In the Paragraph of Sacred Scripture now before us, we may see Heaven opened, with some remarkable Intimation and Invitation unto us, to hope, that we may be admitted into it. Our Lord JESUS CHRIST, the Great King of the World, was no sooner Born, but presently that King must be Proclaimed; and those Nobles ⟨p. 71⟩of Heaven, the Angels of God, must be the Heralds of the Proclamation. Such a Favour of Heaven, as a visible Descent of Angels from thence, was granted unto the Children of men, on this matchless occasion; and indeed, if the Almighty God would send His own Son to be manifest in Flesh among the Children of men, it was but a Lesser, though a wondrous Condescension, to send His Angels; of none among whom, He had ever said, Thou art my Son! I make no doubt, That the Glory of the Lord now Shining with its Angelical Attendants over Bethlehem, was that which the Magicians then in the East, observed as a New Star over Judea, and repaired thither accordingly, with their Enquiries. But thus was the Birth of our Great and Good Shepherd, revealed unto the Shepherds of that Country. First, One Angel declares unto them, who and where, the Saviour was, that was this Night born into the World. And then a Multitude of the Heavenly Host accompanied that One Angel, in singing the Praises due to the most High God, for such a Saviour, The Angels had once with Grief driven man out of Paradise. But they now come with Songs, to tell him Tidings of a way ⟨p. 72⟩made for more than a Restoration, and Good will towards men. But I have now read unto you, some Account of what became of these Blessed Spirits, when they had performed the Errand, which they came down upon. Withdrawing from Humane Sight, They went away into Heaven. But methinks, I overhear them leaving this Instruction for us, behind them.
In the Paragraph of Sacred Scripture now before us, we may see Heaven opened, with some remarkable Intimation and Invitation unto us, to hope, that we may be admitted into it. Our Lord JESUS CHRIST, the Great King of the World, was no sooner Born, but presently that King must be Proclamed; and those Nobles ⟨p. 71⟩of Heaven, the Angels of God, must be the Heralds of the Proclamation. Such a Favour of Heaven, as a visible Descent of Angels from thence, was granted unto the Children of men, on this matchless occasion; and indeed, if the Almighty God would send His own Son to be manifest in Flesh among the Children of men, it was but a Lesser, though a wondrous Condescension, to send His Angels; of none among whom, He had ever said, Thou art my Son! I make no doubt, That the Glory of the Lord now Shining with its Angelical Attendants over Bethlehem, was that which the Magicians then in the East, observed as a New Star over Judea, and repaired thither accordingly, with their Enquiries. But thus was the Birth of our Great and Good Shepherd, revealed unto the Shepherds of that Country. First, One Angel declares unto them, who and where, the Saviour was, that was this Night born into the World. And then a Multitude of the Heavenly Host accompanied that One Angel, in singing the Praises due to the most High God, for such a Saviour, The Angels had once with Grief driven man out of Paradise. But they now come with Songs, to tell him Tidings of a way ⟨p. 72⟩made for more than a Restoration, and Good will towards men. But I have now read unto you, some Account of what became of these Blessed Spirits, when they had performed the Errand, which they came down upon. Withdrawing from Humane Sight, They went away into Heaven. But methinks, I overhear them leaving this Instruction for us, behind them.
