z 34 `Ile Life o{lefus Ghri/ Vol. II. His Humanity likewife appeared in the Tendernefs and Compaflion of his Nature, towards all that were in Want or Mifery of any kind. He healed all Manner ofSickneffès and Difeafes among the People, and went about doing Good. And when his Followers, by their long Attendance upon him in defert and folitary Places to hear his Do&rine, were pinched with Hunger, he could not find in his Heart to diunifs themwithout Tome Refrefhment, andhaving no other Means, did it by a Miracle. He was very apt to fympathize with the Condition of others, to weep with them that wept, as he did with the Friends of Lazarus over his Grave,: Nay, he had a Tendernefs for his Energies ; when he beheld Jeru- falem, and the fad Fate which hung over it for their obftinate Impenitency, he could not refrain from Tears at the Thoughts of it. Another Inftance of his Humanity was his Eafnefs to be entreated, and Rea- dinefs to yield to the Requeft of thofe who defired his Company, or implored his Help and AfIiftance. And as he was molt ready to do Good to all, fo he did not difdain to receive Kindnefs from any complying chearfully with the Delires of thofe who invited him to their Houfes, and accepting kindly any well-intended Refpe&. How did he refent the extraordinary Kindnefs of the devout Woman, who poured the Box of rich Ointment uponhis Head ? Taking Care that the Memoryof it (hould be tranfmitted to all Generations, and pro- claimed over the whole World, Matth. 26. 13. (2.) Another very needful Virtue, and for which our Lord was very Emi- nent, -was his Negle& and Difregardof the. Opinion of Men, in Comparifonof his Duty. As he was not affe&ed, much lets puff'd up with their Applaufe, (which is an Argument of a vain and light Mind) fo was he as little moved with their Cenfures andReproaches, by whichhe was neither difordered in his Pafiions, nor difcouraged from well doing. He took Heed to his Duty, and made fore to do the Things which pleated God, and was not very follicitous what Men Paid or thought of him. He obferved in the Pharifies, how great a Temptation and Hinderance to the receivingof his Do&rive, and undueRegard to the Praife and Cenfure of Men was : They loved the Praife of Men more than the Praife of God, as he tells us, John 12. 43. And, Ch. 5. 44 How can ye believe, which receive Honour one of another, andfeel¿ not theHonour whichcometh from God only: Not that we are to flight and negle&, the Opinion of others concerning our Actions ; that is, Pride and Self-conceit; and our Lord himfelf was not fo regardlefs of his Reputation, as not to take great Care to give no juft Occafion of Cenfure, no needlefs Handle toSlander and Calumny; he vin- dicated himfelf upon all Occafions, and was ready to give a fair and reafonable Account of his A&ions, to thofe who found Fault with them, nay, even mali- cioufly carp'd at them; he prudently avoided Occafions of Offence, and by wife and cautious,Anfwers, many Times avoided the Snares that were laid to bring him under Obloquy and Reproach : But in Competition withhis plain Duty, he neither regarded the Applaufe nor Cenfures of Men; he complied with them in nothing that was bad, to gain their good Opinionand Efteem ; nor was he hindred and difcouraged from any Ping that was good, for fear of being ill fpoken of, or of having abad Interpretationput upon his good AEtions. And this is a Virtue very neceffary to a good Man, efpecially in bad Times, and requires a good Degree of. Fortitude and Firmnefs of Refolution to make a Man Mailer ofit. And 'tis not more neceffary than it is reafonable : for it is not in our Power, whether Men (hall (peak well or ill of us ; but it is in our Power, whether we will do well or ill. It is many Times impoflible to pleafe Men, they are fo-divided in their Opinions about Good and Evil ; but we may make fure to pleafe God, and to gain his Praife and Approbation, whofe Jtdg- meat is always according to Truth. It is a vain and endlefs Thing to live up to the Humours and Opinions of Men, which are variable and uncertain; but if we keep Ready to our Duty, we live to the Confciences of Men, which firft or Taft will come to themfelves, and come over to us, and approve of that which is good. This, is, as St. Paul fpeaks, to commend our feelves to every Man's Con- Pence in the Sight of God. 5 (3.) Ano-
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