Sermons on Divinity Humanity and Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sermon on the Nativity
A Sermon of the birth of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt.
Luke. Cap. 2.
1 ANd it came to paſſe in thoſe dayes, that there was a commaundement from Auguſtus Caeſar, that all the world ſhould be taxed.
2 (This firſt taxing was made when Cyrenius was Gouernor of Syria,)
3 Therefore all went to bee taxed, euerie man to his owne Citie.
4 And Ioſeph alſo went vp from Galilee, out of a Citie called Nazareth into Iudea, vntounto the Citie of Dauid, which is called Bethlehem, (becauſe he was of the houſe and linage of Dauid)
5 To be taxed with Mary that was giuen him to wife, which was with childe.
6 And ſo it fell out, that while they were there, the dayes were accompliſhed that ſhee ſhould be deliuered.
7 And ſhe brought foorth her firſt begotten Sonne, & wrapped him in ſwadling cloathes, and laide him in a manger becauſe there was no roume for them in the Inne.
8 And there were in the ſame countrey ſhepheardes, abiding in the fielde and keeping watch by night, becauſe of their flocke.
9 And loe, the Angell of the Lorde came vponupon them, and the glorie of the Lord ſhoane about them, and they were ſore afraide.
10 Then the Angell ſaide vntounto them be not afraide, for behold I bring you tydinges of great ioy that ſhall be to all people.
11 That is, that vntounto you is borne this day, in the Citie of Dauid, a Sauiour which is Chriſt the Lord.
12 And hee ſhall be a ſigne to you, yee ſhall finde the childe ſwadled and laide in a Maunger.
13 And ſtraightway there was with the Angel, a multitude of heauenly ſouldiers, prayſing God and ſaying.
14 Glorie be to God in the high heauens, & peace in earth, and towardes men good will.
WE knowe (beloued in the Lorde) that all our felicitie ioy, & peace, is this, euē to be conioyned & knit together with the ſonne of God, for as he is our head, ſo are we likewiſe his body, and do alſo receiue from him our life, & health, and all whatſoeuer bleſſedneſſe elſe. And beſide, we ſee in very déede, howe miſerable our eſtate ſhould be, if wée can not to him, to be preſerued vnderunder his protection. But by the way, we are neuer able to attaine and reach ſo high (ſéeing we are ſcarcely able to crawle vpō the ground) without he were alredie come néere vntounto vsus by reaſon of his birth, who hath taken vponupon him our fleſh, and is therby become our brother. Neither could we at this preſent flye vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt ſitting at the right hand of God his father,1. Tim. 2.5. Iſaiah. 7.14. Math. 1.23. in ye glory of the heauens, without he had abaſed himſelf to become a mortal man, & his eſtate & condition to become alſo like vntounto ours. And here we may likewiſe ſée, why the name of man was giuen vntounto him, whē as hée is called the Mediatour betwéene God and man: and ſo by the ſelfe fame reaſon is called Immanuel, which is as much to ſay, as God with vsus. And therefore as often as wée ſéeke to be relieued and eaſed of our miſeries by our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and to make him our ſure and vndoubted defence, wee muſt firſt of all, begin at his birth. Nowe, wee are not onelyonly here taught that he was made man like vntounto vsus, but was alſo ſo deſpiſed, and made of ſo ſmal account, as that he was ſcarcely taken to be named among the number of men. For he was as it were baniſhed & denied all harboure and company, and was lodged in a Stable, and laide in Manger. Since thē it is thus, let vsus here acknowledge that Gods of his goodneſſe hath bountifullie ſpreade abroade his infinite treaſures, when as hee woulde in this ſorte abaſe, his deare Sonne for our ſakes. And let vsus alſo acknowledge that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hath ſo ſuffred for vsus, as that, ſo often as wée ſéeke him, we néede neuer to goe verie farre about, to finde him, nor yet to vnite our ſelues truly vntounto him. For, for that cauſe was he contented to ſubmit him ſelfe vntounto all ſhame and rebuke, inſomuche, that all men as it were vtterly forſooke him. And therefore let vsus here learne alſo by the way, humbleneſſe, and lowlineſſe, if we meane that he ſhoulde entertayne vsus. For it is verie good reaſon, that at the leaſt there ſhould be a conformitie or an euen agréement betwéene the head and the members. Neither muſt wée ſo deſpiſe our ſelues as to make no reckoning of our ſelues: for wée ſhal by nature finde ſuch pouertie and wants in our ſelues, as that we ſhal hauehave very good occaſiō altogether to abaſe our ſelues. But let vsus acknowledge our ſelues to be ſuch as in déede we are to the ende we might offer vp our ſelues in true humilitie vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that he might acknowledge & allow vsus for his. Wée hauehave moreouer to note by the way, that in the hiſtory which Saint Luke here reciteth, that on the one ſide we are to learne, that the ſonne of God made himſelf of no reputation, for our ſaluation: and yet on the other ſide, notwithſtanding that he ceaſed not to bee a ſure and vndoubted teſtimonie, that he was the Redéemer of the worlde, promiſed from the beginning: neither tooke hee vponupon him our nature, becauſe he was not able to defende and preſerue his heauenly Maieſtie. Both which are heere ſet downe vntounto vsus: for our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt was laide in a Manger, as one cleane forſaken of the worlde, and in extreame pouertie, without honour, without reputation, and as one ſubiecte to all bondage and ſlauerie: and yet did the Angelles in heauen magnifie him, dooing him all homage and reuerence. And heere in the firſt place, an Angell brought tydinges of his byrth: but hee was ſoone after accompanied with an whole armie, who were all preſent and appeared, as witneſſes ſent from God, to ſhewe, that although our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was ſo abaſed, for our ſaluation, yet was he for all that the King of the whole worlde, and had all thinges vnderunder his power and rule. And beſide, the place of Bethlehem yelded a good proofe that it was euen hee that was promiſed from the beginning. For the Prophet Micheah, Micheah. 5.2had ſo prophecied of him, where it is ſaide, And thou Bethlehem, although thou bee of no great reputation, like vntounto a village which maketh no great ſhewe, neither verie well inhabited, yet out of thee ſhall hée, come foorth vntounto me, who ſhal be the ruler of my people: whoſe going foorth, hauehave béen from euerlaſting. And here we ſée, that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt hath not ſpared himſelfe, to the ende we might hauehave readie paſſage vntounto him, & not doubt but that he will receiue vsus as his owne bodie, ſéeing he woulde not only become a mortall man, clothed with our nature, but alſo become like vntounto a poore worme of the earth, voide of all felicitie. And therefore, let vsus not doubt how miſerable ſoeuer we be, but yt he will take vsus alwayes for his members. Howbeit on the other ſide, we ſée him marked as it were by ye hand of God, to ye end he ſhould be willingly receiued, as the man, frō whō we muſt looke for our ſaluation, & by whō we are receiued into ye kingdom of God, frō which we were before baniſhed. For we ſée a diuine or heauenly power & maieſtie to be in him, becauſe ye Angels tooke him as it were for their ſuperior & ſouereigne king: neither muſt we doubt yt whē we are vnderunder his protectiō, yt he hath wherwithal to defēd & preſerue vsus. Howbeit, let vsus know this by ye way, yt although he hath ſo abaſed himſelf, yet that it is no whit derogatory frō his diuine power, neither yet any hinderance to vsus, from being ſafe & ſure vnderunder his gouernment. Here, therfore we ſée ye ſum & effect of this hiſtory: which is, that in ye firſt place we might acknowledge ye ſonne of God, euē our mediator, to be linked vntounto vsus with ſuch a bond, as yt we ſhould not doubt, but that we are alwayes pertakers, both of his life, & alſo of his riches. And in the mean while, let vsus likewiſe acknowledge, yt he brought wt himſelfe to vsus, whatſoeuer was requiſit for our ſaluatiō. For (as we hauehave alredy ſaid) he was not made of ſo vile reputatiō, but that he alwayes kept with him his heauenly power & maieſtie: and although the world accounted him to be of no credit, yet neuertheles, he was alwayes not only ye enheritor of this worlde (becauſe hée is head of the Church) but alſo verie God for euer. Moreouer let vsus learn of them who are here appointed to be our maiſters & guides, how to come to our lord Ieſus Chriſt. In very déed, ye wiſe men of this world, ſo ſwell wt pride & preſumption, as yt they will ſcarcely vouchſafe to bee taught of ſimple men, and of ſhepheardes of the fielde: and yet all the wiſedome we hauehave, is to learne of theſe ſhepheards (of whom we hauehave here ſpoken) to come vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. For if our heades were fraught with all the knowledge in the worlde, to what ende ſerued it if wée had not life, to wit, him, in whome, as Saint Paule ſayeth,Coloſ. 2.3. all the treaſures of the worlde lie hid. heere wee ſée therefore at which ende we muſt begin: which is, That it is not hurtfull vntounto vsus to follow their ſteppes, who hauehave ſhewed vsus the way to come vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Now God hath not done this honour vntounto the mighty men of this world, neyther to the wiſe, nor to the rich, eyther yet to the noble: but hath choſen very ſhepheards for the purpoſe. And ſince it is ſo, let vsus follow the order there ſet downe.Matth. 2.1. It is very true that the wiſe men came from the Eaſt to doe homage vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt but it ſo fell out, that the ſhepheards firſt beganne, to the end al pride and preſumption might be cut of, and that hée who would be taken for a Chriſtian, might bee as it were a foole héere in this world. Wherefore, let not fooliſh arrogā cie ſo carry vsus away,1. Cor. 3.18. as to iudge of the woonderfull ſecretes of God, after our owne fantaſies, but ſimply woorſhip them. Moreouer, let vsus conſider of the faith of theſe ſhepheardes, and then wée ſhall thinke it no hard thing to followe them: For, they came to woorſhip the Redéemer of the world: but in what caſe found they him? Forſooth they found him lodged in a Manger, and ſwadled in poore and ſimple ſwadling clouts, according to the ſigne which the Angel had geuen them. Now, this ſtraunge ſight ſéeme to abaſhe them, yea, and to make them goe backe, and not to acknowledge Ieſus Chriſt to be a Sauiour. For the Scribes, and doctors of the Iewes thought in very déede, that the Redéemer which was promiſed, ſhould come with great pompe, and bring all the world vnderunder his ſubiection, and be in ſuch woonderfull proſperitie, as that they ſhould hauehave the world at will, & get al the ſubſtance & riches of the earth into their poſſeſſion. And thus we ſee, that the meſſuage which was told them that they ſhould find him in a Stable ſwadled in blankets, was ſuch a ſtumbling block vntounto theſe poore men, as was able to hauehave broken the very hearts of them, and make thē to be of that mind, neuer to come néere our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, but rather altogether to flie his company. Now, we ſée yt this was the ſigne which was geuen of the Redeemer, that he was laid in a Mā ger, as one not worthy the companie and felowſhip of men. And yet woulde not all this withdraw their mindes from the viſiting of him. Their cōming then was for this cauſe, to acknowledge him to be as it were ye Lord, cōfeſſing ye God had cōpaſſion of them, and would in the end accompliſh and fulfill the promiſe which hée had made them from the beginning, and ſo confirmed them ſelues thereof by this ſpectacle. Seeing then theſe Shepheardes had ſo great fayth, that it ſtraue againſt all whatſoeuer might pull them backe from comming vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, wee ſhalbe worthie double blame, and without all excuſe, except wee learne and take foorth this leſſon in their ſchoole: and make not the byrth of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte (although there appeared noworldly dignitie, pompe or nobleneſſe therein) a ſtumbling blocke to ſtay, or withdrawe vsus from the right way, to come to ſubmit our ſelues vntounto him as vntounto our ſiege king, and vntounto him, vntounto whom al power and dominion is giuen both in heauen and earth. And ſurely this is an admonitiō very needful for vsus: for as I hauehave alreadie ſaide, The doctrine of the Goſpell is a very ſtumbling blocke to all proude and fooliſh men, and to ſuche as thinke themſelues wiſe, we ſée alſo yt many fantaſticall felowes ſpurne againſt whatſoeuer is contrary to their owne mindes. On the other ſide, there were many mockers & ſkorners, who were neuer touched with any féeling of their ſinnes: and becauſe they are prophane people, who neuer thinke to come to an account, and know not any other better life then this whiche they ſée héere belowe, they thinke it therefore méere fooliſhneſſe ſo to folow the ſonne of God, and to be acquainted with him. And the more we ſée this, ſo much the more ought this aduertiſement to ſtrengthen vsus, to wit, yt the ſonne of God loſeth not a iote of his maieſtie and glorie, neither is any whit leſſened, becauſe he hath abaſed himſelfe for our ſaluation: but we ought rather to woonder at it, knowing his ineſtimable goodneſſe & louelove towardes vsus. We ſée then howe we muſt put this doctrine in practiſe, which is, wée muſt not ceaſe to come vntounto our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, although we finde not at his handes at the firſt chop, the thing which our fleſh, or naturall affection, deſireth. And although at his birth he was ſwadled vp in cloutes, and laide in a Manger, yet let vsus know & be fully reſolued that hee was notwithſtanding a Mediatour to draw vsus vntounto his father, to open the kingdome of heauen for vsus, whereout wee were vtterly recloſed. And although euen at this day, he reigneth not gloriouſly, and his Churche deſpiſed, yet remayneth there ſuche a playneneſſe in his worde, as the mightie euen of this worlde reiecte: howebeeit let not vsus for all that ceaſe to holde our ſelues vntounto him continually, and ſubmit our ſelues vnderunder his dominion, in true obedience of Faith. As for example, when any man preacheth, it is not the thing that greatly draweth vsus according to our cuſtome. Wée heare a man ſpeake, and what is that? It is of no great dignitie and credite: and beſides, in effect, there is nothing but the worde: on the other ſide, in that which is preached by the Goſpell, there are many thinges which ſéeme to vsus to bée againſt all reaſon, if wée ſhoulde iudge thereof after our owne mindes. Let vsus therefore vnderſtande that wée ſhall neuer ſubmit our ſelues vntounto the thing which God ſheweth and declareth vntounto vsus, except we humble our ſelues in the firſt place. And for a confirmation which hée hath added vsus, vntounto his worde, we hauehave the Sacraments. And will one droppe of water ſuffice to aſſure vsus of remiſſion of our ſinnes, and that God hath adopted vsus for his children, and that although wée bée fraile, ſhall we notwithſtanding bée cloathed with his heauenly glorie, which neuer ſhall decaye? Is it poſſible for vsus to take a pawne and pledge of ſo notable and great thinges, in ſo ſmall a deale of water? May a péece of bread, and a little Wine in the Supper of the Lorde ſuffice to aſſure vsus that God alloweth vsus for his children, that wée liue in Ieſus Chriſt, and no ſeperation betwéene vsus? For this might ſeeme rather to bée a matter of nothing, to ſée ſuche Ceremonies wherein is no great glorie and pompe. So then, wée ſomewhat better ſée, this thing whiche is béere ſpoken by the Miniſters, belongeth to vsus, and that wée hauehave to make our profite thereof at this day: to wit, let not vsus ceaſe to drawe néere vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, and aſſure our ſelues that hée it is in whome wée muſt finde all goodneſſe, and all ioye and glorie, although it ſéemeth, that hée is yet as it were in the Stable, in the Maunger, and in his ſwadling cloathes: to wit, that there are many thinges which are able to make vsus become diſſolute or wanton, or at the leaſt bleare our eyes, that wee ſhall not bée able to perceiue the heauenly glorie which GOD his Father hath giuen him: I ſay in the ſame humane nature, whiche hée tooke vppon vsus. For in as muche as hée is GOD, hée hath all thing of him ſelfe (as it is ſaid in the ſeuenteenth Chapter of Saint Iohn) but in that hée is man, whatſoeuer hée bringeth vsus, hée hath receiued of frée gift,Iohn. 17. that wée might drawe out of his fulneſſe,Iohn. 1.16. and finde in him whatſoeuer is to be deſired, and ſo reſt & content our ſelues in him alone. Moreouer, let vsus heere note, that the holy Ghoſt meaneth to aſſure vsus, that we following the Miniſters who are héere appointed for maiſters and guides, ought not to feare falling away: for ſéeing, the Shepheardes had none other ſigne but the Stable and a Manger, wée may ſay: Beholde a ſorte of ſimple idiotes, who are fooliſhly, and without any reaſon, made to beléeue, that this was the Redéemer of the worlde: and yet this woulde bée too too eaſie a matter for vsus to doe. And therefore wée might ſtande in doubt: but on the other ſide, the ſhepheardes were confirmed verie certainly that hée was the Sonne of God, euen hée that laye ſo in the Manger: to wit, when the Angell appeared vntounto them, and after they had heard this ſonge which Saint Luke ſetteth downe, where all the kingdome of heauen beare witneſſe of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, that hée had all power ouer the creatures both of heauen and earth. Let vsus therefore learne to receiue (in the aſſurance of the fayth of Ieſus Chriſt) whatſoeuer is héere ſet before vsus. For this is certaine and ſure that God meaneth to conuince all thoſe, of vnthankfulneſſe, who at this day vouchſafe not to worſhip his onelyonly Sonne, ſéeing hée ſent ſuche a multitude of Angels to declare that hée was the promiſed Redéemer. We then hauehave a trimme way to flatter our ſelues in our incredulitie, as we ſée a number of blockiſh people doe: who make no reckoning of whatſoeuer is written in the Goſpell. There are alſo certaine ſcorners of God ſo ſenſleſſe, as, that whatſoeuer is preached, is to them all one, for they account of it no better then of the telling of fables. Nowe, as many as ſubmit not them ſelues to the woorſhip of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, are to be condemned of moſt obſtinate and deuilliſh rebellion. And becauſe there are many faithleſſe people, an infinite number of the Angels of heauen ſhal beare witneſſe againſt them: for they are the Miniſters of the trueth of God. Let all the wicked therefore, and as many as lye powdred and ſeaſoned in their ſinnes and corruptions, ſmoothe, and harden themſelues as much as they will in their infidelitie, and they are ſure of this, that they hauehave ouer many ſufficient witneſſes to ratefie and confirme their condemnation. For the Angels in heauen appeared, to the ende wée ſhoulde not bée excuſed, when as we will not receiue Ieſus Chriſt for our ſoueraigne King, and ſubmit our ſelues vntounto his maieſtie. And therefore by the way, Let vsus for our part note, that God procured our ſaluation, when as hée ſent ſuche a multitude of Angelles, that wée might come to our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt with a chearefull minde, without any more diſputing, or doubting. But bée fully reſolued, that wée ſhall finde in him, whatſoeuer is wanting in vsus, and that hée will hauehave wherewith to ſupplye all our pouerties and miſeries: And to bée ſhort, That it is euen hée, by whom God ment to communicate him ſelfe vntounto vsus. And will wée then ſéeke for our life, any other were then in God? Nowe,Coloſſ. 2.9. all the fulneſſe of the God-head is in our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte. And therefore when wée hauehave ſuche a teſtimonie, it is as much as if God ſtretched forth his armes, to make vsus féele his ineſtimable goodneſſe, and onelyonly to ſhewe, that when wée hauehave fayth in Ieſus Chriſt (I meane no hypocriticall fayth) we might fully reſt on him, and conſidering that wée muſt holde all of him, wée ſhall then be partakers of all his benefites, which wée want, and hunger after. Moreouer, although wée ſée not at this day the Angels, who for that time only appeared, yet is this teſtimonie regiſtred, that it might bée autenticall. For the holie Ghoſt hath ſpoken it by the mouth of Saint Luke. Wherefore, let vsus be contented that wee hauehave ſuch a teſtimonie from God, as telleth vsus that the Angels hauehave borne witneſſe of the birth of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, that we knowing that hée was made man, yea, & that of no eſtimation, for our ſakes, might hauehave an earneſt deſire to attaine vntounto the kingdome of heauen, to the ende to cleaue vntounto him in the true vnitie of fayth▪ Wée are after a while to conſider alſo of the place of his birth, to wit, of Bethlehem. Which thing is no ſmall nor light confirmation, when as we ſée the Sonne of God to be borne, which the Prophet ſo long tyme before had foretolde. For if Ioſeph and Marie had had their houſe in Bethlehem, and remayned there, it had beene no ſtraunge caſe, if ſhée had béen there deliuered, and Ieſus Chriſt to hauehave béene borne in the ſame place: But the thing which at this day ſhoulde hauehave ſerued our purpoſe, had béene verie greatly darkened: for it had not béene knowne that the Prophet had not ſaid without cauſe, And thou Bethlehē, although at this day thou be of no great reputation, like vntounto a village which maketh no great ſhewe, yet ſhalt thou bring foorth him, who ſhall bée the ruler of my people. But when Ioſeph and Mary aboad in Nazareth, and came vntounto the Towne of Bethlehem at the verie time when ſhée was vppon the pointe of her deliueraunce, and Ieſus Chriſte borne, who ſeeth not but that the hande of GOD guided all this géere? And therefore it can not be but that men muſt bée willingly and wickedly blinde, when as they will not acknowledge héere the handie woorke of God, who hath ſet a marke of his onelyonly Sonne, that hée might without all doubt bée receiued, as the promiſed Meſſiah. In verie déede there was good occaſion that made Ioſeph to come vntounto Bethlehem, and that was the publike Edict of the Romane Emperour: but to bring a woman thither great with childe, and vponupon the point of her deliueraunce, ſurely this was not any man his déede, but the handie woorke of God. And againe we ſée that GOD vſeth ſtraunge kinde of dealing for the accompliſhing of his will. For what imported this Edict of Caeſars, but a tyrannicall ſubiection for the taxing of the people of the Iewes, and a laying of a tribute of euerie man at that time, whiche was a ſignification that they ſhoulde not looke for any more libertie: Ieſus Chriſt was promiſed to deliuer the Iewes and all the faithfull from the ſubiection of Satan, and from all tyrannie: and it ſéemed that this Edict was made to cloſe vp the gate, that GOD ſhould neuer accompliſhe the thing yt he had promiſed to his people: and yet this was the meanes to perfourme it. For when Ioſeph and Mary came like poore ſoules to ſerue a Tyraunt, a Pagane, and an Infidell, wee ſée the Prophecie prooue true, that Ieſus was borne in Bethlehem. And GOD him ſelfe (as I hauehave alreadie ſaide) giueth here a full certaintie vntounto all his, not to doubt of the birth of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt.
And héere wee ſée howe wée muſt applye the inſtruction of theſe thinges which are heere recited vntounto our ſelues. For it was not the meaning of S. Luke, or rather of the holie Ghoſt who ſpake by his mouth, ſimplye to deſcribe vntounto vsus an hiſtorie of that whiche came to paſſe: But hath on the one ſide laide foorth vntounto vsus, that GOD ſpared not his onelyonly Sonne for vsus: and beſides on the other ſide, that hée brought an vndoubted teſtimonie with him that hée was the redéemer of the worlde, and that hée might bée ſo receiued. Let vsus nowe conſider with our ſelues to make our profite by this hiſtorie, ſo that wée may agrée with the ſong of Angelles in glorifiyng of God, and receiue alſo that whiche it affoordeth vsus for the gladding of our ſoules. In the firſt place, The Angell (who brought the meſſage vntounto the Shepheardes) ſaide, Bee not afraide, for beholde, I bring you tydinges of great ioy. And beſides, this was the common teſtimonie of all the multitude of the Heauenly Souldiers, which GOD had ſent, And peace in earth to men. And thus wée ſée what it is that wée muſt holde faſt in the firſt place, which is, wée muſte ſéeke all our ioy in Ieſus Chriſte. For to ſay the trueth, when as wee are full of delightes and voluptuouſneſſe, it is without queſtion, wée will bathe our ſelues in all pleaſures: and yet yf wée bée not too too drowſie, yea altogether blockiſhe, our conſciences will neuer bée quiet, but bée tormented without ende and meaſure: For this worme (whereof the Scripture ſpeaketh) will gnawe vsus, our ſinnes will checke vsus, and wee ſhall féele that God of very right, is vtterly againſt vsus, and our profeſſed enimie. And therefore curſed are all the ioyes of the worlde, becauſe they ſhall bée turned into gnaſhing of téeth, vntill ſuche time as wée are an attonement with God. Curſed then are all ioyes, all honours, and all thinges els that are to bée deſired, vntill wée féele Gods mercy vppon vsus: and when wée are thus reconciled vntounto him, wée may not onelyonly reioyce with an earthly ioy, but with that ioye whiche is namely promiſed in the holy Ghoſte, to the ende wée might looke for the ſame in him.
Nowe, peace and ioy are thinges whiche cannot bee ſeparated: For howe can it bée that we ſhould hauehave any thing wherein to ioy, when as wée ſée our ſelues compaſſed about with ſo many miſeries. And beſides, when wée ſée our ſelues curſed in Adam, The children of wrath, and God being our iudge, armed to execute vengeance to the throwing of vsus downe into the bottomleſſe depth, what ioy is it poſſible for vsus to conceiue, who ſtande in ſuche a deſperate eſtate? And ſurely when wée thinke héereon, It cannot bée that wée ſhoulde bée onelyonly tormented with vnquiet mindes, but alſo bée oppreſſed with the horrour of Hell fier, which ſurpaſſeth all the griefes of this worlde: except ſurely the Diuell hath bewitched vsus: as many wée ſée which ceaſſe not héerein to make themſelues mery, although they bée at open defiance euen with God himſelfe. But if wee had but one droppe of féeling within vsus, without doubt wée ſhoulde alwaies liue in torment, vntyll ſuch time as wée finde God to ſhewe himſelfe mercifull vntounto vsus. And therefore this peace muſt goe before, that wée are fully aſſured that God alloweth vsus for his children and that becauſe hee imputeth not our ſinnes vntounto vsus. Nowe, are wée in this ſorte at peace with God? And if wée bée ſo, then ſurely wée hauehave wherefore to reioyce: yea euen with God, according to that which I hauehave alreadie touched. For the very Infidelles hauehave a certaine kinde of peace (that is to ſay, They are ſo ſenſles, as that they make no reckoning of the iudgement of God yea they are euen angrie with him) but it is not with God. For they neuer are at peace and reſt, without it bée when they forget both God, & themſelues, & become altogether brutiſh, howbeit S. Paul exhorteth vsus to be at peace with God:Rom. 5.2. that is to ſay, to looke vntounto him & ſearch how wée may be at peace, that is, wee drawing néere vntounto him, are certaine & ſure of his louelove, But how ſhal this bée doone? forſooth euen by the forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes, through the louelove which hée beareth vsus in our Lord Ieſus Chriſte. Let vsus héere now note, yt the peace which the Angels of heauen preached at this time, brought this ioy, whereof the firſt Angel made mention, ſaying, Beholde, I bring you tydinges of great ioy, that is, The ſaluation which you hauehave in Ieſus Chriſt. For hée is called our peace: and this title declareth vntounto vsus, that wée ſhould bée altogether ſeparated from God, without he receiued vsus, by the meanes of his onelyonly ſonne.
Moreouer, héereon wée hauehave alſo wherfore to glory, when God alloweth vsus for his children, and giueth vsus leaue to claime him with open mouth as our father, to come fréely vntounto him, and in him to hauehave our refuge Let vsus héerevpon gather by the way, that God hath ſo appointed his Goſpell to bée preached by the mouth of men, as yet notwithſtanding the Angelles hauehave gone before them and leade them the way. True it is, that at this day the Churche muſt bée taught by the meane of mortall creatures But howe euer it is, this is no ſtraunge thing that wee bring, but doe onelyonly recite the preaching of the Angelles of heauen: and that of no ſmale number neither, but of an infinite multitude, and of an huge armie.
Moreouer, wée cannot but néedes bée inflamed to magnifie our God, whenas wée are throughly certified of his goodneſſe. Sée nowe why theſe two things are ioyned together, that the Angels exhort all the worlde to glorifie GOD, it is becauſe hée gaue ſuche a peace vppon the earth, wee inioy therefore the benefite which God hath largely beſtowed vponupon vsus by the meane of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte his onelyonly ſonne. And hée hath taken the poſſeſſion of this peace, to the ende our prayſes might bée heard to the heauens, & pearſe the cloudes and that all the world might reſound this ſonge. The Lorde bée bleſſed and magnified for euer. Héerevpon wée are to gather, that our mouthes muſt alwaies bée ſtopped, and that wée can neuer praiſe God, vntill ſuche time as hée hath cauſed vsus to féele his great goodneſſe. For to ſay truely, how is it poſſible for miſerable ſinners to bleſſe and magnifie the name of God, ſo long as they hauehave that trouble of conſcience, that they knowe not whether God loueth or hateth them? But contrariwiſe, their mouthes, by reaſon of their griefes, muſt néedes be faſt cloſed vp, ſo that they are not once able to open their lippes. And therefore muſte GOD let vsus ſo vnderſtande in very good earneſt the louelove hee beareth vsus, as that wee may bée fully aſſured, that hee is alwaies our Father: and then ſhall wee hauehave wherefore to bleſſe his name.
But as wée cannot poſſibly, in trueth praiſe God, vntill ſuch time as hee hath declared vntounto vsus his bountie, euen ſo let vsus alſo learne not to hauehave a dead and idle faith: but when wée ſée that he hath bountifully beſtowed vponupon vsus the great treaſures of his merciemercy: let our mouth then doe his office in ſtirryng vp it ſelfe to bleſſe his name, and let our whole life alſo anſwere the ſame. For this is the very right ſigne, EueryEvery of vsus muſt conſcecrate himſelf to ye true ſeruice & worſhip of God, becauſe we knowing, that hée hath ſo dearely bought vsus, ought by good reaſon to beſtow all our thoughts & déedes in the bleſſing & magnifying of his moſt holy & glorious name. And that when we acknowledge ourſelues to bée in very déede his, wée might vnderſtande that it procéedeth of his frée mercy and goodneſſe, that it hath ſo pleaſed him to accept vsus vntounto himſelfe. And therefore this ſaying is not ſet downe without cauſe, That peace is graunted to men: not for any deſert, or for that wée hauehave purchaſed the ſame, but becauſe it pleaſed God. For the ſpéeche, which Saint Luke vſeth, importeth this much, yt wée muſt ſéek after none other reaſon why our Lord Ieſus Chriſte appeared to vsus: but becauſe that God had compaſſion of our miſeries: as it is alſo ſaide in Iohn, That God ſo loued the worlde,Iohn. 3.16. as that hée ſpared not to deliuer his onelyonly begotten Sonne to death for vsus. And therefore let vsus after this manner come vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte: to wit, that the meſſage which is héere publiſhed vntounto vsus by the Angels, might bée a burning Lanterne to ſhew vsus the way, & faith to bée our guide, ſo that wée might vnderſtande that hée is nowe God in vsus, becauſe he is God with vsus. For (as I hauehave alreadie ſaide) hée is declared to bée our God with vsus, when as hée meant to dwell in our humane nature, as in his temple: But hée is nowe God in vsus. That is to ſay, wée féele him conioyned to vsus in farre greater power, then when hée ſhewed and declared himſelfe a mortal man. Yea, for he is nowe both God and man in vsus. For, firſt hée quickneth vsus by the power of his holy ſpirite: and hée is beſides, man in vsus, becauſe hée maketh vsus pertakers of the Sacrifice which hée offered vp for our ſaluation: and declareth vntounto vsus that it was not without cauſe that hee ſaide, that his fleſhe was meate indéede, and his blood, drinke in déede. And therefore wée ſée why the holy Table is made ready for vsus, to wit, to ye end that wée knowing our Lord Ieſus to bée deſcended héere belowe,Iohn. 6.35. and vtterly abaſed, yet that hée is not for all that ſeparated from vsus, although hée bée aſcended into the heauens in glory and maieſtie. But rather vponupon this condition that wée might bée partakers of his body and blood. And why ſo? For wée knowe that his righteouſneſſe and obedience was the ſatiſfaction for our ſinnes, and hath appeaſed the wrath of God, through the Sacrifice whiche hée offered of his body and blood in the ſame humane nature which hée tooke vponupon vsus. Since thē it is ſo, let not vsus doubt when Ieſus Chriſt biddeth vsus to this Table, although wee can perceiue nothing els but bread & wine, but that hee verily dwelleth in vsus, and wee ſo ſurely knit vntounto him, that there is nothing which is his, but hée will communicate the ſame to vsus. Let vsus therefore (I ſay) acknowledge this, to the end we might know to make our profit of this Sacrament which he himſelfe hath eſtabliſhed: and let vsus vnderſtande, that ſo often as wée receiue the ſame, that hée might verie well hauehave deliuered vsus by ſome other meane from the bottomeleſſe pitte of Condemnation, wherein wée were if it had pleaſed him: but that his meaning was to graunte vsus more aſſurance of the louelove hée beare vsus, when as we hauehave Ieſus Chriſt for a pawne, becauſe we might ſéeke after our ſaluation in him: and acknowledge that wée are no manner of way whatſoeuer, able to reioyce, vntill ſuche time as hée bée geuen vsus as it were amongeſt vsus, and bée ſo néere vsus, as that by his meanes wée might bée brought to the kingdome of heauen, whereof wée were depriued by reaſon of our ſinnes. And thus wée ſée that Ieſus Chriſt muſt bée the ready way for our ſaluation, if euer wée intend to come vntounto God, & deſire to hauehave a true ſpirituall ioy, and a ſpirituall contentation and quietneſſe: and if wee alſo deſire to bee armed againſt all the temptations, wherewith Satan is able to attempt vsus. But and if wée will be partakers of this holie table, let vsus conſider wel with our ſelues, & in the firſt place acknowledge our miſeries, and be diſpleaſed, and vtterly aſhamed of them. Moreouer, let vsus acknowledge and confeſſe, that God meant to aſſwage all our ſorowes & griefes, when as hée ſo liberally ſhewed himſelfe in his onelye begotten Sonne, and would hauehave vsus fully and wholy ioye in him. And although we be ſubiect to many miſeries in this world, and are beſieged with enimies like vntounto rauening woolues, ſo that the deuill ceaſeth not to make a pray of vsus, and the Infidelles barke at vsus like maſtyfe curres: although (I ſay) wée be on eueryevery ſide troubled and threatned: and although we muſt abyde many griefes:Philip. 4.7. yet let vsus hold this for a moſt ſure ground, that wée ſhall hauehave alwayes peace in our God: and let vsus beſéech him, that he will make vsus féele it by his holy ſpirite, becauſe it is a thing that ſurpaſſeth all mans reaſon (as we hauehave already touched of S. Paule) and learne to bée ſo contented with our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and with the ſpirituall benefites wherof we are pertakers, as that we may patiently abide all the afflictions and miſeries of this worlde. And beſides, let vsus beſéeche him that wée take it not in euill parte to bée contemned, and on eueryevery ſide troubled, to bée ſhort, to bee put too all reproche and ſhame, ſo that Ieſus Chriſte bée with vsus, and bleſſeth all our myſeries and afflictions, and that wée bryng foorth ſuche fruite thereby, as that it may bee knowne, that in the middeſt of all our miſeries wée deſire nothing els but the glofiyng of our GOD. And where the worldlinges triumphe to their ſhame and confuſion, becauſe all their ioy is too ſtriue againſt GOD, Let our true ioy bée too ſerue him in all feare and humilitie, and yeelde our ſelues wholy to his obedience. And héere wée ſée the way by which wée muſt make our profite vponupon this doctrine.
Let vsus nowe fall downe before the Maieſtie of our good GOD, and acknowledge our faultes, beſéechyng hym too make vsus more and more to féele them: that héereby we may learne to ſubmit our ſelues vntounto our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte: knowyng that if wee bée ſeparated from him, all our whole life, and whatſoeuer benefites els wee receiue from GOD, ſhall turne to our moſt gréeuous condemnation. And that wée maye féele his death and paſſion to bée communicated vntounto vsus, and bee taken for the members of his body, to the ende the afflictions whiche wée ſhall abide héere in this worlde, may be ſo many helpes and furtherances vntounto ſaluation. So that wée may all ſaye, O moſte Mightie GOD, and Heauenlie Father. &c.