Chap. I. A Commentary upon the Gofjel Verfe 23. Beheld, a Virgin, &c.] rintm, -that Virgin, ráz' 's c,2 v, that famous Virgin fore-told, 1 3.7.14. That he fhould be the feed of the woman, was madeknown,to-Adam, but not of what Nation, till Abraham, nor of what Tribe till Licab, norof what fex, tilt David,nor whether born of a virgin,till Efay. Thus by degrees was that great myftery ofgodlinefle revealed toman- kinde. Ifany Jewobjea, faithChry(dftom, How could a Virgin bring forth? Doc ei,quomodopeperit fleri1i erg vetula ? Ask him, How could Sarah, when oldand barren, bear a childe ? The Bees have young,yet know not marriage. The Phænix, they fay, hath no D tn,,; parents. This head-ftoneof the corner wascutout off the mount- Canr.a.r. aine without hands ; this flower of the.ficld, this rofe of Sharon, hathHeaven for his father,and earthfor his mother. Wasit not as eafie toframe this fecond Adam in the wombe, as that firft Adam out of the mire ? Herein fee a miracle of mercy, that the incom- Era pedac!es . prehenlble God, that circle ( whole center is every where, whole circumference no where -) Ihould be circled and coop'd up for 9 moneths together,in the narrow womb of a pure Virgin. And (hall bring forth a Son] Who in the birth opened the Womb, Luk.z. and foput her topain, likely, as other women. He hid the gloryof his eternal' nativity under a mean and temporary birth, to purchafe for us an heavenly and eternal' birth. Whether the bleffed Virgin were D eipara, theMother of God, railedgreat ftorms in the Louncelof Epheflee, and came to commotions in the fecular part, and excommunications among the Bithops; info- much as the Emperour declared both fides Hereticks. But .foraf- much as the brought forth aSon that was God, we doubt not to The female stile her the Mother ofGod; not MallGods maid,as one hath late- Glory. ly flandered tome of us in print. At Rome (it is Paid) was feen,at the fame time, about the Sun, thelikene.iI'e of' a woman carryinga fieldon the childe in her armes : And a voice heard, Paio the great God is now Creed. about tobe born,&c. And theyfhill call his name Immanuel,&c,] By a wonderfitll and unfearchableUnion ; the manner whereof is CO bebeleeved, not difcuffcd ; admired, not pried into : perfonall it is, yet not of perfons : ofnatures,andyet not naturali. As foul and body are one man;feGod and man areone-perfon,taith Arbanafiem,And as every beleever that is bornofGod, 1 arch another, remains the fame intire periòn that he was before, receiving-nevertheleffe intohim a di- vine nature, whichbefore he had not : So Emmanuel, continuing the
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