The Blessedest Birth that Ever Was

THE BLESS ED'ST BIRTH THAT EVER WAS.

T He Lord our God hath only given us a Christ for our redemption and salvation, but (blessed be his Majesty) he hath also discovered him to the world by many:

1 By himself, Mat. 3. 17. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

By John the Baptist, John. 1. 29. Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.

By a Dove, John. 1. 33. Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and tarrying still upon him, that is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

By a Star, Mat. 2. 9. And loe, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over the house where the Babe was.

And here by his Angel he discovers him to the Jewish shepherds feeding their flocks by night, and that in full and ample manner by two notable circumstances; of the place where, of the time when, this blessed Babe was borne: Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all people: that is, that unto you is borne this day in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Which words as they are couched in two verses, so will they afford two things observable:

• 1 A merry message: Behold I bring, &c.
• 2 An admired cause: That unto you is borne, &c.

This mirth is amplified by two
• 1. By the magnitude.
• 2. By the multitude.

1. By the magnitude of it: Great joy.

2. By the multitude of the sharers in it: That shall be to all people.

In which heavenly message I observe these three:

First, the messenger: and that is an Angel: Behold I bring you good tidings.

Secondly, the message; and that is, of great joy: Of great joy.

Thirdly, the extent; or the parties to whom this joy appertaineth: and that is to all people: That shall be to all people.

Behold I bring you good tidings: behold I bring you good tidings of great joy: behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all people.

But before I deal with this high and Heavenly Instrument, a word or two of the word Behold.

Behold: It is a note of attention, six hundred times used in holy writ: always placed before matters of great weight and moment; sometimes before inutterable judgments, as Amos 8. 11. Behold I will send a famine among you &c.

Sometimes before inexpressible mercies: as Isaiah 7. 14. Behold a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and his Name shall be called Immanuel.

And here also in the words of my Text: Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, &c.

Hereupon Bernard calls it Notam stelliferam, a starry note: a note that doth point out some rare matter to be revealed, as the Star stood over the house, and pointed to the Wife-men where the Babe was.

For the exposition of the word, do but compare Mat. 6. 26. with Luke 12. 24. there the Lord hath given it.

Saint Matthew speaking of the providence of God over the fowls of the air, useth the word Behold: Behold the fowls of the Heavens, &c. Saint Luke speaking of the selfsame subject, useth another word, the word, Consider; Consider the Ravens: So that Behold, is as much as Consider, and seriously perpend what God will have now delivered to yourselves.

I; that is, an Angel, as it appeareth in the beginning of the Verse: Then the Angel said unto them, Be not afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings, &c.

Angel; it is as much as Messenger: it is Nomen officij, non naturae; a name of office, not of nature: as you may read, Hebr. 1. 7. He maketh the Spirits his Angels, or Messengers: The Spirits, there is their name of nature: His Angels, or Messengers, there i • their name of office.

These high and heavenly Instruments were Messengers sometimes of God's frown, sometimes of God's favor.

First, of God's frown: as was that Angel that slew of Senacherios Host, in one night one hundred fourscore and five thousand.

And as were those Angels, that destroyed the City of Sodom.

Secondly, of God's favor: as were those Angels that ministered to Christ in the Wilderness: For the Angels came and ministered to him.

And as was that Angel that comforted Christ in the Garden: For an Angel came from Heaven, and comforted him.

And as was this Angel, that brings blessed news of the Birth of the Lord Jesus: Behold, I bring you good tidings, &c.

The point of this part, office of Angels, is the last Verse of the first Chapter to the Hebrews: Angels are ministering Spirits, sent forth to minister for their sakes, that are and shall be heirs of salvation.

And this their office they have most frequently performed, witness the fore-named places of Scripture, and many other places also: As an Angel bade Elijah fly from Iezabei; and an Angel here brings excellent news from Heaven of the Birth of a Savior: Behold I bring, &c.

That Angels are present with us, it is plain by that of Saint Paul to the Corinthians: Let the women be covered, because of the Angels. The Angels behold the behavior of man and woman in the Congregation, in the worship of God. If therefore women should be shorn as man (to whom God hath given the hotter and stronger brain) it would be a confusion of Sexes, and a great displeasure to the Angels.

Again, the office and presence of Angels is seen in this: A man taketh his Horse, and travaileth him, his Horse falleth upon him, no bone broken; how cometh this to pass? By the providence of God, in the watch of Angels.

This first showeth the rare mercy of God to mortal & miserable sinners, that he will vouchsafe such high and heavenly instruments to attend us in our out goings & in comings, that we dash not our foot against a stone.

Lord, what is man that thus thou shouldest regard him, or what is the best of the sons of men, that thus in mercy thou shouldest visit him?

Secondly, here note the prerogative of the children of God; though they be in base esteem of y ^e reprobate worldlings, yet they are great in the favor of the most high: yea the heavenly Angels are appointed of God their waiting men: as for the wicked, it is not so with them, but the black guard of Hell dogs them, here to sin, hereafter to sink them to perdition.

Thirdly, here is matter of consolation to the people of God: though man and devil be against us, we need not be afraid: the Angels of God shall fight our battles for us: as in Eighty Eight, and as Elisha told his servant, upon the host of Angels perceived, Fear not, for there are more with us, than are or can be against us.

The second thing obserueable in this merry message, is the message it self:

wherein I note
• 1. The matter: Joy.
• 2. The measure: Great.

Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy.

First Joy.

This Angel brings not a brandisht sword, as once against Adam:

This Angel brings not burning fire, as once against Sodom:

This Angel brings not consuming pestilence, as once against David:

This Angel brings not sudden death, as once against Herod:

But this Angel brings tidings of joy, and of great joy that shall be to all people.

Oh blessed day is Christ's Birthday; the blessedst day that ever came, a day of glad tidings, a day of great joy that shall be to all people: O blessed be the womb that bare this Babe, and the Paps that gave this Babe suck: for this blessed Birth day of Christ Jesus, brings Joy and nothing but Joy to all people.

Pharaohs banqueting birth-day yielded much sorrow, for then he hanged up his chief Baker.

Herod's banqueting birth-day yielded much sorrow: for then he cut off John Baptists head.

Jeremiah (though an holy man) cried out of his birth-day: Maledictus dies, &c. Cursed be the day wherein I was borne, and let not the day of my birth be blessed.

Job (though a just man) cried out of his birth-day: Pereat dies in quo natus sum, &c. Let the day perish wherein I was borne, and let it not be joined to the days of the year.

But Christ's Birth▪ day brings joy, great joy, and nothing but joy to all people.

And as joy in Christ's Birth is here by an Angel proclaimed, so let us know, that we can have no peace with God, no joy in soul, no hope of bliss, but in, through, and from this Lord Jesus.

Had not CHRIST come and assumed our nature, what should have become of us▪ oh we had been all everlastingly condemned.

Let us therefore rejoice in the Lord always, again let us rejoice: let our souls magnify the Lord, let our spirits rejoice in Christ our Savior: Let us keep this Feast with joy and thanksgiving, lauding the Lord for his sweet Christ, not with revel rout, gaming and profaneness, knowing that Christ came not to make us profane or libertines, but to sanctify our natures and save our souls, that we should serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life.

Again, if it be such joy to see Christ poor, needy, and lying in a cratch oh what joy shall it be to see him in glory, triumphant in Heaven at the right hand of the Father? This joy who can comprehend, this joy the Lord vouchsafe us all? when we shall bid these our mortal corps farewell

Secondly, as joy, so great joy doth Christ's Birth afford: 〈◊◊…〉 you tidings of great joy. H •• 〈◊〉 nato properanit gaudia tellus, coelestis risit sedes, & gestijt orbis: Great joy: Joy in Heaven, joy on earth: joy to Angels, joy to men: joy to Jew, joy to Gentile: joy to rich, joy to poor: Behold I bring you tidings of great joy.

Great joy
• Quia caeteris praefuturum:
• Quia multos consolaturum.
• Quia perpetuô duraturum:

Great for the excellency: great for the universality: great for the sempiternity: Behold I bring you tidings of great joy.

First, Great for the excellency.

So excellent is this joy, as it passeth all vnde • standing.

So excellent is this joy, as it rauisht Peter on the mount:

So excellent is this joy, as it even filled Paul with consolation.

So excellent is this joy, as if it be perfected in us, I know not what it should be but life everlasting: great therefore is this joy.

Secondly, Great for the universality.

It reacheth to all times, past, present, and to come: to all people, Jews, Grecians, Romans, French, English: to Moses in flags, to Joseph in Egypt, to Daniel in Babylon, to Job in Huz, to Simeon in Jerusalem, to the Canaanite in Sidon, to some in Rome under the Popes nose: for the Church of God dwelleth where the throne of Satan is: great therefore is this joy.

Thirdly, Great for the sempiternitie.

The joy of hypocrites and worldlings is short and momentary: it droops in adversity: and droops in death: as Job speaketh: They rejoice in the sound of Organs and suddenly go down to Hell: But this joy is permanent and lasting; it stands in adversity, and mounts to perfection in death: This your joy no man nor devil shall take from you: for as the world cannot give it, so the world cannot take it away: great therefore is this joy; so great, as it cannot be numbered, so precious, as it cannot be valued; so lasting, as it is everlasting.

Thus much for the Message.

The third thing observable is the Extent: That shall be to all people.

The Angel says not, That shall be to many: as once an Angel said of John the Baptist, Many shall rejoice at his birth: But▪ Omni populo, To all people: Jews, Gentiles of what condition soever they be.

This happy report agrees with that sweet old Covenant: Benedicentur in • emine tuo omnes gentes terra: id est, All nations shall be blessed in thy seed: that is the Elect of all nations, both Jews and Gentiles.

For this particle (All) must not be taken for every Indiuidium, every person of mankind: Non pro singulis generum, sed pro generibus singulorum: Not every man, but for some of every kind, whether Jew or Gentile: for Christ was the fall of many in Israel; and a tear to many in Jerusalem: and to many of the Gentiles he became foolishness▪ For though Christ be borne, and dead for all, yet all receive him not: But as many as receive him, to them he gives power to be the sons of God.

That Saint-like Song of Heaven makes good this present point: Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood; Ex omni Tribu, Populo, Lingua, Natione; that is, Out of every Tribe, People, Language, Nation. They do not say, Redemisti omnem Tribum, sed ex omni aliquos; that is, Thou hast redeemed every Tribe, but out of every Tribe and Kindred some: For though Christ's death to save all be sufficient; yet is it only to the faithful efficient.

This Nouerint vniuersi should comfort us Gentiles at the very heart, because we are not excluded the common salvation by Jesus: For he is a Light to enlighten the Gentiles of England, as well as once he was a glory to Israel.

Thus much concerning the extent of this Message.

Now followeth the admired cause of this proclaimed Joy; and that is, the blessed Birth of the Lord Jesus: Unto you is borne this day in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Wherein I observe these five particulars:

• 1. The Person: a Savior, Christ the Lord.
• 2. His Birth: is borne.
• 3. The parties for whom: unto you.
• 4. The time: this day.
• 5. The place: in the City of David.

Unto you: Unto you is borne: Unto you is borne this day: Unto you is borne this day in the City of David: Unto you is borne this day, in the City of David, a Savior; which is Christ the Lord.

But of the words, as they lie in order.

Unto you: Vobis.

This Vobis, by way of exposition, will afford a four-fold observation.

1. Vobis, To you: that is, Vestrum singulis, To your particular persons.

Words of comfort indeed: For had the Angel reported the Birth of a Savior, and not applied him to their particular consolations, it would have pleasured them little: For, what if in general I know Christ is borne, if in particular I find him not borne to me, alas what comfort have I?

Whence I note, that it is not a general report of a Savior that makes us happy; but a particular applyance, that makes us happy and blessed.

For as Luther saith; Sweet is the name of Jesus, but the life of all lieth in those little pretty Pronounces, Meus, tuus, suus: when we can say, he is my Jesus, thy Jesus, his Jesus, her Jesus. Worthily therefore doth the Confession of our Faith run in the singular number; with an, I believe in God; and, I believe in Jesus Christ, &c.

The Lord then make the Birth of the Lord Jesus salutiferous to every particular soul of us; to me, to thee, to every soul here present: Oh, that we could all say with Thomas; Thou art my Lord, and my God.

2. Vobis, To you: that is, Vobis hominibus, To you men, not to the Angels fallen.

We see then, that the Lord loved man more than Angels fallen: He sent a Savior, in our nature, to help us; but not in an Angelical, to help them: They are therefore damned, without recovery.

Yea, we are more beholding to Christ, than the Angels that stand: for he gave them but Confirmation, but to us both Redemption and Confirmation.

Nay, we are nearer to Christ than the Angels themselves; even as an arm of flesh is nearer to man, than an arm of Gold: we are Christ's arms of flesh, the Angels (though they be of a more excellent nature) are but as arms of Gold.

To you therefore especially Christ is borne.

3. Uobis, To you: that is, ad vestrum commodum, to your benefit and good: Nobis natus, nobis passus Christus; Christ was borne to us, for us he suffered, for us he fulfilled the Law; all that he did, he did for us: his tears are ours, his cries and groans, ours; his stripes ours; his perfection, ours; all, ours; he was not borne for himself, but for us: nay more, he had never been borne, but for us; as in the Epistle to the Corinthians: He is made of God to us wisdom, to us righteousness, to us sanctification, to us redemption.

This should teach us all this notable Lesson; to be for the good of others, and not all for our selves: He can be no good Christian, that is no good Common-wealths man.

The Sun in the Heavens shines not to himself, but to the whole World: the Candle on the Earth wastes it self for the good of others: So (if we be right Professors) with the members of the body, let us be for the good of our brethren.

Infaelix ill qui sibi soli natus: he is a base cullion that is borne for himself alone: some are such miserable miscreants, as they only aim at their own good: he that liveth thus, is no better than if he were vnborn; nay such are rather a burden to the earth than a bliss: such make the creatures groan, such make the poor man groan, yea Hell it self groans for such muck-worms.

Imitate Christ Jesus then this good time, do good to the poor now and ever to your powers; succor them, relieve them, help them: be you thus perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.

4. Vobis, to you: that is, vobis humilibus, pauperibus à mundo despectis pastoribus: to you poor and despised shepherds, to you a Savior is borne.

Christ is not borne to the proud, to the covetous, to the adulterous, to the profane: Christ is no Savior to such kind of persons; but to those that are faithful, and fear the Lord.

Witness else that Scripture in Job: Where is wisdom to be found? the sea saith not in me: the depth saith not in me: the land of the luxurious saith not in me: Christ quaints not with proud Peacockes, covetous carles and luxurious livers, but resides in the hearts of the humble. Even as water forsakes the hill, and rests in the valley; so God giveth grace to the humble, and watereth their souls with the dew of salvation: To you therefore a Savior is borne.

A PRAYER for a blessing upon this Sermon.

M OST holy and heavenly LORD GOD, for as much as thou hast taught us from thy holy and heavenly Word that Paul may plant, Apollos water, yet all in vain, unless thy grace be annexed thereunto: good Lord therefore we most humbly beseech thee in the Lord Jesus, to bless this portion of thy holy Word to every soul of us, making it the savor of life to salvation to every of us, and to none of us the savor of death to damnation: now if we reverence thy Word, delight in thy Word, and make it the rule and square of all our actions, then it is the savor of life to heaven; but if we remain in willful ignorance▪ notwithstanding thy Word, if we prefer the corrupt counsels of our vain hearts above the sacred commands of thy Word, then is it the witness of death to damnation: therefore we beseech thee give us thy grace▪ that we may follow not our own ways, or our own wills, for the end of this way will be death; but grant that we may follow the motions of thy blessed Spirit, and the doctrines of thy holy Word from this time forth for evermore into all truth.

O Lord God, we most heartily bless thy heavenly Name, for that thou hast appointed thine holy and heavenly Angels to guard us, safeguard us, attend us, defend us, from the malice & mischief of men and devils: especially (O God of all goodness) we thank thee for the gift of the Lord Jesus, the only hope & help of our salvation; had not Christ Jesus assumed ou mature, and satisfied for us thy Justice, we had all been everlastingly condemned: ten thousand times blessed be thy holy name, for that thou hast thus visited and redeemed thy people.

Now (good Father) seeing none are saved by the Lord Jesus, but such as believe on his Name, and walk after his Spirit: we pray thee then, give us grace to embrace him with the arms of our souls, that we may receive out of his fullness grace for grace: for to so many as thus receive him, gives he power, privilege, prerogative to be called, and to be thy sons, O God.

And as we are thus hopefully and happily redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus, so grant, we may consider the end of this our redemption, which is to serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives.

As we are called and professed Christians, so grant we may evermore walk worthy of this glorious Name and title: Lord make us careful to imitate this immaculate Lamb, in whom was found no guile: that we may follow him in innocence, piety, humility, patience, obedience, temperance, love: that it may be our greatest glory, our nearest resemblance of him, that we following him in holiness in this life, may be admitted to follow him in everlasting happiness in the world to come.

The mark (most gracious Lord God) of the sheep of Christ is to follow Christ, making the holy life & doctrine of the Lord Jesus, the only pattern of all our actions: therefore keep us (holy Father) from profaneness, pride, worldliness, drunkenness, fornication, and all manner of ungodliness: though we be in the world, yet grant we may not be of the world, but let our thoughts, words, actions, evermore be holy and heavenly.

Thus (good Lord) give us thy might of grace against sin, that Satan may not deceive us, nor corruption besmeere us, but beautify us with the graces of thy holy Spirit, that thy name and Gospel may be honored, many things among us by our holy examples converted, the mouths of the wicked stopped, and in the end the souls and bodies of us all everlastingly saved, and that for the alone merits of thy dear Son, our blessed Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ, blessed forever. To whom with thee (holy Father) and thine all-glorious Spirit, be all glory and thanksgiving ascribed and returned heartily and thoroughly now and forever more. Amen.