24 The NEW and COMPLETE LIFE of our BLESSED from the words of the evangelift above quoted, that the favour of God towards himwas very apparent, and that the Holy Spirit with which he was filled appeared in his early youth. The wonderful advances he made in wifdom, the vifible flrength and fleadinefs ofhis mind, and the feriouf- nefs and compofure of his countenance, beyond whatever was feen before in one fo young, were plain vindications of his divinity, and were every day improving and increafing. It was the general cuftom of the Jews to take a journey to Jerufalem, and annu- ally attend the feaft of the paffover. The parents of our great Redeemer, with their numerous relations and friends, when the holy child was twelve years old, went to the capital of the kingdom on this occafion. Whether the childJtsus had been at Jeru- falem before is not certainly known : it is generally concluded that he had not. Hav- ing remained feven days with them, during their attendance at the temple, he fepa- rated himfelf from the company, and, when they fet out on their return to their own country, flayed behind. They proceeded on their firfi day's journey and did not mifs him till night, fuppofinghe might be in com- panywith fome of their relations, who had been at the holy city on the fame occafion with themfelves, and were now returning. But inquiringamongft all their kindred and friends, they learned that he was not in the company. Full ofanxiety anddifirefs, they returned to Jerufalem ; and fearched every place in the city where he was likely to be found. Two days they fought him in vain. On the third day, they found him in the outer court of the temple, amongfi the learned doaors- of the law, both hearing them, and afking them queílions. In the outer court of the temple, called the court of the people, were feveral chambers belonging to the priefls ; and here the dofors of the law affembled 3 at the feaft of the paffover, and at other times, to teach the people ; and not only expounded she Mofaîcal inflitutions, but debated with one another, concerning the difficulties that occurred. Such youths as applied themfelves to learning, were permitted to converfe with the aflembly and received fuels infiruaions as were ne- ceffary to enable them to purfue /heir re- fpeftive fludies. At this alfembly of the doEtors, Jefus prefented himfelf, and not only gave attention to their debates, and propofed fuch queflions, as naturally arofe from the fubjeas under confideration ; but propounded feveral difficult queflions of his own, which, when the doflors could not clear up, he expounded him- felf to the fatisfafìion and furprife of all prefent. The learned doEtors, with the utmoft aftonilhment, heard the young child manifeft fuch wifdom and deep under- flanding, as not only exceeded men, but fuch men as were reputed the molt learned and judicious amongft them. No doubt, there was fomething remarkably majeflic and amiably divine in his appearance and, as he led the difcourfe himfelf, we may reafonably fuppofe, that the quefion which he debated with the dofìors had reference to fome prophecy concerning the Mefftah ; which he threw fuch light upon, and explained in fuch a manner, as railed the admiration and aflonifhment of all that heard him. It is certainly very ftrange, that the admiration which the holy child excited in this public af- fembly, by his underfianding and perti- nent anfwers, did not excite force further inquiry after him. But, it is to be fop- poled, that the coming of fuch mean per- Ions as Jofeph and Mary, who appeared to be his parents, very much abated the re- gard which the learned doflors of the law would otherwife have had for -fo wonder- ful a child ; but things which appear low* in the world, are always defpifed by thofe lazy inquirers after truth, who feek the praife of man, and are only candidates for popular applaufe. Jofeplt
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