SUMMARY OF SERMON XXIII.

MATTHEW, CHAP. 1.-VERSE 20.

THREE particulars couched in these words. 1. The incarnation of Jesus. 2. The principal efficient cause of this incarnation, the Holy Ghost. 3. The concurrence of the Virgin Mary, as the subject of that divine virtue and operation.

Our Saviour Jesus was conceived and born; that is, the only Son of God, the eternal Word of God, &c., had in the fulness of time a production agreeable to the nature of man; becoming thereby really and truly a man, like unto us in all things, sin only excepted.

He was not so (as the Gnostics and some other heretics have contended) merely in shape and outward appearance, but in truth; having a real body like us, and a soul endued with the same faculties: this topic enlarged on.

Now concerning this great dispensation, several inquiries and considerations may be made these stated.

I. As to the manner of this mystery; to which we might modestly and discreetly answer, with the schoolman; it is not in man to define what manner of communication this is, &c.: we cannot indeed otherwise than by negation determine; not otherwise than by comparison explain it. This enlarged on.

1. The natures were ȧovyxúrws, that is, without any confusion or commixtion: this shown.

2. The incarnation was performed årpéπrws, that is, without conversion of one nature into another; the divinity could not be turned into humanity; &c.

3. The natures were also joined àdiapéros, undividedly, so that they had not distinct subsistences, &c.

4. We must also understand them to be united ȧxwpiorws, inseparably; so that they never are severed; the union is never dissolved; &c.

With regard to illustration of this mysterious union by comparison, it may be observed that nature affords one similitude very apposite; that is, the union of a man's soul and body this shown.

II. With regard to the reasons why the Son of God assumed our nature, the chief and clearest was, God's design thereby to exercise and show his immense goodness, mercy, and pity towards us.

Particular reasons assigned, why our Redeemer should be God: that by his power he might be able to save us; that bý the dignity of his person he might conciliate God's favor to us; that his doctrine and example might possess the greatest efficacy, and his laws the greatest authority; &c. Moreover the redemption and salvation of man was an honor too great, a work too difficult, for any creature to be dignified with; &c.

Particular reasons also assigned, why he should be man': that, by perfectly obeying God's commands and patiently submitting to God's will, as man, he might procure God's favor towards men; that as man had deeply wronged and offended God, so man also should highly content and please him, &c. It was fit also that he who thus interceded for us should be tender of our good, and sensible of our necessities, &c.: he was to be man also, that so he might declare God's great and merciful designs to us in a more easy, obliging, and efficacious manner, especially through his own example; that he who was appointed to be our judge, should be not only as God, of perfect wisdom, &c. but as man visible and audible to us, endued with natural compassion, &c. Finally, that he who was to be the

great reconciler between God and man, should be most nearly allied to both parties.

III. Practical use of this doctrine considered.

1. It should have influence on our love and gratitude for what words can express, what thoughts conceive, favors so inconceivable and ineffable?

2. It should engage us, as universally to all obedience, so particularly to the duties of humility, patience, and charity: this dilated on; and the bright example of our Lord set forth.

3. It should raise our minds to a sense of the dignity of our nature accompanied with suitable dispositions of heart and deportment of life.

4. It should fill our hearts with spiritual joy and comfort; for there never can be a greater and juster cause of rejoicing than this, that our Lord is born and come. This birth compared with that of any earthly prince. This victory and its consequences stated. This publishing of peace, this recovery of liberty, this coming of a good friend, dilated on. Is it a comfortable thing to be graced with honor? Is mirth seasonable to the day of marriage? Is the sun's rising, after a long and dark night, cheerful and pleasant? In all cases how much more joyful is the nativity of our Lord! Conclusion.

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost.

SERMON XXIII.

THE INCARNATION OF OUR LORD.

MATTHEW, CHAP. I.-VERSE 20.

For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

WITHOUT any preface, or circumstance of speech, we observe three particulars couched in these words. 1. The incarnation of Jesus our Lord, implied by the word rò yevvelèv, ' that which is conceived,' or generated. 2. The principal efficient cause of this incarnation; the Holy Ghost; by whose immediate operation, without any active influence of man, he was generated, is of the Holy Ghost. 3. The concurrence of the blessed Virgin Mary, as the subject of that divine virtue and operation; he was conceived in her. On each of these particulars, being all of them considerable points of that faith which we daily profess, (and especially proper subjects of our meditation at this time,) I shall reflect, observing somewhat profitable for our edification both in way of right knowlege, and in tendency to practice.

I. Our Saviour Jesus was conceived and born; that is, the only Son of God, our Lord and Redeemer, the same who was from the beginning,' and did, as St. John in the entrance of his gospel teacheth us, from all eternity exist with God, the eternal Word of God, by whom all things were made,' was in the fulness of time conceived and born; that is, had a production agreeable to the nature of man, becoming thereby truly and

really a man; which wonderful mystery is in Scripture by various phrases expressed and implied; by the Word being incarnated, that is, being made, or becoming, flesh; God being manifested in the flesh;'The Son of God being sent in the likeness of sinful flesh;' 'partaking of flesh and blood;' his 'taking the form of a servant,' being made in the likeness of men,'' being found in fashion as a man,'' assuming the seed of Abraham; his descending from heaven,'' coming forth from the Father,' being sent, and coming into the world :''The dayspring from on high visiting us,' 'eternal life being manifested;' the result of what is signified by these and the like expressions, that, The blessed and glorious person, who before from all eternity did subsist in the form or nature of God, being the Son of God, one in nature with his Father, (the express image, or exact character of his substance,) did by a temporal generation truly become man, assuming human nature into the unity of his Person; by a real conjunction and union thereof to the divine nature, in a manner incomprehensible and ineffable, He did, I say, truly become man, like unto us in all things, as the Apostle saith, sin only excepted; consisting, as such, of all the essential ingredients of our nature; endued with all our properites and faculties, subject to all passions, all infirmities, all needs, adherent or incident to our nature and condition here.

He was not only (as the Gnostics and some other heretics have conceited) in shape and outward appearance, (as a spectre, deluding men's sight and fancy,) but in most real truth, a very perfect man; having a real body, figured and circumscribed as ours, compacted of flesh and blood, visible and tangible; which was nourished and did grow, which needed and received sustenance, which was tender and sensible, frail and passible; which was bruised with stripes, torn with scourges, pricked with thorns, pierced with nails, transfixed with a spear; which was mortal, and underwent death by expiring its breath, and being disjoined fiom the soul that enlivened it. He had also a soul, endued with the same faculties as ours; with an understanding, capable of learning and improvement; (for he was, as man, ignorant of some things which he might know; and he grew,' it is said, ' in wisdom and in stature:') with a will sub