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

5. When he was twelve years old, he with his Parents go up to Jerusalem after the custom of the Feast. ¹This pious act of his younger years intends to lead our first years into timely devotion; but I shall not insist on that; I would rather observe him sitting in the midst of the Doctors, both hearing them and asking them Questions; whilst the Children of his age were a playing in the streets, he is found of his parents sitting in the Temple; not to gaze on the outward glory of that house, of the Golden Candlesticks, or Tables, or Cherubims, or the Pillars, or the Molten Sea, or the Altar of Gold, or the Vessels of pure Gold; no, no, but to hear and oppose the Doctors. He, who as God, gave them all the Wisdom they had, doth now, as the Son of man, hearken to the Wisdom he had given them; and when he had heard, then he asks; and after that, no doubt he answers; his very questions were instructions; for I cannot think that he meant so much to learn, as to teach those Doctors of Israel. Surely these Rabbins had never heard the voice of such a Tutor; they could not but see the very Wisdom of God in this Child;² and therefore, saith the Text, they all wonder; or they were all astonished at his understanding and answers; their eyes saw nothing but a Child, but their ears heard the wonderful things of Gods Law; betwixt what they saw, and what they heard, they could not but be distracted and amazed. But why did ye not (O ye Jewish teachers) remember now the Star and the Sages, and the Angels, and the Shepherds; why did ye not now bethink your selves of Herod, and of his enquiry, and of your answer, that in Bethlehem of Judea Christ should be born? You cited the prophets, and why did you not mind that Prophecy now,³ that, unto us a Child is born, and unto us a Son is given, and his Name shall be called Wonderful, Councillor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace? Fruitless is the wonder that endeth not in Faith; no Light is sufficient, where the eyes were held through unbelief and prejudice.

5. When he was twelve years old, he with his Parents go up to Jerusalem after the custom of the Feast. ¹