Philip Parsons

“ I smote upon my breast, and said, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!’ When the approach of the malefactors was announced, I asked myself, ‘Why am I not one of them? for surely I deserve the gallows!’ I said, ‘ It is of thy mercy, O Lord, that I am not consumed!’ I resolved to make all the reparation in my power to any whom I had injured if I could do it privately. ”

“ And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and she spake out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, and whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me; for, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. ”

“ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. ”

“ Having taken upon me the yoke of Christ, I am constrained to affirm, that it is easy, and his burden light; and I can assure my readers, I find so much personal and domestic happiness, that I would not exchange my present situation for the whole world. I enjoy so much comfort, and reap so many spiritual advantages in attending the house of God, that I would rather be a door-keeper therein than dwell in the tents of wickedness. ”

“ He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
The Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Virgin Mary.
NOW the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise; when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. ”

“ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart, and the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
The Epiphany, or Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.
NOW, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of Herod the king, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ”

“ THEN Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. ”

“ Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own house.———The disciple alluded to, is St. John the Evangelist; and we have no more concerning Mary, but what is derived from tradition; which informs us, that on the banishment of St. John to the Island of Patmos she accompanied him in his exile, and there died
SPIRITUAL HYMNS.
Providence. ”