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

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:

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

it is the Lord, said she, who has thus favour'd me, at the time when he took care to remove the reproach I was under among men.

you shall be now pregnant, and be delivered of a son, whom you shall name JESUS.

even your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is become pregnant with a son: she, who was stiled barren, is now in her sixth month;

to enlighten those, who are in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to direct our steps into the ways of peace."

in order to be registred with Mary, his espoused wife, who was then big with child.

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.

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

and happening to come in just at the same time, she likewise express'd her thanks to the lord, and spoke of Jesus to all those, who expected deliverance in Jerusalem.

he said therefore to the people that crowded to be baptized by him, ye brood of vipers, who has prompted you to flee from approaching wrath?

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.

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;

what business have you with us, Jesus of Nazareth? are you come to destroy us? I know who you are; the saint of God.

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.

At another time, as he was teaching, it happened that some Pharisees, and doctors of the law were sitting by, who came from the several towns of Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem: when the power of the Lord appear'd in their relief.

who perceiving their faith, said to him, O! man, your sins are forgiven you.

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?

On another sabbath-day it happen'd, that he went into the synagogue to preach, where a man was present, who had the palsy in his right hand.

when it was day, he called his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom he stiled missionarys: Simon,

(to whom he gave the name of Peter) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

Jude the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who prov'd the traitor.

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.

I will show you, who that man is like, who comes to me, and practises what I prescribe.

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.

but he that does not practise what he hears, is like a man who built his house upon the loose earth without any foundation: the current beat impetuously against it: in the instant down it fell, and great were its ruins.

where a certain centurion had a servant whom he greatly valued, lying sick and ready to die.

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

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.

and blessed is he, who does not make me the occasion of his fall.

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

and several women, who had been delivered from evil spirits and cured of their diseases: particularly Mary Magdalene, who had been dispossess'd of seven demons:

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

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.

but he answered them, my mother and brethren are these, who attend to the word of God, and practise it.

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.

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,

now the man, who had been dispossess'd, begg'd to take him with him. but Jesus dismissed him,

Jesus upon his return was received by a great number of people, who expected 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,

and among the rest a woman, who had been troubled with an hemorrhage twelve years, having consum'd her whole fortune upon physicians, who could none of them cure her; she getting behind him,

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?"

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.

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.

where the people, who were inform'd of it, followed him: which he did not discountenance, but explained to them the reign of the Messiah, and relieved those, who wanted to be cured.

One day having retired alone to prayer, he came to his disciples, and ask'd them, saying, whom do the people judge me to be?

but who, said he, do you think I am? Peter answered, you are the Messiah of God.

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

who discours'd about the exit, he was to make at Jerusalem;

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.

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

and he sent messengers before, who went to a town of the Samaritans, to prepare a lodging for him.

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

the management of every thing is committed to me by my father: no one knows what character the son is invested with, except the father; nor who the father is, except the son, and he to whom the son shall please to reveal it.

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

to whom he answered, how does the law run in that case? what do you find?

to which Jesus answered, a certain man, as he was going from Jerusalem to Jericho, fell among thieves, who stripp'd him, and beat him, then march'd off leaving him half dead.

a certain priest happen'd to be travelling that way, who look'd upon him, and then pass'd on.

he, reply'd the doctor, who took pity on him. then said Jesus to him, go then, and imitate his example.

now she had a sister, named Mary, who placed herself at the feet of Jesus, to attend to his discourse.

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.

As he was discoursing thus, a certain woman in the middle of the crowd lift up her voice, and said to him, happy the mother, who bare thee: happy the nurse, who gave thee milk.

but rather, said he, happy are they who hear the word of God, and put it in practice.

However, when a man has once lighted his lamp, he does not hide it in a by-place, or under a bushel; but sets it on a stand, that all who come in may have light.

do you stupidly imagine that he, who made the outward man, did not make the inward too?

wo unto you, for you rebuild the sepulchres of those prophets, whom your fathers put to death:

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.

wo unto you, doctors of the law; for after having taken the key of knowledge, you remain still in the dark, and hinder others, who desire to have light.

As for you, my friends, be not afraid of those, who can kill the body, and after that can effect nothing more.

but I will inform you whom you should fear: fear him, who after he has kill'd, has power to precipitate into hell; yes, I advise you, fear him.

but Jesus answer'd him, who made me a judge, or an arbitrator between you?

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

such is he, who heaps up his treasure here, and makes no provision for another world.

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.

happy those servants, whom the master at his arrival shall find thus watching: I assure you, he shall gird himself, and make them sit at table, and will come to serve them.

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

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

whereas he that does not know it, and does things worthy of chastisement, shall receive fewer stripes. for to whom much is given, of him shall much be required, and the more a man has been trusted, the greater will be the demand.

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

or those eighteen, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and slew them, do you think they were greater criminals than the other inhabitants of Jerusalem?

who had been kept infirm by a spirit eighteen years: and stooped in such a manner, she was not able to hold up her head strait.

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

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

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stonest those, who are sent unto thee: how often would I have gather'd thy children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and ye would not?"

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

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.

so the servant return'd, and related the whole matter to his master, who in resentment said to his servant, go immediately into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring hither the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind.

for I tell you that not one of those, who were invited, shall taste of my supper.