Zacharias startled at the sight and was seized with fear.

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.

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

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.

Some time after, Elizabeth his wife was pregnant, and went into retirement for five months.

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

for nothing is impossible to God."

no sooner did the sound of your salutation strike mine ear, than the babe leap'd within me for joy.

blessed is she that has believed; for what she has heard from the Lord, shall be accomplished."

for he hath regarded the low estate of his servant: and future ages shall proclaim me blessed.

the almighty hath distinguish'd me by the greatest marks of favour: his name be for ever reverenc'd.

his mercy is on them that fear him, from generation to generation.

which he promised to our forefathers, to Abraham, and to his posterity for ever."

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.

"blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he hath regarded and wrought a deliverance for his people:

he hath rais'd up a powerful saviour for us, in the family of his servant David,

and you, dear babe, you shall be the prophet of the most high: for you shall go before the Lord, in order to prepare his way,

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.

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

glorifying and praising God, for having heard and seen every thing exactly as the angel inform'd them.

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,

for mine eyes have beheld the saviour,

whom thou hast provided for all mankind, a light to lighten the Gentiles,

being then a widow of about fourscore and four years old: she was assiduously in the temple, night and day religiously employ'd in fastings and prayers:

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.

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.

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.

the ax is already laid to the root of the trees: every tree then, which does not produce good fruit, shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire.

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.

and with the fan in his hand he will thoroughly cleanse his floor, and will lay up the wheat in his grainery: but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire.

but having reproved Herod the tetrarch upon account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, and for all the mischiefs that Herod had done;

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.

but Jesus answered him, avant, satan, for it is written, "thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

for it is written, "he shall charge his angels to watch for your preservation:

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

and when the whole temptation was ended, the devil left him for a time.

for he preach'd in their synagogues with universal applause.

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

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,

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.

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

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.

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

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

Levi having prepared a handsom entertainment in his own house for him, a great number of publicans, and others, were likewise at table.

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

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

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

blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be satisfied. blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall find matter of mirth.

blessed are you, when men shall hate you, discard you, reproach you, and treat you as infamous, for your attachment to the son of man.

then you may triumph with joy; secure of being greatly rewarded in heaven: for such was the treatment the prophets received from their forefathers.

But wo unto you that are rich: for you have received your consolation.

wo unto you that are full: for you shall be in want. wo unto you that indulge in present pleasure: for mourning and sorrow shall attend you.

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

But as for you, who hear me, love your enemies: do good to those, who hate you: bless those, who curse you:

and pray for those, who maliciously abuse you.

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

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.

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.

a good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces what is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart produces what is evil: for 'tis from the abundance of the heart, that the mouth speaketh.

he is like a man who in building a house, digg'd deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: an inundation came, the current beat impetuously upon that house, but could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

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

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

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?

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

he it is, of whom it is written, "behold, I send my messenger before you, who shall prepare the way for you."

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

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.

some fell upon very stony ground, which no sooner sprung up, but it wither'd away, for want of moisture:

but some of the corn fell into good soil, and grew up, yielding a hundred grains for one. then raising his voice he concluded with these words, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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.

improve therefore what you hear: for he that improves what he has, shall have more; but he that does not, shall lose even that, which he thinks he possesses.

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?

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.

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.)

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.

saying, go home, and relate, what great things God hath done for you. whereupon he departed, and published through all the city, what a wonderful deliverance Jesus had wrought for him.

for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, who lay a dying. as he was on the way, the crowd press'd after him,

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

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

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.

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.

for whoever would save his life, shall lose it: and he that would lose his life, out of love to me, shall save it.

what advantage is it for a man to have gain'd the whole world, if he himself runs into utter loss and ruin?

for whoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my doctrine, of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in the glory of his father, and of the holy angels.

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.