children of Abraham. At this age they were solemnly introduced into the church, and initiated into its doctrines and its ceremonies. They assumed for themselves the covenant of which the rite of circumcision was the seal; and at the same time that they entered upon the secular trade or profession which had been chosen for them, they assumed their places as children of the covenant, and heirs of the promise made to Abraham.

When the days were fulfilled, and the closing ceremonies peculiar to the infancy of their child had been performed, Joseph and the mother of Jesus set their faces to return to Nazareth. In behalf of their son they had "fulfilled all righteousness"—solemnly dedicating to God the child who was the subject of so many wonders. After a day's journey, they sought him among the kins-folk and acquaintance who journeyed with them, for they supposed he was in the company. Finding him not, they returned to Jerusalem, and discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers of the law, both hearing them and asking them questions. The mode of instruction pursued by the Jewish doctors was conversational, the student both replying and questioning his teachers. And all who heard the son of Mary were astonished at his understanding and his answers. The teacher was the child; the doctors hearkened.

And when Joseph and Mary found him they were amazed. His mother said unto him, "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." And he said unto them, "How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my

FATHER'S business?" They understood not the saying which he spoke unto them. Doubtless to the mother were recalled all the miracles and wonders which had attended his birth; and as each succeeding year of the divine child's life developed new cause for amazement, she waited in silence to observe to what these things should grow. As Holy Scripture informs us, "she kept all these sayings in her heart," and Jesus "increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man." He had warned her, in a saying which had sank deep into her memory, and weighed upon her thoughts, that he had a higher duty than obedience to an earthly parent: that there rested upon him a mission which he was called to perform.

Still was he subject unto his parents. He who took upon him human nature, and was content to be found in the fashion of a man, was known to the Nazarenes as the carpenter's son. His infancy possessed no human advantages; for the astonished listeners to his words, in after years asked, "Whence hath this man this wisdom and these mighty works?" The vanity of human connexions, and of human pride, and the truth that God is no respecter of persons, was taught in the manger, and was continued through the life of the Son of God. Even Nathaniel, in whom Christ said there was no guile, asked, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" In this village then, the companion of a despised people, He whose kingdom is to cover the whole earth, as the waters cover the sea, and of whose dominion there shall be no end, dwelt with Joseph and with Mary.

No man can, by searching, find out God, or determine all the purposes of his dealings with us. Yet there are lessons of instruction in all Scripture given by inspiration. The example of Christ, if we knew nothing of his childhood, were an example only to men. But we are told that Jesus was subject unto his parents. If then the Son of

Our

God gave to Joseph and to Mary this obedience and respect, how deeply incumbent upon us is the duty. Nor is it to be a grudging service, determined by days or years. While life endures the obligation is uncancelled; for Jesus himself taught that to disregard what we owe to our parents, under whatever specious plea, is to render the word of God of none effect, by human tradition. duties to others, and the new relations into which we enter with increase of years, may vary and modify, but cannot remove the obligations of gratitude and love which we owe to our parents. It is following blind guides to say that the passage of years can annul our filial obligations; that to-day the parent may say do this, and the child doeth it, but to-morrow he is free: that the rising and setting of the sun have rendered the commandment of none effect. For God saith, "honour thy father and thy mother." The command is not for a few years only, but while life lasts. The Son of God, whose obedience in infancy we have been contemplating-as he exhibited the child in youth, remembered in death that he was the son. When the bitter cup, which might not pass from him, was at his lips; when he was hanging upon the ignominious tree, and his body writhed in suffering, Jesus saw his mother and the

disciple standing by, whom he loved. mother, "Woman, behold thy Son!" disciple, "Behold thy Mother!" And

He saith unto his Then saith he to the

from that hour the

disciple took her unto his own home. Thus in childhood, in manhood and in death, did Jesus teach obedience to the "first commandment, with promise."

IV.

Che Forerunner.

As the childhood of Jesus and his early years passed away, the time for his showing unto Israel drew nigh. But the Prophet in the power of Elias was to precede him; the voice crying in the wilderness, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places smooth. And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Designated by the prophets of old to this high calling, the coming of John the Baptist was miraculously foretold. The angel who promised his birth to his father, declared also the character and the labours of the harbinger of the new dispensation. "He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."