The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Complete. William Wake

      CHAPTER VIII.

      2 Mary fed in the temple by angels.

       3 When twelve years old the priests consult what to do with her.

       6 The angel of the Lord warns Zacharias to call together all the

       widowers, each bringing a rod.

       7 The people meet by sound of trumpet.

       8 Joseph throws away his hatchet, and goes to the meeting.

       11 A dove comes forth from his rod, and alights on his head.

       12 He is chosen to betroth the Virgin,

       13 refuses because he is an old man,

       14 is compelled,

       16 takes her home, and goes to mind his trade of building.

      AND her parents went away

       filled with wonder, and praising God,

       because the girl did not return back

       to them.

      2 But Mary continued in the

       temple as a dove educated there,

       and received her food from the

       hand of an angel.

      3 And when she was twelve

       years of age, the priests met in a

       council, and said, Behold, Mary is

       twelve years of age, what shall we

       do with her, for fear lest the holy

       place of the Lord our God should

       be defiled?

      4 Then replied the priests to

       Zacharias the high-priest, Do you

       stand at the altar of the Lord, and

       enter into the holy place, and make

       petitions concerning her, and

       whatsoever the Lord shall manifest

       unto you, that do.

      5 Then the high-priest entered

       into the Holy of Holies, and taking

       away with him the breast-plate of

       judgment made prayers concerning her;

      6 And behold the angel of the

       Lord came to him, and said,

       Zacharias, Zacharias, Go forth and

       call together all the widowers

       among the people, and let every

       one of them bring his rod, and

       he by whom the Lord shall shew

       a sign shall be the husband of

       Mary.

      7 And the criers went out

       through all Judaea, and the trumpet

       of the Lord sounded, and all

       the people ran and met together.

      8 Joseph also throwing away

       his hatchet, went out to meet

       them; and when they were met,

       they went to the high-priest;

       taking every man his rod.

      9 After the high-priest had

       received their rods, he went

       into the temple to pray;

      10 And when he had finished

       his prayer, he took the rods, and

       went forth and distributed them,

       and there was no miracle attended

       them.

      11 The last rod was taken by

       Joseph, said behold a dove

       proceeded out of the rod, and

       flew upon the head of Joseph.

      12 And the high-priest said,

       Joseph, Thou art the person

       chosen to take the Virgin of the

       Lord, to keep her for him:

      13 But Joseph refused, saying,

       I am an old man, and have children,

       but she is young, and I fear

       lest I should appear ridiculous

       in Israel.

      14 Then the high-priest replied,

       Joseph, Fear the Lord thy God,

       and remember how God dealt with

       Dathan, Korah, and Abiram, how

       the earth opened and swallowed

       them up, because of their

       contradiction.

      15 Now therefore, Joseph, fear

       God lest the like things should

       happen in your family.

      16 Joseph then being afraid,

       took her unto his house, and

       Joseph said unto Mary, Behold, I

       have taken thee from the temple

       of the Lord, and now I will leave

       thee in my house; I must go to

       mind my trade of building. The

       Lord be with thee.