Antiquitates christianæ, or, The history of the life and death of the holy Jesus as also the lives acts and martyrdoms of his Apostles : in two parts.

SECT. IV. Of the great and glorious Accidents happening about the Birth of JESVS.

[illustration]

The Angels appearing to the Shepherds.

S. LUKE. 2. 14.

Glory to God in the highest, and on ea∣rth peace, good will towards men.

[illustration]

The Epiphanie.

S. MAT: 2. 11.

When they had opened their treasures, th∣ey presented unto him gifts, Gold, and Frank incense, and Myrrhe.

1. ALthough the Birth of Christ was destitute of the usual excrescences and less necessary Pomps which used to signifie and illustrate the birth of Princes; yet his first Humility was made glorious with Presages, Miracles, and Sig∣nifications from Heaven, which did not only, like the furniture of a Princely Bed∣chamber, speak the riches of the Parent, or greatness of the Son within its own walls, but did declare to all the world that their Prince was born, publishing it with figures and representments almost as great as its Empire.

2. For when all the world did expect that in Judaea should be born their Prince, and that the incredulous world had in their observation slipt by their true Prince, because he came not in pompous and secular illustrations; upon that very stock Vespasian was* 1.1 nurs'd up in hope of the Roman Empire, and that hope made him great in designs, and they being prosperous made his fortunes correspond to his hopes, and he was indeared and engaged upon that fortune by the Prophecy which was never intended him by the Prophet. But the fortune of the Roman Monarchy was not great enough for this Prince design'd by the old Prophets. And therefore it was not without the influence of a Divinity, that his Decessor Augustus about the time of Christ's Nativity refused to be called LORD: possibly it was, to entertain the people with some hopes of restitu∣tion * 1.2 of their Liberties, till he had grip'd the Monarchy with a stricter and faster hold; but the Christians were apt to believe, that it was upon the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a Sibyll fore∣telling the birth of a greater Prince, to whom all the world should pay adoration; and that the Prince was about that time born in Judaea, the Oracle which was dumb to Au∣gustus's* 1.3 question told him unask'd, the Devil having no tongue permitted him, but one to proclaim that an Hebrew child was his Lord and Enemy.

3. At the Birth of which Child there was an universal Peace through all the World. For then it was that Augustus Caesar, having composed all the Wars of the* 1.4

World, did the third time cause the gates of Janus's Temple to be shut; and this Peace continued for twelve years, even till the extreme old age of the Prince, until rust had sealed the Temple doors, which opened not till the Sedition of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the Rebellion of the Dacians caused Augustus to arm. For he that was born was the Prince of Peace, and came to reconcile God with man, and man with his brother; and to make, by the sweetness of his Example, and the influence of a holy Doctrine, such happy atonements between disagreeing natures, such confederations and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be∣tween Enemies, that the Wolf and the Lamb should lie down together, and a little child * 1.5 boldly and without danger put his finger in the nest and cavern of an Asp: and it could be no less than miraculous, that so great a Body as the Roman Empire, consisting of so many parts, whose Constitutions were differing, their Humours contrary, their In∣terests contradicting each others greatness, and all these violently oppressed by an usurping power, should have no limb out of joynt, not so much as an aking tooth or a rebelling humour in that huge collection of parts: but so it seemed good in the eye of Heaven, by so great and good a symbol to declare not only the Greatness, but the Goodness of the Prince that was then born in Judaea, the Lord of all the World.

4. But because the Heavens, as well as the Earth, are his Creatures, and do serve him, at his Birth he received a sign in Heaven above, as well as in the Earth beneath, as an homage paid to their common Lord. For as certain Shepherds were keeping watch over their slocks by night, near that part where Jacob did use to feed his cattel when he was in the land of Canaan, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them. Needs must the Shepherds be afraid, when an Angel came ar∣rayed in glory, and clothed their persons in a robe of light, great enough to confound their senses and scatter their understandings. But the Angel said unto them, Fear not, for I bring unto you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. The Shepherds needed not be invited to go see this glorious sight; but lest their fancy should rise up to an expecta∣tion of a Prince as externally glorious as might be hoped for upon the consequence of so glorious an Apparition, the Angel, to prevent the mistake, told them of a Sign, which indeed was no other than the thing 〈◊〉〈◊〉; but yet was therefore a Sign, be∣cause it was so remote from the common probability and exspectation of such a birth, that by being a Miracle, so great a Prince should be born so poorly, it became an in∣strument to signifie it self and all the other parts of mysterious consequence. For the Angel said, This shall be a sign unto you, Ye shall find the Babe wrapt in swadling-cloaths, lying in a manger.

5. But as Light, when it first begins to gild the East, scatters indeed the darknesses from the earth, but ceases not to increase its 〈◊〉〈◊〉 till it hath made perfect day: so it happened now in this Apparition of the Angel of light, he appeared and told his mes∣sage, and did shine, but the light arose higher and higher, till midnight was as bright as mid-day; for suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly 〈◊〉〈◊〉: and after the Angel had told his Message in plain-song, the whole Chorus joyned in de∣scant, and sang an Hymn to the tune and sence of Heaven, where glory is paid to God in eternal and never-ceasing offices, and whence good will descends upon men in perpetu∣al and never-stopping torrents. Their Song was, Glory be to God on high, on earth peace, good will towards men: by this Song not only * 1.6 referring to the strange Peace which at that time put all the World in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but to the great Peace which this new-born Prince should make between his Father and all Mankind.

6. As soon as these blessed Choristers had sung their Christmas Carol, and taught the Church a Hymn to put into her Offices for ever in the anniversary of this Festivity, the Angels returned into Heaven, and the Shepherds went to Bethlehem, to see this thing which the Lord had made known unto them. And they came with haste, and sound Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Just as the Angel had prepared their expectati∣on, they found the narrative verified, and saw the glory and the mystery of it by that representment which was made by the heavenly Ministers, seeing GOD through the veil of a Child's flesh, the Heir of Heaven wrapt in Swadling-clothes, and a person to whom the Angels did minister laid in a Manger; and they beheld, and wondred, and worshipped.

7. But as precious Liquor warmed and heightned by a flame first crowns the vessel, and then dances over its brim into the fire, increasing the cause of its own motion and extravagancy: so it happened to the Shepherds, whose hearts being filled with the oil of gladness up unto the brim, the Joy ran over, as being too big to be consined

in their own breasts, and did communicate it self, growing greater by such dissemina∣tion: for when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And (as well they might) all that heard it wondred. But Mary, having first changed her joy into wonder, turned her wonder into entertainments of the mystery, and the mystery into a fruition and cohabitation with it: For Mary kept all these sayings, and pondered them in her heart. And the Shepherds having seen what the Angels did upon the publication of the news, which less concerned them than us, had learnt their duty, to sing an honour to God for the Nativity of Christ: For the Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

8. But the Angels had told the Shepherds that the Nativity was glad tidings of great joy unto all people: and, that the Heavens might declare the glory of God, and the firma∣ment shew his handy-work, this also was told abroad even to the Gentiles by a sign from Heaven, by the message of a Star. For there was a Prophecy of Balaam famous in all the Eastern Countrey, and recorded by Moses, There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and* 1.7 a Scepter shall arise out of Israel: Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion. Which although in its first sence it signified David, who was the conqueror of the Moabites; yet, in its more mysterious and chiefly-intended sence, it related to the* 1.8 Son of David. And in expectation of the event of this Prophecy, the Arabians, the sons of Abraham by Keturah, whose portion given by their Patriarch was Gold, Fran∣kincense and Myrrh, who were great lovers of Astronomy, did with diligence expect the revelation of a mighty Prince in Judaea at such time when a miraculous and extra∣ordinary Star should appear: And therefore when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the days of Herod the King, there came wise men, inspired by God, taught by Art, and perswaded by Prophecy, from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his Star in the East, and are come to worship him. The Greeks suppose this which was called a Star to have been indeed an Angel in a pil∣lar of fire, and the semblance of a Star; and it is made the more likely, by coming and standing directly over the humble roof of his Nativity, which is not discernible in the station of a Star, though it be supposed to be lower than the Orb of the Moon. To which if we add, that they only saw it, (so far as we know,) and that it appeared as it were by voluntary periods, it will not be very improbable but that it might be like the Angel that went before the sons of Israel in a pillar of fire by night, or rather like the little shining Stars sitting upon the Bodies of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Tharacus and Andronicus, Martyrs, when their bodies were searched for, in the days of Diocletian, and pointed at by those bright Angels.

9. This Star did not trouble Herod, till the Levantine Princes expounded the myste∣riousness of it, and said it declared a King to be born in Jewry, and that the Star was his, not applicable to any signification but of a King's birth. And therefore although it was * 1.9 no Prodigy nor Comet, foretelling Diseases, Plagues, War, and Death, but only the happy Birth of a most excellent Prince; yet it brought affrightment to Herod and all Jerusalem: For when Herod the King had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And thinking that the question of the Kingdom was now in dis∣pute, and an Heir sent from Heaven to lay challenge to it, who brought a Star and the Learning of the East with him for evidence and probation of his Title, Herod thought there was no security to his usurped possession; unless he could rescind the decrees of Heaven, and reverse the results and eternal counsels of Predestination. And he was re∣solved to venture it, first by craft, and then by violence.

10. And first, he calls the chief Priests and Scribes of the people together, and demanded of them, where CHRIST should be born; and found by their joynt determination that Bethlehem of Judaea was the place designed by ancient Prophecy and God's Decree. Next he enquired of the Wise men concerning the Star, but privily, what time it appear∣ed.* 1.10 For the Star had not motion certain and regular, by the laws of Nature; but it so guided the Wise men in their journey, that it stood when they stood, moved not when they rested, and went forward when they were able, making no more haste than they did, who carried much of the business and imployment of the Star along with them. But when Herod was satisfied in his questions, he sent them to Bethlehem, with instru∣ctions to search diligently for the young child, and to bring him word, pretending that he would come and worship him also.

11. The Wise men prosecuted the business of their journey, and having heard the King, they departed, and the Star (which, as it seems, attended their motion) went before them, until it came and stood over where the young Child was; where when they

saw the Star, they rejoyced with exceeding great joy. Such a Joy as is usual to wearied Travellers when they are entring into their Inne, such a joy as when our hopes and greatest longings are laying hold upon the proper objects of their desires, a joy of cer∣tainty immediately before the possession: for that is the greatest Joy, which possesses before it is satisfied, and rejoyces with a joy not abated by the surfeits of possession, but heightned with all the apprehensions and fancies of hope, and the neighbourhood of fruition; a joy of Nature, of Wonder, and of Religion. And now their hearts la∣boured with a throng of spirits and passions, and ran into the house to the embrace∣ment of Jesus even before their feet: But when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary his mother. And possibly their expectation was something les∣sened and their wonder heightned, when they saw their hope empty of pomp and gay∣ety, the great King's Throne to be a Manger, a Stable to his Chamber of presence, a thin Court, and no Ministers, and the King himself a pretty Babe, and, but that he had a Star over his head, nothing to distinguish him from the common condition of children, or to excuse him from the miseries of a poor and empty fortune.

12. This did not scandalize those wise persons, but being convinced by that Testi∣mony from Heaven, and the union of all Circumstances, they fell down and worshipped him, after the manner of the Easterlings when they do veneration to their Kings; not with an empty Ave and gay blessing of fine words, but they bring presents, and come into his Courts; for when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, Gold,* 1.11 Frankincense, and Myrrh. And if these Gifts were mysterious beyond the acknow∣ledgment* 1.12 of him to be the King of the Jews, and Christ that should come into the world; Frankincense might signifie him to be acknowledged a God, Myrrh to be a Man, and* 1.13 Gold to be a King: Unless we chuse by Gold to signifie the acts of Mercy, by Myrrh* 1.14 the Chastity of minds and Purity of our bodies, to the incorruption of which Myrrh is especially instrumental, and by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we intend our * 1.15 Prayers, as the most apt pre∣sents and oblations to the honour and service of this young King. But however the fan∣cies of Religion may represent variety of Idea's, the act of Adoration was direct and re∣ligious,* 1.16 and the Myrrh was medicinal to his tender body; the Incense possibly no more than was necessary in a Stable, the first throne of his Humility; and the Gold was a good Antidote against the present indigencies of his Poverty: Presents such as were used in all the Levant, (especially in Arabia and Saba, to which the growth of Myrrh and Frankincense were proper) in their addresses to their God and to their King, and were instruments with which under the veil of Flesh they worshipped the Eternal Word; the Wisdom of God under infant Innocency, the Almighty Power in so great Weakness, and under the lowness of Humane nature the altitude of Majesty and the in∣finity of Divine Glory. And so was verified the prediction of the Prophet * 1.17 Esay under the type of the son of the Prophetess, Before a child shall have knowledge to cry, My Fa∣ther and my Mother, he shall take the spoil of Damascus and Samaria from before the King of Assyria.

13. When they had paid the tribute of their Offerings and Adoration, Being warned in their sleep by an Angel not to return to Herod, they returned into their own countrey ano∣ther way: where, having been satisfied with the pleasures of Religion, and taught by that rare demonstration which was made by Christ, how Man's Happiness did nothing at all consist in the affluence of worldly Possessions, or the tumours of Honour; having seen the Eternal Son of God poor and weak, and unclothed of all exteriour Ornaments; they renounced the World, and retired empty into the recesses of Religion, and the delights of Philosophy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sueton. in vita, V. sp. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Ciceron. de Divin.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, 1. 6. 1. 22.
• * 1.3

  Suidas in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Verb. Augustus.
• * 1.4

  Orosius.
• * 1.5

  Esa. 11. 6.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 to tempore, i. e. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 anno, quo 〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉 composuit, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 est Christus; 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 Pax 〈◊〉〈◊〉 famu∣lata 〈◊〉〈◊〉: in cu∣jus ortu audi∣entibus homi∣nibus exsul∣tantes 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, Gloria in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dro, & in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Pax, &c. P. Orosius.
• * 1.7

  Num. 24. 17.
• * 1.8

  Epiphan. in Expos. sid. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. 8.
• * 1.9

  Et 〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉 in Timaeum Pla∣tonis.
• * 1.10

  Leo 〈◊〉〈◊〉: 4. de Epiphan.
• * 1.11

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Ambros. in 2. Lu. 6.
• * 1.12

  Leo, 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉.
• * 1.13

  Theophil. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2.
• * 1.14

  S. Bernard, in Serm. 2. de 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.15

  Phil. 4. 18. Psal. 141. 2.
• * 1.16

  Revel. 5. 8.
• * 1.17

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8. 4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 M. Dial. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Tertul. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. contra Mar∣cion. c. 13.