THese Words of Zacharias do evi­dently relate to our Blessed Savi­ours Incarnation: in Memory whereof, the Zeal and Wisdom of the Catholick Church hath set apart this time of the Year, that all Professors of Christi­anity may, now especially, offer up to God their most solemn Thanksgivings, for that inestimable Blessing to the whole World. It would be beneath the Piety of the Chri­stian Religion, should we pass over the Memorial of his wonderful Nativity, without the most publick Expressions of Devotion which the most sensible Hearts can possibly give; since he was once usherd into the World, not only with the Mira­culous [Page 2] Birth of John the Baptist, to prepare his way as his Herald and Fore-runner, but also by a Majestick Train of glorious An­gels, and by the whole goodly Fellowship of the Prophets, which have spoken since Prophesy first began.

It was that which Zacharias now, nay, which our Saviour himself afterwards, and his Apostles after him, took notice of e­specially; that in the Scriptures of Moses and all the Prophets, there were things written which did plainly concern Him; that those things which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his Prophets, he fulfilled in Him; and that to him give all the Prophets witness. For this was a convincing Argument of his own Divine Authority, and of the un­questionable Truth of his Religion, that every thing was accomplisht in Him, whatsoever was before spoken of the Mes­siah, by those extraordinary Men whom God had raised up by his own immediate Power in all Ages, to foretel things to come: When we read in the Old Testament such [Page 3] and such things, Recorded of the time of the Messiahs coming, of his Birth, Pa­rentage, Person, Condition of Life, Do­ctrine, Miracles, Sufferings, Death, Resur­rection, Ascension; and of the strange and sudden Propagation of his Religion that was to be among Jews and Gentiles; and when we find in the New Testament how accurately all was fulfilled in the Bles­sed Jesus, and in him alone: So that the History of our Saviour is a very plain Coun­terpart of the Prophets Predictions; we have the highest reason in the World to be­lieve, that This was He who was to come, and that we are not to look for another.

But of all these Predictions, Zacharias here singleth out one, which is to be the Subject of our present Meditations, viz.. That Pro­mise made to Abraham, Gen. 22. whereof this was a part, That his Seed should possess the gate of his Enemies, V. 17. He saith not thy Seeds, as if he spake of many, but as of One, thy Seed, which is Christ, saith St. Paul, Gal. 3. 6. And so the Sense of the Predicti­on [Page 4] is this, that God would in his due time most certainly raise up an Eminent Person, the Messiah, of the numerous Posterity of Abrabam, that should not only bless his Peo­ple, by turning them away from their Ini­quities, but should moreover protect and defend them, by exercising his Victorious Power, even over the strongest of their Ene­mies. And this is the very Sense of Zacha­rias here, though he exprest himself in some­what a different Form of Words, speaking now of the Messiah, that was yet in the Ho­ly Virgins Womb: God hath raised up an Horn of Salvation for us, in the house of his Servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets, which have been since the World began: that we should be saved from our Enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us.

In discoursing upon which Words, it will be necessary for me to shew,

• 1. What those Enemies are, from whose Hand we were to be delivered by the Messiah.
• [Page 5]2. How the Prediction touching this Deliverance is fulfilled in the Blessed Je­sus; or how his Providence is shewed in saving us from our Enemies.
• 3. And so in the last place, to draw down this Consideration to our Christian Practice.

1. What those Enemies are, from whose hand we were to be delivered by the Messiah; some understand it only of our Spiritual Enemies, as of Sin, which without the Grace of Christ, must have Reigned in our mortal Bodies; of Death, which without his Victory over the Grave, must have holden us to all Eternity; and of the Devil, who without the Power of Christ, would have Captivated us by his Wiles, and brought us into his Condem­nation. Which is the Reason the Author to the Hebrews gives of our Saviours partak­ing of Flesh and Blood, That through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the Devil, Heb. 2. 14.

[Page 6] And indeed these Deliverances are of the greatest consequence by far, and so the fittest for the Messiah to accomplish, because they immediately concern our Im­mortal Souls, and are in order to the endles; happiness of our Souls in another World. But yet, by the Salvation spoken of in the Text, must be meant also Delive­rance from our Temporal Enemies, or from such as visibly and forcibly oppose the Kingdom of the Messiah, and the Truth of his Religion.

1. For, first, Zacharias now spoke like a Jew, as one that might expect, as the rest of the Jews, nay as the Apostles themselves for some time did, a Glorious Temporal Deliverer, that should set up his Throne upon the Earth, and go in and out before them after a Pompous manner, as David and other of their Kings had done. Though as to this particular Circumstance they were mistaken, because the Kingdom of Christ was not of this World; yet those Predictions on which these their Expectati­ons [Page 7] were grounded, do plainly argue, that the Messiah was not wholly to shut him­self out of the World, but that how In­glorious soever his suffering State might be, yet being once exalted to the Right hand of God, he was to be enstated King of Kings, and all Power in Heaven and in Earth was to be given unto him. Hence it fol­lows, that his Office was to be, not only to make all due Provision for our Souls, but moreover to take care even of the outward State of his Church; by Exercising his Sove­raignty over all; by watching all Affairs here below; by directing all Occurrences to the Interest of his Kingdom; by subduing his and his Churches Enemies; and by Defend­ing his Faithful Servants; so far at least as it serves for their Good and for his own Glory; because the power of Defending is a very necessary part of his Soveraign Authority.

2. For, Secondly, were it not thus, what fair Construction can we make of a great many Prophesies relating to the Messiah? that all his Enemies should be made his Footstool; that they should bow before [Page 8] him, and lick the Dust; that he shall Rule in the midst of them; that he shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath; that he shall judge among the Heathen; that he shall fill the Places with dead Bodies; that he shall wound the Heads over many Countries; that he shall break the Heathen with a Rod of Iron, and dash them in pieces like a Potters Ves­sel. It were too great force upon Scrip­ture to interpret these, and a great many Places more of the Messiah's vanquishing our Spiritual Enemies only, when the na­tural sense of them is so plain and obvious, touching the subduing even of Powers on Earth, the greatest and strongest Pow­ers, that endeavour the destruction of Christs Kingdom; from the Hand of such Enemies he was to save us.

3. There is yet a third thing which leads us to the belief of this matter; and it is the consideration of the nature of that Religion which the Messiah was to Plant in the World. A Religion so Holy and [Page 9] Spiritual in it self; so opposite to Mens unreasonable and outragious Lusts; so destructive of all worldly and base De­signs; so inconsistent with the Pride and Ambition of designing Men; such an ut­ter Enemy to Flesh and Blood, that it is impossible to conceive but Flesh and Blood must be an Enemy to it: A Religion that layeth before us such strict Laws of Humility, Meekness, Self-denial, and Pa­tient suffering for Righteousness sake; In a word, a Religion that leaves us so na­ked and defenceless, that without the over­ruling Providence and powerful Hand of Christ, we should be of all Mankind the most miserable, as to our Fortunes here below. 'Twas necessary therefore that Christ, who was to found his Church up­on such discouraging Laws, should take care to Preserve her in the faithful dis­charge of her Duty; because we cannot think, that God should chuse out to him­self a peculiar People, only to expose them to the Hardships and Persecutions of the [Page 10] World. However for wise Reasons he may for a time assign his Church such a Condition as her present Lot; 'tis unbe­coming the Notion of an infinitely Good, Just and Provident Being, to conceive that he has Entailed it on Her as a perpetual Inheritance.

2. This therefore being laid down, that the Messiah was to save us even from our Temporal Enemies, let us proceed to the Second Consideration, How this Pre­diction is fulfilled in the Blessed Jesus, or, how his Providence is shewed, in saving us from our Enemies.

And here it is to be noted that Christ saves us from our Enemies, not by a total and actual Destruction of them. For his Providence is in order to the Interest of his Kingdom; and that interest is served by suffering evil Men to try and exercise the Vertues of his Followers, their Zeal, Pa­tience, Constancy, and the like. By this they are the more and more fitted for the Inheritance of the Saints in light, and the [Page 11] Glory of his own Wisdom, Goodness, and Power throughout his whole Oeconomy, is the more discover'd. Therefore he will not bring all Enemies under his Feet, by a total destruction of them, till the time comes that he must deliver up the King­dom of his Mediatorship, when he shall put down all Rule, and all Authority and Power. In the mean while he shews his Providence, in saving us from our Enemies, these five ways chiefly.

1. Sometimes by defeating their De­signs, and by bringing their wicked Coun­sels to nought. This was one of his first cares after his Ascension into Heaven, to guard with his own hand those few Disci­ples he had left behind him, and to keep a very watchful Eye over that united force, which resolved to Extirpate his Religion be­fore it Propagated in the World. Had not Christ himself blasted their Devices, by his special and over-ruling Providence, it had been impossible for such a small handful of Men, to have kept their ground, when on [Page 12] all hands there were such Formidable, and to Human appearance, such unavoidable Preparations against them.

From that Age down to this, the strange and unaccountable Protection of the Truth, in spight of all Attempts against it, by ways and methods which no human Eye could possibly foresee, and in the most threatning and dangerous Junctures, is an amazing Argument, that the Son of God sits not in Heaven a meer Spectator of this Sublunary World; but that with an Invi­sible and Almighty hand, he doth Govern all Occurrences; and how furious soever the drivings of Men may be, he still holds the Rein, and not only checks them in their full Career, but spoils and ruins all their Designs in the very heat of their Ex­pectations.

2. Sometimes he doth not only stop our Enemies Proceedings, but moreover turns their Designs to distant and quite contrary Purposes, by making that subservient to the Advantage, which was intended for the [Page 13] Destruction of the Truth. This is a Glorious and astonishing Instance of his Power and Wisdom both, that he draws Good out of Evil; that in the most uncomfort­able and afflicting Circumstances, he makes every thing to work together for good, and directs the most wicked Contrivances to the noblest Ends. Thus his Providence hath been for the most part imployed, to wrap up in Mens Designs glorious Ends of his own, which nothing but the Event could discover. When the Mystery of his Providence hath come to be opened, his wonderful Conduct hath been made mani­fest, and that secret and over-ruling Hand hath been evidently seen, which makes e­ven his Enemies such Instruments to carry on his Purposes, and to bring his Ends to pass, as if they themselves had designed and studied to serve them: Who could have thought, that the malice of the hard­ned Jews should help to establish Chri­stianity? Who could have thought, that those long and continual Persecutions [Page 14] from the Heathens, which were intended in the Primitive times to destroy the Faith, should serve as means to confirm it, to make it spread, and thrive, and flourish in the World? Yet this the Ancient Chri­stians boasted of, that the more they were harrassed and cut off, the more they encrea­sed still, like Grass that is mown, (to use Tertullians Similitude) the more the Church suffer'd, like a Vine fed with Blood, the more it prosper'd; the Thicker, the Fairer, the better were the Clusters. And though in the Peaceable times which followed next under Christian Emperors, many pestilent Heresies, as that of Arius, and others, started up, which were more mischievous to Christianity than the former Persecuti­ons had been, yet the Orthodox Faith was never since the Apostles days so strictly Examin'd, so convincingly Defended, so abundantly Confirm'd, as it was in those Times. They were indeed the Learned times of Christianity; and that which made them so was, the continual Opposi­tion [Page 15] of subtle and learned Hereticks, who intended to undermine the very Founda­tions of the Catholick Faith; but by the over-ruling Providence of Christ, were the means of setling it the firmer upon its true Bottom. And in later times, especially in these last Ages, this hath been the lucky effect of Controversies; that whereas through the Ignorance, or the sinister Designs of some Men, Religi­on had been cover'd over with much Falshood and Superstition, like a Jewel blended in an heap of Dust, by con­tinual stirring and sifting of the Rubbish, the Truth has been fortunately restored to its native Lustre and Brightness. The issue of those Conflicts hath still been Good, wherein our Lord was plea­sed, for wise Reasons, to suffer us to be engaged, not only for the discrime­nating of Good Men from Bad, but also for the clearing of True Do­ctrines from False; and notwithstand­ing all the Arts of our most power­ful [Page 16] Enemies; by the Blessing of Christ we have been more than Conquerors, through him that hath strengthned us, and hath turned the worst Purposes to the best Events.

3. Christ shews his Providence in saving us from our Enemies, some­times by making them signal and pub­lick Monuments of his Justice. And this is usually in Cases, when either the wickedness of Christ's Enemies is Pro­digiously and Scandalously Great, or when the Salvation of his Followers is not so easily to be wrought in an or­dinary way. Then Destruction is ne­cessary, partly to render the Punish­ment of those that hate us Exemplary and Notorious as their Sins were; and partly to give the more abundant safe­ty and confidence to such as love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity. Thus he dealt with the Bloody and Obstinate Nation of the Jews, who not satisfied with this, [Page 17] that with barbarous Hands they had slain the Prince of Life himself, resolved to make havock of all his Followers too. To rescue these, and to make the great Mass of their Enemies the most astonishing Instances of Divine Ven­geance; after Forty years Patience and Long-suffering he brought that Solemn and Pompous destruction upon them; when their Temple and the City of Jerusalem was Consumed; their Govern­ment in Church and State was utterly Dissolved, and the Generality of them that had escaped the fury of the Ro­mans, were made Out-casts and Vaga­bonds over the Face of the whole Earth, without hopes of ever being Re-estab­lished in that Land, which they and their Fathers had polluted, and so a­bandon'd to a Cursed and Reprobate state, that (as some of the Ancients tell us) as often as a Remnant of them endeavour'd to repair their City, they were immediately consumed by Fire from Hea­ven. [Page 18] The like exemplary Vengeance Christ executed upon the Romans themselves in process of time, when the Ripeness of their Sins, and the Safety of the Church required again a Sign from Heaven. The Metropolis of these Romans was sackt too; and that by barbarous Nations, who were Instruments in the hand of Christ, as they themselves had formerly been, to avenge that Innocent Blood which had been shed upon the Earth; and as they had assisted and communicated with the Jews in their Villanies, so they shared with them in their Punishment also. I will not speak of the exemplary destruction of particular Persons in the Primitive times who fought against the Truth, as well Persecutors as Hereticks: 'twere endless to make a just Collection of such Observations; and later Ages have given us Instances of this kind abundant which our Fathers and our selves have seen; nor do I doubt, but we or our Posteri­rity shall in Gods time see some more.

[Page 19] 4. Fourthly, The good Providence of Christ over his Church is never more dis­cover'd, than in saving her from her E­nemies at nice and critical Seasons. Eve­ry day is not a fit time for him to shew the Greatness of his Power: there is a day in the course of Affairs, which he in his Infinite Wisdom foresees will be the most Proper, Necessary, and Convenient Day of Salvation; and in that appointed time he is wont to make bare and stretch out his Arm, to gain himself the Victory. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Sion, (saith the Psalmist) for it is time to have mercy upon her, yea the set time is come, Psam 102. 13.

And though we cannot search into the Counsels of Heaven, nor foretell exactly at all times when that set and appointed Juncture will be, yet St. Chrysostom some­where excellently observes, that it is usual with God to shew his own Extraordinary [Page 20] Power, when there is Extremity of Dan­ger, when Evils are grown to a very cri­tical Pitch, and when ordinary means of escaping seem to be out of our reach and power. And, as I remember, he in­stanceth in that very dangerous case the Church was in, under that crafty and re­solute Emperour, who had revolted from the Christian Faith; though he dissembled it for a time, till he had power enough in his hands to endeavour the extirpation of it. The truth is, what by his restoring the Heathen Idolatries, what by his en­couraging all sorts of Factions, what by his letting loose upon the Orthodox Chri­stians, especially upon the Bishops of the Church, all the Enemies they had on each hand: and what by many other fly, but hateful Methods which he used, the Faith of Christ was like to have failed in the Roman Empire in a short time, without the Miraculous protection of Christ himself. In that critical Sea­son he shew'd his Almighty Power be­yond [Page 21] expectations; for in the Engage­ment with the Persians, that Emperous was providentially slain; all grant, by an unknown hand; some thought, by the hand of an Angel; but the Emperour himself seemed to confess, it was by the immediate hand of Christ: for finding himself mortally wounded, he threw up (as we are told) some of his Blood in­to the Air, with this expression, which he utter'd in a rage, Vicisti Galiloee, thou hast been to hard for me, O thou Gali­loean. This was Christ's set and conve­nient time of shewing Mercy upon Sion then; and the like Mercy he hath shew'd in innumerable Instances more; when the Enemies of Truth have been impa­tient, till they brought Affairs to a Cri­sis, to Extremity of Danger: by driving furiously they have only hastned to be undone. By precipitating their Designs with a quick hand; by making Evils to grow to a high degree, and swell to a full head, they have in a great measure [Page 22] necessitated the Saviour of his Church Miraculously to interpose.

5. Lastly, Christ shews the greatness of his Salvation, by delivering us from our Enemies after a surprizing and sudden manner, and by making quick work. Thus he hath promised to deal with that Mystical Babylon, Revel. 18. Though the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication with her, and the Merchants of the Earth wax Rich through the abundance of her Deli­casies, yet her Plagues shall come in one day, Verse 8. In one Hour shall her Judgment come, Verse 10. In one Hour shall her great Riches come to nought, Verse 16. In one Hour shall she be made Desolate, Verse 19. Nor is this unusual with the Divine Justice, to visit wicked Men with sudden and speedy Destruction. It was the Obser­vation of Job; The Houses of the wicked are safe from fear, neither is [Page 23] the rod of God upon them; they take the Timbrel and the Harp, and re­joice at the found of the Organ; they spend their days in wealth: But then it follows, in a Moment they go down into the Grave, Job 21. 13. It was the Ob­servation of the Psalmist; O how sud­denly do they consume, perish, and come to a fearful end? It was the Ob­servation of St. Paul; They say peace and safety, and then sudden Destructi­on cometh upon them. 'Tis a thing commonly observable, that a day bring­eth forth strange Alterations; that Men are oftentimes surprized in the depth of their Security; that Vengeance comes, as the Sentence upon Belshazzar's Wall did, unexpectedly in a Night; or as our last Change shall come, in a Mo­ment, in the twinkling of an Eye. And this is a demonstrative Argument of the watchful Providence of Christ, that after a long Series and Train of Con­trivances against his Church, when Mens [Page 24] Hopes are the strongest; when their Ex­pectations are most confident; when their Designs are at their full ripeness; when the Success of them seems altoge­ther unquestionable: Then, by some unforeseen Accident or other, the Snare is all in a trice broken, and that, after a secret and unaccountable manner; so that in that very Self same Net which wicked Men had laid for others, their own Feet are providentially taken.

3. From this whole Consideration, (that I may now in the Third Place ren­der it Practical) there are Two things which naturally follow.

1. That, as in all Cases, we are with the most Humble and Devout Hearts, to implore Christs Protection, and lift up our Eyes to him from whom all our help cometh; so we must, in all difficult Cases especially, depend still upon his Providence with all modest Assurance, [Page 25] possessing our Souls in Patience, and cast­ing all our Cares on him who careth for us, and committing our selves to him in Well-doing. Every hour he is preparing new Mercies for us, if we do but so or­der our ways, by the assistance of his Grace, as to make our selves Recep­tive of them. He hath worked hitherto, and doth still work; nor will his Provi­dence give over working, till the Final and Eternal Salvation of his Church be accomplished.

Whatever it be therefore that we de­sire and hope for at any time; whether it be the Deliverance of our selves in any dangerous Cases; or whether it be the Preservation of the Church when it may seem to shake; or whether it be the En­larging of the Borders of Christ's San­ctuary; we may safely and with full Trust rely on him, who hath assured us, that he himself will be with us, even to the end of the World.

[Page 26] Many Predictions relating to our Sa­viour, were plainly fulfilled upon his com­ing into the World; and more have been fulfilled since his Ascension into Heaven. But as a Learned Divine of our own Dr. Scot Chri­stian Life, Par. 2. Vol. 2. pag. 490. hath of late particularly observed, there are divers more which are yet unfulfilled: Some which speak of Christs Confounding, Scattering, and Subduing those his Ene­mies, the Eastern Infidels; that his King­dom may be enlarged over that great part of the World; and some too which speak of the universal Reformation of Christendom it self; and the restoring of all Churches in this Western World, to that admirable Purity of Faith and Worship, which the Ancient Churches of Christ were so Renowned for. According to the Tenor of these Pre­dictions, or at least according to the prob­able Construction that is given of them, before this Universal Reformation, which I now speak of: That Faction which in some Places of Scripture is called [Page 27] by the name of Babylon and Anti­christ, will employ its Power by Wars and Persecutions, to extirpate out of these Parts the present Pure Profession of Christianity; and of this God knows we have already seen, and daily see too much. But the account which follow­eth, is, That many Kings and Princes, even those who have hitherto been par­takers with that Faction in its foul Im­postures and Corruptions, shall all on a sudden turn their Swords against it, and Conspire to root it out utterly from off the Face of the Earth. This indeed gives us a Comfortable Prospect of the Glo­rious state of Christs Kingdom that shall be; and though the Completion of this Part of the Prophesie be still to be ex­pected; yet I will presume to say, that were we of this Age but capable of so great a Blessing, methinks it would not be against Reason to hope, I am sure 'tis not beyond the Rules of Piety to wish, that that happy day may even now [Page 28] be approaching,; and that the present Juncture of Affairs may be the Dawning of that Day; there is at this Critical time a Providential concurrence of such Circumstances, as methinks seem at least to Promise a fulfilling of this Prediction in a short space, and that the day of our Common Salvation is not very far off. Let me here again use those devout Ex­pressions of the Holy Psalmist; Arise, O Lord, and have mercy upon Sion; for it is time that thou have mercy upon her; yea the set time seemeth to be coming. But for this, and all other Blessings, we must depend on the good Providence of him, whom the Father hath made the Prince and Captain of our Salvation, to exercise and shew his Soveraign Power, when the set, the appointed Time shall actually come.

2. To make way for it, as much as lyeth in us, it is necessary for us, in the Second Place, to express all possible [Page 29] Thankfulness to the great Bishop of our Souls, for the Blessings we already enjoy; and particularly for the Blessing in my Text, Salvation from our Enemies, and from the hands of those (would to God I could say from the hands of all) that hate us. What Demonstrations of his Almighty Power and Over-ruling Provi­dence, hath Christ given at any time, in any Nation, which he hath not given unto this? Whether it be the defeating and frustrating wicked Mens Designs; he hath done it here: Whether it be the Turning and Directing of their ill Designs to the best Purposes; He hath done it here: Whether it be the making designing Men Publick and Exemplary Monuments of his Justice; he hath done it here: Whe­it be the stretching out of his Arm on a sudden, and at nice and critical Sea­sons; he hath done it here; by deli­vering us in one Age from Tyranny, when the Armado that should have landed it, was just ready upon our [Page 30] Coasts; by delivering us in the next Age from Ruine, when the Fire was just rea­dy for the Sulphur; and by delivering us in this Age from Servitude, when the Yoke was just ready for our Necks; and all this with a quick hand, after a strange and mysterious manner; and let me add, without Bloodshed for the most part; nay, which is more, without any Stream of Blood of our very Enemies. Never was the Truth more Own'd, more Attested, more Miraculously Defended and Preserved, in any Countreys since the Primitive Ages, then it hath been in this: And God forbid that we, who of all Nations are most indebted to the special Providence of Christ, should at last prove the most Unthankful People in the World. How divided soever we be in other Matters, God forbid but we should unanimously joyn in this; I mean in a deep sence of the won­derful Mercies of God, and of the un­speakable Miseries which the Horn of [Page 31] our Salvation hath delivered us from. As it is in Point of Nature; though the Constitutions of particular Persons be different, yet all of us agree in one com­mon Humanity; and as it is in point of Religion, though the Opinions of particular Persons be different, as to unnecessary Mat­ters, yet all of us agree in one common Faith, so it ought to be in this Point of Gratitude; though the Sentiments of Particular Persons may be different as to some things, yet God forbid but we should agree in one common Acknow­ledgment, of the wonderful Providence of Christ in saving us from our Ene­mies hitherto. Let us be Thankful for the Blessings we have; this is the way for us to obtain more. I am sure In­gratitude never was the way to obtain any. I Pray God open our Eyes, that we may see the things which are for our Peace, before they be hid from us. And Christ of his Mercy grant us a continuance of his Protection; that [Page 32] as he hath delivered us, and doth deli­ver us, so he may be pleased to Deliver us still. To him, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all Honour and Praise, World without End. Amen.