6. After this, from twelve to the thirtieth year of his Age, we read nothing of the Acts of Christ,1 but that he went down with his Parents unto Nazareth, and was subject ⟨p. 141⟩to them; as he went up to Jerusalem to Worship God, and in some sort to show himself God; so now he goes down to Nazareth to attend his particular Calling.2 This is the meaning of those words, and he was subject to them: Christs subjection to his Parents extends to the profession and exercise of his life; certainly Christ was not all that time from twelve to thirty years, idle; as he was educated by his Parents, so of his reputed Father he learnt to be a Carpenter; this, I take it, is plain in these words, Is not this the Carpenter, 3the Son of Mary? It appears (say our English Annotations) that Christ exercised that Trade in his younger years. I know Matthew renders it thus,4 Is not this the Carpenters Son, is not his Mother called Mary? But Mark thus, is not this the Carpenter? &c. Some comment thus, that while Joseph was alive, Christ wrought with him in the Trade of a Carpenter, and when Joseph died, which happened before the manifestation of Jesus unto Israel, he wrought alone, and was no more called the Carpenters Son, but the Carpenter himself: here's comfort for men of the meanest Callings; as Husbandry was honoured in the Person and Condition of the first Adam before his Fall, so now the Handicraft. O the Poverty, Humility, Severity of Jesus! it appears at this time especially, in his Labouring, Working, Hewing of Wood, or the like; here's a sharp reproof to all those that spend their time in idleness, or without a particular Calling, that take no pains at all, unless in pursuit after Vain, Foolish, Superfluous, Sinful things; what! are they wiser than Christ? Our Jesus would not by any means thus spend his time. Indeed for the while he did nothing famous, or of public note;5 but neither was this without a Mystery: In doing nothing Public, saith one, He achieved great, and sumptuous, and praise-worthy acts: There is a season and time to every purpose under heaven: as there is a time of silence, and a time to speak, so there is a time for public, and a time for private Negotiations; as yet Christ conceals his virtues, and conforms himself to the conversation of men, that the Mystery of his Incarnation might not be thought a Phantasm;
6. After this, from twelve to the thirtieth year of his Age, we read nothing of the Acts of Christ,1 but that he went down with his Parents unto Nazareth, and was subject ⟨p. 141⟩to them; as he went up to Jerusalem to Worship God, and in some sort to shew himself God; so now he goes down to Nazareth to attend his particular Calling.2 This is the meaning of those words, and he was subject to them: Christs subjection to his Parents extends to the profession and exercise of his life; certainly Christ was not all that time from twelve to thirty years, idle; as he was educated by his Parents, so of his reputed Father he learnt to be a Carpenter; this, I take it, is plain in these words, Is not this the Carpenter, 3the Son of Mary? It appears (say our English Annotations) that Christ exercised that Trade in his younger years. I know Matthew renders it thus,4 Is not this the Carpenters Son, is not his Mother called Mary? But Mark thus, is not this the Carpenter? &c. Some comment thus, that while Joseph was alive, Christ wrought with him in the Trade of a Carpenter, and when Joseph died, which happened before the manifestation of Jesus unto Israel, he wrought alone, and was no more called the Carpenters Son, but the Carpenter himself: here's comfort for men of the meanest Callings; as Husbandry was honoured in the Person and Condition of the first Adam before his Fall, so now the Handicraft. O the Poverty, Humility, Severity of Jesus! it appears at this time especially, in his Labouring, Working, Hewing of Wood, or the like; here's a sharp reproof to all those that spend their time in idleness, or without a particular Calling, that take no pains at all, unless in pursuit after Vain, Foolish, Superfluous, Sinful things; what! are they wiser than Christ? Our Jesus would not by any means thus spend his time. Indeed for the while he did nothing famous, or of publick note;5 but neither was this without a Mystery: In doing nothing Publick, saith one, He atchieved great, and sumptuous, and praise-worthy acts: There is a season and time to every purpose under heaven: as there is a time of silence, and a time to speak, so there is a time for publick, and a time for private Negotiations; as yet Christ conceals his virtues, and conforms himself to the conversation of men, that the Mystery of his Incarnation might not be thought a Phantasme;
- 1Luke. 2.51.
- 2Luke 2.51.
- 3Mark 6.3.
- 4Mat. 13.55.
- 5Nihil faciendo fecit magnificn.
