Exposition of the Festival Epistles and Gospels, Explication of epistles and gospels 1 · Part 16
The Gospell
MATTH. 2.1.
When Iesus was borne in Bethlehem a Citie in Iurie, in the time of Herod the King, behold, there came Wise-men from the East to Ierusalem, saying, who is he that is borne King of the Iewes, &c.
AFter the celebration of Christs birth and circumcision, it seemed good vntounto the Church to constitute a Feast in honour of his Epiphanie, xAugust. ser. 30 de…t…m…. Eus…b. I mis…n. lom. 1. de Epiplan. Heming. post. in loc.that his glory might be manifested in the flesh, so well as his infirmitie. Now this Feast is called by three sundry y…udolph. de rua Caristi. part. 1. cap. 11. & Pet. de Palua. Enar. 1 de Epiphan.names, according to the zDiez con. 1. Giron con 3. le…u… con. 6. de Epiphan Id…m Augustin. & … & …. Mart. not. in lan. 6.three principall appearings of our Lord in this kinde on this day: 1. Epiphania, because Christ as this day did appeare to the Wisemen that sought him by the leading of a starre. v…s.2. Theophania, for that as vponupon this day 29. yeeres after his birth his glorie appeared in his aMat. 3.16. 17.baptisme by the witnesse of the Father speaking from heauen, this is my beloued Sonne, in whom I am well pleased, and by the descending of the holy Ghost vponupon him in a visible shape like a done. 3. Bethphania, for that on the same day twelue monethmonth after his baptisme, his glorie appeared at the marriage in Cana by turning water into wine, Iohn 2.11. We must according to the present text onelyonly treat of his appearing to the Wisemen, in whom I note
These 7. circumstances:
1. At what time they came to seeke Christ, in the time of Herod the King.
2. From what part of the world, from the East.
3. To what Citie, to Ierusalem.
4. By what guide, by the leading of a star.
5. For what end, to worship him.
6. What gifts they presented vntounto him, gold, frankincense, myrrhe.
7. What way they returned home, after they were warned of God in a sleepe, that they should not goe againe to Herod, they returned into their owne country another way.
In the time of Herod the King.] The Patriarke Iacob prophecied of the Messiah, bGen. 49 10.that the kingdom should not depart from Iuda, not a langiner from his fe…t, vntill S…lo come. Now Herod was not a branch of the Kings of Iuda, but an alien from their Common-wealth, a stranger and a tyrant, crept in by the fauour of the Romane Emperour: and therefore the Wisemen enquiring after the birth of Christ in the daies of Herod the King, obserued their right cLe…ser. 3. de Epiphan. The…hylact. …. ….quando, because now the scepter had departed from Iuda. dHeming.The which as it confutes the Iewes, expecting as yet that Christ should come: so it confirmes the faith of Christians, assuring vsus vndoubtedly that this same whom the Wise-men sought, is the very Sauiour of the world: and as the Wise-men in seeking, euen eDiez. con. 1. de Epiphan.so Christ in comming kept his right quando. For when Herod was King, and sinne most abounded, Iesus was borne in Bethlehem a Citie of Iurie: when his Israel sate in darknesse and in the shadow of death, then he visited and redeemed his people, Luk. 1.68.79. according to that of fPsal. 102.13.Dauid, Thou shalt arise, and hauehave mercy vponupon Sion, for it is time that thou hauehave mercy vponupon her, yea the time is come, and why? Thy seruants thinke vponupon her stones, and it pittieth them to see her in the dust.
gEuseb. in Chron. & Epiphan. haeres. 30 & 51.Some thinke these Wise-men came to Ierusalem about two yeeres after Christs birth, and the ground of this assertion is in the 16 verse of this present chapter, Herode seeing that hee was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male-children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two yeeres old and vnderunder, according to the time which hee had diligently searched out of the Magi. But the Wise-men had proued themselues none of the wisest men, if they should at that time hauehave sought for Christ in Iurie, when hee was in Egypt. For so the hMat. 2.14.15.text plainely, Ioseph according to the direction of an Angell appearing to him in a dreame, tooke the babe Iesus and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there vntounto the death of Herod, and that was in iLib. 1. cap. 14.Nicephorus account 3 yeeres, as kC…c…rd. cap. 11.Iansenius 5 yeeres, as lApud Musculum in Mat. 2.15.Sabell…c… 7 yeeres. I thinke therefore that the Wise-men came to Ierusalem according to the Churches institution of this feast vponupon tht twelfth day after the birth of Christ. If any desire to bee satisfied how they could performe in so short a time so great a iourney, let them at their leasure peruse the Commentaries of Maldonat vponupon this text, and Cardinall Baron, annal. Tom. ad an. 1. fol. 53.54.
From the East] The first sinne committed by man in the world was eastward for m… 3.6.Adam and Eua did eate of the forbidden fruit in Paradise planted Eastward, Gen. 2.8 … her Abel was an inhabitant of the East. Gen 4.…. The builders of the Tower of Babel also came from the … Gen. 11.2. And n…there… Christ (… that hee might … and take away the sinne of the world called at his … appearing Wise-men from the East: and hee was crucified … toward the …, as hauing put all our sinnes behind his b…cke: E…a, ….17. And for this … happily … with o…other, whereas the … toward the South, and secta…, to the West: … (and tha… from the very time of the… Apostles) vse to pray toward the …. And it … that such as were to bee baptized should in their renunciation of the deuill and all his workes, euer turne their face toward the W…l, and on the contrary when they made their con… of the faith of Christ … the East, as … and Cyr…l. apud Baron. … 58 fol. 564.
Our Sauiour said Matth. 8.11. that mary shall … from … and …. and shall sit downe with …, Isaac and Iacob in the kingdome of heauen. These … came from the East, and … from the West and … knowledged Christ to bee King of the Iewes. q…Magi ab … hoc est nas…ents the autem occidenti, hoc est … regi Iudeorum. That these Magi came from Persia most accord; but whether they were Kings, or Philosophers, or both, it is vncertaine. It was a receiued opinion among the Popish Friers heretofore that these Magi were Kings, and that Matthew in terming them Wise-men, r…gaue them a title more honourable then that of Kings. …, A scepter may be put into the hands of a foole. The name then of Magus in s….that age when Philosophers did raigne, was of greater account then that of Magnus. Other Papists of better note for their learning confesse that they were not reges, but t… in …, & Mantu ….reguli, not puissant Princes of a whole Country, but pettie Lord of some little Towne, uEar…. an…l. … 1. ad an. 1. fol. 52.a… Gen. 14. Bera King of Sodome, Birsha King of Gom…rrah, Sh…ab King of Adm…th. But that these were crowned Kings, and but three, whose names are x….Melchior, Gaspar, Balthasar: Const. … yGiron … 1. in ….pictura, z…. ser. 1. in ….sed no… ex scriptura, is a tale painted on a wall not written in the word. That I say these were but three, a… & Gir…n. ….whereof one was an olde man, another a yong man, and the third of middle age; whose dead bodies hauehave been bP…d. Pal…d, …ar 1. Epiphan. D….translated, first from India to Constantinople. Secondly, from Constantinople to Millane. Thirdly, from Millane to Colon, and thereupon commonly called the three Kings of Colon: is thought by Protestant Diuines a ridiculous fable, better fitting the signe of a Tauerne then the wall or window of a Temple.
That they were Wise-men is said in this text and proued also; for in seeking the Lord, when and where hee was to be found: they dDiez cen. 1. in Epiphian.shewed themselues wisemen indeed, according to that of the eIerem. 9.23.Prophet, Let not the wise man glory in his wisedome, but let him that glo…uth, glory in this, that hee vnderstandeth and knoweth mee, that I am the Lord which exercise louing kindnesse, iudgement and righteousnesse in the earth: for in these things I de… saith the Lord. It is likewise consonant to the text that these Magi were aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel, as the shepheard, were the first fruits of the Iewes: so these Wise-men the fF…tius … an. … L:, Lu….first fruits of the Gentile. They were neere, these came from farre, both met in Christ the chiefe corner stone, who made of both gI…p…es. 2.14.one: that is, of two walles one house; for the Iewes and Gentiles are all one in Christ, Galat. 3.28 A mysterie which in times past (as you hauehave heard in this daie, Epistle) was not opened vntounto the sonne; of men, as it is now declared by the spirit. Read ser. 2.4.6 7 of Augustine de Epiphania Dom. And herein appeares the goodnesse and vnsearchable riches of Christ, in that he manifested himselfe to the shepheards albeit ignorant, and to the Wise-men … impious. h….In rus…citate pastorum imperitia praeualet, in sacril…g… imagorum impietas, and yet he who i…chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and came not to call the righteous, kMa…. … 13.but sinners to repentance: appeared vponupon Christmas day to shepheards, and on this day to wise, but wicked Astrologers. Vt nullus magnus …, nullu, infirm…u desperaret, as l….Augustine and mCate….Aquine sweetly.
To Ierusalem] nSee Heming & Ar… …As to the Citie of God acquainted with the diuine oracles, hauing Moses and the Prophets which o…. 5.39.witnesse of the Messias. And here they did learn… that Christ should be borne at Bethlehem in Iurie, for … it is written by the Prophet, and thou Bethlehem in the land of Iurie are not the least among the Princes of Iuda: for out of thee shall come vntounto me the Captaine that shall gouerne my people Israel. And so hauing the light of Gods holy word added to the starre, they went on their iourney with cheerefulnesse, vntill they came to the place where the childe was.
pDi…as de Yangu… 2. de ….Or to the Scribes and Pharisies at Ierusalem to condemne their …ggishnesse and carnalitie, who standing hard by, saw not so much as they who came from farre. qLe… 3. de … an. …Ver…s ill minat magus, insi…litas ob…at magistros. Carnales …, quod … ve…. 1. quod oftendet: v…tur paginis, quarum non ere dis eloqu…. In which respect rS…r. 6. de Epipha…Augustine compared the Iewish Doctors vntounto stenes erected in common passages, that teach other how to walke in the right way, but themselues stand still. And he … vsus vponupon bowed knees intreat the Father of mercies and God of all grace so to lighten our darke vnde… …ng with his heauenly star…e, that wee may … and spiritually disc…ne the things of the Scriptures … the Lord (as s…Augustine prophecied a great while …) four our … and carnalitie take his word from vsus Christians, as hee did his kingdome from the Iewes, and giuegive it to such as wee thinke to bee most alien from God and his Gospell. Examine the cited passages and passions of that holy Father againe and againe, Decies repetita placebunt: and then in thy serious meditations apply them vntounto the present Romish Synagogue, and thou shalt easily find that the Protestants estate in respect of the Papists, is very like to this of the Wise men in respect of the Iewes. For as the Iewes euer boasted of the Temple: so the Papists of the Church, as the Iewes and onelyonly the Iewes in times past had Gods Law: so the Papists in latter ages (and if you will beleeue themselues) onelyonly the Papists imbrace the Catholike faith. As the Iewes were magnificent in their Ceremonies: euen so the Papists exceeding glorious in their ornaments, orders, outsides of the Church. And yet such as are Wise-men, and hauehave tAp…. 12.18.wit to count the number of the Beast, know that Antichrists seate is the Romane sea. Hee whose pencill is not inferiour to many, standing in so fit a place as any to take Romes picture, portrayeth her thus;
Roma, in Hebrew, Signifieth Height.
Roma, in Greeke, Signifieth Strength.
Roma, in Latine, Signifieth LoueLove, if it bee read backward.
Roma, in English, Signifieth Roome, or place.
Foure tongues like trumpets Rome doe sound thy name.
In Hebrew thou art Height, in Greeke a power,
And LoueLove in Latine speech-and Place in our,
Foure squares of hundred yeeres doe sit the same.
The first in Height exalted Christ his name,
The next in Strength augmented worldly power.
The third Gods louelove cast Backward on thy flowre,
The fourth in empty place hath shewed thy shame.
And now foure waies thou wouldest fall conceale,
With Scriptures vpper Height and strength of schooles.
And forme of Zeale, and Rome the head of fooles:
The Height mants, ground, to reason truth, to zeale.
S…ente and Roome cone. cyueth … no grace,
Thy height of strength is backward louelove of place.
We hauehave seen his s…arre! Cardinal uIa Gen. Prost 30.Abacus and x…Albertus hauehave written that these Wise men endowed with extraordinary skill in Astrologie, might foreknow the time when our blessed Sauiour should be borne by the position of starres and constitution of the planets. But this assertion is vtterly condemned by S.yCorin… Pa… & mab. 2. cap. 5. & de …. D… lib. 5. Augustine and other holy Fathers of the Church, as you may finde in Beauxanis Har. Tom. 1. fol. 60.61. Sixt. sinen. bibliothec. lib. 6. annot. 10.
It is apparent that this starre was not ordinarie, but in zThe … first. quest. 26. art 7. Chryst. …. La…s… and in lecmany properties, especially aHer. ing. p…. in lec.three, differing from all other in the skie, to wit In
Place, for it could not hauehave shewed the direct way to such as trauelled by it, vnlesse it had been in the lowest region of the aire.
Mouing, for it moued not circle wise, but went right forward as a guide of the way, none otherwise then the cloud and piller of fire went before the people of Israel at their going out of Egypt.
Brightnesse, for whereas other starres appeare to shine by night onelyonly, this gaue light euen in the broad day.
bPsal … …m a… KyethHac stella quae solis votam Vinest decore ac lmiue.
c…a… act… cta Cta… 4.Gregorie Nissen and d…Aquine thinke that it was a new hure created onelyonly for this purpose. e…Theophylact and fIal….…uthymiue, that it was an Angel or fome other heauenly power, appearing not in the nature, but in the figure of a starre. S. Augustine saith it was manifica liagaacali the stately tongue of heauen. Other coniecture that it was the holy ghost,gSer. 3. in Epiphan. appearing in the likenesse of a starre at Christs birth, hA…lar de mi…. … 3.cap 4. inter Augustin. pra…m. 3. … 536. …pan…as in the likenesse of a Doue at Christs baptisme. For (as iA…nal Tam … adan. 1. f…l 5…Baronius out of the great opinion of his owne reading is bold to write) all the Fathers agree that these Magi were lead to Christ here by an inward light of the spirit, so well as with an outward light in the skies. kL…ser. 3. d… … in cap. 2.Agente hoe sine dubio in corum cordibus inspinui we dr…ina, vt costantae v…sionis mysterium non laterei, & quod oculic estendebatur insolitum, animis non set obscerom…. And therefore when they found the babe Iesus in a seely cottage, they were not any whit discouraged at his contemptible pouertie, but instantly they saw (lAugust ser. 7. … an. non terra portante sed caelo narrante; magnum aliquid in parne latere, that this little childe was a great King, yet a great God, and a great King aboue all Gods. And hereapon a… followeth in our text, They fell do… slat, and worshipped him, and opened their treasures, and offered vntounto him gifts, gold, frankincense, myrrhe: That is (as mSer. 1. in E…pian.Augustine glosseth) A dorant corporious, honorant mu neribus, venerantur officijs, oculis hominem vident, & deum abseguijs consiuentur.
Christ (as being the word in the beginning by whom all things were made) bestowed on these Wise-men eueryevery good and perfect gift, corporall, spirituall, temporall. And therefore they did honour him (as nL…d I…I. us & I…usen. in lec.interpretors obserue) with all these kinds of goods. In falling downe sl…t, they did honour him with the good, of the bodie: in adoring him, with the goods of the minde: in offering to him gold, frankincense, mirrhe, with the goods of the world. They did offer oBernard. ser. 3. Paratus & Raulin. ser. 2. de Ep…han.gold to relieue. Maries necessitie: frankincense, to sweeten the stable: myrrhe, to comfort the swadled babe. pPulgentius ser de Epipb. …dan b…a ka….In offering frankincense, they confounded Arius holding that sacrifices are onelyonly due to God the Father. In offering myrrhe, they confounded Manichaeus, who denied that Christ truly died for our sinnes. In offering gold, they confounded them both, as denying that Christ is our King. In offering all these, they confounded Nestorius diuiding Christ into two persons, one diuine, another humane; for the Magi gaue not here some gifts vntounto God, and other vntounto man: but all vntounto one Christ. Ergo, non diuidatur in personis qui non invenitur diuisus in donis. as Pulgentius excellently.
Or as qEuthym. Anselm. Caletan in lec.other, they did offer gold to Christ, as being a King: Frankincense, as being God: myrrhe, as being man: according to that of the Christian rFune…us.Poet.
Auruen. Thus, Myrrhem, regique deo, homini que
Dona ferunt.
It is an idle conceit that one did offer gold, another myrrhe, and the third frankincense: for seeing each of them acknowledged Christ to bee a King, and God, and a passible man; it is more probable that all of them offered all these gifts eueryevery one three, sRendgius. Leo. Ansolm.singuliaria.
They returned into their owne country another way
tTat. 1.11.The grace of God appearing teacheth vsus that wee should deny vngodlinesse, and worldly lusts, and that wee should liue soberly, and righteously, and godly in this present world. uLeo ser. 3. de Epiphan.Wherefore the Wise-men hauing found Christ, and being taught of God not to returne againe to Herod, that is, any longer to serue the deuill: they renounce their owne wills and their olde waies, and walke according to Gods will in new waies. Immutatio via emendatio vitae, quoth xHom. 1. de Epiphan.Euseb. Emisen: Heretofore they walked in errour, but now they walke in truth. Heretofore they went a whoring after their owne inuentions, but now they follow the word and warning of God.
The summe then of yHoming. post. in lec.all this Gospell is, that wee must seeke Christ by the guiding of a starre, that is, by the light of his word: and when wee hauehave found Christ, it is our duty to zLuther, Culma…. in lec. Idem Leo, ser. 7. de Epiphan.manifest our faith by good workes, in presenting vntounto Christ our King gold, that is, a pure confession of a true beleefe: frankincense, that is, humble prayer and inuocation: myrrhe, that is, a chast and a mortified life. Wee must also giuegive to Mary, that is, to the Church, vntounto the Preachers of the word, and all other members of Christ in want, a part of our temporal estate. And all this ought to be done cheerefully; for the Wisemen opened their treasures, and our heart is our treasure, Matth. 12.35. aRupert. in lec. & didac. de Yangnas. con. 3. de Epiphan.So that wee must euen with exceeding gladnesse, from our heart offer gold, frankincense, myrrhe: bIansen. con. cap. 9.That is, almes, praier, fasting: Praier respects God, almes our neighbours, fasting our selues. And cPulgentius ser. de Epiphan. in fine.thus hauing changed the whole course of our inordinate conuersation in time past, and walking in another way which is the path of Paradise: wee shall in fine returne to our owne Countrey, which is Heauen in Heauen, and there wee shall enioy Christ our King, God and man in eternall happinesse euermore.
There be many points in this text as yet vntouched, and I might as dRuth 2.3.Ruth, happily gleane after such as hauehave reaped before me: but I am so deuoted to breuitie, that I rather chuse to wonder a little with another, then to write any more my selfe vponupon this Gospell.
O strangest thing that God doth now begin,
In being which, he hath no godheads grace:
O strangest Roome, this subiect takes his place
In want of Roome, for none was in his Inne.
O strangest colour to be viewed in,
For humane darknesse vailed hath his face.
O strangest middle of respectiue space,
Where as a starre more then the sunne could win.
O strangest starre that must reueale this sight,
That by disorder from the rest giues light.
O strangest eies that saw him by this starre,
Who when by-standers saw not, saw so farre.
And since such wonders were in seeing him,
No wonder if my wondring thought grow dim.
O God, which by the leading of a starre diddest manifest thine only begotten Sonne to the Gentiles: mercifully grant, that we which know thee now by faith, may after this life hauehave the fruition of thy glorious God-head, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
FINIS.