I. 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. See Psalm cxxxii. 17.

I. 78, 79 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.

Through the bowels of the tender compassion of our God towards mankind, out of which he hath sent his Son, as the morning sun rising from the east, to visit his people, by his gracious presence with them; To give true light of knowledge and comfort, to those, who are naturally overwhelmed with the darkness of ignorance and averseness from God, and thereby in danger of everlasting death; and to set us in the true way of rest and eternal happiness.

1. 80 And was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

And lived obscurely in the desert, until it pleased God to call him forth for the discharge of that his public function, in teaching and baptizing his people.

II. 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And it came to pass, when John was born, that there went out a public edict from Augustus Cesar, the Roman Emperor, that all the nations, which were under the Roman dition and jurisdiction, should assemble in those cities, whereto their tribes and families appertained; and there be enrolled, as well for the number of their persons, as for the rate of their tribute and taxation which they were to pay unto the Roman State. So verse 3.

II. 2 And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.

And this universal taxing was first made when Cyrenius was go, vernor of Syria, to which Judea pertained as a province; which being of a levy of money to be paid to Rome, was more proper for him to meddle with, than for Herod the tributary king of Judea. II. 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 in the inn.

And she brought forth her only Son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because the meanness of her husband Joseph and the concourse of people was so great, that no place could be obtained for their lodging in the inn.

II. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them.

And, as the place of Christ's birth was poor and homely, so were the persons to whom it was first manifested; being but poor shepherds: yet there was not more meanness in them to whom this wonder was first revealed, than there was glory in the revealer; for, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and with a glorious brightness shone round about them,

II. 13, 14 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.

Neither did God content himself with the testimony of one angel alone; but, together with that one heavenly messenger, there was a whole host of blessed spirits, praising God, and saying, Now, upon the birth of the Saviour of the World, let all praise and glory be given to God in the highest heaven: let there be a happy peace and reconciliation of man to God: let there be a merciful acceptation, and respect of God to man: yea, Lord, glorious is the praise of thy mercy; firm and comfortable is the peace of thy redeemed; unspeakably gracious is thy good will towards men. II. 22, 23 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And, when the fortieth day was come, which in the law was appointed for the purification of the woman after her childbirth, Joseph and Mary, besides the errand of that due ceremony, brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord in his Temple: Which they did out of a careful respect to the law of the Lord; requiring that every firstborn male should be consecrated to God, in memory of his preservation of the firstborn of Israel in Egypt, when the eldest of every Egyptian family was stricken by the hand of God.

II. 25 Waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Waiting long for the coming of the Messiah, which should be for the comfort and salvation of Israel; and he was, by the Holy Ghost, endued with the gift of prophecy.

II. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

And it was revealed to him, by the same Spirit of God, that, though he were very aged and looked long for his dissolution, yet that he should not die, till he had, with those his bodily eyes, seen the Messiah, the Lord of Life and Glory.

II. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple. and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, &c.

And, by the direction and conduct of the same Holy Spirit, he came into the temple at the very time, when the parents of Jesus brought him thither &c.

II. 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, ing to thy word.

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O Lord, how long have I longed for this day! my life had been tedious unto me, if it had not been for the hope of this sight; and now, that mine eyes are blessed with the sight of my Saviour, now thou givest me a sweet and joyful passage out of this transitory life thou hast made good thy promise to me, and now make good thy salvation.

II. 34, 35 Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again

of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Think not that nothing shall follow upon the birth of this Divine Child, but welfare, and glory, and advancement to all men; and especially to Israel: but know, that, as he shall work the happiness of many, so he shall be the occasion of the fall of many also; yea, as his mercy shail save those that are the true sons of Israel, so his justice shall reject and condemn the wicked and unbelievers. Neither look, that he shall be applauded of all; yea, rather, he shall be as a common mark, whereat the arrows of contumely and reproach shall be generally shot, through the world; and his name and religion shall be sure to receive opposition and contradiction, every where: and thereby men shall be tried; and occasion shall be given them, to shew, either the truth or falsehood of their hearts, towards his name and profession. And thou, O Blessed Virgin, howsoever thou shalt find just cause of unspeakable joy in such a Son, yet thou shalt not be without many sorrows and heart-breakings, for those things which shall befal him, and those great indignities and hard measures which shall be offered unto him.

II. 36, 37 And had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

After the time of her virginity, she had lived seven years in wedlock with her husband; and had, from the decease of her husband, continued a widow for the space of about fourscore and four years and she spent her time, most-what, in her devotions, and attendance upon God's public services in the temple; giving herself to religious and pious exercises, of fasting and prayer, continually, upon all occasions.

II. 38 And spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem,

And spake of him to all them, which looked for the coming of the Messiah, for the redemption of Israel,

II. 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in Spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.

And Jesus, the Son of God, who had taken upon him the condition of our humanity, did accordingly subject himself to the infirmities and growths thereof: as, therefore, he would grow in stature of body, so also, in respect of his human soul, he grew and increased in the qualities and graces thereof, in wisdom and knowledge; so as, according to the proportion of his age, the free gifts of the Spirit were augmented in and upon him.

II. 49 Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? Did ye not know and consider, that, howsoever I am ready to give all due respects to thee, as my mother, according to the flesh, and to Joseph, as my reputed father, yet that I have another Father, even the great and glorious God of Heaven, whose bu

siness I must go about; and if, in comparison of his services, I do seem to neglect you, it is not for you to think much of it.

II. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. See verse 40.

III. 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. Under the high-priesthood, both of Annas the father-in-law to Caiaphas, and of Caiaphas son-in-law to Annas, ruling successively; so as John preached in the several years, wherein they succeeded in government to each other.

III. 4 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. See Isaiah xl. 3.

III. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every &c. Sce Isa. xl. 4. III. 7 O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? See Matthew iii. 7.

III. 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. See Matthew iii. 8, 9.

III. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore &c. See Matthew iii. 10.

III. 11 He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

Be ye so charitably affected, as that ye can be well contented to part with whatsoever is superfluous to you, for the relief of the necessity of those that want.

III. 13 Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

Do not grate on the subject, in exacting more tribute and larger fees, than the law hath appointed for you.

III. 16 I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: &c. See Matthew iii. 11.

III. 17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; &c. See Matthew iii. 12.

III. 22. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, &c. See Matthew iii. 16.

III. 23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, &c.

And Jesus himself was now entering into the thirtieth year of his age; being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, but indeed the Son of the Only True God, who gave flesh unto him, by the miraculous power of his Spirit, of the substance of the Virgin Mary; which Mary was the espoused wife of Joseph; and her natural father was Heli, the father-in-law to Joseph; which Heli was the natural son of Matthat, &c.

IV. 1 And was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. See Matt. iv. 1.

IV. 4 It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. See Matthew iv. 4.

IV. 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him &c.

And Jesus, who, in all his motions and actions, was directed and led by the Holy Spirit, returned, by the power of the same Spirit, into Galilee, after his baptism.

IV. 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, &c. See Isaiah Ixi. 1. IV. 23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

Ye are ready to take up this proverb against me, Physician, heal thyself: Sir, begin with your own, ere you look to the winning of others with your miracles: you have done wonders in Capernaum, why do ye not gratify your own country rather, with your miraculous works?

IV. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way. But he, by his Divine Power restraining their violence, and delivering himself from their hands, went away from them.

V. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. O Lord, I am not worthy to have the honour of thy presence in this ship of mine; for I am a sinful man, and therefore depart thou away from me.

V. 10 From henceforth thou shalt catch men. See Matt. iv. 19. V. 24 But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power &c. See Matthew ix. 6.

V. 27 Sitting at the receipt of custom. See Matthew ix. 9.

V. 32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. See Matthew ix. 13.

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V. 34 Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? See Matthew ix. 15.

V. 36, 37 No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; &c. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; &c. See Matthew ix. 16, 17.

VI. 9 Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

Surely, the very not doing of good, when we may, is evil: to forbear the giving cure to this distressed man, would come justly under this taxation. Tell me therefore, whether is it lawful to do good on the sabbath day by healing this man, or evil by refusing to heal him? &c.

VI. 20 Blessed are ye poor: for your's is the kingdom of God. See Matthew,v. 3.

VI. 25 Woe be unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall Woe be to you, that pamper yourselves with plenty of all carthly mourn and weep. delicates; feasting yourselves without fear! for the time shall