8

MARY'S INTERVIEW WITH ELIZABETH.

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
God my Saviour. For he hath regarded
the low estate of his hand-maiden: 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 genera-
tion 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.

BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

Now Elizabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neigh

bours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy 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 Judæa. 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,

C

9

10

5 Luke ii. 1-39.

PROPHECY OF ZACHARIAS.

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 dayspring 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 it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be

BIRTH OF JESUS.-AN ANGEL APPEARS.

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 Judæa, 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 first-born 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

12

THE SHEPHERDS GO TO BETHLEHEM.

Matt. i. 1-17.

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,*

*The genealogy of Jesus Christ is thus recorded by Matthew, who traces it on the side of Joseph. "The Book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; and Judas begat