6. HE was a Man of exemplary and extraordinary Piety and Devotion, educated under the strictest Rules and Institutions of Religion, a Priest (as we may probably guess) of the ancient Order of the Rechabites, or rather, as Epiphanius conjectures, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, according to the most ancient order and form of Priesthood, when the Sacerdotal Office was the Prerogative of the first-born: and such was S. James the Eldest Son of Joseph, and thereby sanctified and set apart for it. Though whether this way of Priesthood at any time held under the Mosaick dispensation, we have no inti∣mations in the holy story. But however he came by it, upon some such ac∣count it must be, that he had a priviledge (which the Ancients say was peculiar to him, probably, because more frequently made use of by him than by any others) to enter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not into the Sancta Sanctorum, or most holy of all, but the Sanctuary, or holy place, whither the Priests of the Aaronical Order might come. Prayer was his constant business and delight, he seemed to live upon it, and to trade in nothing but the fre∣quent returns of converse with Heaven: and was therefore wont to retire alone into the Temple to pray, which he always performed kneeling and with the greatest reverence, till by his daily Devotions his knees were be∣come as hard and brawny as a Camels. And he who has told us, that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, himself found it true by his own experience, Heaven lending a more immediate Ear to his Petitions, so that when in a time of great drought he prayed for Rain, the Heavens presently melted into fruitful showres. Nor was his Charity to∣wards Men less than his Piety towards God, he did good to all, watched over Mens souls, and studied to advance their eternal interests; his daily errand into the Temple was to pray for the happiness of the People, and that God would not severely reckon with them: he could forgive his fier∣cest enemies, and overcome evil with good: when thrown from the top of the Temple, he made use of all the breath he had left in him, only to send up this Petition to Heaven for the pardon of his Murderers, I beseech thee, O Lord God, Heavenly Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
7. HE was of a most meek humble temper, honouring what was excel∣lent in others, concealing what was valuable in himself: the eminency of his relation, and the dignity of his place did not exalt him in lofty thoughts above the measures of his Brethren, industriously hiding whatever might set him up above the rest. Though he was our Lord's Brother, yet in the In∣scription of his Epistle he stiles himself but the Servant of the Lord Jesus, not so much as giving himself the Title of an Apostle. His temperance was ad∣mirable, he wholly abstained from Flesh, and drank neither Wine nor strong Drink, nor ever used the Bath. His holy and mortified mind was content with the meanest accommodations, he went bare-foot, and never wore other than Linnen garments. Indeed he lived after the strictest rules of the Na∣zarite-Order, and as the Miter, or Sacerdotal Plate (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Anci∣ents call it) which he wore upon his Head, evinced his Priesthood, which was rather after Melchisedeck's, or the Priesthood of the first-born, than the Aaronical Order, so his never shaving his Head, nor using Unguents, his Habit and Diet, and the great severity of his Life, shewed him to ap∣pertain to the Nazarite-Institution, to which he was holy (says Hegesippus) or consecrated from his Mother's Womb. A Man of that Divine temper, that he was the love and wonder of his Age, and for the reputation of his holy and religious Life was universally stiled, James the Just. In∣deed