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house of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the Angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the Power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the Angel departed from her.

Mary visits her Cousin Elisabeth.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among 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

218 GOSPEL HISTORY OF OUR BLESSED LORD'S INCARNATION.

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.

R. Thanks be to Thee, O Lord.

The Birth of Jesus Christ.

Part of the Holy Gospel according to S. Matthew.
Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

Now the Birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a Virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

R. Thanks be to Thee, O Lord.

The Gospel History

OF OUR BLESSED LORD'S SUFFERINGS, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION.

The Suffering of our Lord God and Saviour. (Harmonized from the four Holy Gospels.)

Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

The Agony of Jesus in the Garden.

WHEN Jesus had spoken these words, and they had sung an hymn, He went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, to the Mount of Olives, where was a Garden called Gethsemane, into the which He entered, and His disciples. And Judas also which betrayed Him knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with His disciples.

And when He was at the place, He said unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And He took with Him Peter and James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful, sore amazed, and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, My Soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me. And He went a little farther, and was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and fell on His Face on the ground, and prayed that, if it were

possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, Abba, Father, if it be possible, and all things are possible unto Thee, take away this cup from Me: nevertheless, not My will, but Thine, be done. And He cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? What, could ye not watch with Me one hour? Watch ye, rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation : the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy Will be done. And when He returned, He found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer Him. And He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. And there appeared an Angel unto Him from Heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony, He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of Blood falling down to the ground. And when He rose up from prayer, and was come the third time to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go; he that betrayeth Me is at hand.

Jesus is betrayed and apprehended.

And immediately while He yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the Twelve, came, having received a band of

men and officers from the Chief Priests and Pharisees, the scribes and the elders of the people, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am He. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon then as He had said unto them, I am He, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked He them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am He: if therefore ye seek Me, let these go their way: that the saying might be fulfilled, which He spake, Of them which Thou gavest Me have I lost none. Now he that betrayed Him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He; take Him, hold Him fast, and lead Him away safely. And he went before them, and forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed Him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took Him. When they which were about Him saw what would follow, they said unto Him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus, Simon Peter, having a sword, stretched out his hand, and drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. And Jesus answered

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