Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/62

The compiler resembles the author of the Protevangelium in his ignorance concerning Jewish rites, and Jewish matters in general; he even represents the high priest as going into the holy of holies and burning sacrifice there (chap. viii.). This incident, however, is not found in Pseudo-James, but is probably one of those rhetorical embellishments which the compiler himself devised in order to add completeness to his story. His purpose is not to be wondered at, for Pseudo-James overlooks much that he might have recorded, — the circumcision for instance, and the purification. The events just named are duly introduced in the false Matthew, but with unaccountable confusion of language (chap. xv.). He properly places the circumcision on the eighth day, and then mentions the purification and the appointed offering; but he seems to regard the offering as made at the time of circumcision, and on account of it. The reason of the blunder is obvious. He read in Luke ii. 27, that the parents came to do for Jesus "according to the custom of the law," and supposed it meant either the circumcision or an offering because of it, whereas, it was the offering for the first-born (Exod. xiii. 2). The words which I have rendered "and when the infant had received