but the good eat to live. Temperate persons become the most excellent: eat that which neither hurts the body nor mind, and which is easy to be gotten." One saying it was a great matter to abstain from what one desires; "But," says he, "it is better not to desire at all." This is deep religion, even very hard to professed Christians. "It is the property of God to need nothing;[25] and they that need and are contented with least come nearest to God. The only and best way to worship God is to mind and obey whatsoever he commands. That the souls of men and women partake of the divine nature: that God is seen of the virtuous mind: that by waiting upon him they are united unto him in an accessible place of purity and happiness; which God he asserted always to be near him." [20] Plat. Apolog. Diog. Laert. Helvic.; Cic. Tusc. Quest. 1; Xenoph. Brut. Cic. Orat. Liban. [21] Apol. Varro. Hist. Schol. Artist. [22] Clem. Alex. Strom. ii. 417; Xen. Mem. iii. pp. 720, 778, 779, 780. Stob. Ech. Strom. i. 11. [23] Stob. iv. 6; Ibid. ii. 18; Xenoph. Mem. 3; Seneca Epist. i. 104; Stob. 28; Ibid. 32; Xen. Mem. 1; Ælian. 9; Stob. 37. [24] Stob. 37; Ibid. 87; Xen. Mem. 34; Ælian. Ver. Hist. 9. [25] Stob. 37; Xen. Mem. iv. 802.; Plat. Phæd. Many more are the excellent sayings of this great man, who was not less famous for his sayings than his example, with the greatest nations; yet died he a sacrifice to the sottish fury of the vain world. The history of his life reports that his father was told[26] he should have the guide of his life within him, which should be more to him than five hundred masters; which proved true. Instructing his scholars herein, charging them not to neglect these divine affairs which chiefly concern man, to mind or inquire after such things as are without in the visible world. He taught the use of outward things[27] only as they were necessary to life and commerce; forbidding superfluities and curiosities. He was martyred for his doctrine, after having lived seventy years, the most admired, followed, and visited of all men in his time by kings and commonwealths; and than whom antiquity mentions none with more reverence and honour. Well were it for poor England if her conceited Christians were true Socrateses; whose strict, just, and self-denying life doth not bespeak him more famous than it will Christians infamous at the revelation of the righteous judgment, where heathens' virtue shall aggravate Christians' intemperance; and their humility, the others' excessive pride: and justly too, since a greater than Socrates is come, whose name they profess, but they will not obey his law. [26] Xen. Mem. i. p. 710. [27] Xen. Mem. 4.; Plat. de Legib.