childhood is recorded, which presents an interesting specimen of his pre-eminent wisdom. At twelve years of age, He went to Jerusalem with Joseph and Mary, to celebrate the passover. On reaching Bir, a day's journey from Jerusalem, in their way back to Nazareth, they discovered that He was absent from the caravan. In much tribulation they returned to the holy city, and passed three days in making fruitless inquiries in the streets and most frequented places. At length, to their great relief, they found Him in one of the schools within the precincts of the temple, engaged in deep discussion with the Rabbis, who were astonished at the sagacity of his reasoning, and his profound knowledge of the Scriptures. With a maternal expression of wounded affection, Mary exclaimed," Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." She had, alas! many bitter lessons to learn concerning the thorny path He was destined to tread in through this vale of tears; though with characteristic thoughtfulness she often reflected on his peculiar vocation, and viewed with admiration his transcendently-gifted mind, and the holiness and beauty of his actions. He replied to her remonstrance, by an expression of that zeal for his Father's glory, which He in due time displayed so magnanimously, and then quitted the learned assembly, and returned with her and Joseph to Nazareth. Their journey lay across the mountain ridge of Ephraim, rich in trees and shrubs,

diversified with rocky dales and desert heights; sometimes descending a steep declivity, then proceeding up hill, and again descending into the valley through verdant and flowery landscapes, till they reached Samaria, the crown and pride of Ephraim. From thence they traversed the beautiful plain of Esdraelon, in which the ancient river Kishon glitters like a stream of silver; and once more reached their hallowed abode, where Jesus continued to grow up in all the endearments of domestic life, in the progressive development of his mental powers and capacities, and of every spiritual grace and moral virtue.

"In Him a loveliness complete,

Light and perfection shine;

And wisdom, grace, and glory meet,
A Saviour all Divine."

CHAPTER II.

"This man born, and now up-grown

To show Him worthy of his birth Divine,
And high prediction, henceforth I expose to Satan.
. . But first I mean

To exercise Him in the wilderness;

There He shall first lay down the rudiments
Of this great warfare, ere I send Him forth
To conquer sin and death, the two grand foes
By humiliation and long-sufferance."

HAVING fulfilled every jot and tittle of God's holy law, from infancy to manhood, at the age of thirty, and in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, Jesus quitted the maternal roof, in order to commence the great work of redemption. Behold Him, then, who was the Creator of the earth on which He trod, going forth to perform his labour of love in the cause of humanity, his heart overflowing with philanthropy, and full of a holy zeal for the honour of the Divine attributes. As a preliminary to his sublime undertaking, He directed his steps to Bethabara,

D

diversified with rocky dales and desert heights; sometimes descending a steep declivity, then proceeding up hill, and again descending into the valley through verdant and flowery landscapes, till they reached Samaria, the crown and pride of Ephraim. From thence they traversed the beautiful plain of Esdraelon, in which the ancient river Kishon glitters like a stream of silver; and once more reached their hallowed abode, where Jesus continued to grow up in all the endearments of domestic life, in the progressive development of his mental powers and capacities, and of every spiritual grace and moral virtue.

"In Him a loveliness complete,

Light and perfection shine;
And wisdom, grace, and glory meet,
A Saviour all Divine."