Part 681 (1/2)

3:4. As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

3:5. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain.

3:6. And all flesh shall see the salvation of G.o.d.

3:7. He said therefore to the mult.i.tudes that went forth to be baptized by him: Ye offspring of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come?

3:8. Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance: and do not begin to say, We have Abraham for our father. For I say unto you that G.o.d is able of these stones, to raise up children to Abraham.

3:9. For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire.

3:10. And the people asked him, saying: What then shall we do?

3:11. And he answering, said to them: He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do in like manner.

3:12. And the publicans also came to be baptized and said to him: Master, what shall we do?

3:13. But he said to them: Do nothing more than that which is appointed you.

3:14. And the soldiers also asked him, saying: And what shall we do? And he said to them: Do violence to no man, neither calumniate any man; and be content with your pay.

3:15. And as the people were of opinion, and all were thinking in their hearts of John, that perhaps he might be the Christ:

3:16. John answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize you with water: but there shall come one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire;

3:17. Whose fan is in his hand: and he will purge his floor and will gather the wheat into his barn: but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

3:18. And many other things exhorting did he preach to the people.

3:19. But Herod the tetrarch, when he was reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done:

3:20. He added this also above all and shut up John in prison.

3:21. Now it came to pa.s.s, when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was opened.

3:22. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove, upon him. And a voice came from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son. In thee I am well pleased.

3:23. And Jesus himself was beginning about the age of thirty years: being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was of Heli, who was of Mathat,

Who was of Heli... St. Joseph, who by nature was the son of Jacob, (St.

Matt. 1. 16,) in the account of the law, was son of Heli. For Heli and Jacob were brothers, by the same mother; and Heli, who was the elder, dying without issue, Jacob, as the law directed, married his widow: in consequence of such marriage, his son Joseph was reputed in the law the son of Heli.

3:24. Who was of Levi, who was of Melchi. who was of Janne, who was of Joseph,

3:25. Who was of Mathathias, who was of Amos, who was of Nahum, who was of Hesli, who was of Nagge,

3:26. Who was of Mahath, who was of Mathathias, who was of Semei, who was of Joseph, who was of Juda,

3:27. Who was of Joanna, who was of Reza, who was of Zorobabel, who was of Salathiel, who was of Neri,