A sermon preach'd before the King, Decemb. 31, 1665, at Christ-Church in Oxford by R. Allestree ...
         Allestree, Richard, 1619-1681.
      
       
         
           1666
        
      
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             A sermon preach'd before the King, Decemb. 31, 1665, at Christ-Church in Oxford by R. Allestree ...
             Allestree, Richard, 1619-1681.
          
           [2], 39 p.
           
             Printed by W. Hall for James Allestree and Richard Davis ...,
             Oxford :
             1666.
          
           
             "Published by His Majesties command"
             Reproduction of original in Bodleian Library.
             Marginal notes.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Bible. -- N.T. -- Luke II, 34 -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           Imprimatur
           ,
        
         
           
             ROBERTUS
             SAY
          
           ,
           VICE-CANCELLARIUS
           OXON
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           PREACH'D
           BEFORE
           THE
           KING
           Decemb.
           31.
           1665.
           
        
         
           AT
           CHRIST-CHURCH
           IN
           OXFORD
           .
        
         
           By
           
             R.
             ALLESTREE
          
           ,
           D.
           D.
           one
           of
           the
           Canons
           of
           that
           Church
           .
        
         
           
             Publish'd
             by
             His
             Majesties
             Command
          
           .
        
         
           OXFORD
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             W.
             Hall
          
           ,
           for
           
             James
             Allestree
          
           ,
           and
           
             Richard
             Davis
          
           .
           A.
           D.
           1666.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             II.
             Chap.
             of
             St.
             Luke
             ,
             part
             of
             the
             34.
             vers
             .
          
           
             Behold
             this
             Child
             is
             set
             for
             the
             fall
             and
             rising
             again
             of
             many
             in
             Israel
             ,
             and
             for
             a
             signe
             which
             shall
             be
             spoken
             against
             .
          
        
         
           
             AND
             Simeon
             Blessed
             them
             ,
             and
             said
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           A
           Benediction
           sure
           of
           a
           most
           strange
           importance
           :
           If
           to
           bring
           forth
           one
           that
           is
           to
           be
           a
           large
           destruction
           ,
           if
           to
           be
           deliver'd
           of
           a
           Child
           that
           must
           be
           for
           the
           
             fall
             of
             many
          
           ,
           and
           the
           killing
           of
           the
           Mother's
           self
           ,
           be
           blessed
           ;
           if
           Swords
           and
           Ruines
           be
           comforts
           ,
           then
           my
           Text
           is
           full
           of
           these
           :
           But
           if
           this
           be
           to
           Bless
           ,
           what
           is
           it
           to
           forespeak
           and
           
             abode
             ill
          
           ?
           Yet
           however
           ominous
           and
           fatall
           the
           words
           are
           ;
           they
           give
           us
           the
           event
           ,
           and
           ,
           the
           designe
           too
           of
           the
           Blessed
           Incarnation
           of
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           Child
           of
           this
           Text
           and
           of
           this
           Season
           :
           a
           short
           view
           of
           
             Gods
             Counsel
          
           in
           it
           ;
           and
           the
           Effects
           of
           it
           .
           The
           Effects
           in
           these
           particulars
           .
        
         
           
           
             1.
             
             
               This
               Child
               is
               for
               the
               fall
               of
               many
               .
            
          
           
             2.
             
             
               For
               the
               rising
               again
               of
               many
               .
            
          
           
             3.
             
             
               For
               a
               signe
            
             :
             with
             the
             quality
             of
             that
             signe
             ,
             he
             is
             
               for
               a
               signe
               that
               shall
               be
               spoken
               against
               .
            
          
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Counsel
           and
           Designe
           of
           this
           is
           signifyed
           in
           the
           word
           here
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           :
           he
           is
           set
           ,
           and
           preordain'd
           to
           be
           all
           this
           .
        
         
           First
           of
           the
           first
           effect
           ,
           
             This
             Child
             is
             for
             the
             fall
             of
             many
             .
          
        
         
           And
           here
           I
           shall
           but
           only
           name
           that
           way
           whereby
           many
           men
           set
           this
           Child
           for
           their
           own
           fall
           ,
           while
           they
           make
           his
           holy
           Time
           to
           be
           but
           a
           more
           solemne
           oportunity
           of
           sinning
           :
           We
           know
           many
           celebrate
           this
           great
           Festival
           with
           Surfets
           &
           Excesses
           usual
           appendages
           of
           Feasting
           ;
           Oaths
           and
           Curses
           the
           ingredients
           of
           Gaming
           ;
           Dallyance
           and
           Lasciviousness
           the
           attendants
           of
           sporting
           ,
           of
           all
           which
           this
           seems
           as
           it
           were
           the
           Anniversary
           ,
           a
           set
           time
           for
           their
           return
           .
           Thus
           indeed
           the
           Israelites
           did
           solemnize
           the
           Birth
           of
           their
           
             Idol-Calf
             ,
             They
             sate
             down
             to
             Eat
             and
             Drink
             ,
             and
             rose
             up
             to
          
           
           play
           .
           And
           must
           we
           celebrate
           
             this
             Child
          
           too
           like
           that
           Calf
           ,
           because
           he
           was
           born
           among
           Brutes
           ?
           And
           must
           his
           Votaries
           also
           be
           of
           
           the
           Heard
           ?
           And
           he
           live
           and
           be
           worship'd
           alwayes
           in
           a
           Stable
           ?
           Because
           God
           became
           man
           ,
           must
           men
           therefore
           become
           beasts
           ?
           Is
           it
           fit
           to
           honour
           that
           Child
           with
           Iniquity
           and
           Loosness
           ,
           that
           did
           come
           into
           the
           World
           upon
           designs
           of
           Holiness
           ,
           to
           settle
           a
           most
           strict
           Religion
           ?
           Nothing
           can
           be
           more
           incongruous
           then
           this
           ;
           and
           certainly
           there
           is
           nothing
           of
           Gods
           Counsel
           in
           it
           .
           But
           to
           you
           whose
           time
           seems
           nothing
           else
           but
           a
           constant
           Festival
           ,
           alwayes
           hath
           the
           Leisure
           ,
           and
           the
           Plenties
           ,
           and
           the
           Sports
           of
           one
           ,
           who
           as
           to
           these
           things
           keep
           a
           Christmas
           all
           their
           life
           ,
           this
           season
           as
           it
           does
           not
           seem
           to
           challenge
           those
           things
           to
           it self
           peculiarly
           ,
           so
           I
           shall
           not
           now
           insist
           on
           them
           ;
           but
           proceed
           to
           those
           wayes
           by
           which
           Simeon
           did
           Prophecy
           ,
           
             This
             Child
             would
             be
             for
             the
             fall
             of
             many
             in
             Israel
             .
          
           And
           they
           are
           three
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           
             This
             Child
          
           whom
           I
           but
           now
           declar'd
           
             God
             had
             prepar'd
             to
             be
             the
             Glory
             of
             his
             People
          
           
           Israel
           ,
           yet
           his
           Birth
           was
           so
           inglorious
           ,
           and
           his
           Life
           answerable
           to
           it
           ,
           shall
           be
           so
           mean
           and
           poor
           ,
           and
           his
           Death
           so
           full
           of
           shame
           and
           curse
           ,
           that
           these
           shall
           prove
           a
           scandal
           to
           his
           people
           ,
           who
           shall
           be
           offended
           at
           them
           ,
           
           and
           being
           prepossest
           with
           prejudices
           of
           a
           Pompous
           Royal
           Messiah
           ,
           they
           will
           not
           believe
           in
           this
           ,
           but
           reject
           a
           Saviour
           that
           comes
           upon
           those
           disadvantages
           ,
           which
           will
           therefore
           prove
           occasions
           of
           falling
           to
           them
           .
        
         
           That
           it
           was
           so
           is
           expressly
           said
           ,
           
             Behold
             ,
             I
             lay
             in
             Sion
             a
             chief
             corner
             stone
             ,
             a
             stone
             of
             stumbling
             ,
          
           
           
             and
             a
             rock
             of
             offence
          
           .
           And
           that
           it
           was
           so
           upon
           this
           account
           is
           clear
           ,
           The
           great
           ones
           cry
           out
           of
           him
           ,
           
             This
             fellow
             we
             know
             not
             whence
             he
             is
             :
          
           
           They
           that
           seem'd
           to
           know
           whence
           did
           upbraid
           him
           with
           it
           ,
           
             Is
             not
             this
             the
             Carpenter
          
           ?
           
           And
           therefore
           with
           a
           deal
           of
           scorn
           they
           question
           ,
           
             Do
             any
             of
             the
             Rulers
             or
             the
             Pharisees
             believe
          
           
           
             in
             him
          
           ?
           Yea
           ,
           Christ
           himself
           knew
           this
           would
           be
           so
           great
           a
           scandal
           that
           in
           the
           11
           Chapter
           of
           St.
           Mathew
           ,
           in
           the
           close
           of
           many
           Miracles
           which
           he
           wrought
           on
           purpose
           to
           demonstrate
           he
           was
           the
           Messiah
           he
           adds
           vers
           .
           6.
           
             and
             Blessed
             is
             he
             that
             shall
             not
             be
             offended
             in
             me
             .
          
           As
           if
           he
           thought
           his
           mean
           condition
           would
           prove
           a
           greater
           argument
           against
           him
           then
           his
           mighty
           works
           were
           for
           him
           :
           and
           it
           were
           a
           vaster
           Prodigy
           to
           see
           the
           Saviour
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           the
           promised
           Messiah
           ,
           poor
           and
           abject
           ,
           then
           to
           see
           one
           
             cure
             the
             Blind
          
           ,
           and
           
             heal
             the
             Lame
          
           and
           
           
             raise
             the
             Dead
          
           ;
           and
           they
           might
           think
           they
           had
           a
           stranger
           Miracle
           to
           confirm
           their
           unbelief
           ,
           then
           any
           he
           would
           work
           to
           make
           them
           believe
           in
           him
           .
        
         
           And
           really
           ,
           that
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           the
           Messiah
           ,
           which
           the
           Prophets
           did
           express
           in
           terms
           as
           high
           as
           their
           own
           Extasies
           and
           Raptures
           ,
           in
           transported
           words
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           Vied
           with
           Gods
           Dominion
           ,
           both
           for
           extent
           and
           for
           duration
           ,
           should
           prove
           at
           last
           an
           Empire
           onely
           over
           
             twelve
             poor
             Fishermen
          
           and
           Publicans
           ,
           and
           one
           of
           them
           a
           Traytor
           too
           :
           And
           that
           He
           that
           was
           born
           this
           King
           ,
           should
           be
           born
           in
           a
           Stable
           ,
           while
           he
           liv'd
           that
           he
           should
           not
           have
           an
           
             hole
             to
             put
             his
             Head
             in
             ,
          
           nor
           his
           Corps
           in
           when
           he
           died
           ,
           but
           his
           Grave
           too
           must
           be
           Charity
           ,
           this
           would
           startle
           any
           that
           did
           wait
           for
           the
           
             Redemption
             of
             Israel
          
           in
           those
           glorious
           expresses
           which
           the
           Prophets
           tract
           it
           out
           in
           .
           To
           you
           indeed
           that
           are
           Votaries
           to
           
             this
             Child
          
           ,
           are
           confirm'd
           Christians
           ,
           these
           seeming
           disadvantages
           can
           give
           no
           prejudice
           :
           However
           mean
           and
           abject
           his
           condition
           were
           ,
           that
           cannot
           make
           you
           to
           despise
           him
           ,
           who
           from
           that
           must
           needs
           reflect
           how
           dear
           you
           were
           to
           God
           ,
           when
           for
           your
           sakes
           meerly
           he
           became
           
           so
           mean
           and
           abject
           .
           
             He
             became
             poor
          
           ,
           saith
           St.
           
             Paul
             ,
             that
             you
             through
             his
             poverty
             might
          
           
           
             be
             made
             rich
          
           :
           He
           was
           made
           the
           Child
           of
           Man
           ,
           that
           you
           might
           be
           made
           Sons
           of
           God
           ;
           it
           was
           to
           pay
           the
           price
           of
           your
           Redemption
           that
           he
           
           so
           
             emptied
             himself
          
           ;
           thus
           he
           valued
           you
           ;
           and
           men
           do
           not
           despise
           meerly
           because
           ,
           and
           
             by
             those
             measures
          
           that
           ,
           they
           are
           esteem'd
           ,
           these
           are
           not
           there
           turns
           of
           love
           ,
           its
           passionate
           ,
           obliging
           ,
           ravishing
           effects
           do
           not
           use
           to
           be
           thus
           requited
           ,
           this
           his
           great
           descent
           cannot
           occasion
           your
           fall
           ,
           who
           know
           he
           descended
           only
           to
           assume
           you
           up
           to
           glory
           .
           But
           't
           is
           worth
           inquiry
           ,
           why
           ,
           since
           it
           was
           certaine
           ,
           that
           for
           this
           ,
           
             this
             Child
          
           should
           be
           
             the
             fall
             of
             Israel
          
           ;
           that
           for
           this
           they
           would
           reject
           him
           ,
           and
           the
           meanness
           of
           his
           condition
           would
           prove
           an
           unremoveable
           obstruction
           to
           their
           belief
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           to
           this
           day
           ;
           Why
           yet
           he
           would
           choose
           to
           be
           born
           in
           a
           condition
           so
           in
           the
           utmost
           extream
           to
           his
           own
           nature
           ,
           so
           all
           contradiction
           to
           his
           Divinity
           ,
           and
           so
           seemingly
           opposite
           to
           the
           very
           end
           of
           his
           coming
           .
        
         
           The
           Jew
           indeed
           ,
           will
           find
           no
           excuse
           for
           his
           infidelity
           from
           this
           condition
           :
           for
           what
           ever
           that
           were
           ,
           yet
           those
           Miracles
           that
           made
           
           the
           Devils
           to
           confess
           him
           ,
           brought
           conviction
           enough
           to
           make
           
             Jews
             inexcusable
          
           .
           And
           it
           was
           obvious
           to
           observe
           ,
           that
           He
           who
           
             fed
             five
             thousand
             with
             five
             loaves
             and
             two
             fishes
             ,
          
           till
           they
           
           left
           more
           then
           was
           set
           before
           them
           ,
           needed
           not
           to
           be
           in
           a
           condition
           of
           want
           or
           meanness
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           not
           otherwise
           more
           needful
           he
           should
           not
           abound
           .
           God
           ,
           that
           when
           
             He
             brought
             this
             first
             begotten
             Son
             into
             the
             world
             ,
          
           said
           ,
           
             Let
             all
             the
             Angels
             of
             God
             worship
             him
             ,
          
           might
           
           have
           put
           him
           into
           an
           estate
           which
           all
           mankind
           most
           readily
           would
           have
           done
           Homage
           too
           :
           as
           easily
           have
           drest
           his
           Person
           with
           a
           blaze
           of
           Pompe
           and
           Splendor
           ,
           as
           his
           Birth-day
           with
           a
           Starre
           ,
           If
           there
           had
           not
           been
           necessity
           it
           should
           be
           otherwise
           .
           And
           such
           there
           was
           .
           For
           
             when
             the
             fulness
          
           both
           of
           time
           and
           
             iniquity
             was
             come
          
           ,
           when
           Vice
           could
           grow
           no
           further
           ,
           but
           did
           even
           cry
           for
           Reformation
           ,
           and
           when
           the
           Doctrine
           that
           must
           come
           to
           give
           the
           rules
           of
           this
           Reformation
           ,
           was
           not
           only
           to
           wage
           War
           with
           flesh
           and
           blood
           ,
           with
           those
           desires
           which
           constitution
           gives
           ,
           but
           which
           
             perpetual
             universal
             custome
          
           had
           confirm'd
           ,
           and
           which
           their
           Gods
           also
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           inclinations
           ,
           did
           contribute
           to
           ,
           which
           their
           
             Original
             sin
          
           ,
           
           and
           their
           Religion
           equally
           fomented
           ;
           for
           Vice
           was
           then
           the
           Worship
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           Sins
           had
           their
           
             Temples
             ,
             Theft
          
           its
           Deity
           ,
           and
           Drunkenness
           its
           
             God
             ,
             Adultery
          
           had
           many
           ,
           and
           to
           
             prostitute
             their
             bodies
          
           was
           most
           sacred
           ,
           and
           their
           very
           Altar-fires
           did
           kindle
           these
           
             foul
             heats
          
           ,
           whence
           Uncleanness
           is
           so
           often
           call'd
           Idolatry
           in
           Scripture
           :
           And
           besides
           all
           this
           ,
           all
           the
           Philosophy
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           power
           of
           the
           world
           ingag'd
           in
           the
           belief
           and
           practise
           of
           this
           ,
           and
           resolv'd
           with
           all
           their
           wit
           and
           force
           to
           keep
           it
           so
           .
           When
           it
           was
           thus
           ,
           the
           Doctrine
           that
           must
           come
           to
           oppose
           ,
           controul
           ,
           reform
           ,
           all
           this
           must
           come
           either
           arm'd
           with
           fire
           and
           sword
           ,
           design
           to
           settle
           it selfe
           by
           conquest
           ,
           or
           come
           in
           a
           way
           of
           meekness
           and
           of
           suffering
           :
           The
           first
           of
           these
           Religion
           cannot
           possibly
           design
           ,
           because
           it
           cannot
           aime
           to
           settle
           that
           by
           violence
           ,
           which
           cannot
           be
           forc'd
           ,
           and
           where
           't
           is
           force
           ,
           is
           not
           Religion
           .
           One
           may
           as
           well
           invade
           ,
           and
           hope
           to
           get
           a
           conquest
           over
           thoughts
           ,
           and
           put
           a
           mind
           in
           chains
           ,
           and
           force
           a
           man
           to
           
             will
             against
             his
             will.
          
           All
           such
           motives
           are
           incompetent
           to
           demonstrate
           Doctrines
           ,
           for
           how
           ever
           successful
           their
           force
           proves
           ,
           yet
           it
           cannot
           prove
           the
           Doctrines
           true
           ;
           for
           by
           that
           Argument
           
           it
           proves
           that
           Religion
           that
           it
           settles
           true
           ,
           it
           proves
           that
           it
           destroyes
           was
           true
           before
           ,
           while
           it
           prevail'd
           and
           had
           the
           power
           .
           Had
           
             this
             Child
          
           come
           so
           ,
           he
           had
           only
           given
           such
           a
           testimony
           to
           to
           the
           truth
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           as
           Heathenisme
           had
           before
           ,
           and
           Turcisme
           hath
           since
           :
           He
           might
           indeed
           ,
           have
           drown'd
           the
           wicked
           world
           again
           in
           another
           deluge
           ,
           of
           their
           own
           blood
           :
           but
           sure
           ,
           never
           had
           reform'd
           it
           thus
           .
           Therefore
           ,
           That
           Religion
           ,
           that
           must
           oppose
           the
           Customs
           ,
           and
           the
           Powers
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           upon
           Principles
           of
           Reason
           and
           Religion
           ,
           must
           do
           it
           by
           Innocence
           and
           Patience
           ,
           by
           
             doing
             good
          
           ,
           and
           (
           which
           was
           necessary
           ,
           then
           by
           consequence
           ,
           as
           the
           world
           stood
           ,
           )
           by
           
             suffering
             evil
          
           :
           parting
           with
           all
           ,
           not
           only
           the
           advantages
           ,
           but
           necessaries
           of
           this
           life
           ,
           and
           life
           its
           self
           too
           ,
           where
           they
           stood
           in
           competition
           ,
           and
           were
           inconsistent
           with
           mens
           duties
           ,
           and
           their
           expectations
           :
           and
           by
           this
           means
           they
           must
           shew
           the
           world
           that
           their
           Religion
           did
           bring
           
           
             in
             a
             better
             hope
          
           ,
           then
           that
           which
           all
           the
           profits
           ,
           pleasures
           ,
           glories
           of
           this
           world
           can
           entertain
           and
           flatter
           .
        
         
           Thus
           they
           did
           ,
           and
           thus
           they
           did
           prevaile
           for
           the
           first
           ages
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           were
           but
           so
           
           many
           centuries
           of
           men
           ,
           that
           entertain'd
           Christianity
           with
           the
           contempt
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           life
           it self
           .
           They
           ,
           knew
           to
           put
           themselves
           into
           Christs
           Service
           and
           Religion
           ,
           was
           the
           same
           thing
           ,
           as
           to
           set
           themselves
           aside
           for
           spoyle
           and
           rapine
           ,
           dedicate
           themselves
           to
           poverty
           and
           scorn
           ,
           to
           racks
           and
           tortures
           ,
           and
           to
           Butchery
           it self
           .
           Yet
           they
           enter'd
           into
           it
           ;
           did
           not
           onely
           renounce
           the
           pomps
           and
           vanities
           of
           the
           world
           in
           their
           Baptism
           ,
           when
           they
           were
           new
           born
           to
           God
           ;
           quench
           their
           affections
           to
           them
           ,
           in
           those
           waters
           ,
           but
           renounc'd
           them
           ,
           even
           to
           the
           death
           ;
           drown'd
           their
           affections
           to
           them
           ,
           in
           their
           own
           heart
           blood
           :
           ran
           from
           the
           world
           into
           flames
           ,
           and
           fled
           faster
           from
           the
           satisfactions
           and
           delights
           of
           earth
           ,
           then
           those
           flames
           mounted
           to
           their
           Element
           and
           Sphere
           :
           In
           fine
           ,
           they
           became
           Christians
           so
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           been
           
             Candidates
             of
             Death
          
           ,
           and
           only
           made
           themselves
           
             Apprentises
             of
             Martyrdome
          
           .
           Now
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           not
           possible
           ,
           it
           should
           be
           otherwise
           then
           thus
           ,
           as
           the
           world
           stood
           ,
           then
           it
           was
           necessary
           that
           the
           Captaine
           
           
             of
             Salvation
          
           ,
           should
           lead
           on
           ,
           goe
           before
           ,
           this
           
             noble
             Army
             of
             Martyrs
          
           ;
           if
           it
           were
           necessary
           that
           they
           must
           
             leave
             all
             who
             followed
             Him
          
           ,
           then
           it
           
           was
           not
           possible
           that
           He
           should
           be
           here
           in
           a
           state
           of
           Plenty
           ,
           Splendor
           ,
           and
           Magnificence
           ,
           but
           of
           Poverty
           ,
           and
           Meanness
           ;
           giving
           an
           example
           to
           his
           followers
           ,
           whose
           condition
           could
           not
           but
           be
           such
           .
           To
           give
           which
           example
           ,
           was
           it
           seems
           ,
           of
           more
           necessity
           ,
           then
           by
           being
           born
           in
           Royal
           Purple
           ,
           to
           prevent
           the
           
             fall
             of
             many
             in
             Israel
          
           ,
           who
           for
           his
           condition
           despis'd
           him
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           not
           so
           vain
           ,
           as
           to
           hope
           to
           perswade
           any
           from
           this
           great
           Example
           here
           ,
           to
           be
           in
           love
           with
           Poverty
           ,
           and
           with
           a
           low
           condition
           ,
           by
           telling
           them
           ,
           this
           Birth
           hath
           consecrated
           meanness
           ,
           that
           we
           must
           not
           scorn
           those
           things
           ,
           in
           which
           our
           God
           did
           choose
           to
           be
           install'd
           ,
           that
           humility
           is
           ,
           it
           seems
           ,
           the
           proper
           dress
           for
           Divinity
           to
           shew
           it self
           in
           .
           But
           when
           we
           consider
           ,
           if
           this
           Child
           had
           been
           born
           in
           a
           condition
           of
           Wealth
           and
           Greatness
           ,
           the
           whole
           Nation
           of
           the
           Jews
           would
           have
           receiv'd
           him
           ;
           whereas
           that
           he
           chose
           ,
           prov'd
           an
           occasion
           of
           falling
           to
           them
           :
           Yet
           ,
           that
           God
           should
           think
           it
           much
           more
           necessary
           ,
           to
           give
           us
           an
           example
           of
           Humility
           and
           Poverty
           below
           expression
           ;
           then
           it
           was
           necessary
           that
           that
           whole
           Nation
           
           should
           believe
           on
           him
           .
           When
           of
           all
           the
           Virgins
           of
           that
           People
           ,
           which
           God
           had
           to
           choose
           one
           out
           to
           overshadow
           ,
           and
           impregnate
           with
           the
           
             Son
             of
             God
          
           ,
           He
           chose
           one
           of
           the
           meanest
           ,
           (
           for
           
             he
             hath
             regarded
             the
             low
          
           
           
             estate
             of
             his
             Handmaiden
          
           ,
           said
           she
           ,
           )
           and
           one
           of
           the
           poorest
           too
           ,
           for
           she
           had
           not
           a
           Lamb
           
           to
           offer
           ,
           but
           was
           
             purifyed
             ,
             in
             formâ
             pauperis
          
           .
           When
           he
           would
           reveal
           this
           Birth
           also
           ,
           that
           was
           to
           be
           
             the
             joy
             of
             the
             whole
             Earth
             ,
          
           he
           did
           it
           to
           none
           of
           that
           Nation
           ,
           but
           a
           few
           
             poor
             shepheards
          
           ,
           who
           were
           labouring
           with
           midnight-watches
           over
           their
           Flocks
           ;
           none
           of
           all
           the
           great
           ones
           ,
           that
           were
           then
           at
           ease
           ,
           and
           lay
           in
           softs
           ,
           was
           thought
           worthy
           to
           have
           notice
           of
           it
           :
           Lastly
           ,
           when
           the
           Angels
           make
           that
           poverty
           a
           signe
           to
           know
           the
           Saviour
           by
           .
           
             This
             shall
             be
             a
             signe
             unto
             you
             ,
             You
             shall
          
           
           
             find
             the
             Babe
             wrapt
             in
             swadling
             cloaths
             ,
             and
             lay'd
             in
             a
             Manger
             :
          
           as
           if
           the
           Manger
           were
           sufficient
           testimony
           to
           the
           Christ
           ,
           and
           this
           great
           meanness
           were
           an
           evidence
           't
           was
           the
           Messiah
           .
           From
           all
           these
           together
           ,
           we
           may
           easily
           discover
           what
           the
           temper
           is
           of
           Christianity
           .
           You
           see
           here
           the
           institution
           of
           your
           Order
           :
           the
           First-born
           of
           the
           Sons
           of
           God
           ,
           born
           but
           
           to
           such
           an
           Estate
           .
           And
           what
           is
           so
           Original
           to
           the
           Religion
           ,
           what
           was
           born
           and
           bred
           with
           it
           ,
           cannot
           easily
           be
           divided
           from
           it
           .
           
             Generatio
             Christi
             generatio
             populi
             Christiani
          
           ,
           
           
             natalis
             Capitis
             natalis
             Corporis
          
           .
           The
           body
           and
           the
           head
           have
           the
           same
           kind
           of
           birth
           ,
           and
           to
           that
           which
           Christ
           is
           born
           to
           ,
           Christianity
           it self
           is
           born
           .
           Neither
           can
           it
           ever
           otherwise
           be
           entertain'd
           in
           the
           heart
           of
           any
           man
           ,
           but
           with
           
             poverty
             of
             spirit
          
           ,
           with
           neglect
           of
           all
           the
           scorns
           ,
           and
           the
           calamities
           ,
           yea
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           
             gaudy
             glories
          
           of
           this
           world
           ,
           with
           that
           unconcernedness
           for
           it
           ,
           that
           indifference
           and
           
             simple
             innocence
          
           that
           is
           in
           
             children
             .
             He
             that
             receiveth
          
           
           
             not
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             as
             a
             little
             Child
             ,
             cannot
             enter
             thereinto
             ,
          
           saith
           Christ
           :
           True
           indeed
           ,
           when
           the
           
             Son
             of
             God
          
           must
           become
           a
           
             little
             child
          
           ,
           that
           he
           may
           
             open
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             to
             Believers
             .
          
           Would
           you
           see
           what
           humility
           and
           lowliness
           becomes
           a
           Christian
           ?
           see
           the
           God
           of
           Christians
           on
           his
           
             Royal
             Birth-day
          
           .
           A
           
             person
             of
             the
             Trinity
          
           ,
           that
           he
           may
           take
           upon
           him
           our
           Religion
           ,
           takes
           upon
           him
           the
           
             form
             of
          
           
           
             a
             Servant
          
           ;
           and
           He
           that
           was
           
             equal
             with
             God
          
           ,
           must
           
             make
             himself
             of
             no
             Reputation
          
           ,
           if
           he
           mean
           to
           settle
           and
           be
           the
           Example
           of
           our
           profession
           .
           
           And
           then
           ,
           when
           will
           our
           
             high
             spirits
             ▪
          
           those
           that
           value
           an
           huffe
           of
           Reputation
           more
           then
           their
           own
           souls
           ,
           and
           set
           it
           above
           God
           himself
           ,
           when
           will
           these
           become
           Christians
           ?
           Is
           there
           any
           more
           uncouth
           or
           detestable
           thing
           in
           the
           whole
           world
           ,
           then
           to
           see
           the
           
             great
             Lord
             of
             Heaven
          
           become
           
             a
             little
             one
          
           ,
           and
           man
           that
           's
           less
           then
           nothing
           magnifie
           himself
           ?
           to
           see
           Divinity
           
             empty
             it self
          
           ,
           and
           him
           that
           is
           a
           worm
           ,
           swell
           and
           be
           puffed
           up
           :
           to
           see
           the
           
             Son
             of
             God
          
           descend
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           the
           
             sons
             of
             Earth
          
           climbing
           on
           heaps
           of
           wealth
           ,
           which
           they
           pile
           up
           ,
           as
           the
           
             old
             Gyants
          
           did
           
             hills
             upon
             hills
          
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           would
           invade
           that
           Throne
           which
           He
           came
           down
           from
           :
           and
           as
           if
           they
           also
           were
           
             set
             for
             the
             fall
             of
             many
             ,
          
           throwing
           every
           body
           down
           that
           but
           stands
           near
           them
           ,
           either
           in
           their
           way
           or
           prospect
           .
           Would
           you
           see
           how
           little
           value
           all
           those
           interests
           that
           recommend
           this
           world
           ,
           are
           of
           to
           Christians
           ?
           see
           the
           Founder
           of
           them
           choose
           the
           opposite
           extream
           :
           not
           onely
           to
           discover
           to
           us
           ,
           these
           are
           no
           accessions
           to
           felicity
           ,
           
             This
             Child
          
           was
           the
           
             Son
             of
             God
          
           without
           them
           :
           but
           to
           let
           us
           see
           that
           we
           must
           make
           the
           same
           choice
           too
           ,
           when
           ever
           any
           of
           those
           interests
           affront
           a
           duty
           ,
           or
           solicite
           
           a
           good
           Conscience
           ,
           whensoever
           indeed
           they
           are
           not
           reconcileable
           with
           
             innocence
             ,
             sincerity
          
           ,
           and
           ingenuity
           .
           It
           was
           the
           want
           of
           this
           disposition
           and
           temper
           that
           did
           make
           the
           Jews
           reject
           our
           Saviour
           .
           They
           could
           not
           endure
           to
           think
           of
           a
           Religion
           that
           would
           not
           promise
           them
           to
           
             fill
             their
             basket
          
           ,
           and
           to
           
             set
             them
             high
             above
          
           
           
             all
             Nations
             of
             the
             Earth
          
           ,
           and
           whose
           appearance
           was
           not
           great
           and
           splendid
           ,
           but
           lookt
           thin
           and
           maigre
           ,
           and
           whose
           Principles
           and
           Promises
           shew'd
           like
           the
           Curses
           of
           their
           Law
           ,
           
           call'd
           for
           sufferings
           ,
           and
           did
           
             promise
             persecution
          
           ,
           therefore
           they
           rejected
           him
           that
           brought
           it
           ,
           and
           so
           
             this
             Child
             was
             for
             the
             fall
             of
             many
             in
             Israel
             .
          
        
         
           2.
           
           
             This
             Child
          
           is
           
             for
             the
             fall
             of
             many
          
           by
           the
           holiness
           of
           his
           Religion
           :
           while
           the
           strictness
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           which
           he
           brings
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           mens
           great
           propensions
           to
           wickedness
           ,
           and
           their
           inability
           to
           
             resolve
             against
             their
             Vices
          
           ,
           will
           make
           them
           
             set
             themselves
             against
             it
          
           ,
           both
           by
           word
           and
           deed
           :
           for
           they
           will
           contradict
           and
           
             speak
             ill
             of
          
           ,
           yea
           ,
           they
           will
           openly
           renounce
           ,
           and
           
             fall
             away
          
           from
           it
           and
           him
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           For
           that
           reason
           they
           will
           
             contradict
             ,
             speak
             ill
             of
          
           Him
           and
           of
           his
           Doctrines
           :
           This
           is
           said
           
           expresly
           in
           the
           last
           words
           of
           my
           Text
           ,
           
             He
             is
             for
             a
             sign
             that
             shall
             be
             spoken
             against
          
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           
             that
             very
             holiness
             both
             of
             his
             Life
             and
             Doctrine
             ,
             that
             shall
             make
             him
             signal
             ,
             it
             shall
             make
             him
             be
             derided
             and
             blasphem'd
             .
          
           As
           if
           his
           being
           a
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           for
           
           an
           
             Ensigne
             lifted
             up
          
           ,
           a
           Standard
           for
           all
           Nations
           ,
           were
           not
           for
           them
           to
           
             betake
             themselves
             to
          
           ,
           but
           to
           level
           all
           their
           
             batteries
             against
          
           .
           Accordingly
           we
           find
           they
           call'd
           him
           Beelzebub
           ,
           because
           
           he
           
             cast
             out
             Devils
          
           .
           And
           all
           this
           was
           foretold
           :
           for
           although
           he
           were
           
             fairer
             then
             the
             children
             of
             men
             ,
          
           Psal.
           45.
           yet
           Isa.
           53.
           
           It
           is
           said
           ,
           
             He
             hath
             no
             form
             nor
             comeliness
             ,
             when
             we
             shall
             see
             him
             ,
             there
             is
             no
             beauty
             in
             him
             ,
             that
             we
             should
             desire
             him
             ,
             he
             is
             despised
             and
             rejected
             of
             men
             .
          
           Surely
           ,
           because
           his
           holiness
           did
           cloud
           and
           darken
           all
           his
           
             graces
             .
             Devotion
          
           in
           a
           countenance
           does
           writh
           and
           discompose
           it
           ,
           prints
           deformity
           upon
           it
           ,
           and
           eyes
           
             lifted
             up
          
           with
           ardency
           ,
           look
           as
           bad
           as
           eyes
           distorted
           ,
           set
           awry
           .
           Nay
           Majesty
           ,
           when
           it
           was
           most
           severe
           and
           pious
           ,
           never
           yet
           could
           guard
           Religion
           from
           these
           
             scorns
             .
             David
          
           ,
           that
           great
           and
           
             holy
             King
          
           ,
           sayes
           of
           himself
           ,
           
           
             I
             wept
             and
             chasten'd
             my self
             with
             fasting
             ,
             and
             that
             was
             turned
             to
             my
             reproof
             ,
          
           as
           if
           Repentance
           were
           among
           his
           crimes
           ,
           and
           he
           must
           be
           
           corrected
           for
           his
           
             discipline
             .
             I
             put
             on
             Sack-cloth
             also
             ,
             and
             they
             jested
             upon
             me
             ,
             they
             that
             sat
             in
             the
             gate
             spake
             aegainst
             me
             ,
             and
             the
             Drunkards
             made
             Songs
             upon
             me
             .
          
           Sure
           these
           jolly
           men
           are
           not
           companions
           to
           those
           
             Angels
             ,
             in
             whose
             presence
          
           
           
             there
             is
             joy
             over
             one
             sinner
             that
             repenteth
          
           ;
           that
           his
           vertue
           should
           be
           a
           rejoycing
           ,
           and
           a
           song
           to
           them
           too
           .
           Certainly
           the
           penitent
           mans
           tears
           do
           not
           fill
           their
           
             chearful
             bowls
          
           ,
           nor
           his
           groans
           make
           those
           airs
           which
           they
           set
           their
           
             drunken
             catches
          
           to
           .
           But
           that
           we
           may
           be
           sure
           it
           never
           will
           be
           otherwise
           ,
           St.
           Peter
           tells
           us
           ,
           
             That
             in
             the
             last
          
           
           
             days
             there
             shall
             come
             scoffers
             ,
             walking
             after
             their
             own
             lusts
             .
          
           Now
           the
           men
           of
           our
           dayes
           have
           the
           luck
           to
           obey
           Scripture
           thus
           far
           as
           to
           make
           that
           Prophecy
           to
           come
           to
           pass
           ;
           for
           those
           scoffers
           are
           come
           in
           
             power
             and
             great
             glory
          
           .
           The
           Psalmist
           tells
           us
           of
           a
           
             chair
             of
             scorners
          
           ,
           as
           if
           these
           
           were
           the
           only
           men
           that
           speak
           
             ex
             cathedra
          
           :
           and
           sure
           scoffs
           and
           
             taunts
             at
             Religion
          
           are
           the
           onely
           things
           that
           may
           be
           talk'd
           
             with
             confidence
             a
             loud
          
           :
           They
           imprint
           an
           Authority
           on
           what
           is
           said
           ,
           and
           conversations
           that
           are
           most
           insipied
           on
           all
           other
           scores
           ,
           get
           accompt
           as
           they
           come
           up
           towards
           this
           practise
           :
           hence
           they
           
             gain
             degrees
             ,
             commence
             ingenious
          
           as
           they
           border
           
           on
           these
           Atheistical
           and
           
             irreligious
             blasphemies
          
           ;
           and
           when
           it
           is
           
             pure
             scorne
          
           ,
           then
           it
           is
           in
           the
           Chaire
           .
        
         
           But
           it
           stays
           not
           there
           ;
           For
           2.
           
           Upon
           the
           same
           account
           of
           strictness
           of
           Religion
           ,
           men
           will
           
             fall
             off
             from
          
           ,
           and
           
             openly
             renounce
          
           both
           
             Christ
             and
             his
             Religion
          
           .
           This
           is
           that
           our
           Saviour
           
           himself
           found
           ,
           Light
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           
             is
             come
             into
             the
             world
             ,
             and
             men
             lov'd
             darkness
             rather
             than
             the
             light
             ,
             because
             their
             deeds
             were
             evil
             .
          
           And
           he
           said
           of
           the
           
             Pharisees
             ,
             They
             repented
             not
             that
          
           
           
             they
             might
             believe
          
           ,
           as
           knowing
           it
           impossible
           that
           they
           could
           venture
           to
           believe
           that
           Doctrine
           which
           condemn'd
           those
           courses
           they
           would
           not
           repent
           of
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           I
           should
           affirm
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           nothing
           else
           but
           mens
           
             unwillingness
             to
             be
             oblig'd
          
           to
           those
           things
           ,
           which
           if
           there
           be
           a
           God
           ,
           and
           a
           Religion
           which
           this
           Child
           was
           set
           to
           institute
           ,
           they
           must
           account
           themselves
           oblig'd
           to
           ;
           nothing
           else
           but
           this
           ,
           which
           makes
           them
           so
           
             unwilling
             to
             believe
             a
             God
             or
             Christ
          
           ;
           yea
           ,
           openly
           renounce
           them
           both
           ,
           and
           their
           Religion
           ,
           I
           should
           have
           for
           this
           ,
           not
           onely
           the
           late
           instance
           of
           a
           Na●ion
           in
           the
           Indies
           ,
           which
           by
           institution
           of
           the
           
           Portugals
           ,
           was
           easily
           perswaded
           to
           embrace
           
           the
           Christian
           Creed
           ,
           and
           was
           Baptiz'd
           into
           our
           Faith
           ;
           but
           when
           they
           were
           requir'd
           to
           lead
           their
           lives
           according
           to
           Christs
           Precepts
           ,
           and
           renounce
           their
           
             Heathen
             Licences
          
           ,
           they
           chose
           rather
           to
           renounce
           their
           Creed
           and
           Saviour
           ,
           and
           return'd
           instantly
           to
           their
           indulgent
           Heathenisme
           .
           But
           to
           this
           experience
           ,
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           add
           this
           reason
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           not
           the
           difficulty
           of
           the
           
             mysteries
             of
             faith
          
           ,
           and
           their
           being
           above
           our
           comprehension
           ,
           which
           makes
           them
           not
           to
           be
           receiv'd
           ,
           because
           there
           are
           as
           great
           difficulties
           in
           
             things
             that
             we
             are
             certain
             of
             .
          
           For
           in
           the
           very
           
             sphere
             of
             Reason
          
           ,
           within
           the
           lines
           and
           measures
           of
           her
           own
           infallability
           ,
           in
           things
           of
           which
           she
           does
           assure
           her self
           by
           diagrams
           and
           sense
           ,
           yet
           she
           is
           as
           much
           amaz'd
           as
           at
           those
           objects
           in
           the
           highest
           and
           
             remotest
             Regions
             of
             faith
          
           ,
           and
           Mathematicks
           hath
           her
           Paradoxes
           
           that
           stand
           in
           as
           great
           danger
           of
           a
           contradiction
           as
           any
           of
           
             Religions
             mysteries
          
           ,
           while
           reason
           cannot
           cape
           what
           she
           demonstrates
           ,
           but
           is
           to
           seek
           how
           those
           things
           can
           be
           possible
           which
           she
           proves
           
             most
             certaine
          
           ,
           and
           they
           are
           incomprehensible
           to
           her
           ,
           even
           when
           they
           are
           most
           evident
           :
           and
           then
           sure
           if
           we
           can
           think
           there
           is
           a
           God
           ,
           we
           must
           needs
           think
           He
           can
           do
           things
           
           we
           cannot
           comprehend
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           plain
           our
           reason
           cannot
           comprehend
           what
           
             she
             her self
          
           does
           
             find
             out
          
           and
           create
           .
           It
           is
           not
           therefore
           contradiction
           to
           Reason
           ,
           but
           to
           Appetite
           ,
           that
           makes
           things
           of
           Religion
           so
           incredible
           ,
           which
           I
           thus
           demonstrate
           to
           the
           Atheist
           .
        
         
           Those
           very
           difficulties
           ,
           to
           avoid
           which
           ,
           he
           denies
           a
           God
           ;
           to
           wit
           ,
           
             Those
             of
             an
             Eternal
             Being
             that
             is
             of
             himself
          
           ;
           these
           very
           things
           he
           must
           and
           
             does
             acknowledge
          
           in
           the
           being
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           if
           that
           either
           be
           it
           self
           Eternal
           (
           as
           the
           Atheist
           of
           the
           Peripatetick
           Tribe
           will
           have
           it
           )
           or
           else
           if
           its
           atomes
           ,
           out
           of
           which
           it
           was
           concreted
           ,
           were
           :
           (
           as
           those
           of
           Epicurus
           heard
           assert
           .
           )
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           if
           they
           say
           the
           world
           or
           its
           materials
           were
           made
           ,
           they
           grant
           a
           God
           that
           made
           it
           ;
           If
           they
           say
           they
           were
           
             not
             made
          
           ,
           they
           assert
           then
           an
           
             Eternal
             Being
             of
             its
             self
          
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           They
           allow
           those
           difficulties
           for
           which
           they
           pretend
           to
           deny
           a
           God.
           
        
         
           There
           being
           therefore
           the
           same
           difficulties
           ,
           (
           Greater
           I
           could
           prove
           them
           ,
           from
           the
           diverse
           natures
           of
           corporeal
           ,
           and
           spiritual
           beings
           ,
           for
           we
           are
           sure
           ,
           in
           bodies
           that
           are
           still
           in
           motion
           ,
           and
           so
           subject
           to
           succession
           ,
           those
           things
           are
           impossible
           ,
           but
           if
           there
           be
           a
           Being
           
           that
           is
           
             not
             in
             motion
          
           ,
           &
           by
           consequence
           ,
           not
           subject
           to
           the
           laws
           of
           
             our
             time
          
           ,
           all
           these
           knots
           untie
           themselves
           ,
           those
           difficulties
           vanish
           &
           have
           no
           place
           :
           But
           to
           say
           no
           more
           then
           I
           have
           shew'd
           ,
           
             there
             being
             the
             same
             difficulties
          
           ,
           )
           in
           the
           
             Atheists
             hypothesis
          
           as
           in
           the
           other
           ,
           't
           is
           apparent
           ,
           not
           the
           difficulties
           of
           belief
           ,
           but
           practice
           ,
           make
           him
           fix
           upon
           his
           own
           against
           the
           
             common
             notions
          
           of
           the
           world
           .
           So
           ,
           that
           't
           is
           not
           his
           understanding
           ,
           but
           his
           appetite
           frames
           his
           hypothesis
           ,
           &
           without
           figure
           ,
           t
           is
           his
           will
           that
           he
           believes
           with
           .
           And
           it
           is
           most
           evident
           ,
           that
           because
           men
           do
           not
           love
           the
           precepts
           of
           Religion
           ,
           would
           not
           have
           them
           be
           their
           duty
           ,
           therefore
           they
           would
           have
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           it
           not
           be
           truths
           ;
           and
           in
           this
           they
           are
           the
           Disciples
           only
           of
           their
           lusts
           ,
           &
           because
           they
           cannot
           resolve
           to
           be
           otherwise
           ,
           therefore
           they
           resolve
           not
           to
           be
           
           Christ's
           Disciples
           ,
           but
           reject
           him
           for
           his
           holy
           Doctrines
           sake
           :
           and
           so
           
             this
             Child
             is
             for
             the
             fall
             of
             many
             .
          
        
         
           But
           it
           were
           strange
           if
           upon
           this
           account
           ,
           Christ
           should
           be
           for
           the
           fall
           of
           any
           of
           us
           ;
           who
           have
           learnt
           a
           trick
           to
           reconcile
           his
           
             severe
             Doctrines
          
           ,
           and
           our
           Sins
           together
           .
           Where
           Vice
           most
           abounds
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           willful
           ,
           and
           men
           persevere
           in
           it
           ,
           they
           are
           so
           far
           from
           finding
           
           any
           reason
           to
           
             fall
             off
             from
             him
          
           ,
           or
           from
           his
           Gospel
           for
           this
           ,
           that
           they
           therefore
           take
           the
           
             faster
             hold
             of
             it
          
           ,
           rely
           upon
           Him
           with
           the
           
             bolder
             ,
             stronger
             confidence
          
           .
           As
           if
           good
           old
           Simeon
           were
           mistaken
           ,
           when
           he
           thought
           ,
           because
           men
           would
           not
           leave
           those
           sins
           which
           Christ
           so
           threatned
           ,
           therefore
           they
           would
           leave
           him
           :
           because
           they
           could
           not
           beare
           those
           his
           hard
           sayings
           ,
           to
           
             pull
             out
          
           the
           lust
           and
           the
           
             Eye
             too
             :
             cast
             away
          
           the
           treasures
           of
           unrighteousness
           ,
           and
           the
           
             right
             hand
          
           that
           receives
           them
           also
           ;
           therefore
           they
           would
           cast
           off
           him
           ,
           for
           ,
           for
           this
           reason
           they
           betake
           themselves
           to
           him
           more
           eagerly
           ,
           devolve
           and
           cast
           themselves
           upon
           him
           with
           assurance
           .
           'T
           is
           possible
           indeed
           that
           the
           new
           Christian'd
           Indians
           ,
           might
           believe
           themselves
           oblig'd
           to
           lead
           their
           lives
           according
           to
           the
           vow
           that
           they
           had
           made
           in
           Baptisme
           ,
           knew
           not
           how
           to
           live
           a
           contradiction
           to
           be
           
             Christian
             Pagans
          
           ;
           therefore
           thought
           it
           absolutely
           necessary
           ,
           to
           renounce
           the
           one
           ,
           and
           to
           reject
           Christ
           and
           his
           
             strict
             Religion
             was
             easier
          
           they
           thought
           .
           Our
           Saviour
           also
           might
           suppose
           ,
           that
           when
           he
           brought
           light
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           men
           would
           not
           receive
           that
           light
           ,
           because
           their
           deeds
           were
           evil
           :
           But
           our
           modern
           wickednesses
           
           that
           are
           of
           the
           true
           Eagle
           kind
           ,
           are
           educated
           ,
           bred
           up
           to
           endure
           ,
           and
           to
           defie
           the
           light
           :
           our
           deeds
           of
           night
           have
           learn'd
           to
           face
           both
           Sun
           and
           Men
           ,
           yea
           and
           face
           the
           
             Sun
             of
             Righteousness
          
           ,
           and
           the
           light
           of
           those
           
             flames
             that
             are
             to
             receive
             them
             .
          
           Our
           Saviour
           told
           the
           Pharisees
           indeed
           ,
           that
           
             that
             they
             repented
             not
             ,
             that
             they
             might
             believe
             ,
          
           for
           thinking
           it
           impossible
           they
           could
           assent
           to
           what
           he
           did
           affirm
           ,
           except
           they
           would
           consent
           to
           what
           he
           did
           command
           ,
           He
           therefore
           thought
           they
           were
           
             not
             able
          
           to
           believe
           ,
           because
           they
           would
           not
           
             purpose
             to
             amend
          
           .
           But
           there
           is
           nothing
           difficult
           in
           this
           to
           us
           ,
           who
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           are
           so
           perfectly
           resolv'd
           that
           every
           threat
           of
           Gospel
           is
           so
           
             divine
             truth
          
           ,
           as
           that
           we
           assure
           our selves
           ,
           that
           we
           could
           be
           content
           to
           
             die
             '
             Martyrs
          
           to
           the
           truth
           of
           them
           ,
           rather
           then
           renounce
           one
           tittle
           of
           them
           ;
           yet
           even
           then
           are
           Martyrs
           to
           those
           lusts
           and
           passions
           which
           those
           threats
           belong
           to
           :
           Who
           ,
           at
           once
           ,
           believe
           this
           Book
           of
           God
           ,
           that
           saies
           ,
           
             except
             ye
             repent
             ye
             shall
             all
             perish
          
           ;
           
           and
           believe
           also
           ,
           that
           notwithstanding
           we
           do
           not
           repent
           ,
           yet
           by
           Believing
           we
           shall
           scape
           ,
           not
           perish
           ,
           but
           be
           sav'd
           .
           And
           is
           not
           this
           directly
           to
           believe
           our selves
           into
           damnation
           ?
           
           the
           third
           and
           the
           
             great
             fall
          
           ,
           which
           
             this
             Child
             is
             set
             for
          
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           
             This
             Child
             is
             for
             the
             fall
             of
             many
             ,
          
           to
           wit
           ,
           of
           all
           those
           ,
           who
           on
           these
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           grounds
           do
           
             not
             believe
             in
          
           ,
           or
           do
           
             not
             obey
             him
          
           ,
           who
           shall
           therefore
           
             fall
             into
             Eternal
             ruine
          
           .
        
         
           This
           our
           Saviour
           does
           affirm
           ,
           St.
           John
           3.
           19.
           
           
             This
             is
             the
             condemnation
             that
             light
             came
             into
             the
             world
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           This
           does
           aggravate
           the
           guilt
           ,
           and
           sentence
           .
           We
           were
           fal'n
           before
           indeed
           in
           Adam
           :
           and
           I
           dare
           not
           undertake
           to
           be
           so
           learned
           to
           say
           whether
           ;
           to
           determine
           with
           some
           of
           them
           ,
           that
           was
           but
           a
           fall
           from
           Paradise
           into
           the
           grave
           ,
           and
           we
           were
           forfeit
           to
           
             death
             only
          
           :
           But
           I
           may
           adventure
           to
           affirm
           ,
           that
           in
           the
           
             second
             Adam
          
           ,
           sinners
           finally
           impenitent
           shall
           fall
           much
           farther
           then
           we
           did
           in
           the
           
             first
             Adam
          
           .
           Now
           their
           pit
           shall
           have
           
             no
             bottom
          
           ,
           but
           this
           
           
             light
             that
             came
             to
             lighten
             them
             ,
          
           shall
           be
           to
           them
           
             consuming
             fire
             ,
             and
             everlasting
             burnings
             .
          
           And
           all
           reason
           in
           the
           world
           .
           For
           ,
           upon
           that
           fall
           of
           ours
           in
           Adam
           ,
           help
           was
           offer'd
           us
           :
           an
           easie
           way
           ,
           not
           only
           to
           repair
           those
           ruines
           ,
           but
           to
           better
           infinitely
           that
           estate
           which
           we
           were
           faln
           from
           ;
           and
           a
           way
           that
           cost
           God
           dear
           
           to
           purchase
           ,
           cost
           him
           ,
           not
           this
           Incarnation
           only
           ,
           but
           the
           Death
           and
           Passion
           of
           
             his
             Son
          
           ,
           and
           diverse
           other
           blessed
           methods
           Salvation
           :
           Now
           if
           we
           refuse
           the
           mercy
           of
           all
           this
           ,
           and
           scorn
           these
           miracles
           of
           condescending
           goodness
           ,
           and
           defie
           those
           methods
           ,
           that
           he
           makes
           use
           of
           ,
           to
           raise
           us
           from
           our
           fall
           ,
           it
           is
           apparent
           we
           provoke
           and
           
             choose
             deeper
             ruine
          
           ;
           this
           refusal
           hath
           in
           it
           such
           desperate
           malignity
           ,
           as
           to
           poyson
           this
           great
           mercy
           of
           the
           Incarnataion
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           rest
           .
           'T
           is
           but
           a
           small
           thing
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           they
           who
           
             Stumble
             at
             this
             Rock
             of
             their
             Salvation
             ,
          
           spurning
           at
           it
           by
           their
           wilful
           disobedience
           ,
           that
           these
           make
           an
           infinite
           mass
           of
           loving-kindness
           to
           be
           lost
           upon
           them
           ,
           so
           as
           that
           
             Salvation
             cannot
             save
             them
          
           ;
           for
           alas
           
             Salvatio
             ruines
          
           them
           the
           deeper
           ,
           &
           
             this
             Child
             is
             for
             their
             fall
             .
          
           The
           condition
           they
           were
           forfeit
           to
           before
           by
           reason
           of
           their
           breach
           of
           the
           first
           covenant
           was
           advantage
           ,
           comfortable
           in
           comparison
           of
           that
           which
           Christ
           dos
           put
           them
           in
           :
           
             This
             is
             the
             Condemnation
          
           ,
           that
           he
           came
           into
           the
           world
           :
           and
           it
           had
           been
           infinitely
           better
           for
           them
           that
           
             this
             child
             too
             ,
             had
             never
             been
             born
             .
          
           The
           unreform'd
           have
           the
           least
           reason
           in
           the
           world
           to
           solemnize
           this
           festival
           ,
           they
           do
           but
           
           celebrate
           the
           
             birth
             of
             their
             own
             ruine
          
           ,
           bowdown
           ,
           and
           do
           reverence
           to
           their
           fall
           :
           had
           it
           not
           been
           for
           this
           ,
           they
           had
           not
           gon
           to
           so
           severe
           an
           Hell.
           So
           that
           they
           do
           but
           entertain
           the
           great
           occasion
           of
           their
           greater
           condemnation
           .
           Such
           it
           proves
           to
           them
           ,
           &
           that
           it
           might
           be
           so
           ,
           
             He
             was
             fore-ordain'd
             for
             it
          
           :
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           
             This
             Child
             is
             set
             for
             the
             fall
             of
             many
             ,
          
           which
           dos
           lead
           me
           to
           
             Gods
             Councel
             in
             all
             this
          
           :
           my
           next
           part
           .
        
         
           
             This
             Child
             is
             set
             for
             the
             fall
             of
             many
             ,
          
           even
           
             by
             Gods
             direct
             appointment
          
           ,
           for
           saith
           Grotius
           ,
           
           
             Accedo
             iis
             qui
             putant
             non
             nudum
             eventum
             sed
             &
             consilium
             Dei
             significari
             .
             I
             am
             of
             their
             opinion
             ,
             who
             understand
             not
             the
             success
             alone
             ,
             but
             the
             designe
             of
             this
             Child
             's
             coming
             ,
             and
             Gods
             counsel
             in
             it
             is
             intended
             here
             .
          
           And
           without
           disputing
           of
           Gods
           antecedent
           will
           ,
           and
           consequent
           ,
           this
           is
           safely
           said
           :
           God
           design'd
           this
           Child
           should
           be
           such
           an
           one
           ,
           that
           they
           who
           had
           no
           inclinations
           for
           Virtue
           ,
           would
           not
           entertain
           the
           love
           of
           it
           ,
           but
           counted
           it
           a
           
             mean
             pedantick
          
           thing
           ,
           and
           all
           its
           Rules
           &
           
             Laws
             ,
             unreasonable
             servitude
          
           ,
           these
           loose
           men
           would
           certainly
           
             reject
             Him
          
           and
           his
           Dsctrines
           ,
           which
           were
           so
           severe
           and
           strict
           .
           Those
           that
           did
           pretend
           friendship
           for
           Virtue
           ,
           and
           a
           service
           for
           Religion
           ,
           but
           
           withal
           must
           be
           allow'd
           to
           maintain
           correspondence
           with
           the
           world
           ,
           seek
           the
           honours
           and
           advantages
           of
           Earth
           ,
           and
           will
           trespass
           on
           Religion
           where
           it
           enterfers
           with
           
             these
             ,
             break
          
           with
           Virtue
           when
           their
           interests
           cannot
           consist
           with
           it
           ,
           these
           
             false
             hipocritical
             pretenders
          
           ,
           should
           be
           offended
           with
           the
           
             mean
             condition
          
           of
           this
           Child
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           followers
           in
           this
           world
           ,
           and
           with
           the
           
             poor
             spirited
             principles
          
           of
           his
           Religion
           .
           In
           summe
           ,
           they
           that
           upon
           these
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           grounds
           
             finally
             disbelieve
          
           ,
           or
           disobey
           him
           ,
           God
           design'd
           
             this
             Child
          
           to
           be
           a
           means
           of
           bringing
           
             sorer
             punishments
          
           ,
           even
           to
           
             everlasting
             ruine
          
           upon
           such
           .
        
         
           A
           
             black
             decree
          
           this
           one
           would
           think
           .
           He
           that
           had
           so
           much
           kindness
           for
           mankind
           ,
           to
           give
           away
           the
           
             onely
             Son
          
           ,
           both
           of
           his
           Nature
           ,
           his
           Affections
           ,
           and
           his
           Bosome
           to
           them
           ;
           could
           he
           then
           designe
           that
           gift
           to
           be
           the
           ruine
           of
           the
           
             greatest
             part
             of
             men
             ?
             This
             Child
             ,
             Simeon
          
           said
           but
           just
           before
           my
           Text
           ,
           
             is
             Gods
             Salvation
             ,
             which
             he
             had
             prepar'd
             before
             all
             people
             ,
          
           and
           does
           he
           now
           say
           God
           hath
           
             set
             him
             for
             their
             fall
          
           ?
           The
           Angels
           preach'd
           this
           was
           a
           Birth
           that
           
             brought
             glad
             tydings
             of
             great
             joy
             that
             should
             be
             to
             all
             people
             ,
          
           and
           is
           there
           so
           much
           comfort
           in
           destruction
           ,
           
           that
           most
           men
           should
           rejoyce
           at
           that
           which
           is
           ordeined
           to
           be
           the
           
             great
             occasion
             of
             it
             to
             them
             ?
          
        
         
           But
           we
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           complaine
           :
           t
           is
           not
           unkind
           to
           
             deny
             Mercy
          
           to
           them
           that
           refuse
           the
           offers
           of
           it
           ,
           that
           will
           not
           
             accept
             Salvation
          
           ,
           when
           their
           
             God
             himself
          
           does
           come
           to
           bring
           it
           to
           them
           :
           tenders
           it
           upon
           condition
           of
           accepting
           and
           amending
           :
           which
           if
           they
           despise
           ,
           and
           preferre
           Hell
           before
           Repentance
           ,
           choose
           sin
           rather
           then
           
             Gods
             blessed
             retributions
          
           ,
           't
           is
           but
           reason
           to
           deny
           them
           what
           they
           
             will
             not
             have
          
           ,
           and
           let
           them
           take
           their
           
             chosen
             ruine
             ;
             will
          
           their
           judgement
           which
           they
           
             will
             themselves
             ,
             set
          
           and
           ordeine
           Him
           to
           be
           that
           to
           them
           ,
           which
           themselves
           do
           ordeine
           ,
           and
           make
           him
           to
           be
           to
           themselves
           .
           So
           St
           Peter
           says
           expressly
           :
           
             He
             is
             a
             Stone
             of
             stumbling
             and
             a
             Rock
             of
             offence
          
           
           
             to
             them
             who
             being
             disobedient
             stumble
             at
             the
             word
             ,
             whereunto
             they
             were
             appointed
             .
             Disobedience
          
           where
           it
           is
           obdurate
           ,
           alters
           so
           the
           temper
           of
           our
           God
           ,
           that
           it
           makes
           Him
           who
           
             swears
             he
             would
             not
             have
             the
             sinner
             die
             ,
          
           yet
           
             set
             out
          
           his
           son
           to
           make
           
             such
             sinners
             fall
             into
             eternal
             death
             .
          
           Makes
           judgement
           triumph
           over
           mercy
           ,
           even
           in
           the
           
             great
             contrivances
          
           and
           executions
           of
           that
           
           mercy
           ;
           and
           while
           God
           was
           plotting
           an
           Incarnation
           for
           the
           
             everlasting
             safety
          
           of
           mankind
           ,
           prevails
           with
           him
           to
           
             decree
             ruins
          
           by
           the
           means
           of
           that
           salvation
           ,
           to
           decree
           even
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           all
           those
           strivings
           of
           his
           mercies
           ,
           that
           that
           
             Issue
             of
          
           his
           
             kindness
             should
          
           be
           
             for
             the
             fall
          
           of
           such
           as
           they
           .
           Oh!
           let
           such
           consider
           ,
           whether
           they
           are
           likely
           to
           escape
           that
           which
           is
           set
           and
           ordein'd
           for
           them
           by
           God
           ?
           Whether
           they
           can
           hope
           for
           a
           redemption
           ,
           when
           the
           only
           
             great
             Redeemer
          
           is
           appointed
           for
           the
           Instrument
           of
           their
           destruction
           ;
           and
           God
           is
           so
           
             bent
             on
             their
             ruine
          
           ,
           that
           to
           purchase
           it
           he
           
             gives
             this
             Child
             his
             Son.
          
           Yea
           ,
           when
           he
           did
           look
           down
           upon
           
             this
             Son
          
           in
           Agonies
           ,
           and
           on
           the
           Cross
           ,
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           that
           sad
           prospect
           ,
           yet
           the
           
             ruine
             of
             such
             sinners
          
           ,
           which
           he
           there
           beheld
           in
           his
           Sons
           blood
           ,
           was
           a
           delight
           to
           him
           ,
           that
           also
           was
           a
           sacrifice
           ,
           and
           a
           sacrifice
           of
           a
           
             sweet
             smell
          
           to
           him
           .
           For
           Saint
           Paul
           says
           ,
           
             We
             are
             unto
             God
             a
             sweet
             savour
             of
             Christ
             in
             them
             that
             perish
             ,
          
           because
           
             we
             are
             the
             savour
          
           
           
             of
             death
             unto
             death
             to
             them
             :
          
           As
           if
           their
           brimstone
           did
           ascend
           like
           Incense
           ,
           shed
           a
           perfume
           up
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           their
           
             everlasting
             burnings
          
           were
           his
           
             Altar-fires
             ,
             kindled
          
           his
           holocausts
           ;
           and
           He
           may
           well
           be
           pleased
           with
           it
           ,
           for
           He
           ordein'd
           it
           .
        
         
         
           'T
           is
           true
           indeed
           ,
           
             this
             Child
             riding
          
           as
           in
           Triumph
           ,
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           his
           Hosannas
           ,
           when
           he
           saw
           one
           City
           ,
           whose
           fall
           he
           was
           set
           for
           on
           this
           very
           accompt
           ;
           He
           was
           so
           far
           from
           being
           pleas'd
           with
           it
           ,
           that
           He
           
             wept
             over
             it
          
           in
           pity
           .
           But
           alas
           ,
           that
           onely
           more
           declares
           the
           most
           deplor'd
           and
           desperate
           condition
           of
           such
           sinners
           .
           
             Blessed
             Saviour
          
           !
           Hadst
           thou
           no
           blood
           to
           shed
           for
           them
           ?
           nothing
           but
           tears
           ?
           or
           didst
           thou
           weep
           to
           think
           thy
           very
           bloodshed
           does
           but
           make
           their
           guilt
           more
           crimson
           ,
           who
           refuse
           the
           mercy
           of
           that
           bloodshed
           all
           the
           time
           that
           is
           offer'd
           ?
           Sad
           is
           their
           state
           that
           can
           find
           no
           pity
           in
           the
           
             tears
             of
             God
          
           ,
           and
           remediless
           their
           condition
           for
           whom
           all
           that
           the
           
             Son
             of
             God
          
           could
           do
           ,
           was
           to
           weep
           over
           them
           ,
           all
           that
           he
           did
           do
           for
           them
           ,
           
             was
             to
             be
             their
             fall
          
           ;
           Too
           sad
           a
           part
           indeed
           for
           
             Festival
             Solemnity
          
           ,
           very
           improper
           for
           a
           Benedictus
           and
           Magnificat
           .
           To
           celebrate
           the
           greatest
           act
           of
           kindness
           the
           Almighty
           could
           design
           onely
           by
           the
           miseries
           it
           did
           occasion
           ,
           to
           magnifie
           the
           vast
           descent
           of
           God
           ,
           from
           Heaven
           down
           to
           Earth
           ,
           onely
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           fall
           of
           man
           into
           the
           
             lowest
             Hell
          
           of
           which
           that
           was
           the
           cause
           .
           My
           Text
           hath
           better
           things
           in
           view
           :
           the
           greatness
           of
           that
           
           fall
           does
           but
           add
           height
           to
           that
           Resurrection
           which
           He
           also
           is
           the
           cause
           of
           :
           For
           ,
           
             Behold
             this
             Child
             is
             set
             for
             the
             rising
             again
             of
             many
             :
          
           my
           remaining
           part
           .
        
         
           
             Rising
             again
          
           ,
           does
           not
           particularly
           and
           only
           refer
           to
           the
           
             foregoing
             fall
          
           here
           in
           the
           Text
           ,
           which
           
             this
             Child
          
           did
           occasion
           ,
           as
           I
           shew'd
           you
           ,
           but
           to
           the
           state
           wherein
           all
           mankind
           ,
           both
           in
           its
           nature
           and
           its
           customs
           ,
           lay
           ingulf'd
           ,
           the
           state
           of
           ignorance
           and
           sin
           :
           a
           state
           from
           which
           recovery
           is
           properly
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           a
           resurrection
           and
           a
           reviving
           in
           this
           life
           ,
           and
           so
           call'd
           in
           Scripture
           often
           ;
           as
           Ephes.
           5.
           14.
           
           
             Wherefore
             he
             saith
             ,
             A
             wake
             thou
             that
             sleepest
          
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           
             and
             arise
             from
             the
             dead
          
           .
           And
           Rom.
           6.
           13.
           
           
             Yield
             not
             your
             members
             as
             instruments
             of
             unrighteousness
             unto
             sin
             ,
             but
             yield
             your selves
             unto
             God
             ,
             as
             those
             that
             are
             alive
             from
             the
             dead
             .
          
           Now
           to
           raise
           us
           from
           the
           death
           of
           sin
           ,
           into
           the
           life
           of
           Righteousness
           by
           the
           amendment
           of
           our
           own
           lives
           ,
           to
           recover
           us
           into
           a
           
             state
             of
             virtue
          
           ,
           is
           the
           thing
           
             this
             Child
          
           is
           said
           here
           to
           be
           set
           for
           .
           This
           was
           that
           which
           God
           thought
           worth
           an
           Incarnation
           :
           neither
           was
           there
           any
           greater
           thing
           in
           the
           prospect
           of
           his
           
             everlasting
             Counsel
          
           ,
           when
           He
           did
           decree
           his
           Son
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           then
           
           that
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           He
           is
           
             set
             for
             this
          
           .
           The
           
             Word
             was
             made
             flesh
          
           ,
           to
           
             teach
             ,
             practise
          
           ,
           and
           perswade
           to
           Vertue
           :
           To
           make
           men
           reform
           their
           lives
           ,
           was
           valued
           at
           the
           price
           of
           a
           
             person
             of
             the
             Trinity
             .
             Piety
          
           and
           his
           exinanttion
           ,
           yea
           ,
           his
           blood
           and
           life
           ,
           were
           set
           at
           the
           same
           rates
           ,
           All
           of
           Him
           giv'n
           for
           our
           recovery
           .
        
         
           The
           time
           would
           faile
           me
           if
           I
           should
           attempt
           only
           to
           name
           the
           various
           methods
           He
           makes
           use
           of
           to
           effect
           this
           .
           How
           
             this
             Child
          
           that
           was
           the
           
             brightness
             of
             his
             Fathers
             glory
          
           ,
           came
           to
           lighten
           us
           ,
           shining
           in
           his
           Doctrine
           and
           Example
           :
           how
           he
           sent
           more
           light
           ,
           The
           fiery
           
           Tongues
           ,
           Illuminations
           of
           the
           
             Holy
             Ghost
          
           to
           guide
           us
           in
           the
           ways
           of
           piety
           :
           how
           he
           suffer'd
           Agonies
           and
           Death
           for
           sin
           to
           appale
           and
           fright
           us
           from
           it
           .
           How
           He
           
             rose
             again
          
           to
           confirm
           Judgement
           to
           us
           ,
           to
           demonstrate
           the
           
             rewards
             of
             immortality
          
           to
           them
           that
           will
           repent
           ,
           and
           leave
           their
           sins
           ,
           and
           
             everlasting
             torments
          
           to
           those
           that
           refuse
           this
           Grace
           ;
           Grace
           purchased
           with
           the
           
             blood
             of
             God
          
           ,
           to
           enable
           them
           to
           repent
           and
           leave
           .
           Besides
           all
           these
           ,
           The
           Arts
           and
           Mesnage
           of
           his
           Providence
           ,
           in
           preventing
           and
           following
           us
           by
           Mercies
           and
           by
           
             Judgments
             ,
             importuning
          
           us
           ,
           and
           timeing
           all
           his
           blessed
           Methods
           
           of
           Salvation
           to
           our
           most
           advantage
           .
           Arts
           ,
           God
           knows
           ,
           too
           many
           ,
           if
           they
           serve
           us
           onely
           to
           resist
           ,
           and
           turn
           to
           wantonness
           and
           aggravation
           ;
           if
           we
           make
           no
           other
           use
           of
           Grace
           but
           this
           ,
           to
           
             sin
             against
          
           ,
           and
           overcome
           all
           Grace
           ,
           and
           make
           it
           
             bolster
             Vice
          
           ,
           by
           teaching
           it
           to
           be
           an
           incouragement
           to
           go
           on
           in
           it
           ;
           from
           some
           hopes
           we
           entertain
           by
           reason
           of
           
             this
             Child
          
           ,
           instead
           of
           doing
           that
           which
           he
           was
           
             set
             ,
             decreed
          
           to
           make
           us
           do
           .
        
         
           And
           really
           I
           would
           be
           glad
           to
           see
           this
           
             everlasting
             Counsel
          
           of
           the
           Lord
           had
           had
           some
           good
           effects
           ,
           some
           ,
           though
           never
           so
           little
           happy
           execution
           of
           this
           
             great
             decree
          
           ,
           and
           that
           which
           God
           
             ordein'd
             from
             all
             Eternity
          
           ,
           upon
           such
           glorious
           and
           magnificent
           terms
           ,
           were
           come
           to
           pass
           in
           any
           kind
           ;
           Now
           ,
           certainly
           there
           are
           no
           evident
           signs
           of
           any
           great
           recovery
           this
           Child
           hath
           wrought
           among
           us
           in
           the
           world
           that
           's
           now
           call'd
           Christian.
           After
           those
           omnipotent
           inforcives
           to
           a
           vertuous
           life
           ,
           which
           he
           did
           work
           out
           ,
           if
           we
           take
           a
           prospect
           of
           both
           worlds
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           hard
           to
           know
           which
           were
           the
           Heathen
           ;
           and
           there
           would
           appear
           scarce
           any
           other
           notice
           of
           a
           Christ
           among
           us
           ,
           but
           that
           we
           blaspheme
           Him
           or
           deride
           Him.
           Sure
           I
           am
           ,
           
           there
           are
           no
           footsteps
           of
           Him
           in
           the
           lives
           of
           the
           community
           of
           men
           :
           and
           I
           am
           certaine
           that
           you
           cannot
           shew
           me
           any
           Heathen
           age
           outgoing
           ours
           ,
           either
           in
           loosenesses
           and
           
             foul
             effeminacies
          
           ,
           or
           in
           sordidness
           and
           
             base
             injustice
          
           ,
           or
           in
           frauds
           and
           falseness
           ,
           or
           
             malignity
             ,
             hypocrisie
          
           or
           treachery
           ,
           or
           to
           name
           no
           more
           ,
           even
           in
           the
           lowest
           ,
           most
           
             ignoble
             ,
             disingenious
          
           sorts
           of
           Vice.
           In
           fine
           ,
           men
           are
           now
           as
           
             Earthy
             ,
             Sensual
          
           ,
           yea
           ,
           and
           Devilish
           ,
           as
           when
           Sins
           and
           Devils
           were
           their
           Gods.
           
        
         
           Yea
           ,
           I
           must
           needs
           say
           ,
           that
           those
           times
           of
           dark
           and
           Heathen
           ignorance
           ,
           were
           in
           many
           times
           of
           shining
           vertue
           ;
           and
           the
           little
           spark
           of
           light
           within
           them
           ,
           brake
           out
           through
           all
           obstructions
           into
           a
           
             glory
             of
             goodness
          
           ,
           to
           the
           wonder
           and
           confusion
           of
           most
           Christians
           :
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           we
           are
           prity
           well
           reveng'd
           on
           them
           for
           setting
           us
           Examples
           so
           reproachful
           to
           us
           ;
           calling
           their
           Heroick
           actions
           ,
           
             splendida
             peccata
          
           ,
           only
           
             beauteous
             sins
          
           ,
           and
           
             well
             fac'd
             wickednesses
          
           ,
           and
           we
           have
           a
           reason
           for
           it
           ,
           because
           they
           never
           heard
           of
           Christ
           ;
           whose
           Name
           and
           Merit
           ,
           't
           is
           most
           certain
           ,
           is
           the
           onely
           thing
           that
           can
           give
           value
           and
           acceptance
           to
           mens
           best
           performances
           :
           while
           ,
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           we
           
           Christians
           comfort
           and
           secure
           our selves
           in
           our
           transgressions
           from
           
             this
             Child
          
           ,
           and
           from
           his
           Name
           .
           But
           if
           
             this
             Child
          
           were
           set
           to
           raise
           us
           up
           from
           sin
           ,
           and
           to
           establish
           
             stronger
             arguments
          
           for
           a
           
             good
             life
          
           then
           the
           Heathen
           ever
           heard
           of
           ,
           more
           
             especial
             Divine
             engagements
          
           to
           vertue
           ;
           then
           if
           their
           vertues
           were
           ,
           because
           they
           never
           heard
           of
           these
           engagements
           to
           them
           ,
           sins
           ,
           what
           censure
           will
           be
           past
           upon
           their
           actions
           that
           know
           all
           those
           engagements
           and
           despise
           them
           ?
           unless
           to
           
             defy
             knowledge
          
           ,
           and
           provoke
           against
           all
           Divine
           obligations
           ,
           all
           that
           God
           could
           lay
           ,
           shall
           prove
           more
           tollerable
           then
           to
           labour
           to
           obey
           
             without
             them
             ,
             without
             knowing
             why
             .
          
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           they
           had
           not
           heard
           it
           may
           be
           of
           that
           Name
           ,
           then
           which
           
             there
             is
             no
             other
             Name
             under
             Heaven
             given
             unto
             men
             whereby
          
           
           
             they
             may
             be
             saved
          
           .
           Yet
           they
           endeavour'd
           in
           some
           measure
           to
           do
           that
           ,
           which
           He
           that
           owns
           that
           Name
           ,
           and
           wrought
           the
           Covenant
           of
           those
           Salvations
           ,
           does
           require
           .
           We
           know
           that
           Name
           ,
           and
           have
           it
           call'd
           upon
           us
           ,
           and
           know
           too
           ,
           That
           
             he
             that
             names
             that
             Name
          
           ,
           (
           that
           calls
           himself
           a
           Christian
           ,
           owns
           the
           being
           a
           retainer
           to
           the
           
             Holy
             Jesus
             )
             must
             depart
          
           
           
             from
             Iniquity
          
           ,
           otherwise
           it
           is
           no
           name
           of
           Salvation
           
           to
           him
           ,
           yet
           we
           never
           mind
           the
           doing
           that
           ;
           and
           then
           which
           hath
           the
           better
           Plea
           ?
           The
           Heathens
           sure
           were
           better
           ,
           though
           he
           were
           
             not
             vertuous
          
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           so
           ,
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           tell
           you
           ,
           how
           not
           only
           
             this
             Child
          
           ,
           but
           
             this
             Resurrection
          
           too
           is
           for
           our
           fall
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           first
           Chapter
           to
           the
           Romans
           ,
           we
           shall
           find
           those
           Heathens
           ,
           when
           they
           did
           neglect
           to
           follow
           the
           direction
           of
           that
           light
           within
           them
           ,
           by
           which
           they
           were
           able
           to
           discover
           in
           some
           measure
           ,
           
             the
             invisible
             things
             of
             God
          
           ,
           when
           
           they
           did
           no
           longer
           
             care
             to
             retaine
             God
             in
             their
             knowledge
          
           ;
           then
           they
           quickly
           left
           off
           to
           be
           
           men
           :
           and
           when
           they
           ceast
           to
           hearken
           to
           their
           reason
           ,
           they
           soon
           fell
           into
           a
           
             reprobate
             sense
          
           .
           
           What
           was
           it
           else
           to
           change
           God
           into
           stocks
           and
           stones
           ,
           and
           Worship
           into
           most
           
             abominable
             wickedness
          
           ?
           to
           make
           the
           Vilest
           creatures
           Deities
           ,
           and
           the
           foulest
           actions
           Religion
           :
           to
           turne
           a
           disease
           into
           a
           God
           ,
           and
           a
           sin
           into
           Devotion
           :
           a
           stupidity
           ,
           which
           nothing
           else
           but
           Gods
           desertion
           and
           reasons
           too
           ,
           could
           have
           betray'd
           them
           to
           ,
           and
           made
           them
           guilty
           of
           .
        
         
           And
           then
           ,
           if
           by
           how
           much
           greater
           light
           and
           means
           we
           have
           resisted
           ,
           we
           shall
           be
           proportionably
           
           
             more
             vile
          
           in
           the
           consequents
           of
           doing
           so
           ,
           keep
           at
           equal
           rates
           of
           distance
           from
           those
           Heathens
           ,
           that
           the
           aggravations
           of
           our
           guilt
           stand
           at
           from
           theirs
           ,
           Whether
           ,
           alas
           !
           are
           we
           like
           to
           fall
           ?
        
         
           'T
           is
           an
           amazing
           reflection
           ,
           one
           would
           tremble
           to
           consider
           ,
           how
           the
           Christian
           world
           does
           seem
           to
           hasten
           into
           that
           condition
           which
           St
           Paul
           does
           there
           decipher
           :
           You
           would
           think
           that
           Chapter
           were
           our
           Character
           :
           but
           that
           we
           have
           reason
           to
           expect
           we
           shall
           fall
           lower
           into
           much
           more
           
             vile
             affections
          
           then
           those
           Heathens
           did
           ,
           as
           having
           fall'n
           down
           from
           a
           
             greater
             height
          
           then
           they
           .
        
         
           Consider
           whether
           men
           do
           not
           declare
           
             they
             like
             not
             to
             retain
             God
             in
             their
             thoughts
             ,
          
           when
           they
           endeavour
           to
           dispute
           and
           to
           deride
           him
           too
           out
           of
           the
           World
           !
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           they
           have
           not
           set
           up
           any
           sins
           or
           monsters
           in
           their
           Temples
           yet
           ,
           as
           they
           did
           :
           but
           if
           they
           can
           empty
           them
           of
           God
           and
           Christ
           ,
           and
           their
           Religion
           ,
           and
           make
           room
           ,
           we
           may
           imagine
           easily
           whose
           Votaries
           they
           will
           be
           ,
           that
           live
           as
           if
           they
           thought
           themselves
           unhappy
           that
           they
           had
           not
           liv'd
           in
           those
           
             good
             Pagan
          
           dayes
           ,
           when
           they
           might
           have
           sin'd
           with
           devotion
           ,
           been
           most
           wickedly
           
           Religious
           ,
           and
           most
           God-like
           in
           unchastities
           and
           other
           vilanies
           ;
           I
           dare
           say
           none
           of
           our
           
             fine
             Gentlemen
          
           ,
           or
           our
           
             great
             Wits
          
           ,
           would
           have
           been
           Atheists
           or
           irreligious
           then
           .
        
         
           Think
           whether
           those
           are
           not
           already
           in
           that
           
             reprobate
             sence
          
           St.
           Paul
           does
           speak
           of
           ,
           who
           have
           cast
           off
           all
           
             discriminating
             notions
          
           ,
           of
           good
           or
           evil
           ,
           who
           
             say
             in
             their
             hearts
          
           ,
           &
           
             affirm
             openly
          
           ,
           there
           are
           none
           such
           in
           truth
           and
           nature
           :
           and
           if
           we
           should
           try
           by
           those
           effects
           ,
           verse
           29
           ,
           30
           ,
           31.
           or
           by
           that
           essential
           signature
           ,
           32.
           verse
           ,
           they
           not
           only
           
             comit
             such
             things
             ,
             but
             have
             pleasure
             in
             them
             that
             do
             them
          
           ;
           which
           because
           they
           cannot
           have
           from
           those
           commissions
           ,
           when
           they
           do
           not
           commit
           them
           ,
           therefore
           their
           debauch'd
           minds
           must
           be
           satisfied
           there
           is
           no
           evil
           in
           those
           doings
           ,
           and
           must
           reap
           the
           pleasure
           only
           of
           such
           satisfactions
           :
           that
           is
           ,
           have
           the
           satisfactions
           and
           pleasures
           onely
           of
           a
           
             reprobate
             sense
          
           .
           In
           fine
           ,
           (
           because
           I
           dare
           not
           prosecute
           the
           character
           )
           Men
           sinck
           so
           fast
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           resolv'd
           to
           fall
           as
           far
           below
           humanity
           ,
           as
           
             this
             Child
          
           did
           below
           his
           Divinity
           .
        
         
           O
           do
           not
           you
           thus
           
             break
             decrees
             ,
             frustrate
          
           and
           overthrow
           the
           
             everlasting
             counsel
          
           of
           Gods
           will
           for
           good
           to
           you
           .
           He
           
             set
             ,
             ordained
          
           this
           
           Child
           for
           your
           
             rising
             again
          
           :
           do
           not
           throw
           your selves
           down
           into
           ruine
           in
           despite
           of
           his
           Predestinations
           .
           He
           hath
           
             carried
             up
          
           your
           nature
           into
           Heaven
           ,
           plac'd
           Flesh
           in
           an
           union
           with
           Divinity
           ,
           set
           it
           there
           at
           the
           
             right
             hand
             of
             God
          
           in
           Glory
           :
           do
           not
           you
           debase
           and
           drag
           it
           down
           again
           to
           Earth
           and
           Hell
           by
           worldliness
           and
           
             carnal
             sensuality
          
           .
           Make
           appear
           this
           Child
           hath
           rais'd
           you
           up
           ,
           already
           made
           a
           resurrection
           of
           your
           souls
           and
           your
           affections
           ;
           they
           converse
           ,
           and
           trade
           in
           Heaven
           :
           and
           that
           you
           do
           not
           degenerate
           from
           that
           nature
           of
           yours
           that
           is
           there
           .
           Then
           
             this
             Child
          
           who
           is
           Himself
           
             the
             Resurrection
             and
             the
             Life
          
           ,
           will
           raise
           up
           
           your
           Bodies
           too
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           
             like
             his
             glorious
             body
             ,
             by
             the
             working
             of
             his
             mighty
             power
             ,
          
           
           
             by
             which
             he
             is
             able
             to
             subdue
             all
             things
             to
             himself
             .
          
           To
           whom
           with
           the
           Father
           ,
           and
           the
           
             H.
             Ghost
          
           be
           all
           
             Blessing
             ,
             Power
          
           and
           
             Praise
             ,
             Dominion
          
           and
           Glory
           for
           Evermore
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A23770-e170
           
             Exod.
             32.
             6
             
          
           
             V.
             31
             ,
             32.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             9.
             33.
             1
             
             Pet.
             2.
             6.
             
          
           
             John
             9.
             29.
             
          
           
             Mar.
             6.
             3.
             
          
           
             John
             7.
             48.
             
          
           
             2
             Cor.
             8.
             9.
             
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             Phil.
             11.
             7.
             
          
           
             Matth.
             14.
             19
             ,
             20
             ,
             21.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             1.
             6.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             7.
             19.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             11.
             10
             
          
           
             Luk.
             1.
             48.
             
          
           
             Luk.
             2.
             24.
             compared
             with
             Lev.
             18.
             6
             ,
             8.
             
          
           
             Luk.
             11
             ,
             12
             
          
           
             Chrysol
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             18.
             3.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             2.
             6
             ,
             7.
             
          
           
             Deut.
             28.
             1.
             5.
             
          
           
             Mar.
             10
             30
             
          
           
             Isai.
             11.
             10.
             
          
           
             Mar.
             10.
             25.
             
             Mar.
             3.
             22.
             
          
           
             Psalm
             .
             69.
             10
             ,
             11
             ,
             12.
             
          
           
             Luk.
             15.
             10
             
          
           
             2
             Pet.
             3.
             3.
             
          
           
             Psal.
             1.
             1.
             
          
           
             Joh.
             3.
             19.
             
          
           
             Mat.
             21.
             3●
             
          
           
             〈◊〉
             .
          
           
             Myster
             .
             (
             ut
             vocari
             jo●e●
             )
             Asymptoticum
             &
             Angul
             .
             contingent
             .
             &c
             
          
           
             Luk.
             13.
             3.
             
          
           
             Rev.
             9.
             1.
             11
             
          
           
             Grot.
             in
             loc
             .
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             2.
             8.
             
          
           
             2
             Cor.
             2.
             15
             
          
           
             Heb.
             1.
             3.
             
          
           
             Acts
             4.
             12.
             
          
           
             2
             Tim.
             2.
             19
             
          
           
             Verse
             20.
             
          
           
             Verse
             28.
             
          
           
             Ibid.
             
          
           
             Joh.
             11
             25
             
          
           
             Phil.
             3.
             21.