







 
   
     
       
         The mysterie of Christes natiuitie A sermon preached in the parish church of All-Saints in Dorchester, within the countie of Dorset, the 25. day of December 1613. being Christmas Daye. By William Iones, Master of Arts, and preacher of Gods Word.
         Jones, William, b. 1581 or 2.
      
       
         
           1614
        
      
       Approx. 53 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 19 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         Text Creation Partnership,
         Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :
         2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).
         A04618
         STC 14739.2
         ESTC S107860
         99843552
         99843552
         8294
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
             Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal
            . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.
          
        
      
       
         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A04618)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 8294)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 755:23)
      
       
         
           
             The mysterie of Christes natiuitie A sermon preached in the parish church of All-Saints in Dorchester, within the countie of Dorset, the 25. day of December 1613. being Christmas Daye. By William Iones, Master of Arts, and preacher of Gods Word.
             Jones, William, b. 1581 or 2.
          
           [36] p.
           
             Printed [by William Stansby] for Richard Hawkins, and are to be sold at his shop in Chancery-lane, neere Seriants Inne,
             London :
             1614.
          
           
             Printer's name from STC.
             Signatures: A-D⁴ E² .
             Running title reads: The mysterie of Christs natiuitie.
             Identified as STC 14745 on UMI microfilm.
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.
         Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors.
      
       
         EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
         EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
         The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
         Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
         Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
         Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
         The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
         Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).
         
          Keying and markup guidelines are available at the
           Text Creation Partnership web site
          .
        
      
       
         
         
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Christmas sermons.
        
      
    
     
        2005-04 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2005-05 Aptara
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2005-06 Andrew Kuster
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2005-06 Andrew Kuster
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2005-10 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
         
           THE
           MYSTERIE
           OF
           CHRISTES
           NATIVITIE
           .
        
         
           A
           Sermon
           Preached
           in
           the
           Parish
           Church
           of
           ALL-SAINTS
           in
           DORCHESTER
           ,
           
             within
             the
             Countie
          
           of
           DORSET
           ,
           the
           25.
           day
           of
           December
           1613.
           being
           CHRISTMAS
           DAYE
           .
        
         
           By
           WILLIAM
           IONES
           ,
           Master
           of
           Arts
           ,
           and
           
             Preacher
             of
             Gods
             Word
          
           .
        
         
           
             BERNARD
             .
          
           
             Puto
             me
             iam
             spernere
             non
             poterit
             Christus
             ,
          
           
             Os
             de
             offibus
             meis
             ,
             &
             caro
             de
             carne
             mea
             .
          
           
             How
             is
             it
             possible
             that
             the
             blessed
             Sonne
             of
             God
             should
             now
             reiect
             me
             ,
             sith
             by
             taking
             our
             nature
             vpon
             him
             ,
             he
             is
             become
             flesh
             of
             my
             flesh
             and
             bone
             of
             my
             bone
             .
          
        
         
           LONDON
           .
           Printed
           for
           
             Richard
             Hawkins
          
           ,
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           at
           his
           Shop
           in
           Chancery-lane
           ,
           neere
           Seriants
           Inne
           .
           1614.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           To
           the
           Worshipfull
           M.
           THOMAS
           HVSSY
           Justice
           of
           Peace
           ,
           Master
           IASPER
           MELLER
           Esquire
           ,
           Master
           LAVRENCE
           MELLER
           ,
           M.
           THO.
           PAWLET
           ,
           M.
           Mathew
           Chubb
           ,
           M.
           Richard
           Blachford
           ,
           and
           M.
           THOMAS
           BLACHFORD
           ,
           Gentlemen
           of
           Dorset-shire
           ,
           my
           especiall
           kind
           and
           louing
           friends
           ,
           Grace
           and
           Peace
           bee
           multiplied
           through
           Christ
           Iesus
           our
           LORD
           .
        
         
           AS
           the
           preaching
           of
           the
           Gospell
           of
           Christ
           was
           not
           ,
           nor
           is
           ,
           the
           least
           gift
           of
           grace
           that
           God
           gaue
           vnto
           his
           Church
           ;
           but
           euen
           the
           greatest
           miracle
           that
           euer
           Christ
           wrought
           hecre
           on
           earth
           ,
           for
           our
           Conuersion
           vnto
           the
           *
           faith
           :
           So
           the
           abuse
           of
           this
           grace
           is
           not
           the
           least
           ,
           but
           the
           greatest
           sinne
           ,
           that
           can
           be
           committed
           .
           The
           which
           being
           truly
           considered
           ;
           
           I
           maruell
           not
           a
           little
           ?
           
           why
           Diotrephes
           with
           his
           Schollers
           will
           persist
           in
           resisting
           of
           this
           grace
           ;
           or
           
             Simon
             Magus
          
           with
           his
           Champions
           continue
           in
           purchasing
           of
           this
           grace
           ;
           
           or
           Iudas
           with
           his
           Successors
           perseuer
           in
           buying
           and
           selling
           of
           Christ
           Spouse
           the
           Church
           ,
           contrarie
           to
           the
           Gospell
           of
           grace
           .
           But
           forasmuch
           as
           that
           I
           minde
           not
           in
           this
           ensuing
           Treatise
           to
           tax
           them
           ,
           
           or
           their
           wicked
           abuses
           :
           Yet
           my
           prayers
           vnto
           God
           for
           them
           shal
           bee
           ;
           to
           turne
           their
           hearts
           from
           farther
           renting
           of
           the
           garments
           of
           Christ
           and
           his
           Church
           ,
           least
           they
           become
           like
           vnto
           these
           their
           predecessors
           ,
           partakers
           not
           of
           the
           least
           grace
           .
        
         
           The
           subiect
           or
           matter
           ,
           wherewith
           I
           am
           now
           to
           present
           your
           Worships
           withall
           :
           is
           touching
           the
           mysterie
           of
           Christ
           his
           Natiuitie
           .
           The
           Text
           hath
           beene
           handed
           often
           ,
           and
           by
           manie
           ;
           Yea
           and
           of
           such
           men
           ,
           who
           for
           their
           great
           vnderstanding
           ,
           reading
           ,
           wittie
           inuention
           ,
           and
           profound
           Iudgement
           ,
           haue
           manie
           degrees
           exceeded
           my selfe
           .
           Yet
           to
           satisfie
           the
           earnest
           and
           godly
           requests
           of
           some
           of
           my
           especiall
           good
           friends
           ,
           I
           haue
           enterprised
           ,
           and
           aduentured
           ,
           to
           set
           forth
           the
           same
           in
           print
           :
           hoping
           that
           your
           Worshippes
           will
           vouchsafe
           to
           giue
           it
           the
           perusall
           ,
           and
           accept
           these
           the
           first
           fruits
           of
           my
           labours
           ,
           with
           the
           selfe-same
           affection
           wherwith
           it
           is
           offered
           ;
           how
           smal
           and
           simple
           soeuer
           it
           seeme
           to
           be
           .
           And
           now
           the
           Lord
           Iesus
           giue
           it
           his
           grace
           ,
           that
           it
           may
           not
           be
           like
           firekinled
           on
           his
           Altar
           in
           vaine
           ;
           
           but
           that
           it
           may
           proue
           to
           bee
           as
           the
           morning
           Incense
           ,
           and
           as
           euening
           Sacrifice
           ,
           acceptable
           vnto
           God
           ,
           and
           profitable
           vnto
           this
           Church
           .
        
         
           Vnto
           the
           same
           God
           will
           I
           pray
           alwayes
           to
           powre
           downe
           
           his
           mercies
           vpon
           you
           ,
           to
           enrich
           you
           with
           his
           graces
           ,
           and
           to
           preserue
           your
           Worships
           for
           the
           good
           both
           of
           Church
           and
           Common-wealth
           ,
           vnto
           his
           glorie
           AMEN
           .
        
         
           
             Your
             worships
             to
             be
             commanded
             W.
             IONES
             ,
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           THE
           MYSTERIE
           OF
           CHRISTES
           NATIVITIE
           .
        
         
           
             GALAT.
             4.
             4.
             
          
           
             When
             the
             fulnesse
             of
             time
             was
             come
             ,
             God
             sent
             his
             Sonne
             made
             of
             a
             woman
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           
             WIth
             what
             solemnitie
          
           wee
           are
           to
           celebrate
           this
           day
           of
           Christs
           Natiuitie
           (
           
             Deerely
             beloued
          
           )
           the
           many
           mysteries
           ,
           and
           excellencies
           therein
           contained
           ,
           may
           declare
           vnto
           vs.
           Now
           is
           Hee
           brought
           out
           of
           the
           Virgins
           wombe
           ,
           who
           before
           liued
           eternally
           in
           the
           bosome
           of
           his
           Father
           :
           Now
           is
           the
           Word
           ,
           that
           made
           the
           world
           ,
           borne
           an
           Infant
           
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           Now
           the
           
             Ancient
             of
             dayes
          
           is
           become
           a
           Child
           :
           Now
           Iudas
           Lyon
           rowsed
           himselfe
           to
           encounter
           the
           Red
           Dragon
           :
           Now
           Iacobs
           starre
           arose
           to
           be
           the
           Gentles
           light
           ,
           and
           Israels
           glorie
           :
           Now
           the
           Bridegrome
           came
           out
           of
           his
           Chamber
           ,
           to
           meet
           his
           Spouse
           :
           Now
           the
           Sonne
           of
           God
           became
           man
           ,
           that
           men
           might
           be
           made
           the
           sonnes
           of
           God
           :
           Now
           Christ
           came
           out
           clothed
           with
           our
           flesh
           ,
           that
           wee
           might
           bee
           inuested
           with
           his
           spirit
           :
           Now
           the
           Lord
           took
           on
           him
           the
           forme
           of
           a
           seruant
           ,
           that
           we
           his
           seruants
           might
           be
           made
           partakers
           of
           his
           Lordship
           .
           These
           great
           blessings
           ,
           doth
           this
           blessed
           day
           conueigh
           vnto
           vs.
           Wherfore
           to
           put
           you
           in
           mind
           ,
           that
           your
           vnderstadings
           may
           be
           enlightned
           to
           know
           them
           ;
           and
           your
           wils
           inclined
           to
           serue
           and
           praise
           GOD
           for
           them
           :
           I
           haue
           made
           choice
           of
           this
           text
           ,
           which
           being
           indeed
           the
           Quintessence
           of
           the
           Golpell
           ,
           proposeth
           vnto
           vs
           concerning
           Christ
           his
           comming
           these
           circumstances
           .
           First
           ,
           The
           time
           ,
           
             when
             the
             fulnesse
             of
             time
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           Secondly
           ,
           The
           causes
           ,
           
             God
             sent
             his
             Sonne
          
           .
           Thirdly
           ,
           The
           manner
           ,
           
             made
             of
             a
             Woman
             &c.
          
           
           Fourthly
           ,
           The
           end
           ,
           
             that
             he
             might
             redeeme
             them
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           These
           points
           are
           best
           be
           seeming
           this
           time
           :
           which
           when
           breifly
           &
           rudely
           I
           shall
           haue
           discoursed
           vpon
           ,
           I
           wil
           then
           end
           ,
           &
           cōmend
           yee
           to
           God.
           
        
         
           
             When
             the
             fulnesse
             of
             time
             was
             come
             &c.
             
          
           Three
           things
           ,
           measure
           all
           durations
           ;
           
             Aeternitie
             ,
             Immortalitie
             ,
             Time.
             Aeternitie
          
           hath
           neyther
           beginning
           nor
           end
           ;
           and
           is
           proper
           only
           to
           God
           ,
           who
           is
           euerlasting
           .
           Immortalitie
           hath
           beginning
           ,
           but
           none
           end
           ;
           and
           is
           proper
           to
           Spirits
           ,
           as
           Angels
           ,
           and
           mens
           soules
           ,
           that
           once
           
           were
           not
           ,
           and
           yet
           now
           cannot
           die
           .
           Time
           hath
           both
           beginning
           and
           end
           ,
           and
           is
           proper
           to
           all
           bodies
           ,
           such
           as
           are
           possible
           and
           corruptible
           substances
           :
           of
           whom
           t
           is
           said
           ,
           
             omniaorta
             occidunt
             &
             aucta
             senescunt
          
           :
           Now
           then
           Christ
           consisting
           of
           Godhead
           ,
           soule
           ,
           and
           bodie
           ,
           hath
           these
           his
           three
           Natures
           limited
           by
           these
           three
           quantities
           ,
           his
           Godhead
           by
           Eternitie
           ,
           his
           soule
           by
           Immortalitie
           :
           and
           his
           bodie
           by
           Time.
           Thus
           in
           respect
           not
           of
           his
           Diuinitie
           ,
           but
           his
           Humanitie
           ,
           the
           maker
           of
           Time
           was
           made
           in
           time
           ,
           and
           Time
           saith
           Aristotle
           is
           the
           measure
           of
           motion
           ,
           but
           Paul
           here
           shewes
           vs
           more
           strange
           Philosophie
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           the
           measure
           of
           the
           first
           Mouer
           it selfe
           .
           Would
           yee
           not
           wonder
           (
           
             Deere
             Christians
          
           )
           to
           heare
           that
           a
           Gyants
           foote
           should
           bee
           thrust
           into
           a
           childes
           shooe
           ,
           or
           that
           the
           
             Ocean
             Sea
          
           should
           bee
           intruded
           into
           a
           bottle
           ,
           and
           asmuch
           then
           may
           you
           maruell
           at
           this
           that
           God
           who
           is
           infinite
           ,
           should
           bee
           borne
           in
           a
           time
           finite
           ,
           but
           this
           doubt
           is
           thus
           dissolued
           three
           things
           ,
           
             vt
             supra
             &c.
          
           
           And
           as
           our
           Apostle
           saith
           ,
           
             in
             the
             fulnesse
             thereof
          
           .
           As
           places
           ,
           so
           time
           haue
           their
           fulnesse
           and
           emptinesse
           ,
           some
           places
           are
           emptie
           hauing
           nought
           but
           ayre
           in
           them
           ,
           and
           some
           are
           replenished
           with
           siluer
           ,
           with
           Gold
           ,
           Pearle
           ,
           Precious
           stones
           ,
           and
           such
           like
           treasure
           ,
           like
           so
           of
           times
           ,
           some
           are
           void
           of
           strange
           accidents
           ,
           and
           some
           are
           full
           of
           memorable
           and
           admirable
           occurrents
           ,
           &
           in
           such
           a
           time
           was
           our
           Sauiour
           borne
           ,
           as
           the
           age
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           the
           yeare
           ,
           moneth
           ,
           day
           ,
           houre
           ,
           these
           parts
           of
           time
           may
           impart
           vnto
           vs
           ;
           
             Touching
             the
             Worlds
             age
          
           ,
           know
           that
           it
           was
           
           the
           sixth
           .
           The
           first
           age
           was
           from
           Adam
           to
           Noah
           .
           The
           second
           from
           Noah
           to
           Abraham
           .
           The
           third
           from
           Abraham
           to
           Dauid
           .
           The
           fourth
           from
           Dauid
           to
           the
           transmigration
           from
           Babylon
           .
           The
           fifth
           from
           that
           to
           
             Christs
             Natiuitie
          
           ,
           which
           fell
           in
           the
           sixth
           age
           :
           where
           note
           an
           excellent
           mysterie
           ,
           how
           correspondent
           Gods
           workes
           of
           our
           creation
           ,
           and
           recreation
           are
           .
           As
           in
           the
           worlds
           sixth
           day
           God
           did
           make
           man
           :
           so
           in
           the
           worlds
           sixth
           age
           hee
           did
           redeeme
           man.
           In
           the
           worlds
           sixth
           day
           the
           first
           Adam
           was
           made
           ,
           in
           whom
           wee
           are
           deformed
           :
           and
           in
           the
           worlds
           sixth
           age
           was
           the
           second
           Adam
           made
           ,
           in
           whom
           wee
           are
           reformed
           .
           Here
           arise
           now
           two
           questions
           :
           why
           God
           louing
           man
           so
           wel
           ,
           had
           not
           beene
           borne
           before
           or
           presently
           after
           mans
           fal
           ,
           sith
           
             Gratia
             ab
             officio
             quod
             mor
             a
             tar
             dat
             abest
             .
          
           Secondly
           :
           why
           God
           minding
           to
           die
           for
           the
           sinnes
           of
           all
           the
           world
           ,
           had
           not
           defer'd
           his
           comming
           to
           the
           end
           of
           the
           world
           .
           Six
           is
           a
           number
           neyther
           diminute
           nor
           superabundant
           ,
           but
           perfect
           ,
           sith
           all
           his
           partes
           put
           together
           doe
           make
           the
           whole
           ,
           as
           1.
           2.
           and
           3.
           make
           six
           :
           so
           then
           in
           the
           number
           of
           perfection
           came
           the
           author
           of
           perfection
           .
           By
           sixe
           staires
           did
           men
           ascend
           to
           Salomons
           throne
           ,
           and
           by
           six
           ages
           came
           the
           word
           to
           the
           throne
           of
           grace
           .
           These
           scruples
           thus
           I
           remoue
           .
           First
           ,
           for
           Christ
           to
           haue
           beene
           borne
           before
           Adam
           fel
           ,
           had
           bin
           an
           action
           superfluous
           .
           For
           the
           end
           of
           his
           comming
           being
           (
           
             vtinquit
             Euang.
          
           )
           to
           seeke
           the
           lost
           Sheep
           of
           the
           house
           of
           Israel
           ;
           to
           bind
           vp
           the
           broken
           hearted
           ,
           to
           call
           sinners
           to
           repentance
           ,
           and
           by
           it
           to
           saluation
           :
           what
           needed
           this
           seeker
           before
           man
           was
           lost
           ?
           what
           needed
           this
           Phisition
           before
           man
           was
           sick
           ?
           what
           needed
           this
           
           Sauiour
           before
           Adam
           was
           a
           sinner
           ?
           Againe
           for
           Christ
           to
           haue
           come
           presently
           after
           mans
           fall
           ,
           had
           beene
           also
           very
           inconuenient
           .
           Man
           sinned
           by
           pride
           ,
           and
           by
           pride
           was
           throwne
           into
           calamitie
           :
           from
           which
           if
           straightwayes
           hee
           should
           haue
           beene
           freed
           ,
           perhaps
           the
           spirit
           of
           loftinesse
           and
           insolencie
           might
           haue
           come
           vpon
           him
           againe
           .
           God
           therefore
           sixe
           ages
           lest
           him
           in
           his
           miserie
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           know
           his
           fault
           ,
           &
           knowing
           it
           ,
           be
           humbled
           for
           the
           same
           .
           Farther
           it
           was
           meet
           ,
           that
           as
           the
           entrance
           of
           a
           King
           into
           a
           Citie
           ,
           so
           the
           comming
           of
           so
           worthie
           a
           person
           as
           the
           sonne
           of
           God
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           should
           bee
           foreshewed
           by
           the
           predictions
           of
           such
           worthie
           messengers
           ,
           as
           were
           the
           Patriarckes
           and
           Prophets
           ;
           which
           could
           not
           haue
           beene
           had
           Christ
           beene
           borne
           in
           the
           time
           of
           Adam
           .
           As
           for
           the
           deferring
           of
           his
           birth
           to
           the
           end
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           These
           reasons
           disproue
           it
           .
           First
           ,
           the
           testimonie
           of
           Abacuc
           .
           3.
           where
           it
           is
           said
           of
           God
           there
           ,
           the
           workes
           of
           his
           mercie
           should
           bee
           reuiued
           
             in
             medio
             annorum
          
           .
           Againe
           why
           should
           Christ
           then
           bee
           borne
           on
           earth
           ,
           when
           men
           shall
           haue
           no
           faith
           to
           beleeue
           on
           him
           ,
           no
           Charitie
           to
           loue
           him
           ,
           and
           no
           Religion
           to
           worshippe
           him
           ?
           But
           these
           things
           shall
           happen
           in
           the
           latter
           daies
           (
           as
           the
           Euangelists
           write
           )
           and
           therefore
           the
           Worlds
           end
           is
           a
           season
           ,
           rather
           for
           Christ
           to
           come
           in
           iudgment
           to
           reuenge
           ,
           then
           in
           mercie
           to
           redeeme
           .
           This
           for
           the
           age
           .
           Now
           for
           the
           yeare
           .
           It
           was
           the
           two
           and
           fortieth
           of
           the
           reign
           of
           
             Augustus
             Caesar
          
           the
           Roman
           Emperor
           :
           in
           whose
           time
           that
           Christ
           was
           borne
           ,
           it
           was
           in
           regard
           of
           the
           manie
           resemblances
           that
           were
           between
           them
           .
           As
           Augustus
           was
           a
           temporal
           ,
           so
           was
           Christ
           a
           Spiritual
           
           Monarch
           .
           As
           Augustus
           was
           the
           second
           Emperour
           of
           Rome
           ,
           so
           was
           Christ
           the
           second
           person
           in
           Trinitie
           .
           As
           Augustus
           was
           so
           called
           ,
           because
           hee
           did
           amplifie
           his
           Regiment
           ,
           so
           Christ
           was
           so
           called
           ,
           because
           he
           doth
           annoint
           vs
           his
           seruants
           :
           as
           Augustus
           taxing
           the
           world
           receiued
           tribute
           from
           men
           and
           registred
           their
           names
           .
           So
           Christ
           preaching
           vnto
           the
           world
           had
           obedience
           yeelded
           vnto
           him
           ,
           and
           noted
           such
           as
           serued
           him
           in
           the
           Booke
           of
           life
           .
           As
           Augustus
           hauing
           vanquished
           his
           enemies
           ;
           planted
           peace
           among
           his
           people
           (
           for
           in
           his
           dayes
           the
           Temple
           of
           Ianus
           was
           shut
           ,
           that
           else
           in
           the
           time
           of
           warre
           was
           wont
           euer
           to
           bee
           open
           )
           so
           Christ
           hauing
           subdued
           his
           foes
           ,
           Death
           and
           the
           Deuill
           ,
           placed
           quietnesse
           in
           the
           conscience
           of
           his
           Childrē
           ,
           who
           before
           were
           distressed
           with
           many
           troubles
           ;
           from
           the
           age
           and
           the
           yeare
           ,
           come
           we
           to
           the
           
             Month
             and
             the
             Day
             .
             Christ
          
           was
           borne
           on
           the
           fiue
           and
           twentieth
           day
           of
           December
           ,
           then
           being
           the
           shortest
           day
           of
           the
           yeare
           and
           Sunday
           :
           as
           both
           by
           the
           fathers
           is
           testified
           ,
           and
           by
           calculation
           may
           be
           proued
           ,
           wherof
           note
           with
           me
           eyther
           the
           reasons
           or
           mystries
           .
           December
           is
           the
           tenth
           moneth
           and
           in
           it
           was
           he
           borne
           ,
           that
           came
           to
           make
           satisfaction
           for
           our
           transgression
           of
           his
           Fathers
           ten
           Commandements
           .
           December
           concludes
           the
           old
           yeare
           ,
           and
           giues
           way
           to
           a
           new
           ,
           and
           Christ
           now
           born
           gaue
           an
           end
           to
           the
           old
           Ceremonies
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           brought
           in
           ,
           in
           steed
           thereof
           the
           new
           ordinances
           of
           grace
           .
           Ten
           degrees
           went
           the
           Sunne
           backward
           to
           signifie
           to
           sicke
           Ezechiah
           that
           he
           should
           not
           die
           ,
           and
           
           ten
           moneths
           in
           assuming
           our
           flesh
           did
           Christ
           goe
           back
           as
           it
           were
           for
           his
           Majestie
           to
           assure
           vs
           of
           his
           mercie
           ,
           the
           number
           of
           ten
           is
           the
           first
           Article
           :
           compound
           of
           the
           figure
           ,
           1.
           and
           a
           cipher
           0.
           and
           in
           the
           tenth
           moneth
           was
           he
           borne
           ,
           whose
           person
           did
           consist
           of
           the
           figure
           of
           his
           Diuinitie
           ,
           and
           the
           cipher
           of
           his
           humanitie
           .
           
             In
             the
             shortest
             day
          
           is
           the
           Sunne
           in
           his
           greatest
           and
           lowest
           South
           declination
           ,
           and
           when
           was
           the
           sonne
           of
           God
           euer
           farther
           from
           the
           Aequinoction
           of
           his
           glorie
           and
           lower
           in
           basenesse
           ,
           then
           when
           hee
           came
           out
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           clothed
           with
           our
           flesh
           .
           In
           the
           shortest
           day
           the
           Sunne
           is
           said
           to
           be
           in
           his
           Tropick
           ,
           that
           is
           so
           called
           of
           the
           Greek
           word
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           to
           turne
           ,
           &
           when
           so
           graciously
           as
           now
           in
           his
           birth
           did
           the
           sonne
           of
           God
           turne
           vnto
           vs
           ,
           
           saith
           
             Iohn
             Baptist
             of
             Christ
             ,
             Ioh.
             3.
             me
             oportet
             minui
             illum
             autem
             crescere
             ,
          
           verified
           as
           in
           their
           qualities
           of
           dignitie
           and
           estimation
           :
           So
           also
           in
           the
           times
           of
           their
           Natiuities
           .
           
             Iohn
             Baptist
          
           was
           borne
           the
           longest
           day
           of
           the
           yeare
           ,
           and
           therefore
           being
           at
           the
           highest
           his
           time
           must
           decrease
           :
           and
           Christ
           was
           borne
           in
           the
           shortest
           ,
           and
           therefore
           being
           at
           the
           lowest
           ,
           his
           time
           must
           needs
           encrease
           .
           
             In
             the
             shortest
             Day
          
           ,
           the
           Sunne
           beginnes
           that
           returne
           ,
           that
           turnes
           joy
           and
           comfort
           to
           liuing
           thinges
           ,
           and
           Christ
           now
           put
           his
           first
           foot
           in
           that
           race
           ,
           that
           yeelds
           blessednesse
           and
           happinesse
           to
           all
           Christians
           :
           in
           the
           shortest
           day
           ,
           the
           cold
           is
           greatest
           ,
           and
           therefore
           sayth
           
             Bernard
             ,
             Christ
          
           chose
           a
           time
           trouble
           some
           to
           his
           flesh
           ,
           that
           we
           should
           learne
           not
           to
           pamper
           ours
           :
           on
           a
           Sunday
           ,
           GOD
           the
           Father
           in
           his
           power
           beganne
           the
           
           world
           :
           and
           now
           on
           a
           Sunday
           ,
           GOD
           the
           sonne
           in
           his
           mercie
           began
           to
           redeeme
           the
           world
           .
           Sunday
           was
           first
           made
           before
           any
           other
           time
           :
           and
           Christ
           theron
           borne
           ,
           is
           called
           the
           first
           begotten
           of
           al
           Creatures
           .
           On
           Sunday
           God
           made
           the
           light
           ,
           and
           on
           Sunday
           now
           produced
           was
           he
           ,
           that
           is
           the
           true
           light
           ,
           lightning
           euery
           one
           that
           comes
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           as
           also
           all
           those
           that
           sit
           in
           darknesse
           &
           the
           shadow
           of
           death
           .
           To
           proceed
           yet
           to
           more
           particulars
           .
           What
           part
           of
           the
           day
           ?
           &
           what
           houre
           was
           Christ
           borne
           in
           ?
           
           Luc.
           2
           records
           that
           it
           was
           in
           the
           night
           ,
           when
           the
           Shepheards
           were
           watching
           their
           flockes
           ,
           that
           though
           the
           Angell
           said
           to
           them
           ,
           there
           is
           borne
           this
           day
           to
           ye
           a
           Sauiour
           ,
           ye
           are
           to
           vnderstand
           it
           spoken
           not
           of
           the
           artificiall
           day
           ,
           that
           holds
           from
           Sun
           to
           Sun
           ,
           but
           of
           the
           naturall
           day
           that
           containes
           the
           space
           of
           foure
           and
           twentie
           houres
           .
           Thus
           in
           the
           time
           of
           darknesse
           was
           hee
           borne
           ,
           that
           came
           to
           dissolue
           the
           power
           of
           darknesse
           ;
           shining
           in
           darknesse
           ,
           when
           the
           darknesse
           could
           not
           comprehend
           him
           .
           Nox
           is
           so
           called
           
             a
             nocendo
          
           ,
           because
           if
           men
           then
           walke
           without
           light
           ,
           they
           may
           easily
           hurt
           themselues
           :
           and
           now
           as
           a
           Physition
           in
           the
           best
           opportunitie
           came
           the
           great
           helper
           in
           the
           time
           of
           hurting
           ;
           to
           shew
           that
           hee
           was
           strōger
           then
           the
           deuil
           .
           Christ
           vāquished
           the
           deuil
           in
           his
           own
           time
           ,
           the
           Prince
           of
           the
           night
           ,
           in
           the
           night
           .
           Farther
           ,
           touching
           the
           houre
           ,
           if
           we
           may
           beleue
           Cardanus
           that
           great
           Physition
           &
           Astronomer
           ,
           it
           was
           about
           tenne
           of
           the
           clock
           ,
           and
           fifteene
           minutes
           .
           For
           he
           in
           his
           Comment
           vpon
           Ptolemies
           quadripartite
           ,
           treating
           Christs
           Natiuitie
           ,
           makes
           the
           eleuenth
           degree
           of
           Virgo
           
           to
           ascend
           
             in
             prima
             domo
          
           ,
           which
           could
           not
           bee
           but
           at
           that
           time
           .
           The
           Fathers
           write
           that
           hee
           was
           borne
           at
           midnight
           ,
           as
           Hierom
           ,
           and
           Bernard
           :
           which
           of
           these
           opinions
           is
           truest
           ,
           I
           will
           not
           decide
           .
           Mysteries
           there
           are
           in
           both
           of
           them
           .
           If
           Cardan
           say
           true
           ,
           then
           it
           fitly
           fell
           out
           ,
           that
           the
           Sonne
           of
           a
           Virgin
           was
           borne
           when
           the
           heauenly
           figure
           Virgo
           did
           ascend
           .
           If
           the
           Fathers
           say
           true
           ,
           then
           opportunately
           came
           he
           
             in
             medio
             noctis
          
           ,
           that
           was
           to
           be
           the
           medium
           betweene
           God
           and
           man.
           The
           greatest
           obscuritie
           is
           at
           midnight
           ;
           and
           then
           therefore
           was
           produced
           the
           greatest
           light
           ;
           hee
           that
           was
           the
           brightnes
           of
           his
           fathers
           glorie
           .
           Thus
           then
           in
           the
           sixth
           age
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           in
           the
           two
           and
           fortieth
           yeere
           of
           
             Augustus
             Caesars
          
           Reigne
           ,
           in
           the
           moneth
           of
           December
           ,
           in
           the
           fiue
           and
           twentieth
           and
           shortest
           day
           ,
           on
           Sunday
           ,
           betweene
           ten
           and
           twelue
           at
           night
           ,
           was
           our
           blessed
           Sauiour
           blessedly
           born
           .
           Which
           season
           Saint
           Paul
           cals
           
             the
             fulnesse
             of
             time
          
           ,
           as
           because
           each
           part
           thereof
           ,
           as
           ye
           see
           ,
           is
           full
           of
           mysteries
           ,
           so
           by
           reason
           of
           other
           occasions
           that
           I
           am
           now
           to
           acquaint
           you
           with
           .
           And
           first
           ,
           this
           then
           .
           Whatsoeuer
           God
           eyther
           promised
           ,
           or
           the
           Patriarckes
           and
           Prophets
           eyther
           in
           their
           speeches
           foreshewed
           ,
           in
           their
           actions
           prefigured
           ,
           or
           affections
           desired
           ▪
           that
           all
           at
           this
           time
           is
           fully
           fulfilled
           .
           Now
           accomplished
           are
           Gods
           promises
           made
           to
           
             Eue
             ,
             that
             her
             seed
             should
             bruise
             the
             Serpents
             head
             .
          
           
           Gen.
           3.
           to
           Abraham
           
             that
             in
             his
             seed
             all
             Nations
             of
             the
             earth
             should
             bee
             blest
             .
             Gen.
          
           22.
           to
           Dauid
           that
           
             of
             the
             fruit
             of
             his
             loynes
             ,
          
           
           
             hee
             would
             set
             one
             on
             his
             seat
             that
             should
             rule
             as
             a
             King
             for
             euer
             .
             Psal
             .
          
           132.
           
           
           Now
           fulfilled
           are
           the
           
             Predictions
             of
             the
             Patriarcks
             
             and
             Prophets
          
           ;
           
           of
           Iacob
           when
           he
           said
           .
           
             Gen.
             49.
             the
             Scepter
             shall
             not
             be
             taken
             from
             the
             Tribe
             of
             Iuda
             ,
             and
             a
             Captaine
             from
             his
             thigh
             ,
             till
             he
             come
             ,
             that
             is
             to
             be
             sent
             ,
             and
             hee
             shall
             be
             the
             expectation
             of
             Nations
             .
          
           Of
           Moses
           when
           he
           said
           Deut.
           18.
           
           
           
             A
             Prophet
             shall
             the
             Lord
             our
             God
             raise
             vp
             vnto
             yee
             ,
             among
             your
             brethren
             ,
             him
             shall
             yee
             heare
             .
          
           Of
           Balam
           ,
           when
           he
           said
           ,
           
           
             Numb
             .
             24.
             a
             starre
             shall
             rise
             from
          
           Iacob
           :
           
             and
             a
             staffe
             from
             Israel
             ,
             that
             shall
             strike
             the
             Moabites
             .
          
           Of
           Esay
           ,
           when
           he
           said
           ,
           that
           
             a
             Virgin
             should
             beare
             a
             sonne
             ,
             and
             call
             his
             name
          
           Emanuel
           .
           
           Es
           .
           7.
           
           Of
           Michea
           :
           when
           he
           said
           ,
           
           
             Mich
             :
             5.
             
             And
             thou
             Bethleem
             Ephrata
             ,
             art
             but
             a
             little
             one
             in
             respect
             of
             thousands
             in
             Iuda
             :
             and
             yet
             there
             shall
             come
             forth
             of
             thee
             one
             ,
             that
             shall
             bee
             the
             ruler
             of
             Israel
             ,
             and
             his
             comming
             forth
             is
             from
             the
             beginning
             ,
             and
             from
             the
             days
             of
             Eternitie
             .
          
           
           Of
           Daniel
           ,
           when
           he
           said
           
             Dan.
             9.
             that
             after
             certaine
             weekes
             of
             yeares
             expired
             the
             holy
             of
             holyes
             should
             be
             annointed
             .
          
           Now
           fulfilled
           are
           the
           Figures
           of
           the
           
             Patriarcks
             and
             Prophets
             Actions
          
           :
           Now
           Abraham
           came
           a
           stranger
           into
           Aegypt
           :
           When
           Christ
           came
           as
           a
           Pilgrime
           ;
           where
           
             comming
             amongst
             his
             owne
             ,
             his
             owne
             receiued
             him
             not
             :
          
           Now
           Moses
           was
           put
           into
           a
           Basket
           .
           Ioseph
           throwne
           into
           the
           pit
           ,
           
             Hieremy
             into
             the
             Dungeon
             .
             Daniel
          
           into
           the
           Lyons
           Denne
           ,
           when
           Christ
           was
           sent
           into
           this
           wretched
           World
           ,
           a
           place
           of
           perplexities
           :
           Now
           the
           stone
           was
           cut
           from
           the
           Mountaine
           without
           hands
           ,
           when
           Christ
           was
           borne
           of
           his
           mortall
           Mother
           ,
           neuer
           being
           begotten
           by
           mortall
           father
           :
           Now
           Aarons
           rod
           did
           bud
           and
           beare
           Almonds
           ,
           when
           a
           spotlesse
           Virgin
           did
           produce
           a
           Child
           :
           Now
           a
           woman
           did
           compasse
           
           a
           man
           ,
           when
           hee
           was
           contained
           in
           a
           womans
           womb
           ,
           that
           doth
           himself
           cōprehend
           heauen
           &
           earth
           :
           Now
           a
           Riuer
           flowed
           to
           water
           Paradise
           ,
           when
           Christ
           was
           borne
           ;
           with
           his
           bloud
           to
           wash
           away
           the
           sinnes
           of
           the
           world
           :
           Now
           the
           Mountaines
           did
           distil
           sweetnes
           ,
           when
           Heauen
           did
           let
           God
           to
           descend
           on
           earth
           :
           Now
           Salomon
           made
           himselfe
           a
           Throne
           of
           Iuorie
           ,
           when
           Christ
           made
           himselfe
           a
           bodie
           of
           flesh
           in
           the
           Virgins
           wombe
           :
           Now
           the
           Doue
           came
           from
           Noahs
           Arke
           ,
           when
           the
           sonne
           of
           God
           came
           from
           the
           bosome
           of
           his
           Father
           :
           Now
           the
           bush
           burned
           and
           was
           not
           consumed
           ,
           when
           a
           Virgine
           brought
           forth
           a
           Son
           ,
           and
           was
           not
           corrupted
           :
           mercy
           and
           truth
           met
           together
           ,
           when
           Christs
           Diuinitie
           and
           Humanitie
           met
           in
           one
           person
           ,
           to
           work
           our
           redemption
           .
           Now
           the
           Sunne
           was
           couered
           with
           a
           Cloud
           ,
           when
           God
           clothed
           himselfe
           with
           our
           flesh
           .
           Againe
           now
           fulfilled
           are
           
             the
             desires
             of
             the
             Patriarches
             and
             Prophets
             .
             Abraham
          
           tooke
           great
           joy
           of
           this
           Day
           ,
           
           and
           now
           he
           saw
           it
           
             Ioh.
             8.
             
             Expectabo
             salutare
             tuum
          
           saith
           
             Iacob
             Gen
          
           49.
           
           
           
             I
             will
             wait
             for
             thy
             saluation
             ,
             O
             Lord
          
           and
           now
           behold
           his
           expectation
           satisfied
           .
           Dauid
           cried
           out
           ,
           Psal
           .
           48.
           
           
             ostende
             nobis
             domine
             misericor
             diam
             tuam
             ,
          
           and
           now
           he
           might
           say
           as
           
             in
             Psal
          
           .
           47.
           
           
             suscepimus
             Deus
             misericor
             diam
             tuam
             in
             medio
             templi
             .
          
           Begge
           no
           longer
           Moses
           to
           say
           to
           God
           as
           it
           is
           Deu.
           18.
           
           
             mitte
             obsecro
             quem
             missurus
             es
          
           ;
           for
           now
           is
           he
           come
           amongst
           vs.
           Crie
           not
           longer
           out
           Esay
           as
           it
           is
           .
           Es
           .
           64.
           
           
           
             Vtinam
             disrumperes
             coelos
             &
             descenderes
             ,
             O
             that
             thou
             wouldest
             cleaue
             the
             Heauens
             and
             come
             downe
             ,
          
           for
           this
           day
           came
           hee
           out
           of
           a
           
           Virgins
           wombe
           .
           The
           summe
           of
           this
           is
           this
           :
           Now
           are
           Gods
           promises
           ,
           the
           
             Patriarches
             and
             Prophets
             predictions
             ,
             actions
             ,
             and
             affections
             ,
          
           fulfilled
           .
           And
           therefore
           most
           excellently
           is
           it
           termed
           
             the
             fulnesse
             of
             time
          
           .
           Againe
           ,
           now
           was
           
             the
             fulnesse
          
           of
           Gods
           Communication
           when
           he
           came
           to
           giue
           vs
           himselfe
           in
           his
           sonnes
           flesh
           ;
           wherein
           as
           it
           is
           .
           Col
           2.
           
           
             dwelt
             the
             fulnesse
             of
             the
             Godhead
             bodily
             .
          
           Now
           was
           the
           fulnesse
           of
           mans
           Redemption
           ,
           when
           a
           Sauiour
           was
           borne
           to
           begin
           the
           gracious
           work
           therof
           in
           preseruing
           vs
           ,
           by
           his
           merits
           ,
           from
           sin
           ,
           death
           ,
           hell
           ,
           and
           the
           Deuill
           :
           Now
           was
           the
           fulnesse
           of
           graces
           promotion
           ,
           
           
             We
             taking
             them
             out
             of
             his
             fulnes
          
           as
           Ioh.
           saith
           .
           And
           who
           can
           denie
           this
           to
           be
           
             the
             fulnesse
             of
             time
          
           ?
           To
           this
           let
           me
           addo
           ,
           that
           the
           world
           was
           now
           ful
           of
           miracles
           :
           Now
           the
           Angels
           sang
           in
           heauen
           and
           comforted
           shepheards
           on
           earth
           :
           Now
           a
           strange
           starre
           guided
           the
           wisemen
           to
           Christ
           :
           Now
           a
           wel-spring
           in
           Rome
           did
           runne
           with
           Oyle
           :
           Now
           three
           Sunnes
           appeared
           ,
           shining
           first
           seuerally
           ,
           and
           then
           joyntly
           :
           Now
           Augustus
           his
           
             aeternum
             palatium
          
           ,
           that
           was
           prophesied
           neuer
           to
           fall
           before
           a
           Virgin
           did
           beare
           a
           child
           ,
           was
           ruinated
           to
           the
           ground
           :
           Now
           Augustus
           ,
           asking
           one
           of
           the
           Sybils
           whether
           there
           were
           any
           where
           a
           greater
           person
           then
           himselfe
           ,
           saw
           in
           the
           Sunne
           a
           Virgin
           giuing
           an
           Infant
           sucke
           ,
           to
           whom
           afterwards
           hee
           dedicated
           an
           Altar
           ,
           and
           called
           it
           ,
           
             Aram
             Coeli
          
           ,
           the
           Altar
           of
           Heauen
           .
           And
           thus
           yee
           see
           it
           proued
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           
             the
             fulnesse
             of
             time
          
           ,
           when
           he
           ,
           that
           as
           
             S.
             Ioh.
          
           saith
           ,
           
             full
             of
             grace
             &
             truth
          
           was
           borne
           amongst
           vs.
           
             The
             Iewes
          
           expect
           yet
           a
           Messtas
           
           to
           come
           :
           denying
           Iesus
           whom
           wee
           beleeue
           on
           ,
           to
           bee
           the
           Worlds
           Sauiour
           .
           And
           the
           Turkes
           dare
           to
           compare
           him
           with
           their
           Mahomet
           .
           But
           this
           doctrine
           of
           
             the
             fulnesse
             of
             time
          
           ,
           wherein
           Christ
           was
           born
           ,
           doth
           most
           plainly
           and
           forcibly
           confute
           them
           .
           For
           sith
           all
           the
           promises
           and
           mercies
           of
           God
           ;
           sith
           the
           prophesies
           ,
           figures
           ,
           and
           desires
           of
           our
           famous
           forefathers
           ,
           and
           manie
           admirable
           Miracles
           ,
           met
           in
           the
           time
           of
           
             Christs
             Natiuitie
          
           ;
           and
           that
           neuer
           Mahomet
           had
           the
           like
           ;
           nor
           any
           Creature
           can
           haue
           the
           like
           :
           wee
           are
           fully
           to
           bee
           resolued
           ,
           by
           this
           
             fulnesse
             of
             time
          
           ,
           the
           true
           Messtas
           to
           bee
           borne
           .
           I
           could
           spend
           more
           time
           in
           discoursing
           vpon
           this
           time
           ,
           but
           that
           greater
           matters
           ,
           viz.
           
             The
             causes
             of
             Christs
             birth
          
           doe
           now
           offer
           themselues
           vnto
           mee
           in
           these
           wordes
           ,
           
             God
             sent
             his
             sonne
          
           :
           Where
           the
           Efficient
           cause
           is
           God
           ;
           the
           formall
           cause
           
             his
             sending
          
           ;
           and
           the
           materiall
           cause
           
             his
             Sonne
             Christ
          
           himselfe
           :
           
             God
             sent
          
           .
           Who
           ?
           the
           Father
           ,
           the
           Sonne
           ,
           or
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ?
           Surely
           all
           three
           of
           them
           .
           For
           know
           ,
           that
           
             opera
             a
             Trinitatis
             sunt
             in-diuisa
          
           :
           and
           ,
           vnlesse
           in
           personall
           respects
           ,
           euermore
           in
           Essentiall
           actions
           ,
           what
           one
           doth
           they
           all
           doe
           ;
           as
           now
           in
           this
           worke
           of
           Christs
           birth
           ,
           the
           whole
           Trinitie
           shewed
           their
           industrie
           .
           
           
             The
             Father
             sent
             mee
          
           saith
           
             Christ
             ,
             Ioh.
          
           13.
           20.
           
           Here
           the
           Father
           labours
           .
           
             I
             went
             out
             from
             the
             Father
             and
             came
             into
             the
             World
             :
          
           
           Here
           is
           the
           labour
           of
           the
           Sonne
           .
           
           
             The
             Holy
             Ghost
             shall
             come
             
             vpon
             thee
          
           quoth
           the
           Angell
           Gabriel
           to
           the
           blessed
           Virgin
           ,
           
           when
           she
           was
           to
           conceiue
           Christ
           :
           this
           is
           the
           labour
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           .
           Thus
           the
           three
           persons
           ,
           being
           one
           GOD
           ,
           had
           each
           of
           them
           their
           action
           in
           CHRISTS
           Incarnation
           ;
           and
           that
           most
           fitly
           :
           sith
           it
           being
           a
           worke
           of
           great
           power
           ,
           Wisdome
           ,
           and
           goodnes
           ,
           it
           was
           requisite
           that
           the
           Father
           with
           his
           power
           ,
           the
           Sonne
           with
           his
           Wisedome
           ,
           and
           the
           Holie
           Ghost
           with
           his
           Goodnesse
           ,
           should
           accomplish
           it
           .
           What
           more
           powerfull
           a
           thing
           ,
           then
           to
           joyne
           two
           such
           extreamely
           distant
           Natures
           as
           the
           Creatour
           and
           the
           Creature
           together
           !
           It
           is
           GODS
           especiall
           power
           in
           compound
           bodies
           ,
           to
           joyne
           the
           foure
           Elements
           together
           ;
           it
           is
           greater
           power
           to
           joyne
           our
           bodie
           to
           our
           created
           spirits
           ,
           that
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           our
           soules
           .
           But
           to
           joyne
           all
           these
           to
           the
           increated
           spirit
           ,
           God
           ;
           this
           is
           a
           might
           aboue
           all
           measure
           .
        
         
           Againe
           what
           more
           wise
           thing
           ,
           then
           that
           to
           the
           perfection
           and
           complement
           of
           the
           whole
           ;
           the
           beginning
           and
           the
           end
           of
           a
           worke
           should
           hang
           together
           .
           And
           now
           note
           this
           mysterie
           .
           The
           Word
           was
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           VVorld
           :
           for
           by
           it
           GOD
           made
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           Adam
           was
           the
           last
           Creature
           of
           the
           VVorld
           .
           The
           Word
           then
           becomming
           Man
           ,
           the
           first
           and
           the
           last
           ,
           that
           is
           to
           say
           GOD
           and
           man
           ,
           were
           vnited
           together
           .
           Againe
           what
           greater
           goodnesse
           can
           
           bee
           ,
           then
           that
           the
           Creatour
           should
           communicate
           himselfe
           to
           the
           Creatures
           ?
           It
           is
           his
           great
           kindnesse
           ,
           that
           God
           giues
           himselfe
           to
           his
           Creatures
           by
           his
           essence
           ,
           presence
           ,
           and
           power
           :
           it
           is
           his
           greater
           kindnes
           that
           he
           giues
           himselfe
           to
           good
           men
           by
           his
           grace
           :
           but
           that
           hee
           should
           giue
           himselfe
           to
           our
           nature
           ,
           by
           Vnion
           with
           it
           ,
           that
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           by
           assuming
           our
           Humanitic
           into
           his
           Diuinitie
           ;
           this
           surmounts
           all
           fauour
           that
           may
           bee
           said
           or
           thought
           vpon
           .
           Thus
           I
           say
           the
           Fathers
           power
           ,
           the
           Sonnes
           wisdome
           ,
           and
           the
           Holy
           Ghosts
           goodnesse
           ,
           were
           all
           Actors
           in
           clothing
           Christ
           with
           our
           flesh
           .
           To
           the
           doing
           whereof
           what
           moued
           them
           ?
           our
           merits
           ?
           no
           ;
           (
           Brethren
           )
           but
           their
           mercies
           according
           to
           that
           of
           Ioh.
           3.
           
           
           
             God
             soloued
             the
             World
             ,
             that
             he
             sent
             his
             sonne
             ,
             &c.
             
             Loue
          
           is
           manifested
           three
           wayes
           :
           
             Dono
             ,
             passione
             ,
             opere
          
           ,
           in
           giuing
           ,
           suffering
           ,
           and
           working
           .
           The
           Father
           shewed
           his
           loue
           ,
           when
           he
           gaue
           vs
           his
           Sonne
           :
           the
           Sonne
           shewed
           his
           loue
           ,
           when
           hee
           suffered
           Death
           for
           our
           sinnes
           ;
           and
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           shewes
           his
           loue
           ,
           in
           setting
           vs
           forward
           in
           good
           workes
           .
           Thus
           the
           manifestation
           of
           the
           blessed
           Trinities
           power
           ,
           wisdome
           ,
           goodnesse
           ,
           and
           mercie
           ,
           are
           as
           it
           were
           the
           foure
           wheeles
           ,
           vpon
           which
           the
           Charriot
           of
           Gods
           prouidence
           brought
           Christ
           into
           this
           world
           :
           Who
           came
           as
           sent
           ,
           
             God
             sent
          
           sayth
           my
           text
           .
           Heere
           is
           a
           doubt
           worthie
           to
           be
           discust
           .
           Christ
           was
           neuer
           separated
           from
           God
           his
           Father
           .
           For
           when
           Saint
           Iohn
           saw
           him
           vpon
           
           earth
           ,
           hee
           yet
           acknowledged
           him
           to
           bee
           
             in
             the
             bosome
             of
             his
             Father
             secundum
             id
          
           1.
           
           
             cap.
             vnigenitus
             quie
             st
             in
             sinis
             patris
             ,
             &c.
          
           as
           also
           that
           hee
           was
           in
           Heauen
           ,
           
           secundumid
           tertio
           capite
           ,
           
             nemo
             ascendit
             ,
             &c.
             qui
             est
             in
             coelo
          
           ;
           yea
           that
           hee
           was
           in
           the
           world
           before
           his
           birth
           ,
           
           sith
           hee
           made
           the
           World
           ;
           as
           it
           is
           cap.
           1.
           and
           how
           then
           may
           it
           be
           said
           ,
           that
           
             God
             sent
             him
          
           ,
           when
           hee
           neuer
           went
           from
           him
           ?
           An
           Interpretation
           shall
           make
           euident
           all
           this
           .
           Missio
           ,
           saith
           
             Thomas
             Aquinas
          
           commenting
           vpon
           this
           place
           ,
           
             fuit
             assumptio
             Carnis
             ,
             non
             depositio
             maiestatis
             :
             Christ
          
           left
           not
           to
           bee
           God
           ,
           when
           hee
           became
           man
           ;
           but
           tooke
           more
           vnto
           his
           Godhead
           when
           hee
           became
           man
           ,
           viz.
           our
           Humanitie
           into
           his
           Diuinitie
           :
           that
           through
           our
           visible
           nature
           assumed
           ,
           he
           might
           acquaint
           vs
           with
           his
           inuisible
           excelencies
           ,
           which
           els
           could
           neuer
           haue
           beene
           known
           of
           vs.
           As
           the
           Sun
           shining
           in
           his
           perfit
           brightnes
           ,
           can
           not
           be
           looked
           vpon
           ;
           but
           in
           a
           Cloud
           or
           mist
           ,
           hauing
           his
           beames
           refracted
           ,
           may
           bee
           beheld
           so
           God
           ,
           in
           his
           infinite
           and
           incomprehensible
           essence
           ,
           being
           considered
           of
           vs
           ,
           cannot
           be
           knowne
           of
           vs
           ,
           for
           he
           is
           too
           powerful
           an
           object
           for
           our
           weake
           vnderstanding
           ;
           but
           in
           our
           Nature
           ,
           by
           his
           sonne
           assumed
           ,
           hauing
           his
           glorie
           and
           Majestie
           contracted
           ,
           wee
           may
           take
           a
           full
           view
           of
           him
           .
           And
           thus
           Christ
           his
           incarnating
           is
           his
           proper
           sending
           .
           But
           why
           sent
           God
           his
           sonne
           the
           second
           person
           in
           Trinitie
           ?
           Wherefore
           had
           not
           the
           Father
           ,
           and
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           come
           to
           be
           man
           
           aswel
           as
           the
           Sonne
           ?
           (
           Brethren
           )
           this
           is
           a
           high
           point
           in
           Diuinitie
           ,
           requiring
           judiciall
           and
           attentiue
           eares
           :
           which
           if
           yee
           lend
           mee
           ,
           thus
           then
           I
           resolue
           yee
           .
        
         
           Truely
           there
           wanted
           no
           power
           in
           any
           of
           those
           persons
           to
           performe
           this
           ;
           for
           they
           are
           all
           Omnipotent
           ,
           and
           able
           to
           doe
           what
           soeuer
           pleaseth
           them
           .
           But
           yet
           why
           the
           sonne
           did
           it
           rather
           then
           the
           rest
           ;
           great
           reasons
           are
           to
           bee
           alleaged
           .
           First
           ,
           It
           was
           meete
           that
           by
           what
           instruments
           God
           made
           the
           World
           ,
           by
           the
           same
           he
           should
           repaire
           
           the
           World
           :
           But
           God
           by
           his
           sonne
           made
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           Heb.
           1.
           and
           therfore
           as
           it
           is
           2.
           
           Cor.
           5.
           well
           was
           God
           in
           
             Christ
             ,
             by
             whom
             hee
             reconciled
             the
             World.
          
           
           Secondly
           ,
           It
           was
           fit
           that
           hee
           who
           was
           the
           sonne
           in
           the
           Diuinitie
           ,
           should
           also
           bee
           the
           sonne
           
           in
           Humanitie
           :
           least
           if
           the
           Father
           or
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           had
           bin
           the
           sonnes
           of
           men
           ,
           they
           had
           then
           beene
           temporall
           sonnes
           to
           the
           Eternall
           sonne
           .
           Thirdly
           ,
           the
           Father
           is
           of
           himselfe
           alone
           ,
           and
           the
           Sonne
           is
           of
           the
           Father
           .
           Now
           then
           more
           seemely
           
           it
           is
           that
           he
           be
           sent
           ,
           who
           is
           of
           another
           ,
           then
           he
           that
           is
           of
           himselfe
           .
           Fourthly
           ,
           the
           Sonne
           was
           sent
           to
           be
           man
           ,
           that
           wee
           might
           know
           how
           the
           
           father
           did
           loue
           man
           in
           sending
           so
           precious
           a
           thing
           to
           redeeme
           man
           therby
           ,
           thus
           to
           strengthen
           our
           languishing
           hope
           ,
           that
           sith
           God
           thought
           not
           his
           Sonne
           too
           good
           forvs
           ,
           how
           can
           wee
           doubt
           but
           that
           hee
           will
           bestow
           all
           other
           things
           on
           vs
           
           
           whatsoeuer
           wee
           begge
           of
           him
           ?
           Fiftly
           ,
           GOD
           
             bath
             predestinated
             vs
          
           saith
           Saint
           
             Paul
             Romans
          
           8.
           
           
             to
             bee
             conformable
             to
             the
             Image
             of
             his
             sonne
             :
          
           that
           therefore
           had
           hee
           not
           sent
           his
           Sonne
           ,
           how
           could
           wee
           bee
           like
           to
           his
           Sonne
           ?
           had
           not
           he
           come
           that
           was
           the
           Naturall
           sonne
           ;
           wee
           should
           neuer
           haue
           beene
           adopted
           sonnes
           .
           The
           sonne
           of
           God
           therefore
           was
           made
           the
           sonne
           of
           man
           ,
           that
           we
           sonnes
           of
           men
           might
           bee
           made
           the
           sonnes
           of
           God.
           Sixtly
           ,
           God
           the
           sonne
           is
           the
           middle
           
           person
           betweene
           God
           the
           Father
           ,
           and
           God
           the
           
             Holy
             Ghost
          
           ,
           and
           therefore
           was
           fittest
           to
           bee
           
           sent
           
             to
             bee
             the
             mediator
             betweene
             God
             and
             man.
          
           Seuenthly
           ,
           He
           that
           was
           to
           worke
           our
           redemption
           was
           to
           be
           an
           intercessor
           and
           supplicator
           to
           God
           for
           vs.
           But
           these
           properties
           are
           more
           proper
           to
           a
           sonne
           ,
           then
           a
           Father
           :
           for
           a
           sonne
           is
           to
           intreat
           the
           Father
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           Father
           the
           sonne
           .
           And
           therefore
           did
           God
           best
           to
           send
           his
           sonne
           .
           Last
           of
           all
           ;
           the
           Mediator
           betweene
           God
           and
           man
           was
           to
           pacifie
           ,
           so
           to
           teach
           and
           guide
           man
           to
           be
           obedient
           vnto
           God.
           Now
           then
           
             Christ
             being
             the
             word
             of
             God
             and
             wisdome
             of
             God
             ,
          
           as
           
             Saint
             Iohn
          
           and
           
             Saint
             Paul
          
           affirme
           :
           meetest
           was
           hee
           ,
           the
           sonne
           ,
           to
           be
           mans
           Teacher
           and
           Counsailor
           .
           Why
           God
           sent
           his
           Son
           yee
           see
           the
           Reasons
           .
           Now
           behold
           wee
           in
           what
           manner
           he
           sent
           him
           :
           the
           third
           thing
           I
           am
           to
           speak
           of
           .
           It
           is
           said
           
             made
             of
             a
             woman
             and
             made
             vnder
             the
             law
             .
          
           What
           is
           written
           before
           in
           my
           text
           of
           him
           ,
           
           that
           
             in
             the
             fulnesse
             of
             time
             God
             sent
             him
             ,
          
           pointes
           to
           his
           Diuinitie
           ,
           and
           his
           glorie
           :
           but
           that
           now
           Hee
           is
           
             made
             of
             a
             Woman
             and
             vnder
             the
             Law
             ,
          
           this
           shewes
           his
           Humanitie
           and
           Humilitie
           :
           How
           the
           two
           Natures
           Godhead
           and
           Manhood
           were
           vnited
           together
           in
           the
           vnitie
           of
           his
           person
           .
           Paul
           1.
           
           Tim.
           3.
           talkes
           of
           a
           great
           mysterie
           of
           pietie
           ,
           
           
             How
             God
             was
             manifested
             in
             the
             flesh
             ,
             iustified
             in
             the
             spirit
             ,
             was
             seene
             of
             Angels
             ,
             was
             preached
             to
             the
             Gentiles
             ,
             beleiued
             on
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             assumed
             into
             glorie
             .
          
           And
           heere
           behold
           this
           production
           of
           God
           ,
           
             to
             be
             made
             of
             a
             woman
             ,
          
           is
           the
           beginning
           of
           it
           ;
           opening
           as
           it
           were
           the
           doore
           to
           the
           other
           most
           admirable
           actions
           .
           But
           what
           a
           strange
           thing
           is
           this
           ,
           that
           the
           maker
           of
           the
           World
           should
           thus
           bee
           made
           of
           a
           woman
           :
           and
           that
           the
           Creatour
           should
           haue
           his
           being
           from
           a
           Creature
           .
           This
           rightly
           to
           conceiue
           ,
           ye
           are
           to
           note
           this
           .
           Christ
           in
           respect
           of
           his
           Godhead
           ,
           was
           increated
           ;
           in
           respect
           of
           his
           soule
           he
           was
           created
           ;
           and
           in
           respect
           of
           his
           bodie
           he
           was
           made
           of
           a
           woman
           .
           As
           we
           Christians
           are
           borne
           ,
           first
           ,
           naturally
           of
           our
           Parents
           ,
           and
           afterwards
           are
           born
           spiritually
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           :
           So
           Christ
           beeing
           God
           ,
           was
           begotten
           naturally
           of
           God
           ;
           and
           now
           being
           man
           ,
           was
           made
           temporally
           of
           a
           woman
           .
           
             Verbum
             caro
             factum
             est
             ,
             &c.
          
           saith
           
             Saint
             Iohn
             cap.
          
           1.
           
           Paul
           affirmeth
           2.
           
           
           Tim.
           2.
           that
           
             he
             came
             of
             the
             seed
             of
             Dauid
             ,
          
           and
           Heb.
           2.
           that
           
             no
             where
             hee
             tooke
             on
             him
             the
             Angels
             ,
             but
             the
             seed
             of
          
           Abraham
           
             tooke
             he
             on
             him
          
           ,
           
           and
           all
           this
           by
           being
           made
           of
           a
           woman
           ,
           
             Of
             a
             Woman
             '
          
           ?
           yee
           will
           say
           what
           reason
           had
           God
           to
           effect
           so
           strange
           an
           action
           :
           I
           will
           tell
           yee
           ;
           to
           aduance
           his
           glorie
           ,
           and
           doe
           vs
           the
           more
           good
           .
           O
           how
           kind
           did
           God
           shew
           himselfe
           in
           taking
           vpon
           him
           our
           fraile
           nature
           !
           Hee
           might
           haue
           come
           to
           vs
           as
           he
           did
           to
           Moses
           and
           the
           Israelites
           on
           Mount
           Sinay
           in
           thundering
           ,
           lightning
           ,
           fire
           ,
           and
           smoake
           :
           hee
           might
           haue
           come
           to
           vs
           in
           the
           substance
           of
           an
           Angell
           assumed
           ,
           but
           yet
           because
           hee
           loued
           man
           ,
           to
           man
           he
           came
           in
           the
           estate
           of
           man.
           O
           how
           just
           did
           God
           shew
           himselfe
           to
           bee
           made
           of
           a
           Woman
           !
           The
           Deuill
           before
           had
           conquered
           all
           flesh
           in
           the
           first
           Adam
           :
           and
           now
           the
           second
           Adam
           took
           flesh
           in
           it
           to
           subdue
           the
           Deuill
           .
           O
           how
           wise
           did
           God
           herein
           shew
           himselfe
           ,
           that
           when
           one
           man
           by
           sinne
           had
           displeased
           him
           ,
           another
           man
           by
           his
           righteousnesse
           should
           pacific
           him
           !
           I
           meane
           Iesus
           ,
           who
           being
           God
           ,
           
             therefore
             became
             man
             to
             be
             the
             mediatour
             betweene
             God
             and
             man
             :
          
           Which
           office
           no
           other
           Creature
           neyther
           man
           nor
           Angell
           could
           possibly
           haue
           executed
           ,
           sith
           infinite
           being
           the
           Maiestie
           of
           him
           that
           by
           sinne
           was
           offended
           ,
           by
           no
           person
           but
           him
           that
           is
           of
           infinite
           goodnesse
           it
           could
           be
           appeased
           .
           Christ
           therefore
           tooke
           God
           and
           man
           into
           the
           vnitie
           of
           his
           person
           to
           reconcile
           God
           and
           man
           into
           the
           vnitie
           of
           affection
           .
           These
           &
           such
           like
           inuisible
           excellencies
           of
           kindnesse
           ,
           Iustice
           ,
           Wisdome
           ,
           to
           make
           visible
           vnto
           vs
           ,
           
           he
           took
           on
           him
           our
           visible
           nature
           in
           mercie
           descending
           to
           vs
           ;
           sith
           wee
           in
           might
           could
           not
           ascend
           to
           him
           .
           Secondly
           ,
           
             Christus
             factus
             est
             ,
             &c.
          
           As
           for
           the
           promotion
           of
           his
           owne
           glorie
           ,
           so
           for
           the
           procurement
           of
           our
           good
           ,
           in
           many
           things
           to
           help
           vs
           ;
           to
           instruct
           our
           faith
           which
           could
           not
           but
           beleeue
           ,
           when
           she
           heard
           God
           himselfe
           to
           speake
           ;
           to
           comfort
           our
           hope
           which
           could
           not
           but
           bee
           cheered
           ,
           when
           she
           saw
           God
           vnited
           to
           our
           nature
           ;
           to
           kindle
           our
           charitie
           ,
           that
           could
           not
           but
           loue
           God
           ,
           sensibly
           perceiuing
           how
           God
           loued
           man
           ,
           to
           draw
           our
           actions
           to
           vertue
           ,
           that
           could
           not
           but
           imitate
           God
           ,
           giuing
           himselfe
           for
           an
           example
           ;
           and
           to
           make
           vs
           partakers
           of
           his
           Diuinitie
           ,
           that
           as
           God
           was
           the
           sonne
           of
           man
           ,
           so
           wee
           men
           should
           bee
           made
           the
           sonnes
           of
           God.
           Againe
           ,
           
             Christus
             factus
             est
             ,
             &c.
          
           to
           remoue
           many
           euils
           from
           vs
           ,
           that
           the
           deuill
           the
           author
           of
           sin
           ,
           though
           hee
           were
           an
           Angell
           should
           not
           be
           preferred
           before
           vs
           ;
           that
           man
           considering
           the
           dignitie
           of
           his
           nature
           ,
           how
           it
           is
           in
           vnion
           with
           God
           ,
           should
           not
           spot
           it
           with
           sinne
           ,
           that
           our
           presumption
           with
           the
           thought
           of
           Christes
           merites
           ,
           our
           pride
           with
           the
           remembrance
           of
           his
           humilitie
           ,
           and
           the
           feare
           of
           death
           and
           hell
           with
           the
           consideration
           of
           his
           person
           ,
           might
           bee
           daunted
           and
           abated
           .
           Further
           ,
           
             Dei
             filius
             factus
             est
             ,
             &c.
          
           to
           verifie
           his
           Incarnation
           .
           Valentine
           held
           Christ
           to
           haue
           brought
           a
           body
           with
           him
           from
           heauen
           ,
           and
           to
           haue
           taken
           no
           flesh
           from
           his
           Mother
           ,
           
             Marcion
             ,
             
             Apelles
             ,
             Cerdonius
             ,
          
           and
           Manes
           ,
           affirmed
           Christ
           to
           haue
           but
           a
           phantastical
           body
           ,
           such
           as
           Angels
           and
           spirits
           assume
           .
           The
           Turkes
           and
           Moores
           imagine
           Christ
           to
           bee
           the
           breath
           of
           God
           ,
           whom
           because
           God
           saw
           that
           the
           Iewes
           would
           crucifie
           ,
           he
           therefore
           suffered
           Christ
           to
           delude
           their
           eyes
           ,
           in
           seeming
           to
           doe
           and
           suffer
           what
           hee
           did
           not
           .
           But
           these
           heresies
           are
           notably
           confuted
           in
           this
           ,
           
             That
             he
             was
             made
             of
             a
             woman
             .
          
           For
           if
           a
           woman
           were
           his
           true
           Mother
           ,
           bearing
           him
           ten
           Monethes
           in
           her
           wombe
           ,
           bringing
           him
           forth
           &
           giuing
           him
           sucke
           :
           then
           vndoubtedly
           he
           was
           a
           true
           man
           ,
           and
           had
           a
           true
           ,
           naturall
           ,
           and
           not
           a
           celestiall
           and
           phantasticall
           body
           ,
           Last
           of
           all
           ,
           
             Christ
             was
             made
             of
             a
             Woman
             ,
          
           to
           grace
           women
           kind
           with
           his
           birth
           ,
           that
           before
           had
           disgraced
           it selfe
           with
           the
           deuils
           temptation
           .
           A
           woman
           in
           Paradise
           ,
           was
           a
           meane
           to
           make
           man
           a
           sinner
           ,
           and
           a
           woman
           in
           Bethlem
           was
           an
           instrument
           to
           bring
           forth
           to
           man
           a
           Sauiour
           .
           Wherefore
           an
           ancient
           Father
           saith
           thus
           ;
           Because
           the
           male
           kind
           is
           more
           noble
           ,
           Christ
           would
           be
           a
           man
           :
           and
           yet
           that
           woman
           should
           not
           bee
           contemned
           ,
           hee
           was
           borne
           of
           a
           woman
           .
           But
           why
           doth
           Paul
           here
           name
           so
           expressly
           a
           woman
           ,
           and
           not
           mention
           a
           man
           ?
           Because
           indeede
           man
           had
           no
           action
           in
           Christs
           generation
           :
           For
           as
           our
           Sauior
           being
           God
           had
           a
           Father
           ,
           &
           no
           mother
           :
           So
           being
           man
           he
           had
           a
           Mother
           ,
           but
           no
           Father
           .
           Where
           note
           ,
           that
           mankind
           is
           brought
           forth
           foure
           kind
           of
           wayes
           .
           Adam
           
           was
           made
           without
           man
           or
           woman
           :
           Eue
           was
           made
           of
           a
           man
           without
           a
           woman
           :
           We
           are
           made
           of
           men
           and
           women
           ;
           and
           Christ
           was
           made
           of
           a
           woman
           without
           a
           man.
           If
           yee
           aske
           of
           what
           woman
           ?
           I
           answere
           yee
           ,
           Marie
           the
           Virgine
           ,
           
             Whom
             all
             generations
             doe
             call
             blessed
             .
          
           
           Of
           her
           bloud
           or
           seede
           ,
           by
           the
           working
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           was
           Christ
           made
           .
           O
           what
           strange
           birth
           was
           this
           ,
           that
           a
           virgin
           was
           the
           Mother
           ,
           and
           God
           the
           Sonne
           !
           saith
           Bernard
           .
           It
           became
           not
           God
           to
           haue
           any
           Mother
           but
           a
           maiden
           :
           and
           it
           beseemed
           a
           maide
           to
           haue
           no
           sonne
           but
           God.
           
        
         
           Wonders
           are
           in
           this
           mother
           ,
           and
           in
           this
           sonne
           .
           This
           mother
           was
           sanctified
           with
           the
           fulnesse
           of
           grace
           ,
           with
           the
           ouer-shadowing
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           and
           the
           inhabitation
           of
           the
           Sonne
           of
           God.
           Shee
           was
           ,
           saith
           Saint
           
             Bernard
             ,
             Sinepudore
             foecunda
             ,
             sine
             grauamine
             granida
             ,
             sine
             dolore
             puerpera
             .
          
           By
           bearing
           Christ
           ,
           shee
           was
           the
           starre
           that
           gaue
           light
           to
           the
           Sunne
           ,
           the
           branch
           that
           bare
           the
           Vine
           ,
           the
           Riuer
           that
           yeelded
           the
           fountaine
           ,
           the
           daughter
           that
           brought
           forth
           her
           Father
           ,
           the
           creature
           that
           gaue
           being
           to
           the
           Creatour
           :
           shee
           was
           I
           say
           the
           Mother
           of
           her
           Father
           ,
           and
           the
           daughter
           of
           her
           Sonne
           ,
           yonger
           then
           her
           birth
           ,
           lesser
           then
           what
           shee
           contained
           ,
           a
           maiden
           ,
           and
           a
           Mother
           ,
           to
           haue
           a
           Sonne
           with
           God
           the
           Father
           :
           whereas
           Virgines
           were
           cursed
           for
           barrennesse
           ,
           and
           wiues
           for
           bringing
           forth
           with
           sorrow
           ,
           Marie
           was
           free
           from
           either
           
           of
           these
           :
           For
           being
           a
           Virgine
           shee
           was
           fruitfull
           ,
           and
           bringing
           forth
           child
           shee
           felt
           no
           paines
           .
           As
           the
           Sunne
           shines
           through
           glasse
           and
           corrupts
           it
           not
           :
           So
           God
           came
           made
           of
           a
           Virgine
           without
           breach
           of
           her
           chastitie
           .
           And
           because
           shee
           conceiued
           without
           sinne
           ,
           shee
           was
           therefore
           deliuered
           without
           paines
           .
           Aganie
           ,
           wonders
           are
           in
           this
           Sonne
           .
           In
           the
           instant
           of
           his
           conception
           ,
           and
           now
           by
           succession
           of
           time
           he
           was
           a
           perfit
           man
           in
           soule
           and
           body
           ,
           voide
           of
           sinne
           and
           full
           of
           grace
           .
           Hee
           had
           a
           father
           in
           heauen
           ,
           and
           a
           mother
           on
           earth
           ,
           but
           yet
           a
           father
           without
           a
           mother
           ,
           and
           a
           mother
           without
           a
           father
           .
           Further
           by
           being
           
             made
             of
             a
             woman
          
           ,
           of
           a
           Lord
           he
           became
           a
           seruant
           ,
           of
           eternall
           he
           was
           made
           temporall
           ,
           of
           infinite
           he
           became
           an
           infant
           ,
           of
           high
           he
           became
           low
           ,
           of
           incomprehensible
           locall
           ,
           of
           intelligible
           ,
           sensible
           :
           borne
           hee
           was
           in
           a
           womans
           wombe
           ,
           himselfe
           bearing
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           suck
           he
           did
           at
           a
           maidens
           brests
           ,
           himselfe
           
             giuing
             food
             to
             all
             things
          
           .
           Thus
           
             of
             a
             woman
             was
             Christ
             made
             ,
          
           and
           not
           onely
           so
           ,
           but
           also
           
             Vnder
             the
             Law
             :
             made
             of
             a
             woman
          
           is
           the
           humilitie
           of
           his
           birth
           ;
           
             made
             vnder
             the
             Law
          
           is
           the
           humilitie
           of
           his
           life
           :
           in
           birth
           ,
           in
           life
           ,
           and
           in
           manie
           other
           thinges
           crying
           out
           vnto
           vs
           ,
           that
           
             we
             would
             learne
             of
             him
             ,
             to
             bee
             humble
             and
             meeke
             .
          
           Among
           the
           Iewes
           diuers
           lawes
           were
           in
           vse
           in
           Christs
           time
           ,
           the
           
             Morall
             ,
             Ceremoniall
             ,
             Iudiciall
          
           ,
           and
           vnder
           all
           these
           our
           Sauiour
           was
           made
           .
           Yee
           will
           object
           how
           can
           this
           bee
           ?
           They
           (
           
             saith
             
             Paul
             )
             Gal.
             5.
             that
             are
             led
             by
             the
             Spirit
             ,
          
           
           
             are
             not
             vnder
             the
             Law
          
           :
           but
           Christ
           was
           led
           by
           the
           spirit
           ,
           and
           was
           full
           of
           the
           spirit
           ,
           and
           therfore
           the
           law
           had
           nought
           to
           doe
           with
           him
           .
           For
           answere
           accept
           this
           .
           To
           
             be
             vnder
             the
             Law
          
           carrieth
           a
           double
           sense
           ;
           to
           bee
           vnder
           eyther
           the
           obseruance
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           or
           the
           oppression
           of
           the
           Law.
           Now
           then
           Christ
           was
           vnder
           the
           obseruance
           of
           the
           Law.
           For
           he
           was
           circumcised
           the
           eight
           day
           ,
           presented
           afterwardes
           in
           the
           Temple
           ,
           and
           did
           those
           things
           that
           the
           law
           required
           :
           but
           not
           vnder
           the
           oppression
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           so
           as
           the
           breach
           thereof
           did
           any
           way
           burden
           him
           ;
           sith
           hee
           was
           harmelesse
           and
           innocent
           ▪
           And
           yet
           in
           respect
           of
           our
           sinnes
           ,
           the
           guilt
           wherof
           in
           mercie
           he
           vndertooke
           ,
           he
           was
           vnder
           the
           lawes
           oppression
           .
           Also
           for
           the
           punishment
           due
           to
           our
           offences
           ,
           the
           Law
           inflicted
           on
           him
           ;
           it
           accused
           him
           ,
           and
           condemned
           him
           before
           the
           Tribunall
           of
           God
           of
           all
           the
           sinnes
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           it
           made
           his
           bodie
           sweat
           water
           and
           bloud
           ,
           it
           made
           his
           soule
           heauie
           to
           the
           death
           ;
           and
           on
           the
           Crosse
           so
           perplexed
           his
           whole
           humanitie
           that
           he
           cried
           out
           ,
           
             My
             God
             my
             God
             ,
             why
             hast
             thou
             for
             saken
             me
             .
          
           Thus
           the
           blessed
           maker
           of
           all
           thinges
           was
           twise
           now
           made
           .
           First
           ,
           
             Of
             a
             Woman
          
           ,
           to
           entertaine
           our
           Nature
           ,
           and
           secondly
           ,
           
             Vnder
             the
             Law
          
           ,
           to
           sustaine
           our
           sinnes
           .
           And
           all
           this
           to
           what
           end
           ?
           It
           followes
           in
           the
           end
           of
           my
           Text
           ,
           which
           shewes
           the
           end
           why
           Christ
           came
           ,
           &c.
           
           
             To
             redeeme
             those
             that
             were
             vnder
             
             the
             Law
             ,
             that
             we
             might
             receiue
             the
             adoption
             of
             sonnes
             .
          
           See
           (
           
             Deere
             Christians
          
           )
           how
           proportionable
           Gods
           meanes
           are
           to
           the
           effecting
           of
           his
           purposes
           !
           Christ
           was
           made
           
             vnder
             the
             Law
          
           to
           redeeme
           vs
           from
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           was
           made
           
             the
             sonne
             of
             a
             Woman
          
           ,
           that
           we
           might
           receiue
           
             the
             adoptiō
             to
             be
             the
             sons
             of
             God.
          
           Two
           generall
           and
           singular
           blessings
           containing
           all
           that
           Christ
           hath
           done
           for
           vs
           ,
           are
           heere
           conueighed
           vnto
           vs
           :
           Redemption
           ,
           and
           Exaltation
           ,
           Freedome
           ,
           and
           Aduancement
           :
           Redemption
           and
           freedome
           to
           be
           exempted
           from
           the
           Law
           ;
           and
           Exaltation
           and
           Aduancement
           to
           haue
           the
           adoption
           to
           bee
           Gods
           sonnes
           .
           The
           Law
           ,
           before
           Christ
           came
           ,
           did
           dominari
           ,
           as
           S.
           Paul
           saith
           :
           playing
           the
           Tyrant
           amongst
           men
           ,
           as
           Pharao
           did
           among
           the
           Israelites
           ;
           it
           stil
           cried
           out
           ,
           keep
           the
           Commandement
           ;
           with
           infinite
           curses
           to
           those
           that
           eyther
           would
           not
           ,
           or
           could
           not
           keep
           euery
           jot
           of
           it
           .
           It
           imposed
           ,
           vpon
           men
           an
           insupportable
           burden
           ,
           it
           aggrauated
           sinne
           ,
           it
           terrified
           the
           conscience
           ,
           
           and
           as
           it
           is
           2.
           
           
             Cor.
             2.
             it
             was
             the
             administration
             of
             death
             and
             damnation
             .
          
           Now
           then
           
             Christ
             made
             vnder
             the
             Law
          
           ,
           did
           free
           men
           from
           this
           Law
           ;
           and
           how
           but
           by
           his
           fulfilling
           of
           it
           for
           vs
           ?
           His
           humilitie
           satisfied
           the
           Law
           for
           our
           pride
           ,
           his
           fasting
           for
           our
           gluttonie
           ,
           his
           Chastitie
           for
           our
           wantonnesse
           ,
           his
           mildnesse
           for
           our
           wrath
           ,
           his
           kindnesse
           for
           our
           enuie
           ,
           his
           obedience
           for
           our
           negligence
           ,
           his
           excellencies
           for
           our
           infirmities
           :
           that
           when
           the
           Law
           gaping
           so
           for
           righteousnesse
           ,
           
           as
           a
           Lyon
           for
           his
           prey
           ,
           hauing
           the
           morsell
           of
           Christ
           ,
           perfection
           and
           holinesse
           ,
           throwne
           into
           her
           mouth
           ,
           she
           was
           presently
           satisfied
           and
           appeased
           ,
           and
           vpon
           that
           doth
           feed
           yet
           at
           this
           houre
           ,
           which
           otherwise
           could
           not
           not
           be
           contented
           with
           anie
           thing
           which
           poore
           man
           could
           yeeld
           vnto
           her
           .
           Againe
           ,
           as
           before
           Christ
           came
           ,
           wee
           were
           
             bondslaues
             vnder
             the
             Law
          
           :
           So
           were
           we
           Bastards
           in
           nature
           ,
           degenerated
           from
           that
           Holinesse
           and
           righteousnes
           wherein
           we
           were
           created
           ,
           aud
           thereby
           depirued
           of
           our
           Heauenly
           inheritance
           .
           And
           now
           our
           Sauiour
           by
           being
           
             made
             of
             a
             Woman
          
           ,
           doth
           make
           
             vs
             to
             be
             true
             sonnes
          
           againe
           ;
           for
           hee
           by
           clothing
           himselfe
           with
           our
           nature
           becomming
           
             our
             brother
          
           ,
           as
           Paul
           termes
           him
           
             primogenitꝰ
             inter
             multosfratres
          
           ,
           
           by
           a
           consequent
           drawes
           vs
           in
           to
           be
           the
           sonnes
           of
           his
           father
           ;
           so
           giuing
           vs
           of
           his
           spirit
           to
           be
           the
           children
           of
           God
           ,
           as
           hee
           tooke
           of
           our
           flesh
           to
           bee
           the
           sonne
           of
           man
           :
           he
           by
           our
           flesh
           counted
           the
           Virgin
           his
           Mother
           ,
           and
           we
           by
           his
           spirit
           (
           as
           the
           Apostle
           sayth
           )
           
             crie
             Abba
             Father
          
           .
           Thus
           not
           onely
           to
           make
           vs
           freemen
           ,
           but
           also
           sonnes
           ;
           the
           sonne
           of
           God
           came
           .
           The
           summe
           of
           this
           point
           is
           briefly
           this
           ,
           Christ
           came
           as
           Manna
           from
           Heauen
           to
           feede
           vs
           being
           hungrie
           ,
           as
           the
           cluster
           of
           Grapes
           out
           of
           the
           Vineyard
           ,
           to
           satisfie
           vs
           being
           thirstie
           ,
           as
           Oyle
           powred
           out
           to
           cure
           vs
           being
           wounded
           .
           Hee
           came
           as
           our
           head
           ,
           that
           giues
           vs
           spiritual
           sense
           and
           motion
           ;
           as
           our
           Mediatour
           ,
           that
           being
           God
           and
           man
           best
           reconciles
           God
           and
           man
           ;
           as
           our
           foundation
           
           which
           we
           build
           our
           faith
           ;
           as
           our
           doore
           giuing
           passage
           to
           Paradise
           ;
           as
           our
           Shepheard
           feeding
           vs
           ;
           our
           sacrifice
           expiating
           vs
           ;
           our
           Priest
           praying
           for
           vs
           ;
           as
           our
           way
           in
           example
           ,
           life
           in
           reward
           .
           Hee
           came
           as
           a
           man
           to
           make
           vs
           gods
           ,
           as
           a
           seruant
           to
           make
           vs
           Lords
           ,
           to
           earth
           to
           lift
           vs
           vp
           to
           Heauen
           .
           He
           came
           mortall
           to
           make
           vs
           immortall
           ,
           poore
           to
           make
           vs
           rich
           ,
           and
           base
           to
           make
           vs
           glorious
           .
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           
             He
             that
             was
             the
             bread
          
           was
           hungrie
           that
           we
           might
           be
           fed
           :
           he
           that
           was
           
             the
             fountaine
          
           was
           dry
           ,
           that
           wee
           might
           be
           satisfied
           .
           Hee
           that
           was
           joy
           was
           sad
           ,
           that
           we
           might
           be
           comforted
           ;
           and
           he
           that
           was
           
             the
             way
          
           ,
           was
           wearied
           ,
           that
           we
           might
           be
           directed
           to
           heauen
           .
           And
           thus
           haue
           yee
           heard
           the
           circumstances
           of
           Christ
           his
           comming
           :
           the
           Time
           ,
           Causes
           ,
           Manner
           ,
           End.
           The
           Doctrine
           wherof
           ,
           for
           a
           conclusion
           ;
           let
           vs
           put
           to
           these
           vses
           .
           First
           ,
           Sith
           
             in
             the
             fulnesse
             of
             time
          
           came
           he
           that
           was
           full
           of
           grace
           and
           truth
           ,
           let
           vs
           also
           fulfill
           our
           times
           that
           wee
           spend
           in
           godly
           labours
           :
           In
           time
           of
           prayer
           ,
           deuout
           ;
           in
           time
           of
           preaching
           ,
           attentiue
           ;
           in
           time
           of
           prosperitie
           bountifull
           ;
           in
           time
           of
           pouertie
           ,
           patient
           ;
           in
           time
           of
           feasting
           ,
           temperate
           ;
           in
           all
           times
           vertuous
           and
           honest
           ,
           and
           then
           no
           time
           shal
           passe
           emptie
           of
           dutie
           .
           Next
           ,
           sith
           
             God
             sent
             his
             Sonne
          
           ,
           Let
           vs
           acknowledge
           the
           benefit
           hereof
           ,
           how
           much
           we
           are
           bound
           to
           the
           Lord
           ,
           that
           so
           great
           a
           person
           as
           hee
           would
           bestow
           so
           great
           a
           gift
           on
           vs
           most
           vnworthie
           Creatures
           ,
           and
           withall
           prouide
           
           our
           hearts
           to
           haue
           such
           roomes
           in
           them
           ,
           as
           may
           be
           fit
           to
           enteraine
           so
           honourable
           a
           guest
           thus
           sent
           vnto
           vs
           :
           let
           our
           repentance
           sweep
           cleane
           the
           chambers
           of
           our
           soules
           ,
           let
           a
           good
           conscience
           be
           his
           bedding
           ,
           and
           let
           graces
           and
           vertues
           be
           the
           ornaments
           of
           his
           lodging
           .
           Next
           sith
           he
           was
           
             made
             of
             a
             Woman
          
           ,
           and
           
             vnder
             the
             Law
          
           ,
           let
           vs
           learne
           that
           sith
           he
           hath
           so
           dignified
           our
           nature
           ,
           as
           with
           it
           to
           cloth
           himselfe
           ,
           to
           haue
           a
           care
           that
           wee
           spot
           it
           not
           or
           defile
           it
           with
           sinne
           .
           A
           poore
           maide
           married
           to
           a
           King
           ,
           ought
           to
           forget
           her
           base
           bringing
           vp
           ,
           and
           to
           forgoe
           her
           clownish
           qualities
           :
           and
           our
           Nature
           married
           to
           God
           must
           vnloose
           the
           filthie
           actions
           of
           her
           corrupt
           generation
           ,
           and
           
             put
             on
             the
             new
             man
          
           ,
           to
           be
           like
           to
           Christ
           .
           Further
           sith
           
             vnder
             the
             Law
          
           ,
           let
           vs
           remember
           what
           a
           heauie
           burden
           hee
           tooke
           on
           him
           to
           ease
           our
           shoulders
           ,
           and
           so
           be
           the
           more
           willing
           to
           beare
           any
           crosse
           that
           he
           shall
           lay
           vpon
           vs.
           Finally
           ,
           sith
           hee
           hath
           redeemed
           vs
           from
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           makes
           vs
           
             adopted
             sonnes
          
           :
           let
           vs
           carrie
           our selues
           as
           men
           that
           haue
           Christian
           libertie
           ,
           scourging
           
             Sinne
             ,
             Death
             ,
             Hell
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Deuill
           ;
           that
           with
           the
           chaines
           of
           slauish
           feare
           would
           stil
           keep
           vs
           captiue
           .
           Last
           of
           all
           ,
           sith
           we
           are
           
             his
             sonnes
             by
             adoption
          
           ,
           let
           vs
           doe
           our
           dutie
           to
           our
           Heauenly
           Father
           :
           Let
           vs
           loue
           ,
           feare
           ,
           and
           serue
           him
           with
           all
           our
           hearts
           soules
           and
           strength
           :
           let
           vs
           bee
           taught
           with
           his
           precepts
           ,
           let
           vs
           be
           guided
           with
           his
           counsailes
           ,
           allured
           with
           his
           promises
           ,
           terrified
           with
           his
           threatnings
           ,
           
           but
           especially
           be
           wonne
           with
           his
           mercies
           .
           Then
           as
           gracious
           sonnes
           will
           hee
           reward
           vs
           with
           the
           glorious
           inheritance
           of
           his
           Heauenly
           Kingdome
           .
           
             To
             the
             which
             place
          
           hee
           that
           was
           borne
           for
           vs
           ,
           bring
           vs.
           Amen
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A04618-e170
           
             *
             Math.
             11.
             6.
             
          
           
             3.
             
             Ep.
             Ioh.
             v.
             9.
             
          
           
             Act.
             8.
             18.
             
          
           
             Matth.
             26.
             15.
             
          
           
             Mal.
             1.
             9.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A04618-e370
           
             Ioh.
             3.
             30.
             
          
           
             Luc.
             2.
             8.
             11.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             3.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             22.
             
          
           
             Psa
             .
             132.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             49.
             
          
           
             Deut.
             18.
             
          
           
             Num.
             24.
             
          
           
             Esa
             .
             7.
             
          
           
             Mich.
             5.
             
          
           
             Dail
             .
             9.
             
          
           
             Ioh.
             8.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             49.
             
          
           
             Ps
             .
             48.
             
          
           
             Ps
             .
             47.
             
          
           
             Deu.
             18.
             
          
           
             Esa
             .
             64.
             
          
           
             Col.
             2.
             
          
           
             Ioh.
             1.
             16.
             
          
           
             Ioh.
             8.
             42.
             5.
             36.
             37.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             8.
             32.
             
          
           
             Ioh.
             16.
             28.
             
          
           
             Luc.
             5.
             35.
             
          
           
             Ioh.
             3.
             16.
             
          
           
             Ioh.
             1.
             18
             :
          
           
             Ioh.
             3.
             13.
             
          
           
             Ioh.
             1.
             3.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             1.
             2.
             
             Cor.
             5.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             8.
             29.
             
          
           
             1.
             
             Tim.
             3.
             
          
           
             2.
             
             Tim.
             2.
             
             Heb.
             2.
             
          
           
             Luc.
             1.
             48.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             5.
             18.
             
          
           
             2.
             
             Cor.
             2.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             8.
             
          
        
      
    
  

