An Abridgment of the Homily Concerning the Nativity or Birth of Our Saviour Jesus Christ

Clipped from: https://straitandnarrow.substack.com/p/an-abridgment-of-the-homily-concerning

Here is an abridgment of the Homily for Christmas from the Second Book of Homilies. I plan on using it for the Sunday after Christmas. For me it is clocking in a little shy of 20 minutes (which is still longer than my parish would prefer) and is about 2800 words. It is available for you to use as well. A special thank-you to Frs. Andrew Brashier and Isaac Rehberg, who gave feedback on the edits and offered some additional suggestions.

AMONG all the creatures that God made in the beginning of the world most excellent and wonderful in their kind, there was none, as Scripture beareth witness, to be compared unto man. He was made according to the image of God; he was indued with all kind of heavenly gifts; he had no spot of uncleanness in him; he was made altogether like unto God in righteousness, in holiness, in wisdom, in truth, to be short, in all kind of perfection. When he was thus created and made, Almighty God, in token of his great love towards him, chose out a special place of the earth for him, namely, Paradise; where he lived in all tranquillity and pleasure, having great abundance of worldly goods, and lacking nothing that he might justly require or desire to have.

But, as the common nature of all men is in time of prosperity and wealth to forget not only themselves but also God, even so did this first man Adam: who, having but one commandment at God's hand, namely, that he should not eat of the fruit of knowledge of good and ill, did most willfully break it, in forgetting the strait charge of his Maker, and giving ear to the crafty suggestion of that wicked serpent the devil.

Whereby it came to pass, that, as before he was blessed, so now he was accursed; as before he was loved, so now he was abhorred; as before he was most beautiful and precious, so now he was most vile and wretched, in the sight of his Lord and Maker. Instead of the image of God, he was become now the image of the devil; instead of the citizen of heaven, he was become the bondslave of hell; having in himself no one part of his former purity and cleanness, but being altogether spotted and defiled; insomuch that now he seemed to be nothing else but a lump of sin, and therefore by the just judgment of God was condemned to everlasting death.

This so great and miserable a plague, fell not only on him, but also on his posterity and children for ever; so that the whole brood of Adam's flesh should sustain the selfsame fall and punishment which their forefather by his offence most justly had deserved. St. Paul in the fifth chapter to the Romans saith, By the offence of only Adam the fault came upon all men to condemnation, and by one man's disobedience many were made sinners. By which words we are taught, that, as in Adam all men universally sinned, so in Adam all men universally received the reward of sin, that is to say, became mortal and subject unto death, having in themselves nothing but everlasting damnation both of body and soul. They became, as David saith, corrupt and abominable; they went all out of the way; there was none that did good, no not one. O what a miserable and woeful state was this, that the sin of one man should destroy and condemn all men, that nothing in all the world might be looked for but only pangs of death and pains of hell!

But behold the great goodness and tender mercy of God in this behalf. Albeit man's wickedness and sinful behaviour was such that it deserved not in any part to be forgiven, yet, he ordained a new covenant, and made a sure promise thereof, namely, that he would send a Messiah or Mediator into the world, which should make intercession, to pacify the wrath and indignation conceived against sin, and to deliver man out of the miserable curse and cursed misery whereinto he was fallen headlong by disobeying the will and commandment of his only Lord and Maker. This covenant and promise was first made unto Adam himself immediately after his fall, as we read in the third of Genesis, where God said to the serpent: I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed: he shall break thine head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Afterward the selfsame covenant was also renewed unto Abraham, where God promised him, that in his seed all nations and families of the earth should be blessed.

And, to the intent that mankind might not despair, but always live in hope, Almighty God never ceased to publish, repeat, confirm, and continue the same by divers and sundry testimonies of his Prophets; who, for the better persuasion of the thing, prophesied the time, the place, the manner, and circumstance of his birth, the afflictions of his life, the kind of his death, the glory of his resurrection, the receiving of his kingdom, the deliverance of his people, with all other circumstances belonging thereunto. And all this was done, that the promise and covenant of God, made unto Abraham and his posterity concerning the redemption of the world, might be credited and fully believed.

Now, as the Apostle Paul saith, when the fulness of time was come, that is, the perfection and course of years appointed from the beginning, then God, according to his former covenant and promise, sent a Messiah, otherwise called a Mediator, into the world; not such a one as Moses was, not such a one as Joshua, Saul, or David was, but such a one as should deliver mankind from the bitter curse of the law, and make perfect satisfaction by his death for the sins of all people; namely, he sent his dear and only Son Jesus Christ, made, as the Apostle saith, of a woman, and made under the law, that he might redeem them that were in bondage of the law, and make them the children of God by adoption.

Was not this a wonderful great love towards us that were his professed and open enemies? towards us that were by nature the children of wrath and firebrands of hell fire? In this, saith St. John, appeared the great love of God, that he sent his only begotten Son into the world to save us, when we were his extreme enemies. Herein is love, not that we loved him, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be a reconciliation for our sins.

We, dearly beloved, that hope and look to be saved, must both steadfastly believe and also boldly confess, that the same Jesus which was born of the Virgin Mary was the true Messiah and Mediator between God and man, promised and prophesied of so long before. For, as the Apostle writeth, with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Again in the same place: Whosoever believeth in him shall never be ashamed nor confounded. Whereto agreeth also the testimony of St. John, written in the fourth chapter of his first general Epistle: Whosoever confesseth that Jesus is the Son of God, he dwelleth in God, and God in him.

As truly as God liveth, so truly was Jesus Christ the true Messiah and Saviour of the world, even the same Jesus which, as this day, was born of the Virgin Mary, without all help of man, only by the power and operation of the Holy Ghost.

We are evidently taught in the Scripture, that our Lord and Saviour Christ consisteth of two natures; of his manhood, being thereby perfect man; and of his Godhood, being thereby perfect God.

Diligently consider and weigh the works that he did while he lived on earth, and we shall thereby also perceive the selfsame thing to be most true. He did hunger and thirst, eat and drink, sleep and wake; He preached his Gospel to the people; He wept and sorrowed for Jerusalem; He paid tribute for himself and Peter; He died and suffered death; what other thing did he else declare but only this, that he was perfect man as we are? For which cause he is called in holy Scripture sometime the son of David, sometime the Son of man, sometime the son of Mary, sometime the son of Joseph, and so forth.

Now in that he forgave sins; in that he wrought miracles; in that he did cast out devils; in that he healed men with his only word; in that he knew the thoughts of men's hearts; in that he had the seas at his commandment; in that he walked on the water; in that he rose from death to life; in that he ascended into heaven, and so forth; what other thing did he shew therein but only that he was perfect God, coequal with his Father as touching his Deity? Therefore he saith, The Father and I are all one: which is to be understood of his Godhead; for, as touching his manhood, he saith, The Father is greater than I am.

For the necessity of our salvation did require such a Mediator and Saviour, as under one person should be a partaker of both natures. It was requisite he should be man: it was also requisite he should be God. For, as the transgression came by man, so the satisfaction should be made by man. And, because death, according to St. Paul, is the just stipend and reward of sin, therefore, to appease the wrath of God, and to satisfy his justice, it was expedient that our Mediator should be such a one as might take upon him the sins of mankind, and sustain the due punishment thereof, namely, death.

Moreover, he came in flesh, and in the selfsame flesh ascended into heaven, to declare and testify unto us, that all faithful people which steadfastly believe in him shall likewise come unto the same mansion place whereunto he, being our chief captain, is gone before. Last of all, he became man, that we thereby might receive the greater comfort, as well in our prayers as also in our adversity; considering with ourselves, that we have a Mediator that is true man as we are, who also is touched with our infirmities, and was tempted even in like sort as we are. For these and sundry other causes it was most needful he should come, as he did, in the flesh. But, because no creature hath or may have power to destroy death and give life, to overcome hell and purchase heaven, to remit sins and give righteousness, therefore it was needful that our Messiah, whose proper duty and office that was, should be not only full and perfect man, but also full and perfect God, to the intent he might more fully and perfectly make satisfaction for mankind.

Thus ye have heard declared out of the Scriptures, that Jesus Christ was the true Messiah and Saviour of the world, that he was by nature and substance perfect God and perfect man, and for what causes it was expedient he should be so.

Now, that we may be the more mindful and thankful unto God in this behalf, let us briefly consider and call to mind the great benefits that we have received by the nativity and birth of this our Messiah and Saviour. Before Christ's coming into the world, all men universally were nothing else but a wicked and crooked generation, rotten and corrupt trees, stony ground, lost sheep, prodigal sons, naughty and unprofitable servants, sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to be short, nothing else but children of perdition and inheritors of hell fire. To this doth St. Paul bear witness in divers places of his Epistles, and Christ also himself in sundry places of his Gospel.

But after he was once come down from heaven, and had taken our frail nature upon him, he made all them that would receive him truly, and believe his word, good trees, and good ground, fruitful and pleasant branches, children of light, citizens of heaven, sheep of his fold, members of his body, heirs of his kingdom, his true friends and brethren, sweet and lively bread, the elect and chosen people of God. For, as St. Peter saith in his first Epistle and second chapter, he bare our sins in his body upon the cross; he healed us and made us whole by his stripes; and, whereas before we were sheep going astray, he by his coming brought us home again to the true Shepherd and Bishop of our souls; making us a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people of God, in that he died for our offences, and rose again for our justification.

St. Paul to Timothy, the third chapter: We were, saith he, in times past unwise, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in hatred, envy, maliciousness, and so forth. But after the lovingkindness of God our Saviour appeared towards mankind, not according to the righteousness that we had done, but according to his great mercy, he saved us by the fountain of the new birth and by the renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he poured upon us abundantly thorough Jesus Christ our Saviour, that we, being once justified by his grace, should be heirs of eternal life through hope and faith in his blood. In these and such other places is set out before our eyes, as it were in a glass, the abundant grace of God received in Christ Jesus; which is so much the more wonderful, because it came not of any desert of ours, but of his mere and tender mercy, even then when we were his extreme enemies.

But, for the better understanding and consideration of this thing, let us behold the end of his coming: so shall we perceive what great profit his nativity hath brought unto us miserable and sinful creatures. These were the chief ends wherefore Christ became man, not for any profit that should come to himself thereby, but only for our sakes; that we might understand the will of God, be partakers of his heavenly light, be delivered out of the devil's claws, released from the burden of sin, justified through faith in his blood, and finally received up into everlasting glory, there to reign with him for ever.

Was not this a great and singular love of Christ towards mankind, that, being the express and lively image of God, he would notwithstanding humble himself, and take upon him the form of a servant, and that only to save and redeem us? O how much are we bound to the goodness of God in this behalf! How many thanks and praises do we owe unto him for this our salvation, wrought by his dear and only Son Christ: who became a pilgrim in earth, to make us citizens in heaven; who became the Son of man, to make us the sons of God; who became obedient to the law, to deliver us from the curse of the law; who became poor, to make us rich; vile, to make us precious; subject to death, to make us live for ever. What greater love could we desire or wish to have at God's hands?

Therefore, dearly beloved, let us not forget this exceeding love of our Lord and Saviour; let us not shew ourselves unmindful or unthankful towards him: but let us love him, fear him, obey him, and serve him. Let us confess him with our mouths, praise him with our tongues, believe on him with our hearts, and glorify him with our good works. Christ is the light: let us receive the light. Christ is the truth: let us believe the truth. Christ is the way: let us follow the way. And, because he is our only Master, our only Teacher, our only Shepherd, and Chief Captain, therefore let us become his servants, his scholars, his sheep, and his soldiers.

As for sin, the flesh, the world, and the devil, whose servants and bondslaves we were before Christ's coming, let us utterly cast them off, and defy them, as the chief and only enemies of our soul. And, seeing we are once delivered from their cruel tyranny by Christ, let us never fall into their hands again, lest we chance to be in worse case than ever we were before. Happy are they, saith Scripture, that continue to the end. Be faithful, saith God, until death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Again he saith in another place: He that putteth his hand unto the plough, and looketh back, is not meet for the kingdom of God. Therefore let us be strong, steadfast, and unmoveable, abounding always in the works of the Lord.

Let us receive Christ, not for a time, but for ever; let us believe his word, not for a time, but for ever; let us become his servants, not for a time, but for ever; in consideration that he hath redeemed and saved us, not for a time, but for ever; and will receive us into his heavenly kingdom, there to reign with him, not for a time, but for ever. To him therefore with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour, praise, and glory for ever and ever. Amen.