The Epistle . ESAY 40. 1. Be of good cheere , my people ; O yee Prophets , comfort my people , saith your God , &c.

THe Sermons of Isaiah are for the greater part so Gospel-like , that ( as a a Proaem . com . in Esa. & epist. Paulin. tom. 3. fol. 9. Non prophetiam videtur texere , sed Euangelium . Hierome notes ) he seemes to be rather an Euangelist , or Apostle , then a Prophet : for he speakes of Christs b b Cap. 7. 14. conception , as if he had been taught by the glorious Angel who brought the first annunciation of it vnto the blessed Virgine his mother : of Christs c c Cap. 9. 6. birth , as if with olde Simeon he had lulled him in his armes : of Christs death and d d Cap. 53. vers 3. 4. 5. 6. passion , as if with the beloued disciple Iohn , he had stood by the crosse when he was crucified : of Christs e e Cap. 53. vers. 8 resurrection , as if with all the faithfull Apostles he had been present vpon mount Oliuet , where the Lord vsed a cloud as his heauenly Chariot to conuey him out of the world to his father .

The text now read is a prophecie concerning the comming of Christ in the f f Musculus , Hyperius , Caluin in loc. flesh , and the comming of Christ in the flesh is the g g Luke 2. 25. consolation of Israel , and comfort of Hierusalem ; and this comfort the h h 2. Cor. 1. 3. God of all comfort will haue proclaimed vnto Hierusalems heart , by the mouth of all his Preachers , as namely his Prophets , his Apostles , his Prodromus or Harbinger , Iohn the Baptist a i i Tertullian cont Marcian . lib. 4. cap. 33. Cyril . cat . 3. August . de Io. Baptist . ser. 1. midling betweene the Prophets and Apostles .

1. By the Prophets , Comfort my people O ye Prophets , comfort my people . &c. verse 1. 2. 2. By Iohn the Baptist. A voyce cried in the wildernes , prepare the way of the Lord , &c. verse 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 3. By the Apostles , Goe vp vnto the high hill ( O Sion ) thou that bringest good tydings , &c. verse 9. 10. 11.

Comfort my people ] in this commission obserue first Gods bounty , then his Prophets duty . You may behold the riches of Gods mercy toward his afflicted people . 1. In raysing vp Prophets vnto them in their captiuity , when as otherwise they might haue complained with the Psalmist , O k k Psal. 74. 1. 10. God , wherefore art thou absent from vs so long , and why is thy wrath so kindled against the sheepe of thy pasture ? we see not our tokens , there is not one Prophet more , no not one is there among vs that vnderstandeth any more .

2. l l Caluin For that he sent not one or two , but many : the number is plurall , comfort ye , speake ye , m m Psalm. 68. 11. the Lord giuing his word , great was the number of the Preachers .

3. For that he called not all his Prophets at once , but at sundry times according to the Churches exigence . Wherefore n n Musculus , Caluin . some read not as our translation here , saith your God in the present ; but in the future , will your God say : o o Geneuaglosse . Signifying hereby that God will in all ages to come so prouide for his Church , as that it shall neuer be destitute of Prophets ; and so we finde in holy Bible that he stirred vp Daniel , Haggai , Malachi , Zachariah , Ezra , Nehemiah , and other ( vntill the comming of Christ himselfe the p p 1. Pet. 54. chiefe shepheard ) who did alwayes exhort his people to be of good comfort , and to q q Rom. 4. 18. hope against hope , so Zacharias in his hymne ; Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people , raysing vp the horne of saluation vnto vs , as he spake by the mouth of all his Prophets which haue beene since the world began . So S. Peter in his Sermon adpopulum , Acts 3. 24. All the Prophets from Samuel , and thence forth as many as haue spoken haue likewise foretold of these dayes ; and to Cornelius , Acts 10. 43. To him all the Prophets giue witnesse , that through his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes .

4. The r r Hyperius , Musculus . doubling and tripling of this charge to the Prophets ( comfort ye , comfort ye , speake ye comfortably ) expresseth as it were the very bowels of compassion in God , as if he could not endure that his people should suffer any more misery , giuing them also further assurance that he will euer be their God , euen in their greatest aduersity , when as they seeme to bee swallowed vp of death and desperation , and that they shall be still his Hierusalem and his people , your God will say comfort my people .

Concerning the Prophets office , God in this charge requireth on their part that they speake comfortably to his Hierusalems heart : Yet here you must obserue with s s Ecclesiast. 3. 1. Ecclesiastes , that there is a time for all things ; a time for admonition , a time for reprehension , a time for consolation ; a time t t Esay 58. 1. to shew Gods people their transgression , and to the house of Iacob their sinnes ; as well as a time to tell Hierusalem in distresse that her trauell is ended , and her iniquity pardoned ; a time saith our Prophet u u Esay 5. elsewhere , to denounce woe to such as iustify the wicked for a reward ; a time to denounce woe to such as speake good of euill , and euill of good ; a time to denounce woe to such as follow drunkennesse , and are strong to powre in strong drinke . And assuredly ( beloued ) the Prophets haue iust occasion in this age to cry out against such x x Amos 6. 1. as are at ease in Sion , making ( as y y Philip. 3. 19. Paul speakes ) their belly their God , and their gullet their glory . For swinish , idle , base drunkennesse heretofore scorned as the beggers fault , is now reputed ( among moe then a good many ) not only the seruingmans complement , but also the gentlemans grace . God as hauing z z Ezech. 33. 11. no pleasure in the death of a sinner , but a longing desire to haue the coalcs of his wrath quenched with the teares of our repentance , commandeth his Prophets in the dayes of securitie , to sound out the threats of his seuerity , denouncing a woe before woe , that is a woe of instruction , before there come the woe of destruction . For albeit the a a Luke 3. 9. axe be laid vnto the root of the tree , yet shal it not be hewen downe so long as there is any hope of the fruites of amendment . Though there be b b Ionas . 3. yet but fortie dayes , and Nineue shall be destroyed , yet if Nineue proclaime a fast , and put on sackcloth from the greatest vnto the least ; the Lord will repent of the euill he sayed he would doe vnto them , and turne away from his fierce wrath . As soone then as Hierusalem hath receiued at the Lords hand sufficient correction for all her sins , it is time to tell her that her trauayle is at an end , and that her offence is pardoned . After once the law hath humbled and terrified distressed consciences ; after all her c c Psalm. 42. 9. waues and stormes haue rent asunder troubled spirits , it is time to bring d d Esay 61. glad tidings of saluation vnto the poore , to bind vp the broken harted , to preach liberty to the Captiue , to comfort all that mourne in Syon , to giue beauty for ashes , and the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse , among many , this one doubtlesse is the maine part in the Prophets office to comfort Hierusalem at the heart .

This ought to be performed plainely , painefully , powerfully : e e Caluin . Plainly cry to her , and lift vp thy voice , for if the Prophet whisper only , this consolation happily might seeme doubtfull or weake , but all doubting is taken away , seeing it is to be deliuered freely with a loud voice : f f Musculus . Painefully , comforting Hierusalem againe and againe , comfort ye , comfort ye , &c: g g Hyperius . Dan. Arcularius . Powerfully , for the Prophet ought to speake not only to Hierusalems eare , but also fully to her heart , that he may like a good Oratour relinquere aculeos in auditorum animis : h h Ecclesiastes 12. 11. the wordes of the wise are like goades and like nayles fastened by the masters of the assemblies , and the best way to fasten a nayle is to strike home , Gods word is an i i Ieremy 23. 29. hammer , and our exhortations are like nayles , and therefore we must often and earnestly strike home that we may pricke the hearts of our hearers , as Saint Peter did Acts 2. 37.

Or as k k Hierom , Vatablus , Caluin . other expound this clause , to speake to the heart of Hierusalem is in Scripture phrase nothing else but to speake that which is pleasing and acceptable . So Sychem the son of Hamor is said to speake to the heart of Dinah , Gen. 34. 3. Now the glad message to be preached vnto Hierusalem is , that her trauaile is at an end , and her offence pardoned , for as Physitians in healing bodily diseases ordinarily remoue first the cause from whence they spring : euen so the Lord dealeth with vs in curing our spirituall infirmities . The rods wherewith he beateth vs proceed from our sinnes , hee must of necessitie therefore pardon them , ere his strokes can cease , so that remission of our sinnes is the ground of our comfort , that man and only that man is blessed l l Psalm. 32. 1. whose vnrighteousnesse is forgiuen , and whose sinne is couered , he that trauayles with mischiefe conceiues sorrow , Psalme 7. 15. m m Esay 57. 21. There is no peace to the wicked saith our God ; a n n Socrates . heathen Philosopher could say , that the best way to shunne sadnes is to liue well . I do latrie , stincking drunkennesse , and other sinnes are called by the Prophet o o Cap. 4. vers. 18. See Ribera . in loc. Hosea shame , because they bring with them alway confusion and shame : Hierusalems warfare was neuer at an end , till her sinnes on her part were repented , and on Gods part pardoned .

But how was her offence forgiuen ? because she had receiued at the Lords hand double for all her sinnes : p p Musculus . that is double grace for her double griefe . As Hierusalem had a double punishment , one in her soule , another in her body : so now she shall haue by Christ a double blessing , to wit , in this world collation of grace , and in the world to come possession of glory ; or a double fauour , 1. in that her trauaile is ended : 2. for that her sinne is pardoned , or double , q q Vatablus , Arcularius . that is many benefits , a certaine number for an vncertaine , the suffrings of Christ are a sufficient propitiation for all her sinnes , and for the sins of the whole world , 1. Ioh. 2. 2. Yea where sinne abounded there grace superabounded , Rom. 5. 20.

r r Hierom , Hyperius , Castalion . Other haue construed it as our Church here translateth it , she hath receiued double , that is , sufficient correction for all her sinnes , insinuating that the Lord will afflict his people no more so long , nor so sharpely , because his louing kindnes hath ouercome his heauy displeasure . s s Caluin . So the word double ought to be taken for enough or full , as it is vsed , Chap. 61. 7. Here then a question is moued , if Hierusalems iniquity were forgiuen , how did she receiue sufficient correction at the Lords hand for all her sinnes ? If she were pardoned freely , what place could there be for satisfaction or satis-●…assion , t t Musculus in loc. Idem Caluin I●…stit . lib. 3 cap. 4 §. 33. answere is made that this punishment was inflicted on Gods people not as a satisfaction for their offence , but as an exercise rather for their humiliation , and when almighty God had exercised them enough in the schoole of affliction , he commanded his Prophets againe and againe to comfort them at the very heart : and whereas it is obiecteed further that their sinne deserued an eternall punishment , ergo , this temporarie could not be sufficient correction , it is answered in a word that howsoeuer it was not in it selfe sufficient , yet vnto God being pleased it was enough , albeit they deserued to be beaten with a great many moe stripes , yet those few blowes sufficed the Lord as u u Esay 27. 8. smiting in measure , moderating his strokes as a x x Psalm. 103. 13 father who pitieth his children , in his very y y Abacuc . 3. 2. wrath remembring mercy : so the Prophet z z Cap. 10. ver. 24 Ieremy desires the Lord to correct him in iudgement , a a Caluin in Esai . 27. 8. that is in measure , that so the blowes might be proportionable to his infirmitie , not answerable to his iniquitie , God saith b b 1. Cor. 10. 13. Paul is faithfull , and will not suffer vs to be tempted aboue that we are able to beare , c c Psalm. 103. 14. for he knoweth whereof we are made , he remembreth that we are but dust , and therefore chastising vs for our good , hee doth accept a little punishment for a sufficient correction .

A voyce cried in the wildernes ] all the d d Matth. 3. 3. Mark . 1. 3. Luk. 3. 4. Ioan. 1. 23. foure Euangelists expound this of Iohn the Baptist , how fitly , see Gospell on the fourth Sunday in Aduent . The summary pith of the proclamation verse 6. 7. 8. is in briefe e e Melanc . in Ioan. 1. See D. Abbots sermon at the funerall of Thomas Earle of Dorset . pag. 2. this , our selues are mortall , it is good therefore that we should haue something else to rest our soules vpon : we consist of flesh , and that is like vnto the grasse , and if we should imagine other men to be better then our selues , and so put our trust in f f Psalm. 146. 2. Princes , yet are they but as we are : for all flesh is grasse , and all the grace thereof is as the flower of the field : Wherefore let vs embrace the mercy which is offred by the sonne of God , the Sauiour of the world , the redeemer of mankind , the great shepheard of our soules , he shall gather the lambes together with his arme , and cary them in his bosome , &c.

All flesh is grasse , and the grace , that is , the best of all flesh ( as g g 1. Epist. 1. 24. Peter expoundes it ) all the glory of man , as wisedome , valour , industry , iudgement , all is like grasse : h h Caluin . for the drift of the text sheweth euidently that Esay speakes not of the outward man only , but also comprehends the gifts of the minde whereby men are beautified aboue other , i i Arcularius in loc. intelligit totum hominem , & quicquid in rebus humanis illustre : all men are corruptible like grasse , and the most gracefull among all men are like the flower of the field , the which happily whilest it flourisheth is more glorious k k Matth. 6. 29. then Salomon in all his royaltie , but the flower of the field being deuoured at a trice by the beast of the field , becommeth in a few houres a stinking excrement . I could here compasse you about with a very great cloud of witnesses : the witty Poet l l Plin. nat. hist. lib. 7. cap. 7. Anacre●…n was in a moment choaked with the kernell of a raysen , and m m Idem . Fabius a graue Senatour in drinking milke was strangled with an haire : the famous Emperour n n Ibid. Matth. Paris in Ric. 1. Fredericke Barbarossa going for Palestina to recouer the holy land out of the hands of the Saracens ( a seruice which hee thought acceptable to Christ and for effecting whereof he left his friends and countrey ) was by the way as he passed suddenly drowned in the riuer Sapheth . When o o Sr. Ric. Barckley , discourse of felicity lib. 5. pag. 450. Harrald King of Denmarke made warre vpon Harquinus , and was ready to ioyne battell , a dart was seene in the ayre flying this way and that way , as though it sought vpon whom to rest , and when all men stood wondering what would become of this strange matter , euery man fearing himselfe ; at the last the dart fell vpon Harquinus head & slew him . The French King p p Philip. Com mi. hist. lib. 8. cap. 18. Charles the 8. as he was beholding tenisse players , among other talke he said that he hoped to doe nothing hereafter that should offend God : which words were no sooner out of his mouth but he fell downe speechles , and languishing a few houres he died in the same place . A popish priest called q q Eox Mart. fol. 1731. Nighting all in the dayes of Queene Mary , Parson of Croudall in Kent , as he was boasting in the pulpit of the Popes absolution and by reason of it of his own purenes , most fearefully fell downe and dyed instantly . The Pope ( though he doth exalt himselfe aboue all that is called God ) perisheth notwithstanding as a man , and hereupon at his inauguration the r r Walsingham in Hen. 5. pag. 444 Idem ▪ Paradinus in sym ▪ bol. pag. 126. master of the Ceremonies vsed to burne an handfull of flaxe before him , as in solemne procession he passed by , saying with a loud voyce , ecce pater sancte sic transit gloria mundi . I conclude this argument in s s In Psalm . 5. poeniten . vers. 4. Gregories glosse , man is like to grasse , quia per natiuitatem viret in carne , per iuuentutem c●…ndescit in flore , per mortem aret in puluere , by his birth he is greene in his flesh , by his youth he is white in his blossome , by his death he is withered in the dust .

Whether the grassewither , or that the flower fade away , yet the word of God endureth for euer ] t t Caluin . this repetition is added once more to bring all the glory of proud flesh vnto nothing : it also conteineth an excellent comfort , namely that the Lord hauing humbled his seruants in aduersity forthwith affordes them matter of ioy , the grassewithers , but the word of the Lord ( which is the ground of our consolation ) endures for euer ; it is ( as Saint u u 1. Pet. 1. 23. Peter termeth it ) an incorruptible seed , a liuing , yea euerliuing word . And that in x x Arcularius . two respects especiallie : 1. in respect of the giuer , as being the word of the y y Heb. 10. 31. liuing God which z z 1. Tim. 6. 16. only hath immortalitie : 2. in respect of the receiuers , in that it bringeth all true beleeuers vnto life which endures for euer , according to that of Peter vnto Christ , a a Iohn 6. 68. thou hast the words of eternall life . b b Caluin . Here then in a few words is comprehended the whole summe of the Gospell ; it consists in acknowledging our owne misery , weakenes , and vanity , that being humbled enough in the consideration of our faultes and frailtie , we might haue recourse to Christ our only Sauiour , by whose grace we shal be wholy restored . Againe from hence we may learne to seeke true consolation and contentment no where but in eternity , the which is only to be found in God : all flesh is grasse , and the grace thereof as the floure of the field , the grasse withereth , and the flower fadeth away , there can be no stability in earth and earthly things , and therefore let vs not set our affections on things below , but alway c c Coloss. 3. 2. seeke those things which are aboue , let our conuersation bee in heauen , and from thence let vs looke for saluation . Philip. 3. 20.

Goe vp vnto the high hill O Sion ] this commission ( as d d The translatours of our Church Bible in the contents of this Chapter . Et Arcularius in loc. some thinke ) concernes especially the Apostles , in which obserue 1. How they must preach : 2. What they must preach . How ▪ they must get vp into the high hill , e e Musculus . euen so high that their exalted voyce may well bee heard , and accordingly we find that f f Rom. 10. 18. their sound went into all the earth , and their wordes vnto the endes of the world . g g Caluin . Here you may see that the dumbe Idols in the papacie boast of the name of the Church absurdly , for the Church ( as being the h h 1. Tim. 3. 15. pillar of truth and i i Esay 66. 11. 12 , 13. mother of all the faithfull ) is not taught of God that she should keepe her knowledge to her selfe , but that she should proclaime that vnto other which she hath learned , and that earnestly with a free spirit , O thou preacher Hierusalem lift vp thy voyce without feare . Now the tenour of the doctrine to be published by the Apostles and their successours in the Church for euer is briefly this , that Christ Iesus is our God and Sauiour , behold your God , both able and willing to redeeme his people , able , for that he shall come with power , and a strong arme , who can measure the waters in his fist , and mete heauen with his spanne , and comprehend the dust of the earth in a measure , and weigh the mountaines in scales , and the hilles in a ballance : willing , for that he shall feede his flocke like an heardman , he shall gather the lambes together with his arme , and cary them in his bosome and shall intreat kindly those that beare yong .

The Gospell . LVKE 1. 57. Elizabeths time came that she should be deliuered , and she brought forth a sonne , &c.

SAint k k Serm. 63. Ambrose preaching on this day was a great deale troubled , where he should either begin or end the praises of Iohn the Baptist : for whatsoeuer was eminent almost in l l See Ferus ser. 1. de Io. Baptist. all other is found in this one Saint , as being an m m Malac. 3. 1. Angelus offici●… . Angel , a n n Luke 1. 76. Prophet , an o o Iohn . 1. 6. Apostle , an p p Mark . 1. 7. Iohn 1. 29. Euangelist , a confessor constantly teaching the truth , and patiently suffering for the same , his ingresse into the world , progresse in the world , egresse out of the world , were not ( as our text speakes ) without a marueilous noyse throughout all the countryes of Iury , and the q q Matth. 3. 5. coast about Iordan , he was in his death a Martyr , in his life a miracle , yet his natiuity surmounted both ; and therefore whereas the Church ordinarily celebrates the liues and deaths of other Saints , it doth especially solemnize the birth of Iohn the Baptist ; allotting for this feast a Gospell accordingly , that sets downe the cheife parts and purtenance thereof , as namely

1. Elizabeths safe deliuerance , when her time was come , verse 57. 2. The congratulation of neighbours and cosins for this great mercy shewed vpon her , verse 58. 3. The circumcision of Iohn , verse 59. 4. The contention about his name , verse 60. 61. 62. 63. 5. The marueyling of such as were present vpon the sight of these things , and of such as were absent vpon the report noysed abroad , verse 63. 65. 66. 6. The Benedictus of Zachary , Blessed be the Lord God of Israel , &c.

Elizabeths time was come ] The word of the Lord is true , Psalme 33. 4. I the Lord haue spoken it , and I will performe it , Ezechiel 37. 14. Whereas therefore God promised olde Zacharie by the mouth of his Angell at the 13. verse , that Elizabeth his wife should beare him a sonne : he now deales with his seruant according to his word , for albeit Zachary was a forspent man , and Elizabeth in respect both of yeares and sicknes a r r Luke 1. 7. barren woman ; yet when her time came that she should be deliuered she brought forth a sonne . The most almighty truth , and most true almightines effected whatsoeuer he determined , s s Nat. hist. lib. 7. cap. 5. Plinie , t t Attic. noc . lib. 3 cap. 16. Gellius , and u u Arist. de nat. animal . lib. 7. cap. 3. 4. other secretaries of nature report that some children are borne in the 7. moneth after their conception , other in the 8. other in the 10. but ordinarily children are borne in the 9. moneth : and x x Aretius . Maldonat . so Iohn was brought into the world , when his mother Elizabeths time came that she should be deliuered , according to the most vsuall course of nature .

y y Heming . post . in fest. Io. Baptist . Hereupon we may build a generall rule , namely that nothing is able to disappoint Gods holy determinations and purposes , and therefore whereas he hath z z Heb. 9. 27. appointed that all men shall once dye , and after death come to iudgement , whereas he saith expresly that they who a a Dan. 12. 2. sleepe in the dust of the graue , shall awake some to perpetuall contempt , and other to an b b 1. Pet. 5. 4. incorruptible crowne of glory ; ( for the c c Apocal. 20. 13. sea and the sepulcher shall deliuer vp the dead which are in them at the last day : ) let vs looke for the d d Tit. 2. 13. blessed hope & glorious appearing of Christ our Sauiour , who shall e e Philip. 3. 21. change our vile body that it may be like his glorious body ; though happily the resurrection of the dead seeme most impossible to nature , yet let vs which are f f Iohn 1. 13. borne not of blood , nor of the will of the flesh , nor of the will of man , but of God , comfort our selues in these things , as being assured that our g g Iob. 19. 25. redeemer liueth , and that hee which is the h h Iohn 11. 25. resurrection and the life shall himselfe i i 1. Thess. 4. 16. descend from heauen with a shoute , and with the voyce of the Arch-angel ; and with the trumpet of God , and the dead in Christ shall arise first , and then the liuing that remaine shall also bee caught vp with them in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the ayre , and so we shall be with him euermore .

She brought forth a sonne ] it is probable that Zachary being at his deuotion in the temple prayed not for any priuate blessing , but for the publike good of the whole congregation , and namely that God would ( according to his gratious promises ) giue his sonne , and so forgiue the sinne of his people : the coherence then of Gabriels speech vnto him at the 13. verse ( feare not Zachary , for thy prayer is heard , and thy wife Elizabeth shall beare thee a sonne ] may be k k Augustin . quaest. Euang. lib. 2. cap. 1. this , thy prayer is heard for the Messias of the world , in that thy wife shall beare a sonne , who shall be great in the sight of the Lord , and shall goe before him in the spirit and power of Elias , as a Prophet to prepare his wayes , and to make ready a people for him . He which is the l l Iohn 1. 9. light of the world , and m m Cant. 1. 3. Haggai . 2. 8. delight of his people , shall ere it be long be borne of a Virgine , and Elizabeth thy wife shall haue a sonne , who shall as his beadle goe before his face , the sonne of a barren shall preach vnto the world the sonne of the Virgine , n n Ardens hom. in loc. Et pulchrè de sene & sterili nascitur , qui nasciturum de virgine praedicare veniebat , vt mirabiliter natus mirabilius nasciturum demonstraret .

Or as other o o Theophylact. Euthym. Iansen . obserue , thy prayer is heard for the sins of the people , because thy wife Elizabeth shall beare thee a sonne , who shall openly proclaime the Messias , and say , Behold the lambe of God which taketh away the sinne of the world , p p Euseb. Emisen . hom. 2. de S. Io. Bap. Dum ille solicitus pro salute populi supplicat , promissus est per quem populus saluaretur .

Or as Saint q q Com. in Luc. 1. vers. 13. Ambrose , God according to his r r Ephes. 1. 7. rich grace s s Iames. 1. 5. giuing to all men liberally , did not only heare the prayer of Zachary , for the common good , but also for his owne comfort in particular : and therefore t t Arboreus , Caluin . some construe the clause ( thy prayer is heard ) of his priuate suite for a sonne , commensed either at this instant in Gods house ( for being hie Priest as u u Apud Marlorat . & Maldonat . in loc. many coniecture , his office was to x x Leuit. 16. 17. make an atonement for himselfe , and his houshold , and for all the congregation of Israel ) or else often y y Heming . Caluin . Maldonat . heretofore in his owne house praying with Elizabeth his wife . We finde a parallel example to this Acts 10. 4. Cornelius a deuout man euidently saw in a vision an Angel of God comming vnto him and saying , thy prayers and thine almes are come vp into remembrance before God . It is not sayed that Cornelius at that houre was either praying vnto God , or giuing almes vnto men : but the Lords Angel speakes of duties and bounties already past : and so Gabriel in saying thy prayer is heard , insinuates that his former and frequent suite for a childe was obtained now , thy wife shall beare thee a sonne , and our text reportes accordingly that in due time she brought forth a sonne , from hence learne , 1. That the prayer of the righteous z z Iames 5. 16. auaileth much if it be feruent : Iohn is gotten , and ( as a a Ser. 63. Ambrose speakes also ) begotten of his parents , non tam complexibus , quàm orationibus .

2. b b Heming . post . infest . Io. Bap. That 〈◊〉 must not cease from praying because many times our requests are delayed long ; it is our duty to continue knocking vntill the father of mercies open the doore of grace ; Christ in his preamble to that exquisite forme of prayer inioyneth vs to call vpon God in faith , hope , loue ; faith , in saying father : loue , in saying our : hope , in saying which art in heauen : I finde the like conceit in c c Epist. 121. cap 8. Augustine vpon the fish , egge , and bread , mentioned Luke 11. fides in pisce , spes in ouo , charitas in pane . d d Epist. lib. 1. epist. 4. Paulinus said of the woman anoynting Christs feete that she was pudenter impudens , & piè improba ; so wee must in our prayers vnto God ( as it were ) put on a modest impudence , fainting occasioneth a fayling , whereas e e Luke 18. 5. importunity preuaileth euen with vnrighteous men on earth , and therefore much more with our holy father in heauen .

3. That maried couples ought to liue in the feare of God , alway relying vpon his gratious prouidence both in wealth and woe : more principally the Preachers of the word and their wiues ought to shine before others in all kinde of vertues , in feruent and frequent prayers especially .

And her neighbours and her cousins ] f f Plutarch . Themistocles intending to sell a farme , caused the cryer to proclaime that it had among other commodities a good neighbour , as being assured that this one circumstance would the rather induce chapmen to purchase it : olde Zacharias and Elizabeth had good neighbours , who did not enuy their happinesse , but according to the precept of g g Rom. 12. 15. Paul , reioyce with those that reioyce . A Preacher that liueth among such hath obtained a fat benefice , hee may well acknowledge with h h Psalm. 16. 7. Dauid , the lot is fallen vnto me in a faire ground , and I haue a goodly heritage , but woe to that Zacharie which is a i i Iob 30. 29. brother vnto Dragons , and a companion of Ostriches , k k Psalm. 120. 5. constrained to dwell with Mesech , and to haue his habitation among the tents of Kedar .

As Zachary the Priest had good neighbours , so likewise kinde cousins , for albeit they might haue well expected large legacies if he had dyed without issue , yet they reioyced at the birth of his sonne ; an l l Diez . con. 1. in festo Io. Bap. enuious man hath a great deale of lesse wit in his malice then a very brute , for whereas neither foule nor fish is taken in a snare without a baite , the spitefull wretch is brought to the diuels hooke without any pleasant bite : the voluptuous man hath a little pleasure for his soule , the couetous a little profit for his soule , the proud and ambitious a little honour for his soule ; but an enuious man hath nothing of the deuill , or flesh , or world for his soule , but hearts-griefe , m m Laurent . Pisan . Euang. paradox . hoc solum inuidus bene agit quod se cruciat . Wherefore n n 1 Pet. 2. 1. laying aside all malitiousnes and enuie , let vs imitate the good neighbours and allyes of Elizabeth here : let vs as feeling and fellow members of the same mysticall body o o Heb. ●…2 . 2. remember those that are in bondes , as though our selues were bound with them , and if any p p 1. Cor. 12. 16. member be had in honour to reioyce with it .

These neighbours and cousins visiting Elizabeth in childe-bed , came not ( as q q Culman . con. 1. in loc. one notes vpon the place ) with basket and bottle to drinke and eate , ( though I confesse that kind of neighbourhood were better vsed in a Priests house , then in a tap-house ) neither came they like the gossips in our time with a great deale of r r 1. Tim. 5. 13. tattle speaking things vncomely : but they came to praise God for his goodnesse shewed vpon their friend Elizabeth : 1. s s Paludensis Beauxamis . In taking away the reproach of barrennesse : 2. For giuing her a sonne ; so the text , they heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy vpon her , and they reioyced with her ; it was mercy that she brought forth a sonne ; great mercy , that she bare such a sonne . The Thracians vsed to laugh at the death , and to weepe at the birth of men ; but the Scripture teacheth vs to reioyce when a sonne is borne : t t Psalm. 127. 4. children and the fruit of the wombe are a gift that commeth of the Lord , and therefore when Eua conceiued and bare Cain she said , u u Gen 4 1. I haue gotten a man from the Lord : and x x Gen. 5. 29. Lamech hauing gotten a sonne called his name Noah , saying , this same shall comfort vs concerning our worke and sorrow of our hands , &c. When Isaac was borne Sarah his mother said , y y Gen. 21. 6. God hath made me to laugh : a woman ( as Christ speakes Iohn 16. 21. ) when she is in trauel hath sorrow , because her houre is come , but assoone as she is deliuered of the childe , she remembers no more the paine , for ioy that a man is borne into the world : z z Aeneas Syluius epist progenitori suo . quid dulcius in humanis quàm gignere sibi similem , aut beatius in terris quàm natos videre natorum . Elizabeth then had good cause to praise God in the gift of a sonne ; but her selfe and her friends had greater cause to reioyce because she bare such a sonne , a a Paludensis . tantum & talem filium , a sonne so great in the sight of the Lord , filled with the holy ghost , and strong in spirit euen from his mothers wombe ; such a son , of whom as yet in swadling cloutes his father moued by the spirit said , hee should be the prophet of the most high , of whom also ( when hee was growen vp and executed his office ) b b Mat. 11. 11. Christ himselfe gaue this testimony , that among those which are borne of woemen there hath not risen a greater then Iohn the Baptist . If a ▪ c c Prouerb . 10. 1. wise sonne make a glad father , and a foolish sonne bring heauines to his mother : Elizabeth ; had great mercy shewed vpon her , in that she brought forth a Iohn into the world .

d d Euseb. Emisen . hom. 2. de Io. Bap. Idem Beaux . & alij . Mystically , gratious Iohn borne of barren Elizabeth , liuely represents the fulnes and fruitfulnes of the Gentiles arising from the barrennesse of the Iewes , and therfore the e e Esay 54. 1. Galat. 4. 27. Prophet exhortes the Church , reioyce thou barren that bearest not , breake forth into singing thou that trauaylest not , for the desolate hath many moe children then she which hath an husband .

In the eight day they came to circumcise the child ] Zacharias and Elizabeth f f Luke 1. 6. walking in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord without blame , caused their new borne babe to be circumcised according to the prescript of the law , concerning the time when , part where , cause why ; see Gospell on the circumcision of Christ .

Now g g Coloss. 2. 11. 12. baptisme succeeds circumcision , and so consequently parents are taught by this example to bring their children in due time to holy baptisme ; wherein they be made the members of Christ , the children of God , and inheritours of the kingdome of heauen . Againe parents may learne by this h h Calain , Beauxamis . president ( except some great necessity compell them otherwise ) to baptize their infants in the face of the congregation , and not in the corner of a chamber or chimney : there was a great meeting of neighbours and cousins at the circumcision of Iohn in his fathers house , and the Iewes at this day circumcise their children in their publique Synagog●…es : and lastly from hence wee may further obserue three things , especially concerning imposition of names among Gods children in old time .

1. That names were giuen in circumcision , as among vs in baptisme , they came to circumcise the childe , and called his name Zachary : the reason hereof is plaine , i i Heming . post . in Euangel. circum . Christi . that as often as we heare our selues named , we might instantly call to minde the solemne couenant betweene God and vs in holy baptisme : or ( as k k Theophylact. Iansen . Beauxam . in loc. other obserue ) because circumcision and baptisme are seales of Gods grace whereby men are first admitted into the Church , and as it were l l Psalm 69. 29. See Sixt. s●…nen . Bibliothec. sanct. lib. 2. fol. 126. written in the booke of the liuing : it is fit that none should be named or registred as the seruants and souldiers of Christ afore they haue receiued his Sacrament , which is the m m Anglican . 〈◊〉 . art. 27. badge of their profession and signe of their new birth .

2. From hence we may note n n Maldonat . that Gods people did vsually name their children after the names of their ancestours , except God in some singular case by reuelation inioyned the contrary : for the neighbours and cousins of Elizabeth ( as not knowing the Lords expresse pleasure concerning the naming of her childe ) began to call his name Zachary after the name of his father ; and when Elizabeth answered and said , not so but his name shall be called Iohn ; they replied there is none of thy kindred that is named with this name . This example condems the nicenes of some , who thinke it vnlawfull to giue their children o o Aretius . vsuall names of their nation and families , as Edward , George , Robert , and the like : as also the prophanes of other , who giue names of p p Estey hyst . of the Gospel pag. 125. flowers , or stones , or heathen names vnto christians : if we name not our children after the names of our ancestours , it is fit that wee should take the names of q q Rhem. in loc. Saints that may put vs in minde of their vertues , as Iohn , Peter , Stephen , &c. And not the names of Idols , as Venus , Mercurie , Bacchus , or the strange names of Saxon and Romane infidels , and therefore the Popes and Cardinals are worthily censured by reuerend r r Annot. in loc. Fulke , for that hauing most antichristianly renounced their names giuen in baptisme , by which they were first dedicated vnto Christ : they chuse many times vnto themselues prophane names , as Sergius , Leo , Iulius , Caesar , Sixtus , &c.

3. We may learne from hence that imposition of names is a duty belonging properly to parents , especially to the father , and therefore Gabriel said vnto Zachary , thou shalt call his name Iohn . And in our present text , the determination of the question about the childes name was wholy referred vnto the father , they made signes to his father , how he would haue him called , and he asked for writing tables , and wrote , saying , his name is Iohn .

Not so , but his name shall be called Iohn ] It s s Maldonat . may be ( Zachary being now dumbe and not able to speake ) that the neighbours asked Elizabeth his wife how the childe should be named , or happily hearing their consultation about this businesse , she might ( as knowing the Lords pleasure herein ) answere them vnasked , his name shall be called Iohn . Here then a question is moued , by what meanes Elizabeth vnderstood Gods expresse commandement in appointing his name , seeing her husband ( to whom only Gabriel had made this knowen ) was mute ; to this obiection t t Theophylact. Euthym. Caietan . answere is made , that she knewe the name by reuelation as a prophetisse , per prophetiam didicit , quod non didicerat à marito saith u u Com. in loc. Ambrose : or ( as x x Di●… . Carthus . Aretius . other assoyle the doubt ) it may be Zachary signified so much vnto her in writing heretofore , as now to his neighbours and kinsmen , for he asked for writing tables , and wrote , saying , his name is Iohn . y y Beauxam . Culman . Here then obserue , that the parents of Iohn obeyed the commandement of God before the counsell of their friends and kinsemen , albeit they were neuer so deare to them . z z Paulinus epist. lib. 1. epist. 1. Agamus quae Christus iussit , vt adipiscamur quae Christus spopondit , verit as illius nobis adsit , illi fides nostra non desit &c. If the Lord say follow me , then instantly we must forsake all , and leaue the dead to bury the dead , Matth. 8. 22.

His name is Iohn , ] a a Ambrose Iansen . As if Zacharie should haue sayd , I gaue not this name , but God himselfe hath appointed it . The words of his Angel ( thou shalt call his name Iohn ) are b b Maldonat . non solum praedictio , sed etiam praeceptio nominis imponendi . Now the word signifies fauoured of God , or the grace of God , a name fit for the Baptist in many respects , as first , c c Ard●…ns . Luther . Culman . for that he was the fore-runner & first preacher of Christ , d d Iohn 1. 16. of whose fullnesse we receiue grace vpon grace , for the law was giuen by Moses , but grace and truth came by Iesus Christ . e e Numb. 13. 23. The bunch of grapes that the spies of the children of Israel caryed from the land of promise was borne by two strong men vpon a staffe or pole , he that went before could not see the grape , but he that was behind might both see & eate of it : So the Fathers of the old testament did not in like manner see the bunch of grapes , that was the son of God made man , as they that went behind vnder the new testament saw and tasted it , after Iohn had openly shewed this grape , behold the lambe of God that taketh away the sin of the world .

2 The Baptist is so called , f f Aretius Paludensis . as being filled with the holy ghost , abounding with a great many g g See Raulin . ser. de nat. Io. Baptist. prerogatiues of grace both in his conception , birth , and conuersation .

3 So called , as being borne not by natures ordinarie power , h h Bonauent. Beauxamis . but bestowed vpon his parents by Gods extraordinarie grace .

4 So called , as being i i Paratus ser. 2. de Io. Baptist. gratious among men , for many reioyced at his birth , and moe at his doctrine , k k Matth. 3. 5. Mark . 1. 5. Hierusalem and all Iudea went out vnto him in the wildernes , and were baptized of him in the riuer Iordan . To compendiat all these notes in a few words , Iohn was gratious ▪

In the sight of

God the Father , as being vpon the point his Godfather , l l Luke 1. 13. imposing his name by the mouth of his Angell . Sonne , for m m Matth. 11. Christ highly commended him in respect of his calling and carriage . Holy Ghost , as being strong in spirit , and going before Christ in the power of Elias , Luk. 1. 17. 18. Men , Kindred , The blessed virgine Mary visited his Mother afore his birth , Luke 1. 40. Other Cousins reioyced at his birth , acknowledging it for a great mercy . Straungers , Good , who were both n n Luke 3. aduised by him , and Baptized of him : he spake comfortably to Ierusalems heart , and therefore gracious in the eyes of all good people . Bad , for they thought his life too strict , Matthew 11. 18. and his greatest enemy cruell Herod : o o Matth. 14. who bound him , and put him in prison , and in fine beheaded him also for Herodias sake his brother Philips wife , did notwithstanding p p Mark . 6. 20. reuerence him , and in many things heard him gladly , knowing that he was a iust man , and an holy . We may pronounce then in some sort of Iohn , as the q q Psalm. 48. 9. Psalmist of God , according to thy name , so is thy praise vnto the worlds end : Iohn is thy name , and gratious was thy person . O blessed Saint if thou wert now liuing , thou wouldest goe to the courtes of Princes , and tell Herode to his face ( whilest other Prophets happily sowe r r Ezechiel . 13. 18. pillowes vnder his elbowes ) that s s Mark . 6. 18. it is not lawfull for him to haue his brothers wife : if he were now liuing , hee would call our Pharisees a t t Mat. 3. 7. generation of vipers : if hee were now liuing , he would not stand vpon by-questions and idle disputations which are fruitlesse , but the summe of all his sermons should be repent , for the kingdome of heauen is at hand : If he were now liuing , and preaching in the wildernes , he would teach vs all to be more modest in our apparell , and moderate in our diet .

This gratious Saint hath a u u Caietan . in Mat. 3. surname added to his name , called Mat. 3. 1. Iohn the Baptist , either x x Maldonat . for that he baptized Christ , or else for that he was the y y Aretius , Marlorat . Piscator . first Minister of holy baptisme .

And his mouth was opened immediately ] The dumbnes of Zachary ( saith z z Hom. 2. de S. Io. Bap. Eusebius Emisenus ) Et fidem reipraesentis expressit , & mysterium figurauit : it was a seale of Gods present promise , for when olde Zachary doubted , and said vnto Gabriel at the 18 verse , whereby shall I know that I shall haue a sonne ? the Lords Angel answered , behold , thou shalt be dumbe , and not able to speake vntill the day that these things be done , because thou beleeuest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season . His punishment is a a Theophylact. Caluin . answerable to his fault , he was stricken deafe for that he would not hearken vnto the word of God , and dumbe for that he contradicted it : hee was made mute through vnbeleife , but as soone as he beleeued his mouth was opened , b b Ambros. com . in loc. quam vinxerat incredulitas , fides soluit : so that Zacharie might apply that of the c c Psalm. 116. 10. Psalmist vnto himselfe , I beleeued , and therefore haue I spoken . At the birth of Iohn ( which as I haue shewed signifies the grace of God ) he who was dumbe began to speake and to praise the Lord . d d Huḡo Card. Beuxamis . Sin closed his mouth , and on the contrary grace loosed his tongue . The guilt of grieuous sinne confoundeth a man , and maketh him mute , not daring to e e Ezech. 16. 63. open his mouth any more because of his shame . Ignorance maketh a man mute , Ecclesiast. 20. 6. Some man holdeth his tongue because hee hath not to answere . Esay 56. 10. Their watchmen are all blind , they haue no knowledge , they are all dumbe dogs and cannot barke . The forgetting of Gods abundant mercy maketh a man mute , Psal. 137. 6. If I doe not remember thee , let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth . Now Gods grace remoueth all these stops and impediments , it is he that f f Psal. 94. 10. teacheth man knowledge , it is he that out of the mouth of g g Psal. 8. 2. infants hath ordained strength , it is hee that openeth a h h Coloss. 4. 3. doore of vtterance . Wherefore let vs pray with Dauid , O Lord open thou my lips , and my mouth shal shew thy praise .

2. The dumbnesse of Zacharie the Priest vpon the conception of Iohn the Baptist is i i Hierom. com . in Iob cap. 29. Origen . hom. 5. in Luc. August . hom. 44. mistycall , insinuating that now the Priests & Prophets also should hold their peace . So Christ himselfe teacheth in the k k Mat. 11. 13. Gospell , all the Prophets and the Law prophesied vnto Iohn , but after once Iohn had not onely painted out in his preaching , but also pointed out with his finger the Messias of the world , saying , behold the Lambe of God , &c. After once the Center of the Prophets , and end of the law was come , it was time for Priest and Prophet to bee silent , hee shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease , Dan. 9. 27. Then as l l Ubi sup. Hierome doth apply the words of Iob , The Princes stayed talke , and laid their hand on their lips , and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth , Iob 29. 9. In this houre the time drew nigh wherein there should be m m Song of the 3. children , ver. 38 neither Prince , nor Prophet , nor burnt offering , nor sacrifice , nor oblation , nor incense . Iohn is the voice of him that crieth in the wildernesse , it was therfore fit that his father Zacharie should vpon his conception become mute , as n n Hom. 44. Augustine acutely , Tacet Zacharias generaturus vocem . Hence wee may learne to confound the stubborne Iewes as yet continuing in vnbeleefe , o o Emisen . hom. 2. de Io. Baptist. Aut Christum venisse consentiant , aut si renuunt , dent prophetas qui annuncient esse venturum , either they must acknowledge that the Messias is come , or else shew the Priests and Prophets in holy Bible which as yet foretell his comming .

The hand of the Lord was with him ] Almighty God is said in sacred writ to haue feet , and hands , and eyes , p p August . de gen. ad lit . lib. 6. cap. 12. & octogin . quaest. 52. quaest. Thomas part. 1. quaest. 3. art. 1. not properly , but metaphorically , not simply , but in a simile , nihil enim in deo nisi deus , nihil habet in se nisi se , non partibus constat vt corpus , non affectibus distat vt anima , non formis substat vt omne quod factum est , vnus est , sed non vnitus as q q Lib. 5. de consid. ad Eugen. Bernard excellently .

Now the word hand , in a borrowed sense signifies sometime counsell , as in the words of Dauid vnto the woman of Tekoah , r r 2. Sam. 14. 19. Is not the hand of Ioah with thee in all this ? Sometime hand is vsed for power , as Psal. 102. 25. The heauens are the worke of thy hands , and Ier. 18. 6. Behold saith the Lord , as the clay is in the potters hand : so are ye in mine hand . And s s Psal. 136. 12. Dauid reportes how God brought his Israel out of Egypt , with a mighty hand and stretched out arme . Sometime the giuing of the hand is a token of amity , so t t 2. King . 10. 15. Iehu to Ionadab , giue me thine hand . So u u Galat. 2. 9. Iames and Cephas and Iohn gaue to Paul and Barnabas , the right hand of fellowship . In all these respects the hand of the Lord was with Iohn , his counsell and power , and loue was with him . 1. Iohn as being filled with the holy Ghost had the spirit of x x Esa. 11. 2. counsell , he was the forerunner of the y y Esa. 9. 6. counsellor , and so consequently wel acquainted with that hidden z z Ephes. 3. 4. mystery of Christ in other ages vnknowne vnto the sons of men . 2. The power of the Lord was apparantly with him in his conception and birth , in so much that all marueiled at these things , and said in their heart , what manner of child shall this be ? 3. Gods grace and loue was with him euen from his mothers wombe both in his conuersation and doctrine . See Illephons . Giron . Con. 3. in festo Io. Baptist.

A mans writing is called his a a August cont. Faust. Man . lib. 14. cap. 〈◊〉 . hand , so the Clyent hath his lawyers hand to his bill , and the Merchant his debtors hand to his booke ; the cunning Artificer also calleth his painting his hand , and his Caruing his hand ; and so the pillar of Absolon is tearmed manus Absolom in the vulgar translation , 2. Sam. 18. 18. After this manner the Lords hand was with Iohn , hee was so powerfull in his preaching , so sanctified in his life , that euery one might say with b b Psal. 109. 26. Dauid , how that this is thine hand , and that thou Lord hast done it . c c Diez . con 1. in fest. Io. Baptist. A bird taken in the nest is so one made gentle ; whereas a flying bird caught in a net is hardly tamed : our blessed Sauiour enclosed his Apostles within the net of his mercy when they were growne ancient ; and therefore they forsooke their old nature with a great deale of difficulty ; but he tooke Iohn the Baptist in the nest as it were , sanctifying him euen in his mothers wombe , so that hee was from his childhood d d Ioh. 5. ●…5 . a burning and a shining light , that is , as e e Ser. fest. in loc. Aquine glosseth , Ardens per exemplum , lucens per verbum .

God hath two hands , a right hand of mercy , and a left hand of iustice . So wee reade in the f f Mat. 25. 33. Gospell how Christ at the last day shall set the sheepe on his right hand , and the goates on his left . His right hand is full of mercies , able to guard , open to giue : Able to guard his people ; for he saith of it , g g Ioh. 10. ●…8 . none shall plucke my sheepe out of my hand ; Open to giue , for hee doth h h Psal. 145. 16. open his hand , and filleth all things liuing with plenteousnesse . In these two respects his hands are tearmed by the Church as i i Cant. 5. 14. gold rings set with the beril , that is , exceeding rich vnto such as call vpon him . Rom. 10. 12. the cup of wrath is in his left hand , Esa. 51. 17. The k k Dan. 5. 5. 25. fingers of this hand wrote vpon the plaister of the wall of Balshazzars palace , Mene , mene , Tekel , vpharsin . Of this hand Iob said , withdraw thine hand from me . Iob 13. 21. And l l Heb. 10. 31. Paul , It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God .

Now both hands of God are right hands vnto the iust and godly , m m Psal. 37. 24. though he fall he shall not bee cast away , for the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand , n n Rom. 8. 28. all things euen woe so well as weale worke together for the best vnto him , hee finds and feeles each hand of the Lord gentle , for o o Prou. 3. 16. in his right hand is length of daies , and in his left hand riches and glory . Both hands of the Lord were so with Iohn the Baptist , as that it was no wonder if al men wondered at him . The first part of Zacharies hymne concerning Christ and his kingdome , is expounded in the Liturgie tit. the Benedictus . The latter touching Iohn the Baptist and his office . Gosp. Sun . 3. & 4. in Aduent .