Devotionis Augustinianae flamma, or, Certaine devout, godly, and learned meditations written, by the excellently-accomplisht gentleman, William Austin, of Lincolnes-Inne, Esquire. The particulars whereof, the reader may finde in the page following;) set forth, after his decease, by his deare wife and executrix, Mrs. Anne Austin, as a surviving monument of some part of the great worth of her ever-honoured husband, who changed his life, Ian 16. 1633

First, The Time.

THE Time of Christs Incarnation (he saies) was in the sixth Moneth: That was, sixe Moneths after his Fore-runner, his Cosen (Iohn the Baptist) was Conceived, that He might goe before him: and that was, in the dayes of Herod King of Iudaea; at the fourth verse. But, there were more Herod (Kings of Iudaea) then one: and therefore this makes no great certaintie. Yet, if you will reckon (as he said to Abraham) according to the time of life, but nine Moneths after, from the Birth, backe hither, you may quickly know more cer∣taintie; that it was (at the Chap. 2. verse 1.) When Augustus Caesar taxed all the world: and, all the world knowes when he raigned, and had power to taxe. In his time, Iosephus tels us, that Herod, the sonne of Antipater (the Idumaean) was King of Iudaea. Therefore now (as Iacob prophesied,) was the fulnesse of Time for Shiloh to come: for the Scepter was departed from Iuda, and was in the hands of an Idu∣maean: and, at this time, was Christ Incarnate: So (heere) is the Pro∣phecy fulfilled.

I will not take upon me (with the Postillers) for more particulari∣tie, to tell you; That, as it was in the sixth Moneth (that is, March,) wherein God made the world; so was it also, in the sixth Age of the World: and in the sixth day of the Weeke, wherein God made Man: and in the sixth houre of the Day, wherein Man fell; and the same Day of the Weeke that (thirtie three yeeres after) he dyed, to repaire Man. These Curiosities, as they are nice; so, (be they true, or false) they are needlesse. It is enough for us to know, That He came at the Time, he was promised: and that was, when the Scepter was departed. So, God, is as good, as his word.

But yet, the Church gives us to know, by the time of the Institu∣tion of the Feast, that (of all times of the yeere) it was in the Spring time: the Time when God makes all the world fresh, and new againe: Ecce Omnia de novo facio. He was doing a new thing upon the Earth. And new, not onely the World, but all the Low vertues (withered in the world) began againe, of new, to rise gently with him. Now, that

Germen (that Branch) begins humbly to bud foorth of the Roote of Iesse, (clothed in our base flesh,) when all the tender Buds and Flowers peepe lowly from the Earth, wrapt in the poore swadling bands of their owne huskes.

When the Aire was calmed, and Peace (the daughter of Humilitie) began to fill the Earth, that the Low growings of the Meeke, might not be hindred: At this Time, When all things, by their tendernesse are easily bended: at this humble Time, did he humble himselfe: And therefore the Church keeps the Feast in a time of Humiliation: For the Annuntiation seldome, (or, never) fals out of Lent. So have we first found Humilitie, in the Time.

Notes

• Gen. 18. 10.
• Chap. 2.
• Gen. 49. 10.
• Ier•…•…. 31. 22.