portion to the growth of his body, insomuch that he arrived at the very perfection of heavenly wisdom. As his parents were mean and poor, he had not the advantage of a finished education; and he seems to have received no other instruction than what his parents gave him, in conformity to the Jewish laws. But supernatural abilities amply compensated for the deficiency of natural acquirements, and he gave instances in his earliest years of amazing penetration, and consummate wisdom. According to the Mosaic institution, his parents annually went up to Jerusalem; and when he arrived at the age of twelve years, carried him with them to that city, in order that he might early imbibe the precepts of religion and virtue. In this place the holy Jesus tarried, without the knowledge and consent of his parents, who departed with the rest that were going toward Galilee; and thinking that he was gone. forward with some of their relations or acquaintance, they continued their journey, not doubting but they should overtake him on the road, or meet with him at the place they had appointed to lodge. But on their arrival, not finding the child in the village, nor among their relations, they returned to Jerusalem, much troubled, and after a most anxious search of three days, found him in the temple, sitting among the learned doctors, who were amazed at the wisdom of his questions, and the pertinence of his replies, which were greatly superior to the utmost they could expect from one of his tender years and mean education. The wonder of his parents at finding him in such sublime employment, was beyond expression; though his pious mother, notwithstanding the pleasure which the discovery afforded her, could not help showing the concern which his absence without their knowledge had occasioned them, by addressing them thus: "Son, why hast thou dealt so with us?" To this question he replied, that their suprise at his absenting himself without their knowledge was groundless and absurd, as they might have been assured from his extraordinary birth, and the wonderful circumstances attending it, that his Father was no less than the Almighty One of Israel; that he assumed human nature to promote his glorious design; and, therefore, as his errand was of such moment, they must not imagine he could always reside with them. "How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" Though his parents did not clearly discern the force of this excellent remonstrance, his pious mother committed his words to memory, and, together with Joseph, joyfully returned with him to their poor dwelling at Nazareth, where he lived with them in dutiful subjection, and thereby afforded a noble example for the imitation of all children, who are certainly bound to yield obedience to their parents, since the Son of God himself, when on earth, has set them the pattern by practicing every branch of filial duty to his earthly parents. The blessed Jesus continued in this lowly state for some time, during which he greatly advanced, both in knowledge and stature; and by his extraordinary qualities, attracted the regard and admiration of all who either saw or heard him. Being happily free from those inordinate disquieting desires which disturb and distract mortals, he was always in temper calm and sedate, which, added to a pleasant countenance, combined to improve the strength of his faculties, and the goodness of his disposition. He was also an excellent orator, being endowed with a most nervous and persuasive elocution, insomuch that his hearers, frequently astonished at the substance and manner of his address, would suddenly cry out, "Never man spake like this man!" Though considered in his Divine nature, he was so far superior to human nature, during the time in which he lived thus humbly with his parents, yet he condescended to work with his father at his trade of a carpenter, and thereby left us a shining example of industry. Thus obscurely did the blessed Jesus live, till the time of his public ministry; nor did he show any miracles, or perform any actions, to distinguish him from the rest of mankind; his Divine nature and the annexed properties, during the time of his private life, being concealed under the veil of his human nature. During the time of John the Baptist's continuance at Bethabara, the blessed Jesus left his retirement at Nazareth, and previous to his public ministry, repaired to the banks of the river Jordan, where John was executing his commission from above, in order to be there baptized of him. We can not impute this conduct of our Lord to any necessity there was for his conforming to the institution of baptism, for purity needs not cleansing; it is therefore evident that his motive was to add a sanction to that ordinance, forever after appointed to be the initiating rite of christianity.-"Go, baptize all nations," &c. It appears that John immediately, as it were, by a prophetic revelation, knew the Saviour of the world; for we find, from the evangelist, that he acknowledged his superiority, and declined the office, saying, "I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" Our Lord's answer, though short, is very full and expressive: "Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." As if he had said, regard not the precedence, at this time, but perform thy work; for it is necessary that we should, in the minutest point, conform to the Divine will, by which this institution is enjoined. This remonstrance removed the objections of Juhn, and he baptized the immaculate Jesus, in the river Jordan, in the presence of numerous spectators. When the ceremony was performed, as he needed not the instructions usually given on the occasion, he went up straightway out of the water, and kneeling on the bank of the river, fervently addressed his Almighty Father, for an abundant effusion of his Holy Spirit, as he was now entering on his public ministry, the prelude of his important mission, the end of which was the salvation of all mankind. His prayer was heard, his request was granted; and an immediate attestation of the Divine pleasure given by a visible ray of glory around him, and an audible voice pro |