CHAP. XII. How Christ was Conceived by the Holy Ghost, and Born of the Virgin Mary.

Qu. 1. DOth it not seem Impossible that Christ should be begotten on a Virgin without a Man?

A. There is no Contradiction in it: And what is impossible to him that made all the World of no∣thing?a

Q. 2. But it seems incredible that God should be made Man?

A. God was not at all changed by Christ's Incarna∣tion. The Godhead was not turned into Flesh or Soul: but united it self thereto.b

Q. 3. But it seemeth an incredible Cond•scension in God to unite the Nature of Man to himself, in Personal Union.

A. When you understand what it is, it will not seem incredible to you, though wonderful. Consi∣der, 1. That it doth not turn the humane Nature into Divine. 2. Nor doth it give it any of that part or work which was proper to the Divine Nature, and Second Person in the Trinity from Eternity. 3. The Divine Nature is united to the Humane, only to ad∣vance this to the excellent Office of Mediation, and that Christ in it may be Head over all things to the Church. 4. And it will abate your wonder if you Page  98 consider, that God is as near to every Creature as the Soul is to the Body: In Him we live, move and have our being. And he is more to us, than our Souls are to our Bodies.

Q. 4. You now make me think that God is one with every Man and Creature, as well as with Christ. I pray you wherein is the difference?

A. Gods Essence is every where alike: but he doth not appear or work every where alike: As he is more in Heaven than on Earth, because he there operateth and appeareth in Glory, and as he is more in Saints than in the Ungodly, because in them he Operateth his Grace; so he is in Jesus Christ, otherwise than he is in any other Creature: 1. In that he by the Divine Power qualified him as he never did any other Creature. 2. And designeth him to that work which he never did any other Creature. 3. And fixeeth him in the honourable Relation to that work. 4. And communicateth to him by an uniting act, the Glory which he doth not to any other Creature: And though it's like there is yet more unknown and incomprehen∣sible to us, yet these singular Operations express a sin∣gular Operative Union. The Sun by shining on a Wall, becomes not one with it: But by its influence on Plants, it becometh one with them, and is their Generical Life.

Q. 5. But how is the Second Person in the Trinity more United to the humane Nature, than the Father and the Holy Ghost? are they divided?

A. You may as well ask, Why God is said to makec the World by his WORD, and by his SON: Tho the Persons are undivided in their works on the Crea∣ture, Page  99 yet Creation is eminently ascribed to the Fa∣ther, Incarnation and Redemption to the Son, and Sanctification to the Holy Ghost. The Suns power of Motion, Light and Heat are inseparable: And yet it is the Light as such that with our Eye doth cause the same act of sight, as united to it. But the perfect Answer to this doubt is reserved for Heaven?

Q. 6. But how was he conceived by the Holy Ghost, the Second Person by the third, when it is only the Second that was incarnate?

A. The Holy Ghost is not said to operate on the Se∣cond Person in the Trinity, or the Godhead, for Christs Conception; but on the Virgins Body, and by miracu∣lous causing a humane Soul and Body, and their union with the Eternal Word. Gods perfecting Operati∣ons are usually ascribed to the Holy Ghost: But the Father and Son, are still supposed Operating by the Holy Spirit.

Q. 7. Was Christ's Flesh made of the substance of his Mother?

A. Yes: Else how had he been the Son of Man?d

Q. 8. Was Christ's Soul begotten by his Mother?

A. It is certain that Man begetteth Man: But how Souls are generated is not fully known by Man: Some say, They are not Generated, but Created: Some say, That they are not Created, but Generated: And I think that there is such a concurrence of God's act and Mans, as may be called a Conjunction of Creation and Generation; that is, that as the Sun∣beams by a Burning-Glass may light a Candle, and that Candle light another, and another; yet so that the Light and Heat that doth it, is only from the Suns Page  100 continual communication: But will not Light another but as contracted and made forcible by the Burning-glass, or the Candle: So all the Substance of new Souls is from the Divine Efflux, or communication of it, which yet will not ordinarily beget a Soul, but as it is first received in the Generative natural faculty, and so operateth by it, as its appointed Natural means. Thus it seems all humane Souls are caused (Pardon the defects of the Similitude.) But the Soul of Christ miraculously, not without all Operation of the Mothers (for then he had not been the Son of Man) but with∣out a humane Father; the Holy Ghost more than sup∣plying that defect.

Q. 9. If Christ was Mary's Son, how escaped he Original guilt?

A. By being conceived by the Holy Ghost, and so in his humane Nature made the Son of God, and not generated as other Men are.

Q. 10. Had Mary any Children after Iesus Christ?

A. It goes for a Tradition with most, that she had none: But it is uncertain, and concerneth not our Faith or Salvation.e

Q. 11. Why was Christ Born of a Jew?

A. God had made a special Promise to Abraham first, that† Christ should be his Seed, in whom all Nations should be blessed: and to David after, that he should be his Off-spring, an everlasting King.

Q. 12. Why was not Christ Born till about Four thousand Years after the Fall?

Page  101A. It's dangerous asking Reasons of God's Coun∣cils which he hath not revealed. But this much we may know, that Christ was Mans Redeemer by un∣dertaking what he after did, before his Incarnation. And that he revealed the Grace of Redemption by Promises, Types and Prophesies, and so saved the Faithful: And that Gods works are usually progressive to Perfection, and ripe•t at last: And therefore when he had first sent his Prophets, he lastly sent his Son, to perform his undertaking and bring Life and Immor∣tality more fully to light, and bring in a better Cove∣nant, and gather a more excellent Universal Church.

Q. 13. Were any sav•d by Christ before he was made Man?

A. Yes: They had the Love of the Father, the Grace of Christ, and the necessary communion of the Holy Ghost, and the Promise: And in every Age and Nation, he that feared God and work't Righteous∣ness was accepted of him.f