was the Son of Salathiel, which was the Son of Neri, which was the Son of Melchi, which was the Son of Addi, which was the Son of Cosam, which was the Son of Elmodam, which was the Son of Er, which was the Son of Jose, which was the Son of Eliezer, which was the Son of Jorim, which was the Son of Matthat, which was the Son of Levi, which was the Son of Simeon, which was the Son of Juda, which was the Son of Joseph, which was the Son of Jonan, which was the Son of Eliakim, which was the Son of Melea, which was the Son of Menan, which was the Son of Mattatha, which was the Son of Nathan, which was the Son of David, which was the Son of Jesse, which was the Son of Obed, which was the Son of Booz, which was the Son of Salmon, which was the Son of Naasson, which was the Son of Aminadab, which was the Son of Aram, which was the Son of Esrom, which was the Son of Phares, which was the Son of Juda, which was the Son of Jacob, which was the Son of Isaac, which was the Son of Abraham, which was the Son of Thara [in Gen. xi. 24, Terah], which was the Son of Nachor [in Gen. xi. 22, Nahor], which was the Son of Saruch [in Gen. xi. 20, Serug], which was the Son of Ragau [in Gen. xi. 18, Reu], which was the Son of Phalec [in Gen. xi. 16, Peleg], which was the Son of Heber [in Gen. xi. 14, Eber], which was the Son of Sala [in Gen. xi. 12, Salah, and there stated as the Son of Arphaxad], which was the Son of Cainan [not mentioned in Genesis xi. 12], which was the Son of Arphaxad, which was the Son of Sem [in Gen. v. 32, Shem], which was the Son of Noe [in Gen. v. 29, Noah], which was the Son of Lamech, which was the Son of Mathusala [in Gen. v. 21, Methuselah], which was the Son of Enoch, which was the Son of Jared, which was the Son of Maleleel [in Gen. v. 12, Mahalaleel], which was the Son of Cainan, which was the Son of Enos, which was the Son of Seth, which was the Son of Adam, which was the Son of GOD."Luke iii. 23 to 38.

St. Matthew has omitted the line of descent from Adam to Abraham. St. Luke's description of it accords, with only one exception (which may be accounted for by the Grandson succeeding the Grandfather from the intermediate death of the Father), with the history given of it by Moses in the Book of Genesis. In the continuation of the descent from Abraham to David (the principal Characters in the History, and from Whom especially the Promised Blessing of The MESSIAH was expressly to Proceed), Both the Evangelists are in exact conformity with each Other. From David downwards there is an obvious difference between these two Writers, the One deducing the descent through Solomon, as one Son of David, the Other through Nathan, another of David's Offspring: though Both Evangelists agree that JESUS was born of the Virgin Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, Both of whom were admissively of the Tribe of Judah. It is not improbable that the one descent was that of Mary, the other of Joseph. Neither St. Mark, nor St. John, enter so minutely into our SAVIOUR'S LINEAGE. St. Mark's object seems prominently to insist on The DIVINITY of His Nature, as The SON of GOD. În detailing the infidelity of the Jews, he records them to have thus spoken of Him, when expressing their surprise at His Pre-eminent Wisdom and Power, "Is not This the Carpenter, the Son of Mary, the Brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda and Simon? and are not His Sisters here with us?"-vi. 3. The same Apostle, in his narrative of blind Bartimeus's restoration to sight, tells us that the Latter, when addressing our SAVIOUR in the hearing of a Multitude around, said, "JESUS, Thou Son of David, Have Mercy on me!"-x. 47; and again, in the account of the triumphant Entry of The Meek and Lowly JESUS into Jerusalem, the Evangelist relates, that the People shouted, Blessed be The Kingdom of our Father David. That Cometh in The Name of THE LORD! Hosannah in The HIGHEST!"xi. 10; and in relating a Speech of our SAVIOUR Himself, when He was

Teaching in the Temple, he reports Him to have thus Questioned His Hearers, "How say the Scribes, That CHRIST is the Son of David? for David himself said by The HOLY GHOST, THE LORD Said to my LORD, Sit Thou on My Right Hand, till I Make Thine Enemies Thy Footstool!' David therefore himself calleth Him LORD'; and whence is He then his Son?"-xii. 35 to 37. Not thereby denying His Descent from David in the flesh as Man, which even His most bitter Enemies acknowledged, but intimating that His Higher and SPIRITUAL NATURE was from GOD, and was VERY GOD. St. John, too, only cursorily and incidentally alludes to the temporal Birth of CHRIST JESUS, as Man. In stating the first accession of the Apostles to the belief in JESUS, as The CHRIST, he relates that "Philip finding Nathanael, said unto him, We Lave found Him, of Whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write, JESUS of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph.'"-John i. 45. The same Apostle speaks of "the Mother of JESUS," and of the part she took, in his narrative of the First Miracle Effected by our SAVIOUR, on "the marriage in Cana of Galilee."-ii. 1 ; and in a similar narrative to that of St. Mark, when recounting the murmurings of the Jews at CHRIST'S Assertion of His being The SON of GOD," he also represents them to have put the questions, "Is not This Jesus, the Son of Joseph, whose Father and Mother we know? how is it then that He saith, I came down from Heaven?"-vi. 42; and in detailing the distressing Events of our Blessed SAVIOUR'S Crucifixion, the Apostle thus describes JESUS Himself as Acknowledging His Mother, "Now there stood by the Cross of JESUS His Mother, and His Mother's Sister, Mary the Wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When JESUS therefore Saw His Mother, and the Disciple standing by, whom He Loved, He Saith unto His Mother, Woman, behold thy Son!' Then Saith He to the Disciple, Behold thy Mother!' And from that hour that Disciple took her unto his own home.”—John xix. 25 to 27.

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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. Then Joseph, her Husband, being a just Man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 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: and She shall bring forth a SON, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS; for He shall Save His People from their sins.' Now All This was Done that It might be Fulfilled Which was Spoken of The LORD by the Prophet, saying, "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.' Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the Angel of The LORD had bidden him, and took unto him his Wife: and knew her not till She had brought forth her First Born SON; and he called His Name 'JESUS.'— 18 to 25.

In the relation of our SAVIOUR'S Birth and the circumstances attending it, St. Luke is even more minute; and he prefaces his account with that of the Miraculous conception and birth of John the Baptist, the Forerunner of JESUS; and who, by DIVINE Appointment, was specially Chosen to prepare The SAVIOUR'S Way before Him; and thus, in the most express terms, does the Evangelist insist upon That his History as true and essential to be believed; "Forasmuch (he writes) as Many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of Those Things, Which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered Them unto us, which from the beginning were Eye-Witnesses, and Ministers of the Word; it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of All Things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou

upon

him:

mightest know the certainty of Those Things, Wherein thou hast been instructed. There was, in the days of Herod, the King of Judea, a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the Course of Abia; and his Wife was of the Daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were Both righteous before GOD, walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of The LORD blameless: and they had no Child, because that Elisabeth was barren; and they Both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the Priest's office before GOD in the order of his Course, according to the custom of the Priest's office, his lot was to burn incense, when he went into the Temple of The LORD. And the whole multitude of the People were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an Angel of The LORD standing on the right side of the Altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell but the Angel said unto him, 'Fear not, Zacharias! for thy prayer is Heard, and thy Wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a Son, and thou shalt call his name 'John': and thou shalt have joy and gladness: and Many shall rejoice at his birth; for he shall be Great in the Sight of The LORD; and shall drink neither wine, nor strong drink; and he shall be Filled with The HOLY GHOST, even from his Mother's womb and Many of the Children of Israel shall he turn to The LORD, their GOD. And he shall go before Him in the Spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the Disobedient to the Wisdom of the Just; to make ready a People prepared for The LORD.' And Zacharias said unto the Angel, Whereby shall I know This? for I am an old Man, and my Wife well stricken in years. And the Angel answering, said unto him, I am Gabriel, That stand in the Presence of GOD, and am Sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee These Glad Tidings: and, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that These Things shall be Performed; because thou believest not my Words, which shall be Fulfilled in their Season.' And the People waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the Temple; and when he came out, he could not speak unto them; and they perceived that he had seen a Vision in the Temple; for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his Wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 'Thus hath The LORD Dealt with me in the days wherein He Looked on me to Take away my reproach among Men.' And in the sixth month the Angel Gabriel was sent from GOD unto a City of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a Man, whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the Virgin's name was Mary; and the Angel came in unto her, and said, 'Hail, thou, that art Highly Favoured; The LORD is with thee; Blessed art thou among Women!' And when she saw him, she was troubled at his Saying, and cast in her mind what manner of Salutation This should be? And the Angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary! for Thou hast found Favour with GOD: and, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a SON, and shalt call His Name JESUS' He shall be Great, and shall be called The SON of THE HIGHEST;' and The LORD GOD shall Give unto Him the Throne of His Father David; and He shall Reign over the House of Jacob for Ever: and of His KING DOM there shall be no end.' Then said Mary unto the Angel, 'How shall This be, seeing I know not a Man?' And the Angel answered, and said unto her, The HOLY GHOST shall Come upon thee, and The Power of The HIGHEST shall Overshadow thee: therefore also That Holy Thing, Which shall be Born of thee, shall be Called The SON of GOD.' 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 barren for with GOD Nothing shall be Impossible.' And Mary said, 'Behold the Hand-Maid of The LORD: Be it unto me according to thy Word!'

And the Angel departed from her. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the Hill Country with haste, into a City of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth; 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, and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, 'Blessed art thou among Women, and Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb! And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my LORD should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the Babe leaped in my womb for joy. And Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a Performance of Those Things Which were Told her from The LORD.' And Mary said, My Soul doth magnify The LORD, and my Spirit hath rejoiced in GOĎ my SAVIOUR. For He hath Regarded the low estate of His Handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all Generations shall call me 'Blessed.' For He, That is Mighty, hath Done to me Great Things; and Holy is His Name. And His Mercy is on them that fear Him from Generation to Generation: He hath Showed Strength with His Arm; He hath Scattered the Proud in the imagination of their hearts: He hath Put Down the Mighty from their seats, and Exalted them of low degree: He hath Filled the Hungry with good things; and the Rich He hath Sent empty away: He hath Holpen His Servant Israel, in Remembrance of His Mercy; as He Spake to our Fathers, to Abraham, and to his Seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a Son. And her Neighbours and her Cousins heard how The LORD had Showed great Merev upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 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. And his Mother answered, and said, 'Not so; but he shall be called John.' And they said unto her, There is none of thy Kindred that is called by this name.' And they made signs to his Father, how he would have him called and he asked for a writing table and wrote, saying, 'His name is John.' And they marvelled All. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised GOD. And fear came on All that dwelt round about them; and all these Sayings were noised abroad throughout all the Hill Country of Judea; and all they, that 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. And his Father, Zacharias, was Filled with The HOLY GHOST, and Prophesied, saying, 'Blessed be The LORD GOD of Israel; for He hath Visited and Redeemed His People, and hath Raised up an Horn of Salvation for us in the House of His Servant David; as He Spake by the mouth of His Holy Prophets, Which have been since the World began; that we should be Saved from our Enemies, and from the hand of All that hate us; to Perform the Mercy Promised to our Fathers, and to Remember His Holy Covenant; The Oath Which he Sware to our Father Abraham, that He would Grant unto us, that we, being Delivered out of the hand of our Enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our Life. 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, through the Tender Mercy of our GOD, Whereby The DAY-SPRING from On HIGH hath Visited us, to Give Light to Them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of Death, to Guide our feet into the way of Peace.' And the Child grew and waxed strong in Spirit, and was in the Deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel."-Luke i. throughout.

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And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Casar Augustus, that all the World should be taxed; (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. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that She should be delivered; 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. And there were in the same Country Shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night; and, lo, the Angel of The LORD came upon them, and the Glory of The LORD Shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 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! And This shall be a Sign unto you; Ye shall find the BABE wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the Heavenly Host, praising GOD, and saying, 'Glory to GOD in The Highest; and on Earth Peace, Good Will toward Men!' 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!' And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the BABE lying in a manger. And when they had seen It, they made known abroad the Saying Which was Told them concerning This CHILD: and all They, that heard it, wondered at Those Things Which were told them by the Shepherds. But Mary kept all These Things, and pondered Them in her heart. And the Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising GOD for All the Things That they had heard and seen, as It was Told unto them. 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."-St. Luke, Ch. ii. v. 1 to 21.

The Account here given is in every respect, and most deeply, interesting. The characters of Zacharias and Elizabeth, so correspondent with the sacredness of the office, which the One filled, and the intimate connection held with him by the Other, mark the Gracious Discrimination of The DEITY, in Blessing them with that Fruit of their Conjugal union, which, as dedicated in sacrifice to The LORD and profitable to His Service, brings the Parental bosoms the most welcomed and heartfelt sensations of delight. The attainment of such a consummation of bliss, in the Nuptial state, seems to have been the chiefest Earthly Blessing sought by Zacharias from The GIVER of all Good Things; and being sought in the way, which rarely fails of success, by prayer and faith (for the effectual fervent prayer a righteous Man availeth much), it was happily obtained. But, though asked in his daily orisons, and occupying, perhaps, a prominent place in the workings of his imaginations and fondest desires, when the Promise of the Fulfilment of his hope was Divinely Vouchsafed unto him, though righteous as his general conduct was and holy as was the occupation in which, at that time he was engaged (for he was, ministering about Holy Things, and may be supposed, therefore, to have been holding direct Communion with GOD), yet the sense of fear at first overcame him. From such a Man's manifestation of the most profound awe at even the appearance of an Angel, whose countenance must have beamed with holy love, may be gathered an evidence of the higher purity of the Spirits of Heaven over Man in his most exalted Earthly character; and, consequently of that more Glorious Nature, which awaits the Adopted Children of GOD within the Land of Spirits in the Life to Come: when the Season, for which Man was Made a little lower than the Angels, shall have passed away, and be succeeded by That, wherein he shall be Crowned with Honour