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النشر الإلكتروني

SECT. I.

CH. 1.

40 tiously into the hill-country, to a city of Judah;

where having entered the house of Zacharias, she 41 saluted Elizabeth. As soon as Elizabeth heard

Mary's salutation, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and 42 cried with a loud voice, Thou art the most blessed

of women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 But how have I deserved this honour, to be visited 44 by the mother of my Lord! for know, that as soon

as the sound of thy salutation reached mine ears, 45 the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And happy is she who believed, that the things which the Lord hath promised her, shall be performed.

46.

Then Mary said, My soul magnifieth the Lord, 48 and my spirit rejoiceth in God my Saviour; because he hath not disdained the low condition of his handmaid, for henceforth all posterity will pro49 nounce me happy. For the Almighty, whose

name is venerable, hath done wonders for me. 50 His mercy on them who fear him, extendeth to 51 generations of generations. He displayeth the

Eze. 21; 26.

strength of his arm, and dispelleth the vain ima52 ginations of the proud. He pulleth down poten- Ps. 35; 10. tates from their thrones, and exalteth the lowly. 1 Sam. 2; 6. 53 The needy he loadeth with benefits; but the rich Ps. 3+; 10. 54 he spoileth of every thing. He supporteth Israel 55 his servant (as he promised to our fathers), ever

inclined to mercy towards Abraham and his race. 57 And Mary, af er staying with Elizabeth about three months, returned home.

Is. 41; 8.

Gen. 17; 19.

22; 18.

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сн. 1.

SECT. II

SECTION II.

THE NATIVITY.

57 WHEN the time for Elizabeth's delivery was 58 come, she brought forth a son: and her neighbours and relations who heard that the Lord had shown 59 her great kindness, congratulated with her. And

on the eighth day, when they came to the child's circumcision, they would have him called by his 60 father's name, Zacharias. And his mother, inter

posed, saying, No; but he shall be called John. 61 They said unto her, There is none of thy kindred 62 of that name. They therefore asked his father by 63 signs, how he would have him called. He having demanded a table-book, wrote thereon, “His name 64 "is John," which surprised them all. And his mouth was opened directly, and his tongue [loosed.] 65 And he spake, praising God. Now all in the neighbourhood were struck with awe; and the fame of these things spread throughout all the 66 hill-country of Judea. And all who heard these things, pondering them in their hearts, said, What will this child prove hereafter? And the hand of the Lord was with him.

SECT. II.

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Then Zacharias his father, being fill 68 Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying, Bless Lord the God of Israel, because he h 69. and redeemed his people; and (as an promised by his holy Prophets) hath

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prince for our deliverance in the house of David

& 30; 10.

Jer. 31; 33.

71 his servant; for our deliverance from our ene- Jer. 23; 6. 72 mies, and from the hands of all who hate us; in kindness to our forefathers, and remembrance of 73 his holy covenant; the oath which he swore to Gen. 22; 16 74. our father Abraham, to grant unto us, that being rescued out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve him boldly, in piety and uprightness, all the 76 days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called ch.1; 17. 77 a Prophet of the Most High; for thou shalt go before the Lord, to prepare his way, by giving the knowledge of salvation to his people, in the remis78 sion of their sins, through the tender compassion Mal. 4; 2. of our God, who hath caused a light to spring 79 from on high to visit us, to enlighten those who abide in darkness and in the shades of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace.

80 Now the child grew, and acquired strength of mind, and continued in the deserts, until the time when he made himself known to Israel.

II. ABOUT that time Cesar Augustus issued an edict that all the inhabitants of the empire should 2 be registered. (This first register took effect when 3 Cyrenius was president of Syria.) When all

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31 In the Latin authors Quirinius.

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сн. 2.

SECT. II.

4 went to be registered, every one to his own city, Joseph also went from Nazareth, a city of Galilee, to 5 the city of David in Judea called Bethlehem (for

he was of the house and lineage of David), to be registered, with Mary his betrothed wife, who was 6 pregnant. While they were there, the time came 7 that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and swathed him, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the house allotted to strangers.

.8

Now there were shepherds in the fields in that country, who tended their flock by turns through 9 the night-watches. On a sudden a messenger of the Lord stood by them, and a divine glory encompassed them with light, and they were frightened 10 exceedingly. But the angel said to them, Fear not; for lo I bring you good tidings, which shall prove matter of great joy to all the people; be11 cause to day is born unto you, in the city of Da12 vid, a Saviour, who is the Lord Messiah. And

by this ye shall know him; ye shall find a babe 13 in swaddling bands, lying in the manger. Instantly the angel was attended by a multitude of the 14 heavenly host, who praised God, saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace upon the earth, and good will towards men.

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And when the angels returned to heaven, having left the shepherds, these said one to another, Let us go to Bethlehem, and see this which hath hap16 pened, whereof the Lord hath informed us. And

hastening thithe,, they found Mary and Joseph

SECT. II.

сн. 2.

17 with the babe who lay in the manger. When they

saw this, they published what had been imparted to 18 them concerning this child. And all who heard it,

wondered at the things told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary let none of these things escape unobserved, weighing every circumstance within her20 self. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, agreeably to what had been declared unto them.

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ch. 1; 31.

ON the eighth day, when the child was circum- Gen. 17; 12. cised, they called him Jesus, the angel having gi ven him that name before his mother conceived him.

AND when the time of their purification was Lev. 12; 2 expired, they carried him to Jerusalem, as the law

of Moses appointeth, to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of God, "Every male, Ex. 13; 2. 24" who is the first-born of his mother, is consecrated

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"to the Lord"): and to offer the sacrifice enjoined in the law, a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.

Now there was at Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a just and a religious man, who expected the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was 26 upon him, and had revealed unto him, that he

should not die until he had seen the Lord's Mes27 siah. This man came, guided by the Spirit, into 28 the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what the law required, he

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Num. ;

17.

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