Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

4. When he was now some five years old, say some; or but two years and a quarter old, say others; an Angel appears again in a Dream to Joseph, saying, Arise and take the young Child and his Mother, ¹and return again into the land of Israel, for they are dead which sought the young Child's Life. Herod, that took away the lives of all the Infants in or about Bethlehem, is now himself dead, and gone to his own place, and by this means the Coast is clear for the return of that holy Family. O the wonderful dispensation of Christ in concealing of himself from men! all this while he carries himself as an Infant, and though he know all things, yet he neither takes, nor gives any notice of his removal or disposing, but appoints that to be done by his Angel, which the Angel could not have done but by him. As Christ was pleased to take upon him our Nature, so in our Nature he was pleased to be a perfect Child; for that is the word; take the young Child and his Mother; he supperest the manifestation and exercise of that Godhead, whereto the Infant-nature was conjoined, as the Birth of Christ, so the infancy of Christ was exceeding humble: Oh how should we magnify him, or deject our selves for him, who himself became thus humble for our sakes?

4. When he was now some five years old, say some; or but two years and a quarter old, say others; an Angel appears again in a Dream to Joseph, saying, Arise and take the young Child and his Mother, ¹and return again into the land of Israel, for they are dead which sought the young Childs Life. Herod, that took away the lives of all the Infants in or about Bethlehem, is now himself dead, and gone to his own place, and by this meanes the Coast is clear for the return of that holy Family. O the wonderful dispensation of Christ in concealing of himself from men! all this while he carries himself as an Infant, and though he know all things, yet he neither takes, nor gives any notice of his removal or disposing, but appoints that to be done by his Angel, which the Angel could not have done but by him. As Christ was pleased to take upon him our Nature, so in our Nature he was pleased to be a perfect Child; for that is the word; take the young Child and his Mother; he supprest the manifestation and exercise of that Godhead, whereto the Infant-nature was conjoyned, as the Birth of Christ, so the infancy of Christ was exceeding humble: Oh how should we magnifie him, or deject our selves for him, who himself became thus humble for our sakes?