Luke 2

Had not Christ been made flesh, we had been made a curse; had not he been incarnate, we had been incarcerate, and had been for ever in prison. Well might an angel be the herald to proclaim this joyful news of Christ's incarnation (Luke 2:10). Behold, I bring you good tidings of…

God promised to deliver Israel from the iron furnace, but this promise was above four hundred years in travail before it brought forth. Simeon had a promise, that he should not depart from here till he had seen the Lord's Christ, (Luke 2:26) but it was a long time first, but a l…

Our Lord Christ herein set a pattern to children. Luke 2:51: He was subject to his parents. He to whom angels were subject, yet was subject to his parents.

The Virgin Mary was not perfect; though her womb were pure (being overshadowed with the Holy Ghost) yet her soul was not perfect. Christ does tacitly imply a failing in her (Luke 2:49). And are they more perfect than the Blessed Virgin was?

Luther spent three hours a day in prayer. Anna the prophetess departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day (Luke 2:37). How zealous and industrious were the martyrs to get into this heavenly kingdom! they wore their fetters as ornaments, sn…

What pains did Saint Paul take for the heavenly kingdom (Philippians 3:13): Reaching forth to those things which are before; [illegible] the Greek word to reach forth, signifies to stretch out the neck, a metaphor from racers who strain every limb, and reach forward to lay hold…

The Devil is called the Tempter (Matthew 4:3). Christ is called the Comforter (Luke 2:25). The Devil is called the Prince of Darkness.

Isa. 6:1, 2, 3. I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up and his train filled the temple; above it stood the Seraphims, each one had six wings, with twain he covered his face, with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did flye: and one cryed to anoth…

And then was glorified with that glory which he had with the Father before the world was (John 17:3). And as this dispensation was needful to the accomplishment of the whole work which as our Mediator he had undertaken, so in particular, he who was in himself the Lord of Hosts,…

What was his poor birth? He was born of a poor Virgin for his mother who was espoused to a Carpenter for her husband; and when he was born was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, because there was no room for his poor mother in the Inn (Luke 2:7). What else was th…

So also in Psalm 7:13: 'If he turns not, God has whetted his sword and prepared his instruments of death' — to inflict torments, and eternal torments also, as Deuteronomy 32 implies. Indeed, whatever causes torment or anguish is in Scripture called a sword, and piercing with a s…

Now, where the Text saith, God provided a better thing for us, we must not understand it of all these prerogatives, but only of the first and last, touching the actual exhibiting of Christ in the flesh: as Christ also imports, Luke 10.23, 24, Blessed are the eyes which see that…

And therefore all young persons must have care of these sins of youth, and watch the more against them, because they are so incident to their years. Now, the way to avoid them, is to follow Christ's example, Luke 2:52, to labour to grow, as in years, so in wisdom and grace: and…

[illegible], Love is the second great duty of the life of God, which is brought to light by the Gospel. It is Faith that gives Glory to God on high, and Love that brings Peace on the Earth, wherein the Angels comprised the substance of our deliverance by Jesus Christ (Luke 2:14)…

2. It was in those days manifest by his known genealogy. For by the providence of God his parents were publicly enrolled of that tribe and of the family of David in the tax and recognition of the people appointed by Augustus Caesar (Luke 2:4). And this was made yet more famous b…

God is called [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], the most high God; God above. And glory is to be ascribed to him [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], in the highest (Luke 2:14). And the Lord Christ in his exaltation is said to sit down at the right hand of the Majesty [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] (…

The interposition of the Law was now to be taken away, and the Promise to become all to the Church. Hence upon his Nativity this Covenant was proclaimed from Heaven, as that which was immediately to take place (Luke 2:13, 14). But it was more fully and evidently carried on in an…

So Joseph was [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], divinely warned to avoid the danger that was designed to the Child Jesus (Matthew 2:22), as the Wisemen were to avoid going to Herod (ver. 12), so Hebrews 11:7, Noah being [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩], divinely warned, was moved with fear. Y…

And therein not the Ark is intended, although it may be that is sometimes called the glory, or signified under that name, as (1 Samuel 4:21, 22; Psalm 26:8). But it is God himself in his peculiar residence among the people; that is, in the representation of his presence which is…

On God's part there is wrath, which is all that we are born to by nature (Ephesians 2:3), and on man's part there is hatred; we hate God, because we love sin (Colossians 1:21). God's enmity is suspended in the day of his patience; now and then wrath breaks out, but 'tis not exec…

It has not been altogether so with this land, where the Lord has had not only a true church, but many burning and shining lights, many gracious preachers and professors, many notable defenders of the Protestant cause against Papists, many who have preached and written worthily o…

Which therefore can be no other, but that supreme authority, lordship, and dominion over all things and creatures, which was then committed to him by the Father. For the name Jesus was given Him in the very beginning of his humiliation (Matthew 1:21, 25 and 2:1 and Luke 2:21), b…

There is an observable consideration to this purpose, how God's ends are far different from man's. In the taxing of the whole world by Augustus (Luke 2:1, 4): Augustus, out of pride to see what a numerous people he was prince of, would tax the whole world. Some tell us he had ap…

Sundry particular flocks may be called one flock, three ways: 1. Respectu pastorum, when the same shepherds oversee and take care of the whole. See an example both of the one kind of shepherds (Luke 2:8) and of the other (Acts 20:28). 2. Respectu pabuli: so Paul Baynes speaking…

The word is compared to a sweet savor (2 Corinthians 2:15); to many it is not so, to some it is the savor of death to death: it is a savor diffused through the house, they abhor it, and being guilty of death it leads them to death: in others it is the savor of life; that is, the…

All the intelligent elect creation, all God's holy creatures in Heaven and Earth, are truly and properly waiting for, and earnestly expecting that event. 'Tis abundantly represented in Scripture as the spirit and character of all true saints, that they set their hearts upon, lov…

This Gospel was, in its clearer manifestation, at the fullness of time, introduced with great magnificence and solemnity into the world, as the Law had been, by the ministry of angels. When the Sun of Righteousness, the light of the world, was arising and dawning upon it, then d…

That what they hoped, they received not: or hoped for that which they did not receive? Simeon indeed had it revealed to him, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ (Luke 2:26), but this was about the time of the designed exhibition of him, and accordin…

In the whole body of the Law jointly considered, two things are commanded: knowledge and practice (Colossians 1:10). Concerning the first, is commanded the true knowledge of good and evil, which is for the age of every man (Colossians 1:9-10; Philippians 1:9; Hebrews 5:14; Luke…

1 Samuel 1:29. So the woman abode that she might nurse her son until she had brought him up. Luke 2:12. And this shall be a sign to you: you shall find the child swaddled and laid in a cratch.] Contrary to this is, the tenderness of many mothers, that bring on them the threateni…

4. That the great complaint, weight, and grief of an honest minister of the gospel, is this, that his message is not taken off his hand, that Christ is not received, believed in, and rested on; this is the great challenge ministers have against the generality of people, and the…

But we read not that he did laugh, or that ever any worldly mirth was found in him, which clearly makes out this truth: that he was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. For Use, It would take the tongues of Men and Angels to speak of it, it being the most remarkable and…

Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? The Gospel is a sweet message, and ought to be glad news when it comes to a people; and therefore, when this report of our Lord Jesus Christ is made to sinners, O! but it's a sad complaint that…

4. It imports this, that the work which he performs in the redeeming of souls is so acceptable to God, and does so mightily concur, and cooperate to the promoting of his design, that the Lord owns every thing that he performs, as performed by his great ambassador; and by him, wh…

This is His meat and His drink, His work and business; as He Himself says, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (John 4:34). And, in Luke 2: "Know you not that I must be about my Father's business?" Which is to rescue poor sinners from the devi…

Here is a Lord-Speaker from heaven, testifying that the Lord's name shall be, and was glorified: As 1. In Christ's person and incarnation (John 1:14): The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory. So the angels did sing at his birth (Luke 2:14): Glory to…

Christ expounds it (Luke 4:8) exclusively: "You shall serve only the Lord," because it is the prerogative of God to be worshipped, as it is a prerogative of grace to be the ransomed and redeemed of God (Deuteronomy 21:8; Deuteronomy 7:8; Exodus 15:15; Luke 1:68; Galatians 3:13;…

There was a veil of flesh, yet the glory of his divine nature was seen, and might be seen, by all that had an eye and heart to see it. He lay in the manger at Bethlehem, but a star appeared to conduct the wise men to him; and angels proclaimed his birth to the shepherds (Luke 2:…

They as subjects and servants are bound to obey him. Therefore on all occasions they attend on Christ; at his birth (Luke 2:13-14): "A multitude of the heavenly host praised God, saying, Glory be to God on high, on earth peace, good will towards men." Now in his temptations, the…

There is a common rule among the Schoolmen of the communication of the properties, when the properties belonging to the divinity of Christ, are attributed to the humanity: which we may see everywhere in the Scriptures. As in Luke 2, the Angel calls the infant born of the virgin…

The like imagination the Monks and Schoolmen had of their Saints, as though they had been very senseless blocks and without all affections. The virgin Mary felt great grief and sorrow of spirit when she missed her son (Luke 2:48). David in the Psalms complains that he is almost…

Christ was subiect to Ioseph who was but a reputed father. Luk. 2. last. The sonnes of the Prophets obay their masters as their own fathers, 2. king. 2. 12. and so doe the seruants to their master. 2. king. 5. 13.

How can you believe (says our Savior Christ) which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes of God alone? (John 5:44). Secondly, we must seek for the approbation of God in the first place; and in the second place, to be approved of men, as Christ did: for…

Yet the entrance of Christ into the world was not destitute of glory; for the splendor of his Godhead was manifested from the commencement by his heavenly Father. Angels announced that “a Savior was born,” (Luke 2:11;) but their voice was only heard by the shepherds, and travele…

And with this view the Heavenly Father chose that the life of his Son should be buried, as it were, in silence, until the time of the full revelation arrived. For it did not happen without the undoubted Providence of God, that the Evangelists leave out the whole period which Chr…

Thus, Abraham saw the day of Christ afar off, and rejoiced, (John 8:56,) and yet longed to enjoy a nearer view, but did not obtain his wish. Simeon spoke the sentiments of all, “SIMEON disoit selon l’affection de tours les Peres;” — “simon spoke according to the feeling of all t…

Now as it was mean and uneducated men by whom the kingdom of Christ was called the kingdom of David, let us hence learn that this doctrine was at that time well known, which in the present day appears to many to be forced and harsh, because they are not well acquainted with Scri…

But to say Christ is the Lord, includes two things; First, Faith in him as Lord and Saviour. So was he declared and preached by the Angels; Luke 2. 11. A Saviour which is Christ the Lord.

He now entred on his public Ministry and wholly gave himself up to his Work. For before he did only occasionally manifest the Presence of God with him, somewhat to prepare the Minds of Men to attend to his Ministry; as when he filled them with astonishment at his Discourses with…

And it appears yet more remarkably, in the low circumstances of his incarnation. He was conceived in the womb of a poor young woman; whose poverty appeared in that when she came to offer sacrifices for her purification, she brought what was allowed of in the law only in case of…