The harmony of the Gospels in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

3. Here is to be noted the time of their returning home, viz. when they had fulfilled the days, and •inished the service and worship which God commanded; none of them stipped out, and got away to run home before the worship of God was finished, as too many of our people, especially our •outh are too frequently wont to do. The Parents of Jesus staid till all was finished, and the child stayed with them. It was their constant custom so to do. O how good it is to uphold a constant, reverent waiting upon the Lord with godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire. Children must be trained up to serve God with reverence and fear.

3. Here is to be noted the time of their returning home, viz. when they had fulfilled the dayes, and •inished the service and worship which God commanded; none of them stipped out, and got away to run home before the worship of God was finished, as too many of our people, especially our •outh are too frequently wont to doe. The Parents of Jesus staid till all was finished, and the child stayed with them. It was their con•tant custome so to doe. O how good it is to uphold a con•tant, reverent waiting upon the Lord with godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire. Children must be trained up to serve God with reverence and fear.

4. See the godly Zeal of this holy child Jesus, for when the public instituted worship was finished, he was not weary and hasty to be gone, glad to be out of the yoke of the service of God; it was not a weariness to him, as too often it is to us: yea not only to children, but to elder persons; both men and women are too full of this infirmity: tired and weary of the service, glad to be gone. It was not so with Jesus; for when he might have been gone with his parents, when they went away after the worship was finished, yet he stayed behind them. And where stayed he? not in any common place or vain company, nor in any vain sports and pleasures, but he stayed in the temple, he went to the place of the education of youth, into the Schools of instruction of youth. A rare example for a child so to do. Too many of our youth will stay behind their parents, and will not go home in their company: but what stay they about? for no good, but for sport and pleasure: and where stay they? sometimes in common places, sometimes in profane places, in taverns, or other places where profane persons resort, where they may serve their pleasures and lusts, wherein they take more delight then in the service of God. O youth, youth, learn of this holy child Jesus, if you stay behind your Parents, or if you go not home to your Parents, let your tarriance be in the Temple, or in some service of God, or where you may do or receive some good!