Classic Poem

Christ disputing amongst the Doctors

Now when the Lord was twelve years old,
The customary feast to hold,
His parents to the city went;
And when the festal days were spent,
The child, as they went home again,
Did at Jerusalem remain.
But this they did not understand,
And rather thought he was at hand
Amongst the trav'lers by the way:
They therefore journey'd for a day,
And of each neighbour and each friend,
When they had sought him to no end,
They to the city turn'd about
Determining to find him out;
And this was the event at last,
That, after full three days were past,
Him in the temple plac'd they found
With learned doctors all around,
Whom he did hear by turns debate,
And from his seat interrogate:
And all admir'd a child so wise,
Struck with his reas'ning and replies.
And when his parents came in view,
They were in great amazement too.
And Mary said unto him, Son,
What is this thing that thou hast done?
Behold, thy father here, with me,
Has sought thee in anxiety.
And he, ‘What is it that you sought?
‘Had ye not yet so much of thought,
‘That I must needs with care pursue
‘The work my Father bids me do?’
C HRIST to the church did first repair ,
And open'd his commission there;
Before the elders of the Jews
The tendency of grace he shews,
And with their best divines conferr'd
About the beauty of his WORD.
Mean time in vain his earthly sire
And mother after him inquire.
For his great work he must begin,
Promulge the GOSPEL, silence sin ,
With all his heart and mind ABOVE,
And all his labour that of LOVE.