In the time of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zacharias, of the family of Abia, whose wife; nam'd Elizabeth, was of the race of Aaron:

when there appear'd to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the incense-altar.

he shall reign over the house of Jacob, and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

they answered her, there is not any of your family of that name.

now while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.

and being brought to bed of her first born, she swathed him, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In that country there were shepherds lying in the open fields, taking their turns to watch the stock in the night;

At that time there dwelt at Jerusalem one Simeon, an honest, religious man, one who expected the appearance of the Messiah, and was endued with the spirit of prophecy.

There was likewise one Anna a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age, and had liv'd in a married state but seven years ever since she was a virgin:

they turn'd back to Jerusalem to enquire for him there.

he address'd himself to them all, saying, I indeed baptize you with water; but there is one coming, who is superiour to me, whose shoes I am unworthy to untie: he shall baptize you with the holy spirit, under the appearance of fire.

I assure you, though there were many widows in Israel, when the heaven had furnished no rain for three years and a half, and a great famine spread through all the land:

and there were many lepers in the time of Elisha the prophet: yet none of them obtain'd a cure, except Naaman the Syrian.

now there was in the synagogue a man possess'd with the spirit of an impure demon, who roar'd out, in these words, let us alone;

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.

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.

I declare unto you, among the whole race of mankind, there is not a prophet, who is superiour to John the Baptist: yet he that is most inferiour in the kingdom of the Messiah, is greater than he.

while they were rowing, Jesus fell asleep: when there blew such a storm of wind upon the lake, as fill'd the boat with water, and endanger'd their lives.

when he was landed, there met him a man, who belong'd to the city Gadara, and had been for a long time possessed by demons. he did not wear any cloaths, nor dwell in any house, but among the tombs.

but there being a numerous herd of swine feeding on the mountain, they desired he would permit them to enter into the swine, which he granted.

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

when you are lodg'd in any house, there stay, till you leave the place.

and tho' they all eat sufficiently, there was a surplusage of twelve baskets full of fragments carried away.

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

while he was speaking, there came a cloud and over-shadowed them, who were seized with fear, at their vanishing in the cloud,

if any be there, who deserve your benediction, it shall have its effect upon them; otherwise, it shall redound to your own advantage.

and heal the sick you find there. tell the inhabitants the kingdom of God is drawing nigh unto them.

then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself: they all enter in and dwell there, and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.

for there is nothing conceal'd, which shall not be disclos'd; nothing secret, which shall not be made publick.

nay, the very hairs of your head can't fall without being number'd: be not then afraid; there is no comparison between you and sparrows.

this will I do, said he, I will pull down my barns, and build greater: and there I will bestow all my rich product.

for where your treasure is, there likewise will your affections be.

Jesus answered, if there be a faithful prudent steward, appointed by his master to give his domesticks their stated allowance; happy is such a servant,

for the future, if there are five persons in one family, they will be divided; three against two, and two against three.

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

At the same time, there were some present, who gave Jesus an account of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

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.

to which Jesus replied, thou hypocrite, who is there among you that scruples to untie his ox or his ass, and lead him from the stall to water on the sabbath-day?

and somebody ask'd him, Lord, will there be but few people saved? to which he answered,

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.

now there happen'd to be a man just by him, who had a dropsy.

at length the servant said, sir, your orders have been executed, and still there is room.

I tell you, that there shall likewise be greater joy in heaven for one sinner that repents, than for ninety nine just persons, that need no repentance.

when he had spent all, there happen'd to be a severe famine in that country;

and he was reduced to want, which forc'd him to make his application to one of the inhabitants there, who sent him to his farm to look after his swine.

a hundred measures of oil, said he. take your bill, said the steward, sit down there, and write out one immediately for fifty.

There was a rich man, who used to dress in purple and fine linnen, and pass his days in pomp and luxury.

besides this, there is an unalterable chasm between us and you, so that the passage from one place to the other is impracticable to those who should attempt it.

and as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten lepers, who stood at a distance, and cry'd out aloud,

as see here! or see there! for even now the kingdom of God is commenc'd among you.

they will tell you, here he is, or, he is there: but don't go out to follow them;

then they ask'd him, where, Lord, will this happen? he reply'd, wherever the carcase is, there will the eagles hover together.

saying, in a certain city there was a judge, who neither feared God, nor regarded man.

a widow was likewise there, who frequently came to him, saying, do me justice against my adversary.

Jesus replied, why do you call me good? there is but one who is good, that is God.

saying to them, go to the village opposite to you: at your entrance there, you will find a colt ty'd, that was never yet back'd: untie it and bring it here.

As soon as he entred into the temple, he drove out the sellers and buyers there: telling them it is written,

Afterwards some of the Pharisees, who deny there is any resurrection, accosted him with this question,

now there were seven brothers, the first of which marry'd, and died without children.

there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and upon the earth distress of nations under confusion, the sea and the waves roaring.

and he will show you a large upper room ready fitted: there prepare the supper.

yet there's the hand that is to seize me, now upon the table.

Now there had been a dispute among the disciples, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

at his arrival there, he said to them, pray that you may withstand the trial.

but Jesus oppos'd, and said, forbear, stop there. and having touch'd his ear, he healed him.

accordingly, when they came to the place call'd Calvary, they crucified him there, and the two malefactors; the one at his right, the other at his left.

There was likewise present a counsellor, named Joseph, a man of probity and justice, one who had never abetted the contrivances and proceedings of the Jews.

yet Peter got up, and ran to the sepulchre, where stooping down he saw nothing but the linnen lying there: upon which he went away wondring with himself at such an event.

one of them, Cleopas by name, reply'd, are you such a stranger in Jerusalem as not to know what has so lately happen'd there?

and not finding his body there, they came to tell us, that they had seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

then beginning at Moses he explain'd all the passages there, and in all the prophets, which related to himself.