Most beloved men, a few days ago we read over this gospel before you, which
belongs to the service of this day, for the interpretation of the
evangelical narrative; but we did not touch on the exposition further than
belonged to the dignity of that day: we will now again run over the same
evangelical narrative, and expound it with regard to the present festival.
Matthew the Evangelist said, "Cum natus esset Jesus in Bethlehem Judae, in
diebus Herodis regis, ecce Magi ab oriente venerunt Hierosolymam, dicentes,
Ubi est qui natus est Rex Judaeorum?" et reliqua. "When Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king, behold there came from
the east part of the world three astrologers to the city of Jerusalem, thus
inquiring, Where is the King of the Jews, who is born?" etc.
This day is called the Epiphany of the Lord, that is the day of God's
manifestation. On this day Christ was manifested to the three kings, who,
with threefold offerings, sought him from the eastern part of the world.
Again, after a course of years, he was, at his baptism, manifested to the
world, when the Holy Ghost, in likeness of a dove, rested upon him, and the
voice of the Father sounded loudly from heaven, thus saying, "This is my
beloved Son who well pleaseth me; obey him." On this day also he turned
water to noble wine, and thereby manifested that he is the true Creator who
could change his creatures. For these three reasons this festival is called
the MANIFESTATION OF GOD. On the first day of his birth he was manifested
to three shepherds in the Jewish country, through the announcement of the
angel. On the same day he was made known to the three astrologers in the
East, through the bright star: for on this day they came with {107} their
offerings. It was fitting that the discreet angel should make him known to
those discreet Jews, who knew God's law, and that he should be manifested
to the heathens, who knew not the divine purpose, not through a voice, but
by a sign.
The Jewish shepherds betokened the spiritual shepherds, that is the
apostles, whom Christ chose from the Jewish people, as shepherds for us and
teachers. The astrologers, who were continuing in heathenism, betokened all
heathen people who should be turned to God through the teaching of the
apostles, who were of the Jewish nation. For the psalmist wrote concerning
Christ, that he is the corner-stone which joins the two walls together,
because he united his chosen of the Jewish people and the faithful of the
heathen, as two walls, to one church; concerning which Paul the apostle
said, "Jesus at his advent announced peace to us who were far off, and
peace to those who were at hand. He is our peace, who hath made both one,
abolishing all our former enmities in himself." The Jews who believed in
Christ were nearer to him locally, and also through knowledge of the old
law: we were very remote, both locally and through ignorance; but he
gathered us with one faith to the high corner-stone, that is to the unity
of his church.
The eastern astrologers saw a new bright star, not in heaven among other
stars, but it was solitary between heaven and earth. Then understood they
that the wondrous star indicated the birth of the true King in the country
over which it glided; and they therefore came to the kingdom of Juda, and
greatly terrified the impious king Herod by their announcement; for earthly
wickedness was without doubt confounded, when the heavenly greatness was
disclosed.
It is manifest that the astrologers knew Christ to be a true man, when they
inquired, "Where is he who is born?" They knew him to be a true king, when
they said, "King of {109} Juda." They worshipped him as true God, when they
said, "We come that we may adore him." Easily might God have directed them
by the star to the city in which the child was, as he had manifested his
birth by the rising of that star; but he would that the Jewish scribes
should read the prophecy concerning him, and so manifest his birth-place,
that they might be saved if, with the astrologers, they would worship
Christ: but if they would not, that they might by that manifestation be
condemned. The astrologers went and worshipped, and the Jewish scribes
remained behind, who had through book-knowledge pointed out the
birth-place.
All creatures acknowledged their Creator's advent, save only the impious
Jews. The heavens acknowledged their Creator, when they at his nativity
displayed a new star. The sea acknowledged him, when Christ in his might
with dry footsteps passed over its waves. The sun acknowledged him, when at
his passion he hid his beams from mid-day till the ninth hour. The stones
acknowledged him, when at his death they burst in pieces. The earth
acknowledged him, when it all trembled at his resurrection. Hell
acknowledged him, when it unwillingly released its captives. And yet the
hard-hearted Jews would not for all those signs acknowledge the true
Creator, whom the dumb creation knew, and by tokens manifested. They were
not, however, all equally unbelieving, but of their race there were both
prophets and apostles, and many thousands of believing men.
When the astrologers went to the king the star became invisible to them;
and afterwards, when they went to the child, they again saw the star, which
then led them to the house in which he was staying. It did not glide before
them all the way, but after they came to the Jewish country it was their
guide until it stopt above Christ's inn.
Herod betokens the devil; and he who inclines from God {111} to the devil
loses God's grace, that is the enlightening of his understanding, as the
astrologers lost the star when they went to the cruel king. But if he
afterwards resolutely forsake the devil, then will he again have found the
grace of the Holy Ghost, which enlightens his heart and leads to Christ.
We are also to know, that there were some heretics who said, that every man
is born according to the position of the stars, and that by their course
his destiny befalls him, and advanced in support of their error, that a new
star sprang up when the Lord was corporally born, and said that that star
was his destiny. Let this error depart from believing hearts, that there is
any destiny excepting the Almighty Creator, who provides for every man life
by his merits. Man is not created for the stars, but the stars are created
as a light by night for men. When the star glided, and led the astrologers,
and pointed out to them the Child's inn, it showed that it was Christ's
creature, and rightly ministered to its Creator: but it was not his
destiny. Again we beseech that no believing man defile his faith with this
error. Verily Rebekah, Isaac's wife, brought forth twins, Jacob and Esau,
at one time, so that Jacob held his elder brother Esau by the foot at his
birth; yet were they not alike in character, nor in the actions of their
life. Holy writ indeed says that God loved Jacob, and hated Esau; not by
destiny, but for various acts. It happens very often that the queen and the
slave bring forth at one time, and yet the prince, through his birth, grows
up for the lofty throne, and the son of the slave continues all his life in
servitude.
Now foolish men often say that they must live according to destiny, as if
God compels them to evil deeds! But we will overthrow the idle leasing of
these foolish men with the deepness of the divine writings. The Almighty
Creator created angels by his divine power, and in his great righteousness
gave them their own choice, that they might {113} continue in eternal
happiness through obedience, and might also lose that happiness, not
through destiny, but for disobedience. His great righteousness would not
compel them to either, but gave them their own choice; for that is
righteousness, that to every one be allowed his own choice. For his
righteousness would be rendered vain, if he forcibly subjected them to his
service, or if he impelled them to evil. Then some angels abused their own
choice, and through pride transformed themselves to accursed devils.
Again, when the glorious Creator made mankind, he gave to Adam and Eve
their own choice, whether they, through obedience, would for ever, without
death, continue in happiness, with all their offspring, or whether, through
disobedience, they would become mortal. But when they transgressed God's
command, and obeyed the instruction of the accursed devil, then they became
mortal, and guilty through their own choice, they and all their offspring;
and although mercy should never after be shown to mankind, more than to the
devils, nevertheless, the righteousness would be infinite. But the great
mercy of our Lord hath redeemed us through his humanity, if we with all our
heart will obey his commandments. Verily those who now, through their own
choice, and the devil's instigation, forsake God, God will abandon them
also to eternal perdition.
The Almighty Father well knew, before he created his creatures, what was to
come to pass. He knew with certainty the number both of chosen angels and
of chosen men, and also of the haughty spirits and impious men, who through
their impiety perish. But he predestined no one to evil, for he himself is
all goodness; nor destined he any one to perdition, for he is true life. He
predestined the elect for eternal life, because he knew that they would be
such, through his grace and their own obedience. He would not predestine
the wicked to his kingdom, because he knew that they would be such, through
their own transgression and perversity. {115} Hold this fast in your
hearts, that the Almighty and the Righteous God compels no man to sin, but
he knows, nevertheless, beforehand who will sin through their own will. Why
then shall he not justly avenge that evil which he abominates? He loves
every good and righteousness, for he is by nature good and righteous; and
he hates all those who work unrighteousness, and fordoes those who speak
leasing. Verily those who believe in God are directed by the Holy Ghost.
The turning to God is not of ourselves, but by God's grace, as the apostle
says, "Through God's grace we are held in faith."
Those who believe not through their own choice perish, not through destiny,
for destiny is nothing but a false imagination; for nothing takes place by
destiny, but all things are ordered by the doom of God, who said through
his prophet, "I try the hearts of men, and their loins, and give to
everyone according to his course, and according to his own invention." Let
no man ascribe his evil deeds to God, but ascribe them first to the devil,
who deceived mankind, and to Adam's transgression; but above all to
himself, that evil pleases him and good pleases him not.
It often, however, happens that the offspring are condemned through the
wicked deeds of their forefathers, if they imitate them in evil. But if the
offspring are righteous, then will they live in their righteousness, and
will not in the least bear their parents' sins. Let no man be so impious
that he curse Adam or Eve, who now reign with God in heaven, but let him
rather merit God's mercy, so that he turn his own choice to the obedience
and commandments of his Creator; for no man will be saved, but through the
grace of Jesus Christ: that grace he prepared and preordained to last for
ever, before the foundation of the world.
My brothers, ye have now heard concerning the false imagination, which vain
men call destiny: let us now resume the exposition of the gospel, where we
previously left it. {117} The astrologers went into the child's inn, and
found him with his mother. They then, with outstretched bodies, worshipped
Christ, and opened their coffers, and offered to him threefold gifts, gold,
and frankincense, and myrrh. Gold befits a king; frankincense belongs to
God's service; with myrrh the corpses of the dead are prepared that they
may not soon rot. These three astrologers worshipped Christ, and offered to
him significant gifts. The gold betokened that he is a true King. The
frankincense that he is true God. The myrrh that he was then mortal; but he
now continues immortal to eternity.
There were some heretics who believed that he was God, but they in no wise
believed that he anywhere reigned: they offered frankincense to Christ
spiritually, and would not offer him gold. Again, there were other heretics
who believed that he was a true King, but they denied that he was God:
these, without doubt, offered gold to him, and would not offer
frankincense. Some heretics acknowledged that he was true God and true
King, and denied that he assumed mortal flesh: these brought him gold and
frankincense, and would not bring the myrrh of the assumed mortality.
My brothers, let us offer to our Lord gold in acknowledgment that he is a
true King, and rules everywhere. Let us offer to him frankincense, because
we believe that he ever was God, who at that time appeared man. Let us
bring him myrrh, because we believe that he was mortal in our flesh, who is
impassible in his divine nature. He was mortal in human nature before his
passion, but he is henceforth immortal, as we all shall be after the
universal resurrection.
We have said concerning these threefold gifts, how they apply to Christ: we
wish also to say how they, in a moral sense, apply to us. By gold is wisdom
betokened, as Solomon said, "A desirable gold-treasure lieth in the wise
man's mouth." With frankincense is manifested holy prayer, {119} concerning
which the psalmist sang, "Lord, be my prayer sent forth like burning
frankincense in thy sight." By myrrh is typified the mortality of our
flesh, concerning which the holy congregation says, "My hands dropt myrrh."
To the born King we bring gold, if we are shining in his sight with the
brightness of heavenly wisdom. Frankincense we bring him, if we, by
diligence of holy prayers, kindle our thoughts on the altar of our heart,
so that we may, through heavenly desire, give forth a sweetish savour.
Myrrh we offer him, if through continence we quell the lusts of the flesh.
Myrrh, as we have before said, acts so that dead flesh does not easily rot.
Verily the dead flesh rots flagitiously, when the mortal body is
subservient to overflowing lust, as the prophet said by one, "The beasts
rotted in their dung." Then the beasts rot in their dung, when fleshly men
end their days in the stench of their lust. But if we offer myrrh to God
spiritually, then will our mortal body be preserved through continence from
the stenches of lust.
The astrologers pointed out to us something great by returning another way
to their country. For our country is Paradise, to which we cannot return by
the way we came. The first-created man and all his offspring were driven
from the joy of Paradise, through disobedience, and for eating the
forbidden food, and through pride, when he would be better than the
Almighty Creator had created him. But it is greatly needful to us that we
should, by another way, avoid the treacherous devil, that we may happily
come to our country, for which we were created.
We should, by obedience, and continence, and humility, unanimously proceed
to our home, and with holy virtues require the country, which we lost
through sins. Rightly was the treacherous Herod deceived by the
astrologers, and came not to Christ; because he sought him with a guileful
{121} purpose. He betokened the false hypocrites, who in outward show seek
God, and never find him. He is to be sought with a true heart, and
steadfast mind, who liveth and ruleth with the Father and the Holy Ghost,
for ever and ever. Amen.
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