The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

First for the Humility of his Incarnation. He did not only take the Nature of Man, but he took upon him the form of a servant, and was borne in a most mean and contemptible condition, of a poor Mother, not allowed the common entertainment of an lnne, but thrust out to be borne in a stable amongst the beasts, and laid in a very manger, not looked after or regarded, either by his own or by strangers, Phil. 2. Luke 2. And thus he was abased for divers reasons: For first hereby the second Adam pays for the extreme arr• gancie of the first Adam: The second Adam is thrust down below the ordinary condition of a man, because the first Adam affected a condition above the Angels, even to be like to God himself. Secondly, he thus hides the glory of his eternal Nativity in a mean and temporary birth, that he might purchase for us an heavenly and eternal birth: Our Lord takes upon him the form of a servant, that we might enjoy the states of sons. Thirdly, he refuseth the glory of greatness and pomp of entertainment at his birth, to reach the great ones of the world, not to be proud of their births in Nature, but to seek after the heavenly new birth, as the only true glory: And the poor of the world may be comforted against the meanness of their provisions for themselves and their children, by remembering that the Saviour of the world had not so good entertainment as usually the poorest of their children have.

First for the Humility of his Incarnation. He did not only take the Nature of Man, but he tooke vpon him the forme of a seruant, and was borne in a most meane and contemptible condition, of a poore Mother, not allowed the common entertainment of an lnne, but thrust out to be borne in a stable amongst the beasts, and laid in a very manger, not looked after or regarded, either by his own or by strangers, Phil. 2. Luke 2. And thus he was abased for diuers reasons: For first hereby the second Adam paies for the extreme arr• gancie of the first Adam: The second Adam is thrust downe below the ordinary condition of a man, because the first Adam affected a condition aboue the Angels, euen to be like to God himself. Secondly, he thus hides the glorie of his eternall Natiuity in a meane and temporary birth, that he might purchase for vs an heauenly and eternall birth: Our Lord takes vpon him the forme of a seruant, that we might enioy the states of sonnes. Thirdly, he refuseth the glory of greatnesse and pompe of entertainment at his birth, to reach the great ones of the world, not to be proud of their births in Nature, but to seeke after the heauenly new birth, as the only true glory: And the poore of the world may be comforted against the meannesse of their prouisions for themselues and their children, by remembring that the Sauiour of the world had not so good entertainment as vsually the poorest of their children haue.