LXXIII

St. LUKE the Evangelift.

COLOSS. Chap. IV. Ver. 14.

Luke the beloved Phyfician, and Demas

greet you.

LXXIV.

An Angel appears to Zacharias, and foretels the Birth of John.

L

Ong e're the impious Myft'ry did begin,

Or holy Marriage yet was made a Sin;
A virtuous Pair there liv'd of Aaron's Race,
Who did not their illuftrious Stem difgrace:
He Zacharias call'd, Eliza fhe,

Renown'd for antient Faith, and Piety :
So fair their Life that no malicious Tongue
The Fame of either durft attempt to Wrong.
All Bleffings Heav'n, befides an Heir, had sent,
Since Heav'n deny'd, they were, without, Content.

As he with Incense did, and Pray'rs atone
Th' Almighty King for Errors not his own;
An Angel came in Curls of Incense down,
And promis'd him an unexpected Son.
Too big for Faith the News at firft appear'd,
He asks a Sign, and his Request is heard;
The Sign did his mild Punishment become,

Until the Angel's Word perform'd, remaining

Dumb.

LXXIV.

St. LUKE Chap. I. Ver. 11, 12, 13.

74.

11. There appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, ftanding on the right fide of the altar of incenfe.

12. And when Zacharias faw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13. But the angel faid unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth fhall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

LXXV.

The Salutation of Elizabeth to the Virgin Mary.

7Hen Gabriel had the wondrous News con

vey'd

Of God incarnate to the facred Maid

By him inftructed, the departs to fee

;

The pregnant Wife of aged Zacharie,
Nor fooner were their firft Embraces done,
When thus Elizabeth infpir'd begun :

Thrice Blefs'd art thou, Belov'd and full of Grace,
Above our weakly Mother's frailer Race.
And blefs'd the Fruit of thy illuftrious Womb:
Why fhou'd the Mother of my Saviour come
To vifit one beneath her leaft regard?

When first thy Voice, thy dear-lov'd Voice I heard,

The Babe within me leap'd at ev'ry Word,
And Homage paid to his approaching Lord.
And blefs'd is fhe whofe noble Faith like thine,
Yields full affent to Truth and Power divine
No Sign requir'd, but gen'rously believ'd
His Word who can't deceive, nor be himself de-

ceiv'd.

LXXV.

St. LUKE Chap. I. Ver. 42, 43, 44.

42. She spake out with a loud voice, and faid, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord fhould come to me?.

44. For lo, affoon as the voice of thy falutation founded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.