A harmony upon the the three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentary…A harmonie vpon the the three Euangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentarie…

But it is not sufficient simply to behold what is done, but we must also remember what was forespoken by the Prophet many ages before. And this comparison shall evidently show, that this tax was not commanded by Augustus Caesar, and Joseph and Mary removed not from their house, that they might at that time come to Bethlehem, without the wonderful providence of God: so we see that sometime the holy children of God, although they wander in mind, not knowing whether they go, yet they hold the right way, because the Lord directeth their steps: and the wonderful providence of God doth no less show it self in this, that the tyrannical government draweth Mary from her house that the prophecy might be fulfilled. God by his Prophet had appointed the place (as we shall after see) where he would his son should be borne: but if Mary had not by force ben compelled, she had determined to have been laid at home. Augustus commanded that a tax should be seized in Judah, & that every man should give his name, that thence forth they might pay a yearly tribute, which before they were wont to pay to God. So that which God used to require of his people, a profane man doeth violently snatch unto himself: and that were as much, as if he should bind the Jews wholly to himself, and should forbid that after that they should be accounted for the people of God. So when the matter was come to utter despair, and the Jews seemed for ever to be cut off and alienated from the government of God: God doth not only speedily and beyond the hope of all men, give a remedy, but he useth that wicked tyranny for the redemption: for the governor (or whosoever he was that was Caesar his deputy) while he executed that which was given him in commandment, was the secrete messenger of God, to fetch Mary to the place appointed of God. And certainly to this purpose tendeth the whole history of Luke, that the faithful might know that Christ was brought forth from his birth by the hand of God. For this availeth not a little for the assurance of faith, that Mary was suddenly and against her own mind drawn to Bethlehem, that the redeemer might come from thence, as he was promised.

But it is not sufficient simplie to beholde what is done, but we muste also remember what was forespoken by the Prophet many ages before. And this comparison shall euidently shewe, that this taxe was not commaunded by Augustus Caesar, and Ioseph and Marie remoued not from their house, that they might at that time come to Bethlehem, without the wōderful prouidēce of God: so we see that somtime the holy children of God, although they wander in minde, not knowing whether they goe, yet they holde the right way, because the Lord directeth their steps: and the wonderful prouidence of God doth no lesse shew it selfe in this, that the tyrannical gouernmēt draweth Marie from her house that the prophesie might be fulfilled. God by his Prophet had apoynted the place (as we shall after see) where he would his sonne should be borne: but if Mary had not by force ben compelled, she had determined to haue bene laid at home. Augustus commanded that a taxe should be seased in Iuda, & that euery man shuld geue his name, that thence forth they might pay a yerely tribute, which before they were woont to pay to God. So that which God vsed to require of his people, a prophane manne doeth violently snatche vnto himselfe: and that were as much, as if hee shoulde binde the Iewes wholely to himselfe, and should forbid that after that they should be accompted for the people of God. So when the matter was come to vtter despaire, and the Iewes seemed for euer to be cut off and alienated from the gouernment of God: God doth not only speedily and beyond the hope of all men, geue a remedy, but he vseth that wicked tiranny for the redemption: for the gouernor (or whosoeuer he was that was Caesar his deputie) while he executed that which was geuen him in commaundement, was the secrete messenger of God, to fetch Mary to the place appoynted of God. And certainly to this purpose tendeth the whole hystorie of Luke, that the faithfull might knowe that Christ was brought forth from his birth by the hand of God. For this auaileth not a litle for the assuraunce of faith, that Marie was sodenly and against her owne minde drawen to Bethlehem, that the redeemer might come frō thence, as he was promised.