repair to it. However the former difpen- SER M. fation might restrain its favours to the feed III. of Abraham, yet now we are affured that the grace of God which bringeth Salvation bath appear'd to all men, and this fun of righteoufness is rifen with healing in his wings, as well a light to lighten the Gentiles, as to be the glory of his people Ifrael.

And what now was the reception of fo Divine a Guest in a place of publick entertainment? Was he received with marks of respect answerable to his character ? Was he ufher'd into the world with pomp and folemnity, with fplendid preparations for his ease and convenience? Alafs, fuch was the concourfe at this time of Taxation, that Bethlehem was too full to entertain them, there was no room for them in the inn: the virtuous pair were forced to take their lodging in a ftable, and the holy mother had no other accommodation for her fon, but to lay him in a manger, where the very beafts themselves (we may fuppofe) were feeding by him. Room no doubt they might have found, had they been any of the great and potent people of this world; for houses of this kind, tho' free to every paffenger, yet would hardly fail to give a preference to thofe from whom they might expect the most advantage. But the circumftances of the Mother were too mean and fcanty, to take place, and there

H 3

SERM therefore fhe must be content to give way III. to others, to be crouded among beafts, and the lowest of the people.

In this condition, he brought forth her fon, and laid him in a manger. And when at forty days end the came to observe the cuftomary rites for purifying, the had not wherewithal to prefent a lamb for her burntoffering, but humbly made the oblation of the poor, according to that which is faid in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. Here then was the true ground of the indignities offer'd both to her and to her fon, to be thrust into the company of beafts, deliver'd in a ftable, and accommodated with no better

cradle than a manger: A proper beginning of his life who, as he grew up, was a man of forrows and acquainted with griefs, and fo far from any fhew of worldly pomps and gaiety, that he had not where to lay his bead. Thus came he to his own, to his peculiar people, to his kindred at Bethlehem the city of David: but his own received bim not,

Bleffed God! Was this the ftate and condition of him who came in mercy to fave! Was he content for our fakes to fubmit to the lowest and most abject fortune, in order to redeem us from the terrible effects of the Divine vengeance, as well as to fet us an example of humility! Whilst

this Reflection fills us with the moft grate- SER M. ful fentiments and difpofitions towards him, III. who was at first the Author of our happinefs; let it at the fame time mortify our esteem and value for these temporal enjoyments, and inftruct us to fet our affections on those true riches, which he came to purchase and enfure to us. Can it become the disciples of such a Master, to dedicate their time to the gratification of their fenfes, or the heaping up of treasures upon earth? If he has indulged us some competent liberty in these respects; yet let us remember it is always to be kept under proper regulations: it is always to be made fubfervient to thofe greater cares and concerns which he has not only promoted by his doctrine, but wherein he has fet us an example that we should follow his fteps. By this we shall put on Chrift in our behaviour, and by this receive him into our hearts; whereas without it he must needs be excluded, and we ourselves be guilty of much greater wickedness than thofe inhabitants of Bethlehem, who for the like reason thruft him out into a ftable, because there was no room for him in the inn.

There may be fome mitigating circumstances obferved to plead in their excuse. The prior occupation of those strangers with whom the houfe was filled, would be naturally judg'd to give them a preferable right to H 4

any

SERM. any that came after them. The hurry and III. fatigue occafion'd by so great a concourse,

might hinder the Mafter of the houfe from difcerning the merit and quality of all his Guefts. Or had his leifure and fagacity been more, yet the low eftate in which this Gueft appear'd, would fcarce have inclined any extraordinary refpect, but left him rather to take up with fuch accommodations as might be left, when those of a fuperior quality had chofen for themfelves. But now we know his character and high dignity; it has ftood the test of many ages, been approved by miracles, and enforced by the fecret teftimony of the Holy Spirit. We have likewife leifure for fedate and cool reflection, to examine by itfelf the weight of every teftimony. Nor can we shut him out of our hearts, or deny him the chief place in our affections, without adınitting in his room those exorbitant lufts and paffions which are our greatest enemies, and muft, if not in time. difcarded, bring us to utter ruin and deftruction.

And yet behold, he stands ftill at the door and knocks, (as himself speaks in the Revelation of St. John) if any man hear his voice, and open the door, he will come in unto him, and will fup with him*. A happy communion and fellowship indeed! that Chrift,

* Rev. iii. 20.

now

now glorified and exalted as he is in hea- SER M. ven, fhould condefcend to be received and III. entertained by his frail members on earth,' whofe powers of fpiritual life and motion. can only be derived from fuch amazing condefcenfion! nay, that he fhould defire, that he fhould befeech us, as well by the inward motions of his Spirit, as by the outward preaching of his minifters, to accept of fo extraordinary a favour! that he should even ftand at the door and knock, in order to obtain admiffion! that in the vifible fymbols of his body and blood, he should offer himself to us with all the benefits of his meritorious fufferings! these are such stupendous acts of kindness as must demand of us the higheft returns of love and gratitude, and leave the ungrateful refusers of their own mercy (who deny him admittance notwithstanding all his importunity) without any manner of excufe.

When thus we receive him in our hearts and affections, we fhall not be unmindful to receive him likewife in his members, to adminifter comfort and relief to them who are deftitute of worldly affluence, and prefs'd with the like hardthip and penury, as he himself was in the days of his humiliation. This Refection can never be more feasonable than now, when we commemorate his being born in fuch a humble manner, and meditate moreover on his abundant goodnefs in accepting the affiftance given to

the