SERMON I. THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION. FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT. JOHN i. 14. "The Word was made flesh." Ar this season we are particularly called upon to consider that great Union of the Seen and Unseen, the mystery of the Holy Incarnation, by which is understood the first coming of Christ in the flesh. This doctrine, we may be assured, lies at the foundation of the Christian religion; and must therefore be a matter concerning which it is of the greatest consequence to us all to have a sound knowledge and a right faith. Many Christians, it is to be feared, live all their lives long without ever coming to a proper belief in regard to this deep mystery; insomuch that on the bed of death, the clergyman often finds that then they have to be instructed in ́ it, when it is too late. But, my brethren, we must ever remember, that, as Christians, we are bound to be always advancing in faith, in holiness, and B in the knowledge of God; and that ignorance in so great a fact as this of the Incarnation will be sufficient to convict us at the last day. For what does such ignorance shew? It shews that a person has been living in a careless manner, and without any deep thought concerning his Saviour. If he had been really anxious about his soul, he would long since have taken pains to learn the true doctrine on this awful subject,-Christ Himself declaring to us: "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." In the prophecies of the Old Testament it is clearly set forth that a Saviour was to be born into the world. Let us, then, to-day reflect upon the wonderful truth, that a Saviour has come into the world, and that this Saviour was, and is, God and man in one Person. "The Word," says St. John, "was made flesh." In this sentence is summed up the doctrine of the Incarnation. Let us consider, first, who is here meant by the Word, of whom it is said that He was "made flesh." By the Word, then, is to be understood the Everlasting Son of the Father, who in other places of Holy Scripture is called the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God. For beyond all beginning, before any thing was made in creation, before the stars, before the sky, before the angels, the 1 John xvii. 3. Almighty Father had an Almighty Son. And from this Almighty Father and Almighty Son proceeded, from all eternity, an Almighty Spirit, God the Holy Ghost. The Father Eternal; the Son Eternal; the Holy Ghost Eternal; yet not three Eternals, but one Eternal. The Father Lord; the Son Lord; the Holy Ghost Lord; yet not three Lords, but one Lord. Such is the nature of the Deity, as revealed to us in Holy Scripture, and as taught in the Catholic Church through all ages. Three Persons the Son God; and One God; the Father God; the Holy Ghost God: yet the Father not the same as the Son, nor the Son the same as the Holy Ghost, nor the Holy Ghost the same as the Father. And who is sufficient for these things? Doubtless we should be better able to understand this doctrine of the Holy Trinity, if we were not sinners. Doubtless the holy angels do understand it far beyond what we do. But all we are sinners, we have gone astray, our minds are darkened, and we belong to an order of fallen beings. Therefore the best of men have ever acknowledged their own weakness in this matter, and have been content in faith to adore equally Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; crying out, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Yes, my brethren, and we too must ever re member in regard to the particular doctrine of the Incarnation, which we are now considering, that the Son was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. He Himself has declared to us, "Before Abraham was, I am.”1 He Himself speaks "of the glory which He had with the Father before the world was." And St. John says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."3 Neither was the Son or Word of God only with God in the beginning, but being Himself without beginning, and of the same Eternity with the Father, He is also the Maker of all created things. For all creation had its beginning from the divine Word, who in Scripture is expressly stated to have made the worlds. Thus, in the Psalms we read, 66 By the Word of God were the heavens made, and all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth." And St. John says, "All things were made by Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made."5 And in the epistle to the Hebrews we read, as quoted from the Psalms, "But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the works of Thine hands." And not only were all material substances throughout all space made by the Word, or Son of God, but 1 John viii. 58. 2 John xvii. 5. 3 John i. 1. |