Page:Malefactor reformed, or, The life of Philip Parson, of Birmingham.pdf/19

19 Herod's Massacre of the Innocents.

THEN Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from  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 voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children,  would not be comforted, because they are not.

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. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea, in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled what was spoken of by the prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.