Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

he said to his fervant, Put thy hand under my thighs, and swear by the Lord God of Heaven, and God of the earth, Genefis the twenty fourth chapter and the twenty third verfe. Quod Deus Cali ad femur Abraham, faith Augustine; but it was to fhew, that the feed in whom all Nations fhould be blessed, fhould come out of his loins, and take flesh of him; for he took the feed of Abraham, Hebrews the fecond chapter. So Abraham faw all the dayes of Chrift.

But fecondly, We are to inquire in what Manner he faw this day: For which point we must know he faw not Chrifts day as Simeon, whofe eyes did behold our falvation, Luke the fecond chapter; nor as they to whom Chrift faith, Blessed are the eyes that fee the things which ye fee, Luke the tenth chapter, that is, with bodily eyes, which many Prophes and Kings could not fee. So Abrahams outward man did not fee Chrifts dayes, but he faw it in the inward man, Romans the feventh chapter; He faw it fpiritually, with the eyes of his underftanding, Ephefians the first chapter and the eighteenth verfe; And with the eyes of faith, which is the ground of things not feen, Hebrews the ele venth chapter; By which things invifible to the eyes of the body, are made vifible to the eye of the minde, by the eye of faith; by means whereof, that was made prefent to Abraham, which otherwife was abfent,The fathers,by faith,beheld this promise afarre off, Hebrews the eleventh chapter and the feventh verfe,&c. And were as fure of them as if they were performed.

Thirdly, Herejoyced. It is faid that God give charge touching the Patriarchs and ancient Fathers, Nolite tangere unckos meos, Pfalm the hundred and fift and the fifteenth verfe: Which annointed was Abraham, who was annointed with the oyle of gladneffe, Pfalm the fourty fift; By which he conceived joy, when by faith he law the day of Chrifts nativitie. Here we are to inquire of the matter and words of this joy. The matter and caufe of Abrahams joy was deliverance, which is a great caufe of joy, when the Lord brought again the capti vity, then was our mouth filled with laughter, Pfalme the hundred twen ty fixt: So Abraham rejoyced to think that he was delivered from being duft and afhes, that now he might fay with David, Thou wilt not leave my foul in Hell,nor fuffer me to see corruptian, Pfalm the fixteenth and the tenth verfe. Secondly, He rejoyced, confidering that by means of Chrift his Redeemer, he should not only escape the corrup tion, which is death of body, For dust thou art, and to dust shalt return, Genefis the third chapter, And the death of the foul, which is the wa ges of finne, Romans the fixt chapter; But fhould have an actual blef fing, and that not temporal, but spiritual in heavenly things, Ephefians the first chapter and the third verfe: For as the Apostle witneffeth, they de fired not earthly bleffings but heavenly; For if they had been mindfull of earthly bleffings, They had caufe to rejoyce, and had ftore of them, Hebrews the eleventh chapter and the fifteenth verfe. But the matter of Abrahams joy, was the hope of a heavenly bleffing by Chrift. This God fignified when he promised, That his feed fhould not only be as the duft of the earth, which is an earthly bleffing, GeАваа

nefis

nefis the thirteenth chapter, but As the ftarres of Heaven, Genefis the fifteenth chapter; By which is meant the bleffing of Heaven: This bleffing was, That he fhould enjoy thofe things which the eye bath not feen, the first epistle to the Corinthians the fecond chapter and the ninth verfe. Thirdly, That this bleffing fhould come to him per femen fuum, not by a strange or foraign means; this did increase Abrahams joy to think quod Servator Abraha, eft femen Abraha: And that he whom David called his Lord was his fonne, Matthew the twenty fecond chapter. Fourthly, His joy was the greater, confidering that this benefit was not appropriated to the Jews only that were of the stock of Abraham, but that in him all Nations fhould be blessed; not only he and all his children, but as many as were to be blessed, fhould obtain this bleffedneffe in him. So fay the Angels, that the birth of Chrift is matter of the Peoples joy, because it belongs to all People, Luke the second chapter, That in this life all that are blessed. with faithfull Abraham, Galatians the third chapter, And after this life fhall be bleffed, by being received into Abrahams bofome, Luke thé fixteenth chapter. For the manner of his joy, As his defiring fight was fpiritual, fo his joy is not carnal, as ours, but spiritual. We defire to fee the feast of Christs nativity, and we joy when it comes, but in a carnal manner; but it must be fpiritual as Mary faith, My Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour, Luke the second chapter. There is a joy of the countenance, which is outward; but the true joy is of the heart and confcience.

To defire Christs dayes before he come, and to joy when he is come, arethe true touchftones of our love to him. When our Parents heard God was come, they hid themselves, Genefis the third chapter. So he that is in ftate of finne, defires not Gods comming or prefence, neither rejoyce at it. They fay, Let the holy one of Ifrael ceafe from before us, Ifaiah the thirtieth chapter and the eleventh verfe; So farre are they off from defiring his comming And for joying when he is come, they will fay with the Gergafites, Depart out of our Coafts, Matthew the eighth chapter and the thirty fourth verfe. But contrariwife the godly, to teftifie their defire, fay, Break the Heavens and come down, Pfalme the hundred fourty fourth: So for joy, The hope that is deferred makes the heart to faint, but when it comes,it is as a tree of life, Proverbs the thirteenth chapter and the twelfth verse: Therefore we must proceed from defire to fight, and by it, as also by our joy, we conceive at the day of Chrifts birth, we may examine whe ther we be the children of Abraham, and fo may conceive hope to be partakers of bleffing with him. But if we rejoyce as the carnal Ifrac lites did, of whom it is faid, The People sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play, Exodus the thirty fecond chapter and the fixt verfe. Ifwe teftifie our joy by eating and drinking, that is no true joy, our feaft day fhall be forrow, Malachie the fecond chapter: This joy is the Hea thens joy, whole hearts are filled with food and gladnesse, Acts the fourteenth chapter; They eate cakes and drink wine, and makethemselves merry therewith, Feremiah the fourty fourth chapter. But that is not

Abrahams

Abrahams joy, it is fpiritual, wherein is bleffedneffe, For blessed are the People that can rejoyce in thee, Pfalm the eighty ninth. We must learn to rejovce aright at the day of Chrifts birth. If we will rejoyce as Abraham did, we muft pray with David, Remember me Lord, that I may fee the felicity of thy chofen, and bee glad with thy people, and give thanks with thine inheritance, Pfalm the hundred and fixt, and the fourth and fift verses. Abraham knew a day would come that thould take away all his earthly joy, and therefore defired the day of Chrifts birth, which might make him to rejoyce in tribulation, Romans the fift chapter; Andrejoyce in afflictions, the firft epiftle of Peter and the fourth chapter, fuch a joy no man shall take away, Fohn the fixteenth chapter. As we must rejoyce at this day of Chrift, after Abrahams example; fo Christ hath a fecond day, wherein he will give to every man according to his works, Romans the fecond chapter. If we rejoyce at this day, when it comes, and defire it, If we love the glori ous comming of Chrift, the fecond epiftle to Timothy and the fourth verse, If we look for the appearing of the juft God, Titus the fecond chapter and the twelfth verfe, then thall we fhew our felves the Children of Abraham. Of that day to fee it, he faith it fhall be matter of joy; Lift up your heads, Luke the twenty fixt chapter and the twenty firft verfe, For your redemption draweth neer: To others matter of forrow, They fhall hide them in the rocks, Revelations the third chapter, but we mult lay with David, Iremembred thy judgements and received comfort, Pfalme the hundred and ninteenth.

Principes populorum congregantur, populus Dei Abrahami; quia Pfal.47. 10. Deifunt protectiones terra, valde excelfus eft.

T is a prophecie of the manifefting of Chrift to the Januar, 7:
Gentils, and of the gathering of them into the flock 1598.

of Chrift; which is the third of the three benefits

[ocr errors]

which we celebrate in the great folemnity of Chrifts birth, and is called by the Fathers, the Churches holi-day, for Chrift is the head to his Church, and, the Church is his body, and the fullnesse of him that filleth all in all things, Ephefians the first chapter and the twenty third verfe; To fignifie unto us, that Chrift is an unperfect head, till all the body, confifting both of Jews and Gentils, be gathered to him. Chrift had a Church before his nativity, which was the Synagogue of the Jews, but he had not a Church of the Gentils, till he was come in the flesh. Prefently after his bith, fome of the Gentils which came from the Eaft, were called to be as it were Proctors to the rest of the Gentils, before which time they were not incorporated into the Church of Chrift, which is his body, Ephesians the third chapter and the fixt verfe: Neither is it faid only of a few of the Gentils, or as Aaaa ž Chrift

[ocr errors]

Christ faith, Afcastering of the Gentils, John the feventh chapter and the thirty fift verfe: But the whole company of the Gentils, or as the Apoftle fpeaks, That the fulnesse of the Gentils fhould come in, to be of Chrifts Church, Romans the eleventh chapter and the twenty fift verle; Not a few of the common people, but the Kings and Princes of the people. And this is Chrifts fecond nativity: For as he was first born at Bethlehem of his mother the Virgin; fo he hath another birth foretold by the Prophet Pfalm the eighty feventh, and the thirty fourth verfe, I will think of Rahab and Babilon, behold Palestina, Tyrus, and Ethiopia, loe there is be borne; not at Sion only, but among the Gentils he fhall be manifefted to be the God of the Gentils as well as Jems.

In those words we have firft a Prophecie: Secondly, A Reason rendred. Inthe first we have to confider, Firft, The calling of the People Secondly, Of the Princes of the people.

First, touching the God of Abraham, it is Chrift, whofe day Abraham defired to fee, and in fecing whereof he did so much rejoyce, John the eight chapter, that is, not only the day of his birth, which he faw, as we learn by the oath which he caufed his fervant to take, Genefis the twenty fourth chapter; but allo the day of his paffion, which he faw long agoe and rejoyced in feeing of it, when he faid to his fonne Ifaac in the mount, The Lord will provide a facrifice, Hic providebit Dominus, Genefis the twenty fecond chapter and the eighth verfe.

Secondly, The People of the God of Abraham, are his children and pofterity; not only they that are the feed of Abraham, comming out of his loyns,and are the children of the flesh, Romans the ninth chapter & the eighth verfe, but the children of the promise; for if they that come Out of Abrahams loyns were only his children, then the Agarins, the Turks, and Ifmaelites, fhould be the people of God; but in Ifaac shall thy feed be called. They that lay hold of the promise by faith; They that are of the faith, are the children of Abraham, Galatians the third chapter and the feventh verfe; That have the fame spirit of faith, the fecond epiftle to the Corinthians the fourth chapter, that Abraham had As the Apostle faith, He is not a Few that is one outward, but a Few inward is the true Jew, Romans the fecond chapter the twenty eighth verfe. They that worship the Meffias by beleeving in him with the faith of Abraham, they are Abrahams children, and the people of Abrahams God; which thing John Baptift affirmeth, Matthew the third chapter, God can of stones raise up children to Abraham. So the Gentils, which worshipped ftones, and therefore were like unto them, Pfalm the hundred and fifteenth, were notwithstanding raised up to be children to Abraham.

Concerning which joyning of the Gentils to the Church of Chrift, which is the bringing of them into one flock, John the tenth chapter and the fixteenth verfe; The ingraffing of them into the true Olive, Romans the eleventh chapter; And the incorporating of them into his body, Ephefians the third chapter; That we which are finners of the Gentils, Gala

[ocr errors]

tians the fecond chapter, might have hope. God hath from time
to time left recorded in his word, that this should come to paffe: And
because under two or three witnesses every matter is established, Deu.
teronomie the nineteenth chapter and the fifteenth verle; therefore be
fore the Law we have chofen three proofs: Firft, Noah faith, God
fhall perfwade Japheth to dwell in the tents of Shem, Genefis the pinth
chapter and the twenty seventh verfe. Secondly, In femine tuo omnes
gentes benedicentur, Genefis the twenty fecond chapter: And when
Shiloh come, the people fhall be gathered to bim, Genefis the fourty ninth
chapter and the tenth verse. Again in the time of the Law three
teftimonies: First of Mofes, Deuteronomy the thirty second chapter,
alleged by St. Paul, Romans the fifteenth chapter and the tenth verfe,
Rejoyce ye Gentils with his people. Secondly, Of Balaam, Numbers the
twenty fourth chapter and the feventeenth verfe, There fball come a
farre of Jacob, and fhall bring under all the fonnes of Sheth, that is, all
wicked. Thirdly, Job, who, though he were a Gentile, yet being a
member of the Church of Chrift, did, by a true faith, confeffe, I know
that my Redeemer liveth, Job the nineteenth chapter. After the Law
and before the fecond temple, the Propher faith, In the name of God,
Ifaiah the fourty ninth chapter and the fist verfe: It is a small thing,
Hofta the first chapter and the fixt verfe.. I will call them a people, that
is no people, applyed by Paul, Romans the ninth chapter: And Joel
the fecond chapter, I will poure my spirit upon all flesh, alleged by the
Apostle Acts the fecond chapter, and Romans the tooth chapter. After
the fecond Temple Agga veniet defideratus cunctis gentibus, Hagga
the fecond chapter, Great people and mighty Nations sball come to feek
the Lord; they shall take hold of the skirt of bim that is a Few, and say
we will goe
with you, Zacheris the eighth chapter and the twenty third
verfe; And from the rifing of the Soune to the going down, my name is
great among the Gentils, Malachie the first chapter and the eleventh
verfe. This God hath from all times revealed, That the gate of faith
fhould be opened to the Gentils to enter into the flock of Chrift. This
was fhewed by Abrahams matching with Keturab a Gentile; by Moses
matching himself with Zipporah a Midianite and Gentiles by Salomon
matching with Pharaohs daughter; as in the Genealogie of Chrifts
birth Salomon is matched with Rabab, Booz with Ruth; to fignifie that
Chrift should fave both Jews and Gentils: So the matching of Jews
with Gentils doth fignifie the affinity that should grow between the
two Churches. The fame was fhewed by the fluff whereof the Ta-
bernacle was made, by the first Temple which was built upon the
ground of a Gentile Araunab, the fecond book of Samuel and the
twenty fourth chapter, with timber fent by Hiram a Gentile, the firft
book of Kings the tenth chapter: by the fecond Temple which was
founded by Cyrus and Artaxerxes, Heathen Princes. By which we
may perceive, that God had this in minde, and in a purpose, Togather
the Gentils into the Church of Chrift, and to be of the people of the
God of Abraham 3 which thing was not only forefhewed, but plainly
performed: For not only there came of the Gentils from the Eaft to

Aaaa 3

Christ,

[ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »