but the angel said to Zacharias, don't be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard: and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, whom you shall name John:

But Zacharias said to the angel, by what sign shall I know this? for I am old, and my wife is of a great age.

it is the Lord, said she, who has thus favour'd me, at the time when he took care to remove the reproach I was under among men.

the angel, upon his arrival, said to her; "Hail, favorite of heaven, the Lord is with thee: thou happiest of thy sex."

but the angel said to her, "Mary, be not afraid: for you are the object of divine favour.

Then said Mary to the angel, what shall this be without any intercourse with man?

then said Mary, "behold the servant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word." upon which the angel disappeared.

Then Mary said, "my soul doth magnify the Lord,

and said, no, he shall be called John.

and made an impression upon all that heard of them. what a child will this be? said they, for the divine influence does attend him.

but the angel said to them, be not afraid, I am only come to bring you great news, which will be matter of joy to you and to the whole world.

As soon as the angels retired back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, let us go to Bethlehem, to see the fact, of which the Lord inform'd us.

then Simeon gave them his benediction, and said to Mary his mother, "the child you now see, shall occasion many in Israel to fall and rise again; he will be the Object of calumny,

when Joseph and his mother saw him, great was their surprize: and his mother said to him, son, why did you leave us thus? your father and I have been looking for you with great concern.

he said therefore to the people that crowded to be baptized by him, ye brood of vipers, who has prompted you to flee from approaching wrath?

the Publicans likewise came to be baptized, and said to him, master, how are we to act?

exact, said he, no more than what the law requires.

and the holy spirit descended upon him in a corporeal form like a dove. and a voice came from heaven, which said, thou art my beloved son, in thee I am well pleased.

then the devil said to him; if you are the son of God, command this stone to become bread.

all this power, said he, will I give thee, and the glory of them: for they are at my disposal, and where I please, I bestow them.

next, the devil brought him to Jerusalem, and setting him on the battlements of the temple, said to him, if you be the son of God, throw your self down from this height,

but Jesus replied, it is said, "thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

They all applauded him, and were surprized, that what he said, was delivered with so much grace. but they objected, is not this the son of Joseph?

upon which he said, no doubt you will urge me with this proverb, "physician heal thy self. what we have heard you perform'd in Capernaum, do likewise here in your own country."

and they were all amazed, and said to one another, what's the meaning of this? with authority and power he commands the impure spirits, and they come out!

he said to them, I must likewise proclaim the kingdom of God in other cities; for to that end am I sent.

having finished his sermon, he said to Simon, row into deep water, and throw out your nets for a draught.

master, said Simon, we have toil'd all the night, without any prize: however, since you give the word, I will throw the net.

at sight of this, Simon Peter fell on his knees before Jesus, and said, Lord, withdraw from such a sinful man as I:

so was James too, and John, the sons of Zebedee, both partners with Simon. but Jesus said to Simon, be not afraid; for the future you shall fish for men.

and he charg'd him not to tell any man: but go, said he, present your self to the priest, and offer what the law requires for your purification, that it may be an evidence to them.

who perceiving their faith, said to him, O! man, your sins are forgiven you.

but Jesus perceiving their reflexions, said to them, what do you mean by such insinuations?

but that ye may know, that the son of man hath power to forgive sins, rise, said he, to the paralytick, 'tis I command you, take up your bed, and go home.

After this Jesus left the place, and seeing a publican named Levi, sitting at the custom-house, he said to him, follow me.

but the Scribes and Pharisees of that place reproach'd his disciples, and said, why do ye eat and drink with publicans and scandalous people?

Besides, he applied this similitude to them. no man, said he, puts a piece of new cloth upon an old coat: if he does, the new will strain the old, and they will by no means suit one another.

upon which some of the Pharisees said to them, why do you do what is not allowed to be done on the sabbath-day?

the son of man, said he, may dispense even with the sabbath.

but as he knew their thoughts, he said to the man, whose hand was paralytic, rise up, and stand there in the middle. and he arose, and stood before him.

then said Jesus to them, I will ask you one question, which is the most allowable on the sabbath-day, to do good, or to neglect it? to save a man's life, or to let him perish?

then casting his eyes round the company, he said to the man, stretch out your hand. and he did so: and that hand was as sound as the other.

Then directing himself to his disciples, he said, blessed are ye, that are poor: for the divine kingdom is yours.

And by way of comparison he said to them, can the blind lead the blind without tumbling both into the ditch?

when Jesus heard this, he admired the man, and turning about, he said to the people, that followed him, I assure you, I have not met with such an instance of faith even among the Jews themselves.

when the Lord saw her, he was moved with compassion for her, and said to her, don't weep.

then advancing, he touch'd the bier, and the bearers standing still, he said, young man, arise, I command you.

accordingly they came to Jesus, and said, John the Baptist sent us to enquire, if you are he that was to come, or must we look for another?

When the messengers of John were departed, he address'd himself to the people, and said with relation to John, what did you go to see in the desart? a reed shaken with the wind?

in answer to his doubts, Jesus said, Simon, I have something to say to you. master, said he, lets hear it.

I think, said Simon, he that had the greatest debt remitted to him. you are in the right, said Jesus.

and turning to the woman, he said to Simon, do you observe this woman? though I am a guest in your house, you never offer'd me any water for my feet: but she has bath'd my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.

then he said to her, your sins are forgiven.

but he said to the woman, your faith hath saved you: go in peace.

so some of the company said to him, your mother and brethren are waiting without, desiring to see you.

The same day Jesus went on board a vessel with his disciples, and said to them, let us pass over to the other side of the lake: and so they put off to sea.

but to his disciples he said, where is your faith? while they, seiz'd with fear and admiration, said to one another, who can this man be, that he commands even the winds, and the waves, and they obey?

upon which Jesus said, who was it that touch'd me? they being all at a loss, what to answer, at length Peter, and the others with him, said, master, the crowd are squeezing and pressing about you, and yet you cry, "who touch'd me?"

but Jesus said, somebody has touched me: for I know what influence my power has had.

but he said to her, daughter, don't be under any concern: your faith has sav'd you, go in peace.

While he was speaking, somebody came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, who said to him, your daughter is dead; 'tis in vain to importune the master any farther.

but when Jesus heard that, he said to Jairus, be not afraid: only believe, and she shall recover.

the company there were all in tears lamenting for her: but he said don't weep; she is not dead, but asleep.

but Jesus oblig'd them to withdraw; then grasping her hand, he said, my child, arise.

and he said to them make no provision for your journey: take neither staff, nor sack, nor bread, nor money; and but one coat for each.

Now Herod the tetrarch was inform'd of all his transactions: and was perplex'd at the relation of some, that John was risen from the dead: whilst others said, Elias appear'd:

but Herod said, John was beheaded by my order, who then can this be, who, they say, performs such strange things? and he desired to have a sight of Jesus.

As the day began to decline, the twelve came to him, and said, dismiss the multitude, that they may go to the nearest towns and villages for lodging and provisions: for here we are in a desart place.

and he said to them, do you yourselves give them something to eat. they replied, we can furnish only five loaves and two fishes, unless we go and buy provisions for all this people:

for they were about five thousand. but Jesus said to his disciples, make them sit down by fifties in a company.

but who, said he, do you think I am? Peter answered, you are the Messiah of God.

Then he said to the whole company, if any one will be my follower, let him renounce himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.

who were just departing from him, when Peter said to Jesus, master, it is best for us to stay here: let us build three apartments, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing well what he said.

then said Jesus, O incredulous, and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? bring hither your son.

and all the people were astonished at such an instance of divine power: and as they were admiring whatever Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

but Jesus perceiving what they thought, took a child and set him before him: then said to them,

Then said John to Jesus, master, we saw one casting out demons in your name, and we oppos'd it, because he does not follow you with us.

but Jesus said to him, don't oppose it: for he that is not against us, is for us.

his disciples James and John observing this, said, Lord, shall we command fire to descend from heaven, as Elias did, in order to consume them?

At another time, as they were walking in the road, a man said to him, I will be your follower, wherever you go.

Then he said to another, follow me: but he replied, Lord, let me stay first, till I bury my father.

Jesus said to him, let the dead bury their dead; but do you go and preach the kingdom of God.

another likewise said, I will be your follower; but let me first go home, and settle the affairs of my family.

and he said to them, the harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few: intreat therefore the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest.

upon which he said to them, I beheld satan falling, like lightning, from heaven.

At that very time Jesus fell into a divine transport, and said, "I magnify thee, O father, the Lord of heaven and earth, for having conceal'd these things from the artful and the crafty, whilst thou hast reveal'd them to the unskilful. justly, O father, hast thou thus dispens'd thy favour."

then addressing himself to his disciples in particular, he said, happy are they, who see what you see:

but he being desirous to clear himself, said to Jesus, but what is meant by our neighbour?

upon his departure the next day, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the master of the house, take care of him, said he, and I will repay you all the charges you are at, upon my return.

he, reply'd the doctor, who took pity on him. then said Jesus to him, go then, and imitate his example.

but Martha perplex'd with the hurry of her affairs, came to him, and said, Lord, don't you observe my sister has left me to serve all alone: direct her therefore to give me some assistance.

One day Jesus had been praying in a certain place, and as soon as he had done, one of his disciples said to him, instruct us about prayer, as John the baptist instructed his disciples.

he said therefore to them, when ye pray, say, "our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. thy kingdom come. thy will be done, on earth, as in heaven.

Then he said to them, suppose any of you should go to his friend at midnight; and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves:

but some of them said, he casteth out demons by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.

but Jesus perceiving their suspicions, said to them, every kingdom divided against itself will soon be desolate: one family divided against another, falls to ruin.

As he was discoursing thus, a certain woman in the middle of the crowd lift up her voice, and said to him, happy the mother, who bare thee: happy the nurse, who gave thee milk.

but rather, said he, happy are they who hear the word of God, and put it in practice.

upon which the Lord said to him, you Pharisees won't leave any filth upon the outside of a cup or a platter: while your consciences are abandon'd to rapine, and sensuality.

but Jesus said, wo unto you likewise, doctors of the law; for you load men with insupportable burthens, the least part of which you will not yourselves bear: