Chapter 7 No.7

7 The salutation of the Virgin by Gabriel, who explains to her

that she shall conceive, without lying with a man, while a Virgin,

19 by the Holy Ghost coming upon her without the heats of lust.

21 She submits.

NOW at this time of her first

coming into Galilee, the

angel Gabriel was sent to her

from God, to declare to her the

conception of our Saviour, and

the manner and way of her

conceiving him.

2 Accordingly going into her,

he filled the chamber where she

was with a prodigious light, and

in a most courteous manner saluting

her, he said,

3 Hail, Mary! Virgin of the

Lord most acceptable! O Virgin

full of grace! The Lord is with

you. You are blessed above all

women, and you are blessed above

all men, that have been hitherto

born.

4 But the Virgin, who had

before been well acquainted with

the countenances of angels, and

to whom such light from heaven

was no uncommon thing,

5 Was neither terrified with the

vision of the angel, nor astonished

at the greatness of the light, but

only troubled about the angel's

words,

6 And began to consider what

so extraordinary a salutation should

mean, what it did portend, or what

sort of end it would have.

7 To this thought the angel,

divinely inspired, replies;

8 Fear not, Mary, as though

I intended anything inconsistent

with your chastity in this salutation:

9 For you have found favour

with the Lord, because you made

virginity your choice.

10 Therefore while you are a

Virgin, you shall conceive without

sin, and bring forth a son.

11 He shall be great, because

he shall reign from sea to sea, and

from the rivers even to the ends of

the earth?

12 And he shall be called the

Son of the Highest; for he who is

born in a mean state on earth,

reigns in an exalted one in heaven.

13 And the Lord shall give him

the throne of his father David, and

he shall reign over the house of

Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom

there shall be no end.

14 For he is the King of Kings,

and Lord of Lords, and his throne

is forever and ever.

15 To this discourse of the

angel the Virgin replied, not, as

though she were unbelieving, but

willing to know the manner of it.

16 She said, How can that be?

For seeing, according to my vow,

I have never known any man, how

can I bear a child without the

addition of a man's seed.

17 To this the angel replied

and said, Think not, Mary, that

you shall conceive in the ordinary

way.

18 For, without lying with a

man, while a Virgin, you shall

conceive; while a Virgin, you

shall bring forth; and while a

Virgin shall give suck.

19 For the Holy Ghost shall

come upon you, and the power of

the Most High shall overshadow

you, without any of the heats of

lust.

20 So that which shall be born

of you shall be only holy, because

it only is conceived without sin,

and being born, shall be called the

Son of God.

21 Then Mary stretching forth

her hands, and lifting her eyes to

heaven, said, Behold the handmaid

of the Lord! Let it be unto me

according to thy word.