these, they confounded Nestorius diuiding Christ into two persons, one diuine, another humane; for the Magi gaue not here some gifts vnto God, and other vnto man: but all vnto one Christ. Ergo, non diuidatur in personis qui non invenitur diuisus in donis. as Pulgentius excellently.
Or as other, they did offer gold to Christ, as being a King: Frankincense, as being God: myrrhe, as being man: according to that of the Christian Poet.
Auruen. Thus, Myrrhem, regique deo, homini{que}
Dona ferunt.
It is an idle conceit that one did offer gold, another myrrhe, and the third frankincense: for seeing each of them acknowledged Christ to bee a King, and God, and a passible man; it is more probable that all of them offe∣red all these gifts euery one three, singuliaria.
They returned into their owne country another way
The grace of God appearing teacheth vs that wee should deny vngodlinesse, and worldly lusts, and that wee should liue soberly, and righteously, and godly in this present world. Wherefore the Wise-men hauing found Christ, and being taught of God not to returne a∣gaine to Herod, that is, any longer to serue the deuill: they renounce their owne wills and their olde waies, and walke according to Gods will in new waies. Immu∣tatio via emendatio vitae, quoth Euseb. Emisen: Hereto∣fore they walked in errour, but now they walke in truth. Heretofore they went a whoring after their owne inuentions, but now they follow the word and warning of God.
The summe then of all this Gospell is, that wee must seeke Christ by the guiding of a starre, that is, by the light of his word: and when wee haue found Christ, it is our duty to manifest our faith by good workes, in pre∣senting vnto Christ our King gold, that is, a pure confes∣sion of a true beleefe: frankincense, that is, humble prayer and inuocation: myrrhe, that is, a chast and a mor∣tified life. Wee must also giue to Mary, that is, to the