Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/331

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THE ARABIC GOSPEL OF THE INFANCY.
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us? Lo, I and thy father have sought thee with much trouble. And he said, Why do ye seek me? Know ye not that I must be occupied in the house of my Father? But they understood not the words which he said to them. Then the doctors asked Mary whether this was her son, and on her assenting, they said, How happy thou art, who hast given birth to such a one as he! But he returned with them to Nazareth, and obeyed them in all things. And his mother laid up all those things in her heart. But the Lord Jesus advanced in stature and wisdom, and in favour with God and men.[1]

CHAPTER LIV.

And from that day he began to hide his concealed and secret miracles[2] and to study the law, until he accomplished his thirtieth year, when the Father publicly declared him at the Jordan by this voice sent down from heaven: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased;" the Holy Spirit being present in the form of a white dove.[3]

CHAPTER LV.

This is He whom we suppliantly adore, who gave to us being and life, and took us from our mothers'

  1. Luke ii. 46-52.
  2. Cf. John ii. 11.
  3. Matt. iii. 13-17; Luke ii. 21-23.