The Harmony of the Gospels, Chapter 7
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 …ll eternity.
2. We ſee the religious converſation and practice of the godly in their perſo…al attendance upon the publick worſhip of God, according to his divine inſtitu…ions. We ſee alſo their religious and carefull education of their children and …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 …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 …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 con…tant cuſtome ſo to doe. O how good it is to uphold a con…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 in…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 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 h…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 …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 lo…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 Apo…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 In…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 under…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 ſta…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 w… 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 a…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 C…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 p…rformance of our purpoſes and vows to God in this particular; we doat upon our children, and do not indure that due chriſtian ſeverit… 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, concerning grave and ſevere Education of youth, riſe up in judgement againſt our reforming Churches, who are far more advantaged than they were to the performance of this great generation work. Yet are we much more failing therein, than they were, we do know that the long duration of their flouriſhing ſtate, did ſpring and grow in this garden of ſevere Education of poſterity of all ſorts of youth, which bleſſing is founded and promiſed in the fifth Commandment.
We do already plainly ſee, that the degeneracy and ruine of our reformed Churches ſpringeth up, yea cometh upon us like a raging flood, out of this neglected garden, the want of due and prudent ſeverity in the education of our youth We have all Scripture light ſtrongly ingageing of us to this duty: I ſhall only intimate a few Scriptures,
2. Tim. 3.14.15, 16, 17. But continue thou in the things which thou haſt learned, knowing of whom thou haſt learned them. And that from a child thou haſt known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wiſe unto ſalvation, through faith which is in Chriſt Jeſus. All Scripture is given by inſpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſs, that the man of God may be perfect, thorowly furniſhed unto all good works.
Eph. 6.4. And ye Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in t… … …d admonition of the Lord.
Deut. 6.6, 7. And theſe words which I command thee this day ſhall be in thine heart… and thou ſhalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and ſhalt talk of them when thou ſitteſt in thine houſe, and when thou walkeſt by the way, and when t…ou lyeſt down, and when thou riſeſt up. Prov. 22.6. Train up a Child in the way he ſhould goe, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Deut. 29.10.11, to 16. Ye ſtand this day all of you before the LORD your God: your Captains of your Tribes;, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Iſrael, your little ones, and your wives, and thy ſtranger that is in thy Camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water: that thou ſhouldeſt enter into covenant with the Lord thy God, and into his oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day: That he may eſtabliſh thee to day for a people unto himſelf, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath ſaid unto thee, and as he hath ſworn unto thy Fathers, to Abraham, to Iſaac, and to Jacob. Neither with you only doe I make this Covenant, and this oath: but with him that ſtandeth here with us this day, before the Lord our God; and alſo with him that is not here with us this day.
Nehem. 10.28. And the reſt of the people, the prieſts, the Levites, the porters, the ſingers, the Nethinims, and all they that had ſeperated themſelves from the people of the lands, unto the Law of God; their wives, their ſons and their daughters, every one having knowledg and having underſtanding.
To train up our children to worſhip God with Reverence and godly fear, is a powerfull curb, reſtraint and correction of that natural enmity that is in their heart againſt God, and againſt his holy law. It ſuppreſſeth the natural habits, and permitteth not the irritation of corruption to be ſtirred up: it quencheth the burning of all ſuch ſparks: it chaſeth away the fooliſhneſs that is bound up in the heart: it habituates the ſoul in a principle of hatred againſt ſin: it inureth them into ſhame and ſorrow for ſin, which is ſo contrary to the law of God, and all religion, and holy worſhip of God: it layeth in, yea ſtoreth the ſoul with principles and habits of virtue, which will never wear out, nor be forgotten; becauſe he hath been ſo taught and practiſed from a child. Such religious education of Children doth greatly diſpoſe & prepare their hearts for the ſpecial work of the Spirit, un…o their converſion, they being alwayes trained up within the walk of the Spirit; ſuch religious education doth principle them to be ready for any ſervice of God in their generation. The firſt impreſſions that are ſtrongly made upon the tender ſouls of children, will never wear out. Quo ſemel eſt imbuta recens ſervabit odorem Teſta diu
It is a very falſe and pernicious principle, that many people and parents are tainted with, viz. that youth muſt be ſuffered a while to take their ſwinge, and ſowe their wild oates; to travail into the world, to follow the faſhions, company, and manners of the times, hoping they will be wiſer hereafter. O falſe principle God ſpeaks fully to the contrary. Prov. 19.18. Chaſten thy Son while there is hope, and let not thy ſoul ſpare for his crying. Prov. 13.24. He that ſpareth the rod, hateth his ſon, but he that loveth him, chaſteneth him betimes. The gentle rod of the mother, is a very ſoft and gentle thing, it will break neither bone nor skin: yet by the bleſſing of God with it, and upon the wiſe application of it: it would break the bond that bindeth up corruption in the heart. Prov. 22.15. Yea yet greater is the power of this gentle thing, Prov, 23.13.14. withold not correction from the child, for if thou beateſt him with the rod, he ſhall not dye, thou ſhalt beat him with the rod, and ſhalt deliver his ſoul from hell. The after welfare of our children de…endeth very much upon their education. We want not experiences of both ds; ſome we have can never get rid of the ſtains of their youth. Davids heart pincheth him upon that account. Pſal. 25.7. So doth Jobs diſtreſſed ſoul lament, Job. 13.26. Thou writeſt bitter things againſt me, and makeſt me to poſſeſs the iniquities of my youth. We often find the good effects of holy and ſevere education, of which Timothy is a noted example. We have experienced that text Amos. 2.11. I raiſed up of your ſons to be prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites, is it not even ſo O ye children of Iſrael ſaith the Lord? and is it not ſo with us, O New-England! but the Reproof that followeth v. 12. we have too ſadly experienced, But ye have given them wine to drink, is it not ſo, O New-England! This is a lamentation, and will be for a lamentation, if it be not reformed.