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Jefus and his Mother, by a Flight into Egypt; which he immediately put into Execution, and departed in the Night, that they might lose no Time, and might the better preferve themselves from Discovery.

Q. What Account have we of our Saviour's Fourney and Abode in Egypt?

A. The Scriptures are filent in this Matter, though Hiftorians affirm his firft Abode was at Hermopolis, in the Country of Thebais; where, when they arrived, the Holy Child Jefus being by Design Bp.Taylor's of Providence carried into the Temple, the Statues Life of and Idols fell down like Dagon at the Prefence of the Ark, according to the Prophecy of Ifaiah: Bebold the Lord fhall come into Egypt, and the Idols of Egypt fhall be moved at his Prefence.

Q. What Account have we of our Saviour's Return from Egypt?

Chrift,

P. 67.

fa.xix. 1.

A. Herod's Death being made known to Jofeph Mat. ii.19. by an Angel in Egypt, they returned into the Land of Ifrael, in Obedience to the heavenly Admonition; but being apprehenfive that Archelaus might inherit the Ambition and Cruelty of his Father Herod, they went into the Parts of Galilee, where Antipas, another of Herod's Sons, had feated himself, contending with his Brother Archelaus for the whole Kingdom. They dwelt in a City called Nazareth, which Ver.2g. fulfilled the Prophecy, that our Saviour should be called a Nazarene; which fome Interpreters refer to Chrift's being called that Netfer in the Prophets, fignifying the Branch relating to the Houfe of Felle; of which Ifaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah, had fo If. xi. 1. often spoken. Though it does not appear how this Jer. xxiii. was fulfilled by Chrift's being at Nazareth; because Zech, vi, he was as much the Netfer, the Branch before, when ". he was born at Bethlehem. And therefore others, with greater Probability, think our Saviour was fent by the Angel to this contemptible City of

Nazareth,

5.

Johni. 47. Nazareth, out of which no good Thing was expected, that he might hence have a Name of Infamy: In which Senfe it was applied to him by the unbelieving Pfal. Ixix. Fews and Gentiles. And thus the Prophets fpeak of him as of a Perfon that was to be reputed vile and abject, defpifed and rejected of Men.

9, 10.

ifa, liii. 3.

lib.17.c.8.

Q. How was Herod punished for his great Wickednefs?

A. He was fmitten by God with many Plagues Jofephus, and Tortures. According to Jofephus, he was inflamed with a flow Fire, which outwardly feemed not fo vehement, but inwardly afflicted all his Entrails: He had a ravenous and unnatural Appetite, which could no Ways be fatisfied: Befides, he had an Ulcer in his Bowels, with a strange and furious Cholic; his Feet were favelled, and of a venomous Colour; his Members rotted, and were full of crawling Worms; to this add, he bad ftrong Convulfions, and Shortness of Breath; and after having tried the Phyficians for Relief without Succefs, he died; but not without farther Teftimonies of his Cruelty.

Q. Is there any Account of the Number of Chil dren that were put to Death?

A. The Greek Church in their Calendar, and the Alyfines of Ethiopia in their Offices, commemorate fourteen thousand Infants; for Herod being crafty, and taking the best Measures he could that the boly Child Fefus might not efcape, had caused all the Children to be gathered together; which the credulous Mothers (fuppofing it had been to take an Account of their Age and Number, in order to fome taxing) hindered not, and thereby they were betrayed to that cruel Butchery.

Q. How doth the Evangelift reprefent the Lamentations of the Bethlemite Parents for their Children? A. By a prophetic and figurative Speech, cited Jer. xxxi. from Jeremiah, concerning the Captivity of Babylon, and the Slaughter of Jerufalem, long after Rachel's

15.

Death,

Death, who therefore did not really weep; but is faid to exprefs the lamentable Slaughter. And fo also it had here a fecond Completion in this killing of the Infants in Bethlehem.

Q. For what Reafon may we fuppofe that God permitted the Defruction of fo many Children in Bethlehem?

A. It doth not become us too nicely to enquire into the Proceedings of infinite Wisdom, all whofe Actions are governed by the highest Reason; but among feveral Thoughts that offer themselves, we may confider whether the Infidelity of the Bethlemites, after fuch fufficient Means afforded for their Conviction, might not draw upon them so severe a Punishment. They not only gave no Reception to the Virgin Mary, big with Child, and of the House of David; but they neither owned nor worshipped our Saviour at his Birth. The Meffage of the Shepherds and their great Joy; the Arrival of the wife Men from the East and their Offerings, had no effectual Influence upon them. And it it is not unufual with God to vifit the Sins of the Fathers upon their Children; efpecially fince the Children were made Inftruments of God's Glory, and not only delivered from the Miseries of Life and the Corruption of their Ancestors, but were crowned with the Reward of Martyrdom.

Q. What may we learn from the Obfervation of this Festival?

A. That Religion is but too often used as an Inftrument to serve ambitious and worldly Defigns; which should make good Men cautious how they combine with Men of that Temper, in the Measures they take to promote it. That Afflictions are not always Arguments of Guilt, fince innocent Children were made a Sacrifice to the Ambition of a cruel Tyrant. That they are fometimes Tokens of God's Favour, and that many a Man has owed his Happiness

Matt.

xviii. 3.

Happiness to his Sufferings. That we ought to be ready to part with what is fo dear to us our own Children, whenever they may become Instruments of God's Glory. That we ought not to fear the Cruelty nor Policy of the greatest Tyrant, who can never hurt us without God's Permiffion. That what Oppreffion foever Innocence meets with from the Hands of wicked Men, is for the Good of thofe that fuffer it. That the Conduct of those Parents, who neglect the Education and Instruction of their Children in Chriftian and virtuous Principles, exceeds the Cruelty of Herod; he only deprived them of Life, but fuch expofe them to eternal Death. That to be true Difciples of Chrift, we must become as little Children in the Frame and Temper of our Minds, without which we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Q. Wherein confifts that Temper of Mind which our Saviour reprefents to us by the Emblem of little

Children?

A. It confifts in Humility and Lowlinefs of Mind; in a total Submiffion to the Will of God; and in an entire Dependance upon him in all Dangers that relate either to our Bodies or Souls: And particularly in a Contempt of the World, and a Freedom from covetous and ambitious Defires; which never enter into the Minds of Children, and which very much obftruct and hinder our being true Members of Chrift's Spiritual Kingdom.

Q. Wherein confifts this Humility and Lowliness of Mind?

A. In the true Knowledge of ourselves, and the understanding our weak and finful Condition, taking to ourselves the Shame and Confufion due to our Follies; and giving God the Glory of all the Good we receive, or are enabled to do. In bearing with Patience the Contumelies of others. In not being too much tranfported with thofe Praises we

meet

meet with, becaufe, however our Actions may appear to Men, it is only the Approbation of God which can give us folid Comfort. In avoiding all Occafions of drawing upon ourselves Commendations, never fpeaking nor acting only with a Design to procure Applaufe.

Q. Wherein confifts the Submiffion of a Christian? A. In a firm Persuasion of Mind, that nothing happens to us but by the Will and Permiffion of God. That he loves us better than we do ourselves, and knows the best Methods of making us happy. And that therefore we fhould acquiefce in all Events, how contrary foever to our own Inclinations; and how much foever they may thwart those Schemes of Happiness and Enjoyment which we have framed to ourselves.

Q. Wherein confifts our entire Dependance upon God?

A. In expecting in all our Dangers, temporal and spiritual, by a ferious and diligent Difcharge of our own Duty, Relief from his Almighty Power, which is able to help us; and from his infinite Goodness, which has promised to affift us. And therefore not to difquiet ourselves with the Apprehenfions of Danger and Calamities that may never happen; or if they do, may be over-ruled to our Advantage.

Q. Wherein confifts the Contempt of the World? A. In looking on all worldly Enjoyments as little and inconfiderable; mere empty Nothings, in Comparifon of that Happiness which God hath prepared for thofe that love him. In being content with that Portion of the good Things of this Life, which the wife Providence of God hath allotted to our Share; without purchafing the Enjoyment of them by the Commiffion of any Sin; without being anxiously concerned for the Increase of them, or extremely depreffed when they make themfelves

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