You have heard (Beloved) of the joy of the Angels,1 of their manner of celebrating the birth of Christ, and if the Angels should leave heaven, and come down upon earth, and take upon them bodies, how would they celebrate the Incarnation of Christ? You see here, Glory to God on ⟨p. 228⟩high, this would be the course wherein they would carry themselves to glorify God, answerable to their Song, so should we do, if we will be like the blessed Angels, we see how to celebrate the Nativity of Christ, 2we need not go to fetch joy from hell, to celebrate it; if the Devil should be incarnate, and come to live among men, how would he celebrate the Incarnation of Christ, otherwise then in many places it is? if we do not love to have our portion with Devils, surely we should not imitate those, whose state, and condition we are afraid of. The Angels saw matter enough in the thing it self, to make them sing, Glory to God on high, on earth peace, good will towards men. What, hath God heene so rich in love to us, in Christ, so wondrous in mercy, as to take our miserable nature, not at the best, but at the worst, and to take our condition upon him? here is matter of joy, and shall we be beholding to the Devil for joy, when we should rejoice for Christ? will not the thing it self yield matter of rejoicing? oh base dispositions, that we should •ot content our selves with homogencall uniform joy, to the thing it self. I desire repentance, and reformation, of what hath been amiss: if there be any that have been guilty in this kind, that intend to come near God in these holy mysteries; let them know, that God will be honoured of all that come near him, let them take it to heart. As Tertullian said in his time:3 What, shall we celebrate that, which is a public matter of joy to all the Church, for ⟨p. 229⟩a public shame in a disgraceful way?
You have heard (Beloved) of the joy of the Angels,1 of their manner of celebrating the birth of Christ, and if the Angels should leave heaven, and come downe upon earth, and take upon them bodies, how would they celebrate the Incarnation of Christ? You see here, Glory to God on ⟨p. 228⟩high, this would be the course wherein they would carry themselves to glorifie God, answerable to their Song, so should we doe, if we will be like the blessed Angels, we see how to celebrate the Nativity of Christ, 2we need not goe to fetch joy from hell, to celebrate it; if the Devill should be incarnate, and come to live among men, how would hee celebrate the Incarnation of Christ, otherwise then in many places it is? if we do not love to have our portion with Devils, surely we should not imitate those, whose state, and condition we are afraid of. The Angels saw matter enough in the thing it selfe, to make them sing, Glory to God on high, on earth peace, good will towards men. What, hath God heene so rich in love to us, in Christ, so wondrous in mercy, as to take our miserable nature, not at the best, but at the worst, and to take onr condition upon him? here is matter of joy, and shall we be beholding to the Devill for joy, when we should rejoyce for Christ? will not the thing it selfe yeeld matter of rejoycing? oh base dispositions, that we should •ot content our selves with homogencall uniforme joy, to the thing it selfe. I desire repentance, and reformation, of what hath beene amisse: if there be any that have beene guilty in this kind, that intend to come neare God in these holy mysteries; let them know, that God will be honoured of all that come neere him, let them take it to heart. As Tertullian said in his time:3 What, shall wee celebrate that, which is a publicke matter of joy to all the Church, for ⟨p. 229⟩a publike shame in a disgracefull way?
- 1These Sermons were preached at the feast of Christs nativity.
- 2How to celebrate Christs Nativity.How to celebrate Christs Nativitie.
- 3Tertullian.
