







 
   
     
       
         A sermon of the nativity of our Lord preached before the Queen Dowager in her chappel at Somerset-house on Christmas Day, 1686 / by Thomas Godden.
         Godden, Thomas, 1624-1688.
      
       
         
           1686
        
      
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             A sermon of the nativity of our Lord preached before the Queen Dowager in her chappel at Somerset-house on Christmas Day, 1686 / by Thomas Godden.
             Godden, Thomas, 1624-1688.
          
           33 p.
           
             Printed by Henry Hills,
             London :
             1686.
          
           
             "Published by Her Majesties command."
             Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Jesus Christ -- Nativity.
           Christmas sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           SERMON
           OF
           The
           NATIVITY
           of
           our
           LORD
           ,
           Preached
           before
           the
           Queen
           Dowager
           ,
           IN
           Her
           Chappel
           at
           SOMERSET-HOUSE
           ,
           On
           Christmas
           Day
           .
           1686.
           
        
         
           By
           
             Thomas
             Godden
          
           D.
           D.
           Preacher
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           her
           Majesty
           .
        
         
           Published
           by
           Her
           Majesties
           Command
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             Henry
             Hills
          
           ,
           Printer
           to
           the
           King
           's
           Most
           Excellent
           Majesty
           ,
           for
           his
           Houshold
           and
           Chappel
           .
           1686.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           Preach'd
           before
           her
           MAJESTY
           THE
           Queen
           Dowager
           On
           Christmas
           day
           ,
           Anno
           1686.
           
        
         
           
             LUKE
             2.
             15.
             
          
           
             
               Pastores
               loquebantur
               ad
               invicem
               ,
               transeamus
               usque
               ad
               Bethlehem
               ,
               &
               videamus
               hoc
               verbum
               quod
               factum
               est
               ,
               quod
               Dominus
               ostendit
               nobis
               .
            
             
               The
               Shepherds
               said
               one
               to
               another
               ,
               Let
               us
               now
               go
               even
               to
               Bethlehem
               ,
               and
               see
               this
               word
               which
               is
               made
               (
               or
               this
               thing
               which
               is
               come
               to
               pass
               ,
               )
               which
               our
               Lord
               hath
               made
               known
               to
               us
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             THE
             fulness
             of
             time
             for
             the
             Redemption
             of
             Man
             being
             come
             ,
             a
             time
             ,
             when
             all
             things
             were
             in
             quiet
             silence
             ,
             and
             the
             Night
             was
             in
             the
             midst
             of
             her
             swift
             course
             ,
             the
             
               Omnipotent
               Word
            
             of
             the
             Eternal
             Father
             descended
             
             from
             his
             Royal
             Throne
             ,
             and
             took
             up
             his
             lodging
             in
             a
             Stable
             of
             Bethlehem
             .
             No
             sooner
             was
             he
             arrived
             there
             ,
             but
             he
             presently
             dispatched
             an
             Angel
             to
             carry
             the
             news
             of
             his
             Birth
             to
             certain
             Shepherds
             ,
             who
             were
             at
             that
             time
             keeping
             the
             watches
             of
             the
             night
             over
             their
             Flocks
             in
             the
             Fields
             adjoyning
             .
             The
             Messenger
             ,
             to
             shew
             that
             he
             was
             the
             Minister
             of
             the
             Sun
             of
             Justice
             ,
             clothed
             himself
             with
             a
             glittering
             Robe
             of
             Light
             ,
             and
             so
             great
             was
             the
             Brightness
             which
             enlightned
             the
             place
             ,
             that
             the
             Gospel
             calls
             it
             ,
             
               Claritas
               Dei
            
             ,
             the
             
               Brightness
               of
               God
            
             ;
             
             and
             those
             words
             of
             David
             may
             be
             said
             to
             have
             been
             then
             literally
             fulfilled
             ,
             
               Nox
               sicut
               dies
               illuminabitur
            
             ,
             that
             the
             Night
             should
             be
             as
             light
             as
             the
             Day
             .
          
           
             The
             Shepherds
             terrified
             as
             well
             with
             the
             presence
             of
             the
             Angel
             ,
             who
             stood
             beside
             them
             ,
             as
             with
             the
             unusualness
             of
             the
             Light
             ,
             which
             shone
             round
             about
             them
             ,
             were
             ready
             to
             fall
             to
             the
             ground
             for
             fear
             ,
             when
             the
             Heavenly
             Ambassador
             bid
             them
             be
             of
             good
             cheer
             ,
             for
             that
             he
             came
             not
             to
             bring
             them
             tidings
             of
             dread
             and
             terror
             ,
             but
             of
             joy
             ,
             and
             great
             joy
             to
             them
             ,
             and
             to
             all
             People
             ,
             that
             on
             this
             Bright
             day
             there
             was
             born
             in
             Bethlehem
             ,
             the
             Saviour
             of
             the
             World.
             And
             that
             their
             own
             experience
             might
             further
             satisfie
             them
             of
             the
             truth
             of
             what
             he
             had
             said
             ,
             he
             
             gave
             them
             a
             Sign
             ,
             by
             which
             ,
             if
             they
             would
             take
             the
             pains
             ,
             they
             might
             find
             the
             New-born
             Infant
             ,
             
               Hoc
               vobis
               signum
               ,
               This
            
             ,
             said
             he
             ,
             
               shall
               be
               to
               you
               a
               Sign
               ;
               you
               shall
               find
               the
               Infant
               wrapped
               in
               Swadling-clothes
               ,
               and
               laid
               in
               a
               Manger
               :
            
             O
             King
             of
             Glory
             !
             Is
             not
             this
             the
             day
             in
             which
             the
             Angels
             invite
             the
             Daughters
             of
             Sion
             to
             go
             forth
             ,
             and
             behold
             thee
             in
             the
             Diadem
             with
             which
             thy
             Virgin-mother
             Crown'd
             thee
             in
             the
             day
             of
             thy
             Espousals
             in
             her
             purest
             Womb
             ?
             And
             must
             a
             Manger
             be
             thy
             Cradle
             ?
             O
             Treasure
             of
             Heaven
             !
             who
             would
             have
             sought
             for
             thee
             in
             a
             little
             Hay
             or
             Straw
             ?
             Who
             would
             have
             thought
             to
             have
             found
             thee
             in
             a
             Manger
             of
             Beasts
             ?
             Surely
             the
             Shepherds
             ,
             who
             were
             terrified
             with
             the
             Light
             ,
             must
             have
             been
             much
             more
             surprized
             with
             the
             seeming
             disproportion
             of
             the
             Sign
             ,
             had
             not
             a
             multitude
             of
             the
             Heavenly
             Host
             presently
             joyned
             themselves
             with
             the
             Angel
             ,
             praising
             God
             ,
             and
             saying
             ,
             
               Gloria
               in
               altissimis
               Deo
               ,
               Glory
               be
               to
               God
               in
               the
               highest
               ,
               and
               on
               earth
               peace
               to
               men
               of
               good
               will.
               
            
          
           
             With
             this
             Canticle
             of
             Joy
             the
             Angels
             return'd
             into
             their
             former
             Heaven
             above
             ,
             
             and
             where
             may
             we
             think
             were
             the
             Shepherds
             Souls
             ▪
             but
             in
             the
             
               new
               Heaven
            
             below
             in
             the
             Stable
             of
             Bethlehem
             ;
             and
             that
             their
             Bodies
             might
             be
             there
             too
             ,
             to
             pay
             a
             double
             homage
             to
             this
             New-born
             
             King
             ,
             
               Loquebantur
               ad
               invicem
               ,
               They
               said
               one
               to
               another
               ,
               Let
               us
               now
               go
               even
               to
               Bethlehem
               ,
               and
               see
               this
               word
               which
               is
               made
               ,
               which
               our
               Lord
               hath
               made
               known
               unto
               us
               .
            
             And
             the
             resolution
             was
             no
             sooner
             taken
             ,
             but
             presently
             put
             in
             execution
             .
             But
             give
             me
             leave
             ,
             devout
             Shepherds
             ,
             to
             ask
             you
             ,
             whither
             away
             so
             fast
             ?
             Were
             not
             you
             keeping
             the
             watches
             of
             the
             Night
             over
             your
             Flocks
             ?
             And
             will
             you
             now
             leave
             them
             in
             the
             open
             Fields
             ?
             Are
             you
             not
             afraid
             ,
             that
             they
             may
             go
             astray
             in
             your
             absence
             ,
             or
             the
             Wolves
             break
             in
             and
             devour
             them
             ?
             No
             ,
             we
             are
             going
             to
             find
             out
             the
             Lamb
             ,
             which
             is
             come
             to
             take
             away
             the
             sins
             of
             the
             world
             :
             This
             Lamb
             will
             take
             care
             both
             of
             the
             Shepherds
             and
             the
             Flocks
             ;
             And
             should
             we
             sustain
             any
             loss
             for
             his
             sake
             ,
             it
             would
             still
             be
             our
             greater
             Gain
             .
             Piously
             resolved
             indeed
             ;
             But
             have
             you
             forgotten
             what
             hapned
             of
             old
             to
             another
             of
             your
             Profession
             ,
             when
             God
             appearing
             to
             him
             in
             the
             Bush
             ,
             he
             said
             as
             you
             do
             now
             ,
             
             
               I
               will
               go
               and
               see
               this
               great
               Sight
               ?
            
             Have
             you
             forgotten
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             how
             he
             was
             commanded
             not
             to
             draw
             near
             ,
             but
             to
             stand
             at
             a
             distance
             ,
             and
             put
             off
             his
             Shoes
             ;
             and
             how
             he
             turned
             away
             his
             Face
             ,
             that
             he
             might
             not
             see
             ?
             And
             are
             you
             not
             afraid
             to
             meet
             with
             the
             same
             prohibition
             he
             did
             ?
             Nothing
             less
             .
             The
             Scene
             is
             now
             changed
             .
             God
             in
             a
             
               Burning
               Bush
            
             is
             an
             Object
             
             of
             Terror
             indeed
             ;
             but
             God
             in
             Swadling-clothes
             and
             laid
             in
             a
             Manger
             ,
             is
             so
             great
             an
             Attractive
             of
             Love
             ,
             that
             we
             fear
             nothing
             but
             to
             lose
             time
             to
             go
             to
             see
             it
             .
             They
             went
             therefore
             
               with
               haste
            
             ,
             and
             being
             admitted
             by
             the
             Sacred
             Virgin
             ,
             (
             whose
             leave
             no
             doubt
             they
             would
             ask
             )
             to
             see
             and
             adore
             their
             New-born
             Saviour
             ,
             the
             Evangelist
             says
             ,
             That
             
               they
               returned
               glorifying
               and
               praising
               God
               for
               all
               that
               they
               had
               heard
               and
               seen
               ,
               as
               it
               had
               been
               said
               unto
               them
               .
            
          
           
             This
             is
             the
             Summ
             of
             what
             is
             contain'd
             in
             the
             second
             Gospel
             of
             this
             Great
             Day
             .
             What
             I
             have
             made
             choice
             of
             for
             the
             Subject
             of
             your
             present
             Entertainment
             ,
             is
             the
             
               Pious
               Resolution
            
             of
             the
             Shepherds
             to
             go
             to
             Bethlehem
             .
             That
             we
             may
             enter
             with
             like
             Devotion
             into
             the
             consideration
             of
             this
             Great
             Mystery
             ,
             and
             return
             ,
             as
             they
             did
             ,
             glorifying
             and
             praising
             God
             for
             all
             we
             shall
             hear
             and
             see
             ,
             let
             us
             instead
             of
             asking
             leave
             of
             the
             Virgin-Mother
             to
             visit
             the
             Manger
             ,
             humbly
             beg
             her
             Intercession
             at
             the
             Throne
             of
             Grace
             ,
             for
             a
             Blessing
             upon
             my
             Endeavours
             ,
             saluting
             her
             with
             the
             words
             of
             the
             Angel
             ,
          
           
             Ave
             Maria.
             
          
        
         
           
           
             Transeamus
             usque
             ad
             Bethlehem
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             
               The
               shepherds
               said
               one
               to
               another
               ,
               Let
               us
               now
               go
               even
               to
               Bethlehem
               ,
               and
               see
               this
               word
               which
               is
               made
               ,
               which
               our
               Lord
               hath
               shown
               unto
               us
               .
            
          
           
             'T
             is
             the
             Opinion
             of
             St.
             Cyprian
             and
             others
             of
             the
             Fathers
             ,
             that
             these
             Shepherds
             at
             the
             same
             time
             that
             the
             Angel
             made
             known
             unto
             them
             the
             Nativity
             of
             the
             Saviour
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             the
             so
             long
             expected
             Messias
             ,
             had
             their
             understandings
             illuminated
             by
             the
             
               Holy
               Ghost
            
             ,
             to
             know
             and
             believe
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             He
             of
             whom
             the
             Prophet
             Esay
             had
             foretold
             ,
             that
             his
             name
             should
             be
             called
             Emmanuel
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             
               God
               with
               us
            
             ,
             and
             who
             should
             verifie
             those
             glorious
             Attributes
             given
             him
             by
             the
             same
             Prophet
             of
             Admirabilis
             ,
             
             
               Deus
               ,
               Fortis
               ,
               Princeps
               Pacis
               ,
            
             that
             is
             ,
             of
             
               Wonderful
               ,
               God
               ,
               Mighty
               ,
               and
               Prince
               of
               Peace
               .
               Magisterio
               Spiritus
               Sancti
               intus
               edocti
               ,
               quem
               Parvulum
               vident
               confitentur
               Immensum
               .
            
             And
             hence
             it
             is
             ,
             that
             whereas
             the
             Words
             of
             my
             Text
             in
             the
             Original
             are
             capable
             of
             a
             
               double
               Translation
            
             ,
             
             that
             is
             of
             being
             rendred
             in
             English
             ,
             Let
             us
             see
             
               this
               Thing
               which
               is
               come
               to
               pass
               ,
            
             or
             let
             us
             see
             
               this
               Word
               which
               is
               made
            
             ,
             I
             have
             made
             choice
             of
             
             the
             latter
             with
             
               Venerable
               Bede
            
             ,
             
             as
             more
             suitable
             to
             the
             Intention
             of
             the
             Shepherds
             ,
             and
             more
             expressive
             of
             the
             Mystery
             we
             celebrate
             this
             day
             of
             the
             Word
             being
             
               made
               Flesh
            
             for
             our
             sakes
             .
          
           
             Taking
             the
             Words
             therefore
             in
             this
             sence
             ,
             two
             things
             offer
             themselves
             at
             the
             first
             View
             to
             our
             Consideration
             .
             The
             first
             is
             ,
             the
             Resolution
             of
             the
             Shepherds
             to
             go
             to
             
               Bethlehem
               ,
               Transeamus
               usque
               ad
               Bethlehem
               .
               Let
               us
               now
               go
               even
               to
               Bethlehem
               .
            
             The
             second
             ,
             the
             End
             they
             proposed
             to
             themselves
             in
             going
             thither
             ,
             which
             was
             
               to
               see
               the
               Word
               which
               was
               made
               .
            
             And
             accordingly
             I
             shall
             divide
             my
             Discourse
             into
             these
             two
             Principal
             Parts
             .
             In
             the
             first
             I
             shall
             let
             you
             see
             the
             Devotion
             of
             the
             Shepherds
             in
             so
             readily
             resolving
             to
             go
             seek
             their
             New-born
             Saviour
             .
             In
             the
             second
             ,
             the
             End
             we
             are
             to
             propose
             to
             our selves
             in
             seeing
             
               this
               word
            
             which
             was
             made
             Flesh
             ,
             as
             the
             Creed
             declares
             ,
             for
             
               us
               men
               ,
               and
            
             for
             our
             Salvation
             .
             
               For
               us
               men
            
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             as
             the
             Object
             of
             our
             worship
             ;
             and
             then
             again
             ,
             
               for
               our
               Salvation
            
             ,
             as
             a
             Pattern
             drawn
             by
             God
             himself
             for
             our
             Imitation
             .
          
           
             I
             begin
             with
             the
             first
             ,
             the
             Devotion
             of
             the
             Shepherds
             in
             their
             Resolution
             to
             go
             to
             Bethlehem
             .
          
           
             
             
               The
               First
               Part.
               
            
             
               Devotion
               ,
               as
               it
               denotes
               a
               particular
               Virtue
               ,
               is
               defined
               by
               St.
               Thomas
               to
               be
               a
               Preparation
               or
               disposition
               of
               the
               Will
               ,
               
               by
               which
               a
               man
               promptly
               and
               readily
               ,
               
                 tradit
                 se
              
               ,
               gives
               himself
               up
               ,
               or
               (
               as
               we
               use
               to
               say
               )
               devotes
               himself
               
                 to
                 execute
                 the
                 things
                 which
                 belong
                 to
                 the
                 service
                 of
                 God.
              
               Some
               of
               these
               things
               are
               expresly
               commanded
               by
               God
               himself
               ,
               others
               
                 intimated
                 only
              
               or
               commended
               ,
               as
               pleasing
               to
               him
               .
               And
               whereas
               there
               is
               this
               difference
               between
               them
               ,
               that
               every
               Command
               of
               God
               is
               a
               sign
               of
               his
               Will
               ,
               but
               every
               Signification
               of
               his
               good
               pleasure
               is
               not
               a
               Command
               ,
               't
               is
               manifest
               ,
               that
               as
               the
               Perfection
               of
               Devotion
               on
               consists
               in
               a
               readiness
               to
               comply
               with
               both
               ,
               so
               it
               shews
               it self
               chiefly
               in
               the
               Execution
               of
               the
               latter
               .
               And
               such
               was
               that
               of
               the
               Shepherds
               of
               my
               Text.
               They
               went
               to
               find
               out
               the
               New-born
               Christ
               ,
               without
               being
               commanded
               .
               The
               Angel
               ,
               as
               you
               have
               heard
               ,
               gave
               them
               a
               Sign
               ,
               by
               which
               ,
               if
               they
               would
               take
               the
               pains
               ,
               they
               might
               find
               him
               ,
               which
               was
               that
               they
               should
               find
               him
               
                 wrapped
                 in
                 swadling-clothes
                 ,
                 and
                 laid
                 in
                 a
                 manger
                 .
              
               But
               it
               is
               no
               where
               expressed
               in
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               that
               he
               bid
               them
               go
               .
               We
               do
               not
               read
               that
               the
               Angel
               said
               unto
               them
               ,
               
                 Ite
                 
                 Pastores
              
               ,
               Go
               to
               Bethlehem
               ;
               but
               only
               ,
               
                 Hoc
                 vobis
                 signum
                 :
                 This
                 shall
                 be
                 to
                 you
                 a
                 sign
                 ,
              
               and
               yet
               they
               presently
               resolv'd
               to
               go
               .
               And
               we
               need
               not
               go
               far
               to
               seek
               the
               Reason
               .
               The
               Angel
               in
               the
               Proclamation
               he
               made
               of
               Peace
               upon
               Earth
               ,
               when
               he
               return'd
               to
               Heaven
               ,
               sufficiently
               signified
               them
               to
               be
               men
               of
               
                 good
                 will
              
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               
               as
               holy
               David
               describes
               such
               Persons
               ,
               Men
               ,
               whose
               
                 Wills
                 are
                 in
                 the
                 Law
                 of
                 God
                 :
                 In
                 lege
                 Domini
                 voluntas
                 ejus
                 :
              
               
               and
               
                 the
                 Law
                 of
                 God
                 in
                 their
                 wills
                 .
                 Lex
                 Dei
                 ejus
                 in
                 corde
                 ipsius
                 .
              
               And
               where
               the
               Will
               and
               the
               Law
               are
               thus
               reciprocally
               in
               each
               other
               ,
               in
               order
               to
               the
               Service
               of
               God
               ,
               a
               Command
               serves
               but
               for
               a
               Sign
               ,
               and
               a
               Sign
               becomes
               a
               Command
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               To
               Men
               of
               Good
               Will
               ,
               a
               Precept
               serves
               them
               but
               for
               a
               Sign
               ,
               to
               point
               out
               what
               they
               are
               to
               do
               .
               And
               this
               is
               what
               the
               great
               Apostle
               St.
               Paul
               gives
               us
               to
               understand
               ,
               
               when
               he
               says
               ,
               that
               
                 Lex
                 Justo
                 non
                 est
                 posita
                 .
                 The
                 Law
                 is
                 not
                 made
                 for
                 the
                 Just
                 man
                 ,
              
               but
               for
               such
               as
               are
               
                 unjust
                 and
                 refractory
              
               .
               And
               why
               not
               for
               the
               
                 Just
                 Man
              
               also
               ,
               if
               he
               cannot
               be
               just
               without
               the
               Observance
               of
               it
               ?
               But
               because
               ,
               as
               you
               heard
               before
               ,
               the
               Will
               of
               a
               Just
               Man
               is
               in
               the
               Law
               ,
               
               and
               not
               under
               the
               Law.
               'T
               is
               on
               thing
               says
               St.
               Austin
               to
               be
               in
               the
               Law
               ,
               and
               another
               to
               be
               under
               the
               Law.
               He
               whose
               Will
               is
               in
               the
               
               Law
               ,
               
                 Secundum
                 legem
                 agit
              
               ,
               acts
               indeed
               conformable
               to
               the
               Law.
               But
               He
               whose
               will
               is
               under
               the
               Law
               ,
               
                 Secùndum
                 legem
                 agitur
              
               ,
               is
               driven
               or
               forced
               by
               the
               Law.
               The
               Law
               like
               a
               severe
               Adversary
               stands
               over
               him
               with
               threats
               and
               menaces
               to
               compel
               him
               to
               the
               performance
               of
               what
               it
               commands
               ;
               and
               therefore
               our
               Saviour
               ,
               as
               the
               same
               St.
               Austin
               expounds
               his
               words
               ,
               
               Matth.
               5.
               24.
               bids
               us
               to
               agree
               with
               
                 this
                 Adversary
              
               ,
               
               that
               is
               ,
               to
               conform
               our
               wills
               to
               his
               ,
               quickly
               whilst
               we
               are
               in
               the
               way
               of
               this
               life
               ,
               lest
               at
               any
               time
               ,
               (
               and
               we
               know
               not
               how
               soon
               )
               he
               deliver
               us
               to
               the
               Judge
               ,
               and
               the
               Judge
               to
               the
               Officer
               ,
               and
               we
               be
               cast
               into
               a
               Prison
               ,
               from
               whence
               there
               shall
               be
               no
               delivery
               ,
               till
               we
               have
               paid
               the
               uttermost
               farthing
               ,
               
                 Nihil
                 sic
                 adversatur
                 peccantibus
                 ac
                 praeceptum
                 Dei
                 ,
              
               Nothing
               so
               opposite
               to
               sinners
               as
               the
               Law
               of
               God
               ;
               because
               their
               Will
               is
               in
               the
               Sin
               they
               would
               commit
               ,
               and
               not
               in
               the
               Law.
               Nothing
               so
               agreeable
               to
               the
               Just
               as
               the
               Law
               ,
               of
               God
               ,
               because
               their
               Will
               is
               in
               his
               Law
               that
               they
               may
               not
               sin
               .
               To
               those
               the
               Law
               is
               a
               weight
               which
               lies
               heavy
               upon
               them
               ,
               and
               presses
               them
               down
               ;
               to
               these
               ,
               it
               is
               a
               weight
               also
               ,
               
               but
               such
               as
               that
               of
               Wings
               ,
               which
               bears
               them
               up
               ,
               and
               carries
               them
               ,
               
                 Christi
                 sarcina
                 pennas
                 habet
              
               ,
               to
               those
               it
               is
               a
               Curbing
               Bitt
               ,
               which
               restrains
               their
               licentious
               and
               irregular
               appetites
               ;
               
               to
               these
               a
               Gentle
               Bridle
               ,
               
               which
               serves
               only
               to
               turn
               them
               into
               the
               way
               they
               are
               to
               go
               :
               To
               those
               ,
               it
               is
               a
               
                 Rod
                 of
                 Iron
              
               ,
               which
               compels
               them
               for
               fear
               not
               to
               do
               ,
               what
               otherwise
               they
               would
               ,
               
                 Reges
                 eos
                 in
                 virga
                 ferrea
                 ,
                 thou
                 shalt
                 rule
                 them
                 ,
              
               (
               that
               is
               the
               Refractory
               )
               
                 in
                 a
                 Rod
                 of
                 Iron
              
               .
               
               To
               these
               a
               
                 Rod
                 of
                 Direction
              
               ,
               to
               point
               out
               to
               them
               ,
               what
               their
               Wills
               are
               ready
               to
               perform
               .
               
                 Virga
                 directionis
                 ,
                 Virga
                 Regni
                 tui
                 ;
                 The
                 Rod
                 of
                 thy
                 Kingdom
              
               (
               and
               such
               are
               the
               Just
               )
               
                 is
                 a
                 Rod
                 of
                 Direction
              
               .
               In
               a
               word
               ,
               
               such
               is
               the
               force
               of
               Love
               ,
               that
               if
               it
               possess
               the
               Heart
               ,
               that
               which
               is
               a
               Precept
               to
               the
               unjust
               and
               refractory
               ,
               serves
               but
               for
               a
               Sign
               to
               men
               of
               
                 Good
                 Will.
              
               But
               this
               is
               not
               all
               .
               'T
               is
               the
               Property
               of
               Love
               to
               dilate
               the
               Heart
               it
               possesses
               ,
               and
               render
               it
               so
               pliant
               to
               the
               motions
               of
               Grace
               ,
               and
               ready
               to
               execute
               what
               is
               pleasing
               to
               God
               ,
               that
               ,
            
             
               2.
               
               To
               men
               of
               Good
               Will
               
                 a
                 Sign
              
               becomes
               a
               Command
               .
               Their
               hearts
               like
               that
               of
               David
               are
               doubly
               ready
               ,
               
                 Paratum
                 cor
                 meum
                 ,
                 Deus
                 ,
                 Paratum
                 cor
                 meum
                 ,
              
               ready
               to
               do
               what
               God
               commands
               :
               And
               again
               ,
               Ready
               to
               do
               what
               he
               signifies
               only
               to
               be
               his
               Good
               will
               and
               Pleasure
               .
               Their
               Will
               (
               as
               I
               said
               before
               )
               is
               in
               the
               Law
               of
               God
               ,
               and
               the
               Law
               of
               God
               in
               their
               Will.
               And
               what
               is
               the
               Product
               of
               this
               Happy
               Union
               ,
               but
               that
               the
               Will
               ,
               as
               consider'd
               in
               the
               Law
               changes
               a
               Command
               
               into
               a
               Sign
               ,
               because
               it
               performs
               it
               willingly
               ;
               and
               the
               Law
               ,
               as
               consider'd
               in
               the
               Will
               ,
               improves
               that
               which
               is
               but
               a
               Sign
               into
               a
               Command
               ;
               because
               the
               Will
               performs
               it
               exactly
               .
               This
               is
               the
               Happy
               State
               of
               Men
               of
               
                 Good
                 Will
              
               ,
               Let
               them
               but
               have
               a
               Sign
               ,
               an
               Intimation
               of
               what
               they
               are
               to
               do
               ;
               Their
               Hearts
               are
               ready
               ,
               and
               they
               presently
               set
               themselves
               to
               put
               it
               in
               execution
               .
            
             
               What
               moved
               the
               Wisemen
               of
               the
               East
               to
               undertake
               so
               long
               and
               dangerous
               a
               journey
               ,
               to
               find
               out
               ,
               and
               adore
               the
               New-born
               
                 King
                 of
                 the
                 Jews
              
               ?
               All
               the
               Account
               they
               give
               of
               it
               ,
               is
               ,
               
                 vidimus
                 stellam
                 ejus
              
               ,
               that
               they
               had
               seen
               
                 his
                 Star
              
               ,
               that
               is
               his
               Sign
               ,
               in
               the
               East
               .
               They
               had
               heard
               ,
               if
               not
               read
               ,
               what
               Balaam
               had
               prophesied
               of
               old
               ,
               that
               
                 a
                 star
                 should
                 arise
                 out
                 of
                 Jacob.
              
               
               They
               expected
               the
               rising
               of
               this
               Star
               ;
               and
               no
               sooner
               did
               it
               appear
               ,
               but
               ,
               as
               the
               Church
               represents
               their
               devotion
               in
               one
               of
               her
               Antiphons
               ,
               they
               said
               one
               to
               another
               ,
               
                 Hoc
                 signum
                 Magni
                 Regis
                 est
              
               ,
               This
               is
               the
               Sign
               of
               the
               Great
               King
               ,
               who
               is
               to
               be
               born
               ,
               
                 Eamus
                 &
                 inquiramus
                 eum
              
               ,
               let
               us
               go
               and
               enquire
               him
               out
               ,
               
                 &
                 offeramus
                 ei
                 munera
                 ,
                 Aurum
                 ,
                 Thus
                 ,
                 &
                 Myrrham
                 ,
              
               and
               offer
               to
               him
               Gifts
               ,
               Gold
               ,
               Frankincense
               and
               Myrrh
               .
               And
               what
               can
               be
               more
               Parallel
               to
               the
               devotion
               of
               the
               Shepherds
               in
               my
               Text
               ?
               No
               sooner
               had
               the
               Angel
               given
               
               them
               a
               Sign
               ,
               by
               which
               they
               might
               find
               out
               the
               same
               New-born
               Saviour
               of
               the
               World
               ,
               but
               presently
               they
               said
               one
               to
               another
               ,
               
                 Transeamus
                 usque
                 ad
                 Bethlehem
                 ,
                 Let
                 us
                 now
                 go
                 even
                 to
                 Bethlehem
                 .
              
               Those
               wisest
               of
               Kings
               saw
               but
               the
               Sign
               ,
               and
               went
               without
               delay
               ,
               
                 vidimus
                 &
                 venimus
              
               .
               These
               faithfullest
               of
               Shepherds
               heard
               but
               
                 hoc
                 ,
                 vobis
                 signum
              
               ,
               this
               shall
               be
               a
               Sign
               to
               you
               ,
               and
               went
               with
               hast
               ,
               
                 venerunt
                 festinantes
              
               .
               O
               the
               Incomparable
               Devotion
               both
               of
               Kings
               and
               Shepherds
               !
               How
               happy
               should
               we
               be
               ,
               would
               we
               follow
               their
               Example
               ,
               and
               not
               neglect
               ,
               or
               (
               which
               is
               yet
               worse
               )
               reject
               so
               often
               as
               we
               do
               the
               Holy
               Inspirations
               which
               God
               is
               pleased
               from
               time
               to
               time
               to
               give
               us
               for
               the
               amendment
               of
               our
               lives
               ,
               and
               setling
               our selves
               after
               a
               more
               serious
               manner
               to
               his
               service
               ,
               to
               comply
               with
               the
               modes
               of
               the
               world
               ,
               and
               our
               own
               Ease
               and
               Humour
               ?
               O
               how
               different
               is
               this
               Comportment
               from
               that
               of
               these
               Kings
               and
               Shepherds
               ?
               A
               Sign
               is
               to
               them
               ,
               a
               Precept
               ,
               and
               an
               Intimation
               in
               lieu
               of
               a
               Command
               .
               And
               by
               whom
               may
               we
               think
               were
               they
               inspired
               with
               this
               devotion
               ,
               but
               by
               the
               
                 Divine
                 Infant
              
               himself
               ,
               whom
               they
               went
               to
               seek
               ,
               of
               whom
               
                 Albertus
                 Magnus
              
               saith
               ,
               
                 Voluntas
                 &
                 Complacentia
                 Patris
                 Summum
                 Praeceptum
                 fuit
                 ,
                 that
                 the
                 Good
                 Will
                 and
                 Pleasure
                 of
                 his
                 Father
                 ,
                 in
                 order
                 to
                 man's
                 Redemption
                 ,
                 was
                 to
                 him
                 as
                 the
                 greatest
                 and
                 strictest
                 of
                 Commands
                 .
              
            
             
             
               God
               ,
               when
               he
               vouchsafes
               to
               speak
               to
               us
               of
               himself
               ,
               is
               pleased
               to
               speak
               to
               us
               after
               our
               own
               manner
               ,
               and
               in
               our
               own
               language
               ;
               And
               we
               can
               speak
               no
               otherwise
               of
               him
               .
               Whatever
               we
               affirm
               ,
               says
               the
               Great
               St.
               Dennis
               ,
               
               of
               God
               ,
               is
               by
               reason
               of
               the
               narrowness
               both
               of
               our
               thoughts
               and
               words
               ,
               incompetent
               and
               unsuitable
               to
               what
               he
               is
               in
               Himself
               ,
               as
               always
               carrying
               some
               tincture
               of
               Imperfection
               in
               it
               .
               Whilst
               therefore
               I
               endeavour
               ,
               as
               I
               may
               ,
               to
               express
               what
               my
               own
               low
               Thoughts
               have
               been
               able
               to
               conceive
               of
               this
               Gracious
               Concurrence
               of
               the
               Son
               ,
               with
               the
               Good
               Pleasure
               of
               his
               Father
               ,
               in
               relation
               to
               the
               great
               design
               of
               his
               Incarnation
               ,
               and
               perhaps
               in
               words
               not
               reaching
               my
               own
               Conceptions
               ,
               your
               Pious
               and
               Charitable
               attention
               ,
               will
               ,
               I
               hope
               ,
               help
               to
               supply
               the
               defect
               of
               the
               one
               ,
               and
               make
               allowance
               for
               the
               other
               .
            
             
               The
               Eternal
               Father
               (
               whose
               Goodness
               is
               equal
               to
               his
               Knowledge
               ,
               )
               fore-seeing
               from
               all
               Eternity
               the
               Fall
               of
               Man
               ,
               out
               of
               the
               Bowels
               of
               his
               Mercy
               ,
               design'd
               forthwith
               to
               
                 repair
                 it
              
               ,
               and
               that
               by
               the
               Incarnation
               of
               his
               Son.
               This
               amongst
               many
               other
               means
               ,
               which
               were
               present
               to
               his
               Infinite
               Wisdom
               ,
               he
               was
               pleased
               to
               make
               choice
               of
               ,
               as
               most
               conducing
               to
               his
               own
               Honour
               ,
               and
               the
               redress
               and
               advantage
               of
               man.
               But
               how
               was
               this
               
                 Great
                 Design
              
               to
               be
               brought
               
               about
               ?
               By
               laying
               a
               Command
               on
               his
               Son
               to
               take
               our
               Nature
               upon
               him
               ?
               
               No
               ,
               For
               ,
               (
               as
               St.
               Thomas
               observes
               ,
               )
               a
               Command
               supposes
               Inferiority
               in
               the
               Person
               to
               be
               commanded
               ;
               and
               Catholic
               Faith
               tells
               us
               ,
               that
               in
               the
               most
               Holy
               Trinity
               there
               is
               no
               Inferiority
               or
               Subjection
               :
               No
               one
               of
               the
               Persons
               Higher
               or
               
                 Lower
                 ,
                 Greater
              
               or
               Less
               than
               another
               ,
               but
               as
               they
               are
               All
               
                 Co
                 eternal
              
               in
               Duration
               ,
               so
               are
               They
               Co-equal
               in
               Dignity
               and
               Authority
               .
               There
               could
               be
               no
               place
               for
               a
               Command
               ,
               where
               there
               was
               no
               Inequality
               ;
               Nor
               even
               for
               Counsel
               ,
               as
               supposing
               an
               Advantage
               of
               Wisdom
               in
               the
               Giver
               ,
               in
               respect
               of
               the
               Person
               to
               whom
               it
               is
               given
               .
               What
               then
               remain'd
               ,
               but
               (
               if
               I
               may
               be
               permitted
               to
               speak
               according
               to
               our
               imperfect
               and
               incompetent
               manner
               of
               conceiving
               in
               this
               Life
               )
               an
               Intimation
               of
               the
               Fathers
               Good
               Pleasure
               to
               his
               Son
               ;
               presenting
               him
               in
               the
               Comprehensive
               Knowledge
               ,
               which
               he
               communicated
               to
               him
               of
               all
               things
               both
               Future
               and
               Possible
               ,
               together
               with
               his
               Essence
               ,
               a
               Prospect
               (
               as
               I
               may
               call
               it
               )
               of
               a
               Humane
               Body
               ,
               so
               to
               be
               framed
               ,
               as
               might
               serve
               for
               a
               decent
               Tabernacle
               for
               the
               Divinity
               to
               dwell
               in
               ,
               and
               a
               fit
               and
               proper
               Instrument
               for
               Him
               ,
               who
               was
               the
               Word
               ,
               to
               accomplish
               the
               Redemption
               of
               man
               ,
               by
               uniting
               himself
               to
               it
               .
               How
               readily
               he
               concurred
               with
               his
               Consent
               to
               
               this
               Gracious
               Intention
               of
               his
               Father
               ,
               thus
               communicated
               to
               him
               ,
               is
               seen
               by
               the
               Blessed
               in
               Heaven
               ,
               in
               the
               Unity
               of
               one
               and
               the
               same
               Will
               in
               Both
               ;
               but
               can
               be
               discern'd
               only
               by
               us
               in
               this
               state
               of
               Obscurity
               in
               it's
               Effect
               ,
               as
               in
               a
               Glass
               which
               reflects
               rhe
               Beams
               that
               are
               darted
               upon
               it
               .
               And
               such
               is
               the
               account
               which
               the
               Royal
               Prophet
               gives
               of
               
                 its
                 Execution
              
               in
               his
               39th
               Psalm
               ,
               where
               he
               represents
               the
               Son
               at
               his
               coming
               into
               the
               World
               ,
               addressing
               himself
               to
               his
               Father
               in
               these
               words
               ,
               
                 Sacrificium
                 &
                 Oblationem
                 noluisti
              
               ,
               I
               see
               ,
               O
               my
               Eternal
               Father
               ,
               that
               
                 Sacrifices
                 and
                 Oblations
              
               are
               rejected
               by
               thee
               ,
               as
               insufficient
               to
               make
               satisfaction
               for
               the
               sins
               of
               men
               ,
               and
               to
               appease
               thy
               wrath
               so
               justly
               enkindled
               against
               them
               .
               But
               withall
               I
               see
               ,
               
                 Corpus
                 aptasti
                 mihi
              
               ,
               that
               thou
               hast
               framed
               a
               
                 Body
                 fit
                 for
                 me
              
               ,
               and
               me
               alone
               ,
               as
               the
               means
               thou
               hast
               made
               choice
               of
               for
               this
               great
               work
               .
               And
               what
               follows
               then
               ,
               but
               
                 Ecce
                 venio
                 ,
                 Behold
                 I
                 come
                 ?
              
            
             
               Nor
               was
               a
               like
               concurrence
               of
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Ghost
              
               wanting
               to
               the
               compleating
               this
               Great
               Design
               ,
               as
               may
               be
               gather'd
               from
               those
               words
               of
               the
               Angel
               to
               the
               
                 Blessed
                 Virgin
              
               on
               the
               day
               that
               it
               was
               to
               be
               put
               in
               execution
               ,
               when
               he
               told
               her
               ,
               that
               
                 the
                 Holy
                 Ghost
                 should
                 come
                 upon
                 her
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Power
                 of
                 the
                 Most
                 High
                 should
                 over-shadow
                 her
                 ,
                 and
                 therefore
                 the
                 Holy
                 Thing
                 ,
                 which
                 should
                 be
                 born
                 of
                 her
                 ,
                 
                 should
                 be
                 called
                 the
                 Son
                 of
                 God.
              
               Thus
               as
               the
               Great
               St.
               Leo
               excellently
               observes
               ,
               
               
                 Divisit
                 sibi
                 opus
                 nostrae
                 reparationis
                 misericordia
                 Trinitatis
                 ,
              
               the
               
                 Three
                 Persons
                 of
                 the
                 most
                 Sacred
                 Trinity
                 ,
              
               in
               that
               co-eternal
               and
               mutual
               design
               they
               had
               of
               repairing
               lost
               man
               ,
               divided
               (
               as
               I
               may
               say
               )
               
                 the
                 work
                 of
                 his
                 Redemption
                 amongst
                 them
                 ,
              
               not
               by
               way
               of
               Command
               ,
               but
               out
               of
               that
               pure
               Mercy
               and
               Goodness
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               same
               in
               them
               All.
               Pater
               (
               as
               the
               same
               St.
               Leo
               goes
               on
               )
               
                 ut
                 propitiaretur
                 ;
                 Filius
                 ,
                 ut
                 propitiaret
                 ;
                 Spiritus
                 Sanctus
                 ,
                 ut
                 igniret
                 .
              
               The
               Father
               ,
               by
               communicating
               together
               with
               his
               Essence
               his
               Propension
               to
               accept
               of
               a
               Propitiation
               for
               the
               sins
               of
               mankind
               :
               The
               Son
               ,
               by
               mutually
               concurring
               to
               
                 make
                 the
                 propitiation
              
               ;
               and
               the
               
                 Holy
                 Ghost
              
               ,
               by
               as
               readily
               undertaking
               to
               execute
               what
               was
               the
               Good
               Will
               and
               Pleasure
               of
               Both.
               From
               all
               which
               it
               appears
               ,
               that
               tho
               the
               Son
               (
               the
               decree
               of
               the
               Incarnation
               supposed
               )
               receiv'd
               a
               Command
               from
               his
               Father
               to
               lay
               down
               his
               Life
               for
               the
               Redemption
               of
               Man
               ,
               (
               as
               considered
               subsisting
               in
               our
               
                 Humane
                 Nature
              
               ,
               and
               in
               that
               consideration
               Inferiour
               to
               him
               )
               yet
               the
               Sourse
               and
               Origin
               of
               his
               undertaking
               to
               make
               a
               Propitiation
               for
               our
               sins
               ,
               was
               not
               any
               Precept
               (
               of
               which
               ,
               as
               consider'd
               subsisting
               only
               in
               the
               Divinity
               he
               was
               not
               capable
               ,
               being
               equal
               to
               his
               Father
               ,
               )
               but
               a
               communication
               only
               ,
               he
               
               receiv'd
               in
               his
               divine
               Procession
               from
               him
               ,
               of
               his
               
                 good
                 will
              
               and
               pleasure
               ,
               that
               he
               should
               unite
               himself
               personally
               to
               our
               humane
               nature
               to
               redeem
               us
               .
               And
               as
               he
               ,
               most
               willingly
               and
               readily
               concurr'd
               with
               this
               gracious
               design
               ,
               (
               but
               in
               a
               manner
               infinitely
               transcending
               what
               the
               understandings
               of
               the
               Highest
               Angels
               are
               able
               to
               comprehend
               ;
               )
               So
               as
               soon
               as
               he
               was
               born
               into
               the
               world
               he
               inspir'd
               the
               Shepherds
               to
               do
               the
               like
               :
               He
               only
               gave
               them
               a
               Sign
               or
               Intimation
               by
               which
               they
               might
               find
               him
               ,
               and
               presently
               without
               delay
               they
               resolv'd
               to
               go
               seek
               him
               out
               .
               
                 Loquebantur
                 Pastores
                 ad
                 invicem
                 ,
                 The
                 Shepherds
                 ▪
                 said
                 one
                 to
                 another
                 ,
                 Let
                 us
                 now
                 go
                 even
                 to
                 Bethlehem
                 .
              
            
             
               Thus
               ,
               
                 Dear
                 Christian
                 Auditors
              
               ,
               was
               this
               
                 Divine
                 Lover
              
               of
               our
               souls
               pleased
               both
               to
               prove
               and
               make
               known
               to
               us
               the
               devotion
               of
               the
               Shepherds
               ,
               when
               he
               came
               into
               the
               world
               :
               And
               now
               that
               he
               has
               finished
               his
               dispensation
               upon
               Earth
               ,
               and
               is
               return'd
               to
               Heaven
               ;
               has
               he
               left
               us
               no
               Sign
               of
               his
               Good
               Will
               and
               Pleasure
               ,
               to
               provoke
               our
               Love
               ,
               to
               sollicite
               our
               affections
               and
               show
               our
               devotion
               to
               him
               ?
               Yes
               :
               
                 Corpus
                 aptavit
                 nobis
              
               ,
               he
               has
               left
               us
               also
               a
               Body
               ,
               the
               same
               Body
               which
               his
               Father
               framed
               for
               him
               ,
               and
               he
               gave
               to
               the
               Shepherds
               ;
               but
               in
               a
               different
               manner
               to
               them
               and
               to
               us
               :
               to
               them
               as
               wrapped
               in
               
                 Swadling
                 
                 clothes
              
               ,
               and
               laid
               in
               a
               
                 Manger
                 :
                 Hoc
                 vobis
                 signum
              
               .
               To
               us
               ,
               cloth'd
               with
               the
               forms
               of
               Bread
               and
               Wine
               ,
               and
               laid
               upon
               the
               
                 Altar
                 ,
                 Hoc
                 nobis
                 Signum
              
               .
               And
               what
               greater
               Sign
               could
               he
               give
               us
               of
               his
               Love
               ,
               than
               to
               give
               us
               that
               very
               Flesh
               to
               be
               our
               Food
               ,
               which
               he
               had
               given
               for
               the
               Life
               of
               the
               World
               ?
               Admirable
               is
               the
               Reflection
               which
               St.
               
               Chrisostom
               makes
               upon
               this
               passage
               .
               Mothers
               ,
               says
               he
               ,
               
                 oftentimes
                 put
                 forth
                 their
                 Children
                 to
                 be
                 nurs'd
                 and
                 fed
                 by
                 others
                 ,
              
               
               
                 But
                 not
                 so
                 I
              
               ,
               (
               and
               he
               speaks
               in
               the
               Person
               of
               
                 Christ
                 ,
                 )
                 I
                 feed
                 you
                 with
                 my
                 own
                 Flesh
                 ;
                 I
                 set
                 my self
                 before
                 you
                 for
                 food
                 ,
                 so
                 to
                 breed
                 Generous
                 Spirits
                 in
                 you
                 ,
                 and
                 fill
                 you
                 with
                 hopes
                 of
                 future
                 Glory
                 ;
                 since
                 you
                 cannot
                 think
                 ,
                 but
                 that
                 I
                 ,
                 who
                 have
                 given
                 my self
                 to
                 you
                 here
                 ,
                 will
                 do
                 it
                 in
                 a
                 much
                 more
                 excellent
                 manner
                 hereafter
                 .
              
               
               
                 That
                 I
                 took
                 Flesh
                 and
                 Blood
                 upon
                 me
                 ,
                 was
                 out
                 of
                 the
                 desire
                 I
                 had
                 to
                 become
                 your
                 Brother
              
               ;
               
               
                 and
                 now
                 behold
                 I
                 give
                 the
                 same
                 Flesh
                 and
                 Blood
                 to
                 be
                 taken
                 by
                 you
                 ,
                 by
                 which
                 I
                 became
                 so
                 nearly
                 related
                 to
                 you
                 .
              
               These
               are
               the
               words
               of
               that
               Great
               Father
               and
               Light
               of
               the
               Church
               St.
               Chrysostom
               ,
               by
               which
               he
               declares
               the
               Faith
               of
               the
               Church
               of
               his
               time
               (
               which
               was
               between
               the
               Third
               and
               Fourth
               of
               the
               four
               first
               General
               Councils
               )
               to
               be
               the
               same
               which
               the
               Catholic
               Church
               professes
               at
               this
               day
               .
            
             
               And
               now
               ,
               dear
               Christans
               ,
               that
               this
               Divine
               Lover
               of
               our
               Souls
               has
               left
               us
               so
               great
               a
               Sign
               
               and
               Pledge
               of
               his
               
                 good
                 Will
              
               and
               Love
               ,
               shall
               we
               not
               make
               hast
               with
               the
               devout
               Shepherds
               to
               go
               to
               
                 Bethlehem
                 ?
                 Bethlehem
              
               in
               English
               signifies
               
                 The
                 House
                 of
                 Bread.
              
               
               And
               St.
               Gregory
               observes
               ,
               that
               our
               Lord
               would
               have
               the
               Place
               in
               which
               he
               was
               to
               be
               born
               ,
               to
               be
               called
               long
               before
               by
               
                 this
                 name
              
               ,
               to
               signifie
               to
               us
               ,
               
                 That
                 He
                 who
                 appeared
                 there
                 in
                 our
                 Flesh
                 ,
                 is
                 the
                 Living
                 Bread
                 ,
                 which
                 came
                 down
                 from
                 Heaven
                 to
                 nourish
                 the
                 Souls
                 of
                 his
                 Elect
                 to
                 everlasting
                 Life
                 .
              
               And
               now
               ,
               as
               I
               said
               ,
               that
               he
               has
               given
               us
               so
               incomparable
               a
               Sign
               of
               his
               Good
               Will
               and
               Pleasure
               ,
               shall
               we
               not
               make
               hast
               with
               the
               Shepherds
               to
               Bethlehem
               ?
               Shall
               we
               let
               this
               
                 Holy
                 Time
              
               pass
               over
               ,
               or
               rather
               shall
               we
               Trifle
               it
               all
               away
               in
               Pastime
               and
               Merriment
               ,
               without
               ever
               approaching
               to
               this
               
                 Holy
                 Table
              
               ?
               Such
               was
               the
               Fervour
               of
               the
               
                 First
                 Christians
              
               ,
               that
               they
               were
               wont
               to
               communicate
               every
               day
               .
               And
               necessary
               it
               was
               in
               those
               times
               of
               Cruel
               Persecution
               ,
               to
               arm
               themselves
               daily
               with
               the
               Bread
               of
               Life
               against
               the
               fear
               of
               Death
               .
               But
               no
               sooner
               was
               Peace
               restored
               to
               the
               Church
               in
               the
               beginning
               of
               the
               fourth
               Age
               ,
               but
               Piety
               began
               to
               languish
               ;
               (
               So
               much
               more
               hard
               is
               it
               for
               Virtue
               to
               bear
               up
               against
               a
               Prosperous
               ,
               than
               an
               Adverse
               Condition
               )
               which
               gave
               St.
               Chrysostom
               ,
               before
               that
               Age
               was
               ended
               ,
               cause
               to
               inveigh
               so
               frequently
               as
               he
               does
               ,
               against
               such
               
               as
               were
               present
               at
               the
               Divine
               Mysteries
               ,
               without
               communicating
               .
               But
               the
               Malady
               went
               on
               increasing
               ,
               and
               Christians
               grew
               so
               tepid
               in
               the
               performance
               of
               this
               Duty
               ,
               that
               the
               Council
               of
               Agde
               in
               the
               beginning
               of
               the
               sixth
               Age
               ,
               
               thought
               fit
               to
               declare
               ,
               that
               
                 those
                 who
                 did
                 not
                 communicate
                 at
                 the
                 Three
                 Great
                 Feasts
                 of
                 the
                 year
                 ,
                 Christmas
                 ,
                 Easter
                 and
                 Whitsontide
                 ,
                 were
                 not
                 to
                 be
                 believ'd
                 to
                 be
                 Catholics
                 ,
                 nor
                 reputed
                 for
                 such
                 :
              
               And
               the
               Council
               of
               Tours
               in
               the
               beginning
               of
               the
               Eighth
               Age
               ,
               
               found
               it
               necessary
               to
               admonish
               them
               anew
               to
               communicate
               ,
               
                 if
                 not
                 oftner
                 ,
                 yet
                 three
                 times
                 at
                 least
                 in
                 the
                 year
                 ,
              
               viz.
               at
               the
               three
               aforesaid
               Feasts
               .
               And
               if
               the
               Church
               in
               these
               later
               times
               ,
               as
               still
               more
               remiss
               ,
               have
               thought
               good
               to
               lay
               no
               farther
               obligation
               upon
               all
               the
               Faithful
               of
               both
               Sexes
               ,
               than
               of
               receiving
               once
               a
               year
               ,
               and
               that
               at
               Easter
               ,
               yet
               the
               Addition
               of
               the
               words
               ,
               
                 ad
                 minus
              
               ,
               (
               that
               it
               must
               be
               done
               then
               
                 at
                 least
              
               )
               sufficiently
               shows
               the
               desire
               she
               has
               that
               they
               would
               do
               it
               oftner
               ,
               and
               that
               a
               Command
               were
               not
               at
               all
               necessary
               to
               compel
               ,
               where
               there
               is
               so
               great
               an
               Attractive
               of
               Bounty
               to
               invite
               .
               
                 Lex
                 Justo
                 non
                 est
                 posita
                 .
                 This
                 Law
                 was
                 not
                 made
                 for
                 the
                 Just
                 ,
              
               for
               men
               of
               Good
               Will
               ,
               who
               are
               led
               by
               the
               Spirit
               of
               Love
               ,
               but
               for
               such
               servile
               and
               degenerous
               
               Spirits
               ,
               as
               are
               acted
               only
               by
               fear
               of
               Punishment
               :
               And
               it
               is
               much
               to
               be
               feared
               ,
               that
               those
               who
               in
               this
               matter
               ,
               will
               do
               no
               more
               than
               just
               what
               the
               Letter
               of
               the
               Law
               obliges
               ,
               would
               not
               do
               that
               neither
               ,
               but
               for
               fear
               of
               the
               Censure
               annexed
               .
            
             
               O
               the
               Prodigious
               sloth
               and
               negligence
               of
               such
               careless
               Christians
               ,
               whom
               so
               great
               Signs
               and
               Pledges
               of
               their
               dear
               Saviours
               Goodness
               cannot
               draw
               ,
               without
               the
               necessity
               of
               a
               Precept
               to
               drive
               them
               to
               him
               !
               What
               will
               they
               pretend
               for
               their
               excuse
               ?
               That
               they
               cannot
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               will
               not
               leave
               their
               Sins
               ?
               Few
               will
               be
               willing
               to
               own
               this
               ,
               but
               such
               as
               have
               lost
               all
               fear
               of
               God's
               Justice
               ,
               and
               care
               of
               their
               own
               Souls
               .
               Will
               they
               say
               they
               have
               no
               time
               ?
               But
               has
               God
               then
               given
               us
               365
               days
               in
               a
               year
               ,
               and
               shall
               not
               we
               afford
               to
               give
               him
               one
               at
               least
               in
               the
               hundred
               ?
               Or
               finally
               ,
               will
               they
               pretend
               ,
               that
               they
               do
               not
               find
               themselves
               worthy
               to
               come
               oftner
               than
               once
               a
               year
               to
               this
               Divine
               Table
               ?
               This
               indeed
               carries
               some
               show
               of
               Religion
               in
               it
               ,
               
               but
               such
               as
               St.
               Cyril
               doubts
               not
               to
               call
               
                 damnosam
                 Religionem
                 :
                 Amischievous
                 sort
                 of
                 Religion
                 ,
              
               which
               the
               Devil
               makes
               use
               of
               to
               perswade
               remiss
               and
               slothful
               Christians
               ,
               to
               deprive
               themselves
               of
               the
               Food
               of
               Life
               :
               But
               alas
               !
               as
               the
               
               same
               H.
               Father
               saith
               ,
               if
               they
               find
               themselves
               
                 not
                 worthy
              
               now
               ,
               when
               will
               they
               make
               themselves
               so
               ?
               will
               it
               be
               easier
               to
               do
               it
               after
               Ten
               or
               Twelve
               months
               ,
               than
               after
               One
               ,
               or
               Two
               ,
               or
               Three
               ?
               Or
               will
               it
               require
               less
               pains
               to
               make
               themselves
               worthy
               ,
               after
               their
               sins
               by
               long
               continuance
               ,
               and
               repeated
               Acts
               ,
               have
               taken
               deep
               root
               in
               their
               hearts
               ,
               than
               whilst
               they
               are
               yet
               Green
               and
               Tender
               ?
               
                 Caveamus
                 ne
                 loco
                 laquei
                 damnosam
                 Religionem
                 Diabolus
                 nobis
                 praetendat
                 ,
              
               Let
               us
               beware
               ,
               that
               our
               Enemy
               do
               not
               ensnare
               us
               to
               our
               ruine
               under
               a
               feigned
               pretence
               of
               Religion
               :
               or
               rather
               ,
               let
               none
               be
               deluded
               with
               such
               irreligious
               pretenses
               as
               these
               to
               make
               him
               abstain
               from
               frequenting
               this
               Holy
               Table
               .
               And
               that
               we
               may
               do
               it
               worthily
               ,
               let
               us
               go
               with
               these
               devout
               Shepherds
               to
               Bethlehem
               ,
               and
               there
               
                 see
                 the
                 Word
                 which
                 is
                 made
                 Flesh
              
               for
               our
               sakes
               ,
               first
               to
               adore
               him
               as
               our
               God
               and
               Saviour
               ,
               and
               then
               to
               adorn
               our
               souls
               with
               those
               virtues
               of
               which
               he
               has
               given
               us
               so
               pretious
               an
               Example
               ,
               which
               is
               the
               subject
               of
               my
               Second
               Part.
               
            
          
           
             
             
               The
               Second
               Part.
               
            
             
               
                 
                   Videamus
                   hoc
                   verbum
                   ,
                   quod
                   factum
                   est
                   .
                
                 
                   Let
                   us
                   see
                   this
                   Word
                   which
                   is
                   made
                   .
                
              
            
             
               'T
               is
               so
               natural
               to
               man
               ,
               who
               draws
               all
               his
               knowledge
               from
               the
               impressions
               of
               his
               Senses
               to
               desire
               to
               see
               what
               he
               is
               to
               worship
               ,
               that
               not
               being
               able
               to
               see
               the
               
                 true
                 God
              
               with
               his
               eyes
               ,
               he
               fell
               to
               worshiping
               the
               Creature
               ,
               
               rather
               than
               the
               
                 Creator
                 ,
                 changing
              
               as
               St.
               Paul
               says
               ,
               
                 the
                 Glory
                 of
                 the
                 Incorruptible
                 God
                 into
                 an
                 Image
                 made
                 like
                 to
                 corruptible
                 man
                 ,
                 and
                 to
                 Birds
                 and
                 four-footed
                 Beasts
                 ,
                 and
                 Creeping
                 Things
                 .
              
               Thus
               did
               they
               become
               vain
               ,
               as
               the
               same
               Apostle
               says
               ,
               
                 in
                 their
                 imaginations
              
               ,
               and
               
                 their
                 foolish
                 heart
                 was
                 darkned
              
               ,
               resolving
               to
               worship
               what
               they
               saw
               ,
               because
               they
               could
               not
               see
               ,
               whom
               they
               were
               to
               worship
               .
               Four
               thousand
               years
               had
               this
               error
               over-spread
               the
               World
               ,
               excepting
               only
               the
               little
               corner
               of
               Judea
               ,
               when
               God
               commiserating
               the
               sad
               condition
               of
               man
               ,
               
               and
               knowing
               ,
               as
               St.
               
                 Peter
                 Chrysologus
              
               says
               ,
               
                 visendi
                 se
                 desiderio
                 cruciari
                 ,
                 lassarique
                 mortales
                 ,
              
               with
               what
               anxiety
               men
               desired
               to
               see
               him
               ,
               and
               that
               nothing
               
               could
               content
               them
               ,
               but
               a
               
                 visible
                 deity
                 ,
                 unde
                 se
                 visibilem
                 faceret
                 ,
                 hoc
                 elegit
              
               ;
               out
               of
               his
               Infinite
               Goodness
               was
               pleased
               to
               take
               upon
               him
               the
               nature
               of
               Man
               ,
               that
               he
               might
               be
               seen
               by
               them
               .
               This
               remedy
               alone
               was
               left
               to
               cure
               the
               blindness
               of
               humane
               nature
               ,
               because
               this
               Object
               alone
               was
               able
               to
               draw
               the
               Eyes
               of
               Men
               from
               all
               other
               visible
               things
               ,
               and
               fix
               them
               upon
               it self
               .
               And
               of
               this
               our
               Saviour
               himself
               was
               pleas'd
               to
               give
               us
               a
               Figure
               in
               the
               miraculous
               cure
               he
               wrought
               upon
               the
               Blind
               man
               ,
               Joh.
               9.
               by
               anointing
               his
               Eyes
               with
               a
               mixture
               made
               of
               his
               sacred
               Spittle
               and
               the
               dust
               of
               the
               Earth
               ,
               in
               which
               was
               represented
               the
               union
               of
               the
               
                 divine
                 wisdom
              
               with
               
                 humane
                 nature
                 ,
                 caecatis
                 luminibus
              
               ,
               (
               as
               St.
               Anselm
               elegantly
               expresses
               it
               )
               
                 collyrium
                 suae
                 Incarnationis
                 apponens
                 ,
                 applying
                 the
                 Eye-salve
                 of
                 his
                 Incarnation
                 to
                 the
                 Eyes
                 of
                 Men
                 ,
              
               that
               those
               who
               could
               not
               behold
               him
               in
               the
               splendors
               of
               his
               divinity
               ,
               might
               see
               him
               appearing
               in
               the
               form
               of
               man.
               O
               the
               Riches
               of
               the
               Goodness
               and
               Mercy
               of
               God
               ,
               in
               condescending
               thus
               graciously
               to
               the
               weakness
               of
               our
               nature
               ,
               and
               making
               himself
               visible
               ,
               to
               satisfie
               the
               desire
               we
               had
               of
               seeing
               with
               our
               Eyes
               the
               God
               whom
               we
               are
               to
               worship
               !
               This
               the
               devout
               Shepherds
               did
               ,
               as
               you
               heard
               before
               ,
               when
               they
               found
               him
               in
               his
               
               Crib
               ;
               and
               this
               must
               we
               do
               ,
               as
               often
               as
               we
               present
               our selves
               before
               him
               at
               his
               Altar
               .
            
             
               But
               was
               this
               all
               ?
               Was
               this
               the
               only
               End
               ,
               why
               he
               was
               pleas'd
               to
               appear
               to
               us
               in
               this
               visible
               manner
               ?
               
               No
               :
               St.
               Austin
               tells
               us
               of
               a
               farther
               design
               he
               had
               in
               it
               ,
               when
               he
               says
               ,
               
                 Sapientia
                 Dei
                 hominem
                 ad
                 exemplum
                 unde
                 viveremus
                 suscepit
                 ,
              
               that
               
                 the
                 wisdom
                 of
                 God
              
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               
                 God
                 the
                 Word
              
               ,
               the
               second
               Person
               of
               the
               Trinity
               ,
               
                 took
                 the
                 nature
                 of
                 man
                 upon
                 him
                 ,
                 to
                 give
                 us
                 an
                 example
                 how
                 to
                 live
                 well
                 by
                 living
                 like
                 him
                 .
              
               'T
               is
               the
               particular
               Priviledge
               of
               this
               
                 Divine
                 Word
              
               made
               Flesh
               for
               our
               fakes
               ,
               that
               whereas
               other
               words
               are
               ,
               properly
               speaking
               ,
               the
               Objects
               not
               of
               the
               Eyes
               ,
               but
               of
               the
               Ears
               ,
               this
               Word
               not
               only
               speaks
               to
               our
               Ears
               by
               his
               Doctrine
               ,
               but
               much
               more
               to
               our
               Eyes
               by
               his
               Example
               .
               And
               hence
               it
               is
               ,
               that
               that
               great
               devote
               of
               our
               Saviours
               Nativity
               ,
               St.
               
                 Thomas
                 de
                 Villa
                 Nova
              
               ,
               calls
               the
               Manger
               ,
               in
               which
               he
               first
               appeared
               ,
               
               
                 Magna
                 Cathedra
              
               ,
               the
               Great
               Divinity-Chair
               or
               Pulpit
               ,
               which
               his
               Eternal
               Father
               had
               prepared
               for
               him
               ,
               as
               soon
               as
               he
               should
               make
               himself
               visible
               in
               our
               nature
               ,
               to
               teach
               us
               the
               Doctrine
               of
               Salvation
               .
            
             
               Draw
               near
               then
               ,
               O
               Christian
               Souls
               ,
               and
               hear
               ,
               or
               rather
               see
               (
               says
               this
               Holy
               Saint
               )
               the
               Lessons
               which
               the
               Word
               made
               Flesh
               preaches
               to
               
               your
               Eyes
               from
               the
               Pulpit
               of
               his
               Crib
               .
               
                 Discite
                 Paupertatem
              
               ,
               Learn
               of
               me
               ,
               says
               he
               ,
               to
               be
               truly
               Poor
               ,
               that
               is
               ,
               you
               who
               are
               Poor
               not
               to
               repine
               at
               your
               condition
               ,
               and
               you
               who
               are
               rich
               ,
               not
               to
               set
               your
               hearts
               upon
               the
               riches
               of
               this
               World
               ,
               but
               to
               abridge
               your selves
               in
               superfluities
               to
               communicate
               to
               those
               who
               are
               in
               want
               ,
               because
               I
               who
               am
               the
               Lord
               of
               the
               Universe
               ,
               and
               can
               dispose
               of
               all
               that
               is
               in
               it
               ,
               at
               my
               pleasure
               ,
               have
               no
               other
               Mantles
               to
               shroud
               my
               tender
               Body
               ,
               but
               such
               as
               a
               
                 Poor
                 Carpenters
                 Spouse
              
               could
               provide
               me
               with
               ,
               and
               no
               other
               Cradle
               to
               repose
               my
               head
               in
               ,
               but
               a
               
                 Manger
                 .
                 Discite
                 Humilitatem
              
               ,
               
               Learn
               of
               me
               to
               be
               truly
               Humble
               ,
               each
               esteeming
               other
               better
               than
               themselves
               ;
               because
               I
               ,
               who
               am
               the
               
                 most
                 High
              
               ,
               have
               humbled
               my self
               so
               low
               ,
               as
               to
               become
               the
               
                 Companion
                 of
                 Beasts
                 .
                 Discite
                 Mansuetudinem
                 ,
              
               Learn
               of
               me
               to
               be
               truly
               Meek
               ,
               forgiving
               from
               your
               hearts
               those
               that
               offend
               you
               ,
               since
               I
               ,
               who
               am
               the
               
                 Person
                 offended
              
               ,
               do
               here
               water
               my
               hard
               Couch
               with
               my
               Tears
               to
               make
               an
               attonement
               for
               the
               sins
               you
               have
               committed
               against
               me
               .
               
                 Discite
                 Patientiam
              
               ,
               Learn
               of
               me
               to
               be
               Patient
               in
               all
               your
               sufferings
               ,
               because
               I
               ,
               who
               am
               Omnipotent
               ,
               lye
               here
               exposed
               in
               an
               open
               Stable
               to
               the
               contempt
               of
               the
               World
               ,
               and
               the
               rigour
               of
               the
               
               Elements
               .
               
                 Discite
                 Obedientiam
              
               ,
               Learn
               of
               me
               to
               be
               Obedient
               to
               your
               Superiors
               ,
               because
               I
               ,
               who
               am
               the
               
                 King
                 of
                 Kings
              
               ,
               and
               
                 Lord
                 of
                 Lords
              
               ,
               have
               submitted
               my self
               as
               a
               little
               Infant
               to
               the
               disposal
               and
               conduct
               of
               a
               young
               and
               unexperienced
               
                 Virgin.
                 Discite
                 Charitatem
              
               ,
               Learn
               of
               me
               to
               love
               your
               Neighbours
               for
               my
               sake
               ,
               since
               I
               ,
               who
               am
               
                 true
                 God
                 of
                 true
                 God
              
               ,
               have
               made
               my self
               man
               for
               yours
               .
               
                 Discite
                 denique
                 verum
                 bonorum
                 omnium
                 hujus
                 saeculi
                 contemptum
                 .
              
               Lastly
               ,
               Learn
               of
               me
               a
               true
               and
               
                 real
                 contempt
              
               of
               all
               the
               Goods
               of
               
                 this
                 World
              
               ,
               since
               I
               ,
               who
               am
               the
               
                 wisdom
                 of
                 God
              
               ,
               have
               despised
               and
               rejected
               them
               as
               false
               and
               counterfeit
               ,
               to
               teach
               you
               by
               my
               example
               the
               
                 true
                 way
              
               to
               Heaven
               .
            
             
               These
               are
               the
               Lessons
               which
               this
               divine
               Word
               preaches
               to
               our
               Eyes
               from
               the
               Pulpit
               of
               his
               Cribb
               .
               And
               if
               the
               Scholars
               of
               Pythagoras
               had
               so
               great
               a
               veneration
               for
               their
               Master
               ,
               that
               whatever
               he
               said
               ,
               they
               believ'd
               it
               ,
               because
               he
               said
               it
               ,
               
                 quia
                 ipse
                 dixit
              
               ;
               Now
               that
               a
               greater
               than
               Pythagoras
               is
               here
               ,
               now
               that
               God
               himself
               is
               become
               both
               our
               Master
               ,
               and
               Pattern
               in
               his
               own
               Person
               ,
               shall
               we
               not
               much
               rather
               do
               what
               we
               see
               him
               do
               ,
               
                 quia
                 ipse
                 fecit
              
               ,
               because
               he
               has
               done
               it
               ,
               and
               not
               only
               so
               ,
               but
               
                 quia
                 ipse
                 factus
                 est
              
               ,
               because
               himself
               was
               pleased
               to
               be
               
                 made
                 man
              
               ,
               
               that
               we
               might
               see
               him
               with
               our
               Eyes
               ,
               and
               learn
               from
               his
               Example
               the
               true
               way
               to
               Bliss
               ?
               And
               when
               shall
               we
               do
               it
               ,
               if
               we
               do
               it
               not
               now
               ?
            
             
               
                 Holy
                 David
              
               ,
               astonish'd
               ,
               (
               as
               we
               may
               say
               )
               to
               see
               the
               general
               depravation
               of
               Mankind
               in
               his
               time
               ,
               how
               their
               hearts
               were
               bent
               upon
               nothing
               ,
               but
               the
               Love
               of
               the
               things
               of
               this
               world
               ,
               as
               their
               only
               happiness
               ,
               calls
               upon
               them
               to
               bethink
               themselves
               of
               their
               Error
               in
               these
               words
               ,
               
               
                 Filii
                 hominum
                 usquequo
                 gravi
                 corde
                 !
                 Ut
                 quid
                 diligitis
                 vanitatem
                 ,
                 &
                 quaeritis
                 mendacium
                 ?
                 O
                 ye
                 sons
                 of
                 men
                 ,
                 how
                 long
                 will
                 you
                 let
                 your
                 hearts
                 lye
                 groveling
                 upon
                 the
                 Earth
                 !
                 Why
                 will
                 you
                 set
                 your
                 affections
                 upon
                 vanity
                 ,
                 and
                 seek
                 after
                 a
                 lye
                 ,
              
               meaning
               the
               transitory
               and
               deceitful
               goods
               of
               this
               world
               ?
               And
               St.
               Austin
               to
               extenuate
               ,
               
               as
               it
               were
               ,
               in
               some
               measure
               their
               fault
               ,
               subjoins
               ,
               
                 Saltem
                 usque
                 ad
                 adventum
                 Filii
                 Dei
                 error
                 vester
                 duraverit
                 ,
              
               that
               possibly
               this
               error
               of
               theirs
               might
               continue
               till
               the
               coming
               of
               the
               Son
               of
               God
               into
               the
               world
               .
               But
               then
               considering
               the
               depraved
               lives
               of
               too
               many
               Christians
               ,
               he
               changes
               the
               Prophets
               usquequo
               ,
               and
               crys
               out
               himself
               
                 Quid
                 ▪
                 ultra
                 graves
                 corde
                 estis
                 ?
              
               O
               ye
               sons
               of
               men
               ,
               why
               are
               your
               hearts
               still
               possessed
               with
               this
               
                 Error
                 ,
                 now
              
               that
               the
               Son
               of
               God
               is
               come
               in
               the
               Flesh
               to
               teach
               you
               the
               
                 true
                 way
              
               of
               Life
               ?
               
                 Quando
                 habituri
                 finem
                 
                 fallaciarum
                 ,
                 si
                 praesente
                 Veritate
                 non
                 habetis
                 !
              
               O
               ,
               when
               will
               you
               make
               an
               End
               of
               suffering
               your selves
               to
               be
               cheated
               with
               the
               
                 Fallacious
                 Maximes
              
               and
               Fashions
               of
               the
               world
               ?
               if
               you
               do
               it
               not
               now
               that
               Truth
               it self
               has
               taken
               a
               Body
               ,
               and
               presents
               it self
               visible
               to
               your
               very
               Eyes
               to
               teach
               you
               by
               its
               own
               Example
               what
               you
               are
               to
               chuse
               ,
               and
               what
               to
               avoid
               .
            
             
               Is
               it
               possible
               ,
               
                 dear
                 Christians
              
               ,
               that
               we
               can
               think
               that
               to
               be
               Good
               and
               desirable
               ,
               which
               He
               ,
               who
               is
               Truth
               it self
               ,
               has
               rejected
               and
               contemned
               ,
               or
               that
               to
               be
               vile
               and
               contemptible
               ,
               which
               He
               has
               made
               choice
               of
               and
               embraced
               ?
               If
               our
               Judgment
               and
               Conduct
               be
               not
               conform
               to
               his
               ,
               one
               of
               the
               two
               must
               follow
               ,
               
                 Either
                 that
                 he
                 was
                 deceived
                 ,
                 or
                 we
                 are
                 mistaken
                 .
              
               And
               no
               doubt
               ,
               but
               the
               mistake
               will
               be
               found
               to
               be
               on
               
                 our
                 side
              
               ,
               if
               we
               think
               to
               go
               to
               Heaven
               by
               any
               
                 other
                 way
              
               ,
               than
               that
               by
               which
               He
               went
               himself
               .
               If
               He
               who
               was
               Innocent
               ,
               chose
               not
               only
               to
               walk
               upon
               Thorns
               in
               this
               World
               ,
               but
               wore
               them
               for
               a
               Crown
               upon
               his
               Head
               ,
               must
               we
               ,
               who
               are
               the
               Criminals
               ,
               expect
               to
               have
               the
               way
               strew'd
               with
               Flowers
               ,
               and
               our
               Temples
               crown'd
               with
               Garlands
               of
               Roses
               ?
               Let
               me
               tell
               you
               ,
               
                 dear
                 Christians
              
               ,
               that
               't
               is
               as
               much
               an
               Article
               of
               
                 our
                 Faith
              
               to
               believe
               the
               way
               to
               Heaven
               ,
               as
               to
               believe
               
               Heaven
               it self
               :
               And
               if
               He
               who
               has
               told
               us
               ,
               there
               is
               such
               a
               Place
               prepared
               for
               us
               ,
               
                 as
                 Heaven
              
               ,
               if
               we
               take
               the
               
                 Right
                 way
              
               to
               it
               ,
               has
               told
               us
               also
               ,
               
               that
               that
               way
               is
               no
               other
               ,
               than
               what
               himself
               calls
               ,
               
                 The
                 strait
                 way
              
               ,
               viz.
               the
               mortifying
               of
               our
               sensual
               appetites
               ,
               renouncing
               the
               Pomps
               and
               Vanities
               of
               the
               World
               ,
               crucifying
               the
               Flesh
               with
               its
               inordinate
               desires
               ,
               bringing
               the
               body
               into
               subjection
               to
               the
               spirit
               ,
               by
               Praying
               ,
               Fasting
               ,
               and
               other
               Penitential
               Works
               ,
               giving
               what
               is
               above
               necessity
               ,
               and
               true
               
                 Christian
                 decency
              
               ,
               in
               Alms
               to
               the
               Poor
               ,
               denying
               our
               own
               Wills
               ,
               patiently
               bearing
               the
               Afflictions
               and
               Crosses
               which
               God
               sends
               ,
               meekly
               forgiving
               those
               that
               offend
               us
               ,
               and
               the
               like
               Christian
               Duties
               ;
               either
               we
               believe
               this
               to
               be
               the
               
                 only
                 way
              
               to
               Heaven
               ,
               or
               we
               do
               not
               ?
               If
               we
               
                 do
                 not
              
               ,
               why
               do
               we
               believe
               there
               is
               such
               a
               Thing
               as
               Heaven
               at
               all
               ,
               since
               He
               who
               has
               told
               us
               the
               one
               ,
               has
               told
               us
               the
               other
               also
               .
               When
               he
               said
               of
               himself
               ,
               
                 Ego
                 sum
                 via
              
               ,
               
               
                 veritas
                 &
                 vita
                 ,
                 I
                 am
                 the
                 Way
                 ,
                 the
                 Truth
                 ,
                 and
                 the
                 Life
                 ,
              
               he
               placed
               Truth
               in
               the
               middle
               ,
               between
               the
               Way
               and
               the
               End
               ,
               as
               
                 Equally
                 engag'd
              
               for
               both
               .
            
             
               But
               then
               again
               ,
               if
               we
               
                 do
                 believe
              
               ,
               the
               
                 strait
                 way
              
               ,
               and
               which
               himself
               made
               choice
               of
               ,
               to
               be
               the
               
                 only
                 way
              
               to
               Heaven
               ,
               why
               do
               we
               chuse
               to
               
               walk
               in
               the
               Broad
               and
               
                 beaten
                 Road
              
               of
               the
               world
               ,
               as
               if
               that
               would
               bring
               us
               thither
               ?
               Is
               it
               by
               pleasing
               the
               
                 Senses
                 ,
                 pampering
              
               the
               Body
               ,
               mispending
               the
               time
               which
               God
               has
               given
               us
               to
               
                 work
                 out
                 our
                 salvation
                 with
                 fear
                 and
                 trembling
                 ,
              
               in
               indulging
               to
               our
               own
               ease
               the
               best
               part
               of
               the
               day
               ,
               and
               throwing
               away
               the
               rest
               in
               vain
               ,
               and
               too
               often
               Criminal
               Conversations
               
                 and
                 Pastimes
              
               ,
               and
               the
               Riches
               He
               has
               bestowed
               upon
               us
               ,
               to
               secure
               our
               own
               Salvation
               by
               relieving
               his
               poor
               and
               necessitous
               Brethren
               ,
               in
               purchasing
               to
               our selves
               ,
               all
               that
               may
               conduce
               to
               the
               gratifying
               of
               our
               Fancies
               ,
               and
               the
               satisfying
               of
               our
               sensual
               appetites
               ;
               Is
               it
               ,
               I
               say
               ,
               by
               doing
               these
               things
               ,
               that
               we
               can
               think
               at
               last
               to
               arrive
               at
               Heaven
               ?
               O
               no
               ;
               we
               are
               convinc'd
               of
               the
               contrary
               both
               by
               the
               Doctrine
               and
               Practice
               of
               God
               himself
               
                 made
                 Man
              
               for
               our
               sakes
               .
               And
               when
               shall
               we
               put
               an
               End
               to
               this
               
                 fatal
                 Cheat
              
               ,
               if
               we
               do
               it
               now
               ?
               Let
               us
               then
               no
               longer
               suffer
               our selves
               to
               be
               deluded
               with
               the
               vain
               and
               transitory
               things
               of
               this
               world
               .
               But
               
                 transeamus
                 usque
                 ad
                 Bethlehem
              
               ,
               passing
               over
               ,
               let
               us
               with
               the
               
                 devout
                 Shepherds
              
               go
               to
               Bethlehem
               ;
               and
               
                 see
                 this
                 Word
                 which
                 is
                 made
                 Flesh
                 for
              
               our
               sakes
               ,
               which
               our
               Lord
               hath
               shown
               unto
               us
               .
               Let
               us
               in
               a
               word
               ,
               see
               and
               do
               according
               to
               the
               Pattern
               which
               is
               shown
               us
               in
               the
               
               Manger
               ,
               purifying
               our
               hearts
               from
               all
               sinful
               affections
               ,
               and
               transcribing
               those
               Vertues
               ,
               of
               which
               this
               
                 fair
                 Original
              
               has
               given
               us
               so
               lively
               an
               Example
               ,
               into
               the
               Copy
               of
               our
               own
               lives
               .
               So
               shall
               we
               be
               prepared
               worthily
               to
               receive
               him
               here
               under
               the
               
                 Sacramental
                 Veils
              
               ,
               in
               which
               he
               lies
               wrapped
               upon
               the
               Altar
               ,
               no
               less
               truly
               ,
               than
               he
               did
               in
               his
               Swadling-clothes
               in
               the
               Manger
               ;
               and
               be
               found
               worthy
               ,
               when
               he
               shall
               come
               the
               
                 second
                 time
              
               into
               the
               world
               with
               great
               Power
               and
               Majesty
               ,
               to
               behold
               him
               
                 face
                 to
                 face
              
               in
               his
               Glory
               ;
               which
               God
               of
               his
               Infinite
               Mercy
               grant
               us
               all
               ,
               to
               whom
               in
               Unity
               and
               Trinity
               be
               all
               Honour
               and
               Glory
               now
               and
               for
               ever
               .
               Amen
               .
            
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A42901-e120
           
             Psa
             .
             138.
             11.
             
          
           
             Stabulum
             visum
             est
             esse
             Coelum
             in
             Terra
             .
             
               Epiphan
               .
               Orat.
               de
               Deipera
            
             .
          
           
             Exod.
             2.
             
          
           
             Isai
             .
             9.
             6.
             
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
           
             Verbum
             quod
             semper
             erat
             ,
             videamus
             quomodo
             pro
             nobis
             factum
             sit
             .
             Quod
             enim
             videre
             non
             poteramus
             ,
             dum
             erat
             verbum
             ,
             videamus
             factum
             ,
             quia
             Caro
             est
             .
          
           
             Sum.
             22.
             q.
             82.
             a.
             1
             
             o.
          
           
             Psal
             .
             1.
             
          
           
             Psal
             .
             36.
             31.
             
          
           
             1
             Tim.
             1.
             9.
             
          
           
             St.
             Aug.
             in
             Psal
             .
             1.
             
          
           
             De
             Sermon
             .
          
           
             Dom.
             c.
             21.
             
          
           
             St.
             Aug.
             In
             Psal
             .
             59.
             
          
           
             
               Froenum
               quo
               pulchrè
               agitur
            
             St.
             Chrisost
             .
             Hom.
             2.
             in
             1
             Tim.
             1.
             
             In
             morali
             .
          
           
             Psal
             .
             2.
             9.
             
          
           
             Psal
             .
             44.
             8.
             
          
           
             Num.
             24.
             17
             
          
           
             Affirmationes
             de
             Deo
             sunt
             incompactae
             .
             
               St.
               Dionys
            
             .
          
           
             St.
             Tho.
             1.
             p.
             q.
             43.
             
          
           
             Serm.
             3.
             
             Pentecost
             .
          
           
             Hom.
             61.
             ad
             Pop.
             Antioch
             .
          
           
             Ego
             autèm
             non
             ita
             ;
             sed
             carnibus
             meis
             alo
             ,
             &
             meipsum
             vobis
             appono
             ,
             vos
             omnes
             generosos
             esse
             volens
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Volui
             Frater
             vester
             fieri
             .
          
           
             Vobis
             vicissim
             ipsam
             Carnem
             &
             Sanguinem
             ,
             per
             quae
             Cognatus
             vester
             factus
             sum
             ,
             trado
             .
          
           
             St.
             Greg.
             Hom.
             8.
             in
             Evang.
             
          
           
             Conc.
             Agath
             .
             An.
             506.
             
          
           
             Conc.
             Turon
             .
             3.
             
             An.
             813.
             
          
           
             St.
             Cyril
             .
             Alex.
             l.
             4.
             in
             Jo.
             c.
             17.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             1.
             23.
             
          
           
             Serm.
             147.
             
          
           
             S.
             Aug.
             l.
             83.
             
             Quaest
             .
             Q.
             25
             
          
           
             Serm
             ,
             1.
             de
             Nat.
             Dom.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             2.
             3.
             
          
           
             Psal
             .
             4.
             3.
             
          
           
             St.
             Aug.
             in
             Psal
             .
             4.
             
          
           
             Matth.
             7.
             14.
             
          
           
             Joh.
             14.
             6.
             
          
        
      
    
  

