,this e,book was produced by ,david ,widger widgercecomet4net ,additional proofing was done by ,curtis ,a4 ,weyant ,,the ,,suppressed ,,gospels ,,and ,,epistles ,,of ,,the ,,original ,,new ,,testament ,,of ,,jesus ,,the ,,christ ,,and ,,other ,,portions ,,of ,,the ,,ancient ,,holy ,,scriptures4 ,,now ,,extant1 ,,attributed ,,to ,,his ,,apostles1 ,,and ,,their ,,disciples1 ,,and ,,venerated ,,by ,,the ,,primitive ,,christian ,,churches ,,during ,,the ,,first ,,four ,,centuries1 ,,but ,,since1 ,,after ,,violent ,,disputations ,,forbidden ,,by ,,the ,,bishops ,,of ,,the ,,nicene ,,council1 ,,in ,,the ,,reign ,,of ,,the ,,emperor ,,constantine ,,and ,,omitted ,,from ,,the ,,catholics ,,and ,,protestant ,,editions ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,testament1 ,,by ,,its ,,compilers ,,translated ,,from ,,the ,,original ,,tongues1 ,,with ,,historical ,,references ,,to ,,their ,,authenticity1 ,,by ,,archbishop ,,wake ,,and ,,other ,,learned ,,divines ,,the ,,gospel ,,called ,,the ,,protevangelion2 ,or1 an ,historical ,account of the ,,birth of ,,christ1 and the perpetual ,,virgin ,,mary1 his ,mother1 by ,,james ,,the ,,lesser1 ,cousin and ,brother of the ,lord ,jesus1 chief ,apostle and first ,bishop of the ,christians in ,jerusalem4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,joachim1 a rich man1 #b offers to the ,lord1 #c is opposed by ,reuben the high priest1 because he has not begotten issue in ,israel1 #f retires into the wilderness and fasts forty days and forty nights4 ,,in the history of the twelve tribes of ,israel we read there was a certain person called ,joachim1 who being very rich1 made double offerings to the ,lord ,god1 having made this resolution3 ,my substance shall be for the benefit of the whole people1 that ,i may find mercy from the ,lord ,god for the forgiveness of my sins4 #b ,but at a certain great feast of the ,lord1 when the children of ,israel offered their gifts1 and ,joachim also offered his1 ,reuben the high-priest opposed him1 saying1 it is not lawful for thee to offer thy gifts1 seeing thou hast not begot any issue in ,israel4 #c ,at this1 ,joachim being concerned very much1 went away to consult the registries of the twelve tribes1 to see whether he was the only person who had begot no issue4 #d ,but upon inquiry he found that all the righteous had raised up seed in ,israel2 #e ,then he called to mind the patriarch ,abraham1 ,how that ,god in the end of his life had given him his son ,isaac2 upon which he was exceedingly distressed1 and would not be seen by his wife3 #f ,but retired into the wilderness1 and fixed his tent there1 and fasted forty days and forty nights1 saying to himself1 #g ,i will not go down either to eat or drink1 till the ,lord my ,god shall look down upon me1 but prayer shall be my meat and drink4 ,,chapter4 ,,ii4 #a ,anna1 the wife of ,joachim mourns her barrenness1 #f is reproached with it by ,judith her maid1 #i sits under a laurel tree and prays to the ,lord4 ,,in the mean time his wife ,anna was distressed and perplexed on a double account1 and said1 ,i will mourn both for my widowhood and my barrenness4 #b ,then drew near a great feast of the ,lord1 and ,judith her maid1 said1 ,how long will you thus afflict your soul8 ,the feast of the ,lord is now come1 when it is unlawful for any one to mourn4 #c ,take therefore this hood which was given by one who makes such things1 for it is not fit that ,i1 who am a servant should wear it1 but it well suits a person of your greater character4 #d ,but ,anna replied1 ,depart from me1 ,i am not used to such things2 besides1 the ,lord hath greatly humbled me4 #e ,i fear some ill-designing person hath given thee this1 and thou art come to reproach me with my sin4 #f ,then ,judith her maid answered1 what evil shall ,i wish you1 when you will not hearken to me8 #g ,i cannot wish you a greater curse than you are under1 in that ,god hath shut up your womb1 that you should not be a mother in ,israel4 #h ,at this ,anna was exceedingly troubled1 and having on her wedding garment1 went about three o'clock in the afternoon to walk in her garden4 #i ,and she saw a laurel-tree and sat under it1 and prayed unto the ,lord1 saying1 #aj ,o ,god of my fathers1 bless me and regard my prayer1 as thou didst bless the womb of ,sarah2 and gavest her a son ,isaac4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,anna perceiving a sparrow's nest in the laurels bemoans her barrenness4 ,,and as she was looking towards heaven she perceive a sparrow's nest in the laurel1 #b ,and mourning within herself1 she said1 ,wo is me1 who begat me8 and what womb did bear me1 that ,i should be thus accursed before the children of ,israel1 and that they should reproach and deride me in the temple of my ,god3 ,wo is me1 to what can ,i be compared8 #c ,i am not comparable to the very beasts of the earth1 for even the beasts of the earth are fruitful before thee1 ,o ,lord6 ,wo is me1 to what can ,i be compared8 #d ,i am not compared to the brute animal1 for even the brute animals are fruitful before thee1 ,o ,lord6 ,wo is me1 to what am ,i comparable8 #e ,i cannot be comparable to these waters1 for even the waters are fruitful before thee1 ,o ,lord6 ,wo is me1 to what can ,i be compared8 #f ,i am not comparable to the waves of the sea2 for these1 whether they are calm1 or in motion1 with the fishes which are in them1 praise thee1 ,o ,lord6 ,wo is me to what can ,i be compared8 #g ,i am not comparable to the very earth1 for the earth produces its fruits1 and praises thee1 ,o ,lord6 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #a ,an ,angel appears to ,anna and tells her she shall conceive2 two angels appear on the same errand4 #e ,joachim sacrifices4 #h ,anna goes to meet him1 #i rejoicing that she shall conceive4 ,,then an angel of the ,lord stood by her and said1 ,anna1 ,anna1 the ,lord hath heard thy prayer2 thou shalt conceive and bring forth1 and thy progeny shall be spoken of in all the world4 #b ,and ,anna answered1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth1 whatever ,i bring forth1 whether it be male or female1 ,i will devote it to the ,lord my ,god and it shall minister to him in holy things1 during its whole life4 #c ,and behold there appeared two angels1 saying unto her1 ,behold ,joachim thy husband is coming with his shepherds4 #d ,for an angel of the ,lord hath also come down to him1 and said1 ,the ,lord ,god hath heard thy prayer1 make haste and go hence1 for behold ,anna thy wife shall conceive4 #e ,and ,joachim went down and called his shepherds1 saying1 ,bring me hither ten she-lambs without spot or blemish1 and they shall be for the ,lord my ,god4 #f ,and bring me twelve calves without blemish1 and the twelve calves shall be for the priests and the elders4 #g ,bring me also a hundred goats1 and the hundred goats shall be for the whole people4 #h ,and ,joachim went down with the shepherds1 and ,anna stood by the gate and saw ,joachim coming with the shepherds4 #i ,and she ran1 and hanging about his neck1 said1 ,now ,i know that the ,lord hath greatly blessed me3 #aj ,for behold1 ,i who was as a widow am no longer as a widow1 and ,i who was barren shall conceive4 ,,chapter ,v4 #a ,joachim abides the first day in his house but sacrifices on the morrow4 #b ,consults the plate on the priests forehead1 #c and is without sin4 #f ,anna brings forth a daughter1 #i whom she calls ,mary4 ,,and ,joachim abode the first day in his house1 but on the morrow he brought his offerings1 and said1 #b ,if the ,lord be propitious to me let the plate which is on the priests forehead make it manifest4 #c ,and he consulted the plate which the priest wore1 and saw it1 and behold sin was not found in him4 #d ,and ,joachim said1 ,now ,i know that the ,lord is propitious to me1 and hath taken away all my sins4 #e ,and he went down from the temple of the ,lord justified1 and he went to his own house4 #f ,and when nine months were fulfilled to ,anna1 she brought forth1 and said to the midwife1 ,what have ,i brought forth8 #g ,and she told her1 ,a girl4 #h ,then ,anna said1 ,the ,lord hath this day magnified my soul2 and she laid her in bed4 #i ,and when the days of her purification were accomplished1 she gave suck to the child2 and called her name ,mary4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 #a ,mary at nine months old1 walks nine steps4 #c ,anna keeps her holy4 #d ,when she is a year old1 ,joachim makes a great feast4 #g ,anna gives her the breast1 and sings a song to the ,lord4 ,,and the child increased in strength every day1 so that when she was nine months old1 her mother put her upon the ground1 to try if she could stand2 and when she had walked nine steps1 she came again to her mother's lap4 #b ,then her mother caught her up1 and said1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth1 thou shalt not walk again on this earth1 till ,i bring thee into the temple of the ,lord4 #c ,accordingly she made her chamber a holy place1 and suffered nothing uncommon or unclean to come near her1 but invited certain undefiled daughters of ,israel1 and they drew her aside4 #d ,but when the child was a year old1 ,joachim made a great feast1 and invited the priests1 scribes1 elders1 and all the people of ,israel2 #e ,and ,joachim then made an offering of the girl to the chief- priests1 and they blessed her1 saying1 ,the ,god of our fathers bless this girl1 and give her a name famous and lasting through all generations4 ,and all the people replied1 ,so be it1 ,amen3 #f ,then ,joachim a second time offered her to the priests1 and they blessed her1 saying1 ,o most high ,god1 regard this girl1 and bless her with an everlasting blessing4 #g ,upon this her mother took her up1 and gave her the breast1 and sung the following song to the ,lord4 #h ,i will sing a song unto the ,lord my ,god1 for he hath visited me1 and taken away from me the reproach of mine enemies1 and hath given me the fruit of his righteousness1 that it may now be told the sons of ,reuben1 that ,anna gives suck4 #i ,then she put the child to rest in the room which she had consecrated1 and she went out and ministered unto them4 #aj ,and when the feast was ended1 they went away rejoicing1 and praising the ,god of ,israel4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 #c ,mary being three years old1 ,joachim causes certain virgins to light each a lamp1 and goes with her to the temple4 #e ,the high-priest places her on the third step of the altar1 and sits dances with her feet4 ,,but the girl grew1 and when she was two years old1 ,joachim said to ,anna1 ,let us lead her to the temple of the ,lord1 that we may perform our vow1 which we have vowed unto the ,lord ,god1 lest he should be angry with us1 and our offering be unacceptable4 #b ,but ,anna said1 ,let us wait the third year1 lest she should be at a loss to know her father4 ,and ,joachim said1 ,let us then wait4 #c ,and when the child was three years old1 ,joachim said1 ,let us invite the daughters of the ,hebrews1 who are undefiled1 and let them take each a lamp1 and let them be lighted1 that the child may not turn back again1 and her mind be set against the temple of the ,lord1 #d ,and they did thus till they ascended into the temple of the ,lord4 ,and the high-priest received her1 and blessed her1 and said1 ,mary1 the ,lord ,god hath magnified thy name to all generations1 and to the very end of time by thee will the ,lord shew his redemption to the children of ,israel4 #e ,and he placed her upon the third step of the altar1 and the ,lord gave unto her grace1 and she dance with her feet1 and all the house of ,israel loved her4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 #b ,mary fed in the temple by angels4 #c ,when twelve years old the priests consult what to do with her4 #f ,the angel of the ,lord warns ,zacharias to call together all the widowers1 each bringing a rod4 #g ,the people meet by sound of trumpet4 #h ,joseph throws away his hatchet1 and goes to the meeting4 #aa ,a dove comes forth from his rod1 and alights on his head4 #ab ,he is chosen to betroth the ,virgin1 #ac refuses because he is an old man1 #ad is compelled1 #af takes her home1 and goes to mind his trade of building4 ,,and her parents went away filled with wonder1 and praising ,god1 because the girl did not return back to them4 #b ,but ,mary continued in the temple as a dove educated there1 and received her food from the hand of an angel4 #c ,and when she was twelve years of age1 the priests met in a council1 and said1 ,behold1 ,mary is twelve years of age1 what shall we do with her1 for fear lest the holy place of the ,lord our ,god should be defiled8 #d ,then replied the priests to ,zacharias the high-priest1 ,do you stand at the altar of the ,lord1 and enter into the holy place1 and make petitions concerning her1 and whatsoever the ,lord shall manifest unto you1 that do4 #e ,then the high-priest entered into the ,holy of ,holies1 and taking away with him the breast-plate of judgment made prayers concerning her2 #f ,and behold the angel of the ,lord came to him1 and said1 ,zacharias1 ,zacharias1 ,go forth and call together all the widowers among the people1 and let every one of them bring his rod1 and he by whom the ,lord shall shew a sign shall be the husband of ,mary4 #g ,and the criers went out through all ,judaea1 and the trumpet of the ,lord sounded1 and all the people ran and met together4 #h ,joseph also throwing away his hatchet1 went out to meet them2 and when they were met1 they went to the high-priest2 taking every man his rod4 #i ,after the high-priest had received their rods1 he went into the temple to pray2 #aj ,and when he had finished his prayer1 he took the rods1 and went forth and distributed them1 and there was no miracle attended them4 #aa ,the last rod was taken by ,joseph1 said behold a dove proceeded out of the rod1 and flew upon the head of ,joseph4 #ab ,and the high-priest said1 ,joseph1 ,thou art the person chosen to take the ,virgin of the ,lord1 to keep her for him3 #ac ,but ,joseph refused1 saying1 ,i am an old man1 and have children1 but she is young1 and ,i fear lest ,i should appear ridiculous in ,israel4 #ad ,then the high-priest replied1 ,joseph1 ,fear the ,lord thy ,god1 and remember how ,god dealt with ,dathan1 ,korah1 and ,abiram1 how the earth opened and swallowed them up1 because of their contradiction4 #ae ,now therefore1 ,joseph1 fear ,god lest the like things should happen in your family4 #af ,joseph then being afraid1 took her unto his house1 and ,joseph said unto ,mary1 ,behold1 ,i have taken thee from the temple of the ,lord1 and now ,i will leave thee in my house2 ,i must go to mind my trade of building4 ,the ,lord be with thee4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 #a ,the priests desire a new veil for the temple1 #c seven virgins cast lots for making different parts of it1 #d the lot to spin the true purple falls to ,mary4 #e ,zacharias1 the high priest1 becomes dumb4 #g ,mary takes a pot to draw water1 and hears a voice1 #h trembles and begins to work1 #i an angel ,appears and salutes her1 and tells her she shall conceive by the ,holy ,ghost1 #ag she submits4 #ai ,visits her cousin ,elizabeth1 whose child in her womb leaps4 ,,and it came to pass1 in a council of the priests1 it was said1 ,let us make a new veil for the temple of the ,lord4 #b ,and the high-priest said1 ,call together to me seven undefiled virgins of the tribe of ,david4 #c ,and the servants went and brought them into the temple of the ,lord1 and the high-priest said unto them1 ,cast lots before me now1 who of you shall spin the golden thread1 who the blue1 who the scarlet1 who the fine linen1 and who the true purple4 #d ,then the high-priest knew ,mary2 that she was of the tribe of ,david2 and he called her1 and the true purple fell to her lot to spin1 and she went away to her own house4 #e ,but from that time ,zacharias the high-priest became dumb1 and ,samuel was placed in his room till ,zacharias spoke again4 #f ,but ,mary took the true purple2 and did spin it4 #g ,and she took a pot1 and went out to draw water1 and heard a voice saying unto her1 ,hail thou who art full of grace1 the ,lord is with thee2 thou art blessed among women4 #h ,and she looked round to the right and to the left 7to see7 whence that voice came1 and then trembling went into her house1 and laying down the water-pot1 she took the purple1 and sat down in her seat to work it4 #i ,and behold the angel of the ,lord stood by her1 and said1 ,fear not1 ,mary1 for thou hast found favour in the sight of ,god4 #aj ,which when she heard1 she reasoned with herself what that sort of salutation meant4 #aa ,and the angel said unto her1 ,the ,lord is with thee1 and thou shalt conceive3 #ab ,to which she replied1 ,what6 shall ,i conceive by the living ,god and bring forth as all other women do8 #ac ,but the angel returned answer1 ,not so1 ,o ,mary1 but the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon thee1 and the power of the ,most ,high shall overshadow thee2 #ad ,wherefore that which shall be born of thee shall be holy1 and shall be called the ,son of the ,living ,god1 and thou shalt call his name ,jesus2 for he shall save his people from their sins4 #ae ,and behold thy cousin ,elizabeth1 she also hath conceived a son in her old age4 #af ,and this now is the sixth month with her1 who was called barren3 for nothing is impossible with ,god4 #ag ,and ,mary said1 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord2 let it be unto me according to thy word4 #ah ,and when she had wrought her purple1 she carried it to the high-priest1 and the high-priest blessed her1 saying1 ,mary1 the ,lord ,god hath magnified thy name1 and thou shalt be blessed in all the ages of the world4 #ai ,then ,mary1 filled with joy1 went away to her cousin ,elizabeth1 and knocked at the door4 #bj ,which when ,elizabeth heard1 she ran and opened to her1 and blessed her1 and said1 ,whence is this to me1 that the mother of my ,lord should come unto me8 #ba ,for lo6 as soon as the voice of thy salutation reached my ears1 that which is in me leaped and blessed thee4 #bb ,but ,mary1 being ignorant of all those mysterious things which the archangel ,gabriel had spoken to her1 lifted up her eyes to heaven1 and said1 ,lord6 ,what am ,i1 that all the generations of the earth should call me blessed8 #bc ,but perceiving herself daily to grow big1 and being afraid1 she went home1 and hid herself from the children of ,israel2 and was fourteen years old when all these things happened4 ,,chapter ,x4 #a ,joseph returns from building houses1 finds the ,virgin grown big1 being six months gone with child1 #b is jealous and troubled1 #h reproaches her1 #aj she affirms her innocence1 #ac he leaves her1 #af determines to dismiss her privately1 #ag is warned in a dream that ,mary is with child by the ,holy ,ghost1 #bj and glorifies ,god who had shewn him such favour4 ,,and when her sixth month was come1 ,joseph returned from his building houses abroad1 which was his trade1 and entering into the house1 found the ,virgin grown big3 #b ,then smiting upon his face1 he said1 ,with what face can ,i look up to the ,lord my ,god8 or1 what shall ,i say concerning this young woman8 #c ,for ,i received her a ,virgin out of the temple of the ,lord my ,god1 and have not preserved her such6 #d ,who has thus deceived me8 ,who has committed this evil in my house1 and seducing the ,virgin from me1 hath defiled her8 #e ,is not the history of ,adam exactly accomplished in me8 #f ,for in the very instant of his glory1 the serpent came and found ,eve alone1 and seduced her4 #g ,just after the same manner it has happened to me4 #h ,then ,joseph arising from the ground1 called her1 and said1 ,o thou who hast been so much favoured by ,god1 why hast thou done this8 #i ,why hast thou thus debased thy soul1 who wast educated in the ,holy of ,holies1 and received thy food from the hand of angels8 #aj ,but she1 with a flood of tears1 replied1 ,i am innocent1 and have known no man4 #aa ,then said ,joseph1 ,how comes it to pass you are with child8 #ab ,mary answered1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth1 ,i know not by what means4 #ac ,then ,joseph was exceedingly afraid1 and went away from her1 considering what he should do with her2 and he thus reasoned with himself3 #ad ,if ,i conceal her crime1 ,i shall be found guilty by the law of the ,lord2 #ae ,and if ,i discover her to the children of ,israel1 ,i fear1 lest she being with child by an angel1 ,i shall be found to betray the life of an innocent person4 #af ,what therefore shall ,i do8 ,i will privately dismiss her4 #ag ,then the night was come upon him1 when behold an angel of the ,lord appeared to him in a dream1 and said1 #ah ,be not afraid to take that young woman1 for that which is within her is of the ,holy ,ghost1 #ai ,and she shall bring forth a son1 and thou shalt call his name ,jesus1 for he shall save his people from their sins4 #bj ,then ,joseph arose from his sleep1 and glorified the ,god of ,israel1 who had shewn him such favour1 and preserved the ,virgin4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 #c ,annas visits ,joseph1 perceives the ,virgin big with child1 #d informs the high priest that ,joseph had privately married her4 #h ,joseph and ,mary brought to trial on the charge4 #ag ,joseph drinks the water of the ,lord as an ordeal1 and receiving no harm1 returns home4 ,,then came ,annas the scribe1 and said to ,joseph1 ,wherefore have we not seen you since your return8 #b ,and ,joseph replied1 ,because ,i was weary after my journey1 and rested the first day4 #c ,but ,annas turning about perceived the ,virgin big with child4 #d ,and went away to the priest1 and told him1 ,joseph in whom you placed so much confidence1 is guilty of a notorious crime1 in that he hath defiled the ,virgin whom he received out of the temple of the ,lord1 and hath privately married her1 not discovering it to the children of ,israel4 #e ,then said the priest1 ,hath ,joseph done this8 #f ,annas replied1 ,if you send any of your servants you will find that she is with child4 #g ,and the servants went1 and found it as he said4 #h ,upon this both she and ,joseph were brought to their trial1 and the priest said unto her1 ,mary1 what hast thou done8 #i ,why hast thou debased thy soul1 and forgot thy ,god1 seeing thou wast brought up in the ,holy of ,holies1 and didst receive thy food from the hands of angels1 and heardest their songs8 #aj ,why hast thou done this8 #aa ,to which with a flood of tears she answered1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth1 ,i am innocent in his sight1 seeing ,i know no man4 #ab ,then the priest said to ,joseph1 ,why hast thou done this8 #ac ,and ,joseph answered1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth1 ,i have not been concerned with her4 #ad ,but the priest said1 ,lie not1 but declare the truth2 thou hast privately married her1 and not discovered it to the children of ,israel1 and humbled thyself under the mighty hand 7of ,god71 that thy seed might be blessed3 #ae ,and ,joseph was silent4 #af ,then said the priest 7to ,joseph71 ,you must restore to the temple of the ,lord the ,virgin which you took thence4 #ag ,but he wept bitterly1 and the priest added1 ,i will cause you both to drink the water of the ,lord1 which is for trial1 and so your iniquity shall be laid open before you4--bitter water that causeth the curse #ah ,then the priest took the water1 and made ,joseph drink1 and sent him to a mountainous place1 #ai ,and he returned perfectly well1 and all the people wondered that his guilt was not discovered4 #bj ,so the priest said1 ,since the ,lord hath not made your sins evident1 neither do ,i condemn you4 #ba ,so he sent them away4 #bb ,then ,joseph took ,mary1 and went to his house1 rejoicing and praising the ,god of ,israel4 ,,chap4 ,,xii4 #a ,a decree from ,augustus for taxing the ,jews4 #e ,joseph puts ,mary on an ass1 to return to ,bethlehem1 #f she looks sorrowful1 #g she laughs1 #h ,joseph inquires the cause of each1 #i she tells him she sees two persons1 one mourning and the other rejoicing4 #aj ,the delivery being near1 he takes her from the ass1 and places her in a cave4 ,,and it came to pass1 that there went forth a decree from the ,emperor ,augustus1 that all the ,jews should be taxed1 who were of ,bethlehem in ,judaea4 #b ,and ,joseph said1 ,i will take care that my children be taxed2 but what shall ,i do with this young woman8 #c ,to have her taxed as my wife ,i am ashamed2 and if ,i tax her as my daughter1 all ,israel knows she is not my daughter4 #d ,when the time of the ,lord's appointment shall come1 let him do as seems good to him4 #e ,and he saddled the ass1 and put her upon it1 and ,joseph and ,simon followed after her1 and arrived at ,bethlehem within three miles4 #f ,then ,joseph turning about saw ,mary sorrowful1 and said within himself1 ,perhaps she is in pain through that which is within her4 #g ,but when he turned about again1 he saw her laughing1 and said to her1 #h ,mary1 how happens it1 that ,i sometimes see sorrow1 and sometimes laughter and joy in thy countenance8 #i ,and ,mary replied to him1 ,i see two people with mine eyes1 the one weeping and mourning1 the other laughing and rejoicing4 #aj ,and he went again across the way1 and ,mary said to ,joseph1 ,take me down from the ass1 for that which is in me presses to come forth4 #aa ,but ,joseph replied1 ,whither shall ,i take thee8 for the place is a desert4 #ab ,then said ,mary again to ,joseph1 take me down1 for that which is within me mightily presses me4 #ac ,and ,joseph took her down4 #ad ,and he found there a cave1 and let her into it4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 #a ,joseph seeks a ,hebrew midwife1 #b perceives the owls stopping in their flight1 #c the working people at their food not moving1 #h the sheep standing still1 #i the shepherd fixed and immoveable1 #aj and kids with their mouths touching the water but not drinking4 ,,and leaving her and his sons in the cave1 ,joseph went forth to seek a ,hebrew midwife in the village of ,bethlehem4 #b ,but as ,i was going 7said ,joseph71 ,i looked up into the air1 and ,i saw the clouds astonished1 and the fowls of the air stopping in the midst of their flight4 #c ,and ,i looked down towards the earth1 and saw a table spread1 and working people sitting around it1 but their hands were upon the table and they did not move to eat4 #d ,they who had meat in their mouths did not eat4 #e ,they who lifted their hands up to their heads did not draw them back1 #f ,and they who lifted them up to their mouths did not put any thing in2 #g ,but all their faces were fixed upwards4 #h ,and ,i beheld the sheep dispersed1 and yet the sheep stood still4 #i ,and the shepherd lifted up his hand to smite them1 and his hand continued up4 #aj ,and ,i looked unto a river1 and saw the kids with their mouths close to the water1 and touching it1 but they did not drink4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 #a ,joseph finds a midwife4 #aj ,a bright cloud overshadows the cave4 #aa ,a great light in the cave1 gradually increases until the infant is born4 #ac ,the mid-wife goes out1 and tells ,salome that she has seen a virgin bring forth4 #ag ,salome doubts it4 #bj her hand withers1 #bb she supplicates the ,lord1 #bh is cured1 #cj but warned not to declare what she had seen4 ,,then ,i beheld a woman coming down from the mountains1 and she said to me1 ,where art thou going1 ,o man8 #b ,and ,i said to her1 ,i go to enquire for a ,hebrew midwife4 #c ,she replied to me1 ,where is the woman that is to be delivered8 #d ,and ,i answered1 ,in the cave1 and she is betrothed to me4 #e ,then said the midwife1 ,is she not thy wife8 #f ,joseph answered1 ,it is ,mary1 who was educated in the ,holy of ,holies1 in the house of the ,lord1 and she fell to me by lot1 and is not my wife1 but has conceived by the ,holy ,ghost4 #g ,the midwife said1 ,is this true8 #h ,he answered1 ,come and see4 #i ,and the midwife went along with him1 and stood in the cave4 #aj ,then a bright cloud over- shadowed the cave1 and the mid- wife said1 ,this day my soul is magnified1 for mine eyes have seen surprising things1 and salvation is brought forth to ,israel4 #aa ,but on a sudden the cloud became a great light in the cave1 so that their eyes could not bear it4 #ab ,but the light gradually decreased1 until the infant appeared1 and sucked the breast of his mother1 ,mary4 #ac ,then the midwife cried out1 and said1 ,how glorious a day is this1 wherein mine eyes have seen this extraordinary sight6 #ad ,and the midwife went out from the cave1 and ,salome met her4 #ae ,and the midwife said to her1 ,salome1 ,salome1 ,i will tell you a most surprising thing which ,i saw1 #af ,a virgin hath brought forth1 which is a thing contrary to nature4 #ag ,to which ,salome replied1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth unless ,i receive particular proof of this matter1 ,i will not believe that a virgin hath brought forth4 #ah ,if ,then ,salome went in1 and the midwife said1 ,mary1 shew thyself1 for a controversy is risen concerning thee4 #ai ,and ,salome received satisfaction4 #bj ,but her hand was withered1 and she groaned bitterly2 #ba ,and said1 ,woe to me1 because of mine iniquity2 for ,i have tempted the living ,god1 and my hand is ready to drop off4 #bb ,then ,salome made her supplication to the ,lord1 and said1 ,o ,god of my ,fathers1 remember me1 for ,i am of the seed of ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob4 #bc ,make me not a reproach among the children of ,israel1 but restore me sound to my parents4 #bd ,for thou well knowest1 ,o ,lord1 that ,i have performed many offices of charity in thy name1 and have received my reward from thee4 #be ,upon this an angel of the ,lord stood by ,salome1 and said1 ,the ,lord ,god hath heard thy prayer1 reach forth thy hand to the child1 and carry him1 and by that means thou shalt be restored4 #bf ,salome filled with exceeding joy1 went to the child1 and said1 ,i will touch him4 #bg ,and she purposed to worship him1 for she said1 ,this is a great king1 which is born in ,israel4 #bh ,and straightway ,salome was cured4 #bi ,then the midwife went out of the cave1 being approved by ,god4 #cj ,and lo6 a voice came to ,salome4 ,declare not the strange things which thou hast seen1 till the child shall come to ,jerusalem4 #ca ,so ,salome also departed1 approved by ,god4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 #a ,wise men come from the east4 #c ,herod alarmed2 #h desires them if they find the child to bring him word4 #aj ,they visit the cave and offer the child their treasure1 #aa and being warned in a dream1 do not return to ,herod1 but go home another way4 ,,then ,joseph was preparing to go away1 because there arose a great disorder in ,bethlehem by the coming of some wise men from the east1 #b ,who said1 ,where is the ,king of the ,jews born8 ,for we have seen his star in the east1 and are come to worship him4 #c ,when ,herod heard this1 he was exceedingly troubled1 and sent messengers to the wise men1 and to the priests1 and enquired of them in the town-hall1 #d ,and said unto them1 ,where have you it written concerning ,christ the king1 or where should he be born8 #e ,then they say unto him1 ,in ,bethlehem of ,judaea2 for thus it is written3 ,and thou ,bethlehem in the land of ,judah1 art not the least among the princes of ,judah1 for out of thee shall come a ruler1 who shall rule my people ,israel4 #f ,and having sent away the chief priests1 he enquired of the wise men in the town-hall1 and said unto them1 ,what sign was it ye saw concerning the king that is born8 #g ,they answered him1 ,we saw an extraordinary large star shining among the stars of heaven1 and so out-shined all the other stars1 as that they became not visible1 and we knew thereby that a great king was born in ,israel1 and therefore we are come to worship him4 #h ,then said ,herod to them1 ,go and make diligent inquiry2 and if ye find the child1 bring me word again1 that ,i may come and worship him also4 #i ,so the wise men went forth1 and behold1 the star which they saw in the east went before them1 till it came and stood over the cave where the young child was with ,mary his mother4 #aj ,then they brought forth out of their treasures1 and offered unto him gold and frankincense1 and myrrh4 #aa ,and being warned in a dream by an angel1 that they should not return to ,herod through ,judaea1 they departed into their own country by another way4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 #a ,herod enraged1 orders the infants in ,bethlehem to be slain4 #b ,mary puts her infant in an ox-manger4 #c ,elizabeth flees with her son ,john to the mountains4 #f ,a mountain miraculously divides and receives them4 #i ,herod incensed at the escape of ,john1 causes ,zacharias to be murdered at the altar4 #bc ,the roofs of the temple rent1 the body miraculously conveyed1 and the blood petrified4 #be ,israel mourns for him4 #bg ,simeon chosen his successor by lot4 ,,then ,herod perceiving that he was mocked by the wise men1 and being very angry1 commanded certain men to go and to kill all the children that were in ,bethlehem1 from two years old and under4 #b ,but ,mary hearing that the children were to be1 killed1 being under much fear1 took the child1 and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes1 and laid him in an ox- manger1 because there was no room for them in the inn4 #c ,elizabeth also1 hearing that her son ,john was about to be searched for2 took him and went up unto the mountains1 and looked around for a place to hide him2 #d ,and there was no secret place to be found4 #e ,then she groaned within herself1 and said1 ,o mountain of the ,lord1 receive the mother with the child4 #f ,for ,elizabeth could not climb up1 #g ,and instantly the mountain was divided and received them4 #h ,and there appeared to them an angel of the ,lord to preserve them4 #i ,but ,herod made search after ,john1 and sent servants to ,zacharias1 when he was 7ministering7 at the altar1 and said unto him1 ,were hast thou hid thy son8 #aj ,he replied1 to them1 ,i am a minister of ,god1 and a servant at the altar3 how should ,i know where my son is8 #aa ,so the servants went back1 and told ,herod the whole2 at which he was incensed1 and said1 ,is not this son of his like to be king of ,israel8 #ab ,he sent therefore again his servants to ,zacharias1 saying1 ,tell us the truth1 where is thy son1 for you know that your life is in my hand4 #ac ,so the servants went and told him all this3 #ad ,but ,zacharias replied to them1 ,i am a martyr for ,god1 and if ye skied my blood1 the ,lord will receive my soul4 #ae ,besides know that ye shed innocent blood4 #af ,however ,zacharias was murdered in the entrance of the temple said altar1 and about the partition2 #ag ,but the children of ,israel knew not when he want killed4 #ah ,then at the hour of salutation the priests went into the temple but ,zacharias did not according to custom1 meet them and bless them4 #ai ,yet they still continued waiting for him to salute them2 #bj ,and when they found he did not in a long time come1 one of them ventured into the holy place where the altar was1 and he saw blood lying upon the ground congealed3 #ba ,when1 behold1 a voice from heaven said1 ,zacharias is murdered1 and his blood shall not be wiped away1 until the revenger of his blood come4 #bb ,but when he heard this1 he was afraid2 and went forth and told the priests what he had seen and heard2 and they all went in1 and saw the fact4 #bc ,then the roofs of the temple howled1 and were rent from the top to the bottom3 #bd ,and they could not find the body1 but only blood made hard like stone4 #be ,and they went away1 and told the people1 that ,zacharias was murdered1 and all the tribes of ,israel heard thereof1 and mourned for him1 and lamented three days3 #bf ,then the priests took council together concerning a person to succeed him4 #bg ,and ,simeon and the other priests cast lots1 and the lot fell upon ,simeon4 #bh ,for he had been assured by the ,holy ,spirit1 that he should not die1 till he had seen ,christ come in the flesh4 7,i ,james wrote this ,history in ,jerusalem3 and when the disturbance was ,i retired into a desert place1 until the death of ,herod1 and the disturbances ceased at ,jerusalem4 ,that which remains is1 that ,i glorify ,god that he hath given me such wisdom to write unto you who are spiritual1 and who love ,god3 to whom 7be ascribed7 glory and dominion for ever and ever4 ,amen47 ,,the ,,protevangelion4 ,note on the death of ,zacharias in1 ,chap4 #af4 ,there is a story both in the ,jerusalem and ,babylonish ,talmud very similar to this4 ,it is cited by ,dr4 ,lightfoot1 ,talmud1 ,hierosol1 in ,taanith1 fol4 #fi2 and ,talmud4 ,babyl4 in ,sanhedr41 fol4 #if4 ,o ,rabbi ,jochanan said1 ,eighty thousand priests were slain for the blood of ,zacharias4 ,rabbi ,judas asked ,rabbi ,achan1 ,where did they kill ,zacharias8 ,was it in the woman's court1 or in the court of ,israel8 ,he answered1 ,neither in the court of ,israel1 nor in the court of women1 but in the court of the priests2 and they did not treat his blood in the same manner as they were wont to treat the blood of a ram or young goat4 ,for of these it is written1 ,he shall pour out his blood1 and cover it with dust4 ,but it is written here1 ,the blood is in the midst of her3 she set it upon the top of a rock2 she poured it not upon the ground4 7,ezek4 xxiv4 #g47 ,but why was this8 ,that it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance3 ,i have set his blood upon the top of a rock1 that it should not be covered4 ,they committed seven evils that day3 they murdered a priest1 a prophet1 and a king2 they shed the blood of the innocent they polluted the court3 that day was the ,sabbath3 and the day of expiation4 ,when therefore ,nebuzaradan came there 7viz4 to ,jerusalem17 he saw his blood bubbling1 and said to them1 ,what meaneth this8 ,they answered1 ,it is the blood of calves1 lambs1 and rams1 which we have offered upon the altar4 ,he commanded then1 that they should bring calves1 and lambs1 and rams1 and said ,i will try whether this be their blood3 accordingly they brought and slew them1 but the blood of ,zacharias still bubbled1 but the blood of these did not bubble4 ,then he said1 ,declare to me the truth of this matter1 or else ,i will comb your flesh with iron combs4 ,then said they to him1 ,he was a priest1 prophet1 and judge1 who prophesied to ,israel all these calamities which we have suffered from you2 but we arose against him1 and slew him4 ,then1 said he1 ,i will appease him then he took the rabbins and slew them upon his 7viz4 ,zacharias's7 blood1 and he was not yet appeased4 ,next he took the young boys from the schools1 and slew them upon his blood2 and yet it bubbled4 ,then he brought the young priests and slew them in the-same place1 and yet it still bubbled4 ,so he slew at length ninety-four thousand persons upon his blood1 and it did not as yet cease bubbling1 then he drew near to it1 and said1 ,o ,zacharias1 ,zacharias1 thou halt occasioned the death of the chief of thy countrymen1 shall ,i slay them all8 then the blood ceased1 and did bubble no more4 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,protevangelion4 ,this ,gospel is ascribed to ,james4 ,the allusions to it in the ancient ,fathers are frequent1 and their expressions indicate that it had obtained a very general credit in the ,christian world4 ,the controversies founded upon it chiefly relate to the age of ,joseph at the birth of ,christ1 and to his being a widower with children1 before his marriage with the ,virgin4 ,it seems material to remark1 that the legends of the latter ages affirm the virginity of ,joseph1 notwithstanding ,epiphanius1 ,hilary1 ,chrysostom1 ,cyril1 ,euthymius1 ,thephylaet1 ,occumenius1 and indeed all the ,latin ,fathers till ,ambrose1 and the ,greek ,fathers afterwards1 maintain the opinions of ,joseph's age and family1 founded upon their belief in the authenticity of this book4 ,it is supposed to have been originally composed in ,hebrew4 ,postellus brought the ,,ms4 of this ,gospel from the ,levant1 translated it into ,latin1 and sent it to ,oporimus1 a printer at ,basil1 where ,bibliander1 a ,protestant ,divine1 and the ,professor of ,divinity at ,zurich1 caused it to be printed in #aeeb4 ,postellus asserts that it was publicly read as canonical in the eastern churches they making no doubt that ,james was the author1 of it4 ,it is1 nevertheless considered apocryphal by some of the most learned divines in the ,protestant and ,catholic churches4