The harmony of the Gospels in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

it was an evidence of strong Faith, to be able to look through these dark clouds & believe. ⟨p. 11⟩To believe him to be the Lord of Glory, the Saviour of the world, the King of Israel, who hath no outward form nor comeliness, nor beauty that we should d• sire him. The Church did find this to be a very hard point, a great trial of Faith. For this cause it pleased the Lord to illustrate this mean birth of Jes•s Christ, with famous testimonies both from heaven and earth to strengthen the Faith of the Church. The testimony from heaven was given by Angels. Luk. 2.8. ad 21. a famous History, and a great confirmation of the faith of the Church to the worlds end. It was a vision unto Shepherds by night, wherein a glorious light of the Lord did shine abo•t the men, which did much affright them, but the Angel did comfort them against their fears, saying Fear not. He telleth them he was a Messenger of joyful tidings unto all people: he telleth them what the tidings is, viz. Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord, the blessedest tidings that e•er in a few words was told unto men. The Angel sends them to see, and giveth them a sign by which they shall know him, ver. 12. this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a Manger. The greatest humility that ever any king did manifest in this world. For the further confirmation of their Faith and ours, suddenly there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host with the Angel, praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest, in earth peace, and good will towards men. Here be three points in this heavenly Doxology, of high Instruction and Consolation. and so they departed away to heaven. Then the Shepherds agreed to go see this thing that was come to pass, The Shepherds said one to another, let us now go unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a Manger, and when they had seen they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child, the effect whereof upon the hearers was, all they that heard it, wondered at these things that were told them by the Shepherds.