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.

the angel replied, I am Gabriel, who attend in the presence of God, and am sent to communicate to you this agreeable message.

Mary was surpriz'd at the voice of such an appearance, and wonder'd what the meaning of this salutation should be.

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

Soon after this, Mary departed, and made an expeditious journey to a city of Juda, in the mountains:

and Elizabeth divinely inspired, broke out into this acclamation.

"Blessed mother of the most blessed offspring! what an honour is this, that I should be visited by the mother of our Lord!

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.

the oath which he made to our father Abraham, to grant us this favour,

(this register was made before Quirinus was prefect of Syria.)

for the Lord Messiah your saviour is this day born, in the city of David:

and by this sign shall you know him; you will find the babe swathed, lying in a manger.

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

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,

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."

upon hearing this, the whole synagogue were incensed against him.

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!

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

upon which the Scribes and Pharisees objected among themselves, saying, what a man is this to blaspheme thus? who can forgive sins but God alone?

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!

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

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.

When he had finished this discourse to the populous audience, he entred into Capernaum,

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

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,

for though I am subject to authority, I have soldiers under me: I bid one go, and he goes: I bid another come, and he comes: I bid my servant do this, and he does it."

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.

and sent two of them to Jesus, with this question, are you the Messiah, or must we yet wait for some other?

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.

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

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.

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.

you did not salute me, but this woman, since she came in, has been continually kissing my feet.

wherefore, I tell you, her sins, which are numerous, are forgiven; and that is the reason of all this love: but his love is less, to whom less is forgiven.

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

After this Jesus went about, preaching to every city and village, proclaiming the reign of the Messias, attended by his twelve apostles,

But his disciples having ask'd him the meaning of this parable;

now the meaning of the parable is this: the seed sown signifies the word of God.

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?

the keepers seeing this, ran about and spread it, both in town,

After this he assembled the twelve apostles, and gave them authority over all sorts of demons, and the power of curing all diseases:

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.

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:

About eight days after this discourse, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up a mountain to pray.

from whence a voice issued out, saying, "this is my beloved son, obey 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.

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

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?

After this the Lord nominated seventy disciples more, and sent them before by two and two, into all the cities, and towns, where he himself design'd to go.

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

however, let not this be the matter of your rejoicing, that the spirits are subject to you: but rejoice, that you have a title to the joys of heaven.

you have answered well, replied Jesus, do this, and you shall live.

and he within should give this answer, don't trouble me now: the door is made fast, and my family are all in bed: I can't get up to supply you.

and as the crowd grew more numerous, he thus began, this is a degenerate race of men: they demand a miracle: but no miracle shall be exhibited, but such as happen'd in the person of Jonas the prophet.

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

the queen of the south shall rise up in the day of judgment against this generation, and condemn it: for she came from the remote parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; but now, a greater than Solomon is here.

agreeably to this, in the Wisdom of God 'tis said, "I will send them prophets and apostles: some they will kill, and others they will persecute:

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

from the blood of Abel to that of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the temple: yes, I assure you, this generation shall be responsible for it all.

to which purpose he propos'd to them this parable: a rich man had some land that was very fruitful.

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

but God said to him, thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee: who then shall enjoy what thou hast provided?

then Peter said to him, Lord, do you apply this similitude to us, or to all in general?

He proposed likewise this parable: a certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came expecting it should have had fruit, but he found none.

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?

and must not this daughter of Abraham, whom satan has held bound these eighteen years, be disengag'd from this bond, on a sabbath-day?

Afterwards observing how eager the guests were for the first places, he gave them this instruction:

After this a great multitude being gather'd about him, he address'd himself to them,

this man, will they say, began to build, but wanted stock to finish.

at which the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, this man gives access to men of bad character, and eats with them.

but he propos'd to them this parable.

for this son of mine was dead, and is come to life: he was lost, and is found again. and then they began their feast.

upon this he was full of resentment, and refused to go in: and when his father came out to persuade him, he replied to his father,

whereas this son of yours, who has eat up his fortune among a pack of loose creatures, is no sooner come but you must kill the fatted calf for him.

upon making him appear, he said to him, what information is this, I hear against thee? give an account of your administration, for you must not be my steward any longer.

I must do something that will secure me a reception in other families, when I have lost my place in this.

and this unfaithful steward was commended by his master for being so provident. for they who look to this world, manage their affairs with more prudence, than those who have a prospect of a better.

The Pharisees too, who were noted for avarice, heard all this discourse, and treated him with derision.

and he cry'd out, saying, father Abraham, take pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

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.

to give them warning, lest they also come into this place of torment.

if your faith improv'd like a grain of mustard-seed, you might say to this sycamine-tree, be thou rooted up, and planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

then prostrating himself at the feet of Jesus, he gave him thanks. now this man was a Samaritan.

is no body return'd to glorify God, but this alien only?

but before this, he must undergo many sufferings, and be rejected by this generation:

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

Jesus propos'd likewise this parable to them, to show that they should persevere in prayer, and not be discouraged.

yet, because this widow importunes me, I will do her justice, that she may'nt be continually coming to teaze me.

observe, said Jesus, that language of this unrighteous judge.

Then he propos'd this parable, concerning those who had a great opinion of their own justice, and look'd with contempt upon others.

I tell you this man went home approv'd as just, and not the other. for whoever exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Then a person of distinction ask'd him this question, good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

upon hearing this he was very sad: for he had a large estate.

who shall not receive abundantly more even in this age, and everlasting life in the age to come.

but they comprehended nothing of all this: his discourse was a riddle to them, and they could not find out the meaning.

upon seeing this, they all murmur'd, saying, he is going to be treated by a dissolute person.

then said Jesus, speaking of him, this day is salvation come to this family, since he is now become a true son of Abraham.