260 On tbe Nativi!J'• and an1end the ahufes of this folemnity,~ · than to juflify the right obfervation , of it; to vindicate it, fron1 the difhonour of fon1e of i~s, pretended friends, than to defend it from all the a:ffaults of aggrdfors :· and ac- – cordingly we1hall .'n1ake it our work toper– fuade you to fuch q deportn1e11ton this fef ... tival, as n1ay beft fuit with the holy lifeand·:. rcHgion· of that perfon whofc -nativity \VC ·– commemorate. 1-ihe text which· we have chofcn n1ay ; . fcern fom:e-vvhat general, but yet it is eaJi':'" ·ly applicable to, the· prcfent occafion: efpe-– ciallyif we r.emcn1ber, that it is an inference · · .:.~ drawn frmn a prophecy, which, though it· had ·its literal completion·. in the eftablifu.,. ment of Dtruid's throne, yet it was, in a, · n1yfiical ana a:1110re fublin1e fenfe, fulfil!' led in· the incarnation and kingdom of the. Meffiah; as the Apofl:le in feveral places ·· inforn1eth us: · Far to --which.· of -the angels hath he' foid at ·any time., Thou art my Son., this day have I begotte11 thee*? \tVhence · he infers, that the angels .themfelves are in~ ferior to Chrifl:~ of wHom this was fpoken~ The only difficulty of the words lieth in , the H:rarrge conjuntl:ion of thefe paffion&i joy, and extremefear, whichJrembling:feem~ · . ro- ~ Hcb. i. S·
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