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I. His obedience to God's law, ver. 42. It required all males to attend the three great feasts at Jerusalem, Deut. xvi. 16. As a babe, He had been circumcised and presented, ver. 21, 23. Now at twelve years He attends the Passover. Isa. xlii. 21; Matt. v. 17; and this was not a pain to Him, but a pleasure, Ps. xl. 8; John iv. 34. So should it be with us, Ps. cxix. 35, if we are sons, Gal, iv. 6. It is a test of love, 1 John v. 3; of saintship, Rev. xii. 17.

II. His love to God's House, ver. 46. Missed in the returning caravan, His anxious parents find Him in the temple, Ps. cxxii. 1. "Hearing and asking,” 2 Tim. ii. 15. And what did this practice of early piety lead to? Luke iv. 16; "custom," John xviii. 20; thus will it be always, Prov. xxii. 6. Those who love God will love His house, Ps. xxvii. 4, lxxxiv. 10. We know how it was in the case of King Josiah, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 3, 8.

III. His growth in God's grace, ver. 40, 52. It is blessed to notice His increase of wisdom, as His mind unfolded, Prov. iv. 1-13; but how much more His advance in grace, Heb. xiii. 9; James iv. 6. Grace, you know, is the favour of God, vouchsafed to His people, Ps. lxxxiv. 11; 1 Pet. v. 10. How His grace was upon Jesus, Ps. xiv. 2; John i. 14; Matt. iii. 17; Luke ix. 35. All God's children should grow in grace, John i. 16; 2 Pet. iii. 18; Acts iv. 33.

These are the points which marked what we

know of the childhood of Jesus, and stamped Him as the "Holy Child;" He perceived and knew what things He ought to do, Col. i. 9, 10. "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" He had grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same, John xvii. 5. To be like Jesus in this respect is our prayer to-day, Phil. ii. 5. "I have given you an example."

Second Sunday after the Epiphany.

"WONDERFUL."

Learn, Isa. ix. 6, 7. Passages to be referred to for reading,-Judg. xiii. 18; Isa. ix. 1-7; Luke iv. 14-32; 1 Tim. iii. 16; Rev. i. 10-18.

MANY people have been thought wonderful in the world for one thing or another, but Jesus only is "wonderful" in everything. He gave this as His name before His incarnation, Judg. xiii. 18 (margin). God said it was to be the first name borne by His Son, Isa. ix. 6.

Mysteries, you know, are wonderful things, that man cannot comprehend of himself, Matt. xiii. 11. Jesus Christ is "the Mystery of Godliness," 1 Tim. iii. 16. The greater part of men cannot comprehend Him, John i. 5. Only those know Him to whom He is revealed by the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. ii. 7-14. But let us consider :— 1. Was he not wonderful in His birth? The time had been foretold, Dan. ix. 25. The place had been specified, Mic. v. 2. His name had been given, Isa. vii. 14. And in the fulness of time He was sent forth by God, made of a woman, Gal. iv. 4. He was born of a pure virgin, according to the Angel's word, Luke i. 35, ii. 18.

2. Was he not wonderful in His ministry? He was owned and honoured by a voice from heaven, Matt. iii. 17; Luke ix. 35; John xii. 28. His works convinced the reason of the educated, John ii. 23, iii. 2; and called forth the wonder of the poor, Matt. ix. 8, 33. His words were the marvel of all, Luke iv. 22; John vii. 46. 3. Was He not wonderful in His death? Why did He die who was holy? 1 Pet. ii. 22. "The wages of sin is death," Rom. vi. 23, and, “yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him," &c. Moreover, in dying He promises life, Luke xxiii. 43. is acknowledged to be righteous, Luke xxiii. 47, and to be the Son of God, Mark xv. 39.

He

4. Was He not wonderful in His resurrection? Others had been raised, but not as Jesus. He said that He would rise beforehand, John ii. 18-22; Mark viii. 31. Every precaution was taken to prevent His rising, Matt. xxvii. 66.

5. Was He not wonderful in His ascension? Others had ascended, but not as Jesus, 2 Kings ii. 11; Gen. v. 24. Compare what Christ says, John iii. 13. He ascended by His own right and merit, Ps. xxiv. 3, 4. He ascended from the grave and death, Eph. iv. 8-10. He ascended as our great High Priest, Heb. iv. 14.

Christian reader, this is all marvellous, but one point more I would leave with you. You know what you are, how wayward, how adverse to God, how cold in service, how very full of sin. Is not Jesus, then, "wonderful" to love you as He

does? Jer. xxxi. 3; to call you as He does? Matt. xi. 28; to plead with you as He does? John v. 40; to be patient with you as He is ? Rev. iii. 20; to pray for you as He does? Heb. vii. 25. Thus does He manifest the glory of His grace, Eph. ii. 7.

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