The spirit of the martyrs revived in a brief compendious collection of the most remarkable passages and living testimonies of the true church, seed of God, and faithful martyrs in all ages: contained in several ecclesiastical histories & chronological accounts of the succession of the true church from the creation, the times of the fathers, patriarchs, prophets, Christ and the Apostles.

The Continuation of the Discourse from the Birth of Christ.

AFter the Jews had Apostatized, according as the Prophets had foretold, and that the Messiah and Deliverer should come; so in the fulness of time Christ Jesus the Son of God was born of the Vir∣gin Mary, whom she roled in Swadling-Cloaths, and layed in a Manger because there was no room for him in the Inn; the Birth of Christ was revealed by an Angel of the Lord to Shepherds keeping their Flock by night in the Fields, and suddainly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the heavenly Host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth Peace and Good-will to men: The Shepherds making haste to Bethlehem, found Mary and Joseph and the Child lying in the Manger, and they published that which was told them concerning the Child, and they returned Praising and Glori∣fying God; but Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her Heart.

The Child was called Jesus (which signifies a Saviour) which was so declared by the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb. The Wise men from the East, the Star being their Guide, coming to Herod to Jerusalem, and there being taught that the Birth-place of Christ was at Bethlehem of Judea, they went thither, and entering in∣to the House which was shewed them by the Star, which stood over it; they found the little Child and Mary his Mother, and falling down worshipped him, and having opened their Treasures, they of∣fered unto him Gold, Frankinseence and Myrhe. Then being warned of God in a Dream that they should not return unto Herod, they departed into their own Country another way.

And when the Child was brought by his Parents to Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord, there came into the Temple one Simeon a just and devout man, who had waited for the Consolation of Israel; and the holy Ghost was upon him, and it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost, That he should not see Death before he had seen the Lords Christ; & he came by the Spirit into the Temple, and when the Parents brought the Child to do for him after the custom of the Law, then took he him up in his Arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou they Servant depart in Peace, according to thy Word; for mine Eyes hath seen thy Salvation, which thou hast ppreared before the Face of all People; a Light to Lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of thy People Israel: and Joseph, and his Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him; and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his Mother, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against.

In the same moment came Anna, a Prophetess, the Daughter of Phanuel, she also openly acknowledged the Lord, and speak of him to all that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem.

When Joseph and Mary had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, unto their own City Nazareth.

The Angel of the Lord appearing unto Joseph in a Dream, sheweth him, that he should flee into Egypt, that he might provide for the life of the Child, and escape the Devices of Herod, who being awakened took the Young Child, and his Mother by night, and departed into Aegypt, where he remained until the death of Herod: Herod think∣ing the Young Child had been still at Bethlehem, that he might De∣stroy him among the rest, killed all the Children that were in Bethle∣hem, and in all the Coast thereof from two years old and under, accor∣ding to the time (of the Star first seen in the East) that he had enqui∣red of the Wise-men.

Herod shortly after dyed Miserably, being dead, the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a Dream in Egypt, and commanded, that he should return with the young Child and his Mother into the Land of Israel; but when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Juda in the room of his Father Herod, he feared to go thither, and being warned of God in a dream, he departed into the parts of Galilee, and there dwelt in the City Nazareth, from whence Jesus took the Name of Nazarene, and the Christians of Nazarenes.

In the year of the World 4010. it being the Passover, [year of Christ 12] Christ in the Twelfth year of his Age was brought by Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem; his Parents returning home, he stayed behind, they not knowing where he was, sought him three dayes, and found him in the Temple sit∣ting in the midest of the Doctors, hearing them, and asking them Questions; and all that heard him were astonished at his Understand∣ing and Answers, and he went down with his Parents to Nazareth, and was obedient unto them, and followed his Fathers Trade of a Carpenter.

In the year of the World 4030. and in the thirtieth year of Christ, [year of Christ 30] John—came forth in his Ministry, Crying with a loud Voice in the Wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his Pathes streight, and opening the acceptable year of the Lord, or the time of his divine pleasure, preaching Repentance and Remission of Sins, being cloathed with a Garment of Camels Hair, and a girdle of Skins about his Loyns, and his food was Locus and wild Hony.

And now Jesus being filled with the Holy Ghost he was led by the Spirit into the desart, where he fasted forty dayes & forty night, where he was tempted, but the Tempter could find no place in him▪ when John was asked by the Sect of the Pharisees, who he was, he told them he was not the Christ, and denying that he was Elias or that Prophet; but said, he was the Voice of one Crying in the Wilderness, Make strait the Way of the Lord; and told them, I Baptize with Water, but there standeth ono amongst you, whom ye know not, he it is who cometh after me, who is preferred before me, whose Shoe Latchet I

am not worthy to unloose: The next day John seeing Jesus coming to him, saith, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the world; This is he of whom I spake, there cometh one after me that is preferred before me, and I saw him, and testifie that this is the Son of God.

And now Jesus going into Galilee, commanded Philip to follow him, he finding Nathaniel under a Fig-tree, and brings him to Jesus, who pronounces him to be truly an Israelite in whom was no guile.

Notes

• The year of Christ.
• Christ is born
• The great re∣joycing at his Birth.
• He is called Jesus.
• Simeons Testi∣mony con∣cerning that.
• Herods Cruel∣ty and Subtil endeavours to kill the Child Jesus.
• His Mouth was first ope••∣ed to oppose the Doctors, at twelve, years old.
• Iohn Ministry what it was.
• Jesus fasie•••• forty dayes
• Johns Testi∣mony concer∣ning Christ.