which are molt futely believed I THE HISTORY Of our Saviour Related in the SE C.T. I. Orafmuch as many have taken Luke i? declaration of those things amongst us, even as they deliver'd them 2. unto us, which from the beginning were Eye-witnesses and Ministers of the word. It seemed good to me also, having had 3. perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou 4. mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed. The conception of John the Baptift foretold by an Angel. ST Here was in the days of Herod the King of Judea , a certain priest named Zacharias, of the (a) course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and 7. ordinances of the Lord, blameless. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in Years. 8. And it came to pass, that while he executed the Priest's office before God in 9. order of his course, according to the custom of the Priest's office, his lott was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of people were praying without at the time of il. incense, and there appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord standing on the right 12. fide of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled 13. and fear fell upon him. But the Angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias, for 10. (a) Course of Abia. There were 24 Courses of the Priests which officiated in their turns, whereof that of Abiah was the eighth. How the distribution was made, and what were the name and or der of cach may be seen i Chron. xxiv. thy be: 173 thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Eliza- Temple. beth shall bear thee a Song and thou Malt Luke i call his name John. And thou shalt have 14. joy and gladness, and many shall rejoyce at his Birth. For he Mall be great in isá the fight of the Lords and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mothers womb, and many of 16. ihe children of Israel Shall be turn to the Lord their God; and he shall g? fore him in the spirit and power of Elias, 10 turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisedom of the jujt, to make ready d peos ple prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said unto the Angel, is. whereby shall I know this? For I am an old Man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the Angel answering said unto 19 him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to Speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And behold thou shalt be dumb, 201 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 season. And the people waited for Zacharias ; 21 and marvelled that he tarried so long in the Temple, and when he came out, aż. he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the Temple: fot he beckned unto them; and remained fpeechless . î Temple. And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration were accom23. plished, he departed to his own house. 24. And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, 25. faying, thus hath the Lord dealt with me, to take away my reproach among men. 26. SECT. III. Nazareth. The conception and birth of Christ declared to Mary by the Angel. ND in the fixth month; [of Eli zabeth's being with Child'] the Angel Gabriel was sent from God, unto a 27. City of Galilee, named Nazareth. To à virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and 28. the virgins name was Mary.. And the Angel came in unto her, and faid, Hail thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee : blejjed art thout among women. 29. And when she saw him, she was trou bled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of falutation this should be. 30. And the Angel faid unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with 31. God. And behold, ihou Malt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and 32. jhalt call his Name Jesus. He Mall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest ; and the Lord God shall give unto ħim the throne of his father David. 33. And he shall reign over the house of fa cob |