Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/223

Rh companion of their journey. Therefore, leaving home, he retired into Egypt, and remained there the space of one whole year, until Herod's jealousy passed away.

Herod died the worst kind of death, suffering punishment for the shed blood of the children, whom he iniquitously destroyed when there was no sin in them. And when that impious tyrant Herod was dead, the parents of Jesus returned with him to the land of Israel, and dwelt in a city of Galilee which is called Nazareth. Now Joseph, resuming his carpenter's trade, supported life by the work of his hands; for he did not seek his food for nought by the labour of another; as the law of Moses had commanded.

length, his years increasing, the old man arrived at an advanced age. Yet he laboured under no infirmity of body, his sight failed not, and no tooth in his mouth decayed, nor was he ever insane in mind in all his life; but, like a youth, he always displayed juvenile vigour in his affairs, and his members remained whole and free from all pain. His whole