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

This likewise also was a wonderful wisdom of God, to delay Herod from stirring in this matter, for about six weeks time, whereby opportunity was given to Joseph and Mary to perform all that the law required: For it behoved Jesus Christ to fulfil all righteousness and perfectly to observe the law of God: and he did so. But this is to be observed also; how the active and passive obedience of Jesus Christ are complicated together; and though these actions were the fulfilling of Ceremonial Laws, yet they were acts of moral obedience to the first and second Commandments.

This likewise also was a wonderfull wisdome of God, to delay Herod from stirring in this matter, for about six weeks time, whereby opportunity was given to Joseph and Mary to perform all that the law required: For it behoved Jesus Christ to fulfill all righteousness and perfectly to observe the law of God: and he did so. But this is to be observed also; how the active and passive obedience of Jesus Christ are complicated together; and though these actions were the fulfilling of Ceremonial Laws, yet they were acts of moral obedience to the first and second Commandments.

When our Lord Jesus Christ was publicly dedicated to God in the Temple, it is like thousands of people were present, and those famous Testimonies touching this Child by those holy and reverend persons Simeon and Anna rang among the people and were greatly spoken off, and magnified, which would soon come to Herod's Ear, either by his spies, which Tyrants use to have abroad, especially at such public Assemblies, or by the same thereof, that would sound loud among the people. This News would gaster him. Now he presently lays out to apprehend that child, but behold & admire how the wisdom of God prevented him, that night, Math. 2.13, 14. behold an Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream, unto Joseph saying, arise, take the young child and his Mother and flee into Egypt, and be thou there, until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him, when he arose he took the young child, & his mother by night & departed into Egypt. Next morning (early no doubt) Herod s•nt to seek for the child that was yesterday dedicated to God, of whom such divine Oracles were publicly delivered. But neither Parents nor Child could be found, no doubt he would send to Bethlehem, & all places thereabout, but they could not be found. Then would he send for the wise men of the East whom he had sent unto Bethlehem, and there they sound tidings, that those wise men had found a young child born in a stable, and laid in a manger, instead of a Cradle, that they worshipped him, and offered gifts unto him, of gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, which when they had done, they departed home unto their own Country. When Herod heard this he swelled with rage extremely, what have they mocked me thus? have they disappointed me of my design? we may well conceive that all these disappointments in a matter of so great importance, would blow up the Tyrant