1: Christ the son of God, taking upon him the
form of a servant, and making himself of no reputation, is poorly
born in a stable: and by the means of Augustus the mightiest price in
the world, (thinking nothing less) hath his cradle prepared in
Bethlehem, as the prophets forewarned.
a: So far as the empire of the Romans did stretch.
b: That is, the inhabitants of every city should have their names
taken, and their goods rated at a certain value, that the emperor
might understand how rich every country, city, family, and house
was.
c: Which David was born, and brought up in.
*: John 7:42
2: The angels themselves declare to poor shepherds (nothing regarding
the pride of the mighty) the Godhead and office of the child lying in
the crib.
d: Lodging without doors, and open in the air.
e: Came suddenly upon them, when they thought of no such matter.
f: Whole armies of angels, which compass the majesty of God round
about, as it were soldiers.
g: God's ready, good, infinite, and gracious favour towards men.
*: Genesis 17:12 Leviticus 12:3 John 7:22
3: Christ the head of the Church, made subject to the law, to deliver
us from the curse of the law (as the name of Jesus doeth well
declare) being circumcised, doth ratify and seal in his own flesh,
the circumcision of the fathers.
*: Chapter 1:31 Matthew 1:21
*: Leviticus 12:6
4: Christ upon whom all our sins wee laid, being offered to God,
according to the law, doth purify both Mary, and us all, in
himself.
h: This is meant for the fulfilling of the law: for otherwise the
virgin was not defiled, nor unclean, by the birth of this child.
*: Exodus 13:2 Numbers 8:16
*: Leviticus 12:6
5: Simeon doth openly in the temple foretell the dease, of the coming
of Messiah, of the casting out of the greatest part of Israel, and of
the calling of the Gentiles.
i: He was endued with the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and this is spoken
by the figure Metanymia.
j: Joseph and Mary: and so he speaketh as it was commonly taken.
k: Lettest me depart out of this life, to be joined to my fathers.
l: As thou hast promised me.
m: That it, for I have seen with me very eyes: for he was before in
mind, as it is said of Abraham, He saw my day, and rejoiced.
n: That, wherein thy salvation is contained.
o: As a sign set up in an high place, for all men to look upon.
p: Is appointed, and set of God for a mark.
*: Isaiah 8:14 Romans 9:32 1 Peter 2:8
q: Fall of the reprobate, which perish through their own default:
and for the rising of the elect, unto whom God shall gave faith to
believe.
r: That is, a mark, which all men shall strive earnestly to hit.
s: Shall wound and grieve most sharply.
6: Another witness besides Simeon, against whom no exception may be
brought, inviting all men to the receiving of the Messiah.
t: As Christ grew up in age, so the virtue of his God-head showed
itself more and more.
7: The scribes and Pharisees are stirred up to hear the wisdom of
Christ in his time, by an extraordinary deed.
*: Deuteronomy 16:1
8: All duties which we owe to men, as they are not to be neglected,
so are they according to our vocation, not to be preferred before the
glory of God.
9: Christ very man is made like unto us in all things, except sin.
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Chapter 2
1. Augustus Cesar taxeth all the world. 7. Christ is born. 13. The
angel's song. 21. Christ is circumcised. 22. Mary purified. 28.
Simeon taketh Christ in his arms. 29. His song. 39. Anna the
prophetess. 40. The child Christ. 46. Jesus disputeth with the
doctors.
And 1 it came to pass in
those days, that there came a decree from Augustus Cesar, that all
the a world should be b taxed.
2 (This first taxing was made when
Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 Therefore went all to be taxed,
every man to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee
out of a city called Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of c* David, which is called Bethlehem (because he
was of the house and lineage of David,)
5 To be taxed with Mary that was given
him to wife, which was 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 first
begotten son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a
cratch, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 ¶2 And
there were in the same country shepherds, d
abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9 And lo, the angel of the Lord e came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone
about them, and they were sore afraid.
10 Then the angel said unto them, Be
not afraid: for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, that
shall be to all the people,
11 That is, that 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
to you, Ye shall find the babe swaddled, and laid in a cratch.
13 And straightway there was with the
angel f a multitude of heavenly soldiers,
praising God and saying,
14 Glory be to God in the
high heavens, and peace in earth, and towards men g good will.
15 And it came to pass when the
angels were gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said
one to another, Let us go then unto Bethlehem, and see this thing
that is come to pass which the Lord hath showed unto us.
16 So they came with haste, and
found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe laid in the cratch.
17 And when they had seen it, they
published abroad the thing, that was told them of that child.
18 And all that heard it, wondered at
the things which were told them of the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all those sayings,
and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned
glorifying and praising God, for all that they had heard and seen, as
it was spoken unto them.
21 ¶*3 And
when the eight days were accomplished, that they should circumcise
the child, his name was then called * Jesus, which was named of the
angel, before he was conceived in the womb.
22 *4 And
when the days of h her purification after
the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to
present him to the Lord,
23 (As it is written in the law of
the Lord, * Every man-child that first openeth the womb,
shall be called holy to the Lord)
24 And to give an oblation, * as it
is commanded in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves, or two
young pigeons.
25 5 And
behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon: this man
was just, and feared God, and waited for the consolation of
Israel, and the i Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was declared to him from
God by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had
seen that Anointed of the Lord.
27 And he came by the motion
of the spirit into the Temple, and when the j parents brought in the babe Jesus, to do for him
after the custom of the Law,
28 Then he took him in his arms, and
praised God, and said,
29 Lord, now k lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy l word.
30 For m
mine eyes have seen thy n salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared o before the face of all people,
32 A light to be revealed to the
gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And Joseph and his mother
marvelled at those things, which were spoken touching him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said
unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is p appointed for the *q
fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a r sign which shall be spoken against,
35 (Yea and a sword shall s pierce through thy soul) that the thoughts of
many hearts may be opened.
36 6 And
there was a prophetess, one Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the
Tribe of Asher, which was of a great age, after she had lived with an
husband seven years from her virginity:
37 And she was widow about
fourscore and four years, and went not out of the temple, but served
God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 She then coming at the same
instant upon them, confessed likewise the Lord, and spake of him to
all that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed all
things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee
to their own city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed
strong in spirit, t and was filled with
wisdom, and the grace of God was with him.
41 ¶7 Now
his parents went up to Jerusalem every year, * at the feast of the
Passover.
42 And when he was twelve years old,
and they were come up to Jerusalem, after the custom of the feast,
43 And had finished the days
thereof, as they returned, the child Jesus remained in
Jerusalem, and Joseph knew not, nor his mother.
44 But they supposing, that he had
been in the company, went a day's journey, and sought him among
their kinsfolk, and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they
turned back to Jerusalem, and sought him.
46 And it came to pass three days
after, that they found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the
doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions:
47 And all that heard him, were
astonied at his understanding and answers.
48 8 So when
they say him, they were amazed, and his mother said unto him, Son,
why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have
sought thee with very heavy hearts.
49 Then said he unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must go
about my father's business?
50 But they understood not the word
that he spake to them.
51 9 Then he
went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them:
and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom, and
stature, and in favour with God and men.
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