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Luke i. 26-38.

also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her who was called bar

ren.

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

SECTION IV.

MARY VISITING ELISABETH. Luke i. 39-56. for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hillcountry with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41 And it came to pass that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, 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 should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb

46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 2 He hath put

name.

Luke i. 39-56.

down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance

of his mercy; 55 as he spake

to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

SECTION V.

THE BIRTH OF THE BAPTIST. Luke i. 57-80.

57 Now Elisabeth's full time came, that she should be delivered: and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His

name is John. And they marvelled all. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake and praised God. 65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill-country of Judea. 66 And all they that had heard them, laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be ! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people. 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us, in the house of

Luke i. 57-80.

his servant David. 70 as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began; 71 that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant: 73 the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76 And

thou, child, shalt be called the
prophet of the Highest: for
thou shalt go before the face
of the Lord, to prepare his
ways to give knowledge
of salvation unto his people,
by the remission of their sins.
78 through the tender mercy
of our God; whereby the day-
spring from on high hath visit-
ed us,
79 to give light to them
that sit in darkness, and in the
shadow of death, to guide our
feet into the way of peace.

80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the desert till the day of his shewing unto Israel*.

SECTION VI.

THE ANGEL APPEARING TO JOSEPH.
Matt. i. 18-25.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he

thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his

* See Vol. Nativity, pp. 67, 68.

Matt. i. 18-25.

people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is,

God with us.

24 Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife. 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born Son. And he called his name Jesus *.

SECTION VII.
THE CITY OF DAVID.
Luke ii. 1-7.

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also 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 espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.t

SECTION VIII.

THE ANGELS AND THE SHEPHERDS.
Luke ii. 8-20.

8 And there were in the same

country shepherds abiding in

the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And,

* See Vol. Nativity, p. 77. + See Study of the Gospels, pp. 317, 318.

Luke ii. 8-20.

lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said 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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward

men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away

from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it, wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

SECTION IX.

THE CIRCUMCISION. Luke ii. 21.

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name

was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

* See Vol. Nativity, p. 93.

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