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his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed; and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill-country of Judea. And all they that heard, them, laid them up in their hearts, saying; What manner of child shall this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying;

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us, in the house of his servant David,

(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began,)

That we should be saved from our ene-
mies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

To perform the mercy promised to our
fathers, and to remember his holy covenant.
The oath which he sware to our father
Abraham;

That he would grant unto us, that we, be-
ing delivered out of the hand of our enemies,
might serve him, without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

And thou, child, shalt be called The Prophet of the Highest ; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the remission of their sins,

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us,

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddlingclothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them; Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying; Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another; Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manArd, when they had seen it, they made known

ger.

abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returning, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

And when the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, (As it is written in the law of the Lord; Every male that openeth the womb shall be called Holy to the Lord,) and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord; A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him, and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said;

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother; Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

(yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also ;) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming, in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Je

rusalem.

And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year, at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast; and when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed; and his mother said unto him; Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them; How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not, that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to

Nazareth; and was subject unto them.

But his

mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man.

§ 2 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrach of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrach of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God, came unto John, the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying; The voice of one crying in the wilderness; Prepare ye the way of the Lord! make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be inade straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him; O generation of vipers! who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? bring forth, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance; and begin not to say within yourselves; We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you; That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; every tree, therefore, which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked him, saying; What shall we do then? he answereth, and saith unto them ; He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him; Master, what shall we do? and he said unto them; Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying; And what shall we do? And he said

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