THE NATIVITY OF JOHN the BAPTIST, AND OUR SAVIOUR, WITH THE Several Circumstances relating thereto. i. I. Luke Orasmuch as many have taken in hand to fet forth in Order a Declaration of those Things which are most SURELY BELIEVED among us, F 2. Even as they delivered them unto us, who from the Beginning were EYE-WITNESSES, and Ministers of the Word: 3. It seemed good to me also, having had perfect Understanding of all Things from the very first, to write unto thee in Order, most excellent Theophilus, 4. That thou mightest know the CERTAINTY of those Things wherein thou hast been instructed. 5. HERE was in the Days of Herod the King of Judea, a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the Course of Abia: and his Wife was of the Daughters of Aaron, and her Name was Elisabeth. 6. And they were both RIGHTEOUS before God, walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord, blameless. 7. And they had no Child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in Years. 8. And it came to pass, that while he executed the Prieft's Office before God in the Order of his Course, 9. According to the Custom of the Priests Office, his Lot was to burn Incense when he went into the Temple of the LORD. 10. And the whole Multitude of the People were praying without, at the Time of Incenfe. 11. And there appeared unto him an ANGEL of the Lord, standing on the right Side of the Altar of Incenfe. 12. And when Zacharias faw him, he was troubled, and Fear fell upon him. 13. But the Angel faid unto him, Fear not Zacharias: for thy Prayer is heard; and thy Wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a Son, and thou shalt call his Name John. 14. And thou shalt have Jor and GLADNESS, and many shall REJOICE at his Birth. 15. For he shall be great in the Sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither Wine nor strong Drink; and he shall be filled with the HOLY GHOST, even from his Mother's Womb. 16. And many of the Children of Ifrael shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17. And he shall go before him in the Spirit and Power of Elias, to turn the Hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the Disobedient to the Wisdom of the Juft, to make ready a People prepared for the Lord. Mal. iv. 5. Behold, I will fend you Elijah the Prophet, before the Coming of the great and dreadful the LORD. 6. And he fshall turn the Heart of the Fathers to the Children, and the Heart of the Children to their Fathers, left I come and smite the Earth with a Curfe. 18. And Zacharias faid unto the Angel, Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old Man, and my Wife well ftricken in Years. 19. And the Angel answering, faid unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the Prefence of God: and am fent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad Tidings. 20. And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the Day that these Things shall be performed, because thou believest not my Words, which shall be fulfilled in their Seafon. 21. And 21. And the People waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the Temple. 22. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a Vision in the Temple: for he beckned unto them, and remained Speechlefs. 23. And it came to pass, that as soon as the Days of his Ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own House. 24. And after those Days his Wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid her felf five Months, saying, 25. Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the Days wherein he looked on me, to take away my Reproach among Men. 26. And in the fixth Month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God, unto a City of Galilee, named Nazareth. 27. To a VIRGIN espoused to a Man whose Name was Jofeph, of the House of David; and the Virgin's Name was Mary. 28. And the Angel came in unto her, and said, HAIL thou that art highly favoured, the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou among Women. 29. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his Saying, and cast in her Mind what manner of Salutation this should be. 30. And the Angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found Favour with God. 31. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy Womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call his Name JESUS. 32. He shall be Great, and shall be called the SON OF the HIGHEST ; and the Lord God shall give unto him the THRONE of his Father David. 33. And he shall REIGN over the House of Jacob for EVER, and of his KINGDOM there shall be no END. Psalin xlv. 6. Thy THRONE, O GOD, is for ever and ever: The SCEPTRE of thy KINGDOM is a right Sceptre. Pfal. xciii. 2. Thy THRONE is established of OLD, thou art from EVERLASTING. Pfal. cxlv. 11. They shall speak of the GLORY of thy KINGDOM, and talk of thy POWER. 34. Then faid Mary unto the Angel, How shall this be, feeing I know not a Man? 35. And the Angel answered and faid unto her, The HOLY GHOST shall come upon thee, and the POWER of the HIGHEST shall over- DOM. fhadow 12. To make known to the Sons of Men his mighty Acts, and the glorious MAJESTY of his KINGshadow thee: Therefore alfo 13. Thy KINGDOM is an EVERthat Holy Thing which shall LASTING KINGDOM, and thy Dobe born of thee, shall be calMINION endureth throughout all Generations. led the Son of God. 13. Thy 36. And behold, thy Cousin Elisabeth, she hath alsoconceived a Son in her old Age: and this is the fixth Month with her, who was called Barren. Rev. xi. 15. And there were great Voices in Heaven, saying, The KINGDOMS of this World are become the KINGDOMS of our Lord, and of his Chrift; and he shall REIGN for ever and ever. 37. For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38. And Mary faid, Behold, the Handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy Word. And the Ahgel departed from her. 39. And Mary arose in those Days, and went into the Hill-Country with haste, into a City of Juda, 40. And entred into the House of Zacharias, and faluted Elifabeth. 41. And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the Salutation of Mary, the Babe leaped in her Womb : and Elisabeth was filled with the HOLY GHOST. 42. And she spake out with a loud Voice, and faid, Bleffed art thou among Women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb. 43. And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me ? 44. For lo, as foon as the Voice of thy Salutation founded in mine Ears, the Babe leaped in my Womb for Jov. 49. And blessed is she that BELIEVED: for there shall be a Performance of those Things which were told her from the Lord. 46. And Mary faid, My Soul doth MAGNIFY the Lord, 47. And my Spirit hath REJOICED in God my Sa VIOUR. 48. For he hath regarded the low Estate of his Handmaiden: For behold, from henceforth all Generations Shall call me BLESSED. 49. For he that is Mighty hath done to me great Things, and Hoty is his Name. 50. And his MERCY is on them that FEAR him, from Generation to Generation. 51. He hath shewed Strength with his Arm, be hath Scattered the Proud in the Imagination of their Hearts. D 52. He 52. He hath put down the Mighty from their Seats, and exalted them of low Degree. 53. He hath filled the Hungry with good Things, and the Rich he hath sent empty away. 54. He hath HOLPEN his Servant Ifrael, in remembrance of his MERCY. 55. As be spake to our Fathers, to Abraham, and to his Seed for ever. 56. And Mary abode with her about three Months, and returned to her own House. 57. Now Elifabeth's full Time came, that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a Son. 58. And her Neighbours and her Coufins heard how the Lord had shewed great Mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59. And it came to pass, that on the eighth Day they came to circumcife the Child; and they called him Zacharias, after the Name of his Father. 60. And his Mother answered and faid, Not fo; but he shall be called John. 61. And they faid unto her, There is none of thy Kindred that is called by this Name. 62. And they made Signs to his Father, how he would have him called. 63. And he asked for a Writing-Table, and wrote, faying, His Name is John. And they marvelled all. 64. And his Mouth was opened immediately, and his Tongue loofed, and he spake, and praised God. 65. And Fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these Sayings were noised abroad throughout all the Hill-Country of Judea. 66. And all they that heard them, laid them up in their Hearts, faying, What manner of Child shall this be? And the Hand of the Lord was with him. 67. And his Father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghoft, and prophefied, faying, 68. Bleffed be the Lord God of Ifrael, for he hath VISITED and REDEEMED his People, 69. And (a) hath raised up an HORN OF SALVATION for us, in (a) 1 Sam. ii. 8. The Pillars of the Earth are the LORD's, and he hath fet the World upon them. 9. He will keep the Feet of his SAINTS, and the Wicked shall be filent in Darkness; for by Strength shall no Man prevail. 10. The ADVERSARIES of the Lord shall be broken to pieces : out |