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country, without returning to him, was provoked beyond measure, and sent his soldiers to slay all the infants in and about Bethlehem, of "two years old and under."

On the death of Herod, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, and directed him to return home; but when he found that the tyrant was succeeded by his son, Joseph went and fixed his abode at Nazareth. "And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of GoD was upon him." Luke ii. 40.

Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the humanity of Christ increased in holiness and wisdom, and that to a wonderful degree. At the age of twelve years he accompanied his parents to Jerusalem, at the feast of the passover. When the accustomed days were fulfilled, and they were returning, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and Mary proceeded a day's journey before they missed him. Then, in much anxiety, they went pack to Jerusalem; and on the third day they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions, to the great astonishment of all who heard him, and observed the quickness of his understanding, and the wisdom of his answers. When his mother remonstrated with him for occasioning them so much uneasiness, his answer was mysterious; "How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" Mary knew that not concerns of her husband could have detained him, and therefore she treasured up this incident in her heart as a subject of holy meidtation. This is the only particular recorded of the juvenile conduct of our Saviour; and it is one full of instruction. It manifests, in the first instance, his love for the courts of the Lord's house; and in the second, a holy zeal for his Father's glory. Happy will it be for young persons, if they study this Divine example, and instead of associating with the idle, licentious, and

profane, seek the path of religion, keep close to the house of God, learn instruction from the wise and good, and improve the knowledge which they acquire by meditation and prayer.

Jesus went down with his parents to Nazareth, and was "subject unto them;" for though he was their Lord, yet he became "obedient in all things," and was contented to live in a state of poverty, working as a carpenter, which was the occupation of his reputed father. In this low condition, he continued till the thirtieth year of his age; for so long, dorbtless, was it expedient that he should lead a private life, and pay obedience to the law of God.

At this age did JESUS break forth from his obscurity, and proceed to Jordan, where John, his forerunner, was baptizing, "to be baptized of him." Thus did he pass through every stage, and obey every Divine institution; nor would he, though the Lord of glory, enter upon the public ministry, without submitting to the rite of baptism, and being solemnly inaugurated into his high office. He needed not baptism" to wash away his sins, for he knew no sin;" but he sanctified the institution, that it might be a perpetual ordinance in his church.

When Jesus ascended from the water," the heavens opened unto him, and the spirit of God descended in a bodily shape like a dove, and lighted upon him; and lo! there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew iii. 16, 17. Here we have all the three persons in the blessed Trinity: the Father giving testimony to the divinity of his Son, by an audible voice from heaven, without any visible appearance: the Son on the earth under the veil of humanity; and the Holy Ghost in the air, descending on him in a glorious body of light, and with a tremulous motion, like that of a dove. Christ, therefore, was consecrated to his ministerial office by baptism, and the unction of the Holy Ghost, as the Jewish priests were by washing and anointing.

Being thus entered upon his great work, which was also a state of warfare against the great enemy of God and man; “he was led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil."

In this dismal place he continued forty days and forty nights without food; and the human nature being nearly exhausted, the tempter urged him to a presumptuous action, by saying, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." But the artifice of Satan failed; for though the Divine power that was in Jesus could have provided food in the wilderness, yet, as man, he submitted to the ordinary course of Providence, that his obedience might be made perfect. Then the Devil took him into the holy city, and, having set him upon the battlements of the temple, tempted him to cast himself down, quoting at the same time a text in the Psalms, which asserted that he should be safe in so doing; but here also the deceiver was foiled by Jesus, who alleged another text, which declares, "Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God." From hence he was conveyed to the top of a high mountain, where Satan "showed him the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them," adding that he would give him the whole if he would fall down and worship him. To this the adversary received the indignant reply, "Get thee behind me, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. The conquest was now completed, for the Devil, being baffled at every point, gave up the contest and fled. Thus was our Lord tempted in all points, yet without sin," that we might be encouraged by his example to resist the Devil, and to take as he did, for our weapon, the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

Having gained this great victory, the angels of God, who had no doubt been anxious spectators of the conflict, came with joy and ministered unto him.

This trial being past, Jesus entered upon his pub

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