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

1. In the description of this holy child Jesus, the first thing that is said, is [he grew] he was an Infant young and tender, Math. 2.9, 11. the young child, from Infancy he grew up to child hood, Isai. 53.2. he shall grow up before him, in this Jesus was like to all other of mankind; the whole humane nature of Jesus grew, both body and Soul; he grew as we do. The Soul when first created is a spiritual creature immediately created out of nothing, created with its principles in it self, as the heavens and Angels were, and hence it is immortal, yet it is created a young tender little Soul, fitted for a young tender little body, and when it is infused into ⟨p. 21⟩the tender Embryo in the womb, they grow together (I take boldness thus to express my thoughts with submission) as the body, which is the receptacle of the Soul, groweth in bigness and capacity. So the Soul groweth with it, the matter for supply of growth for the So•l, is an effect of a creating work of God, the infinite power of God doth manage it. Whether it be by the supply of new spiritual matter, or rather by the extension and acting of the first created matter of the So•l, man dot• not know, at least I do not know, nor am I able to resolve it, but I rather incline to think, that the young Soul groweth by extension of the spiritual matter of the Soul, created at the first infusion of it, and not by addition of new matter. Much spiritual matter may be admirably contracted and admirably extended, Air though a gross matter in comparison of spiritual matter, may be much contracted, and extended, yea, fleshy matter may be extended and contracted exceedingly, as the womb is; much more is the Soul of man capable of extension; therefore the growth of young Souls may be by an orderly extension of the first created matter of them, but it is performed by the powerful operation of the Spirit of God. The Soul of Jesus grew, as the Souls of all mankind grow. The Soul of Jesus Christ is a wonderful, great, and glorious Soul, the greatest that ever was, and mo•t capable of grace and glory.