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SERM.

III.

SERMON III.

The Circumftances of CHRIST'S
BIRTH practically confidered.

LUKE ii. 7.

And he brought forth her firft-born fon, and wrapped him in fwaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for

them in the inn.

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UCH was the manner in which the fon of God thought fit to take upon him human flesh: And how flight foever thefe circumstances of his birth may appear at the first mention, yet when ferioufly confider'd, they will be found to furnish many useful intimations, as well for the ftrengthening of our faith, as the quickening of our obedience. To point out these the more diftinctly, I would

treat,

I. Of our Saviour's nativity: She brought forth her firft-born fon.

II. Of his firft clothing or apparel: And SER M. wrapped him in fwaddling clothes. And, III. III. Of his firft lodging, with the reafon of it: And laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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I. FIRST, therefore, I begin with the account which is here given of our Saviour's nativity: She brought forth her firstborn fon.

We have in these few words an unquestionable proof of his real incarnation, that he neither affumed an airy phantom instead of true humanity, nor had a body immediately created out of nothing, or of different materials from other men, but was "perfect man of the fubftance of his "mother, born in the world," For who ever dreamt of bringing forth an apparition? Or what, that was not formed of the substance of the bleffed virgin, should be called her fon? Thus it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest (merciful, for the experiment he made of our infirmities, and faithful, for the relation in which he stands allied to us) to make reconciliation for our fins.

But what a miracle of love is this which we are now confidering, that man who is a worm, a poor and defpicable creature, fhould

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SERM. fhould be fo far regarded by the God of III. infinite majefty and glory, that he should

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condefcend to affume his frail and mortal nature, in order to restore him to that life and immortality, which his fin and disobedience had forfeited! that in this nature he fhould fubmit to go thro' the feveral little circumstances incident to human life, the Ancient of days to be a new-born babe, the author of fpeech to be himself an Infant, the Almighty Creator of the universe to be committed to the care and protection of a tender Mother! Above all, that he fhould be born to a life of grief and forrow, and having not where to lay his head on earth, should at last be put to the most grievous and accurfed death for us men and for our falvation!

Far be it from us to imagine all this while that the Godhead was converted into flesh. His Divinity loft not the least tittle. of its natural perfection; but he who was God from the beginning did fo affume the human nature in the fulness of time, that it was one and the fame perfon who was poffefs'd of all glory and perfection, and yet in refpect of humanity was liable to pain and forrow, and all the other infirmities incident unto it, except only fin. And as this now should strike us with the profoundeft awe and reverence, as it should humble and lay us low in the fight of our

Creator,

Creator, to reflect that so grievous and abo- SER M, minable are our fins, which required this III. amazing piece of condefcenfion to expiate and attone for them: fo fhould it fill us with the quickest fenfe of gratitude, to understand that this unparalelled kindness fhould not be withheld from us, and the eternal fon of God himself, when he "took upon him to deliver man, fhould not ab"hor the virgin's womb."

Yet let it be remember'd, 'twas the virgin's womb, and he who came to free us from the impurity and corruption of our nature, was not conceiv'd after that man-ner in which this corruption had been propagated, but a new thing (as the prophet fpeaks) the Lord created in the earth, that a woman fhould compass a man.

No undertaking could be too great or difficult for fuch an Agent; but the laws of nature might well be fet afide or contradicted, when the Author of nature himfelf did interpofe; and he who created all things originally out of nothing, as well as man in particular out of the duft of the earth, and woman of the rib of the man, might at any time produce a man out of the fubftance of a woman, tho' he chose only to do it in this fingle cafe, for the greater honour and difcrimination of the offspring. Withal there is this use to be made of it with regard to our felves, that

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SERM. none but pure and virgin hearts are fit for III. the entertainment and reception of fo Di

vine a guest, none that are defiled with fenfual, or worldly lufts, but every man that bas fuch hope in him, must strive to purify bimfelf even as he is pure. Then will Chrift be formed in him (as the Apoftle fpeaks) and the honour done this chosen virgin will be but typical of their fpiritual relation, For whofoever (fays Chrift himself) shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the fame is my brother, and fifter, and Mother:

The privilege conferr'd upon this bleffed virgin may well be fuppofed to have exempted her from the pains and perils which are incident to childbirth. Well might the bring forth without pain, whọ had conceived without fin, and however it were denounced against the Mother of all living, and in her againft her daughters throughout all fucceeding ages, that in forrow she should bring forth children, yet here, as there was no communication of the fin, fo we may reasonably prefume there was exemption from the punishment. This is thought by fome to be infinuated in the Text itself, which mentions no help or affiftance of the Holy Mother in this prefent exigency, but fpeaks of her as wrapping up the child herself, and taking the

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