Light from heaven discovering the fountaine opened. Angels acclamations. Churches riches. Rich povertie. In foure treatises. By the late learned and reverend divine, Rich. Sibs, Doctor in Divinitie, Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher at Grayes-Inne. Published according to the authors owne appointment, subscribed with his hand; to prevent imperfect copies.

And suddenly there was, &c.

Suddenly,* 1.1 in an unperceivable time, yet in time, for there is no motion in a moment, no creature moves from place to place in a moment, God is every where: Suddenly, it not only shewes

us somwhat exemplary from the quick dispatch of Angels in their businesse,1 1.2 we pray to God in the Lords prayer, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven, that is, willingly, suddenly, cheerefully.

2 1.3But also it serves for comfort, if we be in any sudden danger, God can dispatch an Angell, a multitude of Angels to encampe about us sud∣denly, therefore though the danger be present, &c the Devill present, and devilish minded men pre∣sent to hurt us, God hath a multitude, an Host of Angels as present to defend us; nay as himselfe is every where, so in the middest of his Church, he is present more then Angels can be, he is not onely among us, but he is in us by his Spirit, to comfort and strengthen us, therefore let us stirre up the Spirit of God in us, in all difficulties, and dangers whatsoever, considering we have such grounds of comfort every way.

* 1.4What is the use, and end of this glorious ap∣parition, in regard of the poore shepherds, to confirme their faith, and in them ours, for if one or two witnesses confirme a thing, what shall a multitude doe? If one or two men confirme a truth, much more an Host of heavenly Angels. Therefore it is base infidelity to call this in que∣stion, that is confirmed by a multitude of An∣gels: and to comfort them likewise in this Appa∣rition; we see by the way, that for one Christi∣an to confirme,* 1.5 an Angelicall worke, for one man to discourage another, it is the worke of a Devill: when Christ was in his agony, the

Angels appeared to comfort him, wee may take notice how willing, and ready these glorious Spirits were to attend upon our blessed Saviour Iesus Christ, in all the passages from his Incar∣nation to his glory we see they appeared here at his Incarnation, they ministred unto him after his temptation, at his Resurrection, then they were ready to attend him, and at his Ascension, they were ready then, but oh the welcome, when he entred into Heaven! There was the glorious imbracings, when all the Host of heaven en∣tertained him at his Ascension: In the garden (as I said) they comforted him, let us imitate them in this blessed worke, if there be any in di∣stresse that need comfort, and confirmation, we love examples of great noted persons, here you have an example above your selves, the example of Angels, who to confirme and comfort the poore Shepherds, appeare in an host, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 multitude of hea∣venly Angels.* 1.6 The Angels, as they attend upon Christ, so for his sake, they attend upon us too, for he is that Iacobs Ladder, Iacobs Ladder you know stood upon the earth, but it reached to Heaven, and the Angels went up and down upon the Lad∣der, that is, it is Christ that knits heaven and earth together, God and man, and the Angels by Christ, have communion and fellowship with us, as I noted out of the place, Heb. 12.22.* 1.7 Wee are come to an innumerable company of Angels, so that they attend upon us for Christs sake, whose members we are, they attend upon Christ mysti∣call, as well as Christ naturall: For they are mini∣string

Spirits for the sakes of them that shall be saved, Heb. 1.* 1.8 And therefore in our childhood, and tender yeeres, they have the custody of us com∣mitted to them, as Christ saith, Their Angels behold the face of God, and in our dangers, they pitch their Tents about us, and at our death, they carry our soules to the place of happinesse, as they carryed Lazarus soule into Abrahams bosome, and at the resurrection, they shall gather our dead bodies together, so that as they never left our blessed Saviour from his birth to his Ascension, so they alwayes at∣tend upon his members, his Spouse, for his sake we have communion with the blessed An∣gels. These things may be of some use, but it is not that I mainly intend: thus much for the Apparition.

2 1.9Now the celebration is, a Multitude of the hea∣venly Host, praising God.

The word signifies singing, as well as praise, it implies praise expressed in that manner, and indeed praising God, it is the best expression of the affection of joy. The Angels were joyfull at the birth of Christ their Lord. Joy is no way better expressed, then in praising God, and it is pitty, that such a sweet affection as Joy, should runne in any other streame, if it were possible, than the praising of God. God hath planted this af∣fect on of joy in the creature, and it is fit hee should reape the fruit of his owne garden, it is pitty a cleare streame should run into a puddle, it should rather runne into a garden, and so

sweet and excellent affection as Joy, it is pitty it should be imployed otherwise, then in praising God, and doing good to men.

They expresse their joy in a sutable expression in praising God; the sweetest affection in man, should have the sweetest imployment, the swee∣test imployment that joy can have, is to be in∣larged in love, to praise God, and for Gods sake to doe good to others.

See here the pure nature of Angels,* 1.10 they praise God for us, we have more good by the Incarnation of Christ, then they have, yet notwithstanding such is their humility, that they come downe with great delight from heaven, and praise, and glorifie God, for the birth of Christ; who is not theirs, but our Redeemer. Some strength they have, there is no creature but hath some good by the Incarnation of Christ, to the Angels themselves, yet however they have some strength from Christ, in the increase of the number of the Church, yet he is not the Redeemer of Angels, in some sort he is the head of Angels, but he is our Redeemer;* 1.11 To us a child is borne, to us a Sonne is gi∣ven. And yet see, their nature is so pure, and so cleare from envie, and pride, that they even glo∣rifie God, for the goodnesse shewed to us, meaner creatures then themselves, and they envie not us, though we be advanced by the Incarnation of Christ, to a higher place then they: For (beloved) the very Angels have not such affinity to Christ in this, as wee, they are not the Spouse of Christ, they make not up mysticall Christ, the Church

doth, the Church is the Queene, as Christ is the King of all, it is married to Christ, Angels are not, and yet although they see us advanced in di∣verse respects above them, yet they are so pure, and free from envie, that they joyne in praising God, here in love to us.

* 1.12Let us labour therefore for dispositions An∣gelicall, that is, such as may delight in the good of others, and in the good of other meaner then our selves.

* 1.13And learne this also from them, shall they glorifie God for our good especially, and shall we be dull, and cold in praising God, on our owne behalfe? Shall they come suddenly from heaven, and cheerefully and willingly, and to praise God for his goodnesse to us, and shall we be frozen and cold in this duty, that is for our good more es∣pecially? I hasten to that that followes.

What is the matter of their celebration, and gratulation?

• ...Glory to God in the highest;
• ...In earth peace,
• ...Good will towards men.

There is some difference in the readings, some copies have it, On earth peace, to men of good will, to men of Gods good will, and so they would have it two branches, not three; if the word be rightly understood, it is no great matter.

1 1.14First, the Angels begin with the maine, and chiefe end of all; it is Gods end, it was the An∣gels end, and it should be ours too, Glory to God on high.

Then they wish the chiefe good of all,2 1.15 that whereby we are fitted for the maine end, Peace. God cannot be glorified on earth, unlesse there be peace wrought: for man else conceives God as an enemy; by this Peace we are fitted to glo∣rifie God, if wee find reconciliation with God through Iesus Christ, then the sence of Gods love, in the worke of reconciliation, will enflame our hearts to glorifie God, therefore next to the glo∣ry of God, they wish Peace on earth.

Then thirdly,3 1.16 here is the ground of all happi∣nesse, from whence this peace comes, from Gods good will, from his good pleasure, or free Grace, To men of Gods goodwill. So if we goe back againe, The good will and pleasure of God, is the cause and ground of peace in Christ, and peace in Christ puts us into a condition, and stirs us up to glori∣fie God, so we see there is an order in these three.

To begin with the first.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Angels appa∣rition sudden.
• 1 1.2

  For our Ex∣ample.
• 2 1.3

  For our com∣fort.
• * 1.4

  The end of this appariti∣on, in respect of men.
• * 1.5

  Mutuall com∣fort from Christians, a worke Ange∣licall.
• * 1.6

  Angels attend upon the Church.
• * 1.7

  Heb. 12. 22.
• * 1.8

  Heb. 1.
• 2 1.9

  The celebrati∣on.

  Ioy how to be imployed.
• * 1.10

  The pure na∣ture of An∣gels without envie.
• * 1.11

  Esay 9.6.
• * 1.12

  To imitate Angels herein.
• * 1.13

  Specially to praise God for our own good.
• 1 1.14

  The chiefe end.
• 2 1.15

  The chiefe good.
• 3 1.16

  The chiefe ground.