f honest and sufficient parents, who endeavoured to bring him
up, as they did the rest of their children, in the way and worship of the
nation: especially his mother, who was a woman accomplished above most of
her degree in the place where she lived. But from a child he appeared of
another frame of mind than the rest of his brethren; being more
religious, inward, still, solid, and observing beyond his years, as the
answers he would give, and the questions he would put, upon occasion,
manifested, to the astonishment of those that heard him, especially in
divine things.

His mother, taking notice of his singular temper, and the gravity,
wisdom, and piety, that very early shined through him, refusing childish
and vain sports, and company, when very young, was tender and indulgent
over him, so that from her he met with little difficulty. As to his
employment, he was brought up in country business, and as he took most
delight in sheep, so he was very skilful in them; an employment that very
well suited his mind in several respects, both for its innocency and
solitude; and was a just emblem of his after ministry and service.

I shall not break in upon his own account, which is by much the best that
can be given, and therefore desire what I can, to avoid saying anything
of what is said already, as to the particular passages of his coming
forth: but, in general, when he was somewhat above twenty, he left his
friends, and visited the most retired and religious people in those
parts; and some there were in this nation, who waited for the consolation
of Israel, night and day; as Zacharias, Anna, and good old Simeon did of
old time. To these he was sent, and these he sought out in the
neighbouring counties, and among them he sojourned till his more ample
ministry came upon him. At this time he taught, and was an example of,
silence, endeavouring to bring them from self-performances; testifying
of, and turning them to, the light of Christ within them, and encouraging
them to wait in patience, and to feel the power of it to stir in their
hearts, that their knowledge and worship of God might stand in the power
of an endless life, which was to be found in the light, as it was obeyed
in the manifestation of it in man. For in the word was life, and that
life is the light of men: life in the word, light in men; and life in men
too, as the light is obeyed: the children of the light living by the life
of the word, by which the word beg