John Trapp on Matthew 1:23

Verse 23. Behold, a Virgin, &c.] [non-Latin text not transcribed], that Virgin, [non-Latin text not transcribed], that famous Virgin fore-told, Isa. 7. 14. That he should be the seed of the woman, was made known, to Adam, but not of what Nation, till Abraham, nor of what Tribe till Iacob, nor of what sex, till David, nor whether born of a virgin, till Esay. Thus by degrees was that great mystery of godlinesse revealed to mankinde. If any Jew object, saith Chrysostom, How could a Virgin bring forth? Dic [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1 word] peperit [illegible: 1 word] & vetula? Ask him, How could Sarah, when old and barren, bear a childe? The Bees have young, yet know not marriage. The Phaenix, they say, hath no parents. This head-stone of the corner was cut out of the mountaine [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word]. without hands: this flower of the [illegible: 1 word], this rose of Sharon, hath Heaven for his father, and earth for his mother. Was it not as easie to frame this second Adam in the wombe, as that first Adam out of the mire? Herein see a miracle of mercy, that the incomprehensible [illegible: 1 word]. God, that circle (whose center is every where, whose circumference no where) should be circled and coop'd up for 9 moneths together, in the narrow womb of a pure Virgin. And shall bring forth a Son] Who in the birth opened the womb, Luk. 2. and so put her to pain, likely, as other women. He hid the glory of his eternall nativity under a mean and temporary birth, to purchase for us an heavenly and eternall birth. Whether the blessed Virgin were Deipara, the Mother of God, raised great storms in the [illegible: 1 word] of Ephesus, and came to commotions in the secular part, and excommunications among the Bishops; insomuch as the Emperour declared both sides Hereticks. But forasmuch as she brought forth a Son that was God, we doubt not to stile her the Mother of God; not Mall Gods maid, as one hath latelyThe female Glory. slandered some of us in print. At Rome (it is said) was seen, at the same time, about the Sun, the likenesse of a woman carrying a childe in her armes: And a voice heard, Pan the great God is now [illegible: 1 word] on the Creed. about to be born, &c. And they shall call his name Immanuel, &c.] By a wonderfull and unsearchable Union; the manner [illegible: 1 word] is to be beleeved, not [illegible: 1 word]; admired, not pried into: personall it is, yet not of persons: of natures, and yet not naturall. As soul and body are one man; so God and man are one person, saith Athanasius, And as every beleever that is born of God, [illegible: 1 word] another, remains the same intire person that he was before, receiving neverthelesse into him a divine nature, which before he had not: So Emmanuel, continuing the same perfect person, which he had been from eternity, assumeth neverthelesse a humane nature, which before he had not, to be born within his person for ever. This is so much the more wonderfull, because the very Angels (which are far greater in glory then man) are not able to abide the presence of God, Isa. 6. 2. But this is our ladder of ascension to God, Ioh. 3. 12. Faith first layes hold upon Christ as a man; and thereby, [illegible: 1 word] by a mean, makes way to God, and embraceth the Godhead, which is of it self a consuming fire. And whereas sin is a partition wall of our own making, denying us [illegible: 1 word], God is now with us: and in Christ, we have boldnesse and accesse Ephes. 2. 12. with confidence by the faith of him. Christs humanity serves as a skreen to save us, from those everlasting burnings; and as a conduit, to derive upon us from the Godhead, all spirituall blessings inEphes. 1. 3. heavenly places. If any [illegible: 1 word] invade us, we may cry as theyIsa. 8. 8. of old, The stretching out of his wings doth fill thy Land, O Immanuel; and we shall have help.