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"their books in the common language, in which they are "now wrote, viz. Latin."

a

I fhall only add farther a lift of fuch writers, who have agreed to reject thefe Epiftles as fpurious and fuppofititious, who now offer themselves to my thoughts, viz. Baronius 2, Bellarmine, Poffevin, A. Schottus, Ludovicus Vives, and Du Pin, among the Popish writers: among the Proteftants, Coke, Rivet, Michael Walther, Dr. Cave, Spanheim', Mr. Eachard", and Mr. Fabritius ".

CHAP. XIII.

The Gospel of the Birth of Mary, published out of Jerome's

THIS

Works.

HIS Gofpel, however filly and ridiculous, I judged proper to infert here for the following reasons.

1. Because there was certainly a Gospel extant under this name in the primitive ages of Christianity.

2. Because it was received by feveral of the antient Chriftian hereticks.

3. Because it paffed formerly under the name of St. Matthew.

4. Because many of its relations were credited by the antient Catholick Chriftians in different countries.

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5. Because it contains the fame things as the Prot-evangelion of St. James; concerning the publication of which, and the truth of thefe facts here alledged, fee below, Chap. XV, XVI, &c.

The only place of the antient writings, in which it is extant, is among Jerome's works; Epift. ad Chromatium et Heliodorum. The occafion of its being found there was the defire of Chromatius and Heliodorus, two Bifhops, to Jerome, that he would tranflate it out of Hebrew, and give them his judgment upon it. Their Letter to him, with his Answer to them, and another Letter of his concerning this Gofpel, I have published after this Gospel in the next Chap

ter.

Numb. V.

EVANGELIUM de NA-
TIVITATE MARIE.

1.

BE

EATA et gloriofa 1. femper Virgo Maria, de ftirpe regia, et familia David oriunda, in civitate Nazareth nata, Hierofolymis in Templo Domini nutrita fuit. Pater ejus Joachim, mater vero Anna dicebatur. Domus paterna ex Galilæa et civitate Nazareth. Maternum autem genus ex Bethlehem erat. Vita eorum fimplex et recta apud Dominum, apud homines irreprehenfibilis erat et pia. Nam omnem fubftantiam fuam trifariam diviferunt, unam partem Templo et Templi fervitoribus impendebant: aliam peregrinis

The GOSPEL of the
BIRTH of MARY.

THE

HE blessed and ever glorious Virgin Mary, fprung from the royal race and family of David, was born in the city of Nazareth, and educated at Jerufalem in the Temple of the Lord. Her father's name was Joachim, and her mother's Anna. The family of her father was of Galilee and the city of Nazareth. The family of her mother was of Bethlehem. Their lives were plain and right in the fight of the Lord, pious and faultlefs before men. For they divided all their fubftance into three parts: one of which they devoted to the Temple and officers of the

Temple; another they diftributed among ftrangers, and per

fons

et pauperibus erogabant: ter tiam fuæ familiæ ufibus et fibi refervabant. Ita ifti Deo chari, hominibus pii, per annos circiter viginti, caftum domi conjugium fine liberorum procreatione exercebant. Voverunt tamen, fi forte Deus daret eis fobolem, eam fe Domini fervitio mancipatuTos, cujus rei gratia et Templum Domini fingulis per annum feftis frequentare folebant.

II. Factum eft autem, ut Encæniorum feftivitas appropinquaret; unde cum nonnullis contribulibus fuis Hierofolymam et Joachim afcendit. Ea vero tempeftate Ifachar ibi Pontifex erat: cumque inter cæteros concives fuos etiam Joachim cum oblatione fua videret, defpexit eum et munera ejus fprevit, interrogans, Cur inter fœcundos infœcundus ipfe ftare præfumeret? Dicens, munera nequaquam Deo digna poffe videri, quem ipfe prole indignum judicaffet; Scriptura dicente, maledictum omnem effe qui non genuiffet mafculum in Ifraele. Dicebat ergo

fons in poor circumstances; and the third they referved for themselves, and the ufes of their own family. In this manner they lived for about twenty years chaftely, in the favour of God, and the esteem of men, of men, without any children. But they vowed, if God fhould favour them with any iffue, they would devote it to the fervice of the Lord; on which account they went at every feaft in the year to the Temple of the Lord".

II. And it came to pass, that when the feaft of the Dedication drew near, Joachim, with fome others of his tribe, went up to Jerufalem, and at that time Ifachar was Highprieft; who, when he faw Joachim along with the rest of his neighbours (bringing) his offering, defpifed both him and his offerings, and asked him, Why he, who had no children, would prefume to appear among those who had? Adding, that his offerings could never be acceptable to God, who was judged by him unworthy to have children; the Scripture having faid, Curfed is every one who shall not beget a male in Ifrael. He

1 Sam. i. 6, 7, &c.

further

prius eum ab hac maledictione fobolis generatione folvendum, et fic demum in confpectu Domini cum oblationibus effe venturum. Cujus opprobrii objectu, pudore magno fuffufus Joachim, ad paftores, qui cum pecudibus erant in pafcuis fuis, feceffit, Neque enim domum repetere voluit, ne forte a contribulibus fuis, qui fimul aderant, et hoc a Sacerdote audierant, eodem opprobrii elogio nota

retur.

III. Verum cum ibi aliquandiu effet, quadam die cum effet folus, Angelus Domini ei cum immenfo lumine aftitit; qui cum ad ejus vifio. nem turbaretur, Angelus, qui ei apparuerat, timorem ejus compefcuit, dicens; Noli timere, Joachim, neque in vifione mea turberis; ego enim fum Angelus Domini, miffus ab ipfo ad te, ut annunciem tibi preces tuas effe exauditas, et eleemofynas tuas afcendiffe in confpectum ejus. Videns quippe vidit pudorem tuum, et audivit fterilitatis opprobrium nec recte tibi objectum. Peccati namque, non

further faid, that he ought first to be free from that curfe by begetting fome iffue, and then come with his offerings into the prefence of God. But Joachim being much confounded with the fhame of fuch reproach, retired to the shepherds who were with the cattle in their pastures; for he was not inclined to return home, left his neighbours, who were present and heard all this from the High-priest, fhould publickly reproach him in the fame manner.

III. But when he had been there for fome time, on a certain day when he was alone, the Angel of the Lord stood by him with a prodigious light, to whom being troubled at the appearance, the Angel who had appeared to him, endeavouring to compofe him, faid; Be not afraid, Joachim, nor troubled at the fight of me, for I am an Angel of the Lord fent by him to you, that I might inform you, that your prayers are heard, and your alms afcended in the fight of God. For he hath furely feen your shame, and heard you unjustly reproached for not having children; for God is

a A&. x. 4.

the

naturæ, ultor eft Deus, et ideo cum alicujus uterum claudit, ad hoc facit, ut mirabilius denuo aperiat, et non libidinis effe quod nafcitur, fed divini muneris cognofcatur. Prima enim gentis veftræ Sara mater, nonne ufque ad octogefimum annum infœcunda fuit? et tamen in ultima fenectutis ætate genuit Ifaac, cui repromiffa erat benedictio omnium gentium. Rachel quoque tantum Domino grata, tantumque a fancto Jacob adamata, diu fterilis fuit; et tamen Jofeph genuit, non folum Dóminum Ægypti, fed plurimarum gentium fame periturarum liberatorem. Quis in ducibus vel fortior Sampfone, vel fanctior Samuele? Et tamen hi ambo fteriles matres habuere. Si ergo ratio verbis meis tibi non perfuadet credere, dilatos diu conceptus et fteriles partus mirabiliores effe folere; proinde Anna uxor tua pariet tibi filiám, et vocabis nomen ejus Mariam: hæc erit, ut voviftis,

the avenger of fin, and not of nature; and fo when he shuts the womb of any person, he does it for this reafon, that he may in a more wonderful manner again open it, and that which is born appear to be not the product of luft, but the gift of God. For the first mother of your nation Sarah, was he not barren even till her eightieth year? And yet even in the end of her old age brought forth Ifaac, in whom the promife was made of a bleffing to all nations. Rachel alfo, fo much in favour with God, and be loved fo much by holy Jacob, continued barren for a long time, yet afterwards was the mother of Jofeph, who was not only governour of Egypt, but delivered many nations from perishing with hunger. Who among the judges was more valiant than Sampson, or more holy than Samuel? And yet both their mothers were bar

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and that those who were barren have brought forth to their great furprife; therefore Anna your wife shall bring you a daughter, and you shall call her name Mary; fhe fhall, according

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