humility; the great blow is given; the Devil's pride and envy are abased; all the enemies are amazed, are daunted, are confounded at his presence; they cannot stand, they break, they scatter, they flee before him.

Is the publishing of peace acceptable? Behold eternal peace between heaven and earth, a general peace among men, a peace of conscience between man and himself, is now established and proclaimed: the illustrious ambassador, the noble hostage, the infallible pledge thereof is arrived; Preaching peace to them that are far off, and to them that are near.'

Is recovery of liberty comfortable unto slaves and captives? Behold the Redeemer is come, the great ransom is laid down sufficient to purchase the freedom of whole worlds: innocence appearing in human nature hath unlocked the prison of sin, in which we were closely detained; hath broken the shackles of universal guilt, which sorely pinched mankind he is come, who is anointed to preach (αἰχμαλώτοις ἄφεσιν) ' dismission to the captives.'

Is the coming of a good friend to be congratulated? Behold, the best friend to all mankind (bringing with him most wholesome advice, most needful succor, most seasonable consolation) is arrived to visit us, and dwell with us.

Is it a comfortable thing to be graced with honor? What greater honor could mankind be dignified with, than this of receiving the Son of God into its kind and kindred? What could more advance and adorn us than this high relation?

Is mirth seasonable to the day of marriage? Behold heaven and earth this day are coupled, divinity is espoused to humanity, an eternal indissoluble knot of amity, of unity, is tied between God and man; the great Bridegroom is come forth clad in his nuptial garment of flesh, ready to wed the church, his beloved spouse.

Is the sun's rising (after a long, dark, and cold night) cheerful and comfortable? See, the Sun of righteousness is risen, with healing in his wings;' dispensing all about his most pleasant light, and salutary influences; The day-spring from on high hath visited us,' diffusing an universal light on the souls of men, dispelling the night of ignorance and error, shining out to those that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and

guiding our feet in the way of peace:'Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen on thee,' &c. Never did heaven with so clear and serene a countenance smile on earth, as it did this day, when this super-illustrious luminary (this bright morning star, as he is called in the Apocalypse) did spring up above our horizon. From this auspicious day commenced the revocation of that fatal curse, by which we were exiled from Paradise, condemned to death, exposed to hell; the reinstating us in a condition of hope, in a capacity of happiness; the return of life and joy into this region of corruption and disconsolateness: this is the day, which all nations desired, and earnestly longed for, (with an implicit sense ;) which the good patriarchs foreseeing did rejoice; which the prophets in so magnificent strains did predict and presignify. In our Lord's nativity all mankind was in a manner born, or did revive; was restored from a manifold necessity of dying; from lying dead in the guilt, and under the power of sin; from having our bodies irrecoverably dissolved by corruption, and our souls immersed into that second death of endless misery. It is in effect therefore the world's nativity that we celebrate, annexed to that of our Lord; the beginning of the new, better, spiritual, and eternal life to men all reason therefore we have on this consideration heartily to rejoice; how extremely stupid and senseless are we, if the apprehension of goods so many, so excellent, hence accruing to us, doth not inspire our hearts with a grateful cheerfulness! This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein.'

SUMMARY OF SERMON XXIV.

MATTHEW, CHAP. I.-VERSE 20.

PRINCIPAL causes and ingredients of our Lord's incar

nation.

I. It was the Holy Ghost, by the singular virtue and operation of whom the blessed Virgin did conceive; Joseph being only in outward esteem the father of our Saviour.

This matter of fact was well known to Joseph by revelation; to the virgin by her conscience; and by them it was attested to the holy Apostles; their attestation being seconded by the miracles of our Lord, and by the other potent arguments which confirm his doctrine: this enlarged on. The fact therefore being taken for granted, the particulars of it are considered.

1. The manner of that operation: this is expressed by the angel Gabriel, in terms so little intelligible by us, that they may well serve to bound our curiosity and check our inquiries. Rash and profane opinions of some sects considered: more becoming ideas of the holy Fathers stated.

2. Why was our Saviour conceived by the Holy Ghost? 1. It was needful for assuring his divinity, or his being the eternal Son of God; which was necessary, according to God's purposes, to the ancient predictions, and to the expectation of God's people. 2. This was the most fit way of accomplishing that so necessary conjunction of the divine and human nature: this topic enlarged on. 3. It being necessary that our Saviour should be consecrated to his great functions, and perfectly sanc

tified in his person, as man, the efficacy of the Holy Spirit must needs intervene for this purpose. 4. It was needful that the human nature, which God did so advance, should be clear from all stain and pollution. 5. It was in like manner necessary that he who was ordained to appease God's displeasure, and to expiate all our offences, &c. should know no sin from the Sanctifier therefore he derived his perfect sanctity. 6. We may add, the analogy, or apposite resemblance, between the conception of our Saviour for us, and his formation in us: this explained which may be an admonition to us, to labor after this spiritual conception, &c. Proper application of this point.

II. The next head of discourse is the concurrence of the blessed Virgin in our Lord's generation; in which is comprehended, 1. his conception of her substance, whence he is called the fruit of her womb, &c. 2. the nutrition, accretion, and intire conformation of his body out of her blood and substance, &c. 3. his nativity itself-she brought forth her firstborn son. These points enlarged on.

For our instruction and use we may consider him as born of her in three respects: he was born of her, as a woman, as a virgin, as Mary.

Error of the

1. Our Saviour was born of her, as a woman. Valentinian heretics on this point exposed. We may easily conceive that God could immediately have created a nature like to ours, and have assumed it; but that would not have so fitly served the design of reconciling himself to us, and redeeming us this fully explained. It was likewise seemly that the devil, who by the weakness of a woman had seduced man from his duty, should by the strength of one proceeding from a woman be overcome; according to the most ancient of all prophecies.

2. Our Lord was born of a virgin. So it was anciently presignified and predicted: this point enlarged on.

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It was also decent and expedient that the tabernacle in which God resided should be proper, holy, and separate.

It was also most convenient for exciting due attention, for begetting faith, procuring reverence and admiration among

men.

3. Moreover, our Saviour was born of Mary; of that singular person determined and described in the gospels; of her that was espoused to Joseph, &c.; who lived in Nazareth; who was of the illustrious house and family of David. Her lowly condition and personal qualifications enlarged on.

She was so related, for the declaration of God's truth, fidelity, and constancy, in accomplishing those ancient predictions and promises made to the Fathers.

She was thus duly qualified, to signify that God did not so much regard the outward pomp of this vain world, as the inward frame and temper of spirit. This is the reflexion which she herself made on the matter: Luke i. 51.

Such a person did the Son of God choose, to confer on her so eminent an honor; of all exterior honors the greatest ever granted to a mere creature.

It is said, of exterior honors; for our Lord himself teaches us to esteem spiritual advantages even above this great privilege Matth. xii. 50. This topic enlarged on.

It may also be observed that our Saviour on other accounts willingly chose so mean a parentage; that thence he might have readier opportunity to undergo the greatest hardships incident to our nature; and to exemplify the most difficult virtues and duties.

That also the divine power and glory might appear more conspicuous through his low estate; that he might thus intimate the nature of his kingdom; and that he might thus discover to us wherein our happiness consists, and what is the true grandeur of man.

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Finally, this relation of the blessed Virgin to our Lord