land of Israel, and being warned again of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee, and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth.

CHAP. IV. Jesus disputeth in the temple with the doctors. Luke iï. Now Joseph and the mother of Jesus went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up, after the custom of the feast. "And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and they knew not of it. But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day's journey and they sought Him among their kinsfolk

D2

and acquaintance. And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him. And it came pass that after three days, they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers." And Jesus went down with Joseph and His mother to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. CHAP. V. Of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, Matt. iii. Luke iii.

A few months before the birth of Jesus, John the Baptist, the son of Zacharias, was born. He came to "prepare the way of the Lord, by teaching that "the kingdom of heaven was of hand," and

warning the people of the danger of continuing in their sins. "Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. And while all

men mused in their hearts concerning John, whether he were the Christ or not,' he declared that "he was not, and that he was not worthy to bear the shoes of Him that came after him," namely Jesus, whose messenger He was. Nevertheless, Jesus that he might fulfil the whole law of God, came "from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him,' and immediately after His baptism, "the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shap

!

like a dove upon Him, and
a voice came from heaven,
which said, Thou art my be-
loved Son, in thee I am well
pleased.

CHAP. VI. Of the temptation of
Jesus in the wilderness. Luke iv.
Matt. iv.

IMMEDIATELY after the baptism of Jesus, he "was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards an hungered" And the tempter came to Him and said, "If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of

the mouth of God. Then the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time." And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." Then he brought Him to Jerusalern and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, if Thou be the Son of God, cast Thy self down; for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee And in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest