26 'The Life o.f GOD was the bleifed J efus, who feldonl. taflcd then~ ·when they ~caH1e in his way, butne– ver ftepped out of his road. to fcck them. Though he allowed others the .comforts of wedlock,. and honoured n1arriage with his prefence; yet he .chofe the fevcrity of a virgin life, and· never knew the nuptial bed; and though at the fa:11e tin1c he [up– plied the 'vant of wine with a miracle, yet he woul'd not work one for ·the relief of his own hunger in the wilderncfs: fo gra– cious and divine was the temper .of his foul, allowing to others fuch lawful gratificati– ons a.s himfelf thought good to abH:ain from, and fuprlying not only their n1orc extreme and preiling neceilitics, but alfo their i111all and lefs confiderable wants. We many times hear of our Saviour's fighs, and groans, and tears; but never that he · laughed, and but once that he rejoiced in fpirit; · fo that through his whole life he did exactly anfwer that charaCter given of biin by the prophet of old, that he was G m111 ~jjorrows, und acquainted with grief. Nor were the troubles and difaccommoda– tions or his li feather than matters o f choice. Fur nev-.: r did there any appear on the fiage o t the \vorld with greater advantages to have r a i~: d hL11felf to the high~..fl fecula~ fd!oty. I-Ie who could bring together fuch a
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