MATTHEW. MARK. LOKE John. CHA P. II. 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel : for they are dead which fought the young childs life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. much more antient; A voice was heard in Rama, lamentation, and bitter weeping: Rachel weeping for her Children, refused to be comforted, because they were not; for Rama is not far from Bethlehem, and the Sepulchre of Rachel is in a Field belonging to this Town. Not long after Herod died; of which Joseph was inform'd by the Angel, who told him withal, that he was to return to his own Country, where he might be now without danger, since Herod was dead, who fought after the Life of Jesus. Foseph accordingly with his wife and her son return d into Paleftine. С НА Р. Before Christ according to the Vulgar Æra, 3. of Archelaus, i. CHA P. V. The second year of Christ. Joseph returns into Judea, in the reign of Archelaus, and settles at Nazareth a City of Galilee. seph being upon his return home, was very much afraid when he heard that Archelaus had succeeded his Father Herod in the Kingdom of Judea; but being reminded of his Duty by the Angel, in a Dream, he pursued his Journey till he came to Nazareth, a City of Galilee, in which he had sojourn'd formerly. This part of the Country was by Augustus's Order, under the Government of Herodes Antipas, and not of Archelaus, according to the last Will of his Father, Herod the Great : And thus was fulfild a Prophecy current among the Jews, that the Meffiah Theuld be callid a Nazarene. СНАР. ĈH A P. II. 41 Now his parents went And when he was twelve 43. And when they had fulalled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus carried behind' in Jerusalem ; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. -44 But they supposing him · to have been in the company, went a days journey,and they sought him among their kinlfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. · CH A P. VI. The twelfth year of Christ, his Childhood and Youth. WHILE the Child grew up at Nazareth, the favour of God towards him was very remarkable in the wonderful Progress he daily made in Wisdom, and a stedfastness of Mind. In the 12th year of his Age, when his reputed Parents, Foseph and Mary, went to Jerusalem, being oblig'd by the Mosaic Law to repair thither once every year for the celebrating of the Passover, Jesus went along with them. The festival days being ended, and Joseph and Mary upon their return to Nazareth, with many others who were going thither also, they thought Jesus had been with some one or other of their acquaintance; but having made one days Journey, and not finding him among any of their Relations and Friends, they went back to Jerufalem to look after him. Now Jesus continued at Jerusalem, where MARK. MATTHEW LUKE Joun. 47. And all that heard him 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed : and his mother said unto him,Son, why haft thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have fought thee forrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye fought me? wist ye nor that I must be about my fathers business ? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unco them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them : but his niother kept all these fayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and Nature, and in favour with God and man. where Joseph and Mary, after three days search for him, at last found him in the outer Court of the Temple, in the midit of the Doctors, hearing them, and putting Questions to them; who were all astonish'd at the great Wisdom that was eminently conspicuous in every thing he faid. Joseph and Mary also wonder'd why he had withdrawn bimself, and were no less surpriz’d at their now finding him in the Temple. Then said his Mother to him, Son, wherefore didst thou leave us ?. Thy Father and I have been extremely concern'd for thee, and have fought thee these three days with great Anxiety and Grief. But Jesus who already knew, by a Divine Revelation, what Office he was to enter apon when he should be more advanc'd in years, made her this anfwer: You had no reason to be thus sollicitous, and you might have known before now, that the time will shortly come when I Mall be intirely employ’d in my Father's bufmefs . But they could not comprehend his apfwer, not knowing he talk'd to 'em of his heavenly Father, and the preaching of the Gospel . Nevertheless, he went back with them to Nazareth, and was, as before, obedient to them: But his Mother diligently observ'd him, and was particularly mindful of every thing he said and did. Jesus in the mean time grew up in StaLare, and made wonderful improvements in his Understanding, being highly favour'd iby God, and extoll’d by all that knew him. CHAP Of Tiberius, 15. from The Year of Rome, 778. the 28th of August. of Antipas and Philip, 28. After Christ according to the Vulgar Æra, 25. MATTHEW. MARK LUKE. Јону. T CHAP. I. CHA P. III. fif gospel of the reign of Tiberius being governor of Ju- i chonitis, and Lysanias CHA P. III. the retrarch of Abi. lene, 'IN those days came 4 John did baprize 2 Annas and Caia.' John the Baptist, in the wilderness, and phas being the high preaching in the wil. preach the baptism of priests, the word of derness of Judea, repentance for the re- God came unto John mission of sins. the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the countrey abour Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remillion of fins; 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is ac hand. CH A P. VII. The Preaching of John the Baptist, concerning Repentance and the King dom of Heaven, in the nine and twentieth year of Christ. N the fifteenth year of the Proconsular Authority of Tiberius Cefar, when Ponti vs Pilate was Governor of Judea, with the title of Procurator, and the twenty, eighth year after Herodes Antipas had been constituted Tetrarch of Galilee, his Bro ther Philip being also Tetrạrch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias of Abilene i Annas and Caiaphas being jointly high Priests among the Jews : John the Son of Z chirias, who was then retir'd in the Deserts, was commanded by God to go to the jetos, and in his name to declare to them the necessity of a Reformation, and a holy Life, in as much as the Kingdom of the Meffiah was at hand. He enter'd upon this |