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.

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

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

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.

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

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 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.

he said to them, I must likewise proclaim the kingdom of God in other cities; for to that end am I sent.

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,

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

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."

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

I am come to purify the earth with fire, and how do I wish it were already kindled?

the baptism, which I am to undergo, how do I long till it be accomplished?

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?

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?

but he answered them, go, tell that fox, that to-day and to-morrow I am casting out demons, and performing cures, and the third day my course will be finished:

another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, which I am going to prove: I beg you to excuse me.

at length coming to himself, how many, said he, does my father keep in pay, who have bread in abundance, whilst I am dying here with hunger?

I am no longer worthy to be called your son: treat me as one of your hir'd servants.

then the son said to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

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.

the Pharisee in a standing posture pray'd thus by himself, O God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men, a robber, a cheat, an adulterer, or like that Publican.

but the Publican, who stood a good way lower, not daring to lift up even his eyes to heaven, only smote his breast, and said, O God, be merciful to me, who am a sinner.

and he called ten of his servants, to whom he deliver'd ten pounds: improve that, said he, till I return.

"blessed be he, said they, whom the Lord hath sent to be our king. prosperity from heaven, and glory from the most high."

he still sent a third, whom they wounded and drove away.

whoever falls upon that stone shall be bruised, but on whom it falls, it will crush him to pieces.

he answered, take care, that you be not seduced: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ. it won't be long e'er this happens, therefore do not follow them.

the son of man indeed must die, as it was decreed: but wo to that man by whom he is betrayed.

for who is greatest, he that sits at table, or he that waits? is it not the person at table? yet I am among you as one that serves.

Peter answer'd, Lord, I am ready to accompany you both to prison, and to death.

a little while after another seeing him, said, you are even one of them. but Peter said to him, man, I am not.

then said they all, art thou then the son of God? you are in the right, answer'd he, for I am so.

and of his being deliver'd up by our chief priests and magistrates to be condemn'd to die, whom they actually crucified:

behold my hands, and my feet. for I am bodily present, touch me and consider me; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see me have:

and I am going to send you what my father has promis'd you. but continue in the city of Jerusalem, until you shall be endued with power from on high.