The Life and Travels of our Blessed Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST: With a Description of the Years of his Ministry: As also a Description of the Wise Men of the East, and likewise of the Star that guided them; With a Just Account of the Travels of the Virgin MARY.  

 Wise Men traveling The Travels of the Wise Men of the East, which came to Bethlehem to see Jesus.  
THe Magi were certain Wise Men of Persia, so called from Meditation, being derived of Hagah, that is, He hath Meditated and taken in the 3d. Conjugation; it signifies to find or search out a thing, they being such as gave themselves to the Knowledge of hard things, and to find out the Secrets and Mysteries of Nature: But according to Varinus, they were not onely Philosophers, but Priests also. Strabo saith that the Magi were such among the Persians, as those whom the Indians call Gimnosophers and Academians, the Babylonians, Chaldeans, and the Hebrews, Prophets or Priests which taught the People Divine Knowledge; and when the Ten Tribes were carried into Captivity by Salmanaser Emperour of the Assyrians,( into Assyria, Media, and Persia,) there is no question but they took with them into the East, the Holy Books and volumes of the Law and of the Prophets, whereby without doubt many of the people and Philosophers of the East came to have a taste of the true Knowledge and Worship of God. Also the Prophet Daniel was brought up in all the Arts of the Chaldeans, whose Writings and Prophecies were not only written and published amongst the Babylonians, but also had in great account and estimation amongst the Magi; so that they diligently perusing those Books, came not onely to the Knowledge of God, but also without doubt to the knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ, whom they call the Star of Jacob; from whence may be concluded, that the Wise Men that came to see our Saviour Christ, were rather of Susa, Persia, than of Zaba in Aethiopia; wherefore these Wise Men came from the Academy of Susa in Persia to Jerusalem, which was 920 miles, saying, Where is he that is Born King of the Jews, for we have seen his Star in the East, 
●… atth. 2.  and are come to Worship him. This happened in the Month of January, in the second Year after the Birth of Christ. For Herod in the Seventieth Year of his Age, caused all the Male-Children of the Bethlemites of two Years Old and under( according to the time that he was  told of the Wise Men) to be put to the Sword.  
From Jerusalem they went to Bethlehem, which was 6 miles, where upon the 6th. of January they offered three presents which they brought out of Persia to our Saviour, Viz. Gold, as to a King; Frankincense, as to a Priest; and Myrrh, as to a Mortal Man. 
Matth. 2.   
So let us offer unto Christ our Saviour, the Gold of Faith and Heavenly Doctrine; the Frankincense of earnest Prayers; and the Myrrh of patience in the midst of Calamity.  
Afterward the Wise Men( as they had been wandering in a Dream) returned another way to Susa in Persia, which was 920 miles.  
So the Travels were 1846 Miles.   

 nativity scene Of the Star that appeared to the Wise Men in the EAST.  
SInce this Star appeared in the lower Region of the air,( as it is apparent it did) from thence it may be concluded, that it neither was any of the fixed Stars, Planet, or a Comet, because they are commonly seen in the upper Region of the air, but rather, according to the opinion of some, it was an Angel of God appearing in the form of a bright shining Star, to direct the Wise Men in their way as they went to the Town of Bethlehem; and so by little and little descending from the sublimite of the air, pointed out unto them the very House where they might find Mary the Mother of our Lord, and the Child Jesus: Almost after the same manner as the Angel of the Lord in the time of Moses appeared to the Children of Israel, that is, in the Day like a Cloudy Pillar, and in the Night like a Flaming Fire, 
Exod. 13.  to direct them the way, Wherefore this Star without doubt was no natural Apparition, which happened in the inferior Region of the air, suddenly Vanishing away, but as I have said, an Angel of the Lord representing the form of a Star; or else as Chrysostome saith, a certain miraculous near Star, which according to the opinion of Augustine, was governed by an Angel of the Lord, and for the greatness of the Body and Variety of the Aspects, was not seen first in the Land of Judea, but in Persia, a Country in the East where the Magi dwelled, and accompanied them thence into Judea, and although for a short space it left them in the Journey, yet as soon as they came in the way to Bethlehem, it Appeared to them again. 
Matth. 2.  As Nicephorus observes, the Star appeared upon the Day of the Conception of Christ, being the 25th. day of March, about which time the Arch-Angel Gabriel spoken with the Virgin Mary: 
Luke 1.  And was seen for a whole Year and Fourty-One Weeks, that is, till the 6th. of January, in the beginning of the second Year after the Nativity of Christ, it wanted Eleven Weeks of Two Years, and therefore Herod caused all the Male Children of the Bethlemites of Two Years old and under, to be slain: wherefore this New Star, did  
First, foreshew the Birth of Christ, that bright shining Star, and Eternal Light of Glory, 
Numb. 22.  according to the prophesy of Billa.  

2 Pet. 1.  Secondly, The Light of Gods Word, and the Gospel.  
Thirdly, Godly and Faithful Ministers and Teachers, who by their Wise Doctrine, and Godly Life and Conversation,( thereby being an Example to others, that they may follow the same steps) should set before their Auditors, and such as observe their actions, the Way to CHRIST and Eternal Happiness.   

 nativity scene The Travels of the Virgin Mary.  
MARY if it be Derived of Marah, signifieth such a Person as is Oppressed with Carefulness and Grief; one that is laid open to all Misery and Calamity, prest with continual Vexation and Mourning.  
She was born upon the 8th. Day of September, 14 Y. before the Birth of Christ, and in the Fifteenth of her Age brought forth her only Begotten Son, according to St. jerome, her Fathers Name was Ehakim, of the House of David.  
Upon the 25th. Day of March in the same year that our Saviour Christ was Born, Mary being then 14 Y. Old, and the Angel Gabriel Declared unto her the embassy of the Conception of our Lord Jesus Christ; a little after, about the beginning of April Anno 3667. She went from Nazareth in great hast over the Hills to Jerusalem, 
Luke 1.  64 Miles, to the House of Zacharias, and there Saluted her Couzen Elizabeth.  
From thence she returned back again to Nazareth, which was 64 Miles. And when the command came out from Caesar Augustus, That all the World should be Taxed, then Joseph and Mary went from Nazareth to Bethelem, 72 Miles, and there the time of Mary's Deliverance drew near, 
Luke 2.  and lo, She bare the Son of the Living God, our Lord and Saviour CHRIST. From Bethelem Joseph and Mary brought the Child Jesus to Jerusalem, and presented him in the Temple, which was 6 Miles. And when they had accomplished all things according to the Law, they returned back again to Nazareth, a Town in Gallilee, 64 Miles. From Nazareth they went back again to Bethelem, 72 Mi. Thither the Wise Men coming out of the East, brought the Child Jesus Gold, 
Matth. 2.  Frankincense, and Myrrh. From Bethelem( the same night that Herod caused all the Infants of two years old and under, to be slain) Joseph and Mary fled with the Child Jesus to Hermapulis, 
Matth. 2.  a City in egypt, which was 296 Miles.  
From thence they returned back again with the Child Jesus to Nazareth, 368 Miles; for they were greatly afraid lest Archilaus( w●… succeeded his Father Herod in the Government of the Jew 〈…〉 seek the Childs Life. 
Matth. 2.  From Nazareth joseph and Mary came 〈…〉 to jerusalem, which was 64 Miles to the Feast of the Pass●… many Miles back again; which for Ten years continu●… 1280 Miles. When Christ was 12 years of Age, and a 〈…〉 of the 13th. 
Luke 2.  he went with his Parents from Nazareth t●… the Passeover, which was 64 Miles. And when the days 〈…〉 of the Passeover were accomplished, they returned home a 〈…〉 Child Jesus stayed at jerusalem, and his Parents knew it not, 〈…〉 thought he had been among the Company; wherefore when 〈…〉 traveled a days Journey,( that is 20 Miles) they missed the●… After they searched through the company, but could not find him, whe●…fore they returned baek to Jerusalem, being 20 Miles, where on the 3d. day after they found him in the Temple, sitting among the Doctors, and Disputing with them; so the next three days he returned back again with his Parents to Nazareth, which was 64 Miles, and was obedient to them. 
Luke 2.  After Joseph and Mary went every year during the life of Joseph, up to jerusalem to the Feast of the Passeover, and without all doubt took Jesus along with them; thus they continued for the space of three years, about which time joseph dyed, Christ being then sixteen years of Age; which 3 years travail of Nazareth to Jerusalem& back again, cometh to 384 Miles. From that time forward he continued with his Mother, till he was 31 years of Age, which was the first year of his Ministry, Mary his Mother being then 45 years old, was Invited to a Marriage in Cana, a City of Gallilee, which stood 8 m. from Gallilee towards the North-west. 
John 2.  Here our Saviour Christ wrought his first Miracle, by changing water into Wine. From Cana in Gallilee, she went with our Saviour to Capernaum, a City of Gallilee, a little before the Feast of Paschal-Lamb, which was 20 mile. From Capernaum she returned back to Nazareth, which was accounted 12 miles. In the 32d. year of the age of our Saviour Christ, which was the second year of his Ministry, 
Matth. 2.  Mary went from Nazareth back again to Capernaum, where our Saviour Christ cast forth a Devil, which was 12 Mi. From thence she return'd back again to Nazareth, which was 12 Miles, for in this Town she dwelled, whilst Jesus traveled from place to place, Teaching and preaching the word of God. 
Mark 6.  And although she oftentimes went from Nazareth with him to many places, continuing still in his company; yet then especially, when he was to sustain the Wrath of God, and punishment for the Sin of Man, which was in the 34th. year of his age, in which year she would not forsake him till his death; for she went from Gallilee to jerusalem with him, which was 64 Miles, a great journey for one of her age,( being then 48 years old;) and when our Saviour was Crucified, she stood close by the across with a heavy& pensive countenance, bewailing the death of her Son; then was the prophesy of Old Simeon accomplished: And a Sword shall pass through thy Soul. 
Luke 2.  But after by his Glorious Resurrection and Ascension, she was revived and comforted: from the passion of Christ, to the death of the blessed Virgin Mary, was 12 years; all which time she lived with John the Evangelist in Jerusalem, and then being 59 years of age dyed, and was butted( according to the opinion of Nicephorus and others) in the Garden called Gethsonene. So all the Travels of the Virgin Mary was, 3506 Miles.   
Finis.   

Printed for P. Brooksby; at the Golden-Ball, near the Hospital-Gate, in West-smith-field.