Secondly, It may stir us up to some duties of practice. 1. To teach us Humility, Phil. 2.6, 7. Psal. 22.6.

1. By Considering our own Estates, and the misery thereof, which caused him to take upon him the form of a servant.

2. By Considering his example, who took upon him the form of a servant, to be serviceable to us; so ought we to abase our selves to be serviceable to our Brethren.

Thirdly, To move us to an holy thankfulness and joyfulness in the Lord, as 1. Zechariah blessed the Lord in this behalf, Luke 1.68. 2. Mary magnified him, Luke 1.46. 3. John leaped at it for joy in his Mothers belly, Luke 1.41. 4. Abraham long before, John 8.56. he saw it in the promise, and laughed, Gen. 17.16, 17. and hereupon called his Son Isaac. 5. The Angels, who have less benefit than we hereby, Luke 2.14.

Thirdly, To move us to an holy thankfulnesse and joyfullnesse in the Lord, as 1. Zachary blessed the Lord in this behalfe, Luke 1.68. 2. Mary magnified him, Luke 1.46. 3. John leaped at it for joy in his Mothers belly, Luke 1.41. 4. Abraham long before, John 8.56. he saw it in the promise, and laughed, Gen. 17.16, 17. and hereupon called his Son Isaac. 5. The Angels, who have lesse benefit than we hereby, Luke 2.14.

And sure if John wrote every Doctrine in this Epistle, that our joy might be full, as chap. 1.4. then hence also let us raise up our hearts to this holy affection, this is the fittest exercise for Christmas, otherwise usually spent in carnal delights, because men have no part in this joy.

And sure if John wrote every Doctrine in this Epistle, that our joy might be full, as chap. 1.4. then hence also let us raise up our hearts to this holy affection, this is the fittest exercise for Christmas, otherwise usually spent in carnall delights, because men have no part in this joy.

Doct. If the Apostles saw and heard these things of the word of life, then blessed were they, Luke 10.22, 23.

Why? Because of his comely beauty, and goodly proportion? no, Isa. 53.2. and then Judas had been an happy man, as happy as the rest of the Apostles. But the Reasons are these.

First, By this means they had a greater measure of knowledge, Luke 10.22, 23. he expounded to them the secrets of the Kingdom of God, Mat. 13.11, 16. Mark 4.34. hence is that of the Samaritan woman, John 4.34. hence it was that John Baptist was more excellent than others, Mat. 11.11. So that as Solomons servants were happy, 1 Kings 10.8. so much more Christs Disciples, who saw and heard a greater than Solomon.

First, By this means they had a greater measure of knowledge, Luke 10.22, 23. he expounded to them the secrets of the Kingdome of God, Mat. 13.11, 16. Mark 4.34. hence is that of the Samaritan woman, John 4.34. hence it was that John Baptist was more excellent than others, Mat. 11.11. So that as Solomons servants were happy, 1 Kings 10.8. so much more Christs Disciples, who saw and heard a greater than Solomon.

Secondly, Their Faith also by this means was more strengthened in the truth of this great promise of the Messiah, which had been deferred so long, John 20.29. It is many times an exercise to Faith, to be commanded, to believe what we see not, but to see what we believe not, is a great strengthening to a weak Faith. Again, a greater measure of knowledge, is a notable means of a greater measure of Faith. And if you object against this, Heb. 11.2.

Secondly, Their Faith also by this means was more strengthned in the truth of this great promise of the Messias, which had been deferred so long, John 20.29. It is many times an exercise to Faith, to be commanded, to believe what we see not, but to see what we belive not, is a great strengthning to a weak Faith. Again, a greater measure of knowledge, is a notable means of a greater measure of Faith. And if you object against this, Heb. 11.2.

I answer, That the meaning of the place is this, that though things be not seen, yet Faith maketh them evident; not that whatsoever we believe by Faith is not seen, Stephan saw and believed the same, Acts 7.55. There is a threefold light, of Sense, of Reason, of Faith, when a thing is obscure to both the former, Faith will make it evident.

Thirdly, Their Peace of Conscience also, hereby was more settled and established, Luke 2.29, 30. for he saw now Christ was come to accomplish ⟨p. 8⟩that work of reconciliation, which before was promised, and to make up our Peace with God; In these regards the glory of the second Temple was greater than that of the former, Hag. 2.10. the second Temple wanted five things of the former, Aaron's Rod, the Pot of Manna, Urim and Thummim, fire from Heaven, and yet it was greater than the former, because these three, Knowledge, Faith, and Peace of Conscience, were so much increased, not to a few, as it was before, but generally, even to the simple.

Thirdly, Their Peace of Conscience also, hereby was more setled and established, Luke 2.29, 30. for he saw now Christ was come to accomplish ⟨p. 8⟩that work of reconciliation, which before was promised, and to make up our Peace with God; In these regards the glory of the second Temple was greater than that of the former, Hag. 2.10. the second Temple wanted five things of the former, Aarons Rod, the Pot of Manna, Ʋrim and Thummim, fire from Heaven, and yet it was greater than the former, because these three, Knowledge, Faith, and Peace of Conscience, were so much increased, not to a few, as it was before, but generally, even to the simple.

Use 1. Hence we have just occasion to meditate of our blessedness also, above that of the old Church, for all those grounds of the Apostles blessedness, by seeing and hearing Christ, remain to us, as, 1 Means of Knowledge clearer to us than to the old Church, by the Apostles preachings and writings, we even see Christ crucified, Gal. 3. 2 Means of stronger Faith. 1. Because of greater means of Knowledge. 2. Because that is already accomplished to us, which they hoped for. 3. Means of settling greater Peace, seeing Christ is not only come to make our Peace (as he was to Simeon) but hath already done it; And therefore a shame it were for us to be more Ignorant, Faithless, perplexed in conscience, than they were, and therefore for

Ʋse 1. Hence we have just occasion to meditate of our blessednesse also, above that of the old Church, for all those grounds of the Apostles blessednesse, by seeing and hearing Christ, remaine to us, as, 1 Means of Knowledge clearer to us than to the old Church, by the Apostles preachings and writings, we even see Christ crucified, Gal. 3. 2 Means of stronger Faith. 1. Because of greater means of Knowledge. 2. Because that is already accomplished to us, which they hoped for. 3. Means of setling greater Peace, seeing Christ is not onely come to make our Peace (as he was to Simeon) but hath already done it; And therefore a shame it were for us to be more Ignorant, Faithlesse, perplexed in conscience, than they were, and therefore for

1. Knowledge, let us be no longer babes, 1 Cor 14.20. the times require it, Heb. 5.12. Isa. 11.9. 2 Faith, let us strengthen it,

First, For Promises past, we have not now received them.

Secondly, For Promises to come of the resurrection he so long foretold, was at last seen, and then belongs to us, that