MATTHEW. СНА Р. II. him, bring me word again, that 9 When they had heard the 10 When they faw the ftar, they rejoyced with exceeding great joy. II And when they were come into the house, they faw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him : and when they had opened their treafures, they prefented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincenfe, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream, that they fhould not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. ing that when they had found him, he would come and worship him himself too as became him. When the King had difmifs'd them, they went towards Bethlehem; and as they were on their way, the fame Star they had feen in Arabia began to appear to 'em again, and went before 'em conducting 'em to the place where Jefus was. When they faw it they were tranfported with joy; and entring the House over which this heavenly Light ftood, they found the Child with Mary his Mother, and fell down and worship'd him. After which they offer'd the Prefents they had brought with them, which were Gold, Frankincenfe, and Myrrh. Now when they were about to return to Herod, to acquaint him they had found the Child they told him of, they were warn'd by God in a dream not to go back to him and therefore left they fhould be ftop'd in their Journey, and brought before Herod, they speedily return'd into their own Country by a different way from what they came. By CHA P. II. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Mofes, were accomplifhed, they brought him to Jerufalem, to present him to the Lord, 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb fhall be called holy to the Lord) 24 And to offer a facrifice according to that which is faid in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerufalem, whose name was Simeon; and the fame man was just and devour, waiting for the confolation of Ifrael and the holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghoft, that he should not fee death, before he had feen the Lords Chrift. 27 And he came by the fpirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in JOHN. By this time, forty days (which is the time of feparation the Law requires for a Woman when deliver'd of a male Child) were expir'd; therefore after the Wife men were gone into Arabia, Jofeph and Mary went together to Jerufalem, to prefent the Child to God according to the Cuftom, and to pay the ufual fum of five Shekels for his Redemption; for by the Law of the Hebrews all the first-born Males are accounted facred to God, and therefore were to be redeem'd at the rate conftituted by the Law. By which Law a pair of turtle Doves or Pigeons, instead of the five Shekels, was requir'd of the poorer Women after their lying in, as an offering for their purification, which Mary accordingly prefented. There was at that time at Jerufalem, a certain religious and holy Perfon, nam'd Simeon, who was then in expectation of the Meffiah: this man was fometimes prophetically infpir'd, and it had been reveal'd to him by the Holy Ghoft, that he Thould live till he had feen him whom God had promis'd to fend to be a King and deliverer of the Jews. 'Twas the divine Impulfe that brought this 'good man into the Temple at the fame time that Jofeph and Mary were dedicating the Infant Jefus, according E 2 CHA P. II. the child Jefus, to do for him 28 Then took he him up 29 Lord, now letteft thou thy fervant depart in peace, according to thy word. 30 For mine eyes have seen thy falvation : 31 Which thou haft prepared before the face of all people: 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Ifrael. 33 And Jofeph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and faid unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is fet for the fall and rifing again of many in Ifrael; and for a fign which shall be spoken a gainft: 35 (Yea, a fword fhall pierce through thy own foul alfo) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. JOHN. according to the inftitution of the Law. He took the Child in his arms, and embracing him, thus began to exprefs his thanks to God: 'Tis now, O Lord, that thou makeft me fenfible I am fhortly to expect a bleffed period of my Life, fince according to thy promise thou haft at last permitted me to behold him who is to be the Saviour of the World, Jofeph and Mary were amazed at thofe great things which were foretold of Jefus. But Simeon having bleffed them alfo, and looking ftedfaftly on the Mother of the Child, he thus continued: This is he who fhall bring over many of the Jews to a ftricter courfe of Life, tho his Doctrine fhall be variously receiv'd among them, feeing it will be moft chearfully embrac'd by the fincere profeffors of Religion, while mere pretenders only fhall as obftinately reject it. In which conflict of the difagreeing Jews, he thall fuffer what will caufe no less pain. and anguish to thee, than if thou thy felf hadft a Sword ftruck through thee. There LUKE. CHA P. II. 36 And there was one Anna a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Afer; she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband feven years from her virginity: 37 And fhe was a widow of about fourfcore and four years: which departed not from the temple, but ferved God with faftings and prayers night and day. 38 And the coming in. at that inftant,gave thanks. likewise unto the Lord,and fpake of him to all them. that looked for redemption in Jerufalem. Јони. There was alfo at that time in Jerufalem one Anna the Daughter of Phanuel of the. Tribe of Afer, who was fometimes prophetically infpir'd. She was fourfcore years of Age, and had been long time a Widow, having been but once married, and had liv'd but seven years with her Husband: She was often in the Temple, and devoutly worship'd God with frequent faftings and prayers; and being alfo at this time in the Temple, it was reveal'd to her by the Holy Spirit, that the Child Jefus was he whom they expected for a deliverer of the Jews. This the divulg'd among all the religious Inhabitants of Jerufalem, affuring them fhe had actually feen the Meffiah they were at this time in expectation of. After the departure of the Magi (or Wife men) Jofeph and Mary being together at Jerufalem, the Angel of God appear'd to Jofeph in a Dream, commanding him. with the little Child and his Mother, to retire immediately into Egypt (which had been lately reduc'd under the form of a Roman Province) and there to ftay till it fhould MATTHEW. СНА Р. II. thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will feek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, faying, Out of Egypt have I called my fon. 16 Then Herod when he faw that he was mocked of the wife men, was exceeding wroth, and fent forth, and flew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coafts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wife-men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, faying, fhould be reveal'd to him when to return into Judea, because Herod would fhortly feek after Jefus with defign to kill him, left hereafter he should deprive his Pofterity of the Kingdom. Jofeph obey'd without delay, and accordingly with Mary and her Son retir'd into Egypt, where they remain'd fome months, till after the death of Herod they were recal'd by the Angel; to which may very aptly be applied what God is reprefented faying, concerning the Hebrew Nation, by the Prophet Hofea, chap. 11. ver. 1. I call'd my Son out of Egypt. Several days being elaps'd without any tidings from the Wife men, who were gone to Bethlehem, but fix miles diftant from Jerufalem, Herod at laft perceiv'd he was deluded by them. Full of rage hereupon, fufpecting that the Jews might conceal the Child, and fearing an Infurrection in favour of the new-born King, he fent Soldiers to Bethlehem, with orders to put to death all the male-children that had been born there the two laft years, left that Child fhould efcape whom the Wife men had foretold thould be King of Judea. For he had made diligent enquiry after the time the Star first appear'd, from whence he concluded that the Child, whofoever he were, must neceffarily have been born within the two laft years. Concerning this Maffacre may be jufly faid what Jeremiah the Prophet speaks, chap. 31. 15. of one much |