A Golden Chain

The manner of Christs birth was very base and poor: for the place where he was borne was a stable, and the cradle where he lay was a cratch. And he willingly took upon him this poverty for sundry causes. I. That the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, that he should be the shame and contempt of the people: ¹and that he shall grow up as a root out of a dry ground and have neither form nor beauty. II. That he might afterward from this base condition be exalted even in his manhood to that rich and glorious estate in which he should manifest himself to be Lord of heaven and earth. III. He was borne in exceeding poverty that he might shame the wise men of this world, who exceedingly esteem of their riches, power, and glory, persuading themselves that without such means no good thing can be done. And yet for all this they can not so much as reconcile one man to God by all their might & wealth: whereas Christ himself hath done the same both in poverty ⟨p. 290⟩and weakness; and can enlarge and preserve his kingdom without earthly helps. When he hung upon the cross the soldiers stripped him of his garments: and being naked he brought that to pass which all the Monarchs of the earth in all their royalties could never have performed. And whether Christ lie in the manger between the Ox and the Ass, or in the palace of the King, it matters not in regard of our salvation. IV. He came in this manner that there might be a difference between his first coming in the flesh and his last oomming to judgement. In the first he came only for this end, not to make any outward alterations in the world, but to change the conscience and to put in execution the work of our spiritual redemption: and therefore he hath reserved the overturning of all earthly estates with the manifestation of his own glory to the latter. V. Lastly he was borne in a poor estate that he might procure true riches for us in heaven: and withal, sanctify unto us our poverty upon earth. As Paul saith,² Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he being rich for your sakes became poor, that ye thorough his poverty might be made rich. He was content to lie in the manger that we might rest in heaven.

The manner of Christs birth was very base and poore: for the place where he was borne was a stable, and the cradle where he lay was a cratch. And he willingly tooke vpon him this pouertie for sundrie causes. I. That the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, that he should be the shame and contempt of the people: