The text calls it a mystery. Thaf man should be made in God's image, was a won- der ; but that God sliould be made in man's image, is a greater wonder. That the An- cient of Days should be born, — that he who thunders in the heavens sliould cry in the cradle, — Qui tcnitruat in coelis, clamat in cunahulis ; qui regit sidera, svgit uhera, — that he who rules the stars, should suck the breast, — that a virgin should conceive, — that Christ should be made of a woman, and of that woman which himself made, — that the branch should bear the vine, — that the mother should be younger tlian the child she bare, and tlie child in the womb bigger than the mother, — that the human nature should not be God, yet one with God : this was not only mirum but miraculum. Christ taking flesh is a mystery we shall never fully understand till we come to heaven, when our light shall be clear, as well as our love perfect.
Branch 4. From hence, ' God manifest in the flesh, Christ born of a virgin,' — a thing not only strange in nature, but impossible, — learn, that there are no impossibilities with God: God can bring about things which are not within the sphere of nature to pro- duce ; that iron should swim, — that the rock should gush out water, — that the fire should lick up the water in the trenches, 1 Kings xviii. 38. It is natural for the water to quench the fire, but for the fire to consume the water, this is impossible in the course of nature : but God can bring about all this, Jer. xxxii. 27., " There is nothing too hard for thee." Zech. viii. 6., " If it be marvel- lous in your eyes, should it be marvellous in my eyes ? saith the Lord." How should God be united to our flesh ? It is impossible to us, but not with God ; he can do what transcends reason, and exceeds faith. He would not be our God if he could not do more than we can think, Eph. iii. 20. He can reconcile contraries. How apt are we to be discouraged with seeming impossibili- ties ! How do our hearts die within us, when things go cross to our sense and rea- son ! We .are apt to say as that prince, 2 Kings vii. 2., " If the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?" It was a time of famine, and now that a measure of wheat — Vrhich was a good part
of a bushel — should be sold for a shekel, viz. half an ounce of silver, how can this be ? So wlien things are cross, or strange, God's own people are apt to question, how they should be brouglit about with success ? Moses, who was a man of God, and one of the brightest stars that ever shined in the firmament of God's church, yet he was apt to be discouraged with seeming impossibi- lities, Num. xi. 21, 22., " And Moses said, the people among whom I am, are six hun- dred thousand footmen, and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat for a whole month : shall the flocks and herds be slain for them to suffice them ? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered for them, to suffice them ?" As if he had said, in plain language, he did not see how the people of Israel, being so numerous, could be fed for a month, v. 23., " And the Lord said. Is the Lord's hand waxed short ?" Surely, that God who brought Isaac out of a dead womb, and the Messiah out of a -virgin's womb, what cannot he do? O let us rest upon the arm of God's power, and believe in him, in the midst of seeming impossibilities. Remem- ber, ' there are no impossibilities with God.' He can subdue a proud heart. He can raise a dying church. Christ born of a virgin ; that wonder-working God that ^Tought this can bring to pass the greatest seeming im- possibilities.
Use 2d. Of exhortation. Branch 1. See- ing Christ took our flesh, and was born of a virgin, let us labour that he may be spi- ritually born in our hearts. What will it profit us, that Christ was born into the world, unless he be born in our hearts: that he was united to our nature, unless he be united to our persons ? Marvel not that I say unto you, Christ must be born again, viz. in our hearts, Gal. iv. 19., " Till Christ be formed in you." Now, then, try if Christ be born in your hearts.
Quest. How shall tre knoic that ?
Aus. 1. There are pangs before the birth ; so, before Christ be born in the heart, there are spiritual ])angs. Some pangs of con- science, deep convictions. Acts ii. 37., " They were pricked at their heart." I grant the new-birth doth recipere magis et minus J all have not the same pangs of sor- row and humiliation, yet all have pangs.
IN HIS INCARNATION.
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If Clirlst be born in tl»y heart, tliou liast been deeply afflicted for sin. Christ is ne- ver born in the heart without pangs. Ma- ny thank God tliey never had any trouble of spirit, they were always quiet : a sign Christ is not yet formed in them.