that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke ii. 49.)

Happy are they who are employed in the service of God, their heavenly Father, and who rejoice to do his work and will. But we read that Jesus returned to Nazareth with his parents, where he was subject to them, and increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. Thus, my dear children, you must be obedient to your parents, honour your father and mother; this is the way to be happy and prosperous. If Jesus was obedient, how will you excuse yourself if you are not so? And by God's grace may you grow in wisdom and in his favour, and thus enjoy peace and happiness in this world, and indulge a well-grounded hope of salvation in that which is to come.

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MATTHEW III.

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In Jordan's tide the Baptist stands,

Performs the rite, which Christ demands, And lo! from yonder opening skies, The heavenly dove on Jesus flies.

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

While Christ to baptism attends,

The Holy Ghost from Heaven descends;
And John the first attests abroad,
That Jesus is the Son of God.

THEN cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan, unto John, to be baptized of him." (Matthew iii. 13.)

This was a striking instance of Christ's great humility, that he should offer himself to be baptized by John, that he who knew no sin, should submit to the baptism of repentance. "John forbade him." John had now obtained a great name, and was universally respected; yet he was humble still. John thought it necessary that he should be baptised of Christ' I have need to be

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baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" (ver. 14.) Though John was filled with the Holy Ghost from his birth, (Luke i. 15,)

yet he confessed he had need to be baptized; though he was the greatest that was ever born, yet he was as other decendants of Adam, and owned he had need of cleansing.

Our Lord's answer to John is full and expressive; "Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." (ver. 13.) This remonstance removed the objection of John, and he then baptized the blessed Jesus in the river Jordan, in the presence of numerous spectators.

Our Lord Jesus looked upon it as well becoming him to fulfil all righteousness, to own every Divine institution, and to show his readiness to comply with God's holy precepts. He thus justifies and approves of the wisdom of God, in sending John to prepare his way by the baptism of repentance: and thus recommends the gospel ordinance of baptism to his church and all his followers.