CHAPTER I.

The genealogy of Christ: he is conceived

and born of a virgin. HE book of the generation of

the son of Abraham.

3 And

2 Abraham2 begot Isaac. Isaac begot Jacob. 4 And Jacob begot Judas, and his brethren:

3 And Judas begot Phares, and Zara of Thamar. And 6 Phares begot Esron. And Esron begot Aram.

4 And Aram begot Aminadab. And Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon.

5 And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab. And 8 Booz begot Obed of Ruth. And Obed begot Jesse. And Jesse begot David the king.

6 And 10 David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Urias.

7 And Solomon 11 begot Roboam. And Roboam 12 begot Abias. And Abias 13 begot Asa."

8 And Asa begot Josaphat. And CHAP. 1. ver. 11. In the transmigration. That is, about the time they were carried away captives to Babylon.

The

Ver. 16. The husband of Mary. Evangelist gives us rather the pedigree of St. Joseph, than that of the Blessed

10 And Ezechias 17 begot ManasAnd Manasses 18 begot Amon. And Amon 19 begot Josias.

ses.

11 And Josias 20 begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon.

12 And after the transmigration of Babylon: Jechonias begot Salathiel. And Salathiel begot Zorobabel. 21

13 And Zorobabel begot Abiud. And Abiud begot Eliacim. And Eliacim begot Azor.

14 And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And Achim begot Eliud.

15 And Eliud begot Eleazar. And Eleazar begot Mathan. And Mathan begot Jacob.

16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born JESUS, who is called CHRIST.

Virgin, to conform to the custom of the Hebrews, who in their genealogies took no notice of women: but as they were near akin, the pedigree of the one sheweth that of the other.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David, are fourteen generations: and from David to the transmigration of Babylon, are fourfrom the

teen

CHAPTER II

The offerings of the Wisemen: the flight into Egypt: the massacre of the Inno

cents.

JESUS1 therefore was

are fourteen generations.

18 Now the generation of CHRIST was in this wise: 22 When his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. 19 Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her was minded to put her away privately.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost;

21 And she shall bring forth a Son: 23 and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people

from their sins.

24 And Joseph rising up from sleep, did as the Angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took unto him his wife.

25 And he knew her not till she brought forth her first-born son: and he called his name JESUS.

CHAP. 1.-1. Luke 3, 31.-2. Gen. 21, 3.

-3. Gen. 25, 25.-4. Gen. 29, 35.-5. Gen.

38, 29; 1 Par. 7 4.-6. Ruth 4, 18; 1 Par. 2, 5.-7. Num. 12.-8. Ruth 4, 21.-9. 1 Kings 16, 1. 10. 2 Kings 12, 24.-11. 3 Kings 11, 43.-12. 3 Kings 14, 31.-13. 3 Kings 15, 8.-14. 2 Par. 26, 23.-15. 2 Par. 27, 9.-16. 2 Par. 28, 27.-17. 2 Par. 32, 33. -18. 2 Par. 33, 25.-19. 2 Par. 33, 25.-20. 2 Par. 36, 8.-21. 2 Esd. 12, 1; 1 Esd. 3, 8; Aggeus 2, 3 and 24; Luke 3, 27.-22. Luke 1, 27.-23. Luke 1, 31; Acts 4, 12.-24. Isai. 7, 14.

Ver. 25.

Till-first-born. These are ways of speech common among the Hebrews and only assure us that our blessed Lady was a virgin when she brought forth her son; which is the great point the Evangelist has here

in the days of king Herod, behold, there came Wisemen from the East to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to adore him.

3 And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born.

5 But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda: For so it is written i by the prophet:

6 And 2 thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod privately calling the Wisemen learned diligent of them the time of the star, which appeared to them:

8 And sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the child: and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come and adore him.

9 Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was

10 And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him: and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

in view; without meddling with the question what was done afterwards. But by apostolical tradition we are assured, that she always remained a vir gin.

13 And after they were departed, behold an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt, and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him.

14 Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt:

15 And he was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: 4 Out of Egypt have I called my son.

16 Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the Wisemen, was exceeding angry, and sending killed all the men-children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the Wise.

men.

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the proph et, saying:

18 A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning: Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

19 But when Herod was dead, behold an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt,

20 Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the life of the child.

21 Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep, retired into the quarters of Galilee.

23 And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by the prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarite.

CHAP. 2.-1. A. M. 4000, being 4 years before the common account called Anno Domini; Luke 2, 7.-2. Mich. 5, 2; John 7, 42.-3. Ps. 71, 10.-4. Osee 11, 1. -5. Jer. 31, 15.

CHAPTER III.

The preaching of John: Christ is bap tized.

ND1 in those days cometh John

A the Baptist preaching in the

desert of Judea,

2 And saying: 2 Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3 For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: 3 A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make straight his paths.

4 And the same John had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then 4 went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan;

6 And were baptized by him in the Jordan confessing their sins.

5

7 And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore worthy of penance.

fruit

9 And think not to say within yourselves: We have Abraham for our father; for I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

10 For now the ax is laid to the root

of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire.

11 I indeed 7 baptize you in water unto penance: but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire.

12 Whose fan is in his hand: and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor: and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

13 Then 8 cometh JESUS from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him..

Pœni

CHAP. 3, ver. 2. Do penance. tentiam agite, MeTavoetтe. Which word according to the use of the scriptures, and the holy fathers, does not only signify repentance and amendment of life, but also punishing past sins by fasting and such like penitential exercises.

15 And JESUs answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now: for so it becometh us to fulfil all justice. Then he suffered him.

16 And JESUS being baptized, forthwith came out of the water; and lo the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the 10 Spirit of God descending as a dove, and com ing upon him.

17 And 11 behold a voice from heaven saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

CHAP. 3.-1. A. D. 28.-2. Mark 1, 4: Luke 3, 3-3. Isai. 40, 3; Mark 1, 3; Luke 3, 4.-4. Mark 1, 5.-5. Luke 3, 7.-6. John 8, 39.-7. Mark 1, 8; Luke 3, 16; John 1, 26; Acts 1, 5.-8. Mark 1, 9.-9. A. D. 30.-10. Luke 3, 22.-11. Mark 1, 11; Luke 9, 35; 2 Peter 1, 17.

HEN JESUS was led by the

9 And said to him: All these will I give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me.

10 Then JESUS saith to him: Be gone Satan: for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil left him: and behold angels came and ministered to him.

12 And when JESUS had heard that John was delivered up, he retired into Galilee:

13 And, leaving the city Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capharnaum on the sea-coast, in the borders of Zabulon and of Nephthalim;

14 That it might be fulfilled which was said by Isaias the prophet:

15 Land of Zabulon and land of Nephthalim, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,

16 The people that sat in darkness, Fath seen great light: and to them that sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up.

17 From that time JESUS began

tempted by the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry.

3 And the tempter coming said to him: If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 Who answered and said: It is written: 2 Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word, that proceedeth from the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple,

6 And said to him: If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, For it is written: 3 That he hath given his Angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 JESUS said to him: It is written, again: 4 Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again the devil took him up into a very high mountain and

hand.

18 And JESUS walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, (for they were fishers)

19 And he saith to them: Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men.

20 And they immediately leaving their nets, followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and he called them.

22 And they forthwith left their nets and father and followed him.

23 And JESUS went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom: and healing all manner of sickness and every infirmity, among the people.

24 And his fame went through. out all Syria, and they presented to

him all sick people that were taken | with divers diseases and torments, and such as were possessed by devils, and lunatics, and those that had the palsy, and he cured them:

25 And 10 much people followed him from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

CHAP. 4.-1. A. D. 30; Luke 4, 1.-2. Deut. 8, 3; Luke 4, 4.-3. Ps. 90, 11.-4. Deut. 6, 16.-5. Deut. 6, 13.-6. Mark 1, 14; Luke 4, 14; John 4, 43.-7. Isai. 9, 1. -8. Mark 1, 15.-9. Mark 1, 16; Luke 5, 2.-10. Mark 3, 7; Luke 6, 17.

CHAPTER V.

Christ's sermon upon the mount. The eight beatitudes.

ND JESUS seeing the multi

Atudes, went up into a moun

tain, and when he was sat down, his disciples came unto him,

2 And opening his mouth he taught them, saying:

3 Blessed 2 are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.

5 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shali be comforted.

6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed 5 are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake:

12 Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven; for so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.

13 You are the salt of the earth, But if the salt lose its savour, whereCHAP. 5, ver. 21. In danger of the judgment, &r. That is, shall be liable to be brought before the lower court, amongst the Jews, which took cognizance of such crimes, whereas the

with shall it be salted:
for nothing any more but to
out, and to be trodden on by

14 You are the light of the wo A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid;

15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.

16 So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, who is in heaven.

17 Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfil.

18 For 10 amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 He 11 therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more 12 than that of the scribes and pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21 You have heard that it was said to them of cid: 13 Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment.

22 But I say to you: that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou fool: shall be in danger of hell fire.

23 If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath anything against thee:

24 Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother: and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.

council or sanhedrim was a higher court, and had greater authority.

Ver. 22. Raca. A word expressing great indignation or contempt.- Thou fool. This was then looked upon as a heinous injury: and therefore is here so severely condemned.