And Jesus grew in stature of body and faculties of mind, (his divine Spirit assisting and strengthening his natural faculties,) and was induced with great wisdom through the grace and power of God's Spirit upon him. q had continued there all the feast days, and then came home, as they— r after they were come a day's journey they missed him, and made strict inquiry after him amongst their— Gen. xxii. 16. ' give us power, ability, grace, that we being secured and rescued from danger of enemies might obey and attend him in a sincere performance of all duties toward God and man, and cheerfully and constantly persevere therein. And this John shall be a prophet of God, (foretelling judgments on the nations if they repent not speedily,) or rather of an higher rank, pointing out Christ (see note [d] on Matt. xi.), and as his forerunner, by the preaching of repentance and change, to fit men for Christ. To teach men that in Christ there is a possibility of obtaining salvation for sinners, to wit, by pardon of their sins upon repentance and new life. Which is a special act of compassion in God, through which it is that this rising sun, i. e. the Messias or Christ, so called by the prophets, is come from heaven to visit and abide among us.