The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

§. Because there was no room for them in the Inn.

At the return out of Babylon, the children of Bethlehem were a hundred twenty three persons, Ezra 2. 21. Now that being four hundred and fifty years past, and somewhat above; to what a multitude might the stock or breed of that City be grown by this time of Christs birth? This multitude pressing together to their own City, according to the Emperors edict, the weakest go to the walls, and Joseph and Mary are excluded out of the Inn: and thus the free-woman and her Son, are cast out of doors, as the bond-wo∣man and her Son had been, Gen. 21.

Vers. 8. And there were Shepherds, &c.

The Patriarchs to whom Christ was more especially promised, were of this vocation, Gen. 47. 3. especially Abraham and David, to whom the promise was more clearly made; peculiarly David who was feeding Sheep near to Bethlehem, when he was taken a Father and type of Christ, 1 Sam. 16. 11, 12. And it doth illustrate the exactness of the perfor∣mance the more, and doth Harmonize with the giving of it the better, when to Shep∣herds it is first revealed, as to Shepherds it was first promised. Compare this with the Vi∣sions of Jacob and Moses with their flocks, Gen. 31. 10. Exod. 3. 3. and of Sampsons mother in the field.