the morning back again they go enquiring of all they meet seeking every where for him but no tydings could they hear of him That night they got back to Jerusalem and still can hear no tydings of him the longer they seek the greater their sorrows and less rest could they take that night a good pattern to all Parents diligently to look after their Children when they are missing and a great blame it is to such Parents as suffer their Children to go and come whether and when they will 6. Here see the time and place of their finding him on the third day of their seeking for him they enquired no doubt of all their friends and acquaintance in the City where they used to resort but could hâ—ar no tydings of him which still augmented their sorrow at last it came into their minds to go to the Temple and seek for him there it is much that they made that the last place of their enquiry for him But God had wise and holy ends in ordering and over-ruling their motions to be as they were when they came to the Temple they soon found him there the Temple was his Fathers house Joh. 2.16 and what place could they seek to find the Son in more likely then in his Fathers house there they find him And what employment did they find him about in his Fathers house They found him in the place of Education and Instruction of youth in the knowledge of the Scriptures and Religion a very meet place employment for a godly religious wise child and an eminent example to all youth to go of his own accord unto the Schools where he might learn Instruction in the knowledge of God and of the Scriptures It is far otherwise with too many of our youth who when they are missing must be sought for in Taverns Ordinaryes or such like places of sin vanity and profaneness 7. Here we see how the School Exercises were managed in training up of â—outh 1. They had Doctors Tutors or Teachers of the Scholars who had seats in the Schools on each side higher than the rest 2. At the bottom or foot of those seats of the Doctors there were loâ—er seats for the Scholars hearers and learners hence it is said A t. 22.3 that Paul was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel where he was taught according to the perfect manner of the Law of the Fathers according to which pattern the meeting places of the Gospel Churches were ordered for Act. 4.37 the place for the Church Treasury to be brought unto was at the Apoâ—tles feet there the Deacons had their place who gathered the Contributions of the Church unto the Lords Treasury in the Church 3. The Doctors taught and examined their Schools by proposing such questions to them as they thought meet for their Inâ—truction and unto these questions of the Doctors the Scholars were to make answer 4. In due time order the Scholars had leave liberty to propound questions to the Doctors unto which they gave answer for the Instruction of their Scholars 8. Here we see how Jesus behaved himself and managed his Fathers business among them in the Schools 1. When it was his turn in order to answer to the question proposed he answered the question with such understanding as made them to admire that word Prov. 24.26 was verified in him every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer and Prov. 20.15 the lips of knowledge are pretious jewels and Prov. 15.23 a man hath joy by the answer of his mouth and a word spoken in due season how good is it 2. When it was his turn to ask and propound questions he did propound such questions as did amaze them How they could or did answer them it is not said all that is said is Luk. 2.49 all that heard him were astonished at his underâ—tanding and answers it is a good point of understanding to ask a wise question In this place and in this employment his Parents found him 9. When the Exercise was ended for they did not they might not be so rude as to interrupt them his parents took him into their Company and when the season was fit they expostulated with him for staâ—ing behind and putting them to so much sorrow pains and trouble To which he humbly with meekness answered that he was about his Fathers business he doth with gentle modesty check their check with an expostulation why did you give your selves so much trouble so sorrowfully to seek me did you not consider if you did not you might have considered that I must do my Fathers business viz. to perform the office and duty of a Mediator and this is one part of the work of the Office of a Prophet to raise up and train up of the Sons of Israel to be Prophets and to be Nazarets his Parents understood not his discourse but his mother did lay up his sayings in her heart and well she might for she knew that Joseph whom he called Father had no business for him to do in the Schools and she perfectly knew that he had no earthly Father God only was his Father and therefore it was Gods business that he wâ—â— about I am loth to pass over this famous History without taking some notice of this great duty of our Generation work in training up of youth in Religion and learning to fit them for the service of God and the publick benefit of mankind both in Families Church and common-wealth all sorts and orders of men are bound to attend unto this great and necessary Generation work And we of New-England aâ—e more obliged to it then any other in some respects especially because it was one of the chief motives and ends of our designe in leaving of our native soile Relations callings friends and hopes for worldly Estates adventuring our all into the hands of Gods providence to pass over the vast Câ—ean into a wilderness a land not sowen to enjoy the liberties of Gods house and Ordinances and instituted worship for our selves and our posterity And to train up our Generarions under these enjoyments and improvements to be holy Churches of Jesus Christ trained up in his School for his service honour and praise which cannot be performed by any ordinary means save by Schools Though we have great cause to praise God for our Schools and the great blessing that all the Land doth enjoy thereby Yea and some returns we have made to our mother England of our Children trained up here in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Yet we have great cause especially of late years to abase our selves before the Lord for our great neglects and remissness in the pâ—rformance of our purposes and vows to God in this particular we doat upon our children and do not indure that due christian severitâ— to be exercised in their Education as the fallen Estate of mankind doth necessarily require and call for Pagan Rome and Greece will in some respects
thirty years old then he began to enter upon his publick Ministry beginning with Faâ—â—ing and Prayer temptation Luk. 3.23 with 41. c. and from that time forward to his dâ—ath all the Evangelists do give the history of his doings sufferings The course of his holy life from twelve years old to thirty is wholly covered in silence save what is said in these two Verses wherein there be six things spoken of him 1. He went down with them he had come up with them unto the Temple to attend the publick worship of God and now he returneth home again in his parents company It is a spiritual comfort to godly parents when they appear before God to say as Isai 8.18 Behold here am I and the children which the Lord hath given me And when the worship is finished the Parents and the Children return home together Good Children will refuse vain company vanities and play to keep company with their godly parents Godly youth will chiefly prize and rather chuse the desirable company of their good parents as being according to the commandment of God and the holy pattern that our Saviour Jesus Christ hath set us Once we see that he tarried behind them but we also see what a good Apology he had for it because he was about his heavenly Fathers business according to this instance was his and his Parents practise all his dayes From this time forward for eighteen years did they thus walk Order is comely in Gods eyes and becometh Gods House and Worship in such order did they constantly walk with God Hereby Jesus Christ did fullfill perfectly all the laws of God touching his orderly attendance unto the instituted worship of God Such a divine beauty and lustre was upon the reverent orderly and religious attendance of Jesus Christ upon the publick worship of God that it was an high honour to the Temple for him to appear in it and to worship God there Such an honour and glory as made this second Temple to excell the first Temple though in many other respects it was inferiour to it Hag. 2.7 9. The Desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory saith the Lord of Host the glory of this latter house shall be greater then of the former saith the Lord of Hosts The holy obedience and worship of this glorious person did beautifie and illustrate the Temple and all the instituted worship of God which was there performed this Person brought more glory to the Temple then all the Ceremonyes of which he was the substance and they were but tâ—e shadows In all this period of the middle age of his life the Lord Jesus did fullfill the law of God with his pure perfect and meritorious obedience never was the Law of God so obeyed and fullfilled as it was by this glorious Person 2. He came to Nazaret the place of his education and Humiliation all his dayes untill he entred upon his publick Ministry He is after called the Branch in the Old Testament with reference to his habitation in this city which hath its name from that word and in the New-Testament he is called Jesus of Nazaret we see how exaâ—â—ly careful the Lord was to fulfil the Scriptures for the con irmation of our Faith in him yea in minute and small matters as they maâ— appear unto us Math. 5.17 think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil Joh. 6.38 I come down from Heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me 3. He was subject unto his Parents the Greek is Emphatical in three words he was that is the habit bent way and set of his heart was to be subject to his Parents according to the fifth Commandment he perfectly fulfilled the fifth Command it was never so kept and fulfilled as he kept it his heart was unto his duty which he performed without any failure or swerving either in thought look gesture word or deed The second word is subjecting viz. alwayes and upon all occasions he acted subjection in all kinds and in all things he acted the perfect duty of a child without the least spot or stain The third word to them to both his Parents Father and mother according as order and the rule called for it In Childhood the child is oftenest in the mothers bosome in youth he is oftenest at Fathers hand in all cases he acted subjection and obedience perfectly they never proâ—oked him for he had nothing in him was capable to be provoked when the Devil came to tâ—mpt he found nothing in him capable to entertain a temptation Joh. 14.30 much lâ—ss did his Parents ever provoke him nor did he ever provoke them they had in-dwelling sin in them though he had not and though they had he never provoked them nor drew out their corruption to act O what a sweet holy peaceable Family was that Family an heavenly Family no doubt he often stirred up and provoked his Parents to holiness virtue and all good works that they were capable to perform Math. 8.9 the Centurion doth rightly describe Family subjection I say to one goe and he goeth and to anothâ—r come and he cometh to another do this and he doth it So did Jesus alwayes if his mother called him he came if she said goe he goeth when his Father said go with me to work at my calling for our living he went with him he wrought with him we read that his dotracters said Is not this the Carpenters Son Math. 13.55 others called him the Carpenter Mar. 6.3 this witnesseth his subjection and obedience to his Parents And also that he was not idle but he laboured in his Fathers calling and all this was pure and perfect obedience to the Law of God Reverence to parents is a part of subjection to them and therefore that also is comprehended in this word he was subject to them 4. He increased in wisdome the greek word doth signifie to profit and increase in knowlebge and learning by the use of those means which God hath appointed for mankind to get wisdome knowledge and learning by which are hearing reading conference meditation and studâ— and watering them all with prayer That hearing is a sanctified means instituted by God to get wisdome see Rom. 10.17 Faith cometh by hearing that reading is an instituted sanctified means see Ioh. 5 39. search the Scriptures Jesus Christ often saith have you not read and how read you that conference is a sanctified means see Luk. 24.32 did not our hearts burn witbin us while he talked by the way that meditations and study are sanctified means 1 Tim 4.15 meditate on these things and that all these must be watered by prayer Iam. 1.5 If any lack wisdome let him ask it of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him Paul saith that he profited in the Iews Religion
Lord ye say well for so I am 5. There is a bond Servant who is bound for all his life as captives and Moors are To this kind of service Jesus submitted not unto the three first forms of a Servant Jesus did submit himself viz. 1. To be an ingenious Servant in love to do good to all and especially to the Saints 2. To be a free Servant to work with other men and receive wages with his Father 3. To serve the conquerour by paying such Tribute as they demand But unto the two last he submitted not viz. to be bound to serve a man for a time and much less to be bound to serve a man for his life Neither of these two forms of a Servant did Jesus take up And I may offer these Reasons for it 1. To be bound to serve a man would have hindered him from attending unto his heavenly Fathers business which he came into the world to do Joh. 6.38 I came down from Heaven to do the will of him that sent me not my own will and much less mans will to which a bond Servant is bound Joh. 5.30 I came to do the will of the Father that sent me Ioh. 4.34 my meat is to do the will of him that sent me Therefore he might not be such a Servant as by the Law is tyed to do the will of his Master Vnder his goâ—ly parents he had liberty to do his heavenly Fathers will and it is a branch of the Fathers will that he should be subject to his Parents whose duty it was to further him in the Service of his heavenly Father Once at twelve years old he did that which by accident did not a little trouble his Parents for the present but Mary so laid up the words of his Apology as that they did never hinder him from doing his heavenly Fathers business but further him therein if they could 2. He had no need to be a Servant under tuition to teach him humility and subjection he needed not to be taught by any humane yoke We need it Lam. 3.27 It is good for us to bear the Yoke of Tuition in our Youth but it was not so with Iesus Christ his heavenly Fathers will and command were enough for him who had the perfect Image of God and without the least stain of original sin 3. Because these three kinds of Service that he did undergo were enough to sanctifie all kinds and degrees of service for us who need the tuition of such a yoke because our nature is stained with original sin and needeth to be subdued and tamed and thereby be made capable of Instruction 4. Because it was too far beneath the dignity of his blessed person to be at the will and command of a frail man which his godly Parents were considerate of knowing his Divine Offspring he was subject to them by his own voluntary obedience to the fifth command of God but never needed to put forth any parental power of command over him 5. It was Infinite humility in him to condescend to the lowest order of men in taking the form of a Servant though he did not stoop down to the lowest degree of that order especially considering that it would have hindred him from doing the will of the Father that sent him Quest But why did Iâ—sus Christ stoop so low as to take the form of a Servant Answ 1. Iesus Christ took the form of a Servant to satisfie Divine justice in submitting himself to bear the punishment due to the sin of man Sin stripped man of his dignity dominion Lordship and Rule and cast him into a state of servitude the sting curse of this punishment Christ suffered purely perfectly and meritoriously to the full satisfaction of divine justice thereby hath took out the sting curse of servitude he bore that in his own person to bear it off and heave it away from us This is one part of his passive obedience to bear the punishment of servitude this is one part of his passive obedience which did run through the whole course of his life and especially in the whole course of his private life for it was otherwise in some respects in the time of his publick Ministry 2. Because hereby he sanctified the state of Service for us that it might be medicinal and wholsome for us to humble us sanctifie us and do us good The curse being removed it is become a Gospel rod and a yoke which we have need of especially in our youth and Iesus Christ hath fitted it to do us good 3. Iesus Christ took the form of a servant that he might perform that active obedience to the Law of God which that order doth owe unto the Law and thereby merit that reward that part of the Inheritance which was by the covenant of works due unto the perfect observation of those Laws And this merit of Iesus Christ is imputed to us that believe by the covenant of grace So that by taking the form of a servant Iesus Christ performed both active passive obedience to God the fruit whereof is made ours by the Gospel Jesus Christ did fulfil all righteousness Mat. 3.15 wherof this is no small part in his obedience to the fifth commandment 4. Iesus Christ took the form of a Servant and did both suffer and do all the duty that belonged thereunto to purchase Gospel freedome for us that through faith in Iesus Christ we may be freed from the evil of servitude and be made free Servants of God through Iesus Christ But we must remember that Iesus Chriâ—â— freeth us from the evil of servitude not from the state of servitude 1 Cor. 7.21 22 23. art thou called converted being a Servant a bond Servant for life care not about that do the duty of thy place it shall be but as medicine to thy Soul and though thou be a Servant to men yet thou art a Freeman of Jesus Christ and if Christ make you free you are free indeed in a supereminent free estate Onesimus was Philemons Servant but he was being converted a Freeman of Christ ver 16. O what a comfort is this to poor slaves and Servants that believe in Jesus Christ that Jesus Christ himself the Lord of glory took the form of a Servant for their sakes Jesus Christ hath set Heaven gates open for poor bond slaves and Servants to enter in by believing And at the great day we shall see many bond slaves Servants and underlings men and women sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the heavenly Kingdome but their Masters Rulers and such as made them slaves cast out into outer darkness Sect. 4. The Sufferings of Jesus Christ in bodily infirmityes Math. 8.17 himself took our infirmityes and bore our sicknesses THe forenamed Instances of the Sufferings of Jesus Christ did manifestly run through the whole course of his life all the time of his youth which were so farr as we know his most serene dayes that he lived
furnished accomplished beautifyed even from a child did lead an eminent humane life in all humane excellencies perfections never any man like him all his actions from a child were pure and perfect in them all he acted as a publick person He was born a Saviour and was at no time devested of that office He perfectly fulfilled the Law in all the duties of childhood never had the world such a child in it Yet here was passive obedience also in all this in many respects all his glory was vailed from the worlds eye by a poor obscure low condition Here might be great instruction both to children and parents to all Believers yea and to all the enemies and dispisers of Jesus Christ But I will pass on in attending to the History of his holy life and bitter Sufferings CAP. VII The History of one famous Act of Wisdome and Grace which Jesus Christ did at twelve years of age Luk. 2.42 ad 51. AND when he was twelve years old they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast And when they had fulfilled the dayes as they returned the child Jesus tarried behind in Ierusalem and Joseph and his Mother knew not of it But they supposing him to have been in the company went a dayes journey and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance And when they found him not they turned back again to Ierusalem seeking him And it came to pass that after three dayes they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them Questions And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and Answers 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 sought thee sorrowing And he said unto them How is it that ye sought me wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them In this History we may observe diverse weighty things 1. The time of it when he was about twelve years old an admirable specimen of the grace of God in him The grace of Christ hath eminently shined to many children especially in John Baptist in a most remarkable manner Gods Grace hath shined in sundry of our youth and children yea in some of our Indian children since their praying to God by which experiences this history touching this blessed child Jesus is rendred possible It is a Scripture Record and it were great unbelief to doubt of it The Lord hath given us this history for the encouragement both of Parents and children to take pains with them betimes to train them up in the knowledge of the Scriptures from a child as Timothy was by his godly mother Grand-mother 2. Tim. 1.5 3.15 No doubt this holy child Jesus did in his child-hood utter many gracious words and did many gracious actions but it hath pleased God to record only this one for the use of the Church in this world and hath covered all the rest with the mantle of silence God saw in his holy wisdome that the lustre of this one act was enough to shine out the rest are reserved to be opened and admired at the day of Judgment and in heaven to â—ll eternity 2. We see the religious conversation and practice of the godly in their persoâ—al attendance upon the publick worship of God according to his divine instituâ—ions We see also their religious and carefull education of their children and â—outh to go with them and attend upon the publick worship of God to be acquainted with it and accustomed to attend upon it even from their childhood as Hannah did by Samuel 1 Sam. 1.24 which greatly condemneth the practice of some in our dayes who seldome bring forth their children to the publick worship of God I have heard of some children of twelve yeers old that never were present at a publick Sabbath worship of God they know not what it is such as live in dark places in the out-skirts of the land know little or nothing of Religion of the service and worship of God 3. Here is to be noted the time of their returning home viz. when they had fulfilled the dayes and â—inished the service and worship which God commanded none of them stipped out and got away to run home before the worship of God was finished as too many of our people especially our â—outh are too frequently wont to doe The Parents of Jesus staid till all was finished and the child stayed with them It was their conâ—tant custome so to doe O how good it is to uphold a conâ—tant reverent waiting upon the Lord with godly fear for our God is a consuming fire Children must be trained up to serve God with reverence and fear 4. See the godly Zeal of this holy child Jesus for when the publick inâ—tituted worship was finished he was not weary and hasty to be gone glad to be out of the yoke of the service of God it was not a weariness to him as too often it is to us yea not only to children but to elder persons both men and women are too full of this infirmity tyred and weary of the service glad to be gone It was not so with Jesus for when he might have been gone with his parents when they went away after the worship was finished yet he stayed behind them And where stayed he not in any common place or vain company nor in any vain sports and pleasures but he stayed in the temple he went to the place of the education of youth into the Schools of instruction of youth A rare example for a child so to doe Too many of our youth will stay behind their parents and will not goe home in their company but what stay they about for no good but for sport and pleasure and where stay they sometimes in common places sometimes in profane places in taverns or other places where profane persons resort where they may serve their pleasures and lusts wherein they take more delight then in the service of God O youth youth learn of this holy child Jesus if you stay behind your Parents or if you go not home to your Parents let your tarryance be in the Temple or in some service of God or where you may do or receive some good 5. Here see his Parents vigilant diligent and solicitous care of their Child when they missed him in their company they went on the first dayes journy hoping that he was in the company of some of their kindred or neighbours and acquaintance for they knew that he was civil sociable and courteous but at night at that first dayes journeys end they searched for him inquired of all the Company they could hear no tidings of him none of them had seen him any where in the way Now are they filled with sorrow no quiet rest could they take that night up they rise in