according as they were delivered to us by persons, who were all along eye-witnesses, and had a share in the transactions themselves:

they were both of them sincerely pious; observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; with unspotted reputation.

they had no children, because Elizabeth was steril, and they were both advanced in years.

but when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he intimated it to them by signs, and continued dumb.

her neighbours and her relations having heard how the Lord had heap'd his favours upon her, they congratulated with her:

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

they therefore ask'd his father to signify how he would have him call'd.

then he made signs for a writing-book, and writ these words, "his name is John:" at which they were all surprized.

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.

by acquainting his people how they may be saved by the remission of their sins,

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

when all of a sudden an angel of the Lord appear'd to them, and a heavenly light shone about them, at which they were greatly affrighted.

accordingly they hasted thither, and found Mary and Joseph with the babe lying in the manger.

when they had seen him, they divulged what the angel had told them concerning this child.

At length the time appointed by the law of Moses for the purification of women being accomplish'd, they carried the infant to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, according as his law directs,

and when they had performed every thing required by the divine law, they returned into Galilee, to Nazareth their city.

when Jesus therefore was twelve years old they went thither, as was customary at the time of that festival.

when that was expired, they returned, but the young Jesus staid behind in Jerusalem, without being miss'd either by Joseph or his Mother.

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,

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

three days after they found him in the temple, sitting near the doctors, attending to them and asking them questions.

but they did not comprehend the meaning of that expression.

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.

if therefore you will worship me, they shall be all your own.

and they shall bear you up in their hands, for fear your foot should hit against a stone."

they delivered to him the book of the prophet Esaias, and upon opening the book, that passage occurr'd, where it is written,

he undertook to show them, how the passage they had heard, was actually then accomplished.

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 breaking up the assembly, they drove him out of the city, to the precipice of the hill, upon which it was built, in order to throw him headlong down.

and they were astonished at his doctrine, for he spoke with authority.

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.

many were dispossess'd of the demons, who cried aloud, you are the Messiah, the son of God. but he rebuked them, and would not suffer them to declare, that they knew him to be the Messiah.

When it was day, he retired into a desart place, where the people searching for him, found him out, and as they earnestly press'd him not to leave them,

which being done, they enclosed such a multitude of fish, the net began to break:

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.

for he, and all the company were frightned at the draught of fish they had taken:

then having brought their boats to shore, they left every thing, and followed him.

for instance, they brought a man in his bed lying sick of the palsy: and try'd to. bring him directly into his presence.

but when they found it impracticable to bring him in through the crowd, they went up the gallery to the leads, and let him down through the ceiling in his bed among the company, where Jesus was,

at this they were all seized with astonishment, and gave thanks to God, crying out with great reverence, what a wonderful instance of power have we seen this day!

but Jesus replied, they that are in health don't want a physician: but they that are sick.

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

however, the time will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they will have occasions enow of fasting.

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.

nor will any one put new wine into old skins: if they do, the new wine will burst the skins, and wine and skins be all lost.

whereupon they fell into a rage, and consulted together, what measures to take against Jesus.

behave to others in the same manner, as you desire they would behave to you.

give and you shall receive: they shall pour into your lap good measure, well pressed, heap'd up, and running over. for in the measure you deal with others, you shall be dealt with yourselves.

for every tree is known by its fruit: it is not on thorns that men gather figs, nor do they gather grapes on a bramble bush.

accordingly they came to Jesus and earnestly pressed him, saying, he very well deserves you should do him this favour; for he loves our nation,

and they that were sent, being return'd to the house, they found the servant, who had been sick, in good health.

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?

To what therefore shall I compare the men of this generation? who are they like?

they are like children playing together in the street, who cry, we have play'd to you on the flute, but you have not danced: we have sung mournful dittys, but you have not lamented.

but they who sat at table with him, began to ask one another, who is this, that pretends even to forgive sins?

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.

by the beaten road is meant, they who only hear: the word, by the lurking wiles of the devil, being hinder'd from taking root in their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

by the stony ground is understood such persons as receive indeed the doctrines they hear, with joy: but for want of resolution, believe only occasionally, and desert when the trial comes.

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.

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.

then they came to wake him, crying, master, master, we are sinking. then he rose up, and rebuked the wind, and the waves: and both subside to a calm.

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?

Then they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which lies opposite to Galilee.

and they entreated him not to condemn them to the abyss.

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.

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.

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?"

upon which, they knowing she was really dead, treated him with derision.

accordingly they departed, and travell'd thro' the towns, preaching the gospel, and performing cures every where.

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.

The Apostles, upon their return to Jesus, acquainted him with what they had done. and taking them with him, he retired into a desart place over-against the city of Bethsaida:

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.

accordingly they ranged them, and made them all sit down.

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

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

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

two persons of a glorious form were seen talking with him; they were Moses, and Elias,

while Peter, and the others with him, were overwhelm'd with sleep: but when they wak'd, they observed his glory, and the two persons present with him,

and before the sound was gone, Jesus was left alone: this they kept secret, and for some time did not acquaint any one in the least with what they had seen.

The next day, when they were come down from the mountain, a multitude of people happen'd to meet him:

I desired your disciples to cast out this spirit; but they were not able.

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 they did not comprehend that expression: it was as a riddle, which they could not understand, and they were afraid to desire him to explain the meaning of that expression.

At length they enter'd into a debate, which of them should be the greatest.

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

but they would not entertain him, because he appear'd to them, as if he was going to Jerusalem.

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

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

when you come to any city, where they receive you, eat without scruple, whatever food is set before you,

but when you enter into any city, and they refuse to entertain you, go through the streets,

wo unto thee Chorazin; wo unto thee Bethsaida: for if the miracles, which have been wrought among you, had been wrought in Tyre and Sidon, they would long since have lain repenting in sackcloth and ashes.

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.

Another time, as they were on a journey, Jesus enter'd into a village, where a woman, named Martha, entertain'd him at her house.

for you assert, that I cast out demons by Beelzebub. but if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? wherefore they shall be your judges.

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.