Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/153

 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.

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