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And

it came and stood over where the child was. when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their own country.

SECT. XI. THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS. B.C. 4.

And after they had departed, behold an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying, Arise, and take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt; and be there until I shall tell thee: for it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him. And he arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt. And he was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spake by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son (Osee xi. 1).

Then Herod, perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry, and sent and killed all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time that he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying, A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not (Jeremias хххі. 15).

But when Herod was dead,* behold an Angel of

* Herod the Great died B.C. 3, in the thirty-seventh year of his age. At his death his dominions were divided by Augustus between his sons-Archelaus, who ruled over Judea, Samaria, and

the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Rise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead who sought the life of the child. And he arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned in sleep, he retired into the parts of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in their own city Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was said by the prophets, that he shall be called a Nazarene.

SECT. XII. THE REST OF THE HISTORY OF JESUS TILL HIS THIRTIETH YEAR. A.D. 8.

And the child grew, and waxed strong, and was full of wisdom, and the grace of God was in him.

*

And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the solemn day of the pasch. And when he was twelve years old, they went up into Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast; and having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers.

Idumea; and Herod Antipas, who governed Galilee. (See table of Herod's pedigree, p. 3.)

*The Pasch, or Passover, was the first of the three principal festivals of the Jews, at which they were bound to present themselves before the Lord. The others were the feast of Pentecost and the feast of Tabernacles. The Pasch was in commemoration of the deliverance of the children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt. (See Exodus xii.)

And when they saw him, they wondered. And his mother said to him, Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said to them, How is it that ye sought me? did ye not know that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the word that he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her

heart.

And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age, and grace with God and men.

PART II.

OUR LORD'S PUBLIC LIFE. PREPARATION FOR THE

MINISTRY.

A.D. 26.

SECT. XIII. JOHN'S MISSION AND PREACHING. CHRIST IS BAPTISED BY HIM. A.D. 27.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina; under the highpriests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord came unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, baptising and preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins; and saying, Do penance; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaias, saying, A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain: and all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Isaias xl. 3).

And the same John had his garment of camel's River hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; Jordan. and his meat was locusts and wild honey. And there went out to him all the country of Judea and all they of Jerusalem, and were baptised by him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

And seeing many of the Pharisees* and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Ye brood of vipers, who hath showed you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I tell you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.

And the people asked him, saying, What then shall we do? And he answered and said to them, He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do in like manner. And the Publicanst also came to be baptised, and said to him, Master, what shall we do? But he said to them, Exact nothing more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers also asked him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said to them, Do violence to no man, neither calumniate any man; and be content with your pay.

And as the people were thinking, and all were musing in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, John answered, saying unto all, I indeed baptise you with water; but there shall come one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and loose: he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and

*The Pharisees were a sect of the Jews distinguished for upholding the strict observance of the law even to the minutest points. Yet they kept the letter more than the spirit of the law, and our Lord rebukes them for their pride and hypocrisy. The Sadducees denied the Mosaic oral law or traditions of the scribes, the resurrection of the dead, and the existence of angels. They were less strict than the Pharisees. They were many of them men of wealth and importance.

The Publicans were the agents of those who farmed out the taxes imposed by the Roman government. They were much disliked on account of being the instruments of a hated tyranny, and for their own dishonesty and exaction.

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