sidence of Joseph. Hence his followers were termed "the sect of the Nazarenes," before they obtained the name of Christians. Nazareth was a place held in much contempt by the Jews, as we learn from the first question of Bartholomew to Philip: "Can there be any good thing come out of Nazareth"?" And again: "Out of Galilee ariseth no prophet," said the Jews of our Saviour in manifest scorn of Him; although out of Galilee had arisen the renowned prophet Jonah, and Elijah and Elisha had both ministered within that province'. Joseph was however directed in a dream to return to this ignoble land, that He, for whom God had designed "a name that shall be above every name," might in his earthly condition accomplish the prophecy, " He shall be called a Nazarene." "For thy sake have I suffered reproach," says the Lord of glory. Certainly for our sake did He undergo reproach. Should we then hesitate to endure reproach for Him, if we be put to the trial? If our zeal to serve what we believe to be his cause, should prove unpopular, or if our strict conformity to what we think to be the spirit of his laws should lead to misrepresentation, shall we hesitate, through "honour and dishonour, through evil report and good report, to lead the life which we hope to be approved by God," and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world??

11

Abp. Sumner.

1 Dr. Lightfoot.

2

Abp. Sumner.

SECT. X.-Christ with the Doctors in the Temple.-Luke ii. 41-52; John i. 15-28.

ALTHOUGH there be a considerable space of years in the history of Jesus Christ between his return from Egypt to his dispute with the doctors in the temple at Jerusalem, to which our attention is now directed, yet the reader of the Bible will readily satisfy himself at this omission, since it is one in which all the four inspired Evangelists concur; he might wonder why they have passed so much in silence, were it not that their business was not to treat of his private life and employment, but of his public ministry. All we hear of Christ in the interval is, that "He went down to Nazareth, and was subject to his parents," and that "the child grew and waxed strong in the Spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was with him.” In proof of this grace St. Luke gives one anecdote, which appears to have been derived from the Virgin, as it is said, "His mother kept all these sayings in her heart." This incident of the early youth of Jesus concurs with the miraculous circumstances of his birth, and shows that the proofs of his divinity were easy to be attained by any who sought for them 1.

His parents diligently observed that law which expressly required the attendance of all the males at Jerusalem, to celebrate every year

3

Dr. Lightfoot.

4

Archbishop Sumner.

the three solemn festivals of which the Passover was one; on which occasions the females, though not commanded, frequently attended, as did also the children, when capable of understanding the intent of those festivals'. In their punctual compliance with the ordinances of religion, and in their mode of bringing up the child Jesus in the same, Joseph and Mary have set an excellent example to parents of all ages and places. Parents should make their children, from the first, their companions in the service of God, so as to lay the foundation of a wise and holy life, and to direct their choice and secure their perseverance by habits of goodness and exemplary improvement in religious prudence, so as to induce them to a nearer perfection in their later days. On the occasion now to be related, when they had fulfilled the days of the Passover feast, (that is, the eight days of the Passover, and the seven of unleavened bread',) on the morning on which they were to depart back again to their own home, it was the custom to go first to the Temple and worship the Lord. When, therefore, Joseph and Mary, and the Galilean company that went along with them, departed from the Temple go their journey, Jesus stayed behind them in the Temple Court; and as He had very probably been often absent from them and in other

to

Dean Stanhope.

6 Ibid.

7

Bishop Pearce.

companies during the course of the festival, they knew not, nor could they well imagine, that He had any thing to do at Jerusalem, now that the feast was concluded, and they were all come away. They doubted not but that He was of "the company" till they came to their lodging, at the end of the day's journey; when, not hearing any thing of Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance, "they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking him"." They were accustomed on these occasions, for their greater security against robbers on the road, to travel in large companies, carrying necessaries with them and tents for their lodging by night. This account of their manner of travelling furnishes a ready answer to the question, How could Joseph and Mary make a day's journey without discovering, before night, that Jesus was not in the company? In the day time we may reasonably suppose that no anxiety would be aroused; for travellers would, as occasion or inclination led them, mingle with different parties of their friends or acquaintance; but, when at evening they were about to encamp, every one would naturally join the family to which he belonged; and, as He did not appear, they sought Him where it was most probable He would be found, among “his kinsfolk and acquaintance;" and, not finding Him there, they * Dr. Lightfoot.

returned to Jerusalem'. After three days, that is, on the day after they again reached Jerusalem, which was the third after they had quitted it, “they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors." This was the Sanhedrim, or one of the three Sanhedrims, that were accustomed to sit in the Temple; not probably the great Sanhedrim of seventy doctors, but one of the other two that were composed of twenty-three each. It was in one or other of these judicatories in the Temple, that our Saviour showed his wisdom at twelve years of age. It was both lawful and customary for disciples, or any who were present, publicly to inquire either of the doctor who was then reading, or, indeed, of all who were assembled, respecting any doubtful matter in which he was not well satisfied. It is unnecessary to repeat what happened further there; how He asked his parents why they sought Him, since they might have been well assured that He was well employed; how He went back to Nazareth, and, far from being vain of the praise bestowed on Him by the doctors of the law, was subject and dutiful to his parents; and how He " grew in wisdom, and in stature, and in favour with God and man." If we would resemble Christ we must imitate Him in the means which He 10 Dr. Lightfoot.

• Dr. Campbell.