In the mean time the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wonder'd at his tarrying so long in the temple.

to a virgin contracted to a man; whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. and the virgin's name was Mary.

and on the eighth day were present at the circumcision of the child. but upon their proposing to call him by his father's name, Zacharias: his mother objected to it,

so Joseph departed from Nazareth in Galilee, and went into Judea to the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and linage of David,

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,

so that they went a whole day's journey, imagining he was somewhere among the company, and then they look'd for him among their relations and acquaintance; but not finding him,

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.

Jesus replied, why were ye so sollicitous about me? don't you know that 'tis my business to be in my father's house?

let your actions therefore show your repentance, and don't pretend to say within yourselves, "we have Abraham for our father:" for I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

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?

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!

When Jesus came out of the synagogue, he went to Simon's house, whose mother-in-law was seized with a violent fever, and they desired him to relieve her.

so approaching near her, he order'd the fever to leave her, and it left her. upon which she immediately arose, and waited upon them at table.

where he saw two vessels lying near shore: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

he went therefore aboard one of the vessels, which was Simon's, and desired him to bear away a little from land. then he sat down, and preached to the people from the ship.

so they made a signal to their partners in the other ship to come and help them. accordingly they came, and loaded both the boats so with fish that they began to sink.

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.

in the mean time his fame spread so much the more, and a vast multitude flock'd to hear him, and to be cured of their diseases,

so that he retired into places of solitude, for the convenience of prayer.

which is easier, to say, your sins are forgiven you, or to say, rise up, and walk?

I came not to call saints, but sinners to repentance. Then they ask'd him, how comes it that John's disciples,

so no-body that has been drinking old wine, will immediately call for new: for 'tis his maxim, "the old is best."

now the Scribes and Pharisees were upon the watch to see if he would work a cure upon the sabbath-day, and so have matter of accusation against 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.

so that all the people strove to touch him: for a divine virtue flowed from him, which healed them all.

wo unto you when the generality of men shall applaud you: for so did their forefathers behave to the false prophets.

for if you only love those, who love you, where's the obligation? the very heathen return love for love.

if you return one kind office by another, where's the obligation? the heathen themselves do as much.

if you lend with the expectation of gaining by it, where's the obligation? for the heathen lend to one another, for the prospect of an equivalent.

but as for you, love your enemies, do good, and lend without expecting any advantage from it: so shall your reward be great, in acting like the children of the most high: for he is kind to the most ungrateful wretches.

How comes it, that you can see the mote in your brother's eye, and not see the beam that is in your own eye?

or how can you say to your brother, brother, let me take out the mote, that is in your eye, when you your self don't discern the beam that is in your own eye? hypocrite, first remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the mote out of your brother's eye.

Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not observe what I say?

this centurion having heard of Jesus's fame, sent several elders of the Jews to intreat him to come, and recover his servant.

as he drew near the gate of the city, there was a dead man just then carrying out to be buried, who was his mother's only son, and she a widow: and many people of the town came with her.

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

then he gave them this answer, go, and tell John what you have seen, and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the gospel is proclaim'd to the poor.

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?

or did you go to see a man richly apparelled? for magnificent dress and splendid living, you must look into the courts of princes.

what then did you go to see? a prophet? yes, I say it, and more than a prophet.

for John the Baptist, when he came, abstain'd from bread and wine; yet you say, he is possess'd with a demon.

the son of man appears indifferent to any kind of meat or drink: yet you say, he is a glutton and a tipler, a friend of publicans and loose people.

Jesus being invited to dinner at a certain Pharisee's house, he went home with him, and sat down to table.

when a woman of that city, one that had led a loose life, knowing that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house, came in with a vial of odoriferous liquor,

which the Pharisee, who had invited him, observing, he thus argued with himself, if this man were a prophet, he could not but know that the woman, who is so busy with him, is a person of a loose character.

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

Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's high-steward: Susanna, and several others, who assisted him with their fortunes.

a husbandman went out to sow his corn: and as he was sowing, some fell upon the beaten road, which was crush'd under foot, or devoured by the birds.

he answered, the secret circumstances of the divine dispensation may be clearly revealed to you, but to others only in parables, so that they don't observe what they see, nor comprehend what they hear.

the ground over-run with thorns denotes such as have embraced the doctrine, but are so immerst in the business, enjoyments, and pleasures of life, as not to improve it to any real advantage.

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.

for he had commanded the impure spirit to quit the man, he had so long possessed: who, tho' bound in chains, and fastned with fetters, broke thro' all restraints, and was hurry'd by the demon into the desarts.

upon Jesus's saying to him, what is your name? he answer'd, legion, (for many demons were enter'd into him.)

and country, whence numbers went to see the fact: being come to Jesus, they found the man, who had been dispossess'd of the demons, sitting at Jesus's feet, cloathed, and in his right senses: at which they were much surpriz'd,

then the Gadarenes of the adjacent parts unanimously desired him to leave their country: for they were greatly allarm'd. so he embark'd to cross over the lake.

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.

being come to the house, he suffer'd nobody to go into the room with him, except Peter, John and James, and the young woman's father and mother.

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.

they answered, some say you are John the Baptist: others, Elias: and others, that you are one of the old prophets appearing again.

however, Jesus strictly charged them not to say so much to any body; adding,

I declare unto you, there are some here present, who shall not die, till they see the Messiah reign.

give attention to what I now say, namely, that the son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men.

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.

for the son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. and they went to another village.

at your entrance into any house, first say, prosperity be to this family.

I have authoriz'd you to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and triumph over all the power of the enemy; so that nothing shall be capable of doing you any mischief.

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

for I assure you, that many prophets and princes have desired to see what you now behold, but they never saw it; and to hear what you have heard, which they never did.

but a certain Samaritan being on the road, came where he was, and when he saw him, he took compassion on him,

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:

so if satan be divided against himself, how can his kingdom subsist?

for as the case of Jonas was a miraculous instance to the Ninevites, so shall the son of man be to this generation.

but the Pharisee was surprized to see that he did not wash before dinner.

" so that the blood of all the prophets, which has been shed since the creation of the world, may be required of this generation,

In the mean time thousands of people being gather'd about him, so as to trample upon one another, he first address'd himself thus to his disciples, beware of the corrupt doctrine of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

when you are brought into the synagogues, and before magistrates and rulers, be not sollicitous what to say in your own defence;

then I will say to my soul, soul, you have many enjoyments in reserve for a number of years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap: nor have cellar or barn: are not you of much greater value than the fowls?

if then you can't effect so small a matter, why are you disquieted about a much longer time?

for it is enough that the Gentiles are so concern'd about these things: as for you, your father is acquainted with all your wants.

fear not, ye little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to grant you the kingdom.

imitate those servants who stand waiting for their master's return from the wedding, to let him in as soon as he comes to the door.

whom his master at his return shall find so employ'd.

but if the servant should say within himself, my master delays his return; and fall a beating his fellow-servants, indulging himself in eating and drinking to excess.

but the servant, who knows his master's will, and prepares not himself, nor executes his orders, shall receive many stripes.

Then he said to the people, when you see a cloud rise out of the west, you say, it is just going to rain; and so it happens.

and when the south wind blows, you say, there will be heat; and so it happens.

then he said to the vine-dresser, you see, I have been looking these three years for fruit from this fig-tree, but find none: hew it down, why should it cumber my ground?

but the ruler of the synagogue being highly incensed at Jesus's healing on the sabbath-day, said to the people, there are six days for work, you should come therefore for cure on those days, and not on the sabbath.

it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his garden: it grew, and became so large, that the birds of the air built their nests in its boughs.

then you will say, we have eat, and drank with you, and you have taught in our streets.

there will be weeping, and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

then you will see those, who were last, become first: and those who were first, become last.

you will soon find your aboad become desolate. I declare unto you, you shall not see me till the time, when you will say, "blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord."

but when you are invited, go place your self last; that he, who invited you, when he comes, may say to you, friend, go up higher: and that will do you honour before all the company at table.

but they were all of a mind in making some excuse: the first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, which I must needs go and see: therefore pray excuse me.