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quickly with the child and his mother to Egypt, and stay there till I apprize thee: for Herod wili seek to destroy the child.

14. So he departed with the child and his mother by night, to Egypt: 15. And was there till Herod's death, that what was spoken of the Lord by the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt, I called my son, (Hos. xi. 4.)

16. Herod then seeing he was deluded by the wise men, was enraged, and caused slay all the male children in Bethlehem, and all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time he learned exactly of the wise men.

17. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, (xxxi. 15.) saying, 18. In Rama. a voice was heard, wailing and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

19. But Herod having died, lo, an angel of, the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20. Saying, Arise, and go with the child and his mother, to the land of Israel; for they are dead who sought the child's life.

21. And he did so.

22. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea, instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: so being divinely warned in a dream, he turned aside to Galilee.

23. And dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazarene.

CHAP. III.

JOHN THE BAPTIST'S PREACHING.

In those days John the Baptist (the dipper), came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2. Saying, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven draws near. (The gospel dispensation which is spiritual B

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and heavenly is now to begin, and the kingdom of glory soon after it; and Satan's kingdom to be cast down in the world, by the kingdom of God and Christ.)

3. This John was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah xl. 3. saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, saith, Prepare ye the Lord's way, make his paths straight (by sincere repentance and righteousness.)

4. John's robe, (like a prophet's) was of camel's hair, with a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was carob-beans, and wild honey.

5. ¶ Then Jerusalem, with all Judea, and all the region about Jordan, went out to him, 6. And were baptized (dipped) by him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7. But seeing many Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers (wicked race) who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8. Bring forth the fruits of true repentance (by ceasing to do evil, and learning to do well). 9. Think not within yourselves to say, We have Abraham for our father, (and we trust we will not be rejected, but accepted for his sake, as we are of his religion, being the church) for I tell you, That God is able of (hearts as hard as) these stones to raise up children unto Abraham, (making the stonyhearted, true believers and real penitents).

10. Now also, the ax is laid to the root of the trees; therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit, shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, (Acts xvii. 30.)

11. I indeed baptize you with water into repentance; but one mightier than I, comes after me, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit as with fire (enlightening and purifying you);

12. Whose (winnowing) fan is in his hand, and

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he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat (the upright) into the granary, (i. e. heaven); but he will burn the chaff (i. e. the wicked) with unquenchable fire.

is. Then came Jesus from Galilee to John at Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me? 15. But Jesus replied, let it be so now; for thus it becomes us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he permitted him.

16. Now Jesus being baptized, rose out of the water; then lo, straightway the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending (as fire) like a dove, and lighting upon him; 17. And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

CHAP. IV.

CHRIST'S FASTING AND TEMPTATION.

THEN Jesus was brought by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. 2. Where after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3. Then the tempter came to him and said, If thou be the Son of God, command these stones to become bread. 4. But he replied, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every thing God has appointed, (Deut. viii. 3.)

5. The devil next takes him into the holy city, and setting him on a turret of the temple, 6. Saith to him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, he will command his angels concerning thee; and they will hold thee up in their hands, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone, (Psalm xci. 12.)

7. Jesus replied again, It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, (Deut. vi. 16.)

8. Again, the devil takes him to a very high mountain, and shews him all the kingdoms of the

empire, with their glory, (in an airy vision): 9. And saith to him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10. Then Jesus replied, Be gone, Satan; for it is written, thou shalt worship only the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve, (Deut. vi. 13. and x. 20.)

11. The devil then leaveth him; and behold angels came and attended him.

12. Then Jesus hearing that John was cast into prison, he departed to Galilee; 13. And, leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea of Galilee, in the borders of Zebulon and Naphtali:

14. That what Isaiah the prophet said, (ix. 1.) might be fulfilled, 15. In the land of Zebulon and that of Naphtali, along the sea of Tiberias, by Jordan in Galilee of the Gentiles: 16. The people who were in darkness (ignorance, error, and wickedness) have seen the great light (of the gospel, Mal. iv. 5.); and to them who sat in the region of the shadow of death (heathen idolatry and immorality), light is sprung up.

17. From that time Jesus began to preach, and say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven approacheth.

18. Then Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

19. Then he saith to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (by converting them.) 20. So they immediately left their nets, and followed him.

21. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James, Zebedee's son, and John his brother, in a ship with their father, preparing their nets, so he called them.

22. Then they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

23. ¶ Now Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel (or good tidings) of his kingdom, and healing every kind of sickness, and disease among the people.

24. So that his fame went thro' all Syria; and they brought to him all the sick seized with various diseases and torments, as those possessed with devils, or that were lunatic, or had the palsy; and he healed them.

25. So great multitudes followed him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond Jordan.

CHAP. V.

CHRIST'S SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

Now seeing the multitudes, he went up on a mountain; and having sat down, his disciples came to him; 2. And he thus taught them, saying,

3. Blessed are the poor in spirit, (or the humble) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4. Blessed are they who mourn, (with godly sorrow for sin); for they shall be comforted.

5. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the land, (possessing it with most peace and quietness.)

6. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

7. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.

8. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God, (enjoying his favour, which is happiness).

9. Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God.

10. Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and on my account accuse you of every evil thing falsely.

12. Be glad and rejoice for great is your reward

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