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VI.

St. MATTH. II. Ver. 16, 17, 18.

16. Then Herod when he saw he was mocked of the Wife-men, was exceeding wroth, and fent forth and flew all the Children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the Coafts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the Wife-men.

17. Then was fulfilled that which was Spoken by Jeremy the Prophet, Saying,

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.

VII.

The Preaching of St. John the Baptift ; his Apparel and Diet.

Hro' Judah's fertile Wild the Baptift came, And the Meffiah's Kingdom did proclaim; He comes, he comes, prepare! aloud he cry'd, Fill every Vale, low'r every Mountain's Pride. Severe the Preacher's Garb, his Mien, his Food, As on the Rivage of fair Jordan's Flood, Encompass'd with admiring Crowds he stood. Thy lofty Turrets, Salem! they forsake, Defarts of Towns, of Fields they Cities make, On Jordan's verdant Bank, thick Clufters ftand, As when of old they feiz'd the Promis'd Land, Trampling the Earth, and blackning all the Strand.

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Their Sins no more defended, or difguis'd, They're in the Confecrated Stream baptis'd: Thus purg'd from many a long-contracted Stain, And thus prepar'd to meet th' approaching Saviour's Reign.

VII.

St. MATTH. II. to Ver. 6.

1. In thofe days came John the Baptift, preaching in the ¡Vilderness of Judea,

2. And faying, Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, &c.

4. And the fame John had his raiment of Camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loyns; and his meat was locufts and wild honey.

5. Then went out to him Jerufalem, and all Judea, and all the Region round about Jordan,

6. And were baptifed of him in Jordan, confessing their fins.

VIII.

Our Saviour baptifed in Jordan, and
acknowledg'd from above.

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To John at Fordan Jefus came, and press'd
To be himself Baptis'd among the reft:
Trembling the Baptist did at first refuse,
Unworthy he who fhou'd his Sandals loose;
Till thus our Saviour- 'tis the Father's Will,
That thus we shou'd all Righteousness fulfil.
He ftrait obeys, when loe the Heav'ns divide,
Whose azure Gates unfolding deep and wide
Disclose a Dove, as Light, or Beauty fair,
On Silver Pinions wafted thro' the Air,

Which circling down their plumy Honours fpread
Gently incumbent o'er the Saviour's Head:
When loe a Voice as rolling Thunder loud

Breaks from the Bofom of the shining Cloud.

"THIS IS MY SON BELOV D, ATTEND WITH AWFUL FEAR!

IN HIM I'M PLEAS'D WITH MAN, LET MAN HIS SAVIOUR HEAR

VIII.

St. MATTH. Chap. III. from Ver. 13. to the End.

13. Then cometh Jefus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptifed of him.

14. But John forbad him, faying, I have need, &c. 16. And Jefus, when he was baptifed, went up Straightway out of the water and lo, the Heavens were opened unto him, and he faw the Spirit of God defcending like a Dove, and lighting upon him. 17. And lo, a voice from Heaven, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed.

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