6. The birth of Christ now follows. Now was it that the Son of Righteousness should break forth from his bed, where nine months he had hid himself, as behind a fruitful cloud: this was the worlds wonder; a thing so wonderful, that it was given for a sign unto believers seven hundred and forty years before it was accomplished:1 therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son. A wonder indeed! and great, beyond all comparison: that the Son of God should be born of a Woman: that he who is the true Melchizedek, without Father, and without Mother, must yet have a mother-Virgin: that he that is before Abraham was, should yet be born after Abraham a matter of two thousand years: that he who was Davids Son, & therefore born in Bethlehem, should yet be Davids Lord; wonderful things are spoken of thee, 2O thou Son of God: before he was born, the Prophets sing, the Sibyls prophesy, the Patriarchs typify, the Types foretell, God promiseth, and the Son of God performeth; when he was born, Angels run errands, Gabriel brings tidings, the glory of Heaven shines, a Star displays, and wise men are the Heralds, that proclaim his Birth. But come yet a little nearer, Let us go to Bethlehem (as the Shepherds said) and see this thing which is come to pass! if we step but one step into his lodging, Heavens wonder is before our eyes; now Look upon Jesus! 3look on him as in fullness of time he carried on the great work of our Salvation: here now you may read the meaning of Adams Covenant, Abraham's promise, Moses revelation, Davids succession; these were but veils; but now shall we draw aside the Curtains? come, take a view of the truth it self; O wonder of wonders! whom find we in this lodging? a Babe in a Cratch, a Mother-maid, a Father-virgin: is this the Babe whom we look unto as our Jesus? is this a Mother (as Austin) scarce fourteen years of age? is this the Father that knew her not, until she had brought forth her first-born Son? 4what a strange birth is this? Look on the Babe, there is no Cradle to rock him, no Nurse to Lull him, no Linens to swaddle him, scarce a little food to nourish him; look on the Mother, there's no Mid-wives help, no downy pillows, no linen hangings, scarce a little straw where she is brought a-bed: look on Joseph the reputed Father: he rather begs, than gives a blessing: poor Carpenter!
6. THe birth of Christ now follows. Now was it that the Son of Righteousness should break forth from his bed, where nine months he had hid himself, as behind a fruitful cloud: this was the worlds wonder; a thing so wonderful, that it was given for a sign unto believers seven hundred and forty years before it was accomplished:1 therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son. A wonder indeed! and great, beyond all comparison: that the Son of God should be born of a Woman: that he who is the true Melchizedech, without Father, and without Mother, must yet have a mother-Virgin: that he that is before Abraham was, should yet be born after Abraham a matter of two thousand years: that he who was Davids Son, & therefore born in Bethlehem, should yet be Davids Lord; wonderful things are spoken of thee, 2O thou Son of God: before he was born, the Prophets sing, the Sybils prophesie, the Patriarchs typisie, the Types foretel, God promiseth, and the Son of God performeth; when he was born, Angels run errands, Gabriel brings tidings, the glory of Heaven shines, a Star displaies, and wise men are the Heralds, that proclaim his Birth. But come yet a little nearer, Let us go to Bethlehem (as the Shepherds said) and see this thing which is come to pass! if we step but one step into his loding, Heavens wonder is before our eyes; now Look upon Jesus! 3look on him as in fulness of time he carried on the great work of our Salvation: here now you may read the meaning of Adams Covenant, Abrahams promise, Moses revelation, Davids succession; these were but vailes; but now shall we draw aside the Curtains? come, take a view of the truth it self; O wonder of wonders! whom find we in this lodging? a Babe in a Cratch, a Mother-maid, a Father-virgin: is this the Babe whom we look unto as our Jesus? is this a Mother (as Austin) scarce fourteen years of age? is this the Father that knew her not, until she had brought forth her first-born Son? 4what a strange birth is this? Look on the Babe, there is no Cradle to rock him, no Nurse to Lull him, no Linnens to swaddle him, scarce a little food to nourish him; look on the Mother, there's no Mid-wives help, no downy pillows, no linnen hangings, scarce a little straw where she is brought a-bed: look on Joseph the reputed Father: he rather begs, than gives a blessing: poor Carpenter!
- 1Isa. 7.14.
- 2Heb. 7.3.
- 3Luke 2.15.
- 4Mat. 1.25.
