A Century of Sermons, Sermon 2
THE SECOND SERMON UPON THE INCARNATION.
LUKE ii. 8.
And there were in the ſame Country Shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their Flock by night.
A Year is paſt ſince I began to handle this part of St. Lukes Goſpel, containing the moſt full and exact Hiſtory of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Me thinks I am privy to your memory, that you call to mind ſummarily what then was ſaid upon the former Verſe: 1. The ſtrange condition of the Mother, that ſhe brought forth a Son, who by nature was no bearer, for ſhe was a Virgin. 2. The ſtrange condition of the Babe, the firſt begotten Son of God was the firſt-born Son of fleſh and bloud. 3. The ſtrange condition of the place, that ſhe laid him in a Manger. Laſtly, The ſtrange condition of men, that there was no room in the Inn for Jeſus and Mary. In his name who hath given us leave and life to meet this year alſo in his holy Temple, and for his honour, and to glorifie his Son we are come again to the ſame place, and to the ſame portion of Scripture, to celebrate this bleſſed and moſt auſpicious day of our Saviours Incarnation. They that conſult with the wiſdom of fleſh and bloud, may marvel that no room of ſtate was made ready for his birth, no place taken up to receive ſuch an Infant and his Mother; or whatſoever the dwelling were, any place rather than a Cratch and a Manger: but there is little amends made in my Text for this humiliation and poverty. For ſee what Stage the Angel hath choſen to declare and annunciate him unto the world; the City was too rich, the Temple too ſtately, the Synagogues had too much of the Phariſees in them, Kings Courts were too voluptuous, therefore he aſſembles thoſe together whom he found in the fields and deſolate places. But as mean as their condition was, ſince an Angel from Heaven entertained conference with them, we may juſtly imploy the exerciſe of this hour upon them, according as they are mentioned in my Text, There were in the ſame Country Shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and as it followeth.
In which Text I ſee no leſs than ſeven goodly eares of corn growing upon one Stalk according to the proſperous part of Pharaohs dream. For the place in which the Angel choſe to publiſh the Incarnation here are two circumſtances: 1. It was in the ſame Country. 2. It was in the Field. For the time, which is the third circumſtance, it was in the night. For the perſons, two more: They were Shepherds, that's the fourth part; They were many, ſo many as made a Plural number, that's the fifth. Then there are two circumſtances of their Office and diligence, they watched; that's not all, they watched over their Flocks, and ſo we are aſcended to the number which I propounded, the Text is diſtributed into ſeven branches. Paſtores in eadem regione, Shepherds in the ſame Country; at the circumſtance we begin.
There is no place upon earth to which God deſcended, or to which his Angels approached in holy Scripture, but it is ſignificative and myſtical, wherefore names were given to ſuch places by the Patriarchs and Prophets, as when the voice for Heaven with held Abraham from ſacrificing Iſaac, it was called Jehovah jireth, the Lord ſhall be ſeen in the Mount. From whence I deduce how theſe words cannot be empty of ſome pithy obſervation, in eâdem Regione, that the Angel appeared unto the Shepherds in the ſame Country. It was a place between Bethlem and Hieruſalem, the ſame parcel of Ground, as moſt agree, when Jacob ſlept,Gen. 28.18. and in his ſleep ſaw Angels aſcending and deſcending upon the Ladder, and when he awoke he built an Altar, and called it Bethel, the houſe of God. Now where could the firſt news of Chriſts Nativity arive more properly than in the ſame place where it was firſt ſeen in a Viſion? Where could it be publiſhed more aptly, than where it was promiſed to the Patriarchs? There Jacob poured oyl upon the top of the ſtone, the firſt anointing with oyl that we read of in holy Scripture: Upon that parcel of Ground, not by chance, but out of providence, he was proclaimed, who is called Chriſtus Domini, the Chriſt, or the anointed of the Lord. There ſtood the Altar which was called Bethel, the firſt Altar that ever was called the Church of God: and from whence ſhould the news of a Saviour iſſue, but from the holy place which is conſecrated and bleſt to be called the houſe of God? It was long indeed (for ſo the yearning and the deſire of the world might think) before our Saviour took fleſh of the Virgin Mary; yet it was not unmindfulneſs in the Almighty, He remembred the oath which he ſwore to Abraham; nay, He remembred the deſolate place when he appeared to Jacob in eâdem Regione, in the ſame Country.
The further I look into this apparition (Brethren) I ſee more wonder and myſtery in it; for the whole Country of the Jews was in the ſame diſtreſs and miſery at this time, into which poor wandring Jacob was caſt, when he ſlept by the way-ſide upon the hard ſtones for his pillow. Eſau hated Jacob, and compelled him to abandon his Fathers houſe, and to retire into deſart places; ſo the overflowing Romans had made themſelves Lords of the Land of Jury, and brought all Iſrael under the thraldom of their Dominion: But behold, as in the pinch of Jacobs extremity his ſoul ſaw the Viſion of a Saviour, ſo after the ſame proportion of mercy, in the pinch of Iſraels extremity, when the Romans were Lords over them, their eyes ſaw, and their ears heard the Annunciation of a Saviour; each parcel of comfort landed jump, as God would have it, in the ſame model of Ground, in the ſame Country that the Shepherds kept watch over their flocks by night.
Yet methinks I ſee another myſtery, Beloved: for the Incarnation of our Lord ſtands as thick with wonders as the Heaven with Stars, and it is this: Was not this glorious Babe born at Bethlem? Why are not the firſt news of his birth carried to the ſame City where he was born? It is our diſcretion to ſuſpect that news, and very juſtly, which comes not from the place where the thing was done. For anſwer, This is the ſecret of providence, I gueſs, which is hidden under it. You know that Chriſt was conceived at Nazareth, and born at Bethlem; Lived much at Capernaum, but died at Hieruſalem. Theſe Towns of Nazareth and Capernaum, were vulgarly at this day called Galilee of the Gentiles. The truth is, they were given to the Gentiles to dwell in, and by them inhabited in former times; they were deſtined to the Tribes of Iſrael, for upon the Captivity of ten Tribes carried quite away by Salmanezar, only Judah and Benjamin were left behind, not able for their ſmall number to fill the whole Land of Canaan; whereupon that part wherein Nazareth and Capernaum did ſtand was called Galilee of the Gentiles. Mark here the equity and indifferency of the Son of God both to Jew and to Barbarian; He was conceived among the Gentiles at Nazareth, brought forth into the world among the Jews at Bethlem; Lived at Galilee of the Nations, but died at Hieruſalem. So in this Goſpel, his Mother brought him forth within the Walls of the City, that was proper to the Jew, but the tydings were heard abroad without the Walls in the Country, that was proper to the Gentiles.
The Collection is not violent, but natural; for ſo St. Paul argues,Heb. 13.12. Salm. Tom. 15. diſp. 23. that Chriſt belonged unto us aliens from the Covenant, who were not of the Jews that ſerved at the Tabernacle, for Jeſus alſo that he might ſanctifie the people with his own bloud, ſuffered without the Gate. The benefit of our Saviours life and death was communicated to all people, not only to the Seed of David, paſſus extra Hieruſalem. He ſuffered not within, but without Jeruſalem, becauſe the fruit of his death lay open to all: Aſcendens è monte Oliveti extra Bethaniam; Aſcended into Heaven upon the mount of Olives without the Town of Bethany, becauſe he opened the Kingdom of Heaven for all believers. But hear what follows in the Jeſuit Salmeron, natus in Speluncâ extra Bethlem, born in a Grote or Cave, for ſo he calls the Manger, without the Town of Bethlem, becauſe the benefit of his Incarnation was open and publick to all. Here his obſervation ſticks and is erroneous,Caſe. in Luc. 2. Baron. in an. 1. Chriſti, although he hath the judgment of Cajetan to favour him, and the conjecture of Baronius almoſt concurring with him, for he ſays, the Stable was in Suburbiis Bethlem, not within, but without the Gates, in the Suburbs of Bethlem. And, what more manifeſt to convince their fancy than the eleventh verſe of this Chapter, This day is born unto you a Saviour in the City of David. The Moral therefore is more fitly made up, as I told you before, that He came firſt into the world in the City of Bethlem, by which deed he doth intimate that He was made fleſh for the Salvation of the Jew, but the tidings were heard abroad at the firſt publication in the ſame Country, whereby it appears he was made man alſo for the ſalvation of the Gentile.
Another circumſtance of place is in the Text, that the Angel choſe the open fields to annunciate the Meſſias of the world; and who can deem but that they were fitly choſen for the purpoſe? The Prieſts of the Temple would not be glad to hear of him that cut off their Types and Ceremonies; they that inhabit the City would not reliſh ſuch a Prophet, that will ſay unto them, Sell all, and give it to the poor, and you ſhall have treaſure in heaven. The pleading places of Juſtice would laugh at his preſcription, He that taketh away thy Coat, let him have thy Cloak alſo. The Seas had heard of nothing but Neptune and Thetis, and the titles of falſe Gods, all their ſhips were called by the names of Idols; but the plain Fields had no ſuch prejudicate opinion againſt a Saviour which is Chriſt the Lord. Upon their pleaſant fruitfulneſs, the happy news are ſhowred down, as if the dawning of this bright day ſhould change all the Earth into another Paradiſe. Myſtically thus much may be collected, as all increaſe and abundance wherewith we are fed is brought out of the field, ſo the Incarnation of Chriſt ſhould fill the world with the plenty and abundance of Salvation. I will not ſay, according to the Letter of the Miracle in the Goſpel, that the fiſhermen laboured hard all night and took nothing; ſo in the darkneſs of the Law (which may not unfitly be called the night) nothing at all was taken; yes, there was a number of thoſe that believed, but a very ſmall one, here a berry, and there a berry, ſays the Prophet, upon the top of a bow. The Phariſees compaſſed Sea and Land to gain one Proſelyte, and ſcarce glean'd up one in all their travel; but ſince the Church writes it ſelf not Jew, but Chriſtian. Since the day ſpring from on high hath viſited us, the number of the fiſhes is ſo great which the Apoſtles drew into the Ship, that the nets were ready to break becauſe of the multitude.
2 Kings 4.6.As the Widows oyl fill'd every veſſel which ſhe could borrow of her neighbours, ſo the faith of our Redeemer hath fill'd all Nations in the world. As Job ſaid by Allegory, Petra mihi effundit rivos olei; Rivers of oyl trickled down from the rock, and the rock was Chriſt. During the time of Moſes Law what a paucity there was of thoſe that ſpent their induſtry to interpret the Canon of the Scriptures; How few are reckoned that ſhed their bloud for the maintenance of the truth? Not any almoſt that made themſelves Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven; many Ages yielded ſmall ſtore of Saints. But ſee what the Goſpel hath brought forth like a fruiful field, many Penmen of holy Writings; many Virgins unſpotted touching the fleſh; thouſand thouſands of Martyrs. They that have gone about to caſt up the number, think that as many have loſt their lives for the profeſſion of righteouſneſs in the time of the Goſpel, as there were beaſts in the old Law ſlain for Sacrifice before the Altar. Et nunc omnis ager, nunc omnis parturit arbor. Now the trees of the Lord are full of ſap, now the Temples of the Lord are throng'd with thoſe that believe, as the fields ſtand thick with Corn in Harveſt. This is the good will of him that was born in Bethlem, prefigured to give increaſe and abundance, becauſe the Angel did annunciate him in the fields, where fruit grows up for the uſe of man.
The errors of men are captious, and catch at any occaſion to argue for their own defence, and why may not this Text be diſtorted by ſome to prove, that fields and deſarts are fit receptacles for Congregations of Chriſtians? But for Churches and Chappels they may be demoliſhed, or elſe neglected. It was an Hereſie of the Maſſilians, as Damaſcen oſerved, that God might be worſhipt as well in the Woods or vaſt Mountains, in any place unhallowed, as in thoſe Oratories that are dedicated to his honour; I would they had left none of their brood behind them; but the firſt broacher of that corrupt Doctrine (as I have told you once before) in my conceit was Jeroboam, for he made a rent in the Kingdom of Iſrael, alienating ten Tribes from their Allegiance due to their lawful Prince Rehoboam. But one thing troubled him, that according to the Law all the Tribes muſt go up once a year to worſhip at Hieruſalem, which was the imperial City of the King of Judah. This was it that cut the very nerves of his conſpiracy; therefore you ſhall find him thus ſpeaking to the people in Joſephus: Country-men, ſays he, you know the Law,Antiq. lib. 8. c. 3. and are not ignorant that God is in every place as well at Dan and Bethel as at Hieruſalem. Ʋbique vota exaudit, ubique cultores ſuos reſpicit; his ear is every where to hear your Prayers, his eye is every where to ſee your Worſhip, and therefore there is no ſuch neceſſity as the Prieſts talk of to go up yearly to the Temple at Hieruſalem. This is Jeroboams Divinity, in one act both an Heretick and a Traitor, he took away the Crown from Gods anointed by violence, and would take away the throne dedicated to God himſelf by fraudulence.
Beloved, every Religion knew this, that one houſe or more, as the worſhip required, was to be built unto the God before whom they prayed, and in whoſe name they took an Oath before the Altar. Dagon the Idol of the Philiſtins had his Temples, and ſo had the reſt; and ſhall the Aſſemblies gathered in the name of Chriſt, ſhall they only worſhip in the Mountains and in deſart places? The Angel hovered from above over the fields where the Shepherds abode; becauſe he was a Meſſenger of Heaven, and therefore proclaim'd the Chriſt under the open heaven; but men that have their habitation upon earth muſt not ſo preach Chriſt as if they had dropt out of the skies; the preſence of an Angel did conſecrate the waſte plains upon which the flocks were feeding, any place was holy for that time where an Angel ſpoke: but corruptible and ſinful man muſt not think that it is his priviledge to do the like, unleſs the place be ſet apart for Gods ſervice by a lawful ſolemnity of dedication.Euſeb. lib. 2. c. 16. Philo the Jew makes mention of ſome that worſhipt God with moſt fervent devotion in Egypt, and the parts of Alexandria, frequent in Prayers and Watchings, and it appears to ſome they were Chriſtians, and they,1 Cor. 11.22. Alphon. a Caſtro. l. 4. Tit. Tem. ſays Philo, had their foreign, religious buildings full of reverence and Majeſty to praiſe the Lord. This that Philo ſpeaks of was in the reign of Claudius the Emperour, twelve years and no more after our Saviours Aſcenſion into Heaven. The Primitive Church flouriſhing, the Apoſtles all living, theſe foreign, theſe Oratories and Chappels were built, ſo ancient is the practice to call upon God in ſuch ſtately buildings as were appropriated to be the houſes of Prayer;Concil Gangra c. 5. Suorum decret. and the Reverend Council of Gangra paſt this Canon againſt Euſtachius an enemy to Church buildings; If any man ſhall ſay the houſe of God is contemptible, and the Aſſemblies vain, let him be an Anathema. And of the two circumſtances of the place that the Angel appeared in the field before the Shepherds, ſo much and no more.
Thirdly, I obſerved for the time, that it was night when the Angel came unto them, I diſpute not what time of the night it was. The night was diſtributed into four watches, aſſigning the ſpace of three hours to a Watch, to this end, that he who could not endure the tediouſneſs of a whole night to lie abroad under the open air might be relieved at the end of a watch by him that took his place; and it is not improbable that this occaſion fell out towards the laſt watch of the night: For to Premonſtrate, that Chriſt came to bring light, to enlighten every man that came into the world; he was annunciated by the Angel both at the increaſe of the year, and at the increaſe of the day. Oriente Salvatore non ſolum humani generis ſalus, Ambroſ. Serm. 6. de Nativ.ſed etiam ſolis ipſius claritas innovatur. ſays St. Ambroſe, at this day Salvation ſhin'd upon the ſoul of man, which had been in the darkneſs of condemnation, even as our Saviour was born toward the dawning of the morning, when the Sun was peeping out of the darkneſs of the night. Nay, the ſame Father goes further. You would think his phancy were Rhetorical, or rather Poetical, but he delivers it for a Doctrine which he did verily believe that it was late at night when the Angel came into the field, Cum ſol feſtinans ob dominicae nativitatis obſequium, &c. When the Sun, Ibid.in homage to our Saviours Nativity, poſted, as it were, and (before the Stars had run their courſes cut ſhort the night) ſhined upon the world many hours before the day expected him, and thus he reaſons, if the Sun ſtood ſtill in the day for the Prayers of Joſuah, why might not he ſhorten the night to behold our Saviours Nativity? Wherefore at night this Babe of Glory was born that he might turn the night into day.
A meditation of St. Gregories may ſupply us with another reaſon,Greg. moral. Lib. 33.20. the Sun-ſhine of the day is the great Oracle of manifeſtation, the ſmalleſt Atoms then appear, and whatſoever lay in obſcurity is clearly diſcerned: now we have no clear apprehenſion of the myſteries of faith in this life as if they lay naked before us, Sancti quamdiu in hác vitâ ſunt divinae naturae Secreta quaſi ſub quadam imaginatione conſpiciunt; The Saints in this world behold the ſecrets of the Divine Nature as if it were in the imagination of a dream, as men think they ſee Viſions when they ſleep in the night. I do not go about therefore to ſpan thoſe things which cannot be meaſured, how that which is infinite and finite are one in perſonal Union how he was conceived by the Holy Ghoſt. What perfection of knowledge and grace there was in his Infancy, if you look into the Ark with the Bethlemites you may forfeit your eyes. It is modeſty to ſay theſe things are incomprehenſible, for the Angel did reveal them in the night. They that raiſe queſtions, and diſpute about thoſe depths concerning our Saviour which cannot be ſounded look for thanks becauſe they are induſtrious, whereas their curioſity ſeems to me to uſe him no better than if they crowned him with thorns. We muſt believe without appoizing the Articles of our Faith to the balance of reaſon, and then though we ſee darkly in a glaſs we are children of the day: But if we will ſcan the ſecrets of God by the ſcruples of humane wiſdome,Bern. Serm. 5. ex pa…vis in Nativ. then is our day turned into night. One day telleth another, and one night certifieth another, Pſal. 19.2. That is, ſays Bernard, the day told unto the day, when the Angel came unto the modeſt Virgin Mary; the night certified the night, that is, the Serpent conferred with Eve when ſhe was fond and curious.
I am yet under this pillar of Cloud, I mean under this circumſtance of time, that the Angel Gabriel addreſt unto the Shepherds by night. Captivities that be famous in Scripture are three: Under Pharaoh in Egypt, under Cyrus in Babylon, and under the Devil in the thraldom of ſin. Mark what iſſue every one of theſe had to obtain liberty: 1. The Children of Iſrael aroſe at midnight, and departed out of Egypt: 2. Nehemiah and thoſe few, the firſt that went out of Babylon to repair Hieruſalem aroſe in the night and went their way, Nehem. 2.12. And thirdly, the great Redeemer, who ſhould pluck us out of the mire, and draw us out of the bondage of Sin, his fame is ſpread abroad when the Shepherds kept watch over their Flocks by night. Nay, almoſt no work of extraordinary worth and efficacy toward and after the time of the Paſſion but it fell out when darkneſs was upon the face of the earth. To let his Birth alone, and to ſay no more than my Text doth, Excubarunt noctu, the poor men heard of it that lay abroad in the night. His Agony in the Garden took hold on him by night, when the world was in a dead ſleep, his own Diſciples drowſie, and could not watch with him one hour. He ſuffered when the Sun was darkned, and the Stars gave no light. Finally, He aroſe out of the Sepulchre before any body was ſtirring in the morning. What is the meaning of this? Even to ſhew that we were dumb and ſtill paſſives in all the work of our Redemption; we ſlept, and thought not of help and ſuccour when it was plentifully ſupplied for our ſalvation; when no ſoul awoke to think of bleſſing, in the dark night of Ignorance Chriſt was born. We are ſupine in our ſins like men ſtretcht upon their bed, when he ſweat drops of bloud. We regarded not his Paſſion when he ſuffered; we were careleſs when he aroſe for our juſtification. But of the time let this ſuffice to be ſpoken.
That which made up the fourth and fifth parts of my Text is concerning the perſons they were Shepherds, and they were many Shepherds, ſo many as made a Plural number, And there were in the ſame Country Shepherds, &c. The heathen make much ado, and relate it not without admiration; by what mean and almoſt deſpiſed perſons the deep knowledge of Philoſophy was firſt found out and brought to light? As Protagoras earning his living by bearing burdens of wood; and Cleanthes no better than a Gibeonite fain to draw water for his liberty. Chryſippus and Epictetus mere vaſſals to great men for their maintenance, yet theſe had the honour to find out the riches of knowledge for the recompence of their Poverty; but the day ſhall come that theſe Philoſophers will wonder that they found out no more than they did, and be aſtoniſhed that ſilly Shepherds were firſt deputed to find out one thing more needful than all the World beſide, even Jeſus Chriſt. Tiberius propounded his mind to the Senate of Rome, that Chriſt, the great Prophet in Jury, ſhould be had in the ſame honour with the other Gods which they worſhipt in the Capitol. The motion did not pleaſe them, ſays Euſebius, and this was all the fault, becauſe he was a God, not of their own, but of Tiberius invention: So leſt great men, and Rulers of the earth ſhould diſdain at a Saviour which was not of their own diſcovery, but found out by ſervants that kept their flocks, I will make it good by reaſon that the Angel pickt out very choice perſons for the buſineſs, the Shepherds of the Field.
It is truly and modeſtly obſerved by Tolet, Tolet. in hunc locum.Cauſa cur paſtores viſitantur eſt Dei beneplacitum, multae autem congruentiae: Why ſhepherds were viſited by the Angel rather than men of another trade or calling; and in particular, why theſe Shepherds rather than all beſides of the ſame Vocation, no cauſe can be aſſign'd, but the meer will and favour of God: but his pleaſure having done the deed, much may be ſaid to approve it why it is fit and convenient. To be a Shepherd is a life of great ſervitude and poverty, as Job ſays, they ſpend their time deſolate and ſolitary in the Wilderneſs, and for vile company they are ſet with the dogs of the flocks: and theſe were fit to be the firſt partakers of the Goſpel, becauſe it is powerful in Spirit, but baſe and contemptible according to the Fleſh, A ſapientibus non quaerit teſtimonium qui parvulis ſe revelat, he baulks the Phariſes and Princes of the people, and ſeeks the teſtimony of Shepherds, becauſe he reveals himſelf unto thoſe that are lowly in their own eyes, and poor in Spirit: none more unlikely than they to do a meſſage for Almighty God. When Samuel came to Iſhai, and askt for his Sons, that he might pick out the man whom the Lord had choſen, Iſhai preſented the moſt likely, as he thought, indeed all but one; There is one more, ſays he, in the field that keepeth ſheep. O, ſays Samuel, let that David be ſent for from following the Ews great with young. Surely thinks the Prophet, becauſe he hath been deſpiſed and neglected, he is the man whom God hath in ſtore to govern Iſrael. Weak and impotent means are the fitteſt for the Lords choice, that men of action and authority may not attribute that unto themſelves which is only the doing of the Lord. Praevalet imperitia in ruſticitate Paſtorum, ſays S. Auſtin. Serm. 2. de Epiphan.When ſuch ignaroes as theſe were ſent abroad, to tell in the City what they had heard and ſeen, the world could not ſay they were enticed by Eloquence; the enemies of the Faith could not ſay that crafty Philoſophy got ground upon the ſimple: but as the Devil choſe a Serpent, a wiſe creature above all the Beaſts of the field, and all that are in the water, to deſtroy the world by ſubtlety; ſo Chriſt choſe Shepherds out of the Field, and Fiſhermen out of the Water, as the chief means to repair the world by innocency and ſimplicity. 1 Cor. 1.26. Brethren, ſays St. Paul, you ſee your calling: for ſo Eraſmus will read foreign in the preſent tenſe, becauſe the thing was open to all mens knowledge, and perſpicuous: but what did they ſee ſo plainly? not many wiſe men after the fleſh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, but fooliſh things were choſen to confound the wiſe, &c.
Two things are to be drawn from hence; firſt, that we diſtort not the Scripture as if it pronounced nothing but confuſion to the rulers of the earth; let not the honourable perſon hang down his head, as if power, and wiſdom, and noble blood, and dignity were cauſes of rejection before God; no beloved, Iſaiah foretold that Kings ſhould be nurſing Fathers, and Queens ſhould be nurſing Mothers of the Church: but it is often ſeen that the benignity of nature and the liberality of fortune are made impediments to a better life; and therefore Nobles and Princes are more frequently threatned with judgment. I adjoyn moreover that the Scriptures ſpeak more flatly againſt illuſtrious Magiſtrates, than the common ſort: for if God had left it to men, whoſe tongues are proſtituted to flattery, they had ſcarce been told that their abominable ſins would bring damnation. 2. The comfort of the poor is never to be forgotten in this point: the ſervile life of a poor Shepherd is as fortunate as great exaltation, when it is made up with this bleſſing, that Chriſt is before his eyes; a little that the righteous hath is better than great riches of the ungodly: every ſmall eſtate with the fear of God is plentiful enough. For thus I reaſon, if you do not ſerve God with zeal and charity, and a conſcience undefiled, it were pity you ſhould have more than you have; though you were leſs than the moſt abject vaſſal upon earth you had too much. If you be the child of God, ſtrong in Faith, full of the conſolation of Hope, operative in Charity, would you wiſh a better portion than that? do you know whether they that are admir'd for rich and honourable have ſo much? Who had not rather be one of theſe ſilly Swains, ſo bleſſed as to have an Angel appear before them, and to ſing the triumphing day of Chriſts Nativity in their ears, than to be the Maſter of the whole Flock who ſlept at home under his Canopy of Gold, and heard no ſuch matter? In fine, to end this point, a poor birth required no better than poor Shepherds to come and viſit in the Manger of a Stable: Wherefore as S. Auſtin hath it, Let us learn to be rich in him, who for our ſakes was made poor. Let us be no more the ſervants of ſin,In Natal. Dom Ser. 13. becauſe he took upon him the ſhape of a ſervant. Qui propter nos de terra ortus eſt in illo coelum poſſiàcamus, Let us live to inherit heaven through him, who for our ſakes was abaſed to inherit earth.
Secondly, The good Shepherd that giveth his life for his ſheep, would firſt be manifeſted to thoſe good Shepherds, that watcht over their ſheep: Palamque fit paſtoribus paſtor creator omnium, ſays the ancient Hymn. Methinks I ſee his promiſe reveal'd to Moſes, to Jacob, to all thoſe Patriarchs, whoſe vocation it was to keep ſheep, in this one act, that Shepherds are his choice, and before all others, to whom the triumph of his Birth is chanted. Who was the firſt man that ever found God in Heaven? it was the righteous and innocent Abel, a faithful Shepherd as we read it, Gen. 4. ſemblably who were the firſt men that ever found out God upon earth? Why the Angels will ſuffer none to find him out before the Shepherds have had a ſight of him. Inquire likewiſe of your fore-fathers, what God did in their days, and in the time of old, and you ſhall find that the greateſt deliverances that ever happened were wrought by Shepherds. I have toucht upon it before in another ſtrain: Iſrael was deliver'd from bondage out of the Land of Egypt, the very type of Hell, and that was effected by Moſes who kept the ſheep of his Father Jethro. Judah was delivered out of Babylon, another type of Hell, at the command of Cyrus, who then was a mighty Prince, but once an expos'd infant, and train'd up to be Shepherd, as we find it in prophane ſtories: but the true deliverance was firſt communicated to theſe in my Text, that it might be ſpread abroad by the Shepherds.
The point is full of obſervation, ſo that I cannot dwell long upon one thing; but this I add; who deſerv'd theſe joyful news before the Prieſts in the Temple, and the Shepherds in the field? Marvail not that I joyn them together, the Temple and the Field being ſo far aſunder: but might Zachary ſay, Lord we have often offered up the Lamb at morning, and the Lamb at evening, twice a day have we lookt for the ſalvation of the world to come in the fleſh when we dreſt the Sacrifice. And might the Shepherd ſay, Lord we have fed our flocks with carefulneſs, both in the heat of the day and in the froſt of the night, not ſo much for the wool and profit, but that theſe might be offerings to be ſlain upon thine Altar. Yet thoſe Beaſts are but ſhadows of him that is to ſuffer for the ſins of the world: When will he come that is ſubſtance of theſe types? Illius aram ſaepe tener noſtris ab ovilibus imbuet agnus; why to ſatifie this juſt expoſtulation, loe, Gabriel appears to Zachary the Prieſt, and the thrones of Heaven did congratulate thoſe Shepherds with the news, as who ſhould ſay, leave the Fields, give over your Flocks and Lambs, there is no further uſe of burnt Offerings and Sacrifice; go and ſee the Babe that from henceforth will ſave the poor Beaſts from ſlaughter, and will ſave the world from their ſins.
Surely theſe Shepherds had heavenly meditations in their minds, and were moſt religiouſly prepar'd, when this Embaſſador of heaven did approach unto them. And you my beloved, I ſpeak to one with another, if that innocency and harmleſneſs were in you that was in them, you would think many a time, that a divine Beam did ſhine upon your ſoul, and that you had your converſation with Angels. They had no State Stratagems in their brain, no projections to profit themſelves and to wrong the Commonwealth, no undermining inſinuations: do you think they were in Law, and caſt about to make their ſuit endleſs, and never come to trial? or how to caſt a fair gloſs upon deceitful merchandize? or how to live by the ſpoil and oppreſſion of others? no ſuch thing I warrant you: But if the Angel had any joyful tidings to bring in theſe days, where ſhould he find a man that is harmleſs and innocent?
Maldonat.Thirdly, ſays a late Writer, Non magnatibus res innotuit ne ad Herodis aures perveniret, the Rulers and Magiſtrates were not acquainted at firſt with theſe news, becauſe God would have his Son concealed from bloody Herod: for had there been great men as honeſt and religious, nay, better than theſe Shepherds, which I can believe and prove too (if need require) yet ſomewhat there was in way of Chriſtian policy, which did enable the Shepherds with more truſt, to ſound out, and to publiſh Chriſt: For might it not have been ſuſpected that faction and diviſion was a breeding againſt Caeſar, if ſome of the principal men had ſpread abroad that a mighty Prince was born to redeem his people. I ſay, it would have put the Romans in doubt of Rebellion: that then which had been Treaſon in the mouths of Potentates, was Goſpel from the lips of Shepherds.
Fourthly (and I will ſpare all that may be multiplied beſide in this point) Paſtoribus rationalium Ovium ante alios divina myſteria annuntiantur: Tolet. Ann. 14. in 2. Luc.There are Shepherds that feed the reaſonable flock, whoſe pains and induſtry are devoted to watch over your ſouls; of theſe you muſt be perſwaded, that the divine Myſteries of Chriſts Evangel, are eſpecially reveal'd unto them. Knowledge is or ſhould be preſerv'd in the lips of the Prieſt, and you muſt not think that every man is the Son of a Prophet, to preach Chriſt, and to teach a Congregation: It is the brain-ſick fancy of the Browniſts, who, while they attribute a ſacred Prieſtly authority to every one of the Sect, they have left themſelves none that was fit for the Function. What, you will ſay, was not Chriſt firſt publiſhed by poor lay Shepherds, and afterward preached unto the world by Fiſher-men; and then his Reſurrection teſtified by Mary Magdalen and other Women? why do we debar them of that now, which Chriſt vouchſaf'd them before? I anſwer, Relation is one thing, Revelation is another; to teach a Doctrine is one thing, to teſtifie an act is another: if Chriſt be born, if he be riſen again, to declare this fact and ſtory honeſt plain dealing Shepherds and ſilly Women were fitteſt inſtruments, and moſt unlikely to deceive; but in matters of Revelation, yea, or in matter of Doctrine it is otherwiſe. Moſes was a Shepherd, but never undertook to teach Iſrael, until God mark'd him out for the buſineſs, and inſpired him. David was a Shepherd, but undertook not to teach divine Pſalms, and inſtruct the Church, until God inſtructed him. The Apoſtles were Fiſhermen, but never made the Doctors of the world, until the Spirit lighted on them: And they that can ſhew either lawful calling, or revelation that the Spirit hath pointed them out, let them proſper in the work that they undertake, otherwiſe I muſt ſay for the inſtance of theſe Shepherds in my Text, that they were but faithful relators and witneſſes of what they had heard and ſeen, but not Miniſters of the Goſpel of Chriſt.
Of their perſonality thus far: now of their plurality, that they were Paſtores, Shepherds in the Plural, at leaſt more than one. As ſome Fathers compute the number of the Wiſemen that came out of the Eaſt, that they were three, neither more nor leſs; becauſe three gifts were preſented to the Child in his Cradle, Gold, Myrrhe, and Frankincenſe; ſo theſe audacious Textmen are bold to ſay, that there were three Shepherds to whom the Angel came, neither more nor leſs: and what conjecture moves them to this opinion, but becauſe that heavenly Carol which was ſung this day from above, conſiſts of three parts, Glory to God, Peace on Earth, Good will towards men; but whether two or whether twenty, it is known only to the Holy Ghoſt: This we read and no more. Paſtores in eadem regione, they were Shepherds in the ſame Countrey. It is a point of care indeed, very circumſpectly obſerved in the birth of Kings, to have witneſſes of good credit and report in the place,Maldonat. Ne quis falſus pro vero Rege ſupponatur, leſt a ſuppoſititious Child ſhould be jugled in for the Heir of the Crown: So Shepherds were called to come to the place where they ſhould find Mary and the Babe, that the teſtimony of good men without exception might ſtand firm againſt all thoſe that ſhould oppoſe it: And what teſtimony could be more valid and ſtrong in every part? let the Jews cavil as they will; they which talk of that which is done afar off, may eaſily be miſtaken; but theſe came from the neareſt parts to Bethlehem, even in the ſame Country. 2. Active and experienced men are more dangerous to truſt, but the Education of Shepherds is without guile or devices. 3. Do not tax their report, that it was a ſleepy apparition or a dream, for my Text avoucheth they were watching over their flocks. 4. Leſt all the credit of the tidings ſhould lean upon one mans voice, Paſtores, many Shepherds and many Tongues would bear record, that they ſaw in the City of David a Saviour which was Chriſt the Lord.
Now began the Vine, that is the Church, to ſtretch forth her branches, and all the Husbandmen that could be hir'd were called to labour in the Vineyard: the time was when one ſingle Dove returned into the Ark. One David ſate alone like a Sparrow upon the houſe top. One Elias that was zealous for the Lord, wandred ſolitary by himſelf in the Wilderneſs: now they did increaſe into troops and into multitudes. Many wiſe men drew to Bethlehem to adore the Lord, many Shepherds to viſit him. Peter and Andrew, Philip and Nathanael, James and John were called together; the Church brought forth no leſs than twins at once to ſhew her fruitfulneſs: a true ſign that they belonged to the Land of Canaan, when they hang together full and thick like the Grapes of Eſchol in their cluſters. A leſſon for them that affect ſingularity, and think they are in tune, when they ſing diſcord flat againſt all the world. He that is one by himſelf is little better than one beſide himſelf, and hath no more cauſe to boaſt then a Leper had, who dwelt alone, and was caſt out of the Congregation of Iſrael. Eſto gutta in imbre grandinis, make a drop in a ſhower that poures down from Heaven. Chriſt accepts not of the teſtimony of one alone, but of many, Ʋni teſti ne Catoni quidem ſtandum, a ſhaft divided from the Quiver, may be knapt in ſunder; when it is in the bundel it is not eaſily broken. I have done with their pluralities, now I come to the two laſt circumſtances concerning their office and diligence, they watcht, that's not all, but they watcht over their flocks, that is the ſum of all.
There are two ſorts of perſons noted for finding out Chriſt more eminently than others, the Shepherds before all others after he was born, and Mary Magdalen the firſt of all men and women, as far as we read after his Reſurrection. The Shepherds were vouchſafed their bleſſing, becauſe they watcht by night. Vigilaverunt multum, a hard task if you conſider the time of the year; and Mary was ſo proſperous becauſe ſhe roſe very early in the morning to ſeek her Lord, Vigilavit multum. It is hard to ſay whether ever ſhe ſlept one wink for care and grief, ſince the Paſſion of our Saviour; and God knows who ſhall be the firſt that finds him at his ſecond coming in Glory, when he ſhall come alſo like a thief in the night: but whoſoever he be, this I am ſure of, Vigilabit multum, he muſt be none of them that ſleep in gluttony, that are heavy with ſurfeiting and drunkenneſs, with chambering and wantonneſs, he muſt watch or be fit to waken to find the Lord. The enemies of our ſoul are mighty and many in number, our temptations ſteal upon us as cloſely as they that come to rob in a miſt, or in the dark of the night. David you know chid with Abner, becauſe he watcht no better about Saul his Maſter: The thing is not good that thou haſt done, 1 Sam. 26.15.as the Lord liveth you are worthy to die becauſe you have not kept your Maſter the Lords anointed. So ſhall we be rebuk'd if we do not ſet watch and guard about our ſoul; we deſerve to die becauſe we neglected to ſence our ſoul from the incurſion of thoſe evil thoughts that will deſtroy it.
Slothfulneſs and idleneſs are all one, as if you took your eaſe and ſlept upon your bed;Sence. de providen. c. 5. it is Vigilantia ſomno ſimilima, a kind of watching that is no better than if you ſnorted like a ſluggard. He that will not waken out of this ſpiritual ſleep of ſin for the voice of preaching, and for good admonition, he will be wakened with a miſchief: never any ſo ſleepy and ſluggiſh but Gods wrath, or the hour of death, or the final day of Judgment will ſtart them out of their lethargy, and then they ſhall awake, as Sampſon did that ſhook himſelf, when he lifted up his head from Dalila's lap; but the Lord was departed from him. I have multiplied many precepts upon former occaſions, that you ſhould be like watchful Shepherds, expecting the coming of Chriſt: one thing which I do not remember was then delivered ſhall ſerve at this time inſtead of many points of caution. A man that cannot hold up his eyes, and awake when need requires, muſt be ſhaken and pincht; violence muſt be offered to his drowzineſs.Sence. Ep. 60. So leſt we ſleep in ſin, Excitandus è ſomno, & Vellicandus eſt animus; you muſt prick and gourd your own conſcience with the terror of judgment, with the menaces of damnation. Suffer not your eye-lids to ſhut, but ſift and ſhake your own heart; examine your ſelf, remember what a bleſſing it is to be a watchful Shepherd, that an Angel of comfort may come and ſing ſalvation unto you.
Watchfulneſs as it is only a reſtraint from bodily ſleep is not that which I urge and enforce; this is a ſeaſon wherein I know its much in uſe, to ſit up late; they that intend games and revels, and paſtimes are watchful enough, though they turn the night into day, and the day like heavy ſluggards into night: The luxury and voluptuouſneſs of our Feaſts in many Families do reach to midnight, and then we think we have kept Chriſtmas, when we ſit down to eat and drink, and riſe up to play. Perchance exceſs and ſurfeiting do ſo diſtemper us, that it is well when we have eat and drunk if we can riſe up to play. Some relaxation and triumphs of mirth were ever allowed to our Saviour's Nativity, as Mordecay ſaid of the days Purim, that they were days of feaſting and joy, and ſending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor; Eſther 9.22.but the Devil envying our gladneſs hath turned it into riot, and the very madneſs of luxury: The careful progenitors made it many days work to labour hard, and to leave a fair inheritance to their poſterity; and my diſſolute heir makes it ſome few nights play to loſe and conſume it; as if the day were not long enough: he borrows the beſt part of the night to make riddance of his patrimony. Great difference between ſuch unlucky night ravens, and theſe Shepherds in my Text, that watch over their flocks by night.
I know the application runs in a right line upon the Prieſts of God, but this is not a place for thoſe inſtructions: this I will not omit, a certain poſtilling Frier, that preferred his Monaſtery before the Pulpit, knowing our labour and his own eaſe, did thus obſerve upon the former verſe, that Chriſt was born in a Manger, ut Anchoritarum caenobia ſolaretur to patronize the ſolitary Cells of Hermites and Anchorites, an exact pattern of Solitarineſs I wiſs to be born in a troubleſome Inn: nay, in the Stable therefore which is common for all men, and at ſuch a time when Town and Countrey were gathered into Bethlehem. Every houſe full of Strangers to pay their Subſidies to Caeſar, in the midſt of this throng. Is not our Frier much miſtaken to put us in mind of a Monaſtery? but rather we may note, that the bleſſing of Chriſts Birth was firſt annuntiated not to ſlothful Monks, but to Shepherds that watch over their flocks. Our Saviour is diverſly call'd both a Shepherd and a Lamb, Ʋt Agnus apud greges annuntiatur. Chriſt the Lamb is revealed unto Shepherds; Tolet. Ann. 14. in 2. Luc.it is fit they ſhould firſt hear of the yeaning of a Lamb. Chriſt the Shepherd is revealed among the flocks: it is fit the flocks ſhould be comforted, that the Prince of Shepherds was born. I add Chriſt the head of the Church, under whom all Shepherds have their charge, it is fit he ſhould be notified to Shepherds that attend their charge, that watch over their flocks.
To include you all, every man and woman in the application, ſuppoſe you are no bodies keeper but your own: Vigila ſaltem ſuper animam tuam, why be watchful and prudent over the ſafety of your own ſoul; and when I have ſpoke that word, your ſoul, I perceive inſtantly that you have a whole flock to look to, and it is all your own, the affections and paſſions of your mind; them I mean, if you bridle their luſt and wantonneſs, if they do you reaſonable ſervice, you have a rich flock, ſheep that ſhall ſtand upon the right hand of God: if they uſurp and fill you full of uncleanneſs, they are a flock of goats, that ſhall be condemned unto the left. What ſays Cato of our affections? they are to be governed like a flock of ſheep, you may rule them altogether ſo long as they follow and keep good order, but ſingle one out alone, and it will be unruly and offend you: as who ſhould ſay all our affections, muſt be ſanctified to God, the whole flock; let one paſſion have leave to ſtraggle and all will follow it to deſtruction. Many ſit up late and eat the bread of carefulneſs for the increaſe of riches; but thoſe are the thorns that choak the ſeed. Let the watchfulneſs of the heart eſpecially be fixt upon this flock, the deſires, the paſſions over all that iſſues out of the ſoul, as the Star caſt his beams directly upon the place where Chriſt was born. Dei ſecreta non cognoſcimus ſi in terrenis deſideriis vigilemus, Greg. lib. 23. Moral. c. 20.we ſhall not find out the ſecret of God, that is his Son, if we watch over fleſhly and earthly things. Finally, all the providence of our watch will be in vain, as David ſays, not ſufficient to give repulſe to the wolf that lies in wait, unleſs the eye of God keep centinel over us. Our cuſtody is weak unleſs the Lord ſend his Angels, as he did unto theſe Shepherds, to pitch their pavilions round about us: Wherefore pray we that the Watchman of Iſrael may be always about our paths, and about our beds, who neither ſlumbers nor ſleeps; to whom be Glory and Honour, &c. Amen.