Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

and that done, Truth ran to Mercy, and embraced her, and Righteousness to Peace, and kissed her; they that so long had been parted, and stood out in difference, now they meet, and are made Friends again. O the blessed effects of this Birth of Christ! it is Christ that reconciled them, and that reconciled us and them; He reconciled all things (saith the Apostle) whether they be things in Earth, or things in Heaven. ¹Now is Heaven at peace with it self, and Heaven and Earth at peace one with another; and that which glues all, and makes the Peace, is this Birth of Christ; the budding of this Vine. Truth shall Bud out of the Earth, and then Mercy and Truth shall meet together, &c.

1. 1Col. 1.20.

3. For the Blossom. The nature of Vines is, in its season to Blossom, or to bear sweet flowers. Pharaoh's Butler, you know, dreamed of a Vine, that not only budded, but Blossomed; Her Blossoms shot forth: and thus Christ, our Vine,¹ both Budded and Blossomed; he was full of the sweetest Flowers; now what were these Flowers and Blossoms of Christ, but his virtues and blessed graces? In this only Christ differs from the Vine, in that in him was seen not only one sort or kind of Flowers, but every kind.² Bernard reckons up the violet of humility, the lily of chastity, the rose of patience, the saffron of abstinence; I may ⟨p. 138⟩not so far enlarge my self; but in reference to his Birth, I cannot but admire at his humility, patience, and infinite condescensions; that the Creator should become a creature, though an Angel, it were a great Gulf, which no created understanding could measure; but that he should reject Angels, and take the Seed of Abraham: that he should be made lower than the Angels, who is God over all; that he would be conceived, who is the uncreated wisdom: in the dark Prison of the Womb, who is the Light of the World: and that of a Woman, the weaker, first sinning sex, who is the holy one and power of God; that he would be born, who beareth all things: the Lord of all, of a lowly handmaid: in fullness of time, who is eternity: in the night-time, who is the Son of Righteousness: in the Winter, who gives life and heat: in a time of public taxation, who is Lord of Lords: and that not at Rome, the Lady of Nations; nor at Jerusalem, the Glory of the East, but at Bethlehem the least of the Thousands of Judah; not in a Palace prepared, nor in his Mothers House, but in an Inn; not in the best Room, nor in any Room of the House, but in a Stable of Beasts; not attended there with a royal Guard, but with Joseph and Mary; not adorned in Robes, but swaddled in Clouts; not stately Enthronized, but laid in a Manger; nor lastly, his Birth Proclaimed by the Kings at Arms, but by poor Shepherds.