of the Paffover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerufalem,after the cuftom of the Feaft. And, having fulfilled the days, as they returned, the Child JESUS remained in Jerufalem,and his Parents knew it not.But they,fuppofing him to be in the Company, went a days journey, and fought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: And, when they found him not, they returned to Jerufalem fecking him.

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Refp. Behold a Devotion regular and fafe; behold a piety generous and wife: they fare no cost nor pains to perform their duties, embracing themselves in every boly tom, and enuring their bleffed Child to the fame obfervance. O with what Should we follow these steps; we, who alas! fo continually need every kind of affistance: They wanted no Temple, who had God himself in their bonfe; they needed no Sacrifice, who had Jefus dwelling among them: yet would they gotovifit the Temple, and offer their Sacrifice, and exactly perform every point of their Religion. () with what.

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And it came to pafs, that after three dayes

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dayes they found him in the Temple, fit ting in the midft of the Doctors hearin them and asking them queftions; and a that heard him were astonisht at his wi dom and answers. And when they fa him they wondered; and his Mother fai to him, Son, why haft thou dealt thu with us? behold thy Father and I hav fought thee forrowing. And he faid t thein,How is it that you fought me?knev you not that I must be about my Father bufinefs? and they understood not th Word which he spake to them: and h went down with them, and came to M zareth, and was fubject to them; but Mother kept all these sayings in her hear and Jefus increased in wildom, and ag and grace with God and Men. Refp. My Soul, if thou at any time loose th prefence of thy God, feek him with dili gence and perfeverance; feek him wit prayers,and fighs, and tears; + And b fure at last thou shalt find him with Joy. He hides not hinfelf that we may not fin him, but that we may feek him, and b bereafter more fearful to loofe him. Def pair not, He again will fhew himself,onl go on and feek him ftill with hope: + And be fure

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Leffon 31.

In those days came John the Baptift, baptizing and preaching in the Wildernes of Judea. And he came into all the Countryes about Jordan preaching the baptifin of Repentance for the remif fion of fins, and faying, do penance, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, as it is written in the book of the words of ESay the Prophet: for this is he that was fpoken of by the Prophet Efay, the voice of one crying in the Wilderness, prepare the way of our Lord make his paths ftraight; every Vally fhall be filled, and every mountain and hill fhall be brought low, and the crooked fhall be made raight, and the rough ways fhall be made fmooth and all flcfh fhall fee the falvation of God. And the fame John had his raiment of Camels hair, and a leagirdle about his loyns,and his meat was locufts and wild honey. Then went Out to him Ferufalem, and all the land of Judea, and all the region round about Jordan; and were all Baptized of him in the River Jordan confeffing their fins. Ref. So it became the great precursor of the Meffias to lead a life of retirement and

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aufterity whofe Office was to teach the Doctrine e Penance for remiffion of fins, and proclaim to the world the approach of the Kingdom of Heaven: That he might be both a burning light in himself, and a shining one to others. His dwelling was in a cave of the Defart, and his lodeing on the hard cold earth; his cloaths were harsh and rugged, and his Dye mean and unpleasant; and all be practi fed exactly fuitable to what he preacht; that he might.

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But when he faw many of the Phari fes and Saduces come to his Baptism, faid to them, and to the multitude tha came forth to be baptized of him, yo brood of Vipers! who has fhew'd yout fly from the wrath to come? yeild there fore fruit worthy of repentance; and fa not within your felves, we have Abrahan to our Father; for I tell yon God is abl of these ftones to raise up children to A brakam; and now alfo the ax is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit fhal be cut down and caft into the fire: and the people asked him faying, what ther

fhall

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fhall we do? who answering, faid. to them, he that has two coats let him im: part to him that has none,and he that has meat let him do likewife. Then came alfo Publicans to be Baptized, and faid to him, Mafter, what fhall we do? and he faid to them, Exact no more then that which is appointed you. And the Souldiers like wife demanded of him faying, and what shall we do?and he said to them do violence to none, neither calumniate any, and be content with your Wages. Ref. Thus pake the mild and Baptift; the common people be Inftructed with meekne, but the proud Pharifes he exclaimed against with vehemence, earftly reproving their False confidences, and terribly threatning their unprofitable lives. 'Tis not enough to be called the children of the Church, but we really mut obey the commands of our Mother, it cannot be long ere our tree muft fall, O fend us Lord the dew of thy Grace, that we wither not away in idleness, nor de ceive our felves with the leaves of hyocrife, left fuddenly we be cut down and caft into the fire. Tis not enough

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