Whereas several have undertaken to draw up a narrative of those transactions, which pass'd among us;

that you may have a distinct view of those things about which you have been inform'd.

you shall now become dumb and not recover your speech, till the very day when these things shall happen; because you distrusted my words, which in due time shall have their effect.

then said Mary, "behold the servant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word." upon which the angel disappeared.

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.

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

through the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun has visited us from on high,

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.

As soon as the angels retired back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, let us go to Bethlehem, to see the fact, of which the Lord inform'd us.

The eighth day, when the child was to be circumcised, being come, he was named Jesus, the name, which the angel had given before his conception.

and to offer the sacrifice prescrib'd by the law, which was a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pidgeons.

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

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.

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.

Upon which the people asked him, what then shall we do?

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.

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."

and breaking up the assembly, they drove him out of the city, to the precipice of the hill, upon which it was built, in order to throw him headlong down.

but Jesus rebuk'd him, saying, be dumb, and come out of him. upon which the demon threw him down in the midst of the assembly, and came out, without doing him any harm.

so approaching near her, he order'd the fever to leave her, and it left her. upon which she immediately arose, and waited upon them at table.

he went therefore aboard one of the vessels, which was Simon's, and desired him to bear away a little from land. then he sat down, and preached to the people from the ship.

which being done, they enclosed such a multitude of fish, the net began to break:

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?

which is easier, to say, your sins are forgiven you, or to say, rise up, and walk?

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

upon which some of the Pharisees said to them, why do you do what is not allowed to be done on the sabbath-day?

how he went into the court of the tabernacle, took and eat the shew-bread, and distributed it likewise to the company, which the law allowed the priests only to eat?

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?

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

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.

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?

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 husbandman went out to sow his corn: and as he was sowing, some fell upon the beaten road, which was crush'd under foot, or devoured by the birds.

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

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.

Then they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which lies opposite to Galilee.

but there being a numerous herd of swine feeding on the mountain, they desired he would permit them to enter into the swine, which he granted.

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,

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?"

upon which, they knowing she was really dead, treated him with derision.

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.

he is frequently seized by a spirit, which makes him immediately roar, then throws him into convulsions with foaming, and never leaves him, but with difficulty and bruises.

but they did not comprehend that expression: it was as a riddle, which they could not understand, and they were afraid to desire him to explain the meaning of that expression.

At length they enter'd into a debate, which of them should be the greatest.

wo unto thee Chorazin; wo unto thee Bethsaida: for if the miracles, which have been wrought among you, had been wrought in Tyre and Sidon, they would long since have lain repenting in sackcloth and ashes.

and thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to the sky, shall be plung'd into an abyss.

upon which he said to them, I beheld satan falling, like lightning, from heaven.

for I assure you, that many prophets and princes have desired to see what you now behold, but they never saw it; and to hear what you have heard, which they never did.

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.

which now of the three do you think was neighbour to the man that was robb'd.

but the best and the most necessary concern is, what Mary has pitch'd upon, of which she shall never be deprived.

he said therefore to them, when ye pray, say, "our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. thy kingdom come. thy will be done, on earth, as in heaven.

but if a stronger than he should assault, and overcome him, he will strip him of all his furniture on which he relyed, and divide the plunder.

take care therefore, that the light which is in thee do not become darkness.

upon which the Lord said to him, you Pharisees won't leave any filth upon the outside of a cup or a platter: while your consciences are abandon'd to rapine, and sensuality.

wo unto you: for you resemble subterraneous monuments, which men walk over, without perceiving them.

but Jesus said, wo unto you likewise, doctors of the law; for you load men with insupportable burthens, the least part of which you will not yourselves bear:

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

In the mean time thousands of people being gather'd about him, so as to trample upon one another, he first address'd himself thus to his disciples, beware of the corrupt doctrine of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

for there is nothing conceal'd, which shall not be disclos'd; nothing secret, which shall not be made publick.

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

but which of you, with all his disquietude, can add one moment to the period of his life?

now if God thus cloaths the flowers, which exist to-day in the field, and to-morrow are thrown into the oven: how much more will he cloath you, O distrustful men?

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

upon which Jesus thus address'd himself to them. do you imagine that those Galileans were greater sinners than the rest of the nation, because they suffer'd in such a manner?

to which he made answer, sir, let it alone one year longer, till I shall dig about it, and dung it.

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?

at which all his adversaries were confounded. but the people were highly pleased, at the glorious actions which he perform'd.

it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his garden: it grew, and became so large, that the birds of the air built their nests in its boughs.

it is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leaven'd.

and somebody ask'd him, Lord, will there be but few people saved? to which he answered,

Jesus therefore addressing himself to the doctors of the law, and to the Pharisees, said, is it allowable to perform a cure on the sabbath-day? to which they made no answer.

Then continuing his discourse, which of you, said he, if his child or his ox fell into a pit, would not immediately draw him out, though it were on the sabbath-day?

upon which Jesus said, a certain man made a great entertainment; where many were invited.

but they were all of a mind in making some excuse: the first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, which I must needs go and see: therefore pray excuse me.

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

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

who of you that has an hundred sheep, will not, upon losing one, leave the ninety nine in the desart, to go after that which is lost, till he finds it?

the younger of which said to his father, father, give me that portion of the estate which falls to my share. accordingly he divided his estate among them.

and he was reduced to want, which forc'd him to make his application to one of the inhabitants there, who sent him to his farm to look after his swine.

for he would have been contented to have liv'd upon the carruways, with which they usually fed the swine: but nobody would supply him.

upon which the steward said in himself, what shall I do, now my master strips me of my employment? dig I cannot: and 'tis shameful to beg: I see it now,

but he said to them, you pretend to piety before men, which, however they may admire, is an abomination to God, who knows your real temper.

upon which he said, father, I beg it of you, that you would send him to my father's family, where I have five brothers,

upon which the audience said, who then can be saved?

Jesus answer'd, by divine assistance men may do that which would be otherwise impossible.

for the son of man is come to seek, and to save that which was lost.

but another came and said, Lord, here's your money, which I laid up safe in a napkin.

they answer'd then, they did not know which it was.

upon which the master of the vineyard said, what shall I do? I will send my beloved son: perhaps his presence will engage their respect.

then Jesus looking upon them, said, what is the meaning then of that expression, "the stone, which the builders rejected, is become the chief stone of the angle."

now there were seven brothers, the first of which marry'd, and died without children.

at the resurrection therefore, to which of them will she be wife? for she had been married to all the seven.

which some of the Scribes approving, said to him, master, what you maintain is very just:

the time is coming, said he, when these buildings, which you now view, shall be all thrown down and lost in ruins.

men dying with fear under the apprehension of those calamities, which are coming upon the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Now the feast of unleaven'd bread, which is call'd the passover,

then he took bread, and having given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to them, saying, this represents my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me.