have practised it Himself most perfectly. If David "praised the Lord seven times a day," and at midnight rose "to confess to Him" (Ps. cviii. 164), with how much more reason may we suppose that Christ did? Learn, therefore, to become a man of prayer, and an interior man, both for your own sake and your neighbor's good, and be convinced that the frequent exercise of prayer is the first and the most important duty of a Christian.
III. During the whole of this time our Lord concealed His superior knowledge from the world; He was considered as unlettered by all, and hence afterwards, " the Jews wondered, saying, How doth this man know letters, having never learned?" (John viii. 15.) They even said, " He is become mad " (Mark iii. 21), because he spoke in so wonderful a manner, and performed such surprising actions. Love, then, to be unknown and inconsiderable. " Believe me, He has lived well who has concealed himself." Be not too forward in displaying your knowledge, although you may know more than others do. "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, and let not the strongman glory in his strength, and let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him who glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me" (Jer. ix. 23), says the Lord.
SATURDAY.
Life of Christ from His Twelfth to His Thirtieth Year.--II.
I. As to His exterior occupation, it is probable that Christ was employed in the occupation of His reputed father, according to the inquiry of the Jews, " Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" (Mark vi. 3.) Represent to yourself the eternal Son of God engaged in the
