THE

EARLY LIFE OF CHRIST,

&c. &c.

CHAP. I.

PREFATORY OBSERVATIONS.

Or the excellent properties with which the Great Creator has graciously endowed the human mind, not the least valuable is that of curiosity, which is a propensity to seek after information on any subject that awakens interest. It is true that this, though, like all other natural qualities, in itself good, is commonly perverted from its right use, and employed in enquiries that are either "foolish or hurtful." But when used for the noble purposes for which it was bestowed, it becomes an instrument of many great advantages, and of much pure enjoyment. Indeed, were the human mind destitute of this propensity to enquiry, its other powers would be almost

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useless; they would rust and decay in dulness and inactivity. But curiosity is to the mind what appetite is to the body; it awakens the desire for food, and rouses to exertions to procure it. It is this, when reading an interesting book, that prompts the wish to know something of its author; or, when hearing or reading of some great public character, to desire some information of his private demeanour and habits of life. And when the interest excited is very strong, proportionably so is this desire of information; so that the minutest events and circumstances of the person's history, and the most unimportant particulars respecting his character, are sought with eagerness, and heard with delight. What is there, for instance, that can be told us of the poet Cowper that would not interest? What circumstance of his life, however trivial in itself,-what scrap of his production, however comparatively inferior,-does not our curiosity concerning him lead us to enquire after, and regard with interest?

But a greater than all is here. There have been many human beings distinguished from their fellows by their exploits, or the surprising incidents of their life; or their superior

mental endowments, or their extraordinary moral excellencies, of whom curiosity has sought to know whatever could be told; but how little are they all, how unworthy of such eager enquiry in comparison with HIM who "came down from heaven," to "dwell among us!" Of others, many things have been related that were not worth recording; but what that has relation to Christ can be mean or trivial? And if curiosity respecting others be useful, delightful, and even laudable, how much more so when its object is "God manifest in the flesh!" Happily, it need not suffer disappointment when excited to enquiry respecting HIM.

Of some illustrious persons who have appeared in our world, scarcely any thing but their names has been transmitted to us; and curiosity enquires and searches in vain for memorials of their history or character. But it is not so in reference to Christ. Of Him we have accounts, not only authentic and genuine, but forming a complete narrative, rich in particular and minute details of both his public discourses and actions, and his private instructions, and domestic intercourse with his friends. These biographical records, written

with the most dignified, and yet pathetic, simplicity, describe his wisdom, boldness, and patience, as a teacher; his self-denying and unwearied labours; his wondrous miracles; his majestic composure in the presence of his enemies; his tender parting addresses to his disciples; his strange and awful sufferings ; his atoning death, and triumphant resurrection, and return to heaven. Yet the history of all these "mighty deeds and words," and events, comprises the short space of three years only of the life of Jesus, beginning with the time when he "began to be about thirty years of age," and ending with the consummation of his work on earth, when he was "received up into glory."

Now, when it is considered wно He was, and what that errand was on which he came into the world, how natural is it that there should arise an intense curiosity to know the history of his earlier days. How natural the awaking of ardent desire to become acquainted with the circumstances that marked those thirty years, that long proportion of his brief sojourn upon earth; to know what indications of his divine greatness, and wisdom, and power, were given by Him during the progressive