religion and virtue. In this place the holy, Jesus tarried without the knowledge, and consequently the consent of his parents, who departed with the rest that were going towards 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 him at the place were they had appointed to lodge. But on their arrival, not finding the child in the village, nor amongst 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. These doctors, or expounders of the law among the Jews, always taught the people publicly on three great festivals; and it was on one of those public occasions, that the blessed Jesus gave such manifest proofs of his wisdom and penetration as astonished all beholders, many of whom thought he must be something more than human. · As, according to his own declaration, he was employed in his father's business, it is natural to think, in the course of his disputes, he modestly corrected some of the errors which the Jewish doctors then taught, and which were repugnant to the plan of that religion he came to promote and establish. 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 shewing the concern which his absence, without their knowledge, had occasioned them, by addressing him thus, "Son, why hast thou dealt thus with us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." To this question he replied, "That their surprize at hisabsenting him self 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 designs; 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?" 1 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 her husband, 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, practising every branch of filial duty to his earthly parents. Our Saviour continued in this lowly state for some time, during which he greatly advanced bothin 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 disquietude desires, which disturb and distract mortals in general, he was always in temper calm and sedate, which added to a pleasant countenance, combined to prove 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." Notwithstanding our Lord was sent upon earth, to execute his heavenly father's will, yet during the time in which he lived thus humbly with his parents, he condescended to work with his father at his trade of a carpenter, and therefore left us a shining example of industry. Thus obscurely did the blessed Jesus live, fill the time of his public ministry: nor did he shew any miracles or perform any ac tions, to distinguish him from the rest of mankind. As this is the whole account we could collect from sacred history, concerning the childhood and private life of the blessed Jesus the Saviour of mankind, we must content ourselves therewith, not seeking to indulge a curiosity which such silence seems to forbid as sinful and impertinent. Many people of more speculation than piety, may be induced to inquire the cause which prevented the evangelist giving us an exact detail of the transactions of our Saviour's life, from the twelfth year of his age till the time of his public ministry. To such we answer that the design of the inspired writers being to instruct, rather than to amuse, they consulted our interest, more than our humour and caprice; and that, therefore, the wisdom of God, by whose inspiration they wrote, demands our admiration, in that they passed over less important parts of our Saviour's life, which would have swelled their gospels to an enormous bulk, fit only for the perusal of the studious, and those persons who had much vacant time: whereas the four gospels, as they are written, make only a small volume, which is convenient for carriage, for reading, for the memory to retain, as well as adapted, by the plainness of their stile to the meanest capacities; notwithstanding which, they contain all the important transactions of our Saviour's life, such as those which relate to his mediatorial office, the design of his coming, which was to teach us those things which belong to our eternal peace and happiness; to instruct us in his heavenly doctrines, as our prophet; to offer himself a sacrifice upon the cross, as our priest; and to burst the chains of death, and triumphantly ascend into heaven, as king, or head of his church. The omissions, therefore, can be of no real consequence, since, "These are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, ye might have life through his name.” During the obscure state of our blessed Redeemer of Nazareth, the emperor Augustus died, in Campania, after a long reign of nearly forty years, to the general regret of the whole Roman empire. He was succeeded by Tiberius his step-son, a prince of a very different temper of mind from his predecessor. This emperor, in the second year of his reign, recalled Rufus from the government of Judea, and sent Valerius Gracchus to succeed him. After reigning eleven years, Gracchus was recalled, and succeeded by Pontius Pilate, a person resembling, in disposition, his master Tiberius, who was malicious, cruel, and covetous. Soon after Pontius Pilate was appointed to the government of Judea, John the Baptist began to open his commission for preparing our Saviour's way before him, according as was appointed, "The baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." Sacred history has not informed us of the manner in which the Baptist spent the former part of his life; but according to ancient tradition, Elizabeth hearing of Herod's barbarous massacre of the infants of Bethlehem, fled into the wilderness to secure the infant John from the relentless cruelty of that inhuman monster, and therefore nurtured him with all the tenderness of an affectionate mother. John the Baptist was about eighteen months old when his mother fled with him into the wilderness, within forty days after which she died. His aged father Zacharias, when he afterwards officiated in the temple, was slain by the command of Herod, for refusing to discover the place of his son's abode. The in ended harbinger of the blessed Jesus being thus deprived of his earthly parents, the Father of the fatherless took compassion on him, and sent an angel to defend and support him, till he had attained to a sufficient age and strength to provide for himself. It appears, from the account of the evangelist, that he dwelt in the desart till the time of his public ministry, resembling the ancient prophet Elijah, in the meanness of his clothing, and plainness of diet. His dress was composed of camels' hair, his food the spontaneous productions of the wilderness, such as locuts and wild honey, and his drink the pure water of some crystal spring. His course of life, was, indeed, admirably adapted to the doctrine of repentance, which he preached, as well as to engage the attention of his hearers; so that it appears highly reasonable, that those people who waited the coming of the Messiah, with earnest expectation, should flock to him, anxious to bear what he had to deliver concerning hini. He proved very successful in his ministry, as he enforced the doctrine of repentance, because the kingdom of heaven was at hand: persons of alldegrees and professions flocked to him, confessed their sins, were baptized in Jordan, and submitted to what ever the Prophet prescribed as necessary to obtain an inheritance in that kingdom, the approach of which he came to declare. Amongst his converts were many of the pharisaical tribe, some of whom confessed their sins, and were likewise baptized in Jordan. ceit which they greatly cherished, and which they seem to have derived from a misrepresentation of the following passage: "Thus saith the Lord, who giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon, and the stars for a light by night; who divideth the sea, when the waves thereof roar: the Lord of hosts is his name. If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me, for ever. Thus saith the Lord, if the heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off the seed of Israel, for all that they have done, saith the Lord." " But the Baptist, to curb this arrogance, called them the offspring of vipers," instead of the children of Abraham: perhaps the pharisees and sadducees applied to John for baptism, thinking by that means to avoid the danger they might incur, from being the avowed enemies of the Messiah, whom they expected to come in all the pomp of royalty, and to maintain his superiority by force of arms. The Baptist, who was no stranger to these hypocritical sects, well knowing their application to him arose from sinister views, severely reprimanded them in general; "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come'; Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance."O deceivers, hypocrites,, whence have you obtained knowledge of the approaching event I am destined by God to make known? Whence have you sense of the impending judgment of the Almighty? I have plainly told you the only method of avoiding it, by a sincere repentance, which can only be evin ced by the conformity of the heart and life to the word and will of God. And begin not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children anto Abraham." Deceive not yourselves with a vain presumption that eter The conversion of the pharisees surprised the Baptist, knowing that they maintained a high opinion of their own sanctity, for which reason it was very astonishing that they should express any desire of obtaining a remission of their sins. In short, he was much surprised to find the whole nation so affected by his threatenings, especially as he knew they expected salvation on account ofdren unto Abraham.” their being of the seed of Abraham, a con No. 2. mal blessings are your's, merely on accoun of your lineal descent from Abraham: such pretence will avail you nothing; for to parfake of the proniises made to that Father of the faithful alone, spiritually considered, you must shew forth some resemblance of his faith and piety. The Almighty Creator, who formed our first parent out of the dust, and caused Sarah to bear a son unto Abraham, when they were both well stricken in years, can, by virtue of his Omnipotence, raise up children unto that faithful patriarch,, even from these very stones; children, indeed, who by the integrity of their hearts, and purity of their lives, shall prove their spiritual alliance to Abraham, and share with him the promised salvation. The Baptist, by this plain but honest declaration, at once set at naught the towering expectations of this hypocritical tribe, by shewing them that God respected the heart alone, and that all their pretences to descent, ceremonies, and other outward parade, was of no avail with him, who tried the heart, and searched the reins, of the children of men. He went farther, and assured them that conviction and confession of sin were not sufficient; no, nor even a promise to forsake it, but that there must be a speedy and actual putting it into practice. pent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Delay not this important work, for the judgments of the Almighty are at hand: therefore if you continue in your sins, impending ruin will certainly fall upon you. "Re Nothing can be more sincere, nothing better calculated than this doctrine of the forerunner of the blessed Jesus; it struck at the very root of the Jewish prejudices, which induced too many of then vainly to rely upon outward rites and ceremonies, prayers, fastings, &c. which if not performed with a proper spirit, and from proper views, were an abomination to a holy God. Nor did his conduct less reprove the pride and hypocrisy of the scribes and pharisees, than his doc trine; for whereas that upstart clan used to shun the converse of the publicans, aud meaner sort of people, and would rarely deign to give them instructions, the humble Baptist received their applications in the most submissive manner, and preached to them the absolute necessity of faith, repentance and obedience. Indeed, throughout the whole of his ministration, he happily adapted his discourses to the circumstances and capacities of the various people he addressed; and took every pious means to prepare them for the reception of the promised Messiah, who was shortly to appear amongst them in the glori ous character of the Saviour and Redeemer of Israel. Thus, by a life of inflexible virtue, discourses nervous and pathetic, exhortations sincere and fervent, and rebukes honest and courageous, the Baptist became renowned throughout the region of Judea. Such was the admiration of the people at his life and doctrine, that from the vision of his father Zacharias in the temple, the arrival of the Magi at Jerusalem, the prophecies of Simeon, the discourses of Herod, circumstances recent in their memories, they began to conjecture that John might be the promised Messiah, and were ever ready to pronounce him the Redeemer of Israel; so that had he aspired to worldly dignity, he might for a time, have shone in all the grandeur of human pomp, and claimed regard superior to any of the sons of men. But pious in principle, and humble in heart, he could not arrogate honours of which he was conscious of his unworthiness; and therefore honestly undeceived his credulous followers, by assuring them, that so far from being the glorious person promised, he was only his forerunner; and that such was his inferiority, that he was unworthy of doing his most menial offices. "But one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose." Luke iii. 16. During the time of 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 by him. We cannot impute this conduct of our Lord, to any necessity there was for his conforming to the institution of baptism for purity needs no cleansing. It is therefore evident, that his motive was to add a sanction to that ordinance, for ever after appointed to be the initiating rite of Christianity. "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 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. "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 fulfil As if he had said, Reall righteousness." gard not the precedence at this time, but perform thy office; for it is necessary that we should in the minutest point, conform to the divine will, by which this institution was enjoined. The remonstrance removed the objection of John, 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 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 proceeding from the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, and pronouncing these words, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;" distinguishing his peculiar approbation of the blessed Jesus, by the epithet "beloved," as well as his standing in that relation to him in a manner nearer than any of the human race, who are called, in common the Sous of God. The voice resembled not a human sound; but was loud and awful, like the thunders of heaven, in order to strike with reverence the surrounding multitude, and publicly declare the holy mission of the promised Messiah. The blessed Jesus was called in the Old Testament, the Son of God, but was, on this occasion, declared by the Almighty himself, to be the long-expected Deliverer of Israel. Thus, all who were present at this marvellous descent of the Holy Spirit were amply convinced of the divine mission of our blessed Lord, by an infallible testimony from above this being the star that was to come out of Jacob, and the sceptre that was to rise out of Israel, the Shiloh, foretold by the patriarch Jacob, the Great Prophet, by Moses, Holy One, by David, the Prince of Peace, by Isaiah, and the Son of Man. But this remarkable event tended much more to the glory of the Messiah, than all those prophecies, as it was, in some measure, a real display of what they could only picture in the dark. CHAP. IV. Commencement of our Saviour's Ministry, His Temptation in the Wilderness. Deputation of the Sanhedrim to John the |