But now that the time is past , and that wee looke for no other Messias to come , we will follow the ordinary Latine Translation , Terra dedit , The earth hath brought foorth : and take the words as they lye in order , fitting them to the present time of Christs Natiuitie , and the present businesse we haue in hand , which is receiuing the Sacrament in remembrance of his Death and Passion , who was as this day borne vnto vs.

First , for terra . The earth , the common mother of all : so Eue : Eue as of all , so by lineall descent of the Virgin Mary , the Mother of Christ , who is our Mother after a more neere and more speciall manner , Vtraque mater ; vtraque terra dicitur : but we must put difference , betwixt these two earths , these two mothers , as great difference as betwixt coelum Aereum , this circumference of aire , which now encompasseth vs : and coelum Empyraeum , those highest heauens , Gods Chambers of presence , which shall hereafter receiue as many of vs , as be his . This the Psalmist cals , terram viventium , & regionem vivorum , the Land and Region of the liuing . It is the earth which the meeke shall possesse , Math . 5. 5. As the earth of all other elements , is most vnmoueable , so are these coeli coelorum , these heauens of heauens , of all other heauens most stable . That , the ayerie heauen ; mans habitation in this Tabernacle of mortalitie , subiect to change : This , is his vnmoueable seat of immortality . Eue vnstable , variable as the aire , deceiued by the Serpent , and deceiuing her Husband ; beguiled , and seduced by the Prince of the aire , in the borrowed shape of the Serpent : turning Serpent her selfe , vnto his heart , vnto his hurt , to whom shee was giuen for a helpe : as a gift was she giuen by God in his bosom for his warmth , and comfort ; like the young Maid that lay with Dauid in his old age : but as Iobs friend were to him , shee proues a miserable comforter , as his Wife , a snake in his bosome , or the sting of a Serpent ; shee is the very sting , whereby the old Serpent the Deuill , enters into man . Per illius latus nos petimur . Wee are stung through our mothers sides ; thereby the venome of that sting hath entred into all mankind , so suddenly spread it selfe through all the veines of their posteritie , that they our first Parents may bee said , as Saint Bernard speaketh , Sicut omnium Parentes , ita & peremptores ; & prius peremptores , quam Parentes : that is , as they were our parents to bring vs into the world , so were they our destroyers to bring vs to our end ; and euen destroyers before Parents : as hauing strangled vs , and poisoned vs in their wombe , and brought vs into life , as dead men . But Mary as stable , as those Heauens ; as firme , as their Firmament ; whose soule , hee who giues Iob . weight to the winds , established : From thence shee stood , and continued in the faith , she remained a Virgin ; a Virgin , yet was her virginitie not barren . A virgin-fruitful-Mother , and yet a lowly hand-maid ; most truely may shee be called , vesta , which is a title of the earths , quae vi stat , which stands strongly founded : the mother of all vestall Virgins , whose oile is alwaies in their Lamps , whose fire neuer goes out : so is shee Coelum coelorum , terra viventium , regio vivorum , the heauen of heauens , the land and country of the liuing , in that she is a chosen vessell set apart to beare the Sonne of the liuing God ; in whom Gods chosen , whether dead , or quicke , shall all liue . For he is the God not of the dead , but of the liuing , Math . 22. 32. In comparison of Eue , who is but Hagar the bond-woman , shee is Sarah : Hierusalem which is aboue , which is free , which is the spirituall mother of vs all , Gal. 4. 26. As Adam was peccator terra , very earth become a sinner ; so much more was Eue , Terra peccatrix , as Origen cals her . She Origen . was a Dalilah to her Sampson , depriued him of his strength , helped the Deuill , ( in stead of opening , which he pretended ) to put out his eyes . Downe fell the house vpon his owne head , and others , his and her posteritie ; who partake of the woe shee brought to her man : who is so farre from praising her , that hee accuseth her to God : Mulier quam dedisti mihi , dedit mihi de ligno mortis ; The woman which thou hast giuen me , she gaue mee of the Tree of death . But Mary is that vertuous woman , who , with a loe I am here , may take downe Solomons , Si quis for such a one . She , girdeth her loines with strength , and strengtheneth her armes : another Abigail ; Shee openeth her mouth with wisedome , the Law of grace is in her tongue , her children rise vp and blesse her ; nor doth her husband onely praise her , but her Father , and her mother also , saying , Many daughters haue done vertuously , but thou surmountest them all . Thus whilest she in a fauourable construction may be said by her Sonnes vertue to be parentum reparatrix , posterorum S. Bernard . vivificatrix , as S. Bernard cals her ; the repairer of her parents , and the quickner of all after her . Shee hath turned backward Eua , into Aue . She is the good ground , blessed of the Lord . The Arch-angel Gabriel saluteth her , Aue Maria gratia plena , &c. The daughter hath couered her fathers nakednesse , and taken away her mothers shame ; hath cloathed her with strength , and honour ; shee for her may answer him ; Behold , if the man fell by the woman , now is hee not raised vp againe , but by the woman . Hee must turne his excusing himself , accusing her , or rather blaming God , into a Confiteor for himselfe , a praise of her , and a thanksgiuing to God : Domine , ecce mulier quam dedisti mihi , dedit mihi de ligno vitae , vel totum lignum vitae : Behold , Lord , the woman which thou gauest mee hath giuen mee of the tree of life . And thus much of the first word , the earth , and her thereby signified , Mary .

Dedit , this is the second .

The earth hath giuen or brought forth ; but how , Dedit quae data est ? The woman that thou gauest mee , agrees to Mary , as well as to Eue . Mary , a Virgin , how shal she conceiue , who neuer knew man ? and if not conceiue , how shall shee bring forth ? or how shall shee be a mother ? The property of the earth is to receiue : she may bee called one of the Horseleaches Daughters , which still cryes , Giue , giue , and is neuer satisfied . Earth is the mother of all things , and the matter of all things : Materia , ( as Seneca saith ) per se iners iacet , matter of it selfe is vnactiue , vnlesse some artificer by mouing make something of it ; Mater se habet , sicut materia : The Mother in all generation , is like the Matter in artificiall composition . A Mother Mary is , but not a common mother ; For she is a Virgin ; and a Virgin she is , yet free from that , which is neuer satisfied , the barren wombe : both a Virgin and a mother , and so scaped the curse both of bearing , and of barrennes . The mothers womb is filled without the embracings of a Father : a Virgin without touch of man is quicke with child , conceiues , and beares a Son ; remaining a pure Virgin , becomes a true Mother : thus S. Austin . S. Bernard compares Numb . 17. 8. her first to Aarons Rod , though not moistened , yet budding , that is , bearing a child , without the knowledge of a man .

Secondly , vnto Gedeons Fleece Iudg 6. 37. which was shorne off the flesh , without wounding the flesh : so Christ took flesh of the Virgins flesh , without losse to her Virginitie . The Psalmist prophecies hereof , Psal . 72. He shall come down like the dew vpon the Fleece , and as the showre of rain , that watereth the earth . So then Mary is but the earth . The Father of mercies had regard vnto the lowlinesse of his Handmaiden . Thence is it , that the heauenly dew descends , the holy Ghost comes vpon her , the power of the most High ouershadowes her . Maria dedit , quia data est : et hoc ipsum dare , est datum ei : 〈◇〉 Hayle Mary full of grace ; Her fulnesse of grace , is no more then freely beloued , or receiued into fauour : her giuing , is but giuing her selfe , sequacem materiam , as a pliant matter , following the hand of the artificer , as Seneca sayes ; or as Saint Austin speakes concerning the preparing of her heart ; Vt mente prius conciperet quam ventre ; corde pareret , prius quam corpore : she conceiued Christ in her soule , before shee felt him in her wombe ; and brought him forth in her heart , before hee was borne of her body . Her faith , and obedience is expressed in that her last answer to the Angell : Behold the seruant of the Lord , bee it vnto mee , according to thy word : Thus , dedit , & edidit . She hid not her treasures in the earth , as the earth hides her treasures , but shee brought forth . A lowly handmaid is become a great mother . Terra dedit fructum , The earth hath brought forth her encrease : which is the third point .

Thirdly , rightly is she called magna mater , a great mother , for shee is the mother of God . Our first mother Eue , was placed in Paradise , but Paradise it selfe , is placed in this our mother earth , fructum dedit non divinum , sed Deum , she brought forth her encrease , which was not onely , diuine , but the Diuinitie it selfe : That in the Poet Nec nulla interea est inaratae gratia terrae : may thus be changed , Maxima concessa est in-aratae gratia terrae , &c. The greatest , blessedst , and fruitfullest encrease that euer was , was giuen to this vntilled ground . Blessed is she aboue all women , in the blessed fruit of her wombe , is she thus blessed . An vnplowed ground may , and doth bring forth thornes , and thistles ; but this fruit which Mary bare , was perfect God , and perfect Man , Christ Iesus . As God , the Word in the beginning , he is opposed to grasse which withereth , and the flower which fadeth , Es. 40. 8 In this very opposition , hee is good fruit , that good fruit which shall stand for euer . As he became man , the Word made flesh , he is the flowre of the field : nay hee is hay , and withered grasse : for loe he is made hay and laid in a manger ; As both , he is the fruit of the earth . Mary is the mother of Christ , God-man . I am the bread of life ( saith himselfe ) and if bread , then the fruit of the earth : bread of life , therefore the best fruit , the purest wheat , of which , whosoeuer eates , he shal neuer hunger : therefore is hee eternall fruit ; that best fruit which shall stand for euer : and againe , I am the true Vine , a Vine , therefore fruit of the earth ; a true Vine , therefore the best fruit , the water , the iuyce , the blood of life ; Whosoeuer drinketh his blood shall neuer thirst : therefore is hee euerlasting fruit . And this fruit , the more common it is , the better it is . Markes of community , are these ; Quicunque vult , Come vnto mee all , Buy without money ; was neuer fruit so pretious , and yet so cheape ; so common , and yet so rare and singular . A sonne is borne , hauing no man to his father , ( saith Saint Austin ) the same was the maker of his mother ; he that made the earth , is made the fruit of the earths wombe .

The Word and wisdome of the Father becomes an Infant , cannot speake ; he that rules the Starres , suckes his mothers dugges . See , and wonder to see the strong supporter of the world , caried in the armes of a weake woman . See now , and take a taste , yee that are ingrafted into this Vine , yee that are branches thereof , and are part of the crumnes of this bread , presently shall yee taste , and see , and hereafter more fully , quoniam Dominus suavis est , that the Lord is good , Psal . 34. This fruit is as pleasant to the taste , as pleasing to the eye ; nor is it priuate , no man bard from it ; how then is it sayd , Terra dedit fructum suum , The earth hath brought forth her encrease ? which is the 4 point .

Fourthly , That of the Euangelists , Matthew and Luke may serue for answer ; Luke like an ascending Angell caries him to the head of Iacobs ladder , the sonne of Adam , the Luke 3. 38. Son of God . Matthew brings him down to the foot thereof . And Iacob begat Ioseph , the Husband of Mary , to whom was borne Iesus , Mat . 1. 16. Luke most carefull that his Diuinity bee obserued , hath 〈◇〉 that which shall be born in her , & not 〈◇〉 of her : But Matthew , as to the easier lesson of the two , pointing vs to his humanity first , hath , 〈◇〉 , and not 〈◇〉 . So CHRIST IESVS is to Mary , fructus suus , and not suus ; her fruit according to his humanitie ; and not her fruit , in regard of his Diuinity ; and yet if you ioyne both together , her fruit : He was his mothers fruit also , as being fruitfull vnto her , her sanctifier , and her Sauiour . It was the fruit of her wombe , who preuented her with singular grace on earth ; meaning to giue her singular glory in Heauen . No fitter Mother for God , then a Virgin ; no fitter Sonne for a Virgin then God ; that out of her Vt de immaculatâ immaculatus prodiret , qui omnium maculas esset purgaturus , Bernard . vnspotted , vnspotted he might come , who was to clense the spots of all men . Her fulnesse of grace , his gift ; of whose fulnesse , she receiued more fully ; and al we , haue receiued according to measure : her humility , his gift ; that from her being humble , hee might come humble , and meeke in spirit : thus is hee her fruit , by likenesse or similitude . Againe , as he was man , so was he her fruit according to kinde . Now if you adde tuum to suum , and nunc temporis , ( this present time ) to both , he was her fruit , which shee brought forth in tempore suo , in her due season , Psal . 1. 3. Not vnkindly fruit , but seasonable , in vere novo , in the spring of grace ; in plenitudine temporis , in the fulnesse of time , Gal. 4. 4. And thus much of terra dedit fructum suum . The earth hath brought forth her encrease : that is , Maria virgo peperit filium Christum , The Virgin Mary hath brought forth Christ her son . Now taste , and see how sweet fruit the Lord himselfe is : the more you taste , the more you may see : the more you see or taste , yee shall finde him the sweeter ; fructus iste quos quantos fructus dedit ? This fruit , how good , and how good store of fruit hath it brought forth ?

First , Christ is terra de terra , the second Adam , the sonne of Dauid , the sonne of Mary , borne of her according to the flesh , descended of our mother Eue , her seed , of which it is promised , Gen. 3. 15. The seed of the woman shall bruise ( or break ) the Serpents head , which though hee chiefly did by the power of his Godhead , yet may wee not thence separate and deuide his humanity . He is stiled as truely thus , The sonne of Man , or the sonne of Mary , as thus , the Son of God : And therefore ( in regard that this is an article of our Creed , that he was borne of the Virgin Mary ) wee may bee bold to call him earth , of his earthly mother according to that maxime in ciuil law , Partus sequitur ventrem , The birth is , as the belly is .

Secondly to make no more parts of this part , it is most properly and truly said of this heauenly-earthly fruit , that hee hath brought forth his fruits also ; All the temporall blessings , or spirituall graces , the encrease of the one in vs , of the other vpon vs : Ipse dedit vt fructum suum , He brought them forth as his fruit , they are from him ; our tenure of them holds in capite . Euery good giuing , and euery perfect gift is from aboue , and commeth downe from the Father of lights , Iames 1. 17. Hee is the true light , &c. Iohn 1. 9. Hee gaue himselfe vnto vs , and for vs ; In him are all treasures hidden , Colos . 2. 3. So with himselfe he gaue vs all things : he gaue himselfe for vs , in dying for vs ; to vs , in being borne vnto vs ; hee was borne vnto vs , that we might be new borne to him , in him . For therefore did he take vpon him our flesh , that we might receiue from him his spirit ; by receiuing it , receiue him ; and from him , and it , power to be the Sons of God ; borne not of blood , nor of the will of the flesh , nor of the wil of man , but of God . Oh the singular wisdome of God ; Oh the mystery of our saluation , which hee began as now to worke in medio terrae , i . in vtero virginis Mariae : in the middest of the earth , that is , in the wombe of the Virgin . The Deuill by the ministry of the Serpent powred in the poyson through the eares of the woman , into her heart ; and so therewith in the head-spring poysoned all her posterity . God by the ministery of an Angell , of the Archangell Gabriel ( by interpretation the power of God ) carying in his very name the matter of his message ; Christ the power of the most high , breathed his word through the eare of the Virgin , into her heart and wombe ; It is Saint Bernards ; That so the counterpoyson might enter the same way , that the poyson entred . From the soale of our foot to the crowne of the head , there was no part sound and whole in vs : foule and leprous were wee from our mothers wombe ; there was the plaister first placed , where the wound was first receiued , being conceiued of the holy Ghost , hee hallowed his mothers wombe ,

The golden age is now returned , wee clensed of Originall corruption , the fuell of actuall transgressions ; wee are restored to grace , and enabled to walke as children of light . To this end , heauen was made earth , that earth might be made heauen ; the sonne of God became the sonne of man , that the sons of men might bee made the sonnes of God : whilest the Son of God , made man , gaue vs his conception to clense ours ; his whole life to instruct ours ; his death to bee the death of our death ; his resurrection , to raise vs vp from death to life ; his ascension , to crown vs as conquerors ouer all his conquered , and our ( of vs to bee subdued , already weakned ) enemies . Here is a taste of those heauenly fruits , which this earth , this flowre of the earth , this heauenly fruit of the earth hath giuen vs. Numquid terra illa sola debuit dare fructum suum ? Ought this earth alone bring forth its encrease ? ( It is Saint Augustines question ) and this is the answer ? Terra nostra multo magis debet dare fructum suum ; much more ought our earth bring forth its encrease ; if Christ wrought so hard to worke out our saluation ; if hee wrought so for vs , in vs , on vs ; wee must not lie fallow , stand idle , sit still , but set to our hands , and work our selues to his will , that wee also may bring forth our encrease in due season . God hath done his part . To make our earth fruitfull , he hath rained downe his Sonne vpon vs ; who , to teach vs where to begin , sent a cloud before him , his Forerunner Iohn Baptist preaching vnto vs , Baptismum poenitentiae , the baptisme of repentance , which is as Tertullian cals it , canditatus remissionis , & sanctificationis in Christo subsecuturae , i . a petitioning , a suing , a standing for the remission of sins , that is the first degree ; and of sanctification in Christ following , that is the second ; a regency and full mastership . Behold God raigning ( saith Saint Austin ) Repent for the Kingdome of God is at hand , Mat . 3. 2. Heare him thunder if you turne to Luke 3. Feare him when hee thunders , entertaine his golden showers with open lap . Origen vpon Ezech . hath tremorem cordis , Hom 14. A new kinde of earthquake , the trembling of the hart , not when the bones shiuer , but when the soule shakes , as in an ague , wherewith God is pleased , and thereupon makes his countenance Shine vpon vs , Super quem respiciam ? &c. Whom shall I looke vnto saith God , Euen to him that is poore & of a contrite spirit , & tremble that my words , Esa . 66. 2. Saint Gregory shewes vs the manner of this earthquake ; the truth leauing a deepe impression of it selfe in the soule of the hearer ; the soule in consideration thereof , is troubled and disquieted , fals a quaking and shaking . This is vox commotionis magnae , Ezec . 3. 12. A noise of great rushing . When a sinner mourns , weeps , and washes his soule with teares of repentance : by contrition , makes deepe furrowes in his owne heart , thence is comforted by the holy Spirit , inhabiting a heart thus prepared ; watred & clensed , Benedicta gloria Domini de loco suo : Then followes blessing vpon blessing . The wings there striking one against another , is the encrease of vertues . Virtus virtutem excitat , One vertue prouokes another . Eagles wings , and they are Iouiall birds , whose beakes broken vpon the rocke Iesus Christ , their youth is renewed , their feathes multiply ; they bring forth , not a bud or blossome , but fruit ; not one eare of corne , but many ; and sundry fruits , worthy repentance : Humility the ground-work of the rest ( which the earth , and Mary the mother of God , and God , who for our sake became earth , may teach vs : ) fruitfulnesse in Virginity to follow that : and other innumerable graces wherein God himselfe came vnto vs , as in a golden showre . Let vs receiue him raigning ; Let his Kingdome come ; if that of grace bee not yet come vnto thee , looke for him thundering . The day of iudgment will come , will thou nill thou ; hee shall iudge the people righteously . Qui venit humilis , veniet excelsus ; qui venit iudicandus , veniet iudicaturus : Hee that once came in humility , will come againe in glory ; he that at first came to be iudg'd , will at last come to iudge the quicke and the dead . Acknowledge Christ in his lowlinesse , and hee in his highnesse will know thee . Loue him as thy Sauiour , thou needest not feare him as thy Iudge . That he may more , & more encrease his graces in thee , bee thankfull vnto him , and speake good of his name . This is another principall fruit , which Christ his incarnation requires at our hands , which wee are to yeeld with gladnesse , and ioy : to ioyne these to the former , feare and trembling . Nam benè conueniunt , & in vna sede morantur , Laetitia , & Timor : Ioy and feare agree in the same subiect , according to that of the Psalmist . Servite Domino in timore , & exultate ei cum tremore : Serue the Lord in feare , and reioyce vnto him with reuerence . This is the Day which the Lord hath made , let vs reioyce therein . Nay , this is the Day , which made the Lord : Aurea nunc verè sunt saecula . At least now is the blessed memorie of the fulnesse of time , able to make a fresh spring , in the most barren heart , and that in the deadest of cold winter . Which day that wee may know , how to celebrate , and so our fruit may bee seasonable . Mary , Zacharie , the Angels , are our patternes . Maries Magnificat ; Zacharies Benedictus ; The Angels Song ; Glory to God in the highest heauens , there s a heauenly quire of them . Cheerefull giuers of thankes , cannot but make heauenly harmony . Neuer greater cause of ioy , neuer of thanksgiuing . Gods Wisedome , Truth , Iustice , Mercy , and Goodnesse towards vs , were neuer before so clearely manifested , as in the Birth of Christ : therefore vpon this occasion , are wee to raise our notes of ioy , and thankes to the highest , and lowdest straine : as the Angels herevpon increased their number of parts : not to sixe Cherubims , as in the vision of Esay , not to twenty foure Elders , as in the Reuelation ; but a great multitude of Angels , like armies , were heard to praise God . Neuer since the beginning of the world , such a sight seene , neuer such a noise heard . And thus much to fit this Text vnto the Day .