Immanuel: The Mystery of the Incarnation

By James Ussher

This sermon, written by the author of The Annals of the World seeks to establish the doctrine of the incarnation its amazing aspects and its wonderful effects upon the human race.
From the intro:
"The Holy Prophet, in the Book of the Proverbs, poseth all such as have not learned wisdom, nor known the knowledge of the holy, with this Question. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath established all the ends of the earth; what is his name and what is his SONS name, if thou canst tell? To help us herein, the SON Himself did tell us, when he was here upon earth, that None hoth ascended up to heaven, but he that descended from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And that we might not be ignorant of his name, the Prophet Esay did long before foretel, that Unto us a Child is born, and unto us a Son is given; whose name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Where if it be demanded, how these things can stand together? that the Son of man speaking upon earth, should yet at the same instant be in heaven; that the Father of Eternity should be born in time? and that the Mighty God should become a Child; which is the weakest state of man himself? we must call to mind that the first letter of this great Name, is WONDERFUL. When he appeared of old to Manoah his name was wonderful, and he did wonderously. Judg. 13:18, 19. But that and all the wonders that ever were, must give place to the great mystery of his incarnation; and in respect thereof cease to be wonderful; for of this work that may be verified, which is spoken of those wonderful judgments, that God brought upon Egypt when he would shew his power and have his name declared throughout all the earth Before them were no such neither after them shall be the like."

• Language: English
• Publisher: CrossReach Publications
• Release date: Jun 7, 2022

Book preview

IMMANUEL

THE

MYSTERY

OF THE

INCARNATION

by

JAMES USHER

Archbishop of Armagh

John 1:14

The Word was made Flesh

A drawing of a dog Description automatically generated with low confidence

London

Printed by Susan Islip for Thomas Downes and George Badger

1647

Original copyright James Ussher, London, 1647.

This edition copyright CrossReach Publications, Ireland, 2022.

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Contents

Immanuel

Immanuel

THE

MYSTERY

OF THE

INCARNATION

THE Holy Prophet, in the Book of the (¹a) Proverbs, poseth all such as have not learned wisdom, nor known the knowledge of the holy, with this Question. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath established all the ends of the earth; what is his name and what is his SONS name, if thou canst tell? To help us herein, the SON Himself did tell us, when he was here upon earth, that (²b) None hoth ascended up to heaven, but he that descended from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And that we might not be ignorant of his name, the Prophet Esay did long before foretel, that (³c) Unto us a Child is born, and unto us a Son is given; whose name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Where if it be demanded, how these things can stand together? that the Son of man speaking upon earth, should yet at the same instant be in heaven; that the Father of Eternity should be born in time? and that the Mighty God should become a Child; which is the weakest state of man himself? we must call to mind that the first letter of this great Name, is WONDERFUL. When he appeared of old to Manoah his name was wonderful, and he did wonderously. Judg. 13:18, 19. But that and all the wonders that ever were, must give place to the great mystery of his incarnation; and in respect thereof cease to be wonderful; for of this work that may be verified, which is spoken of those wonderful judgments, that God brought upon Egypt when he would (⁴d) shew his power and have his name declared throughout all the earth (⁵e) Before them were no such neither after them shall be the like.

Neither the creation of all things out of nothing, which was the beginning of the works of God (those six working days putting as it were an end to that long Sabbath that never had beginning wherein the Father, Son, and holy Ghost did infinitely (⁶f) glorified themselves and (⁷g) rejoice in the fruition one of another, without communicating the notice thereof unto any creature) nor the Resurrection from the dead and the restauration of all things, the last work that shall go before that everlasting Sabbath which shall have a beginning, but never shall have an end, neither that first, I say, nor the last, though most admirable pieces of work, may be compared with this, wherein the Lord was pleased to shew the highest pitch (if any thing may be said to be highest in that which is infinite and exempt from all measure and dimensions) of his Wisdom, Goodness, Power, and Glory.

The Heathen Chaldeans, to a question propounded by the King of Babel, make answer; (⁸h) that it was a rare thing which he required, and that none other would shew it, except these Gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. But the rarity of this lyeth in the contrary to that which they imagined to be so plain: that he (⁹i) who is over all, God blessed for ever, should take our flesh and dwell, or¹⁰* pitch his Tabernacle with us. That as (¹¹k) the glory of God filled the Tabernacle (which, was