NOTES.
(a) P. 300. — ' As Luther said well, " The more violent the adversaries were, the more free and bold was he." ' An often-repeated saying of his ' Table-talk ' and letters. Cf. note uu, Vol. III. page 533 ; also Vol. I. page 126.
(6) P. 311. — ' As wo see in the Coiuicil of Trent.' For history of this celebrated Council, see note-references in jj, Vol. III. page 532.
I take the present opportunity of correcting a mistake of Sibbes' in relation to this Council. See note nuu, Vol. III. page 530. He there makes Luther observe ,that 'if they [the Papists] live and die peremptorily in all the points professed in the Tridentine Council, they cannot be saved.' Sibbes gives no authority ; but it is plain that Luther could not adduce the Tridentine Council, as the following brief quotation from Bungener's History of the Council of Trent (by Scott, page 66) will shew : ' For the first time (it was now the 22d of February) the Council met to deliberate in good earnest. The legates appeared radiant with smiles. Why so ? . . Luther was dead.' — G.
ANGELS' ACCLAMATIONS.
ANGELS' ACCLAMATIONS.
NOTE.
The ' Angels' Acclamations ' forms the second of the four treatises which com- pose 'Light from Heaven' (4to, 1638). Its separate title-page is given below.* For general title-page, see Vol. IV. page 490. G.
* ANGELS Acclamations : OR,
THE NATIVITY
of Christ, celebrated by
the heavenly Host.
BY
The late learned, and reverend Divine
Richard Sibs,
Doctor in Divinity, Master of Katherine Ilall
in Cambridge, and sometimes Preacher
at Grayes-Inne.
ISAi 9. 6.
To us a Child is borne, to lis a Sonne is given.
1 .Pet. 1. 12.
Which things the Angels desire to loolce into.
London,
Printed by E. P. for N. Bourne, at the Hoy all
Exchange, and Rapha Uarford, at the gilt Bible, in
Queenes head Alley, in Pater-noster-Row.
16 38.
ANGELS' ACCLAMATIONS.
And suddenly there ivas with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host 2}rais- infi God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men. — Luke II. 13, 14.
The words are few and pregnant, very precious, having much excellency in a little quantity. The heavens never opened but to great purpose. When God opens his mouth, it is for some special end ; and when the angels appeared, it was upon some extraordinaiy occasion. This was the most glorious apparition that ever was, setting aside that it was at Christ's baptism, when the heavens opened, and the Father spake, and the Holy Ghost appeared in the likeness of a dove upon the head of Christ,' Mat. iii. 16, when all the Trinity appeared. But there never was such an appa- rition of angels as at this time ; and there was great cause, for,
1. There icas never such a ground for it, whether we regard the matter itself, the incarnation of Christ. There was never such a thing from the beginning of the world, nor never shall be in this world : for God to take man's nature on him ; for heaven and earth to join together ; for the Creator to become a creature.
2, Or whether ice regard the benefit that comes to us thereby. Christ by this means brings God and man together since the fall. Christ is the accomplishment of all the prophecies, of all the promises. They were made in him and for him. Therefore he was the expectation of the Gentiles. Before he was born, he was revealed by degrees. First, generally, ' the seed of the woman,' &c.. Gen. iii. 15. Then, more particularly, ' to Abraham and his seed,' and then to one tribe, ' Judah,' that he should come to him ; then to one family, the house of David ; and then, more particularly, ' a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,' Isa. vii. 14, and the place, ' Bethlehem,' Micah v. 2 ; till at last John Baptist pomted him out with the finger, * Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world,' John i. 29. Even as after midnight, the sun grows up by little and little, till his beams strike forth in the morning, and after it appears in glory, so it was with the ' Sun of righteousness ;' as he came nearer, so he discovers himself more gloriously by degrees, till he was born indeed ; and then you see here a multitude of angels celebrate his nativity.
818 angels' acclamations.
Now, as before his birth he was revealed by degrees, so after his incar- nation he was revealed to all sorts : to the old, in Simeon ; to women, in Anna, a prophetess ; to wise men and to silly shepherds ; to all ranks of men ; and to whomsoever the incarnation of Christ was revealed when he was born, they all entertained it with joy. The angels they sang and praised God ; Simeon was even content then to die ; and Zechariah, you see, beforehand breaks forth, ' Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,' &c., Luke i. 68 ; and the shepherds went away rejoicing. There is a special passage of divine providence in the carriage of this manifestation ; for Christ was revealed to the wise men that were Gentiles by a star, because they were given to star-gazing. He was discovered to the shepherds by the appari- tion of angels. The scribes that were conversant in Scripture, they found it out by searching the Scriptures. God applies himself to every man's condition.