BEAUTIES OF THE BIBLE.

CIR

Part III.

NEW TESTAMENT.

CHAPTER I..

CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.

1....

THE

A. M. 4004.

HE angel Gabriel was fent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin elpouted to a man named Jofeph: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and faid, Hail, thou who art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

2....And when she saw him fhe was troubled at his faying, and caft in her mind what manner of falutation this fhould be. And the angel faid unto her, Fear not, Mary for thou haft found favor with God: and, behold, thou shalt bring forth a fon, and fhalt call his name Jefus.

3....He fhall be great, and fhall be called the fon of the higheft and the Lord God fhall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he fhall reign ☺ver the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there fhall be no end.

4....The Holy Ghoft fhall come upon thee, and the power of the highefl fhall over-fhadow thee; therefore alfo that Holy Thing, which fhall be born of thee, fhall be called the fon of God.

5....And (after this) there went out a decree from Caefar Auguftus, that all the world fhould be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one in his own city. And Jofeph alfo went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) to be taxed, with Mary his efpoused wife, being great with child.

6....And fo it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And he brought forth her first born fon, and wrapped him in fwaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

7....And there were in the fame country fhepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord fhone round about them and they were fore afraid.

8....And the angel faid unto them, Fear not for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a faviour who is Chrift the Lord. And this shall be a fign unto you: ye fhall find the babe wrapped in fwaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

9....And fuddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hoft praifing God, and faying, Glory to God in the higheft, and on earth peace, good will toward men.*

10....And the fhepherds came with hafte, and found

* At the time when Jefus, the Prince of Peace was born, the temple of Fanus, in Rome, had been lately fhut, by order of Auguftus, the Roman Emperor, in token of univerfal peace over the world.

Mary and Jofeph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had feen it, they made known abroad the faying which was told them concerning this child. And all they who heard it, wondered at those things which were told them by the fhepherds. But Mary kept all those things and pondered them in her heart.

11....And the fhepherds returned glorifying and praifing God for all the things which they had heard and feen. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcifion of the child, his name was called Jefus, which was fo named of the angel.

12....Now when Jefus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wife men from the eaft to Jerufalem, faying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have feen his ftar in the eaft, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard thefe things he was troubled, and all Jerufalem with him.

13.... And he demanded of the chief priests and scribes of the people, where Chrift fhould be born. And they faid unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea. Then Herod, when he had privately called the wife men, inquired of them diligently what time the ftar appeared. And he fent them to Bethlehem, and faid, Go, and fearch diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him bring me word again, that I may come and worship him alío.

14... ..When they had heard the king they departed; and, lo, the ftar which they had feen in the caft, went before them, till it came and flood over where the young child was. When they faw the ftar, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

15....And when they were come into the houfe, they faw the young child with Mary his mother, and tell

down and worshipped him and when they had opened their treafures, they prefented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincenfe, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they fhould not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

16....And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Jofeph in a dream, faying, Arife, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word, for Herod will feek the young child to destroy him. And he arofe and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod.

17....Then Herod when he faw he was mocked of the wife men, was exceeding wroth, and fent forth and flew all the children who were in Bethlehem, and in all the coafts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wife men.

18....Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, in Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachael weeping for her children, and would not be comforted because they were not.

19....But when Herod was dead, behold the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Jofeph in Egypt, laying, Arife, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Ifrael: for they are dead who fought the young child's life. And he arofe, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Ifrael: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth.

20....And the child grew, and waxed ftrong in fpirit, filled with wifdom, and the grace of God was with

him. Now his parents went to Jerufalem every year at the leaft of the Pallover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerufalem, after the custom of the feat. And as they returned, the child Jefus tarried behind in Jerufalem and Jofeph and his mother knew not of it.

21...But they, fuppofing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they fought him. among their kindred and acquaintance. And when they found him not they turned back again to Jerufalem, feeking him. And it came to pafs, that after three days they found him in the temple, fitting in the midst of the Doctors, both hearing them and afking them queftions.

22....And all who heard him were aftonished at his understanding and anfwers. And when his parents faw him they were amazed; and his mother faid unto him, Son, why haft tho thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have fought thee forrowing.

23... And he faid unto them, How is it that ye fought me ? knew ye not that I must be about my father's business? And they understood not the faying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was fubject to them. And Jesus increased in wisdom and flature, and in favour with God and man.

REMARKS.

One important end of the divine miffion and coming of Jefus into the world, was, that he might fet before fallen men a perfect example of moral excellence. This he has really done. His whole life upon earth was a complete and finished portrait of true virtue.

We receive inftruction from the example even of his childhood. At the age of twelve years, he was found in the temple, fitting among the Doctors, both