The Harmony of the Gospels, Chapter 3
CAP. III.
The Hiſtory of the birth of Ieſus Chriſt, and the wonderful things that attended the ſame
THE admirable providence of God doth ſo over-rule all Nations, Perſons, motions and affairs: that every juncture is timed and ordered according to the good pleaſure of his will, and for the accompliſhment of his Word & promiſes to his Servants. Who could have brought this to paſs, that Mary muſt bring forth her ſon Jeſus at Bethlehem, ſo far remote from Nazareth where they dwelt? But to accompliſh this Caeſar muſt make a decree, to tax all the world, this muſt be executed in Iudea; thither muſt Joſeph and Mary goe. This Decree muſt comprehend the houſe of David, therefore all the royal Family of David, muſt at the time appointed, meet at Bethlehem: and all this muſt come to paſs, when Mary was neer the time of her travail, Luk. 2.3, 4, 5. All went to be taxed, & every one in his own city, Ioſeph alſo went up from Galile, out of the city of Nazareth, into Iudea unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, becauſe he was of the houſe and linage of David, to be taxed with Mary his eſpouſed wife, being great with child. When they came there, though they were all of the ſame tribe, family & kindred, yet living at ſuch a diſtance, they had no private friend or acquaintance, unto whoſe houſe …ey could goe for ſhelter, and entertainment: but they went to ſome publick Inn, and there took up their lodging and place of abode: in which Inn, by reaſon of great reſort at that time, all the rooms within doors were ſo taken up or ingaged, that there was no room for ſuch a poor couple to be entertained; only there was a vacant end of an out-houſe, a Stable where horſes uſe to ſtand, if he would accept of that he might. Neceſſity compelled them to accept it; for Maryes time of travail was at hand; it concerned them to doe the beſt they could. It is like Ioſeph made what proviſion he could, and there took up his lodging, while he ſhould tarry in the town. And here was Mary delivered, here was our Lord Jeſus born, Luk. 2.6.7. And loe it was that while they were there, the dayes were accompliſhed that ſhe ſhould be delivered, and ſhe brought forth her firſt-born Son, and wrapped him in ſwadling clothes, and laid him in a Manger, becauſe there was no room for them in the Inn. Jeſus Chriſt emptied himſelf of glory, and came into this world in a very mean condition; ſuch was his low condition, that it was a great tryal to Faith; it was an …vidence of ſtrong Faith, to be able to look through theſe dark clouds & believe. To believe him to be the Lord of Glory, the Saviour of the world, the King of Iſrael, who hath no outward form nor comlineſs, nor beauty that we ſhould d… ſire him. The Church did find this to be a very hard point, a great tryal of Faith. For this cauſe it pleaſed the Lord to illuſtrate this mean birth of Jeſ…s Chriſt, with famous teſtimonies both from heaven and earth to ſtrengthen the Faith of the Church. The teſtimony from heaven was given by Angels. Luk. 2.8. ad 21. a famous Hiſtory, and a great confirmation of the faith of the Church to the worlds end. It was a viſion unto Shepards by night, wherein a glorious light of the Lord did ſhine abo…t the men, which did much affright them, but the Angel did comfort them againſt th…ir fears, ſaying Fear not. He telleth them he was a Meſſenger of joyfull tidings unto all people: he telleth them what the tidings is, viz. Ʋnto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Chriſt the Lord, the bleſſedeſt tidings that e…er in a few words was told unto men. The Angel ſends them to ſee, and giveth them a ſign by which they ſhall know him, ver. 12. this ſhall be a ſign unto you, ye ſhall find the babe wrapped in ſwadling clothes, lying in a Manger. The greateſt humility that ever any king did manifeſt in this world. For the further confirmation of their Faith and ours, ſuddenly there appeared a multitude of the heavenly hoſt with the Angel, praiſing God and ſaying, glory to God in the higheſt, in earth peace, and good will towards men. Here be three points in this heavenly Doxology, of high Inſtruction and Conſolation. and ſo they departed away to heaven. Then the Shephards agreed to go ſee this thing that was come to paſs, The Shepards ſaid one to another, let us now goe unto Bethlehem, and ſee this thing which is come to paſs, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haſte, and found Mary and Ioſeph, and the babe lying in a Manger, and when they had ſeen they made known abroad the ſaying which was told them concerning this child, the effect whereof upon the hearers was, all they that heard it, wondered at theſe things that were told them by the Shephards.
The Teſtimony from earth touching this Child was by the wiſe Men of the eaſt who knew that the Jews waited for and expected a king and Saviour to be born, and come into the world, and they were divinely inſtructed and guided to come and ſee him, and worſhip him, and make their offering of homage and honour unto him; in which ſervice, they were inſtructed and conducted by an extraordinary Star. And ſeeing they enquired after a king that was born, they went to the Kings Court to Herod, to enquire after him, Math. 2.2. ſaying, where is he that is born King of the Iews? for we have ſeen his Star in the eaſt, and are come to worſhip him. Now King Herod is eminently informed that Jeſus Chriſt is born, who would, as he doubted, out him of his Kingdome. The effect of this tiding: is, ver. 3. When Herod the King heard theſe things, he was extreamly troubled, and all Ieruſalem with him, eſpecially ſuch as were of his faction and apoſtacy. Herod contrived how he might be ſure to find him out, and get him into his hands, and then reſolved what to doe with him. For this end, Firſt, ver. 4. He gathered all the chief Prieſts and Scribes of the people together, and demanded of them where Chriſt ſhould be born? They anſwered v. 5. In Bethlehem of Iudea; For thus it is written by the Prophet, v. 6. And thou Bethlehem in the Land of Iudah, art not the leaſt among the Princes, for out of thee ſhall come a Governour that ſhall rule my people Iſrael. Then Herod ſent them to Bethlehem, v. 9. when they had heard the King, they departed, & when they were departed, lo the Star which they had ſeen in the eaſt, appeared to them, again & went before them, till it came and ſtood over where the young child was: when they ſaw the Star, they rejoyced with exceeding great joy. It ſeemeth they had no ſight of the Star all the time they were at the Court, and whether they had ſight of it in their journey to Ieruſalem, it is not ſaid. But now that Star that had appeared to them in the eaſt, appeared to them again, and conducted them to the very place where the child was, and when they were come into the houſe, viz. the Stable, the poor chamber where Mary Lay in, and where our Lord Jeſus was born. They ſaw the young child, with Mary his Mother, and fell down and worſhipped him, and when they had opened their treaſures, they preſented to him gifts, gold, frankincenſe and mirrhe.
They were men of great Faith, that could believe him to be King and Saviour, whom they found in ſo poor a Cottage, and in ſo poor a condition; but divine faith built upon Divine Teſtimony, can bear down all Objections of carnal and humane Reaſon, this faith of theſe ſtrangers was a ſtrengthening pattern to all believers, eſpecially to Joſeph and Mary, who were now in great danger. Herod having ſuch aſſured notice of the birth of Jeſus Chriſt at Bethlehem. What ever the danger was, they attended upon the Lord, to obey all his Laws and Inſtitutions, to fulfil them according to the Word. Therefore, Luk. 21 2. when eight dayes were accompliſhed, for circumciſing of the child, his Name was called Jeſus, which was ſo named of the Angel, before he was conceived in the Womb. Whether this ſervice was performed in the ſtable, where he was born, nothing is ſaid of it. but we may juſtly cenceive that ſome of the godly hearing of theſe eminent and Divine Teſtimonies, touching this child, had removed them to ſome fitter place, before the eight dayes were accompliſhed, and it may be, out of the City, if they were aware of the danger, that the child and his parents alſo were in. But where the Scriptu…e is ſilent, why ſhould we ſpeak?
There be yet two Laws more to be performed; for, Luk. 1.39. they performed all things according to the Law. The two Laws remaining were the purification of Mary, and the dedication of the child unto God, which were te be performed after thirty three dayes more. Obedience to both theſe Laws they diligently performed, both for time and place, Luk. 2.22. and when the dayes of her purification according to the Law of Moſes were accompliſhed they brought him to Ieruſalem, and preſented him to the Lord, as it is written in the Law of the Lord, every Male that openeth the Womb, ſhall be called holy to the Lord. And to offer a Sacrifice according to that which is ſaid in the Law of the Lord, a pair of Turtle doves, or two young pidgeons which is the poor womans offering, thus did they perform all things according to the Law of the Lord.
In this low condition of our Lord, & in theſe black dark times, which were now at the dore, the Church did need ſtrong confirmations of Faith, to believe that this babe is the Meſſiah, the Saviour of the World, the King of Iſrael. Therefore the Lord did now provide two eminent and heavenly Teſtimonies by two eminent reverend and holy perſons, old Simeon, and old Anna, who were wrought by the Spirit at this time into the Temple, and there did give their publick Teſtimony touching this babe, that he is the Lord our Redeemer, Luk. 2.25, ad 39. The firſt Teſtimony is given by old Simeon, whoſe perſon is deſcribed, ver. 25. behold there was a man in Jeruſalem whoſe Name was Simeon, and the ſame man was juſt and devout, waiting for the conſolation of Iſrael, and the Holy Ghoſt was upon him. This holy man had a preparatory Revelation by the Holy Ghoſt, which is expreſſed, ver. 26. it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghoſt, that he ſhould not ſee death, before he had ſeen the Lords Chriſt. This man his coming at this time into the Temple, was by an Impulſe of the Spirit of God, which is expreſſed ver. 27. and he came b… the Spirit into the Temple, and juſt then the Parents brought in the child Jeſus, to do for him after the cuſtome of the Law. Then did this reverend old man, take the babe into his arms & praiſed God, ver. 28. then took him up in his arms and bleſſed God and ſaid, ver. 29. Lord, now letteſt thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word, namely that particular promiſe that the Holy Ghoſt had told him, that he ſhould not dye till he he had ſeen the Lords Chriſt, and now he ſeeth & hath him in his Arms, and ſaith,) ver. 30. for mine eyes have ſeen thy Salvation, which thou haſt prepared before the face of all people: a Light to lighten the Gentiles, in the glory of thy people Iſrael This illuſtrious Propheſy touching this babe, by this reverend aged man, did put the hearts of Ioſeph and Mary into a great wonderment, v. 33. And Ioſeph & his Mother marvelled at thoſe things which were ſpoken of him: whether they expreſſed their wonderment to this reverend man, it is not ſaid, but it is probable they did, becauſe he turneth his ſpeech to them, v. 34. And Simeon bleſſed them, and ſaid to Mary his mother, behold this child is ſet for the fall and riſing again of many in Iſrael, and for a ſign which ſhall be ſpoken againſt (yea a ſword ſhall pierce through thine own Soul alſo) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Though his mother was happy in bearing him, yet muſt look to ſhare in the calamityes that will follow the entrance of the Goſpel, and in the ſufferings which Jeſus Chriſt muſt undergoe.
The other reverend and aged witneſs is old Anna, whoſe perſon is deſcribed, ver. 36.37. Anna a Propheteſs the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aſſer, ſhe was of a great age, and had lived with an husband ſeven years from her virginity, and ſhe was a Widdow of about eighty four years, who departed not from the temple, but ſerved God with Faſtings and Prayer, night and day, and ſhe coming in that inſtant, gave thanks likewiſe to the Lord, and ſpake of him to all that looked for redemption in Iſrael. Though her words are not particularly expreſſed, yet the ſcope of them may be gathered from theſe words. ſhe ſpake to all them that looked for redemption in Iſrael. All theſe things are mighty confirmations of Faith, and all very needful, eſpecially for Mary and Ioſeph …onſidering the ſad dayes that are coming upon them.