CHAP. II.

"The offerings of the wise men: the flight into Egypt: the massacre of the Innocents. WH HEN JESUS therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men 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, be inquired of them where Christ should be born. 5 But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet: 6+ And 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 wise men learned diligently 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 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. Is 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: and he was there until the death of Herod: 15 That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: § Out of Egypt have I called my son.

✦ A. M. 4000. Being four years before the common account called Anno Domini. Luke, 2. 7.+ Mich. 5. 2. John, 7. 42.- Psal. 71, 10.ness, and offered holocausts, because not one of them was slain till they had returned in peace. That is, not one was slain, before or after they had returned.-God saith to his divine Son: Sit on my right hand TILL I make thy enemies thy footstool. Shall he sit no longer after his enemies are subdued? Yea and for all eternity. St. Jerom also proves by Scripture examples, that an only begotten son, was also called firstborn, or first begotten; because according to the law, the first-born males were to be consecrated to God: Sanctify unto me, saith the Lord, every first-born that

16 Then Herod perceiving that he was deluded by the wise men, was exceeding angry; and sending killed all the men-chil dren 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 prophet, saying:

18 A voice in Rama was heard, lamen tation 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, be 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. III.

The preaching of John: Christ is baptized,

AND 4 in those days cometh John the

Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. 2 And saying: ** Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3 For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: ++ 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 camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about bis loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then 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.

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 fruit worthy of penance.

9 And think not to say within yourselves, Osee, 11. 1.—|| Jer. 31. 15.-¶ A. D. 28.Mark, 1. 4. Luke, 3. 3.-++ Isai. 40. 3. Mark, 1. 3. Luke, 3. 4.-‡‡ Mark, 1. 5.—§§ Luke, 3. 7, Exod. chap. xiii. ver. 2.

CHAP. III. Ver. 2. Do penance. Pœnitentiam agite, usravis. 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.

Ver. 7. Pharisees and Sadducees. These were two sects among the Jews: of which the former were for the most part notorious hypocrites; the latter a kind of freethinkers in matters of religion,

shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce.

TAK

CHAP. VI.

33 Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, † Thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.

34 But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God: 35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king:

36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

37 But let your speech be yea, yea no, no and that which is over and above these, is of evil,

38 You have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I say to you not to resist evil but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other:

40 And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him.

41 And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two.

42 ** Give to him that asketh of thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away.

:

2 Therefore when thou dost an alms-deed, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they inay be honoured by men, Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

3 But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth. 4 That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

5 And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

6 But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

7 And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard.

8 Be not you therefore like to them, for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him.

9 Thus therefore shall you pray: ¶¶Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we also

13 And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.

14 *** For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences.

15 But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.

16 And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

17 But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face

Ver, 39. Not to resist evil, &c. What is here commanded, is a christian patience under injuries and affronts, and to be willing even to suffer still more, rather than to indulge the desire of revenge: but what is further added does not strictly oblige according to the letter, for neither did Christ, nor St. Paul turn the other cheek. St. John, xviii, and Acts, xxiii.

Ver. 46. The publicans. These were the gatherers

of the public taxes: a set of men, odious and infamous among the Jews, for their extortions and injustice.

CHAP. VI. Ver. 1. Your justice, i. e., Works of justice. Viz., fasting, prayer, and almsdeeds; which ought to be performed not out of ostentation, or a view to please men, but solely to please God.

Ver. 11. Supersubstantial bread. In St. Luke the same word is rendered. daily bread. It is understood of the bread of life, which we receive in the Blessed Sacrament.

Ver. 13. Lead us not into temptation. That is, suffer us not to be overcome by temptation.

18 That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy *Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee. 19 Lay not up to yourselves treasures on "earth where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. 20 * But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal.

21 For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.

22+The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single thy whole body shall be lightsome.

23 But if thy eye be evil thy whole body shall be darksome. If then the light that s in thee, be darkness: the darkness itself how great shall it be?

24 No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment ?

26 Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they?

27 And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit?

28 And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin.

29 But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.

30 And if the grass of the field, which is to-day, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, Oye of little faith?

31 Be not solicitous therefore, saying, What shall we eat or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed?

2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why seest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye; and seest not the beam that is in thy own eye?

4 Or how sayest thou to thy brother: Let me cast the mote out of thy eye; and behold a beam is in thy own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

6 Give not that which is holy to dogs; neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turning upon you, they tear you.

7** Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.

8 For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

9 + Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will be reach him a stone?

10 Or if he shall ask him a fish, will be reach him a serpent?

11 If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?

12 All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets.

13 Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat.

14 How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!

15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth

CHAP. VII.

The third part of the sermon on the mount.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits you shak know them.

21 11 Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my

|

the kingdom of heaven.

Mark, 11, 24, Luke, 11. 9.

1. 6. Luke, 11, 11.

John, 14, 13. James, Tobias, 4. 16. Luke, Supra, 3. 10.-¶¶ La

fra, 25. Ĭf. Luke, 6. 46.

6. 31.-$5 Luke, 13, 24.

mammon.

25 Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment ?

26 Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they?

27 And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit?

28 And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin.

29 But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.

30 And if the grass of the field, which is to-day, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, Oye of little faith ?

31 Be not solicitous therefore, saying, What shall we eat or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed ?

2 For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: ¶ and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why seest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye; and seest not the beam that is in thy own eye?

4 Or how sayest thou to thy brother: Let me cast the mote out of thy eye; and behold a beam is in thy own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

6 Give not that which is holy to dogs; neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turning upon you, they tear you.

7** Ask, and it shall be given you seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.

8 For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

9 + Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone?

10 Or if he shall ask him a fish, will he reach him a serpent?

11 If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?

12 All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets.

13 Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat.

14 How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!

15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits you shal know them.

21 ¶¶ Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mark, 11. 24, Luke, 11. 9.
1. 6. ++ Luke, 11, 11.-
6. 31.-$5 Luke, 13. 24.- ||
fra, 25. Ĭf. Luke, 6. 46.

John, 14, 13. James, Tobias, 4. 16. Luke, Supra, S. 10.-¶¶ La