The harmony of the Gospels in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

3. Though the present breaking forth of this Scandal, was now divinely and wonderfully prevented from coming forth by Joseph, yet they were in danger that some degree of Scandal might break forth, by an over soon time of her Birth, and in that case they never want observers of the time of marriages, especially when there be signal Characters upon the Parents, or concerning the Birth, as it was eminently in this case. But we shall see in the sequel of the History, that the Divine Providence of God did draw two Mantles over this danger, whereby the matter was put out of the reach of all observations of any man, viz.

3. Though the present breaking forth of this Scandal, was now divinely and wonderfully prevented from coming forth by Ioseph, yet they were in danger that some degree of Scandal might break forth, by an over soon time of her Birth, and in that case they never want observers of the time of marriages, especially when there be signal Characters upon the Parents, or concerning the Birth, as it was eminently in this case. But we shall see in the sequel of the History, that the Divine Providence of God did draw two Mantles over this danger, whereby the matter was put out of the reach of all observations of any man, viz.

The first Mantle was, that by occasion of Caesars Taxation of all the world under his dominion, Joseph and Mary were called, yea, compelled, though she was big with child, to go to Bethlehem the City of David, and there the child was born, far ⟨p. 8⟩from home, where there was no body had any knowledge of these things, to make so critical an observation.

The first Mantle was, that by occasion of Caesars Taxation of all the world under his dominion, Ioseph and Mary were called, yea, compelled, though she was big with child, to go to Bethlehem the City of David, and there the child was born, far ⟨p. 8⟩from home, where there was no body had any knowledge of these things, to make so critical an observation.