2. Let us begin with the life of Christ himself, the model and source of all perfection. In his very childhood he sets us an example, by his teachableness and obedience to his parents. Of the rest of his youth we only know, that he lived in the little town of _Nazareth _, passing for the son of a carpenter and working as one himself. In such obscurity he, who came to be the light of the world, chose to pass the greatest part of his life. Thirty years he lived a private life, and only three or four in public, to shew us, that a private life is best for the generality of men: and that there is only a small number who ought to act in public, so far as the order of God, and the love of their neighbour require it. 3. Before he began his great work, he prepared himself for it, by fasting and prayer. And having afterwards been tempted of the devil, to shew, he is able to succour when we are tempted, he went forth to seek and to save that which was lost. He shewed that he came from God by his miracles. And even these gave him matter of many virtues; of simplicity, humility, patience. He wrought them without any pride or ostentation; he seldom stayed till he was asked to do them; and then, only to exercise, or to make known the faith of those that asked him. He gives the glory of all to his Father. “I can of myself, says he, (that is, as man) do nothing. My Father who abideth in me, he it is that doth the works.” 4. What patience was it, to bear that incredible multitude, which continually followed him, who prest to touch him, who threw themselves upon him, and were often ready to overwhelm him? If he went into a house, all the city gathered together at the door, and gave him no time, so much as to eat. So that he could no longer come into the towns, unless in secret; but was forced to stay abroad in the deserts: and even thither the people followed him in great multitudes, as appears by the five thousand, whom he fed there. Hence it was, that he retired to the mountains to pray, that he employed the nights therein, and that he slept when he could, and as he could; as in the ship, during the storm.