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4.
1
AND when three years were expired, and the time of her weaning complete, they brought the Virgin to the temple of the Lord with offerings.
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4.
2
And there were about the temple, according to the fifteen Psalms of degrees, [*20:1] fifteen stairs to ascend.
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4.
3
For the temple being built in a mountain, the altar of burnt-offering, which was without, could not be come near but by stairs;
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4.
4
The parents of the blessed Virgin and infant Mary put her upon one of these stairs;
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4.
5
But while they were putting off their clothes, in which they had travelled, and according to custom putting on some that were more neat and clean,
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4.
6
In the mean time the Virgin of the Lord in such a manner went up all the stairs one after another, without the help of any to lead or lift her, that any one would have judged from hence that she was of perfect age.
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4.
7
Thus the Lord did, in the infancy of his Virgin, work this extraordinary work, and evidence by this miracle how great she was like to be hereafter.
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4.
8
But the parents having offered up their sacrifice, according to the custom of the law, and perfected their vow, left the Virgin with other virgins in the apartments of the temple, who were to be brought up there, and they returned home.
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4.
Footnotes ^20:1 Those Psalms are from the 120th to the 134th, including both.
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