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

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!

4. See the godly Zeal of this holy child Jesus, for when the publick in•tituted 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: tyred 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 doe. Too many of our youth will stay behind their parents, and will not goe 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 tarryance be in the Temple, or in some service of God, or where you may do or receive some good!