ever. Amen, ix. 5. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation, 2 Cor. v. 19. And, without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory, 1 Tim. iii.16. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, Tit. ii. 13. But unto the Son, he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom, Heb. i. 8. Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us, through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. i. 1. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, 1 John iii. 16. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life, v. 20. VER. 24. Διεγερθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου, ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου, καὶ παρέλαβε τὴν γυναῖκα αὑτοῦ. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: VER. 25. Καὶ οὐκ ἐγίνωσκεν αὐτὴν ἕως οὗ ἔτεκε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον· καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἸΗΣΟΥΝ. And knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son: band he called his name JESUS. a 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, Luke ii. 7. b 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, Luke ii. 21. Α. Μ. 4001. CHAP. II. 1. ΤΟΥ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλεέμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, ἐν ἡμέραις ̔Ἡρώδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδοὺ, μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, Now when a Jesus was born in Beth lehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, a there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, a 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, Luke ii. 4-7. b And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet. Matt. ii. 5. But thou Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting, Mic. v. 2. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go now even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us, Luke ii. 11. 15. Hath not the Scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was, John vii. 42. • When Herod the king had heard these things he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him, Matt. ii. 3. But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 19. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be, Gen. xlix. 10. d And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt, 1 Kings iv. 30. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents, the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor also, and him that hath no helper, Ps. lxxii. 9-12. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people, to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. Isa. xi. 10. VER. 2. Λέγωτες· Ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ τεχθεὶς βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων; εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῆ, καὶ ἦλθομεν προσκυνῆσαι αὐτῷ. Saying, Where is he that is a born King of the Jews? for we have seen bhis star in the east, and are come to worship him. a Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion, Ps. ii. 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this, Isa. ix. 6, 7. Behold a king shall reign in righteousness and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land, xxxii. 1, 2. Behold the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth, Jer. xxiii. 5. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass, Zech. ix.9. Α. Μ. 4001. Tell ye the daughter of Zion; Behold thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass, Matt. xxi. 5. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord, Luke ii. 11. Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest, xix. 38. And they began to accuse him saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a king. xxiii. 2. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS, 38. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel, John i. 49. Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord, xii. 13. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was 1 born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice, xviii. 37. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend, whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cæsar. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS, xix. 12-15. 19. b I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth, Numb. xxiv. 17. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising, Isa. lx. 3. 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, Luke i. 78,79. 1 Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star, Rev. xxii. 16. • When they saw the star they rejoiced, with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, Matt. ii. 11. And behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean, viii. 2. While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live, ix. 18. Then came she, and worshipped him, saying, Lord help me! xv. 25. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him, xxviii. 9. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted, xvi. 17. Anditcame to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, xxiv. 51, 52. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him. And cried with a loud voice, and said, what have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God, Mark ii. 5-7. And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees, worshipped him, xv. 19. And he said, Α. Μ. 4001. Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him, John ix. 38. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him, Ps. xlv. 11. And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him, Heb. i. 6. And I fell at his feet to worship him, and he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God, Rev. ix. 10, and xxii. 8, 9. VER. 3. ̓Ακούσας δὲ Ἡρώδης ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐταράχ θη, καὶ πᾶσα Ἱεροσόλυμα μετ ̓ αὐτοῦ. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. VER. 4. Καὶ συναγαγὼν πάντας τοὺς ̓Αρχιερείς καὶ γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ, ἐπυνθάνετο παρ ̓ αὐτῶν ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται. And when he had gathered all the a chief priests and bscribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. a For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD Of Hosts, Mal. ii. 7. For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins, Heb. v. 1. also viii. 3. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp, xiii. 11. b For he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes, Matt. vii. 29. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old, xiii. 52. Also they were over the bearers of burdens and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers and porters, 2Chron. xxxiv. 13. This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him, Ezra vii. 6. Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. Artaxerxes king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time, 11, 12. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain, Jer. viii. 8. * But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting, Mic. v. 2. Hath not the Scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was, John vii. 42. b And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, xxviii. 18. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be, Gen. xlix. 10. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth in the city, Num. xxiv. 19. For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler: but the birthright was Joseph's, 1 Chron. v. 2. Why do the hea | VOL. 1. Α. Μ. 4001. then rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion, Ps. ii. 1-6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this, Isa. ix. 6, 7. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him, to be the head over all things, to the church, Eph. i. 22. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence, Col. i. 18. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father, Rev. ii. 27. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever, xi. 15. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young, Isa. xl. 11. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days, Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD C OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, Jer. xxiii. 4-6. | And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods, Ez. xxxiv. 23-25. And David my servant shall be king over them: and they all shall have one shepherd : they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore, xxxvii. 24-26. Α. Μ. 4001٠ King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matt. ii. 2. What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose, Ps. xxv. 12. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts, 2 Pet. i. 19. VER. 10. Ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα, ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα. When they saw the star, a they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. a And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause 1 will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust, Rom. xv. 9-12. VER. 11. καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εὗρον τὸ παιδίον μετὰ Μαρίας τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ πεσοντες προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἀνοίξαντες τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτῶν, προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ daῶρα, χρυσὺν, καὶ λίβανον, καὶ σμύρναν. And when they were come into the house, a they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and bworshipped him: and when they had οpened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, d and frankincense, and myrrh. * Or, offered. a And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger, Luke ii. 16. See on last clause, ver. 2. And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds, Gen. xliii. 11. But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his |