went together. The parents of Jesus, therefore, being in company with a vast number of relatives and neighbors, did not think it strange that they did not see him during the day's march. They "supposed him to have been in the company," says Luke; and it was only after seeking for him "among their kinsfolk and their acquaintance," that they discovered he had been left behind. They returned to Jerusalem, and found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers. So absorbed was he in this employment, as if it were his proper concern, that, when his mother complained of the uneasiness. they had suffered on his account, he expressed surprise that they should have spent any time in searching for him; they should have come directly to the temple; for they might know that he would be engaged in his Father's business. Yet at their command he immediately left the place, and went with them to Galilee, and there remained subject to them as a dutiful son.

We are often reminded that Jesus set an example for our imitation. This is true of his childhood as well as of his age. He seems to have been conscious of his greatness, yet he did not. presume upon it. He was docile and humble, reverent and obedient to his parents. It would

be well if many young persons, who treat their parents with disrespect, and show that they feel themselves superior to their authority, would copy the meekness and submission which Jesus exhibited. They might learn from him how becoming in the young is respect to their elders, and that true greatness is not inconsistent with humility. How many there are who feel above the business which their fathers follow, and would think themselves demeaned by engaging in it! Yet Jesus wrought in the workshop with Joseph and his sons, made himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, and thought it not at all inconsistent with the honors to which he was appointed.

How interesting to think of him during those years of his childhood and youth! What must have been his thoughts and emotions, the visions that occupied his young mind, the contemplations and anticipations that filled and agitated his bosom, as he quietly moved on like other men, and yet knew himself to be so different from them; among them, but not of them; not understood by them, nor enjoying any sympathy with them on the great subject that occupied his whole soul. Even his brethren did not feel with him, nor perceive in him anything uncommon. They did not believe in him. Perhaps with his mother he communed. of all that was within him; but excepting her, who was there to share or comprehend his feel

ings, except his Father in heaven? With him his communion must have been near and precious; and he undoubtedly felt then, what he afterwards expressed, "I am not alone, for the Father is with me."

But we cannot hope to enter fully into this portion of our Lord's life, because no trustworthy history of it remains to us. The evangelists tell us nothing concerning it; and the book called The Infancy of Jesus, which pretends to instruct on this subject, is without authority, and altogether undeserving of credit. It was written by some superstitious person of an early age, who thought to gratify the natural curiosity of Christians respecting their Master, by recording wonderful stories of his childhood. But nothing can be more puerile and worthless than most of them are. It is amazing that they could have been for a moment credited. The person who invented or recorded them had no true understanding of what constitutes the glory and beauty of our Lord's character, and did not perceive how totally inconsistent with it are the foolish tales he recited. They are wanton and useless; they have nothing of dignity or divinity in them. When we turn from them to the narratives of the Scripture history, we find ourselves in a different world; we feel that all is divine and worthy the Son of God; we are sure that no man could have done his works except God

were with him, and no man could have imagined them except they were really done. Amongst all the books in the world we can find no such striking instance of the difference between truth and falsehood as we find here. And Providence seems to have permitted those miserable fables to descend to our time, for the purpose of showing us this difference, and convincing us more satisfactorily of the absolute divinity and truth of the real Gospels.

STATE OF JUDÆA.

CHAPTER III.

EXPECTATION OF THE MESSIAH.

SIGNS OF HIS COMING. HIS FORERUNNER.

In order to understand aright the circumstances and spirit of our Saviour's ministry, it is necessary to know many things respecting the state of the country and the history of the times in which he lived. There was much in them that was peculiar, and the knowledge of which will aid us to interpret our Lord's character, works, and manner of teaching, as well as his reception and success.

I have already said that the Jewish nation was in a state of degeneracy and decay. It was now just about a thousand years since it was at its height of prosperity, in the glorious reign of Solomon. The period of its greatness had been brief, for it was abused. Corruption of morals and of religion came in with prosperity. Immediately upon Solomon's death, ten of the tribes revolted, and set up a separate government under a separate king. From that day we read of two kingdoms, that of Judah, comprehending only the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, whose capital