z88 On the Plativity. I fhall proceed no further on this fubjecl'. I hope it cloth appear, that we have great reafon to rejoice in the exaltation of the .hun1an n~ture, and the great falvation pur– chafed to us by the ~ncarnation of the Son of God. -I fh~ll add, that even this joy ad111its of holy fear; even on this occafion we n1ufl: rejoice with trembling. Salvation is come into the world; but wo to~ thenl that negleCl: it! The gofpel is preach~d; but there is great danger in £lighting it. Let us therefore fear, le(l a promjje bein,p; lfft us of entering into his refl, any cj' us j!Jould come (hort of it*. Little caufe have obfi:inate finners to rejoice on this fefiival. The tin1c is cotning that .they !hall wifh that either Chrifi had never con1c into the \vord, or they had never he~rd of him: Behold, this child is [et fli· thf rife andfall of many t. And they that are not the het.ter, fhall be the worfe for hi~ coming. One way I mufl: name, that n1any men fct this child for their own fall, when they n1ake this fole1nn a·n– niverfary an opportunity of finning and de– bauchery; as if it were indeed a drunken . Bacchus, and not·a holy Jefus, whon1 they wor!hipped. What t Sirs, becaufe God be– came tnan, mufr we therefore beco1ne beafis? or • Heb. iv. 1. t Luke ii. 34•
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