angels.

As certain fhepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night, the angel of the Lord came upon them, Published by and the glory of the Lord fhone round about them: fo that the fplendor of the appearance confounded their fenfes, and made them fore afraid; but the angel quickly removed the terror that seized them, with the tydings he brought of great joy to all people; in those comfortable words, unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Chrift the Lord. Yet left they should expect a prince accompanied with pomp and magnificence, the angel described the meannefs and obfcurity of his circumftances, as a token to guide them in the fearch of this new born prince. This shall be a fign unto you, you shall find the babe wrapt in fwaddling cloaths, and lying in a manger. And

by fhepherds.

Having this notice, the fhepherds immediately Worshipped went to Bethlehem, and found the account true, which the angels had told them, with the addition of that facred hymn, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men. And, as they returned, they glorified and praised God.

The circumstances of our Saviour's birth, and For our ex- the publication thereof, ought to reconcile us to a ample. ftate of poverty: for fince the bleffed Jefus chofe to be born in fo mean and obfcure a manner, and preferred it before the fplendor and pomp of the rich and great; the poor ought to bear a low condition with patience and contentedness, and the rich not to undervalue and defpife it. And if ever the rich attain happiness, they must be poor in fpirit, and fit loose to what they poffefs.

The Jews were in a general expectation of the pected time. appearing of the Meffiah at the time of his birth,

At the ex

as appears from the antient and general tradition, that at the end of the second two thousand years, the Meffias fhould appear. And likewise from that particular computation of the Jewish doctors, not long before our Saviour's coming; who upon a folemn debate of that matter, did determine the Meffias would come within fifty years, which is confirmed from the great jealoufy which Herod had concerning a king of the Jews, that was expected about that

time to be born. And from the teftimony of Jofephus, who tells us, the Jews rebelled against the Romans, being encouraged thereto by a celebrated prophecy in their fcriptures, that about that time a famous prince fhould be born among them,

that should have dominion over all the earth. And that

The heathen world was in expectation of fuch an appearance, is evident from the famous teftimonies of two eminent Roman historians. Suetonius fays, there was an antient and general opinion famous throughout all the eaftern parts; that the fates had determined, that there fhould come out of Judea those that should govern the world. Which words feem to be a verbal translation of that prophecy, out of Judah fhould come the ruler. Tacitus writes, that a great many were poffeffed with a perfuafion, that it was contained in the antient books of the priests, and at that very time the east should prevail, and that they who should govern the world, were to come out of Judea. Which phrafe, that the east should prevail, refers to that title given the Meffias by the prophet, who fays, he is called the man whose name is the Eaft *

It's advan

man.

When our Saviour appeared in the world, he scattered and dispelled that cloud of idolatry, and that corruption of manners, which had fatally overspread it : he became a light to lighten the Gentiles, as he tages to was the glory of his people Ifrael. Whence under the conduct of fuch a guide, we cannot fail of acquiring the knowledge of God's will in this world, and the comfortable expectation of life everlasting in the world to come; whether we confider the dignity and excellency of his perfon, the clearnefs and perfection of his precepts, or the brightness of his own example, together with the encouragements of gracious affiftances and glorious rewards, which he hath promised to all those, that engage and perfevere in his fervice: for, he who lay in the bofom of the Father, and had the Spirit communicated to him without measure, in whom dwells the fulnefs of the Godhead bodily, could not want a perfect knowledge of what was moft agreeable to the divine will; and confequently

*For though we tranflate it Branch, yet the Hebrew word fignifies both; and may be rendered the one as well as the other.

confequently we must have abundant reason to put our trust

falvation.

and confidence in that method of attaining falvaSure means of tion he hath discovered; and we cannot fail of fuccefs, if we are not wanting to ourselves in our neglect thereof. It directs us to the true object of worship, and gives us rational and worthy notions of that being we are obliged to adore; and is moft fitly adapted to raise our natures to the greatest improvement they are capable of in this world.

Chrift draws

us to himself.

VIII. Our Saviour's method to prevent our falling into finful actions, was to lay a reftraint upon our thoughts, which lead to them, and to oblige us to govern our looks, which give birth to our thoughts: to obviate all thofe evils which proceed from an inordinate defire of riches, he hath discovered to us that admirable temper By precept. of mind diftinguished in his gospel by poverty of spirit, which maketh us even fit loose to the good things we poffefs: to keep us at a distance from the temptations of lying and detraction, he hath forbid all idle words, that the care to avoid them might fecure us from falling into those greater crimes. To hinder the fatal effects of anger and revenge, he hath nipped these paffions in the bud, by commanding us to love our enemies, and to do good to them that hurt us. To facilitate the virtue of patience, so neceffary in this vale of tears, he hath manifefted to us the treasures that are hid in adverfity, and the advantage of being perfecuted for his fake; that what the world calls misfortune and calamity, often proved the bleffed occafion of making us happy both in this and the next life. Bleffed are they that mourn, bleffed are they that are perfecuted. And to make us quiet and easy in ourfelves, and gentle to others, he requireth us to have a quick fenfe of our own weakneffes and defects, and readily to condefcend to the loweft offices for the good of our diftreffed brethren.

All which commands he enforces by his own example; for, in his own perfon, he hath recommended to By example. us the most hard and difficult, as well as those that are most useful and ferviceable. To teach us piety and devotion he frequently retired, and spent whole nights in prayer; and

from

from worldly occurrences raised matter for fpiritual thoughts; and conformed not only to divine inftitutions, but to human appointments that tended to promote virtue. That we

might learn humility, this prince of glory condefcended to the poverty of a stable; this Wisdom of the Father became dun.b, and was reduced to the fimplicity of an infant; he spent thirty years of his life in retirement, fubject to his parents, and unknown to the world: that he might be ready to exercise universal charity to the bodies and fouls of men; the whole course of his life was employed in good works: that we might fupprefs all ambitious defires, he refufed the offer of the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and when the people would have made him a king, he withdrew, and they knew not where to find him out: that we might be obedient to government, he paid tribute, though he was free from any fuch obligation, and was forced to work a miracle to perform it: that we might live above the world, he chose to have no part nor fhare in the poffeffions of it, the Son of man not having where to lay his head; he was perfectly contented in his mean circumstances, that in all our fufferings we might be refigned to the will of God; in his bitter agony he renounced the strongest inclination of nature, and fubmitted to the appointment of the Almighty: that a regard to the judgment of the world might not prevail upon us to tranfgrefs the laws of God, he made himself of no reputation; and in order to do good to mankind, was contented to be esteemed one of the worft of men; a magician, an impoftor, a friend and companion of publicans and finners, and a feducer of the people. And for us to refift all temptations to anger, and preferve an evennefs of mind under all provocations, he bore with the dulness and flowness of his disciples, both in their understanding and believing what he plainly taught, and answered the sharpeft reproaches of his enemies with calm arguments and modest filence, never bringing a railing accufation instead of a found reafon. That we might practise that difficult duty of loving our enemies, he prayed most earnestly for his, even when he felt the moft cruel effects of their malice, and imputed it to their ignorance, Father, fays he, forgive them, for they know not what they do; and

that

that he might excite us to the performance of our duty, has offered pardon and forgiveness of what is past, and perfect reconciliation to God by the merits of his death and paffion, provided we return to him by fincere repentance, faith, and obedience to his law.

He ftrengthens us at prefent, and enables us to By grace. do our duty, by enlightning our dark minds, by exciting our wills to that which is good, and by raising our courage under difficulties, dangers, and temptations: he raifes our fears by the threatenings of eternal punishment in the next life, and encourages our hopes by the promises of everlasting rewards to the whole man, body and foul; which are the most powerful confiderations to take men off from fin, and bring them to goodness, whereby they may obtain eternal life.

What we ought to

learn from

hence.

Wherefore, it should be our greatest care to please him, by a conftant regard to his commandments, and an endeavour to prevail on others to do the fame by making a daily progress in virtue and piety, that we may be conformed to the likeness of that beloved object; by fetting a great value upon all means and opportunities of converfing with him; in prayer and meditation, in hearing his word, and receiving the bleffed tokens of his love, which he hath left us in the bleffed Sacrament: by being more provoked to hear his holy name blafphemed, than for any reproach, that can be caft upon ourselves: by longing for his glorious appearing, that we may enjoy him without interruption to all eternity, in the glory of God the Father.

fers.

X. This fame Jefus Chrift, the eternal Son of Chrift fuf- God; begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, very God of very God; the Prince of glory, the heir of everlasting blifs, the promised Meffias who taking the nature of man, yet being in that nature still the fame perfon he was before, was fubject to all those frailties and infirmities, thofe outward injuries and violent impreffions, to which mortality is liable; his whole life was full of fufferings, from his birth in the ftable to his death upon the crofs; but particularly in his laft bitter paffion, he fuffered moft exquifite pains and torments in his body; and inexpref