that we should follow his steps." His Apostles also we are " to follow, as far as they were followers of him." Now the fact which is here recorded, affords us an excellent pattern,
1. Of filial piety —
[Our Lord, during his youthful days, is particularly spoken of as having been " subject to his parents™:" and therein he has set an example to children in every age. But it is not in honouring their parents only, or in obeying their commands, that the duty of children consists ; it is no less their duty to make provision for their parents, in case they should by any means be brought into circumstances to need sup- port. This is particularly enjoined by God himself; " If any widow have children, or nephews'1 (grand-children), let them learn first to shew pity at home, and to requite their parents : for that is good and acceptable before God0." This duty supersedes charity itself, on a supposition that the two be in- compatible with each other : because the support of parents is an act of justice ; it is a return which we are bound to make for all the care and kindness they exercised towards us in our early days: and the claims of justice can never yield to those of generosity : indeed so indispensable is this duty, that if we do not perform it, we practically " deny the faith, and make ourselves worse than infidels?." Moreover we should endea- vour, as far as circumstances will admit of it, to make provision for our parents in the event of our own removal ; that so we may requite them for all their love to us, whilst we were in- capable of the smallest exertion for ourselves. If our parents do not need support from us, we must not on that account imagine that our Lord's example is inapplicable to us ; for that example shews equally, that it is our duty to consult the comfort of their minds, as well as the support of their bodies: and I pray God that all young people amongst us may lay this thought to heart! ]
2. Of Christian love —
[Though John had probably no great abundance for him- self, he doubtless thankfully admitted the mother of our Lord to a participation of what he had ; regarding her altogether as though she had been his own mother. In this same light should we regard all the sons and daughters of affliction, especially " those who are of the household of faith." What our Lord said of till who did his Father's will, we, for his sake, should say also ; " The same is my brother and sister and mother i." We should consider the aged, the infirm, the young,
«*» Luke ii. 51. n 'iicyova. ° l Tim. v. 4.
p 1 Tim. v. 8. 'i Matt. xii. 50.