ould betroth the Virgin.

BUT the Virgin of the Lord, as
she advanced in years, increased
also in perfections, and according
to the saying of the Psalmist,
her father and mother forsook her,
but the Lord took care of her.

2 For she every day had the
conversation of angels, and every
day received visitors from God,
which preserved her from all sorts
of evil, and caused her to abound
with all good things;

3 So that when at length she
arrived to her fourteenth year, as
the wicked could not lay any thing
to her charge worthy of reproof,
so all good persons, who were
acquainted with her, admired her
life and conversation.

4 At that time the high-priest
made a public order, That all the
virgins who had public settlements
in the temple, and were come to
this age, should return home, and,
as they were now of a proper
maturity, should, according to the
custom of their country, endeavour
to be married.

5 To which command, though
all the other virgins readily yielded
obedience, Mary the Virgin of the
Lord alone answered, that she
could not comply with it,

6 Assigning these reasons, that
both she and her parents had
devoted her to the service of the
Lord; and besides, that she had
vowed virginity to the Lord,
which vow she was resolved never
to break through by lying with a
man.

7 The high-priest being hereby
brought into a difficulty,

8 Seeing he durst neither on the
one hand dissolve the vow, and
disobey the Scripture, which says,
Vow and pay,

9 Nor on the other hand
introduce a custom, to which
the people were strangers, commanded,

10 That at the approaching feast
all the principal persons both of
Jerusalem and the neighbouring
places should meet together, that
he might have their advice, how
he had best proceed in so difficult
a case.

11 When they were accordingly
met, they unanimously agreed to
seek the Lord, and ask counsel
from him on this matter.

12 And when they were all
engaged in prayer, the high-priest
according to the usual way, went
to consult God.

13 And immediately there was
a voice from the ark, and the mercy
seat, which all present heard, that
it must be enquired or sought out
by a prophecy of Isaiah, to whom
the Virgin should be given and be
betrothed;

14 For Isaiah saith, there shall
come forth a rod out of the stem of
Jesse, and a flower shall spring
out of its root,

15 And the Spirit of the Lord
shall rest upon him, the Spirit