creatures in heauen and earth made a ſhout, crying, Praiſe, and honour, glory, and power bee to him that ſits vponupon the throne, and to the Lambe for euer.
If the Baptiſt decreaſt when our Sauiour increaſt, let our pride vaniſh, and the glory of our light bee darkened, as a candle at noone, when the Sunne is in his ſtrength, that when we ſhall bee toucht with the glorie of our ſtrength, and the glorie of our wiſedome, and the glorie of our riches, ches, and the glory of our power, wee may ſay as Chriſt did to Mary, Touch me not, for as yet I am not gone vp to the Father: It is heauen that is the ſeate of glory, and that with God, the receipt whereof is like that pretious ointment, and ſacred perfume, which the Lord charged the Prieſts to make, and ſanctifie to himſelfe throughout all their generations. But if euer the Lord were to be glorified, and the whole aire to ring with the melodious Harmonie of ſymphoniacall inuitations: If euer Gabriel the Archangell were to leade vsus forth with a ſong, and wee to follow as workmen did Miriam with Timbrels and dances: If euer the heart of man were to be made an altar of praiſe and thankfulneſſe, and the whole Church to call for the Harpe, and Violl, the Pſalter, and the Dulcimer: Now is the time, whilſt the golden candleſticke is placed in the midſt of the Tabernacle, and that Virgin buſh of Maries wombe, brings forth the light of the whole world, and is not defiled or conſumed: whilſt the glorie of the Lord is riſen vponupon vsus, and there is a ſtarre come from Iacob, whoſe comfortable raies pierce the deepe, enlighten the heauens, ſearch the darkneſſe of the graue, and ſpread ouer the face of the whole earth, with radiant and ſhining luſtre. O the gratious bounty and wonderfull humilitie of ſo great diſpenſation. God is become man, the word fleſh, a Virgine a Mother, the Creator a creature, and (to ſpeake in the language of Saint Austin) Qui regit ſidera, lambit vbera. Hee that gouernes the influence of the ſtarres, drawes the ſweetneſſe of his mothers breaſt, taking that from vsus, whereby hee may ſaue vsus, and ioyne vsus to himſelfe in the higheſt places, who would not ſpring with Iohn, in the very wombe, and burſt with Zacharie, into the voyce of ioy and gladneſſe, through the ſtrongeſt barres of infant ſilence and naturall imperfections, to behold that Lambe of God, which taketh away the ſinnes of the world, inueſted in the golden fleece of humane nature, to ſee the King of righteouſneſſe, which ſits by the throne of God, forſake the boſome of his Father, and proceed from the wombe of Mary, as a Bridegroome from his chamber: without preiudice to his Godhead, or diminution of his power, before the Lord was inuiſible, and wee heard the voyce of God, as Adam in the coole of the garden, ſometime he ſpake in lightning, ſometime hee ſpake in thunder, ſometime from the clift of a rocke, ſometimes from the conſuming flames of burning fire. But now wee looke vponupon him through the cloud of fleſh, and the lanthorne of his bodie, ſo qualified and tempered to outward ſight, and corporall apprehenſion: that we may not onelyonly ſee, but handle the word of life in the forme of man and habit of nature. foreign (ſaith that learned Father Nazianzene in an Oration) though wee hauehave ſtrayed in the deſart of this world, yet now we hauehave a cloud of direction to goe before, the white cloud of his ſacred fleſh to lead and guide vsus to that heauenly Canaan. Hic est Dominus Ieſus, this is Chriſt the Lord, the mediator of God and man, the ſonne of a Virgine, the Bridegroome of his Church, more faire and comely then all the ſonnes of men: that created his mother when he was begot of his Father, and glorified his Father, when hee was borne of his mother. Ieſus Chriſt the righteous, Yesterday and to day, and the ſame for euer. For there bee many things in his birth, which deſerue praiſe and euerlaſting remembrance. The firſt is his goodneſſe, that he would endure the priſon of our fleſh: the ſecond his power, that hee could manifeſt his ſtrength in our weakneſſe: the third his wiſedome, in finding meanes for our deliuerance, the laſt his iuſtice, in ſatisfying the Law, and making himſelfe obedient to the actuall performance: that we may cry with the Pſalmiſt, O Lord thy truth reacheth to the heauens, and thy merciemercy to the clouds. If any ſeeke to bee Authors of that, whereof they onelyonly bring tidings, they are falſe Prophets, Aemulantes diuinitatem, & furantes diuinationem (as Tertullian) nor Saint, nor Angell, nor Cherubin, nor Seraphin, nor any of that coeleſtiall Hierarchie, may ſhare in this honour, it is thou onelyonly which haſt the glorie. And that in altiſsimis, and ab altiſſimis. Firſt in the higheſt, for the heauens declare the glory, and are the ſtage and theater of thine euerlaſting power, and triumphant maieſty, ſecondly of the higheſt.
For the Angels praiſe thee, and the Saints giuegive thankes vntounto thee, the heauens and all the powers therein continually do cry, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabboth, heauen and earth are full of thy glory, thy praiſe is their ioy: thy honour their comfort; thy celebritie their felicitie: by whoſe power they are made, by whoſe wiſedome they are illuminated, by whoſe grace they ſtand faſt, and ſhall neuer bee remooued. Whence is that of Dauid, Beati qui habitant. Bleſſed are they which dwell in thy houſe, they will euer bee praiſing thee. Though I could aſſigne many reaſons of this glory from the Angels, as the excellent dignitie of their wonderfull creation, for they beare the ſigniture of God in their nature: the continuall fruition of diuine ſweetneſſe, for they taſt and drinke thereof as from a riuer: the ſure confirmation of their eternall bleſſedneſſe, for they are ſetled and eſtabliſhed by the incarnation of our Sauiour: Yet that which fills their hearts with praiſe, and their tongue with ioy, is their inſtauration of their decay: becauſe thou haſt built vp the walls of Ieruſalem, and made vp their breach by the ſaluation of man, and the redemption of our nature. The walls of Ieruſalem are the companies of Angels: which are built vp, and made compleat, by reducing man to the ſtate of their perfection. Therefore do they reioyce and ſing, therefore do they cry aloud vponupon their beds, and (to vſe the words of Cyprian) Gratulabundi praedicant, they magnifie the riches of Gods mercy with exceeding ioy and wonderfull gratulation. O my brethren, and yee whom I tender as mine owne bowels in the Lord.) What a motiue is this to Chriſtian louelove and perfect charitie? Shall the Angels praiſe God for vsus, and ſhall not we praiſe the Lord for our ſelues? Shall an armie of ſpirituall ſouldiers triumph in the redemption of man, and ſhall not wee reioyce in our owne ſaluation, and the miraculous deliuerance of our brethren? True deuotion is full of compaſſion: and the Saints of God do not onelyonly ſuffer together, but reioyce together, with Hymnes and Pſalmes of ſpirituall melody, ſinging to the Lord with grace in their hearts. Whence are they termed filiae Iudah, daughters of Iudah: and filiae confeſſionis, daughters of confeſſion, (as learned Auſtin makes the expoſition) ſuch as praiſe God, and offer the ſacrifice of thankfulneſſe for his louelove to man, and his bleſſings out of Sion. Tell mee then what ſpirit they are of, that call to heauen for vengeance, and would hauehave the Lord ſend downe fire vponupon their enemies, that delight in the ruine and deſtruction of their brethren, yea machinate the ſubuerſion of States and Kingdomes with the diuelliſh practiſes of moſt helliſh inuentions? That curſe where the Lord doth bleſſe, and cry againſt the higheſt powers, as the Romane legions againſt Iouian the Emperour, foreign. Thou haſt eſcaped the edge of the ſword, and the furie of battell; would God thy fleſh had beene giuen to the fowles of the aire, and the dogs had licked thy bloud, as the bloud of Iezabell, by the wall of Iezrael, well may they reſemble Abaddon and Apolluon, the Diuell and his angels, they are moſt repugnant to God & his Angels. For their ſong is of glory & peace, yea and of glory for peace: and that with man vponupon the earth: which is the ſecond note of this Hymne, and deſires continuance of your deuotion, foreign.
On the earth peace.
Though glory belong to heauen, and peace to the earth: yet was there a time, when neither was to be found: Man had prouoked God to anger, and taken away our peace, tranſlated the worſhip of God to Idols, and depriued him of his glory: but now they are both in their naturall ſeate, and the comming of our Sauiour is like the returne of that Doue into the Arke, with the gracious branch of peace, of mercy. When Ionah was caſt into the ſea, the ſtorme ceaſt, and there was a great calme: when the Lord brought his firſt begotten into the world, the troubles were abated, & there was a great peace throughout the whole earth: Fluuius pacis (as Eſay writeth) A floud of peace, for a ſea of miſery: and that which before was a place of exile and baniſhment, is now the Tabernacle of reſt and quiet: where the Lord hath extended peace, and ſafetie, and righteouſneſſe, and glorie, as a flowing ſtreame. For that which hee taught as an Oracle in his life, and bequeathed as a legacie at his death, I meane the ſweetneſſe of peace, and the aboundance of holineſſe was now begun in the time of his birth, and ſet as a pearle on the top and crowne of his bleſſed incarnation: whence is hee termed a King of peace, our heauenly Salomon, yea our very peace, that made both one, and ſet at peace, through the bloud of his croſſe, the things on earth, and the things in heauen. How can wee chooſe but reſt in peace, now the Lord is come, who is to the whole earth, as Apollo was to Delos, that hee may ſettle and ſtabliſh it with an euerlaſting quietneſſe? But Luke and Mathew are at variance, and there is warre betwixt the words of my Text, and that of the Goſpell. Thinke yee that I am come to ſend peace into the world, I came not to ſend peace, but a ſword, what a ſword, and yet peace? Fire and yet peace, warre and yet peace; theſe things are incompatible, and as the Poet notes
Frontibus aduerſis pugnantia:—
Yet may they bee reconciled and ſtand together: The ſword of the ſpirit with the peace of conſcience, the fire of louelove with the peace of religion, war againſt Satan and his angels, with peace towards God and his Angels. For as the naturall body is framed of contrary elements, ſo diuerſe qualities may perfect the myſticall body of Chriſt Ieſus. And though we do not ſtriue againſt fleſh and bloud, yet do we againſt the Prince of this world, and againſt ſpirituall wickedneſſes in the higheſt places: whence is that of Bernard, Inter Babilonem, & Hieruſalem pax nulla, betwixt Babilon & Hieruſalem, there is no peace. Satan is the King of Babylon, Chriſt of Hieruſalem: which he defends with cōtinuall reſiſtances, though he be not the God of confuſion, but of order, in all the Churches of the Saints. What then is the peace of my Text, but ſacred and diuine, ſuch as Chriſt wiſheth to the Apoſtles, and the Apoſtles to the elect in their generall ſalutations? Peace with God, for we are reconciled to the Father, Peace with Angels, for they reioyce in our conuerſion, Peace with men, for they ſhall bee gathered into one flocke, Peace with the creature, for it ſhall be in league with vsus, Peace with our owne ſelues betwixt the fleſh and the Spirit, the will and the vnderſtanding, the reaſon and the affections: that all the powers and faculties of ſoule and body may agree with a ſweet Harmony and gracious conſent, to ſerue God in true louelove and perfect obedience. Thus doth our Lord bleſſe vsus with his peace, by the wonderfull expiation of our ſinnes and treſpaſſes, and that foreign, VponUpon the earth: for the earth of our hearts that brought forth thornes and briars, doth now abound and flouriſh with the ſauing fruit of truth and holineſſe: whilſt eueryevery one cryeth with the Pſalmiſt, Praiſe thy God, ô Ieruſalem, praiſe thy God, ô Sion, which maketh ſafe the barres of thy gates, and bleſſeth thy children within thee, which maketh peace thy borders, and doth ſatisfie thee with the flower of wheate.
All peace is ſweet and acceptable: without which ſpoile and rapine, as a wild beaſt out of the forreſt ſurprizes houſes, families, temples, cities, and not onelyonly deuoures the habitations of the righteous, but ſubuerts and lays waſt the greateſt Empires & mightieſt kingdomes, as a deſart, or a wilderneſſe. But the interior peace which keepeth our hearts and minds in the knowledge and louelove of God, and exceeds the power of humane vnderſtanding, is the richeſt iewell that euer was beſtowed vponupon the earth. Like a bed and palate where the Spouſe of Chriſt may reſt with eaſe and pleaſure, vntill his ſecond comming. O how beautifull are the feete vponupon the mountaines of thoſe that bring ſuch tidings, that ſpeake comfortably to Hieruſalem, and ſay to her, that her warfare is accompliſhed, and her iniquitie pardoned: that ſhee is iuſtified by faith, and hath peace with God: that her righteouſneſſe is grauen on his fingers, and her walls are euer in his ſight: that hee ſtands behind the wall of his fleſh, and hath broken downe the partition wall of her offences: That neither height, nor depth, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor life, nor death, nor any other creature, is able to ſeparate her from the louelove of God, which is in Chriſt Ieſus. Were this peace finiſhed, where it is begun, we ſhould hauehave a terreſtriall Paradiſe, and a heauen vponupon earth: but that which is imperfect in our trauell, ſhall be perfect in our country: that we may eſteeme it as a pledge of future glory, and not inuert the method of the Angels, like thoſe in Bernard, who ſeeke peace in heauen, and glory on the earth, till they looſe both peace and glory. For it is peace that is our inheritance on the earth, and that which followes her immoueable center, as motion, heauen is the tranquillity of reſt & holines. Though Chriſt might hauehave promiſed many things to his Diſciples, and giuen them power ouer kingdomes and nations, as well as ouer ſerpents, and ſcorpions, yet all that hee ſayes vntounto them, is In me pacem habituri, In mee yee ſhall hauehave peace; as if this alone were able to counterpoize and weigh downe all the miſeries, and afflictions, and calamities, and perſecutions, and diſgraces, and reuilings, that euer the world might caſt vponupon them. That counſell of Seuerus was good vntounto his ſouldiers: In vobis pacem, & caeteros deſpicite. So ye agree among your ſelues, ye may deſpiſe the threats of your enemies: and it muſt needs aduantage true Chriſtians, In vobis pacem, & caeteros deſpicite, hauehave peace among your ſelues, or rather with God, and neuer feare what the Diuell or man can do againſt you. Beware then leſt at any time ye forgoe this peace, yet if yee will not bee pacifici, yet be pacati. If ye will not make peace with others, yet take peace vntounto your ſelues, from God and his Miniſters: that yee bee not as thoſe againſt whom the Diſciples ſhooke off the duſt of their feete, and left them in their wickedneſſe. Seeke this peace, louelove this peace, pray for this peace, long for this peace, & keepe the vnitie of the ſpirit in the bond of peace: that as Chriſt is knit to vsus, in the vnitie of perſon, we may be knit to him in the vnitie of profeſſion. O my brethren, yee are the ſonnes of peace, and the heires of peace, by the gracious viſitation of our heauenly Salomon, Chriſt Ieſus, his cradle, his infancy, his weakneſſe, his pouerty, his exhibition to ſheepeheards ouer their flocks, his preſentation to Simeon in the midſt of the temple, are all ſignes of peace, and moſt infallible tokens of this ſpirituall tranquillitie. Poſſeſſe your hearts with peace, and your ſoules with patience: peace towards your Maker, and peace towards your neighbour. Let it reſt in your fleſh, and take ſanctuary in the earth of your mortall bodies: till yee feele that in your ſelues, which is here publiſhed by the Angell, foreign, On the earth peace.
As for theſe who hauehave neither peace with God, nor peace with man: but awake his beloued out of ſleepe, and diſturbe the quiet of his Church, they are worſe then vnbeleeuing Iewes, or Iewiſh ſouldiers: for howſoeuer they caſt lots for the garment of our Sauiour, they would make no diuiſion of it: but theſe rend and teare, I will not ſay the garment, but the body of Chriſt, which is his Church, with open ſtrife and ſcandalous diuiſion. Perſecutor non fregit crura, Donatus rupit Eccleſiam, (ſaith learned Auſtin) the ſouldiers would not breake the legs of Chriſt, but Donatus teares the Church of Chriſt. As long as his body hung vponupon the croſſe among theeues and malefactors, it remained whole: but when it was receiued by Chriſtians, it was rent and torne into many parts and ſections. Beloued, I feare they are more inhumane and intractable then Wolues or Tigres, or whatſoeuer is of wild or ſauage diſpoſition, for all creatures, though neuer ſo fierce, were gathered in Noahs arke, and met together: but theſe extrauagant Separatiſts will hardly aſſemble into the Arke of Chriſts Church, or ioyne together in the vnitie of faith, and conformitie of Religion. If it bee for lacke of knowledge, they are to be pittied: if it be for lacke of charitie, they are to be condemned. And ſo I leaue them to the act and complement of all that hath bene ſpoken, and that is foreign, Good will towards men.
Towards men good will.
Some hauehave good will without peace, they are infortunate and miſerable: ſome hauehave peace without good will, they are perfidious and deceitfull: but my Text puts both together: On the earth peace, good will towards men. There be that referre this to God, and take it for the eternall louelove of diuine complacence, which moued him firſt to the worke of our redemption. There be that referre it vntounto man, and make it a limitation of that which goes before, reading foreign for foreign, not peace on earth, to men good will, but peace on earth, to men of good will. This is the ſence of Auſtin, Bernard, Cyprian, Ambroſe, together with the moſt ancient and learned of the Fathers: and may not be refuſed. For howſoeuer temporall bleſſings are for the moſt part Catholike and Vniuerſall, beſtowed promiſcuouſly without exception, yet grace, and peace, and righteouſneſſe, and adoption, are neuer giuen to the reprobate. For there is no peace vntounto the wicked, ſaith my God, but fightings without, and frightings within, (as the Apoſtle noteth) they fly when none doth purſue, and are afraid where no feare is.
Horrendum quatiente animo tortore flagellum, well are they compared to a raging ſea that neuer reſts: whoſe waters caſt out mire and dirt, their deſires as winds, that ſtirre and raiſe their paſſions: their paſſions are as waues, that turmoile and toſſe their ſoules: their ſoules are as ſhips, that float to and fro, and are carried vp and downe with reſtleſſe motion, and violent agitation in the midſt of their bodies. For as Bees are driuen away with ſmoake, & forſake their hiues: ſo the coales of wrath, and the ſtifling fumes of choaking enuie, do remoue and exterminate the diuine ſweetneſſe of Chriſtian peace and quietneſſe? Whence is that of Chyſologus, Haeretici in ira, Chriſtiani in pace, Simeon is glad: Herod is troubled, the ſheepe of Chriſt are quiet: Wolues are inraged, the Angels reioyce and are exalted, the Diuels tremble and are confounded. The Arke of Gods Church is ſafe, and lyeth at Anchor: the barke of Infidels floates, and lies in continuall danger. I remember in the reigne of Selymus, when a Perſian Embaſſadour came to entreate peace of the Turkes, a deſperate fellow diſcharged a ſhot, and would hauehave ſlaine him, being taken and examined, hee neuer changed countenance, but replyed, hee was an enemie to his Lord, and moſt vnworthy any peace: the like anſwer ſhall be giuen to the wicked, when they ſeeke for peace, and the Lord will ſweare, they ſhall not enter into his reſt. Looke vponupon the troubles of their heart, and conſider their manifold diſtractions, who is able to expreſſe the ſtroakes, and the ſcourges, the wounds, and the torments, that make them bleede within? the furies that haunt their breaſt, and twine as ſnakes about them, the ſeuerall pleits of the writhen thoughts, and perplexed cogitations. They are curſed in the field, and curſed in the Citie, curſed in the fruit of their land, and curſed in the fruit of their bodie: their children periſh, and neuer behold the Sunne, their cattell are ſmote with lightning, and their flocks of ſheepe with hot thunderbolts: their vineyards are deſtroyed with haileſtones, and their mulbertie trees with froſts: the Caterpiller eates their graſſe, and the Graſhopper their labour: the Lord doth ſmite them with Feuers, and Agues, and blaſtings, and mildewes, and neuer leaue till they be deſtroyed: the Lord doth caſt vponupon them the furiouſneſſe of his wrath, trouble, and diſpleaſure, with the immiſſion of diuels, and incurſion of euill ſpirits. For they are enemies of God, and moſt vnworthy of this peace: that peace which is here publiſhed, and confined to his ſeruants, foreign, To men of good will. Not to men of good vnderſtanding onelyonly, For knowledge puffes vp: but to men of good will, For charitie buildes vp. Not to men of good deeds onelyonly, for ſometimes they may bee hypocriticall, and Phariſaicall: but to men of good will, for they are perfect and Angelicall. Such as embrace Chriſt willingly, and receiue his word ioyfully, with true louelove and hearty deuotion. Theſe are quadrati lapides (as Saint Auſtin) ſquare ſtones, that neuer fall howſoeuer they be turned. Their life is like the breeding of thoſe Halciones, which makes their neſt in the ſea: as long as the one liues, & the other breeds, there is a great calme, and wonderfull ſerennitie. Beware then of enuie, and the Lord deliuer vsus from hatred, malice, and all vncharitableneſſe: foreign (ſaith Baſil) as God is louelove, and he that dwelleth in louelove dwelleth in God: ſo the Diuell is hatred, and he that abideth in hatred, abideth in the Diuell. O yee that feele the arrowes of God ſticke faſt in you, returne into your hearts, and examine your conſciences, ſee whether your will bee good or bad, rectified or depraued. If the Lord make way to his indignation, and giuegive your life to the deſtroyer, if your riuers be dryed vp, and your waters turned into bloud, if the heauens bee as braſſe ouer your head, and the earth as iron vnderunder your feete: if yee hauehave duſt for raine, & for dew aſhes: if your ſheepe be giuen to the enemy, and your labour to the ſtranger, if your hearts boyle with anguiſh, and the ſorrowes of death compaſſe you round about: thinke it is for lacke of this good will, becauſe yee hauehave not foreign, Good will towards your maker, good will towards your neighbour. If yee had good will, ye would not be ſo much diſquieted. They are men of good will, that are the veſſels of peace, and the ſubiect of this bleſſing, and the good will that dwelt in the buſh, will dwell in none but ſuch as hauehave good will. In this, God is like that Romane Emperour, Odit pallidos, & macilentos. His ſoule doth abhorre ſuch as are leane with enuie, and pale with malicious wickedneſſe. O that, diuine charity were ſhed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghoſt, and the vertue thereof ſpread as a veine through the body of our Church. O that our ſoules were as the Pallace of Salomon, and the midſt thereof paued with louelove toward the daughters of Hieruſalem. Then would the Lord couer vsus all the day long, and we ſhall dwell in ſafetie, then would hee lie betweene our ſhoulders, and wee ſhould be as Ioſeph, that was ſeparate from his brethren. Beloued, I may ſay of theſe breaſts, as Chriſt doth of the Churches, Meliora vino …bera, Thy breaſts are more pleaſant then wine. The breaſts of pietie and deuotion, the breaſts of merciemercy and compaſſion, the breaſts of true louelove and Chriſtian affection. I would to God I could ſee them run, and flow as ſpouts and conduicts in the midſt of your habitations. And me thinks I do to the honour of God, and the abundant increaſe of your reſt and quietnes. Yet this is not enough, vnleſſe yee adde bowels vntounto breaſts: breaſts will ſoone dry vp, if they bee not fed with the melting of our bowels, and therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, foreign, Put yee on the bowels of compaſſion, that as Chriſt was inueſted in our fleſh, ſo we might be inurſerated with his bowels, the tender bowels of merciemercy & louing kindnes. If thy heart riſe againſt thy neighbour, remember the peace thou haſt with God, if thy ſoule delight in honour, think of the glory that is giuen to the Lord. Non venit Dominus, vt impleret aqua Hydrias, ſed vt animas ſpiritus ſancti gratia irrigaret (ſaith Ambroſius the Lord is not come, to fill our water pots with wine, but to water the ſoules of men, with the graces of his ſpirit, that we might hauehave peace with our ſelues, good will towards others, and the ſacrifice of praiſe for him that dwelleth in the higheſt. Neuer was that of the Pſalmiſt more fitly vſed foreign. Let the heauens reioyce, and the earth be glad, Let the earth be glad, for there is peace in it, Let the heauens reioyce for there is glorie in the higheſt: Let the earth be glad, for hee that was heauenly was made earthly: Let the heauens reioyce, for he that is earthly, was and is heauenly, and let both take vp that which the Angels ſung vntounto the ſheepheards. Glorie to God on high, on earth peace, good will towards men: when the Angels ſang, Chriſt was naked on the earth: now we ſing he is glorious in the heauens. Therefore doth our ſolemnitie exceed theirs, and we may better ſay: Glorie to God on high, on earth peace, good will towards men. I reade of one Pope that would hauehave none reade this verſe, but onelyonly the Prieſts: but we know that all the elect are Kings and Prieſts to God, A royall Prieſthood, a holy Nation, purchaſed & redeemed with his bloud: and therfore let vsus ioyne in this dochologie, and neuer reſt, ſaying: Glorie to God on high, on earth peace, good will towards men. I will ſhut vp all in that cloſure of the Apoſtle: Now the very God of peace ſanctifie you throughout, and I pray God that your whole ſpirit, and ſoule, and bodie, may bee kept blameleſſe, vntounto the comming of our Lord Ieſus. To whom with the Father, and the Spirit, bee in honour, and glorie, in the earth as it is in heauen, till the earth mooue, and the heauens forget their motion. Amen. Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Wall, The Seraphims Wings to Raise Us Unto Heaven (1627)