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that implied the weakness and the blemishes of humanity. He would fulfil one law to abrogate it, another to satisfy it. He that was above the law would come under the law to free us from the law. Not a day would be changed, either in the circumcision of Christ, or the purification of Mary. Here was neither convenience of place, nor of necessaries for so painful a work; yet he that made and gave the law will rather keep it with difficulty than transgress it with ease.-HALL.

His name was called Jesus. See Matthew iii. 20; and the commentary on that verse.

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, &c.-The law of purification proclaims our uncleanness. The mother is not allowed, after her childbirth, to come unto the sanctuary, or to touch any hallowed thing, until her time be expired. What are we, whose very birth infects the mother that bears us! At last she comes to the temple; but with sacrifices, either a lamb and a pigeon, or a turtle, or (in the meaner estate) two turtle-doves, or young pigeons, whereof one is for a burnt offering, the other for a sin offering: the one for thanksgiving, the other for expiation; for expiation of a double sin, of the mother and of the child.

with us: the very infant that lives not to sin as Adam, yet sinned in Adam and is sinful in himself. But, oh the unspeakable mercy of our God! we provide the sin, he provides the remedy.

Every poor mother was not able to bring a lamb for her offering: there was no one so poor, but might procure a pair of turtles or pigeons. Thus doth God both prescribe and accept from poorer hands, no less than the beasts of a thousand mountains. He looks for somewhat of every one, not of every one alike. Since it is he that makes differences of abilities, to whom it were as easy to make all rich, his mercy will make no difference in the acceptation. The

truth and heartiness of obedience is that which he will crown in his meanest servants. A mite from the poor widow is more worth to him than the talents of the wealthy.

How glorious did the temple seem now that the owner was within the walls of it! Now was the hour and guest come, in regard whereof the second temple should surpass the first. This was his house, built for him, dedicated to him: there had he dwelt long in his spiritual presence, in his typical. There was nothing either placed or done within those walls wherein he was not resembled and now the body of We are all born sinners; and it those shadows is come, and presents is a just question whether we do himself where he had been ever more infect the world, or the world represented. Jerusalem is now every us. They are gross flatterers of where. There is no church, no nature that tell her she is clean. If Christian heart, which is not a temour lives had no sin, we bring enough ple of the living God: there is no

temple of God wherein Christ is not presented to his Father. Look upon him, O God, in whom thou art well pleased, and in him and for him be, well pleased with us!

Under the Gospel, we are all firstborn, all heirs; every soul is to be holy unto the Lord: we are a royal generation, a holy priesthood. Our baptism, as it is our circumcision, and our sacrifice of purification, so it is also our presentation unto God. Nothing can become us but holiness. O God, to whom we are devoted, serve thyself of us, glorify thyself by us, till we shall by thee be glorified with thee.-HALL.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.No man ever had or can have any right knowledge of the true God, but only by his Son our Saviour Christ. But by this means they that lived before might see him as by twilight; we who live after this sun is risen may see him by the clearest light that can be given of him; for he hath fully revealed and declared himself to us in the Gospel.

By this glorious light, we can see into the mystery of the eternal Trinity in Unity, so as to believe that God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are One, one Jehovah, one God.

God. That God the Father made all things at first by his Word, and still upholds and orders all things according to his will.

That God the Son was made flesh, became man, and as such died upon the cross, and so offered up himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world; that he arose again, went up to heaven, and is now there at the right hand of God; that upon our repentance and faith in him our sins are pardoned, and he that made us is reconciled to us by the merits of his said death; that by the power of his intercession which he now makes in heaven for us, we are justified or accounted righteous in him, before him. That God the Holy Ghost abides continually with his church, moving upon, actuating and influencing, the means of grace that are there administered; that he sanctifies all that believe in Christ, leads them into all truth, comforts them in all their troubles, and assists them in doing whatsoever is required of them. These, and many such great and necessary truths, as lay in a great measure hid before, are now, by the light of the Sun of righteousness shining in his Gospel, made so plain and evident, that all may see them, except they wilfully shut their eyes or turn their backs upon them— Beveridge.

Grace, and the Gospel that works it, compared with the dark night of nature, is the day; and it is often so called. But yet that same light of the Gospel shining to us in the word, and within us by the Spirit, is but the appearance or approaching of the day, a certain pledge of it, yea, a kind of beginning of it, telling us that it is hard at hand. It is one

and the same light: and when it enters into any soul, it makes sure that eternal full day to it, that it shall not be disappointed of, any more than the day can go back, and the sun fail to rise when the dawning is begun and this begun light is still growing clearer, and tending to the perfect day.-LEIGHTON.

Our

HYMN.

eyes salvation see

Prepar'd by grace divine;

How wide its splendours are diffus'd!
How bright its glories shine!

Through distant heathen lands

It darts a vivid ray;

And to the realms where Satan reigned
Imparts celestial day.

The Israel of the Lord

In Christ their glory boast;

And on the honours of his name
Their whole salvation trust.

By him shall millions rise

To an immortal crown;
And millions that his grace despise
Shall sink in ruin down.

§ CLIX.

DODDRIDGE.

CHAP. II. 39-52.

Christ increaseth in wisdom; questioneth in the temple with the doctors; and is obedient to his parents.

39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.

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41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.

47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have

40 And the child grew, and sought thee sorrowing.

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not either keep them from repairing to Jerusalem, or send them away immaturely. Worldly cares must give place to the sacred. Except we will depart unblest, we must attend God's services till we may receive his dismission.-HALL.

As they returned. The feast ended, what should they do but return to Nazareth? God's services may not be so attended, as that we should neglect our particular callings. They are foully mistaken, that think God cares for no other trade

but devotion; piety and diligence must keep meet changes with each other. Neither doth God less

iver. 52. ch. i. 80.- Ex. xxiii. 15, 17; & xxxiv. 23. accept of our return to Nazareth

Deut. xvi. 1. 16.- Mat. vii. 28. Mark i. 22. ch. iv. 22, 82. John vii. 15, 46.-m John ii. 16.-n ch. ix. 45 ; & xviii. 34.-o ver. 19. Dan. vii. 28.-p 1 Sam. ii. 26. ver. 40.-1 Or, age.

READER.—When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.-The child Jesus, in the minority of his age, went up with his parents to the holy solemnity; not this year only, but in all likelihood, others also. He, in the power of whose Godhead, and by the motion of whose Spirit, all others ascended thither, would not himself stay at home. In all his examples, he meant our instruction. This pious act of his non-age intended to lead our first years into timely devotion.-HALL.

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than our going up to Jerusalem.HALL.

The child Jesus tarried behind in

Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.-I cannot think that the blessed Virgin, or good Joseph, could be so negligent of their divine charge, as not to call the child Jesus to their setting forth from Jerusalem. But their back was no sooner turned upon the temple, than his face was towards it. He had business in that place when theirs was ended; there he was both worHe in shipped and represented. whom the Godhead dwelt bodily could do nothing without God; his true father led him away from his supposed. Sometimes the affairs of our ordinary vocation may not grudge to yield to spiritual occasions. HALL.

But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey.-It was the fashion of those

times and places, that they went up, and so returned, by troops, to these set meetings of their holy festivals. The whole parish of Nazareth went and came together. Good fellowship doth no way so well as in the passage to heaven; much comfort is added by society to that society which of itself is pleasant. It is a happy word "Come, let us go up to the house of the Lord." Mutual encouragement is none of the least benefit of our holy assemblies. Many sticks laid together make a good fire, which, if they be single, lose both their light and heat.-HALL.

And they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. (Sorrowing. ver. 48). O dear Saviour, who can miss and not mourn for thee? Never any soul conceived thee by faith, that was less afflicted with the sense of thy desertion than comforted with the joy of thy presence. Just is that sorrow, and those tears seasonable, that are bestowed upon thy loss. What comfort are we capable of, while we want thee? What relish is there in these earthly delights without thee? What is there to mitigate our passionate discomforts, if not from thee? Let thyself loose, O my soul, to the fulness of sorrow, when thou findest thyself bereaved of him, in whose presence is fulness of joy; and deny to receive comfort from any thing, save from his return.-HALL.

And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. In vain is Christ sought among his kindred according to the flesh so far are they still from giving us

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their aid to find the true Messias, that they lead us from him. Back again, therefore, are Joseph and Mary gone to seek him at Jerusalem. She goes about in the city, by the streets, and by the open places, and seeks him whom her soul loveth: she sought him for the time and found him not.

O Saviour, thou hast said, and cannot lie, "I am with you to the end of the world:" but even while thou art really present, thou thinkest good to be absent to our apprehensions. Yet, if thou leave us, thou wilt not forsake us; if thou leave us for our humiliation, thou wilt not forsake us to our final discomfort.HALL.

And it came to pass, after that three days, they found him in the temple. O Saviour, thou mayest for three days hide thyself, but then we shall find thee in the temple. None ever sought thee with a sincere desire of whom thou wert not found. Thou wilt not be either so little absent as not to whet our appetites, nor so long as to fainten the heart.-O all ye that are grieved with the want of your Saviour, see where ye must seek him! In vain shall ye hope to find him in the streets, in the taverns, in the theatres, seek him in his holy temple, seek him with piety, seek him with faith; there shall ye meet him, there shall ye recover him.—HALL.

Sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing and asking them questions.-While children of that age were playing in the streets, Christ was found sitting in the temple; not to gaze on the outward glory of that

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