" increasing in heavenly wisdom." Not wearied with the seven days that he had spent in spiritual exercises, he was happy to prolong the time, and to sit among the doctors (not with dicta- torial forwardness, but with the modesty of a child) to answer any questions that were put to him, and to ask for information on those points, in which he found himself not yet sufficiently instructed8. It was in the use of such means as these that the indwelling Godhead gradually irradiated his mind, and trained him up for the office, which at a more advanced age he was to fulfil. This was " the business to which his heavenly Father had called him," at this time ; and it was the delight of his soul to execute it : nor was he responsible to his earthly parents for overlooking on this occasion that attention to their feelings, which, in less urgent circumstances, he would have gladly shewn.
For all this he appealed to them : " How is it that ye sought me with such anxiety ? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" You know ivhence I am, that I am, in a way that no other child ever was, or ever will be, the Son of God. You know the end for tvhich I teas sent into the ivorld, even to save my people from their sins. You know what marvellous interpositions have been vouchsafed me, inso- much that I was preserved, whilst all the children of Beth- lehem, from two years old and under, were slain. You know also that the same heavenly Father who bade you carry me into Egypt, advertised you afterwards of Herod's death, and directed you to return with me to our native land. And can you doubt that a child so born, and born for so great an end, and so miraculously preserved, shall be taken care of? Was not my heavenly Father's care sufficient without yours?
Again, You have known my habits from my earliest infancy, and how entirely I have been devoted to my God, whilst in no single instance did I ever shew myself forgetful of you. You might well have concluded therefore, that I acted under the special direction of my heavenly Father, and might have been assured in your minds, that I was engaged "in my Father's business." You had abundant reason to be satisfied of all this ; and therefore, though I cannot disapprove of your returning to search for me, I cannot altogether commend your sorrows and anxieties respecting me ; since, if you had duly considered the circumstances I have referred to, your minds would have been comforted, being stayed on God.
Now, though " his parents understood not this at the time," we, who enjoy a fuller revelation of God's will, clearly com- prehend it; and therefore may well, like Mary, treasure it up in our hearts. And being further informed, that during the
a ver. 41 — 47.
1479.] Christ's early habits. 271
whole of his youthful days " he was subject to his parents," we see, that the construction we have put upon his words is true, and our vindication of his conduct is correct.]
Having explained his words, let me now,
II. Commend to your attention the sentiments con- tained in them — ■
Two things are here evidently insinuated ;
1. That the service of God is of paramount obliga- tion—
[God's claims are infinitely superior to all that man can assert. We are to love and serve him with all our heart and soul and strength. In matters of mere arbitrary institution, he is pleased indeed to wave his claims, and to give a priority to ours; saying, " I will have mercy, and not sacrificeb:" but in the service of the heart and of the soul, he will never for a moment abandon his rights : He says, " My Son, give me thine heart :" and this we must give him at the peril of our souls. In comparison of him, " our earthly parents, yea and our very life itself, are to be objects of hatred" and contempt0. We are not to regard the authority of any superiors whatever, but to say, " whether it be right to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge yed. Nor are we to be influenced by any exam- ples, however numerous ; but like Joshua, we must say, " Whatever the whole nation may do, I and my house will serve the Lorde." This is strongly inculcated under the Christian dispensation : " Give thyself wholly to these things'-." " Rejoice evermore : pray without ceasing : in every thing give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning youg." In a word, our whole life should be such, as, if any one shall inquire after us, to leave no doubt upon his mind, but that we are dutifully and diligently engaged " in our Father's business." It is not necessary that we should be always praying: our Lord himself was not praying at this time, but gaining instruction in the things of God. This was his duty. Ours is to perform the various offices of life in their season, combining in their due measure the services which our station in life calls for, with those which we owe more imme- diately to God. But in all that we do, we must have respect to God's authority as appointing it, and seek God's glory in the execution of it. " We must live not unto ourselves, but solely and entirely unto GodV]