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

I have likewise thought proper; most excellent Theophilus, to write to you a particular account; having made a very diligent inquiry into the whole matter,

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

and all the congregation of the people stood praying without, at the time of offering incense,

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

All the neighbourhood were struck with reverence, and the rumour of these events ran thro' all the mountains of Judea,

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.

to deliver us from our enemies, and from the power of all that hate us:

in the sincere practice of holiness and justice, all our days.

all went to be registred, every one to his native city.

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.

but the angel said to them, be not afraid, I am only come to bring you great news, which will be matter of joy to you and to the whole world.

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

All of a sudden an army of celestial beings join'd the angel, singing praises to God, and saying,

and all that heard of it, were surprized at what the shepherds related.

but Mary considered these things very attentively, and weigh'd every circumstance in her mind, while the shepherds return'd,

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

then Simeon gave them his benediction, and said to Mary his mother, "the child you now see, shall occasion many in Israel to fall and rise again; he will be the Object of calumny,

which like a dart will pierce even thro' your own soul, that thereby the sincerity of many may be revealed."

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.

and the child grew in stature and in all the improvements of the mind; he was stor'd with wisdom, and was the object of divine favour.

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,

and all that heard him were astonish'd at his understanding and answers.

However Jesus went down with them to Nazareth, and was subject to them: and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

in pursuance of which, he went into all the country about Jordan, exhorting all to repent and be baptized, in order to obtain the remission of their sins.

and all men shall behold the divine saviour."

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;

to compleat all the rest, Herod confin'd John in prison.

When all the people were baptizing, Jesus was likewise baptized, and whilst he was praying, the clouds opened,

and the holy spirit descended upon him in a corporeal form like a dove. and a voice came from heaven, which said, thou art my beloved son, in thee I am well pleased.

being forty days tempted by the devil, without eating any thing all that while: but that time expired, he at last was seiz'd with hunger.

then the devil took him to the top of a high mountain, and in an instant represented to him all the kingdoms of the world.

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

Jesus return'd by the influence of the spirit into Galilee, where his same quickly spread over all the country;

then he closed the book, and returning it to the minister, he sat down: and as the eyes of the whole synagogue were fix'd with attention upon him,

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."

but in truth, added he, no prophet was ever well received in his own country.

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:

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!

and his fame spread through all the neighbouring country.

As soon as the sun was set, all sorts of diseased persons were brought before him by their friends, and he healed them all, by laying his hands upon them.

accordingly he went preaching in the synagogues through all Galilee.

master, said Simon, we have toil'd all the night, without any prize: however, since you give the word, I will throw the net.

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

As he was going to one of the cities in that country, a man cover'd all over with leprosy happen'd to meet Jesus, and prostrating himself before him, thus address'd him, Lord, if you will, you can cure me.

then Jesus stretch'd out his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou cured. and immediately the leprosy disappear'd:

immediately he started up before them all, took up the bed, where he lay, and went home, glorifying God.

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!

immediately he rose up, left all his affairs, and became his disciple.

and likewise those of the Pharisees, are frequently fasting and praying, while yours are employed in eating and drinking?

to which he answered, would you have the bridemen fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

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.

but new wine must be put into new skins, and both will be preserv'd.

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

then said Jesus to them, I will ask you one question, which is the most allowable on the sabbath-day, to do good, or to neglect it? to save a man's life, or to let him perish?

About that time, Jesus retired to a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in an oratory.

At length he came down the hill with them, and stayed with the rest of his disciples in the plain, where a great multitude of people from all Judea, from Jerusalem, and the maritime country of Tyre and Sidon, came to hear him, and to have their diseases cured.

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

give to all that ask: and if a man takes away your goods, don't demand them again.

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.

or how can you say to your brother, brother, let me take out the mote, that is in your eye, when you your self don't discern the beam that is in your own eye? hypocrite, first remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the mote out of your brother's eye.

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

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,

all that were present were seized with dread, and glorified God, saying, a great prophet is risen up among us, and God has visited his people.

and his fame spread over all Judea and the neighbouring countrys.

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.

all the people, even the publicans, upon hearing him, gave glory to God, by receiving the baptism of John;

"but wisdom is justified by all her different followers."

having not wherewithal to pay it, he freely discharged them both of the debt. tell me now, which of the two will love him most?

you did not bestow any oil upon my head; but she has poured her rich perfume upon 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.

A vast number of people being assembled, and crowding to him from all quarters, he thus address'd himself to them by way of parable.

Now, no one lights a lamp to hide it under a vessel, or under a bed: but sets it on a stand, to give light to all the company.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?"

then the woman finding she could not conceal herself, came trembling, and kneeling down before him, confess'd before all the people, why she had touch'd him, and how she was instantly cured.

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.

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

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

Now Herod the tetrarch was inform'd of all his transactions: and was perplex'd at the relation of some, that John was risen from the dead: whilst others said, Elias appear'd:

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:

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.

Then he said to the whole company, if any one will be my follower, let him renounce himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.

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

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,

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.