LORD and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. 2 but very probably, it might be in fome prophecy which is not tranfmitted to us : or, if the very words are not to be found, the thing inteítded is the frequent language of the prophets; for, whenever CtaatsT is mentioned in the Gofpels, as called .a Nazarene, it is always looked upon as a term of reproach, and how applicable this is to the language of the prophet Ifaiah, He was dfpfed and rejelled of men, a man of forrows and acquainted with grief: we hid as it were our faces from him; he was defpifed, and we efleemed him not. C H A P T E R VI. The Infancy ofCHRIST. At twelve Years of Age he goeth with his Parents to .ferufalem, and qu f ioneth with the Donors in the Temple : He afterwards returneth with his Parents to Nazareth, and isfabjell unto them. THE account of our Lord's childhood and youth is very 'lightly touched on in the facred writings. How he was employed from his infancy, till he arrived at thirty years of age, is not to be found in any authentic hiftory. This period in- cludes the greateft part of his life, which is abfolutely unknown to the Chriflian world. St. Luke, who is the moll parti- cularin his account of our Lord's younger years, only tells us, that the child grew, andwaxedftrong infpirit, filled with wif- dom ; and the grace of God was upon him. And, fpeaking of his life at his father's houfe at Nazareth, he informs us, that he was fubjetl to his parents, and that he in- creafed in zoifdom andJiature, and infavour with God and man. But, notwithllanding the filence ofthe facred writings, we are not to fuppofe that the heavenly youth was fubjefi to the common frailties of humanity, the follies of childhood and youth. It may naturally' be concluded, from what is above de- Oared, that the holy child was remarkable for a native grandeur and majeftic modefly in his deportment ; that his temper was the moll amiable, not peevifh and pettish, but all meeknefs, kindnefs, condefcenfion, and goodnefs ; and that his mind was peculi- arly turned to ferioufnefs and contempla- tion.. It is reafonable to fuppofe; that he was poffeffed of the molt amazing faculties and powers of mind ; a ftrong' retentive memory ; a lively imagination; a prodi- gious understanding ; a penetrating judg- ment ; and a remarkable' folidity and fe- datenefs, which led him to the molt fincere and regular piety and fpiritual 'exercifes of every kind. It is reafonable to fuppofe, that he fpent much time in private retire- ment, and in divine meditations, and fpi- ritual converfe with his heavenly Father; and that he behaved, in every refpea, in fuch a manner to his friends and relations as made him the molt amiable child in the age in which he lived. It cannotbe learned from the evangelills that he had a liberal education ; every account we have of the, condition of his parents in the world con- fpires to prove that they were in low cir- cumstances. Jofeph was by trade a car- penter. Jésus abode with his parents till his public ministry commenced, , and no doubt, workedwith his fuppofed father at his trade. He is called in one place in the Gofpels, the Carpenter ; and inanother the Carpenter's Son : fo that it may be con- cluded that he had no other learning than what his parents themfelves taught him, and what he might gather at the fynagogue by attending to the reading of the law and the prophets. But it may be learned, from
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=