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Containing so much of the Gospel∣History as relates to the Infancy of the H. Jesus, and that time of his Privat Life which passed be∣fore He entred on his Publick Ministry.
the highest Hevens, thy Royal Throne, to this Vale of Misery; that by taking My Nature upon Thee, Thou mightest not only suffer and satisfy for Me, but also impart Thy Nature unto Me.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
For this thine unspeakabl Lov. I adore thee for thine infinit Wis∣dom and Goodness: I am asto∣nished at thy stupendious Hu∣mility and Condescension to lost and undeserving Man. Bow the Hevens, O Lord, once more, and com down, touch my Heart with thine Almighty Power; and, having cast out whatsoever may be offensiv to thy Sacred Maje∣sty, fill it with thy blessed Pre∣sence for ever.
O Blessed Jesu, whose Incar∣nation was so sublime a Mystery,
that, to usher in a matter of such extraordinary Concernment to the World, the Angel Gabriel* 1.3 was sent from God, unto a Ci∣ty [ 26] of Galilee named Nazareth, to a Uirgin espoused to a man* 1.4 whose Name was Ioseph, of the [ 27] Hous of David, and the Uirgin's Name was Mary:
I magnify thy Glorious Name,
For making thy Spirits Mini∣sters unto them who shal be Heirs of Salvation. As the Angels and Arch-Angels prais Thee, the Cherubim and Seraphim adore Thee, and all the hevenly Host bow down unto Thee, not only fitting upon thy Throne, but even at the lowest Degree of thy Foot-stool, wherunto thou hast voluntarily humbled thy self in thine Incarnation: So, let me, I beseech thee, in concurrence with the Celestial Choir, cele∣brat
this Mystery of thy Lov on Earth, & worship the Majesty of thy Glory in Heven, til my Life becom Angelical by rejoicing in Thee and in Thy Salvation.
When the Angel came in unto [ 28] her, and said, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou a∣mong Women: she cast in her mind what manner of Saluta∣tion [ 29] this should be.
I prais thy Holy Name,
O Blessed Jesu, for the great∣ness of thine Eternal Lov to this Holy Virgin, and to all Man∣kind in her. O make me sensibl how highly I my self am favor'd in this great Transaction, since She was thus blessed among Wo∣men, that all the Families of the Earth might be blessed in her
Seed. A Salutation of such in∣finit Importance doth worthily deserv to be frequently revolved in our minds, which, being par∣ticularly brought to a privat Fa∣mily in Jewry, hath prov'd of universal Concernment to the whol World. O let me also tast and see how gracious the Lord hath been to my Soul: No mat∣ter for the Favor of Men, so we find Grace with God.
While she was troubled at* 1.5 his saying, the Angel said un∣to [ 30] her, Fear not Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. And [ 31] behold, thou shalt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his Name Iuses: He shal be great, [ 32] and shal be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shal giv unto him the Chrone of
his Father David. And he shal [ 33] reign over the house of Iacob for ever, and of his Kingdom there shal be no end.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
O Jesus, for thy great Glory and endless Soveraignty, for as much as thy Kingdom is an ever∣lasting Kingdom, and thy Domi∣nion endureth throu-out all Gene∣rations. O thou Root and Off∣spring of David, vouchsafe to extend thy Scepter over all Na∣tions, and be for Salvation to the Ends of the Earth, that un∣der thy Government all Peopl being saved from their Sins may liv and prosper in Peace and Ho∣liness. Sit upon the Throne of my heart by the Power and Pre∣sence of thy Holy Spirit, reign over all the faculties of my Soul, subdu them to thy Will, and be thou my God and King for∣ever.
Then said Mary to the An∣gel, [ 34] How shal this be, seeing I know not a Man? Wherunto the Angel answered, The Holy [ 35] Ghost shal com upon thee, and the Power of the Highest shal overshadow thee, therfore also that Holy Thing which shal be born of thee shall be called The Son of GOD.
I prais and magnify the Name,
O thou Son of God, for thine in finit Condescension to becom the Son of Man. It is not less Blessed and Mysterious to con∣ceiv Thee in the Heart by Faith, than to carry Thee in the Womb of Flesh: Send therefore, I be∣feech thee, the same Spirit and Power to rest upon mine Affe∣ctions, til Christ be formed in me, that thy Humility and Holiness,
thy Life and Lov, may be brought forth in my Conversa∣tion, and so adapt me to be called the Son of God.
Holy Jesu, who, for the more* 1.6 rational Engagement of the Vir∣gins Faith, didst further acquaint her by the same Angel, Behold, thy Cousin Elizabeth, who was [ 36] called barren, she also hath con∣ceived a Son in her old Age.
I magnify thy H. Name,
Becaus with God nothing [ 37] shal be unpossibl. This Maxim may suffice to silence all the Ca∣villing Inquiries of human Rea∣son, How this should be: For the same Power that makes the barren Womb fruitful, can with the same facility dispens with those Laws of Nature that ren∣der it unlikely there should be a
Virgin-Mother: And that Spi∣rit, which, by breathing on them, was abl to make dry Bones liv, may be very rationaly believed of sufficient Power to impreg∣nat a Virgin's Womb. And therefore, in Considering this transcendent Mystery of my Sa∣vior's Incarnation, I will rather admire and recount his Good∣ness and Truth, than question his Power, or pry into the man∣ner of its Accomplishment; and in all his Trials of my Faith or Pati nce, my Soul shal say, as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Lord did, [ 38] Be it unto me according unto thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Upon this Information the Blessed Virgin Mary arose and [ 39, 40] went iuto the Hill-Country to the Hous of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to visit her Cousin Elizabeth, who no
sooner heard her Salutation, but the Babe leaped in her Womb, and she was filled with [ 45] the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ghost: so that she said with a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 voice, Blessed [ 42] art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, whence is it that the Mother of my Lord should com to me? [ 43]
I prais thy Name,
For this marvelous Effect of thy Presence, O Blessed Jesu, and for the powerful Influence of thy Spirit manifest therin, even be∣fore thy Manifestation to the World. Help me, O Lord, so to correspond with Thee in thy gracious Visitations as to dis∣charge all the Offices of Lov, Friendship, and Christian Piety incumbent on me toward all Re∣lations, that I also may be a Joy unto thy Servants, and they such unto Me, as Thou art un∣to
us all. And let the voice of* 1.7 thy Salutation, sounded in mine [ 44] Ears by the Ministry of thy Word, make me Blessed in be∣lieving that there shal be a Per∣formanre of those things which were told us from the Lord, as wel concerning the second Com∣ing to judg the World as hath already been of thy first Coming to redeem it.
O my dear Redeemer, who, in making choice of this Holy Virgin to be thy Happy Mother, hast regarded the low Estate of [ 48] thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉, preferring that before all the outward Pomp and Grandeur wherwith we are too fondly taken, to giv us an in∣structiv Instance that Humility is the Fountain and Fore-runner of Honor, for behold from thence∣forth all Generations do call 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Blessed:
My Soul doth magnify the Lord, [ 46]
For He that is Mighty hath don great things, and Holy is [ 49] his Name; He hath shewed strength with his Arm, when He [ 51] put down the mighty from their Seats, and exalted them [ 52] of low degree, to help his Ser∣vant Israel in remembrance of [ 54] his Mercy. Lord, since the Poor and Lowly in heart are so acceptabl in thine Eys, teach me to lov Retirement and de∣light in Devotion as this Elect Virgin did, and make me truly content and happy in the lowest degree wherin thy Providence shal think fit to place me. And since thou art graciously incli∣ned to fill the hungry 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good things, let her Faith in relying [ 53] on God's ancient Promises of Mercy, which he spake to our [ 55]
Fathers, to Abraham and to his Seed for ever; her Wis∣dom in treasuring up all thy Sa∣cred tho Mysterious Verities; her constant Obedience to thy revealed Will; her exemplary Humility amidst all thy Graces conferr'd upon her; and that Spirit of Prais and Thanksgi∣ving wherwith she rejoiced in [ 47] God her Savior, added to her modest Chastity and holy Fear, replenish and adorn my Soul and Life in all Estates and Condi∣tions: for thy Mercy is on them that fear Thee from Generation [ 50] to Generation.
O thou Day spring from on* 1.8 high, who throu the tender Mer∣cy [ 78] of our God hast visited us, to giv Light to them that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in [ 79] Darkness and in the Shadow of Death, to guide our Feet in the way of Peace.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, [ 68]
For he hath visited and re∣deemed his Peopl, and hath [ 69] raised up an horn of Salvation for us in the house of his Ser∣vant David. Lord, grant un∣to us, that we being delivered [ 74] out of the hands of our Ene∣mies, may serv Thee without fear, in Holiness and Righte∣ousness before Thee all the days [ 75] of our Life; till we acquire the saving 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of thy Salva∣tion given unto thy Peopl, by the Remission of their Sins. [ 77]
Holy Jesu, With what Wis∣dom didst thou delay thine In∣carnation so long? With what Mercy no longer? Thou didst defer it so long, that the Scrip∣tures fore-going it might testify of Thee, according to that say∣ing,
In the Volume of the Book it is written of Me; to the end all holy Souls, in the sundry Ages and Nations of the World, might be filled with Expecta∣tions & Desires of Thy Coming in the Flesh, and confirmed in their Faith by the Prophecies ac∣cordingly fulfilled. Yet wouldst thou not delay it longer, that the Over-flowings of thy Lov, in the Fulness of Time, might sa∣tisfy all holy Longings with the Accomplishment of thy wonder∣ful Incarnation, in order to our compleat Redemtion
I prais and magnify thy Name,
For the exceeding Riches of thy Grace and Wisdom treasured up in this thy mysterious and sacred Dispensation: Beseeching thee, that as Thou art the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of all Nations, so to render thy self altogether lovly in mine
eys. O vouchsafe to com into my Soul in the fulness of thy Compassion, for the Pardon of my Sins; in the fulness of thy Grace, to subdu my Lusts; and in the fulness of thy Power, to strengthen me in resisting Tem∣tations; as thou camest in the fulness of thy Lov, to redeem me from their malevolent In∣fluence.
O Blessed Jesu, who didst en∣dure nine Months Confinement in thy Mother's Womb, til the* 1.9 days were accomplished that she should be delivered, that begin∣ning at the Root of our Nature thou mightest throuly cleans its Original Corruption:
I magnify thy Sacred Name,
For thy patient Conformity to thine own Laws of Nature,
attending till her ordinary Time and Method should open the doors of the Matrix for thy Re∣leas. Lord, moderat that Im∣patience wherwith we usualy crave any expected Good, and that Eagerness of mind which precipitats us into irregular Courses to evade whatsoever we fancy uneasy or troublsom: And when I am reduced to any great Strait, enabl me, with a contented Patience and humbl Resignation, to wait on Thee, my best Aid and Exemplar, for Deliverance in thy good time.
When as his Mother Mary,* 1.10 being espoused to Joseph, was [ 18] found with Child, before they came together; and that just [ 19] man, not willing to make her a public Exampl, was minded to put her away privily; the
Angel of the Lord appeared un∣to [ 20] him in a Dream saying, Jo∣seph thou Son of David, fear not to take Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost; and she [ 21] shal bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his Name Jesus, for he shal save his Peepl from their Sins.
I celebrat thy saving Name,
For fulfilling that which was [ 22] spoken of the Lord by the Pro∣phet, saying, Behold a Uirgin [ 23] shal be with Child, and shal bring forth a Son, and they shal call his Name Emmanuel. Evi∣dence thy self, O Jesus, to be God with Us. in making us tender of our Neighbor's Repu∣tation; and instead of judging rashly according to appearance, let us rather follow the Dictats of thy Grace, if not from the
immediat Direction of thy Ho∣ly Spirit, yet according to the charitabl Prescriptions of thy Holy Word.
Then Joseph being raised* 1.11 from Sleep did as the Angel [ 24] of the Lord had bidden him, laying aside all the unkind De∣terminations of his mistaken Jealousy.
I prais and magnify thy Name, O God,
For that steddy Faith and per∣fect Resignation wherwith this thy Servant entertained the In∣timation of thy Divine Will, who was not disobedient to the heven∣ly Vision, but readily submitted to the Authority of the Message without disputing the Truth or Possibility of the Mystery therin revealed. Lord, render me more
inclinabl to employ my Talent in a hearty Obedience to thine express Commands, than spend my Time in the fruitless Disqui∣sition of those unaccountabl 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which thou hast been pleased to reveal from Heven: And let his unparallel'd Absti∣nence who took unto him his [ 25] Wife, and yet knew her not til she had brought forth her first∣born Son, not only so shame all mine inordinat Affections and engage me to abstain from fleshly Lusts which war against my Soul, as to keep under my Body and bring it into Subjection; but withall heighten our Esteem and Emulation of the transcendent Chastity and conjugal Lov of that immaculat Pair whom the King of Heven thought fit to honor and entrust with the Birth and Breeding of his own Son, who was not so styled her First∣born
as to imply there ever was any other succeeding Fruit of her Womb; the Mother of God being worthily believed an Eter∣nal Virgin, as wel In and After as Before the Bringing forth of that Son whose Name they cal∣led JESUS, according to the mystical Import of that abstruse Prophecy, in the 44th Chapter of Ezekiel, This Gate shal be shut, it shal not be open'd, and no man shal enter in by it; becaus the Lord the God of Israel hath en∣ter'd in by it, therefore it shal be shut.
O Dear Jesus, who in the same Act of assuming our Hu∣manity 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also evidence thy Divinity, being as well conceived by the H. Ghost as born of a Virgin.
I adore thine Eternal God-head,
For thy great Wisdom and Care in the Discovery and Con∣firmation of this sublime Myste∣ry of thy Hypostatical Union; which thou didst not only tran∣sact in Secret by the Message of the Angel Gabriel, the Over∣shadowing of the H. Ghost, and the Conception of the Virgin Mary; but hast openly ratified by the Report of those Shep∣herds that had seen a Vision of Angels by the Brightness of the Star which appeared in the He∣vens, and by the Deportment of the Wise men whom it condu∣cted from the East to Jerusa∣lem; by the Testimony of Si∣meon and Anna in the Templ, and that of thy Precursor John the Baptist in the Wilder∣ness: All publick and unquestio∣nable Arguments as well to
confirm as exhibit the Truth and Import of the Annunciation made in privat to the devout Virgin; that this first Step to∣wards the Great Act of our Re∣demtion, being alike Glorious within and without, might ap∣pear worthy to be received of All with full Assurance, and contemplated by All with infinit Gratitude and Delight.
O my dear and gracious Re∣deemer, whose Humanity and Divinity are inseperably uni∣ted, in Thee are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Know∣ledg, being filled with the Ful∣ness of God. Grant, throu the Dispensation of thy Grace, that the same Godhead which dwel∣leth in Thee bodily, may spi∣ritualy abide in Me; that, as thy Body is united to thy Soul and both unto God, so my
Body may be incorporat with thine, and my Soul enflamed with such a degree of thy Lov as shal be an Earnest of our ever-lasting Union. Fill me with great and reverent Apprehensions of that inex∣pressibl Honor wherunto we are advanced in Our Union with the Deity, in regard it is the End and Effect of Thine; and let this Consideration dis∣entangl me from all things here below, that living the Life of God, from which the whol World is alienated by Sin, I may enter into an Hevenly Fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ for ever.
O Thou King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who dost dispose and turn the hearts of Earthly Monarchs as it seem∣eth best to thy Godly Wisdom, making that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which went out from Cesar Augustus that [verse 1] all the World should be tared, subservient to thy Celestial De∣cree long before Cyrenius was [ 2] Governor of Syria revealed by thy H. Prophets touching the place where Christ should be born: for, in Obedience to the Imperial Edict All went to be [ 3] tared, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one into his own City, and Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the City, Naza∣reth, [ 4]
into Judea, unto the City of David, which is called Betl 〈◊〉〈◊〉, to be tared with Mary his espoused wife then great with Child, in such a juncture [ 5] of time, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they were there the days were accom∣plished [ 6] that she should be de∣livered.
I prais and magnify thy H. Name,
For thy over-ruling Wisdom and Providence in making those Occurrences, which seem con∣tingent, and arbitrary to human Reason, instrumental to carry on the good purpos of thy Divine Will; so that what the Prophet Micah had fore-told (as the Chief Priests and Scribes them∣selves did readily explain and apply it) may at this day serv for the Direction and Establish∣ment of our Faith in the tru 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Lord, let that admirabl Concent and Harmony between thy Old and New Testament, which is evident in this and ma∣ny other singular Instances of thy Truth and Power, be effe∣ctual to convince the obstinat Jews, convert the unbelieving. Gentils, and bring All Mankind to the Obedience of Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
O thou most High Possessor of Heven and Earth, who didst humbl thy self to be wrapped in Swadling 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in a Manger, becaus there was* 1.13 no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, having made choice of a poor Virgin for thy Mother and a mean Carpenter to pass for thy reputed Father, both being destitute (not only of a numerous Train of Atten∣dants, and such like Marks of
Worldly Pomp and Grandeur, but even) of ordinary Conve∣niences:
I prais thy Glorious Name,
For thus taking upon Thee the form of a Servant, that thou mightest heal the Error of our Ignorance and Ambition. Let the continual memory of this thy blessed Exampl giv an effe∣ctual Check to the Vanity of my Mind, for the utter extirpa∣tion of all the Pride or Avarice incident to my Nature: And, having dispossessed all sensual Thoughts and beastly Appetits of that Room which entirely be∣longs to Thee, be thou pleased to accept of my poor Heart, as thou didst of that homely Stabl to reside in, supplying their place with such unfeigned Humility as may render me cheerfully contented in all Estates. Lord,
impart needful Consolation to the Poor, a sanctified Poverty of Spirit to the Rich, and the abundant Riches of thy Grace to All.
There being in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saine [ 8] Country Shepherds abiding in the field, keeping Watch over their Flock by night, the An∣gel of the Lord came upon them, and said unto them, Fear not, [ 9] for behold, I bring you glad Tidings of great Joy which [ 10] shal be to all Peepl; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unto [ 11] You is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord:
I magnify thy Sacred Name,
For this admirabl mixture of Humility and Glory wherwith thou, O Christ, hast beautified and signalized thy Coming into
the World: for, the Ministry of an Angel, to proclaim thy Birth, is no less Glorious and Sublime, than to be an Inmate with the Beasts of the Stabl seems base and mean in our Eys. Lord, since thou hast vouchsafed to di∣rect thy winged Herald to those vigilant Cottagers, that the Poor and Simpl might hav as much Occasion to shew forth thy Prais as the great and Learned; I cannot but admire (and hear∣tily desire to imitat) the perfe∣ction of thine impartial Lov to the Souls of men. Thou art not deluded with the beautiful Vi∣zard of a Great Estate, nor ena∣mor'd on empty Titls of Honor; but, seeing throu the Veil of such human Additaments and beggarly Inventions, dost infi∣nitly prize the naked Souls and Bodies of thy Servants. Quicken me (I beseech thee) to an in∣dustrious.
Attendance on my Calling, and a stricter Watchful∣ness over my Thoughts, Words, and Deeds, (those numerous Flocks which are very apt to wander and go astray) that my Soul may be precious in thy Sight: And, tho I walk in Dark∣ness, in the Vale and Shadow of Death, yet let thy gracious Visi∣tations not only enlighten and refresh me, but also draw and direct my Heart to follow these honest Shepherds, who (in obe∣dience to the direction they re∣ceiv'd from Heven) left all to go unto Bethlehem and seé that* 1.14 thing which the Lord had made [ 15] known unto them, where they [ 16] found the Babe lying in a Manger; that I also, being fil∣led with the like Joy in Believing what they found verified by this [ 12] Sign which the Angel had gi∣ven them, may boldly publish
thy Goodness and Truth toge∣ther with my own grateful Ap∣prehensions of it, as these Shep∣herds did, who when they had seen it, made known abroad the [ 17] Saying: which was told them concerning that 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and re∣turned* 1.15 glorifying and praising [ 20] God for all the things that they had heard and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
And how could they do less. having so lately seen a Multi∣tude of the Hevenly Host, prai∣sing God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth [ 13] Peace, Good Will towards Men. Shal Angels descend to [ 14] celebrat our Peace on Earth? and, Shal not We lift up our Eys on High to giv God the Glory? Can they rejoice in the manife∣station of His Good Will towards Men, and Men themselvs be un∣affected
with such an inestimabl Benefit? May I be silent or in∣sensibl, while the hevenly Host sing Praises?
I will prais and bless and giv Thee thanks for ever,
O my Dear Redeemer, for the transcendent Efforts of thy Lov to Me and all Mankind, exprest in this Angelick Carol. O be thou graciously pleased to warm my breast with som Sparks of this Celestial Charity, that being like unto the Angels in doing thy Will and shewing forth thy Praises upon Earth, I may at last be made equal to them in the fruition of thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pre∣sence in Heven: and in order thereunto, let that Lov of God which was thus manifested to∣wards us, by sending his only be∣gotten Son into the World, that we might liv throu Him, even
when we were Enemies to God and all Goodness, powerfuly en∣gage us to the Practice and Im∣provement of that Peace thou hast restored upon Earth by tran∣scribing the most excellent Co∣py of thy Good Will towards Men; for, if God so loved Us, we ought also to lov one another; Upon the unfeigned Discharge of which grateful and advantageous Duty, the whol Success of His means of Grace and Our Hopes of Glo∣ry doth so much depend, that without following those things which make for Peace as wel as Holiness, no man shall see the Lord.
Now, all they that 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.16 those things which were told [ 18] them by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, won∣der'd at it; but the blessed Virgin Mary kept all these [ 19]
things and ponder'd them in her Heart.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
O thou uncreated Angel of the Covenant, for the astonishing Power and peculiar Influence of thy Divine Revelations, which are usualy attended with a va∣rious Effect upon the minds of different Persons. Grant (Lord, I beseech thee) that I may not entertain any Discovery of thy Saving Truth or more especial Presence, with the short-lived Flash of a bare transient Wonder or fruitless Amazement, after the loos Exampl of the un-thinking part of Mankind: but rather so imitat the pious Prudence of thy matchless Mother; who discreet∣ly observed evry Intimation of thy God-head, and carefuly kept in mind whatever might en∣lighten her Understanding ther∣in,
as to treasure up all the sa∣cred Notices of thine Eternal Power and Godhead in the safe Recesses of my Heart, and al∣low som Time and Thought to make a du Reflection on such considerabl things as may there∣upon be worthily committed to a Religious Memory in my Soul; for, whoso is wise will ponder these things, and he shal understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.
O Thou Light of the World, who wast born in the Night, an Emblem of that dark and dis∣consolat Estate wherinto We by Transgression fell: Thou art the Sun of Righteousness, by whose Rising upon the Earth the Peepl that walked in Darkness hav seen a great Light, and upon them that dwell in the Land of the Shadow of Death hath the Light
shined. Thy glorious Appearing hath dispersed the Cloud of thy Father's Wrath, under which the whol Creation groaned, together with those unwholsom Mists of Sin, Error, and Ignorance wher∣in Mankind was lost and be∣nighted: Thou hast dissolved the Everlasting Chains of Dark∣ness which were justly prepared to bind us in Hell and Despair, and once more restored us a Day of Hope to rejoice in the Light of thy Countenance for ever:
All that is within me doth bless thy H. Name,
Who hast said unto my Soul, Arise, shine, for thy Light is com, and the Glory of the Lord, is risen upon thee. Lord, grant that in thy Light I may see Light: let the Light of thy Grace prepare mine Eys to be∣hold the illustrious Splendor of
thy Glory. And since it is the Night wherin all the Beasts of the Forrest do mov, let me hav no longer fellowship with the unpro∣fitable Works of Darkness, but rather reprov them, by walking as a Child of the Light and of the Day, remembring that the Day∣spring from on high hath visited us, to giv Light to them that sit in Darkness and in the shadow of Death, to guide our Feet into the way of Peace, which is the Work of Righte usness, as its Effect is Quietness and Assurance 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ever.
O thou Prince of Peace, who, by disposing the States of the Earth to Peace and Quietness at the time of thy Nativity, hast shew'd that the gracious Design of thy Coming into the World was to remov the Enmity be∣tween
God and Man, by recon∣ciling them to each other in thy Self:
I glorify thy Name,
For so suitabl an 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that what was written by the Prophet Isaiah is fulfilled; for, unto Us a Child is born, unto Us a Son is given, and the Govern∣ment shal be upon his Shoulder; and, Of the increas of his Govern∣ment and Peace there shal be no End. Lord, How coms it to pass that such as call themselves after thy Name, be no less Con∣tentious and Bloody than 〈◊〉〈◊〉 who are Strangers to the Do∣ctrin of thy Gospel? How long shal Christendom be the Scene of those Tragick Wars and inju∣rious Villanies which Barbarians detest and blush at? O, Be thou pleased to extend thy Golden Scepter over the Earth, that the
Inhabitants thereof may at length be induced to beat their Swords into Plow-shares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks: And, in order to the publick Peace, put an end to mens privat Ani∣mosities, and pacify the particu∣lar Commotions of their Minds: Compose all our tumultuous Pas∣sions whensoever they arise, re∣gulat our disorder'd Appetits, subdu our pervers Wills. and re∣duce all our unbridled Affections and Faculties to so serene a Tem∣per as is meet for the Reception and Obedience of that Great and Only Potentat, whose Name is Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Ever lasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
O thou Eternal Son, who art the Wisdom of the Father, and hast endued thy Church with
such a Degree of Prudence and Gratitude as to institute and ob∣serv an Annual Feast, for a con∣stant Memorial of thy Nativity, to confirm our Faith, re-inforce our Duty, redoubl our Praises, and repeat our Thanks; so that being filled with thy Graces, by a du participation of thy H. Sa∣craments in a grateful Comme∣moration of the Word made Flesh, we may all conspire to celebrat thy salutiferous Birth with Eucharistical Joy:
I magnify thy Name,
For the great and diffusiv Effi∣cacy of thy (outwardly) mean and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Nativity, the Fame wherof hath so marvelously pre∣vailed over all the Earth, that the Gentils are com to thy Light and Kings to the brightness of thy Rising. Strengthen and direct thy Church, the Pillar and Ground
of the Truth, to maintain the Beauty of Order and the Virtu of H. Disciplin, together with the Form of sound Words in her Doctrin, throu-out all Ages, that all her Members may with one Mind and one Mouth glorify God even the Father of our Lord Je∣sus Christ, by celebrating all such Festivals with holy Joy, in Unity of Spirit and the Bond of Peace, as are instituted for the Honor of thy Mercy, the Glory of thy Wisdom, and the setting forth of thy Goodness & Power, in this great and inscrutabl My∣stery of Godliness, God manifest in the Flesh.
Ever-blessed God, who evry year refreshest us with a re newed Birth of devout Affe∣ctions by the Welcom Memo∣rial of our Savior's Nativity; Grant that we may entertain this humbl Rising of the Sun of
Righteousness with such ardent Devotions as may better dis∣pose and engage us to follow Him, who enlighten'd the World with his Truth and en∣flamed it with his Lov, til we acquire as great Abilities, as we hav Obligations, to join with the Celestial Choir in Singing the Angels Carol, Glo∣ry to God in the Highest, on Earth Peace, Good Will towards Men.
When eight days were accomplished for the Circumcising of the Child; tho the Power and In∣nocence
of my Gracious Re∣deemer might well hav exemted Him from that rigorous Cere∣mony, yet did the Holy Jesus freely submit therunto, at once to obey the divine Law, acquit Us from that bloody Rite, and giv us many useful Instructions.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
O Christ, for substituting a more easy Sacrament instead of that sharp Ceremony wherunto Thou thy self hast submitted, and teaching me, by this thy voluntary Condescension, to yield ready Obedience to all the Ordinances of God, how severe and grievous soever they seem to Flesh and Blood Let the En∣dearment of thy tender Lov in undergoing those hard and pain∣ful Rules, from which thou hast thought fit to releas thy Church, engage evry Member therof to
wave all Pleas of Dispensation or Priviledg which may seem to countenance any Remisness in the discharge of our Religious Duties: And when the Iniquity or Violence of unreasonabl Men (who frequently impose greater Burdens than themselves are willing to bear) shal make it ne∣cessary for me either to observ any unwarrantabl Injunctions or undergo any severe Penalties rather than transgress thine ex∣press Will, inspirit me with Grace and Corage patiently to submit therunto; but withal render me cheerfuly conformabl to all those wel advised Constitutions, wher∣by our lawful Superiors either in Church or State hav thought fit to regulat our Deportment in things indifferent.
O thou tru Messiah, whose Name was called JESUS, being so named of the Angel be∣fore thou wast conceived in the Womb:
I giv thee all possibl Thanks and Prais,
For making good the gracious Purport of this thy Name, in saving thy peepl from their Sins. O Blessed Jesus, since, by the Imposition of this adorabl Name, the Holy Ghost hath made a publick Declaration that Thou art com into the World to save Sinners, save me (I beseech thee) who am the chief of Sinners; let me tast and see how gracious the Lord is in the Healing Influence of this Name: A Name that doth charm the dullest Ears and re∣vive the drooping Hearts of mi∣serabl
Sinners, infinitly beyond the sweetest Accents of Musick, and therefore is exalted abov evry Name, even by God him∣self; which hath made it highly reasonabl (whatever any cavel∣ling Hypocrits, either by their irreligious Doctrin or Deport∣ment, argu to the contrary) that at the Name of Jesus evry knee should bow, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in Earth, and under the Earth; and that evry Tong should confess that Je∣sus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father. In Obedience to which Divine Decree, I pro∣strat my Self before Thee O Lord, I worship Thee O Christ, and humbly beg Thee on my Knees to be my Jesus, my Sa∣vior.
O Holy Jesus, who in this first (tho small) Effusion of thy Blood
didst pay the Earnest of that Debt which thou hadst under∣taken to satisfy as our Surety:
I bless thy saving Name,
For thus obliging thy Self to fulfil the whol Law, and expiat its Violation, on our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 How early began my 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to suffer! He shed his Blood al∣most as soon as he drew his Breath. O my Soul, defer not to execute His Will, who seem'd impatient to procure thy Wel∣fare at the price of his Blood; and instead of abusing his exact Obedience for a Cloak of Liber∣tinism, let the Exampl of his Perfection engage thee to follow his Steps in all holy Conversa∣tion: And do thou, O Jesu, at once supply, and satisfy for, all the Defects of my frail Obe∣dience.
This bloody Character of Circumcision left the Impression of God's Seal upon Believing Sinners, that they bearing in their Bodies the Marks of the Most Holy, might be put in mind whose Servants they are, and what Duty they ow.
I humbly adore Thee,
O Jesus, for submitting to the Imputation of Sin, and the Pe∣nalties consequential therunto, tho thou knewest no Sin. Lord, Let this Prospect of thine Exina∣nition, in taking upon Thee the form of a Servant, yea a Sinner, who art God blessed and holy for ever, not only banish all those irregular Desires of Esteem which lurk in my bosom, but also ren∣der me industrious to be truly Holy, not to be thought 〈◊〉〈◊〉:
And may this beginning of Sorrows in Thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 abate all the Vanity and Niceness of Mine.
O my immaculat Lord, Thou hadst no Lusts to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, no Corruptions to renounce, no new Nature to put on, and yet didst permit thy Fore-skin to be circumcised, that we might learn therby to put away all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and superfluity of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tiness:
I prais thy H. Name,
For this Visibl Sign of that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Grace we stand in need of. Let this thine Infant-Wound, O J su, circumcise our Hearts, purify our Hands, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our whol Man blameless and un∣defiled: And since there is a Fountain open'd to the Hous of
David, for Sin and for Unclean∣ness; let the Blood of Christ, who throu the 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 of∣fer'd himself without Spot to God, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our Conscience from dead Works to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the living God, that being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Flesh and Spirit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may perfect Holiness in thy Fear. To this end, I beseech thee mor∣tify the Deeds of my Body, cut off the Occasions of Sin, and disappoint the Temtations most apt to betray me 〈◊〉〈◊〉: for, He is not a Jew which is one out∣wardly, neither is that Circumci∣sion which is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Flesh; but he is a Jew which is one in∣wardly, and Circumcision is that of the Heart, in the Spirit, and not in the Letter, whose Prais is not of Men but of God.
O my Soul, Who could ima∣gin so small & privat an Action, in a Country so remote and an Age so long past, should be of such marvellous Concernment to thee, and evry Family in the Earth besides?
I prais and magnify thy Name,
O Christ, for that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Wisdom and Goodness wher∣with thou hast enlarged my Joys, in making all thine Actions conduciv to the Benefit and In∣struction of the whol World. Grant me Grace (I beseech thee) so to use those Faculties wher∣with thou hast enabled me to re∣flect on and consider Objects so far distant in Time and Place, that duly weighing the great Confequence and wide Concern∣ment of evry Thought, Word,
and Deed, enrolled in the Vo∣lum of Eternity, I may becom the more cautious of ordering my Conversation aright, til Di∣vine Lov, Entire Obedience, and Uniform Devotion compleat my Life in this World, and prepare a delightful Spectacl for God, Angels, and Just Men made per∣fect, in the next.
Now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of [verse 1] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the days of Herod the King, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, there came Wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the [ 2]
〈◊〉〈◊〉? for, we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seén his Star in the East and are com to worship him.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
O thou Wisdom of the Father, for the gracious and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Influence of the Eastern 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whose Appearance and Motion being wholy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 did attract the Eys, engage the Faith, and guide the Feet of these Lear∣ned Sages in Quest of Thee. In deed, they are the only Wise men, who use their Learning to find out Heven. Lord, as thou didst illuminat their Souls by a diviner Light to discern the Be∣nefit and Design of that created Star, so be thou graciously plea∣sed to accompany the hevenly Oracls of thy Word with such a convincing Power and Demon∣stration of thy Spirit as shal be effectual to bring in the Fulness
of the Gentils, to whom thou hast extended the Scepter of thy Mercy as well as to the Jews, having made both one and broken down the middl Wall of Partition between us.
O Blessed Jesu who didst with∣draw the Conduct of that Star as soon as the Wise men were com to Jerusalem, leaving them to be informed by the ordinary Ministry of the chief Priests and* 1.19 Scribes of the Peépl, whom 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 gathered together, de∣manding of them where Christ should be born: they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Iudea; [ 5] for thus it is written of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prophet, And thou Bethlehem in the land of Iuda art not the [ 6] least among the Princes of Iu∣da; for, out of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shal com a a Governor that shal rule my Peépl Israel.
I prais thy H. Name,
For the seasonabl Use of Mi∣racls, and the transcendent Ex∣cellency of the Means of Grace: It is unreasonabl to look for Manna when we are once en∣ter'd into the Land of Promise. Reclaim therfore (I beseech thee) all pervers and ignorant Schis∣maticks from that gross presum∣tion of temting Thee for new Lights and needless Revelations, now thy Will is so expresly re∣vealed in thy Word; and let the Priests Lips, to whom thou hast committed the ordinary Dispen∣sation of thine Oracls, always preserv sufficient knowledg to di∣rect thy peepl in the way of Sal∣vation by that more sure Word of Prophecy, which was of old written for our Instruction, and is to this day a standing Record taken from the mouths of those
holy men of God who spake as they were moved by the H. Ghost. And as thou didst lead these ho∣norabl Pilgrims by the Conduct of a Star to the Means of Grace, and, by the ordinary Preaching and Explanation of thy Word, unto thy Self, making both those Methods useful in their respe∣ctiv places; so let thine ancient Miracls confirm and quicken us in the Use of such ordinary Means as are adapted to these later Times: for, the Light of thy glorious Gospel is as much more instructiv than the obscu∣rer Language of a Star, as the shining Splendor of the Day out∣vies the gloomy Shades of Night; this being no less powerful to draw Men from all Quarters of the Earth to thy Worship, than that was to invite these few from the East.
The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 men, having recei∣ved so full and plain an Answer from the Priests, in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a Truth which neither their fear of Herod nor their own Enmity was abl to suppress, con∣tinu their Progress toward Beth∣lehem, nothing discoraged ei∣ther with the disappearing of their Oriental Guide, or by the Troubl which the bold and open* 1.20 Declaration of their Embassy had given Herod and all Ierusa∣lem with him:
I magnify thy Sacred Name,
O Christ, For this their Ex∣emplary Corage and Resolution: Be thou the delightful Object and Answer of all mine Enqui∣ries, the sole End and Recom∣pence of all my Travel; and let my Soul depend on Thee in the
greatest destitution of all Out∣ward Helps and Encoragements, that those Obstacls which the World is apt to cast in my way being furmounted by a firm pur∣pos of Mind to follow Thee, I may throu a du Use of thine Ordinances be brought out of the Maze of Error and Ignorance 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Knowledg of thy Truth, and walk in the right way to thy saving Presence.
O H. Jesu, who, to reward the Faith and Zeal of these de∣vout Pilgrims, didst not only signify to them the Birth of the Messiah in general, but conduct them also to Jerusalem; and at last, when they departed thence,* 1.21 attend them even to Bethlehem, by the Star which they saw in the East, that went before them til it came and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉
where the yong Child was, to [ 10] their great joy:
I bless and prais thy Name,
For being found of them that seek Thee, according to thy faithful Promise, I will never leav thee nor forsake thee. Lord, since from those general Tearms which gave us Expectations of a Savior, that should be a Man, and of the Jewish Nation (which alone had been a special Favor and Priviledg to the World); thou hast descended to more exact particulars in fore telling us by thy Prophets, That He should be of the Seed of David, born in Bethlehem, and that of a Virgin: Let me not rest satis∣fied with any general Report or superficial Knowledg of thy Coming in the Flesh, til my own Soul experimentaly find that Thou art com to be my Redee∣mer
in particular. For this pur∣pos, let me never want or neg∣lect the Light of thy Gospel; pardon and reliev as wel my Blindness as my Backwardness hitherto, which hath render'd me unprofitabl under it; and make us all so duly sensibl of our Abuse or Mis-improvment of the Tenders of thy Grace and Mercy, that we may hence∣forth obey all thy godly Mo∣tions, til our Experience of thy Lov fil us with Joy unspeakabl and ful of Glory.
O thou Light of Israel, of whom Balaam the Gentil pro∣phesied, saying (as it were in Allusion hereunto) There shal com a Star out of Jacob and a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out of Israel:
I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thy Name,
For ushering in the day of Grace with the brightness of thy Rising. Thou hast promised to giv the Morning-Star to him that over cometh, as a Pledge or Earnest of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light: Grant therfore, I beseech Thee, that we may hav Power and Strength to get the Victory and to triumph against the Devil, the World and the Flesh; and, wheras this is the Victory that over-cometh the World, even our Faith, Lord, encreas our Faith, til the Dawning 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unto the perfect Day and Grace be con∣summat in Glory.
When they were com into* 1.22 the hous, they saw the yong [ 11] Child with Mary his Mother,
〈◊〉〈◊〉 fell down and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉; and opening their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 presented unto him Gifts, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
O my adorabl Redeemer, For thy gracious Acceptance of these Tenders of their Homage and Adoration to thy Majesty: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thee to cast a benign Ey upon my humbl Addresses to thy Throne; who desire to adore thee with the entire Oblation of my Soul and Body, and with all the Faculties of both offer unto Thee, my King, the Gold of Loyalty and Obedience; to Thee, my God, the Odors of Devotion and Thanksgivings; and to Thee, my Savior, the Myrrh of Mortification and Re∣pentance; distilling from a bro∣ken and a contrit Heart: for,
these are Sacrifices which Thou wilt not despise; nay, wherwith Thou art better pleased than with all the material Gold, Frankincens and Myrrh in the World.
These Eastern Sages are vul∣garly dignified with the Titl of Kings, and tho that Opinion ap∣pears not founded on any au∣thentick Record, yet 'tis not unimprovabl in reference to the present Subject; for, Isaiah's Prophecy, which says, The Gen∣tils or Nations shal com to thy Light and Kings to the Bright ness of thy Rising, is actualy fulfilled at this day, thy Gross, O Christ, being advanced upon the Crowns of many Potentats, who glory in That as the chief Ensign of their Honor:
I giv Thee Thanks and Prais,
Becaus the Kingdoms of the Earth are becom the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ. Purge out of thy Kingdom all things that offend; make all Christian Kings Holy; and all the Hea∣then, Christian: And let thy Loving-kindness, which is bet∣ter than the Life its self, enrich my Soul with a Contentment more desirabl than Crowns and more advantageous than King∣doms, in paying the Tribute I ow to Jesus Christ the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, saying, Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our Sins in his own-Blood, and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God, even his Father; to Him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever.
When the days of her Pu∣rification [ 22] were accom∣plished, the Virgin∣Mother brought her H. Child Iesus to Jerusalem; to present him to the Lord, according to the Law of Moses.
I therefore prais and magnify thy Name,
O my God, for making the ancient Precepts of thy Law so aptly minister to the Accom∣plishment of those succeeding Prophecies which tell us, The Lord whom ye seek shal suddenly
〈◊〉〈◊〉 to his Templ; and, I wil fil this Hous with Glory, saith the Lord of Hosts: wherin the Law and the Prophets conspire to giv the more publick Notice of the Messiah at his Manifestation to Israel. How glorious was that Templ wherin the Lord and Owner therof (who dwelleth not in Templs made with hands) made his personal and visible Ap∣pearance: This made the Glory of that latter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greater than of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, tho far short of it in outward Riches and Gran∣deur. There Thou, O Christ, wast often Typicaly represented; but here Thou art Personaly pre∣sent, to the firm Establishment of the Christian Faith and the utter Confusion of Jewish Infi∣delity, whose incorrigibl Obsti∣nacy in Unbelief doth blasphe∣mously turn the Truth of God into a Ly, it being altogether
impossibl that these Prophecies can ever be fulfilled after the Subversion of the Second Templ O let my Soul be the Templ of thine Eternal Residence, and evry Christian Heart be as wel hal∣lowed as dignified by thy gra∣cious Presence.
O H. Jesus, The 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.24 which thy Blessed Mother came [ 24] to offer for her Purification, be∣ing A pair of Turtl-Doves or two yong Pigeons, is no less an Argument of her Poverty than Obedience, according to that which is said in the Law of the Lord, And if she be not abl to bring a Lamb, then she shal bring two Turtls, or two yong Pigeons.
I magnify thy Sacred Name,
For giving us hereby to un∣derstand
that God hath chosen the Poor of this World, Rich in Faith, to be Heirs of the King∣dom which he hath promised to them that lov him. Let this her Readiness to fulfil the Law make us more sollicitous to do our Duty, according to the Ability God hath given us, than to conceal our Poverty for Shame, or alledg it for an Ex∣cuse to serv God of that which cost us nothing. Lord, purify my heart, that it may yield a du Respect to all the Parts and Precepts of thy Law; studying the mystical Sence of the Cere∣monial, observing the rational In∣junctions of the Moral, admiring the politick Rules of the Civil, and reverencing the Holy Rites of the Ecclesiastical: for, they all bear the Stamp of thy Autho∣rity, and are therfore worthy of all Acceptation and Esteem.
O thou Redeemer of the World, who in conformity 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Law, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ 23] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 Holy to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wast 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the High-Priest, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of him for 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 mony, according to the Estima∣tion of the first-born of Man:
I prais thy H. Name,
For becoming a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for many, yea, for All, whether 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or not. By thee the very Priests and Levits are redeemed, who themselvs were taken from among the Children of Israel in∣stead of all the first-born, which had been 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Lord. I beseech thee, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Price thou hast paid for my Soul, enrol me among the general As∣sembly and Church of the First∣born
which are written in He∣ven, who, having received the Spirit of Adoption, are not on∣ly the Children but Heirs of God and joint-Heirs with Christ. And that thine infinit Merit, which sufficeth to make evry one of thy Brethren a compleat Possessor of thine Eternal Inhe∣ritance, may qualify us all to receiv a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us hav Grace wher∣by we may serv God acceptably, with Reverence and godly Fear, as becoms persons redeemed from their Iniquities.
When the Parents brought* 1.25 in the Child JESUS to do [ 27] for him after the Custom of the [ 25] Law; Simeon, a man just and devout, to whom it was revea∣led [ 26] by the Holy Ghost that he should not see Death before he
had seen the Lord's Christ, came by the Spirit into the Templ, where he took him up in his [ 28] Arms and blessed God for the Consolation of Israel which he had long waited for and now happily found.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
O my Dear Jesus, as wel for the singular Graces conferr'd on this reverend person as for the publick Testimony he gave of Thee to them that were present Pardon, I beseech thee, my Neg∣lect of Waiting for Thee, wher∣by I have justly forfeited the peculiar Manifestations of thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Favor; and now that I am not only ready, but ear∣nestly desirous, to receiv Thee in mine Arms, yea to lodg Thee in my Heart, vouchsafe to pu∣rify and enlighten me with the H. Ghost, that I taking Delight
in thy Sanctuary and carefully attending Thee there, with a Soul ful of Joy and a Mouth ful of Praises, may also bless Thee my God and speak of thine Ho∣nor in thy holy Templ.
Thus did pious Simeon, whose Eys were no sooner blest with that desirabl Interview, but his Tong exprest the Contentment of his Heart in this Swan-like Song, Lord, now 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou* 1.26 [ 29] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Servant depart in peace, according to thy Word: For, [ 30] mine Eys hav seen thy Sal∣vation, which thou hast prepa∣red [ 31] before the face of all 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
I prais Thee, O Christ,
For being both A Light to [ 32] lighten the Gentils, and the Glory of thy peepl Israel. No wonder that Ioseph and thy [ 33]
Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Thee, especialy hearing him that blessed them say 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mary Behold, this Child is set for [ 34] the Fall and Rising up of many in Israel, and for a Sign that shal be spoken against, in so much that a Sword should pierce throu her own Soul also; [ 35] Lord, endu my Soul with a like sens of this inestimabl Benefit, that I may rehears this Song with equal Pleasure and Con∣cernment, since mine Eys also see the Longings and Expecta∣tions of former Ages turned in to Joys and Praises for all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Generations; it being highly reasonabl for our Satisfa∣ction to be as strong in Delight as their Expectation was great in Desire: For, the principal De∣sign of thy Coming into the World was to remedy, not occa∣sion,
the Fall of any either in or out of Israel; that such as fall throu their own Default might rise agen by Faith in Thee, and those who hav spoken most bit∣terly against Thee may upon Re∣pentance be forgiven, when the Thoughts of all Hearts shal be revealed.
This notabl Testimony of old Simeon was seconded by Anna* 1.27 a Prophetess, of the Tribe of [ 36] Aser, who was of a great Age, being a Widow of about four∣score [ 37] and four Years, which de∣parted not from the Templ, but served God with Fastings and Prayers night and day: for she coming in at that Instant gave [ 38] thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for Redemtion in Ierusalem.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
O Redeemer of Israel, for re∣warding that godly Matron's Devotion with so happy a Change of her Fastings into Ju∣bilees and her Prayers into Prai∣ses. Lord, since those to whom thou revealest thy Self must be qualified for that blessed Privi∣ledg by so much Diligence and unwearied Devotion, enable me by thy Grace to apply my ut∣most Endevors therunto Night and Day, as well in Fastings and Prayers to deprecat my own and my Nations Sins, as by Fea∣stings and Praises to congratu∣lat thy Manifestation to the World and the saving Conse∣quences thereof; uniting in my Devotions all the pious Longings and earnest Wishes of the Old World, with the transporting Joys and inexpressible Satisfa∣ctions of the New.
WHen they had thus per∣formed* 1.28 all things ac∣cording [ 39] to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own City Na∣zareth, but were not allowed any long Continuance there: for, soon after the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the* 1.29 Lord appeared to Ioseph in a [ 13] Dream, saying, Arise and take the yong Child and his Mo∣ther and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into Egypt, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wil seek the yong Child to destroy him: he took [ 14] them by night and departed 〈◊〉〈◊〉:
I celebrat thy Name,
O Son of the Highest, for ex∣posing thy Self to so many Ha∣zards and Inconveniences for my sake, and for the constant Vigi∣lance of thy Father's Ey to serv and secure Thee by the Ministry of Angels. Thy Lov alone mo∣ved thee to descend from the Region of Bliss and Glory to this Vale of Misery and Troubl, and nothing but thy gracious Design to free us thence inclined thee rather to retire into the Hous of Bondage than yield thy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Tyrants Cruelty, lest Our hope should hav been unseasona∣bly cut off. Watch over me, I humbly beseech thee, in all the Dangers wherwith I am beset in this World of Iniquity, and ei∣ther instruct me to escape them or strengthen me to sustain them. Let no Devices of the Wicked
prosper against my Soul, but re∣flecting on this thine own Peril, be thou ever ready to deliver me from the malicious Designs of unreasonabl and cruel Men.
O my blest Redeemer, who, in thy tender Years, for the avoiding of Herod's Rage, didst endure a tedious Banishment, to let us know there is no less ground of Contentment in a vo∣luntary Exile (when thy Provi∣dence makes it necessary for us) than in the Enjoyment of our nativ Soil:
I bless thy H. Name,
For being equaly near us in all places of thy Dominion; for, the whol Earth is thine. Lord, whatsoever thy Wisdom and Au∣thority thinks fit to enjoin me, let thy Grace incline me cheer∣fuly
to obey, how much soever it seem to thwart my worldly Interest or Eas; and, in all my Endevors to execute thy Will, conduct and defend me with thy good Providence. Obeying Thee I may be safe in Egypt, the Hous of Bondage, while encom∣passed with Perils; and throu Disobedience to thy Commands, may perish in Bethlehem, the Hous of Bread, tho surrounded with Plenty: To thy better Choice therefore do I wholy re∣fer the Disposal of my self and all mine Affairs; for, Thou art God only Wise and Blessed for ever.
O thou Mirror of Meekness, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rather submit to the common Remedy of with-draw∣ing from the impendent Storm, than use a Miracl either to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Purpos or withstand the
Power of Herod, by any irresistibl Influence of thine own:
I prais and magnify thy Name,
For thine exemplary Subje∣ction to Civil Magistrats, being quietly submissiv not only to the Good and Gentl, but even to the froward. Let the Respect thou barest them in thy Peaceableness and Patience under the grossest Abuse of their Authority and Jurisdiction, quicken and con∣firm in me the Principls of an inviolabl Loyalty, that I resist not evil (tho unjustly inflicted by the higher Pow∣ers) but rather shun the In∣convenience by a timely Re∣treat than presume to disturb their Government, or oppose their Authority, by any un∣warrantabl and contumacious Practices; for, whosoever resist∣eth the Power, resisteth the Or∣dinance
of God: and they that resist shal receiv to themselvs Damnation.
WHen Herod saw that he [ 16] was mocked of the Wise men, (whom he had sent to Bethlehem with this Charge, Go and search 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ 8] for the yong Child, and when ye hav found him bring me word agen, that I may com and worship him also; but they, being warned of God in a [ 17] Dream that they should not return to Herod, were depar∣ted
into their own Country another way;) he was exceed∣ing wroth:
I glorify thy Name,
O Christ, For the ready Obe∣dience of those thy Followers in conforming to evry notice of thy Will; who, truly judging it cannot be right in thy Sight to hearken unto Men more than unto God, would rather incur the Danger of an earthly King's Displeasure than the Guilt of Disobedience to the hevenly Vi∣sion. That Tyrants and Usur∣pers are a Scourge unto them∣selvs, we hav a notabl Instance in Herod, whose Passions were ever on the Rack to chastise his Ambition: As soon as the Ea∣stern Pilgrims came with their Inquiry, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? he was troubled with Fears and 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉
Apprehensions of som Innova∣tion in the State: No sooner were they gon without giving him such an Account of their Journy as he required, but he is tormented with Rage at the Affront they put upon him, in sleighting his Commands and eluding his Expectation. Evry inconsiderabl Accident doth dis∣compose an unquiet mind: Esta∣blish me therefore O Lord, with thy free Spirit against the vio∣lent efforts of my Passions; and that I may enjoy such a Peace and Serenity as naturally flows from the regular Dictats of Rea∣son and Religion, let me never do or desire any thing contra∣dictory therunto.
Herod's Wrath, not enduring the narrow Confinement of his own Breast, like a raging Torrent
that involvs all the Neighboring Plains with Ruin and Destru∣ction, breaks forth into a bloody* 1.31 Edict which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all the Chil∣dren [ 16] that were in Bethlehem, and in all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therof, from two Years old and under, proportioning the Extent of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 according to the time [ 7] which he had diligently enqui∣red of the Wise men, when he privily called them to inform him what time the Star ap∣peared.
I adore thy Sacred Name,
O my God, For permitting [ 17] that which was spoken by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Prophet to be thus ful∣filled, In Rama was there 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ 18] voice heard, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 weeping for her Children, and would not be comforted, becaus they are not. The enraged King of Jewry meant to destroy those Infants,
but contrary to his merciless In∣tention wrought their Delive∣rance: By the Death he inflicted, he freed them from Sin, as by the Effusion of their Blood he accomplished their Baptism; and while that crafty Fox designed to involv the Son of God in the common Butchery, his wicked Devices recoiled upon himself in the Murther of his own. For, the Lord withdrew his beloved Isaac, and left a Thousand in∣nocent Lambs to be sacrifised in his stead and accepted for his sake. These were redeemed from among Men, being the first. fruits unto God and to the Lamb; and in their mouth was found no Guile, for they are without fault before the Throne of God. Weep not therefore for thy Children, Rachel, for, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are Blessed; they follow the Lamb whitherso∣ever he goeth, therefore be com∣forted.
O God the Judg of all, who, by the Death of these new∣born Babes, hast taught thy Church, that neither the ten∣derest Age, nor the most im∣maculat Innocence, is exempt from Suffering for Thy Sake, or incapabl of the glorious Re∣wards allotted to the Nobl Ar∣my of thy Martyrs: Giv all the Members of thy Church Militant here upon Earth Grace so to adore Thee in this and all other Transactions of thy Providence (how severe or un∣accountabl soever they seem to human Reason) as may con∣firm their Hearts in a hopeful Resignation to thy Will and an assured Trust that their cheer∣ful Submission therunto shal be crowned with thine Eternal Favor, when thy Church shal becom Triumphant in Heven. Assist me also, I humbly be∣seech
thee, to check the first Rise of my Passions, lest, being cherished in my bosom, they grow too head-strong to be re∣claimed, and break out into such Acts of Violence and Vil∣lany as are not to be named without Horror and Dete∣station.
Holy Joseph (having abode in Egypt til Herod was dead)* 1.32 upon the Information and Enco∣ragement [ 19] which he received from an Angel of the Lord, that they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dead which sought the yong Child's Life, arose and took the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and his Mo∣ther, [ 20] and came into the Land of Israel; but, in regard he [ 21] was afraid to go into Iuden, where Archelaus did reign in [ 22] the room of his Father Herod, being further warned of God in
a Dream, he turned aside into Galilee, and dwelt in a City [ 23] called Nazareth.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
O Christ, For ordering the seemingly accidental Circum∣stances of thy Life to fulfil that [ 15] which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophets; thy Return from Banishment, upon a Divine Summons, expresly answering That Saying, Out of Egypt hav I called my Son; and thine Abode in Nazareth, accor∣ding to God's Direction, impli∣citly corresponding with This, he shal be called a 〈◊〉〈◊〉. [ 23] In all my Spiritual Desertions, whensoever I am restrained from thy Sanctuary or cast out of thy Sight, Lord grant I may pa∣tiently attend, and at last hap∣pily find, the seasonabl Returns of thy Grace and Presence, and
altho my whol Life be an un∣settled Pilgrimage, yet be thou pleased to refresh me in the various Stages of it with the Society and Priviledges of thy Chosen Peepl, and bring me in the end to the place where 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Honor dwelleth: that as Thou,* 1.33 O Child of God, didst grow and war strong in Spirit, being [ 40] filled with Wisdom; so the Grace of God may be upon Me in like manner.
NOw, wheras his Parents [ 41] went to Ierusalem evry year at the Feast of the Passover, the Holy Child at twelv years old did accompany [ 42] them thither, after the Custom of the Feast:
I magnify thy Name,
O Jesus, For observing and countenancing thine own Ordi∣nances; and humbly beseech thee to establish and adorn thy Publick Worship among us, by
restoring our Religious Solemni∣ties to their du Veneration and Attendance, that commemora∣ting thine ancient Mercies with thankful hearts, we may derive fresh Advantages from them, not only evry Year but all the Days of our Life. They want no Templ who hav God himself in their Hous; they can need no Sacrifice who hav Jesus in their Company: Yet did not the H. Virgin and S. Joseph neglect their annual Progress to Jerusa∣lem, but, in an uninterrupted Cours of pious Conformity to the Law, trained up the B. Child from his Youth in the strict Ob∣servation of it. O my Soul, con∣sider their pious and regular De∣votion, and after the good Ex∣ampl which the prudent and or∣derly Behavior of such holy Per∣sons hath set before thee, be care∣ful and conscientious as wel in
celebrating the publick Chri∣stian 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as in improving all privat Occasions of Pie∣ty and Duty, to express thy religious Communion with the Saints not only of thine own time but of former Ages too.
When they had fulfilled the* 1.35 days, his Parents returned home∣ward; [ 43] but the Child Iesus tar∣ried behind, which they knew [ 44] not of: for, supposing him to hav been in the Company, they went a days journy before they fought him among their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and acquaintance, and then [ 45] turned back again to Ierusalem; where, after three days, they [ 46] found him in the Temple, fit∣ting in the midst of the Doctors, both hearing them and asking them Questions.
I prais thy H. Name,
O my Savior, For making the Second Templ thus glorious by thy Presence, and giving such early Notices of thy Divinity as made all that heard Thee asto∣nished [ 47] at thine Understanding and Answers, Let all my Con∣ferences, I beseech thee, be ho∣ly, wise, and prudent, always aiming either to receiv or com∣municat Instruction by propo∣sing such Questions concerning the Mysteries of thy Kingdom as may serv to the Use of Edi∣fying and minister Grace to the Hearers: For this purpos, make me diligent in frequenting those Places and Persons which are consecrated to thy Service and set apart by thy Providence for our ordinary Learning, that the Principls of tru Wisdom and Piety, being instilled in my
Youth, may render me, in my riper Age, wise unto Salvation; abl to refute Errors and main∣tain Truth, practise Virtu and discountenance Vice; and cora∣gious in laying hold on all fit Opportunities for both, without being unseasonabl or unprofitabl in either.
O thou Son of God, who, in Answer to that Question wherin thy Parents expressed how much they were troubled at thine Ab∣sence* 1.36 and amazed at thy super∣natural [ 48] Abilities, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Be∣hold, thy Father and I hav sought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sorrowing: didst say [ 49] unto them, Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's bu∣siness? which Saying they un∣derstood [ 50] not.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
For thy forward undertaking to do the Work of Him that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Thee, preferring thy Care to pleas thy Hevenly Father before the Regard du to thine Earthly Parentage. Lord, let no World∣ly Obligation be of force to withdraw me from Thee or les∣sen my Duty to Thee; nor yet suffer me upon any Pretence of doing Thee Service to becom un∣dutiful or disobliging to those whom Grace or Nature hath made my Relations: but that, taking good heed to dispatch the Business Thou dost entrust me with, in the first place, I may also deport my Self with du Re∣spect to my several Relations, tendring that Duty which I ow them respectivly with all Affabi∣lity and Cheerfulness.
OB. Jesu, who wentest down* 1.37 with thy Parents to Na∣zareth, [ 51] leaving the Society of the Great and Learned, toge∣ther with the soothing Charms of popular Admiration and Ap∣plaus.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
For recommending a mixture of Retirement and Privacy with our publick Actions and Emploi∣ments, wherin we may hav lei∣sure and opportunity to con∣templat thy Father's Glory, as Thou didst; enjoying his mar∣vellous
Works, studying in his most excellent Laws, tracing the foot-steps of his Wisdom in both, and ravished with the Consideration of his infinit Lov in all. By these approved Means, let My Faculties and Thy Gra∣ces be so improved in me, that I may view all things with Thine Eys; expose my self rare∣ly, with Thy Prudence; retire with Thy Contentedness; be enflamed with Thy Lov to God and Man; and partake of all the unknown Accomplishments that ly hid in Thy concealed Life, som Sparks wherof darted forth in thy Super-natural Un∣derstanding and exemplary Con∣versation evry day. Thus, re∣ceiving of Thy Fulness Grace for Grace, I shal derive far more Satisfaction from the Light of thy Countenance, in a domestick Privacy, than all the inviting
Advantages and publick Honors of the World can pretend to.
O thou sole Fountain of our Grace and Glory, who didst not only accompany thy Parents to Nazareth, but wast subject unto them there, being content to liv and labor in the painful Vo∣cation of thy reputed Father til the thirtieth Year of thine Age; for, on that account thine own Countrymen tearm thee The Carpenter, as wel as The Carpen∣ter's Son:
I prais thy H. Name,
For expressing thy Subjection and Humility so long in that mean and laborious Emploiment. Quicken me, I beseech thee, to honest Industry in my Calling, that, whether it seem base or ho∣norabl in the Eys of Men, I may
duly approv my self in the sight of God, and be so wel contented with whatsoever part his wiser Providence allots me, to act, as never to be ashamed of my poorest Kindred or of doing any the meanest Offices for them.
O my Dear Jesus, in that si∣lent* 1.38 Painfulness and retired Con∣dition, [ 52] which so long veiled thy hevenly Extraction as seemed to pass it into Oblivion, Thou didst encreas in Wisdom and Sta∣ture, and in Favor with God and Men.
I magnify thy Reverend Name.
For the Purity of thine inof∣fensiv Life, and that signal Pa∣tience wherwith thou didst at∣tend the prefixed time of execu∣ting thy Divine Office. Lord,
rectify that Eagerness and Im∣patience wherwith we usualy snatch at expected Honors and rush into new Emploiments, Par∣don those Miscarriages in my present state of Life wherby I hav given Occasion of Offence to any, and endu me with so much Prudence and Humility as may render my Lov and Ser∣vice acceptabl to all; that I may grow into favor with God and Men, which thine Exampl and Success persuade me is a Grace not desirabl only, but at∣tainabl also by those that increas in Wisdom as well as Stature, and express their so doing in an amiabl and blameless Con∣versation.
O My Gracious Redeemer, thou didst send thy Ser∣vant John (who grew and wax∣ed* 1.43 strong in Spirit, being in the [ 80] Wilderness til the day of his Shewing unto Israel) as a Mes∣senger before thy face to prepare* 1.44 thy way before Thee, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ 2] the Baptism of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ 4] for the Remission of Sins, wherin he exprest The Uoice of one crying in the Wil∣derness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his Paths [ 3] strait, as it is written in the Prophets:
I prais and magnify thy Name, [ 1]
For this suitabl Beginning of the Gospel of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ the Son of God. Let me learn, I beseech thee, from the Austerity of thy Fore-runner, both in Ap∣parel [ 6] and Diet (for, the same John had his Raiment of Ca∣mel's* 1.45 hair and a leathern Girdl at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Loins, and his Meat was Locusts and wild Dony) so to comply with the Doctrin of Mortification and Repentance which he preached and practised, that I may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Salvation of* 1.46 God. And, as the Peepl, who* 1.47 went out to him from Jerusa∣lem and Judea, and all the Re∣gion [ 6] round about, were baptized of him in Jordan; confessing their Sins, so do thou baptize me with the H. Ghost and with Fire to the forsaking of mine; [ 11] that being effectualy warned to
flee from the Wrath to com, I [ 7] may bring forth fruits meet for [ 8] Repentance, rather glorying to hav Abraham my Father in [ 9] Faith than after the Flesh, since God is abl of the very Stones to rais up Children unto him. And now that the Axis laid 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ 10] the Root of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, be graciously pleased to direct the hand that guides it, to cut off the dead or luxuriant Branches of Sin and Folly that evry 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may bring forth good Fruit, in stead of hewing down the whol Body to be cast into the fire.
When the Peepl, the Pub∣licans,* 1.48 and the Soldiers, which [ 10, 12, 14] came forth to be baptized of [ 7] John, asked him, What shal we do: Instead of requiring them to forsake their several Callings,
as unlawful or irreligious, He recommends Charity, upright [ 11, 13, 14] Dealing, and honest Content∣ment to their Practice in the du Use of them.
I giv thee Thanks and Prais,
O Jesus, For making the Du∣ties of Religion consistent with those of our Worldly Vocations. Lord, bless my conscionabl Indu∣stry in that lawful Emploiment wherunto thy Providence hath called me, that, by my honest Diligence therin, I may do Thee Service in my Generation, and working with my hands the thing which is Good, may hav (and hav the Heart) to giv to him that needeth: And yet, let not my earnest Concernment for the things of this Life be pleaded in Excuse for my Neglect of a bet∣ter, but among all my most justi∣fiabl Cares, allow som Time and
Thought so to attend on the Mi∣nistry of thy Word and the Ad∣ministration of thy Sacraments, as may best make a practical Ex∣pression of, and giv a proper Answer to, this Inquiry on the behalf of my Soul, What must I do to be saved?
As the Peepl were in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, [ 15] and all men mused 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their hearts of John, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he were the Christ or not; so that the Jews sent Priests and Levits, who were of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉,* 1.49 from Jerusalem to Be∣thabara beyond Jordan 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he was baptizing, to ask him, Who art thou? He denied not, but confessed, I am not the CHRIST, nor Elias, nei∣ther [ 20, 21, 25] that Propher. I indeed baptize you with Water, but [ 26] there standeth one among you
whom ye know not; He com∣eth* 1.50 after me and is preferred* 1.51 before me; for, He was before [ 15] me, tho born after me; the* 1.52 latchet of whose shoos I am [ 16] not worthy to unloos; whose [ 17] Fan is in his hand, and he wil 〈◊〉〈◊〉 purge his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and wil gather the Wheat into his Garner; but the Chaff he wil burn with fire unquench∣abl.
I prais and magnify thy Name,
O Christ, For this Record of John, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 witness of Thee without seeking the En∣hancement of his own Reputa∣tion by the envious Conceal∣ment of thy Person or Office. Lord, purge the floor of my Heart from all that Chaff of Va∣nity and Pride which renders me at any time inclinabl to deck my self with the spoils of that
Honor which is only du to Thee; that, being littl in mine own Eys; I may cheerfuly magnify Him who is mightier than I, of* 1.53 whose fulness we hav all recei∣ved, [ 11] * 1.54 even Grace for Grace, [ 16] which alone can fit us to be laid up in store for the Master's Use in his Hous not made with hands eternal in the Hevens; for, the Law was given by Moses, but [ 17] Grace and Truth came by Je∣sus Christ, who, being the only Begotten Son which is in the [ 18] bosom of the Father, hath de∣clared that God whom no man hath seen at any time: And since the same John, being a [ 6] man sent from God, came for [ 7, 8] a Witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men throu him might believ; let this his publick Testimony hav its de∣signed Effect upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man [ 9] that cometh into 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉,
not only confirming the tru Faith where it hath been alrea∣dy planted, but creating it also where 'tis yet wanting, with so great a Power and Demonstration of the Spirit, that, altho the [ 10] World, which was made by him, without whom was not any thing made, knew him not while He was in the World, [ 3] yet it may never more be said, He came unto his own, and [ 11] his own received him not, but being now no longer born of [ 13] Blood, or of the Wil of Man, but of God, All Flesh may see thy Salvation, and behold the [ 14] Glory of the Word made Flesh, as that of the only begotten of the Father, who as verily was [ 1, 2] in the beginning, and was with God, and was God, as he dwelt among Us ful of Grace and Truth. And the good God of the Spirits of all Flesh grant that
the Son of thy Lov in whom was that Life which was the* 1.55 Light of Men, may shine in the [ 5] Darkness that hath benighted the Children of this World, til the Power (or rather Privi∣ledg) to becom the Sons of God, which He gave to them [ 12] that believ on his Name, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 graciously imparted to all the Families of the Earth, by em∣bracing the true Faith which hath saved as many as recei∣ved him.
Then cometh Iesus from* 1.56 Galilee to Iordan unto Iohn, [ 13] to be baptized of him, having quitted his dear Relations and privat Occupation, the more freely to begin and attend his Father's business:
I celebrat thy Name,
O my Dear Redeemer, For leaving the Sweetness of a peace∣abl Retirement, to enter upon a State not only encumber'd with Sweat and Travel, but also 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Censure and Persecu∣tion for thy Church's sake. I humbly beseech Thee, let no Self-ends, or more pleasurabl En∣joyments, detain any one from undertaking such publick Duties as he is lawfuly called unto: but, when a more open Expo∣sure may any way conduce to the general Good and Benefit of thy Peepl, be a safe Retirement never so desirabl, encorage us all to abandon our particular Eas and Satisfaction; preferring thy Church before all our privat Con∣cernments or domestick Inte∣rests whatsoever.
O B. Jesus, tho Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thee, saying, I hav need to be [ 14] baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? yet didst thou persist in thy Resolution of sub∣mitting to his Disciplin and Bap∣tism, who owned himself 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to carry thy Shoos, requiring him to suffer it to be so now:
I magnify thy Gracious Name,
For thus expressing how well it becometh us to fulfil all [ 15] Righteousness. O giv me, and all that call themselves after Thy Name, the Christian Humility of conforming to all the Rules of Godly Disciplin which shall be found requisit for thy Church's Peace, and of submitting to any Service (how much soever aba∣sed) that may tend to the Be∣nefit
of the smallest in thy Flock, or end in the Advancement of thy Glory.
Most H. Jesus, who, when all* 1.57 the Peepl were baptized, didst [ 21] descend into the River to be baptized among them, that thy Father's Declaration, being made from Heven in the Audience of a Multitude, might be the more publickly known and undenia∣bly confirmed:
I glorify thy Name,
Because thy Delights are a∣mong the Children of Men. Be present, I beseech thee, in all the devout Assemblies of thy Saints and Servants; and so bless thine Ordinances unto them, that the Wil of God revealed from Heven 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be effectualy divulged and obey'd among all
Nations. And now thou hast thus sanctified the Element of Water to becom Sacramental for the Remission of Sins, having in a Symbol purified human Na∣ture of that Guilt and Pollution which thou hadst undertaken to expiat and remov, so making good the Baptist's further Testi∣mony of Thee, when he saw thee, O Iesus, coming unto* 1.58 him, and said, Behold the [ 29] Lamb of God which taketh a∣way the Sins of the World: Lord, Pardon those many hei∣nous 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which hav miserably defiled my Life and Conscience since I received Bap∣tismal Grace, and so renew thy Covenant of Mercy unto my Soul that I may never so un∣gratefuly violat the Conditions or forfeit the Advantages of it any more.
O thou Anointed of the Lord, who receivedst not the Spirit by measure; for, being baptized* 1.59 and praying, the Heven was 〈◊〉〈◊〉; And the H. Ghost de∣scended in a bodily Shape like a Dov upon Thee: And 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from Heven, saying, This* 1.60 is my Beloved Son in whom * 1.61 I am wel pleased. What could be a more glorious Attendant on thy Publication than so express a Discovery of the B. Trinity? Thy Relation to God the Father, the Being and Office of the H. Ghost, and the Good Wil of the whol God-head to Man∣kind, being jointly display'd therin:
I prais and magnify thy Name,
For exhibiting so many Sacred Mysteries (as in a littl but accu∣rat
Picture) which in other Ages were not made known unto the Sons of men. Lord, let me be ravished and instructed with this marvellous Vision, as Thy Fore∣runner was, who openly pro∣fessed, I knew him not; but* 1.62 that He should be made mani∣fest [ 31] to Israel, therfore am I com baptizing with Water: for, he [ 32] that sent me said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remain∣ing on him, the same is He which baptizeth with the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ghost: And I saw and bare Re∣cord [ 34] that This is the Son of God. Enlighten the Ey of my Soul to behold this inconceivabl yet evident Manifestation of the Ever-blessed Trinity; and exalt mine Understanding to such a right Apprehension of that Sa∣cred Mystery, that all my Acts of Adoration may be duly dire∣cted
and graciously accepted. May the Hevens, which were open at thy Baptism, never be shut against my Prayers or Prai∣ses; and since thou hast opened the Kingdom of Heven to all Believers, grant the same Spi∣rit that descended upon Thee may abide with Me and thy whol Church for ever, that we who are in Baptism adopted Sons of God, according to the good pleasure of his Wil, may be charm'd and honor'd with the Eccho of that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from Heven which proclaimed Thee Beloved. And since thou, my merciful Sa∣vior, hast made choice of such proper Emblems to shadow forth thy Glory, make them suitably impressiv on my Memory and Affections: for, wheras the Pro∣mulgation of the Law was at∣tended with terribl Thunders and thick Darkness, to express
the Dreadfulness of God's Pre∣sence unto the sinful Transgres∣sors of it, Thy Preaching of the Gospel of Peace is usher'd in by the H. Ghost in the likeness of a Dov, to bring the Oliv-branch of Reconciliation to Mankind, and shew what Meekness of Spi∣rit is the proper Badg or Cogni∣sance of thy tru Discipls.
S. Luke 1. 26, — 79.
S. Mat. 1. 18, — 25.
S. Luke 1.
S. Luke 1.
S. Luke 1.
S. Luke 1.
S. Luke 1.
S. Luke 1.
S. Luke, 2. 6.
S. Mat. 1.
S. Mat. 1.
S. Luke 2. 1, — 20.
S. Luke 2. 7,
S. Luke 2.
S. Luke 2.
S. Luke 2.
S. Luke 2.
S. Mat. 2. 1, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.
S. Mat. 2. 4,
S. Mat. 2. 3,
S. Mat. 2. 9.
S. Mat. 2.
S. Luke 2. 22, — 38.
〈◊〉〈◊〉. Luke 2.
S. Luke 2.
S. Luke 2.
S. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 2.
S. Luke 2.
S. Mat. 2.
S. Mat. 2. 15. — 23.
S. Mat. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
S. Mat. 2.
S. Luke 2.
S. Luke 2. 41, — 50.
S. Luke 2.
S. Luke 2.
S. Luke 2.
S. Luke 2.
S Mat. 3, 1, — 17.
S. Mark 1. 1, — 11.
S. Luke 3, 1, — 18, 21, — 23.
S. Joh. 1. 1, — 34.
S. Luke 1.
S. Mark 1.
S. Mat. 3. 4,
S. Luke 3. 6,
S. Mat. 3. 5,
S. Luke 3.
S Joh. 1. 19, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 24, 28,
S. Mark 1. 7, 8,
S. Joh. 1.
S. Luke 3.
S. Mat. 3.
S. Joh. 1.
S. Joh. 1. 4,
S. Mat. 3.
S. Luke 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
S. Joh. 1.
S. Luke 3. 21, 22,
S. Mat. 3. 16, 17,
S. Mark 1. 10, 11.
S. Joh. 1.