"That we might one day celebrate an Advent indeed": an Advent sermon in the midst of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Isaiah 2.4.
They shall beat their Swords into Plough-shares, and their Spears into Pruning-hooks.
The day is the Third of Advent, designed by the Church for the Celebration of the closer and nearer approach of the Majesty of Heaven to this lowly sinful Earth of ours ... And the Text is a piece of an Advent Chapter, the very Contents bespeak it so, Isaiah prophesying the coming, i.e. Advent, of Christ's Kingdom. All the unhappiness of it is, that this part of the Prophecy about transforming of Swords, seems not yet to be fulfilled in our ears; that after so many Centuries, Christ is not yet so effectually and thoroughly born amongst us, as was here foretold; that those glorious effects of his Incarnation are not yet come to their full date: i.e. in effect, that Christ is come to his birth, and with him all the well-natur'd charitable qualities, all the unity and peace and bliss in the world, and through the contrivances the Enemy-power, there is not liberty or strength to bring forth; all the precious issues of Christianity are resisted, and obstructed, and stifled in the Womb; the temper of the pretending world being so strangely distant from the temper of Christ, the prophecies of his coming having so little of the Sword in them, and the practice of Christendom so nothing else. Blessed Lord! that we might once be able to reconcile these contrary ... that we might one day celebrate an Advent indeed, and that the completion of the Prophecy of this Text, might be an Ingredient in the Solemnity; that this of ours, might be one of those Nations and People judged and rebuked, i. e. convinced and converted by the Incarnate Saviour: for then would these words of the Text be verifi'd of us, They shall beat their Swords, &c.
... to exorcize and conjure all the swords and spears out of the world, to work new transfigurations and metamorphoses among us, to return the Bears and Vultures into their old humane shapes again, and proclaim an universal truce to all the military affections we carry about us, to our wraths, our covetings, our aspirings, a Sabbath, a Jubilee of rest and peace ... a catholick constant harmony and accord, a present pacification of all our intestine broils, and so a quiet and rest unto our souls: and till this be done, till this Advent Prophecy be fulfilled in your ears, you must know, there is little of Christianity among us, little of Evangelical graces or Evangelical Spirit, nothing but Legal at the best. That in God's good time there may be more, not in the brain or tongue, to elevate the one or adorn the other, but in the ... the depth and sincerity of the heart, more of the work and power, the spirit and vital energy of the Gospel, God of his infinite mercy grant us all, even for the sake and through the operation of his Son Jesus Christ, that wonderful Counsellor, that mighty God, that Father of this Evangelical state, that Prince, and that God of peace; to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be ascribed, as is most due, the honour, the glory, the power, praise, might, majesty, and dominion, which through all ages of the world hath been given to him that sitteth on the Throne, to the Holy Spirit, and to the Lamb for evermore. Amen.
It is worth noting that Hammond also uses the term 'celebrate' with regards to Advent, as earlier seen in Donne and Cosin.
(The photograph is of Carisbrooke Castle.)
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