Art. VII. The Early Life of Christ, an Example to the Young. By Henry March, Author of Sabbaths at Home. 12mo. pp. 188. Price 4s. London. 1827.

WE E cannot too strongly recommend this admirably conceived and judiciously executed work. It is the reproach of modern theology, that so little practical use is made of the Example of Christ; that it occupies so obscure a place in the doctrinal system, and is so seldom, or so slightly dwelt upon, as supplying the grand motive to virtue, as well as the standard of Christian morality. As a moral instrument of education, we fear that it is still more undervalued or neglected. Yet, to the tender mind of a child, nothing can be more affecting, no form of instruction more impressive, than the life and example of the Saviour. In youth, the principle of imitation is so strong, that the argument from example is direct and forcible beyond every other. The affections too, especially that most salutary instinct of the heart, admiration, are readily excited; and we had almost said, it is the teacher's, the mother's fault, if a child is not taught this first lesson, yet the highest in the Christian school,-to love and to copy the Lord Jesus Christ.

It may perhaps have been thought, that the scriptural materials for lectures on the early life of our Lord, are too scanty to afford a ground-work for any lengthened or specific exhibition of his character as an example to the young; at least, without the indulgence of much fanciful speculation, or the exercise of a misplaced ingenuity. Nothing, however, can be more sober and judicious, than the manner in which Mr. March has availed himself of the brief account of our Lord's early life given by St. Luke, of which, in fact, this volume forms an admirably simple, yet in many respects original exposition. The praise of ingenuity cannot be withheld from him; but this is never shewn in accommodating the language of Scripture to a sense foreign from the intention of the inspired writer, or in wire-drawing the sacred text. The instructions and practical remarks which occur under each head, are far from common-place, yet, they never seem forced, and they are

often the more striking from their very simplicity; naturally rising out of the subject, although not so obvious as to be anticipated. The passage upon which this exhibition of our Lord's example is founded, is introduced with the following ob

servations.

When it is considered wнO He was, and what that errand was on which He came into the world, how natural is it that there should arise an intense curiosity to know the history of His earlier days. How natural the awaking of ardent desire to become acquainted with the circumstances that marked those thirty years, that long propor tion of His brief sojourn upon earth; to know what indications of his Divine greatness, and wisdom, and power, were given by Him during the progressive stages of his life, from infancy to youth, and from youth to manhood. But, however contrary to our expectations, or disappointing to our wishes, it may be, it has seemed fit to the Divine wisdom, that, of all which occurred during that period, nothing should be recorded except one solitary incident. This incident is preserved by the evangelist Luke, and related with the peculiar characteristics of that sacred writer, who is distinguished for the vivid and picturesque manner in which he places before the mind's eye the things which he describes. They who revere and love the scriptures, and prize above all earthly good whatever is revealed of Christ, cannot but read and meditate with the deepest interest this only fragment, containing all that has been made known to us of his life from the time of infancy to that of his public entrance on his ministry.'

The volume appears without any table of contents, but the titles of the chapters are as follows. I. Prefatory Observations. II: On the Personal Endowments of Christ, bodily, mental, and spiritual. III. On the Attention of Christ to the Duties of Religion. IV. Christ's Thirst after Knowledge and extraordinary Acquisitions. V. On the Supreme Devotedness of Christ to the Chief End. VI. On Christ's exemplary Submission to his Parents. VII. On the Estimation with which Christ was regarded both by God and Man.

Speaking of the bodily endowments of Christ, Mr. March

says:

It cannot be doubted that Jesus was partaker of all the sinless infirmities of the human nature, for "in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren;" but with this difference, that we are necessarily subject to them, whereas he voluntarily assumed them. Yet, as little can it be doubted, that Christ assumed humanity in its most perfect state; not being, as many among men, the subject of any original bodily defect, nor of any hereditary imbecility or disease. He was not only truly man, but man "in his best estate;" free, not merely from whatever was vicious, but from every infirmity not necessarily belonging to the present condition of the human

kind. Hence, when it is related by the Evangelist, that he "grew," and that he "increased in stature," it is most reasonable to conclude that his meaning is, that Jesus, as he advanced in years, made the fullest progress in bodily health and vigour. To this effect, indeed, in him every thing conspired. All the common hindrances were absent. There was nothing of originally infirm or morbid constitution. A perfectly sound and pure constitution was not vitiated in the beginning by the foolish and pernicious indulgencies of parents. Joseph and Mary were poor, and therefore could not deprave his health by pampering him with luxuries: they were wise and holy persons, and therefore they would not.

'Here we see the advantages of an humble condition in life, in connexion with godliness; and well would it be for some young persons who are tempted to envy those who have rich and indulgent parents, to remember that such commonly pay a dear price for their pleasures, in the loss of vigorous health and of the power of bodily and mental labour, or in the want of self-denial and self-government; and that, wanting these, they have little capacity for the best and purest earthly enjoyments. How many are now occupying useful and honourable stations in society, who, under the wise and good providence of God, owe their healthfulness, their power of application to business, their habits of cheerful industry, and their capacity of enjoying with a lively zest the simple comforts of life, to the wholesome restraints and discipline to which they were subjected in early years; because either their parents had it not in their power to ruin them by indulgence, or, (which has sometimes happened,) having the power, they had too much wisdom and grace to abuse it! Christ, who "is Lord of all," and who was free to select the most elevated condition of human life, saw fit to choose the humblest, and to be born of one who was as remarkable for her poverty as for the sanctity of her character. Let the recollection of this, suppress those feelings of pride and self-elation which are so prone to rise in the hearts of those who are the children of affluent parents, when they look around on their poorer school-fellows or acquaintance. And let it also avail to shame away the pinings of envy or the fretfulness of discontent, which are so commonly awakened at sight of the glitter of wealth, and of the many gratifications which it commands, in the minds of those from whom they are withheld; and let it prompt them to fervent prayer for like mindedness with Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, yet voluntarily became poor.' pp. 16-19.

Mr. March adopts the opinion, certainly not one in any way derogatory to the essential dignity of our Lord's character, that Jesus wrought with his father at the same occupation. His being styled the carpenter by the Jews, is, however, no sufficient proof of this, as it is customary in the East, and not uncommon in low life among ourselves, to designate the son by his father's trade, especially if contemptuous or reproachful ideas can be conveyed by the appellation. In the following observations on the value of health, and the importance of making almost every effort and every sacrifice to preserve it, we entirely coincide.

What is life without health? It is rather existence than life. What are all riches, power, reputation, influence, to him who is deprived of health? They are as nothing; or, rather, they are worse, serving only to tantalize, and to increase the grief of their possessor. Without health, we may suffer the will of God, but we cannot do it ; and it is the happiness and honour of a Christian to glorify his Divine Master by a life of holy activity. Such was his own life on earth; his youth was spent in humble, yet useful and exemplary occupation; his manhood in laborious benevolence-"He went about doing good." But this he could not have done without health. But for some good measure of health, how could the Apostles have endured such almost incredible privations and sufferings, or have performed such wonders of beneficence towards their fellow-men?Health is the instrument by which good is wrought; he, therefore, that has not the instrument cannot do the work, but must remain a powerless, inefficient, useless being, a passive melancholy spectator of the happy and beneficial activity of others.

'Yet immensely valuable as the blessing is, how few that possess it justly appreciate it. A strange infatuation seems to blind the healthful; to-morrow, they think, will be as to-day, and still more abundant in vigour. They smile at admonitions to care, and at precautionary advice, as needless, and even whimsical. They even seem to take pleasure in shewing how totally they disregard them, by a display of presumptuous confidence, and by a yet bolder exposure of themselves to danger. This miserable folly, though not confined to them, is certainly most usually found among the young; and, at this hour, thousands, in the different stages of mature life, are suffering its bitter consequences in the loss of all, or nearly all, capacity of enjoyment, and in the inability either to improve their own condition, or to minister to the good of others.' pp. 22-23.

But, in these days, the voice of warning needs to be powerfully addressed to those young persons also who are likely to suffer from the prevailing mode of female education. Time was when for them, that instruction was deemed the best which formed them to be adepts in domestic economy; active, thrifty, and notable housewives; when literary pursuits and elegant accomplishments were regarded as unsuitable to their province, and as having a direct tendency to disqualify them for the discharge of their proper duties. But though the notions then entertained on the subject of female education are now generally allowed to have been too contracted and illiberal, yet the prejudices of what, on some accounts, still deserve to be called the good old times, made a valuable provision for training up a race of healthful and active, as well as useful women. Who can contemplate, without alarm for the consequences, the inordinate time and pains that, in the present day, are bestowed on the acquisition of light accomplishments, the continued hours spent in sedentary occupation, and commonly in a confined and unwholesome atmosphere? To what cause so probable can be ascribed the increase of some prevalent disorders, as to this method of education, which leaves so

little opportunity for the cultivation of bodily strength and activity, by the free and plentiful use of exercise in the fresh, enlivening, and invigorating air? Alas for the next generation of husbands and children, if they are to be tended and nursed by sickly wives and mothers! The want of healthful cheerful activity in household and maternal duties, will be poorly compensated by the sight of faded drawings, or the sound of half-forgotten French phrases, and, now and then, of an ill-played tune on a neglected instrument. But even if considerable proficiency be made in accomplishments, and real ability and skill be acquired, what will they all profit if health be lost?

'It can never be too often inculcated, nor too deeply impressed on the minds of young persons, that, while "one thing is needful" in the highest and most absolute sense; while "wisdom," or true religion, "is the principal thing;" the next in importance is health. Without it even religion loses much of its value, in so far as it almost wholly terminates in the benefit of the possessor, who lives in melancholy inability, a stranger to the blessedness of going about doing good. Ask the missionary the value of health, who, sinking under the power of some consuming malady, sees the wretched multitude dying in their sins around him, and can no more warn nor intreat them, nor point to Him who is the way, the truth, and the life. He shall tell you how willingly he would forego all wealth, and learning, and reputation; how gladly, were he possessed of them, he would exchange them all for ability again to devote himself to the "work of faith and labour of love." But what he deeply feels is not embittered by mournful regrets and self-upbraiding at the remembrance of health once enjoyed but wilfully neglected, or wasted in the pursuit of inferior, if not unworthy, objects. No: with all due care, he falls by a stroke that neither foresight, nor prudence, nor skill could avert; but he falls in the noblest of all human undertakings, and God approves, and all just men and all holy angels bless him in his fall; for, while the exalted privilege was granted to him, as one "bought with a price," he had glorified God with his body as well as with his spirit, which were God's.' pp. 26-29.

In reference to our Lord's mental endowments, St. Luke declares, that Jesus waxed strong in spirit',-acquired strength of mind, as Campbell renders it; and that he increased in 'wisdom.' As man,' Mr. March remarks, 'the mental faculties of Christ were limited, and therefore capable of enlarge'ment with advancing years.'

This proof, that he was properly human, is no hindrance to the confidence of him who looks to Christ as a Saviour; he does not recoil from it, it is not unwelcome to him, it is the reverse; in conjunction with other proofs that evince him to be divine, it is even delightful. He knows that to Christ's becoming flesh he owes all his hopes of redemption. He understands what necessity there was that atonement should be made in the same nature that had sinned; and that, therefore, "forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself took part of the same, that, through death, he