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. V. Of the Circumcision of JESUS, and his Presentation in the Temple.

[illustration]

The Circumcision of Iesus.

S. LUKE. 2. 21.

And when eight daies were accomphshed for the circumcising of the Child, his name was cal¦led Iesus, which was so named of the angel, be∣fore he was conceived in the Wombe.

[illustration]

The Purification and Presentation.

S. LUKE. 2. 22.

And when the dayes of her purification were accomplished, they brought him to Ierusalem, to present him to the Lord.

1. AND now the Blessed Saviour of the World began to do the work of his Mission and our Redemption: and because Man had prevaricated all the Divine Commandments, to which all humane nature respectively to the persons of several capacities was obliged, and therefore the whole Nature was obnoxi∣ous to the just rewards of its demerits; first Christ was to put that Nature he had assu∣med into a saveable condition, by fulfilling his Father's preceptive will, and then to reconcile it actually, by suffering the just deservings of its Prevarications. He there∣fore addresses himself to all the parts of an active Obedience, and when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, he exposed his tender body to the sharpness of the circumcising stone, and shed his bloud in drops, giving an earnest of those ri∣vers which he did afterwards pour out for the cleansing all Humane nature, and ex∣tinguishing the wrath of God.

2. He that had no sin, nor was conceived by natural generation, could have no ad∣herences to his Soul or Body which needed to be pared away by a Rite, and cleansed by a Mystery: neither indeed do we find it expressed, that * 1.1 Circumcision was ordain∣ed for abolition or pardon of original sin, (it is indeed presumed so) but it was institu∣ted to be a Seal of a Covenant between God and Abraham, and Abraham's posterity, a seal of the righteousness of Faith, and therefore was not improper for him to suffer who was the child of Abraham, and who was the Prince of the Covenant, and the author and finisher of that Faith which was consigned to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Circumcision. But so my∣sterious were all the actions of Jesus, that this one served many ends. For 1. It gave demonstration of the verity of Humane nature. 2. So he began to fulfil the Law. 3. And took from himself the scandal of Uncircumcision, which would eternally have prejudiced the Jews against his entertainment and communion. 4. And then he took upon him that Name which declared him to be the Saviour of the World; which as it was consummate in the bloud of the Cross, so was it inaugurated in the bloud of Cir∣cumcision:

For when the eight days were accomplished for circumcising of the Child, his name was called JESUS.

3. But this holy Family, who had laid up their joys in the eyes and heart of God, longed till they might be permitted an address to the Temple, that there they might present the Holy Babe unto his Father; and indeed that he, who had no other, might be brought to his own house. For although, while he was a child, he did differ no∣thing from a servant, yet he was the Lord of the place: It was his Father's house, and he was the Lord of all; and therefore when the days of the Purification were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, to whom he was holy, as being the first-born; the first-born of his Mother, the only-begotten son of his Father, and the first-born of every creature. And they did with him according to the Law of Moses, offer∣ing a pair of Turtle-doves for his redemption.

4. But there was no publick act about this Holy Child but it was attended by some∣thing miraculous and extraordinary. And at this instant the Spirit of God directed a holy person into the Temple, that he might feel the fulfilling of a Prophecy made to himself, that he might before his death behold the Lord's CHRIST, and imbrace the glory and consolation of Israel and the light of the Gentiles in his arms: for old Simeon came by the Spirit into the Temple, and when the Parents brought in the Child Jesus, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and prophesied, and spake glorious things of that Child, and things sad and glorious concerning his Mother; that the Child was set for the rising and falling of many in Israel, for a sign that should be spoken against; and the bit∣terness of that contradiction should pierce the heart of the holy Virgin-Mother like a Sword, that her joy at the present accidents might be attempered with present revela∣tion of her future trouble, and the excellent favour of being the Mother of God might be crowned with the reward of Martyrdom, and a Mother's love be raised up to an ex∣cellency great enough to make her suffer the bitterness of being transfixed with his love and sorrow as with a Sword.

5. But old Anna the Prophetess came also in, full of years and joy, and found the re∣ward of her long prayers and fasting in the Temple; the long-looked-for redemption of Israel was now in the Temple, and she saw with her eyes the Light of the World, the Heir of Heaven, the long-looked-for Messias, whom the Nations had desired and expected till their hearts were faint, and their eyes dim with looking farther and ap∣prehending greater distances. She also prophesied and gave thanks unto the Lord. But Joseph and his Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. l. 9. c 22. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.