The soul's communion with her savior. Or, The history of our Lord Jesus Christ, written by the four evangelists digested into devotional meditations. The first part.

§. 3.

Holy Joseph (having abode in Egypt til Herod was dead)* 1.1 upon the Information and Enco∣ragement [ 19] which he received from an Angel of the Lord, that they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dead which sought the yong Child's Life, arose and took the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and his Mo∣ther, [ 20] and came into the Land of Israel; but, in regard he [ 21] was afraid to go into Iuden, where Archelaus did reign in [ 22] the room of his Father Herod, being further warned of God in

a Dream, he turned aside into Galilee, and dwelt in a City [ 23] called Nazareth.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Christ, For ordering the seemingly accidental Circum∣stances of thy Life to fulfil that [ 15] which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophets; thy Return from Banishment, upon a Divine Summons, expresly answering That Saying, Out of Egypt hav I called my Son; and thine Abode in Nazareth, accor∣ding to God's Direction, impli∣citly corresponding with This, he shal be called a 〈◊〉〈◊〉. [ 23] In all my Spiritual Desertions, whensoever I am restrained from thy Sanctuary or cast out of thy Sight, Lord grant I may pa∣tiently attend, and at last hap∣pily find, the seasonabl Returns of thy Grace and Presence, and

altho my whol Life be an un∣settled Pilgrimage, yet be thou pleased to refresh me in the various Stages of it with the Society and Priviledges of thy Chosen Peepl, and bring me in the end to the place where 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Honor dwelleth: that as Thou,* 1.2 O Child of God, didst grow and war strong in Spirit, being [ 40] filled with Wisdom; so the Grace of God may be upon Me in like manner.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S. Mat. 2.
• * 1.2

  S. Luke 2.