ye longer then in this place I haue beene accustomed onely remember what the Prophet saith Hee raiseth the needy out of the dust and lifteth the poore out of the mire that he might set him with the Princes euen with the princes of the world Remember the example of Dauid whome the Lord chose and tooke from the Ewes great with young that hee might feede his people in Iaacob and his inheritance in Israell Remember the example of Iob how the Lord turned the captiuitie of Iob as the riuers in the south how he blessed the last dayes of Iob more then the first how he gaue him sheepe and Camels and Oxen and shee Asses in more aboundance then hee had before howe hee encreased him with sonnes and daughters euen to the fourth generation so that hee dyed being olde and full of dayes Remember euen our owne estate for whome the Lorde hath doone great things already as created vs and redeemed vs and sanctified vs and not long since delyuered vs from the gaplng iawes of those that sought to suck our bloud Vppon some hee hath bestowed humilitye whereby their mindes are adorned with vertue honor vppon others whereby their persons are inuested with maiestie vppon others comlinesse whereby the other two are graced vppon others Orchards which they planted not or at least to which they gaue no encrease vppon others encrease of vertuous children whereby their posteritie is preserued vppon others the free passage of his word which along time had beene obscured by ignoraunce the mother of deuotion as the shauelings call it but vnder a stepdame of destruction as wee perceiue it and though hee bestowe but some one or two of his blessings vppon vs yet howe much are wee bounde for these blessings to sing prayse and honour and glorye vnto him that sitteth vppon the throne and vnto the Lambe for euer But vppon whome hee hath bestowed all these blessings O howe strictlye by good cause are they bounde to magnifie the Lord and to reioyce in God theyr Sauiour Examine then your owne consciences I beseech yee whether GOD hath bestowed all these blessings vppon you or no and if he haue O what great cause haue yee to come before his face with prayse to sing lowd vnto him with Psalmes to worship and to fall downe before him to giue vnto the Lorde the glorie of his name to bring an offering of thankes giuing and to enter into his Courts with praise And yet who knoweth whether the Lord hath greater blessings for ye in store yee may be sure hee will pull downe the mightie from their seat and exalt the humble and meeke Surely the Lorde dooth vse vertue as a meane to bring vs to honour and whosoeuer you shall see endued with the vertues of this text I meane with seeking vnto God with prayer and puritie of life yee may bee sure there is a blessing reserued for him of the Lorde yea such a blessing as though his beginning be but small yet his latter end shall greatlie encrease God encrease the loue of these things in our hearts and make vs worthie of Christs blessings which hee hath plentifully in store for vs that after hee hath heaped temporall blessings vpon vs hee would giue vs the blessing of all blessing euen the lyfe of the world to come The time is spent c. let vs end with prayer c. FINIS MARIES CHOISE With prayers written by the same Author By Henrie Smith LONDON â—â—inted by T. Scarlet for Cuthbert Burby 1592. MARIES CHOISE LVKE 10.38 39 c. 38 Now it came to passe as they went that he entered into a certaine towne and a certaine woman named Martha receiued him into her house 39 And she had a sister called Marie which also sate at Iesus feete and heard his preaching 40 But Martha was combered about much seruing and came to him and said Master doest thou not care that my sister hath left me to serue alone bid her therefore that she helpe me 41 And Iesus answered and sayde vnto her Martha Martha thou carest and art troubled about many things 42 But one thing is needfull Marie hath chosen the good part which shall not be taken awaie from her AS Christ had shewed himselfe louing vnto Lazarus and his sisters in raysing him from the death of the body and then from the death of the soule so doe they heere shew their thankful minds to Christ againe the one by receiuing him into hir house and the other by entertaining him into hir heart As he was God hee was receiued of Mary as hee was man hee was receiued of Martha They both desired to entertaine our Sauiour as Iacob and Esau desired to please their aged father but Mary made choise of the better part and was preferred before hir sister as Iacob sped soonest of most daintie Venison and preuented his brother of the blessing And although the care of Martha in the entertaining of Christ be not to be misliked yet Maries diligence in hearing his doctrine is of purpose preferred to teach vs that it is much better with Marie to studie in the worde and first to seeke the kingdom of God then with Martha to labour in the worlde and to neglect that heauenly kingdom And yet notwithstanding such is the corruption of this rustie age that our greatest care is to prouide for this present life as the rich man Luk. 12. that enlarged his barnes wherein to put his store for many yeares but we neuer or very late remember to prouide for the life to come like that other rich man Luk. 16. that neuer thought of heauen till hee was tormented in the flames of hell In the 11. of Iohn Christ is said to loue his whole familie and heere he is said to come vnto them For whom he loueth he cannot choose but visit like the friends of Iob that came to comfort him in his great aduersitie yea and the greater loue hee beareth vnto any the oftner he will resort vnto them yea hee will come and dwell with them Iohn 14.23 Like Iacob that came downe into Egipt to his beloued sonne Ioseph and dwelt in Goshen But Christ is yet more kinde then Iacob was for hee came not till he was sent for with horses and Chariots but Christ came of his owne accord to this beloued familie Thus dooth he alwayes preuent vs with his blessings before hee was desired hee came into the world hee called his Apostles before they came to him and before he was requested he came vnto this noble house O happy house that enterteyned such a guest but thrise happie inhabitants to whome such a guest woulde vouchsafe to come When hee came vnto the swinish Gadarenes they desired him to depart out of their coasts preferring their Swine aboue their Sauiour but this godly family receiued him into their house preferring their God before their golde and the health of their soules before
prouide foode for the bodie hir greatest care was to enterteyne Christ and to make him good cheere to testifie hir thankfull minde vnto him that had doone so great things for them hee had raysed hir brother Lazarus from death to life therefore hee was worthye to bee well enterteyned If Elias deserued to bee well dealt withall at the hande of his hostesse whose sonne he had restored to life or Elysa deserued such enterteynement for hir sonnes reuiuing then surelie our Sauiour Christ was worthie to be welcome hither where hee had raysed Lazarus out of his graue wherein hee had lyne by the space of foure dayes before It was well doone therefore of Martha to shewe hir thankefull minde vnto Christ but it was not well doone at that time to shewe her selfe thankefull in that manner it was then time to heare the worde for at that time Christ preached the worde it was no time for hir to spende that time in other affayres and to neglect the greatest affaire the meanes of hir owne saluation It was not vnlawfull for Martha to labour no more then it was vnlawfull for Peter to sleepe but when Christ was preaching it was no time for hir to bee so busie in seruing no more then it was time for Peter to sleepe when Christ willed him so earnestly to watch and praye When Christ preached out of Symons ship to the people that stoode vppon the shore it was no time for Peter to play the Fisherman But when Christ had left speaking and commanded him to launch into the deepe then it was time for Peter to let downe the net There is a time wherein we ought to labour in our vocation and a time wherein we ought to heare the word and as we may not vtterly neglect our lawfull callings to followe sermons so must wee not bestow the Sabaoth which is consecrated to the seruice of God in following the workes of our vocation All things haue their appointed time saith the wise man Eccle. 3. and euery thing is seemely in his conuenient season but when things are doone preposterously and out of order there followeth confusion Although Martha did not heare Christ yet did she labour for Christ many in our dayes will neyther labour for Christ nor heare of Christ but as the Israelites were wearye of their iourney in the wildernesse and lothed that heauenly Manna so these men are wearie of euery godly exercise and are soone cloyed with the word of God The fiue foolish Virgins wasted their Oyle to no purpose and while they went to buie were excluded the marriage and these foolish men spende this time of grace vainely and wantonly as though after this life there were no time of iustice and vengeance to be feared The daye serueth for their pride or profit the night is spent in sporte and pleasure and no time is left to heare the worde When wee are praying they are playing when we are preaching they are eating and drinking like the old world that eate and dranke that marryed wiues and gaue in mariage while Noah was preparing the Arke for the sauing of his houshold And as Baals Priests wounded themselues to serue their Idoll so these men take dangerous courses and strangely trouble themselues to serue the diuell Nowe Martha findeth hir selfe agreeued and begins to enuie hir sisters exercise as Iosephs brethren enuyed him for his dreames and the sonnes of Ishai that disdained theyr brother Dauid for his forwardnesse in the combat with Goliath These two sisters that in other things agreed so well togither in this doo differ so much that Christ must haue the hearing of the matter and decide the controuersie Martha plaieth the Plaintife and accuseth hir sister Marye the defendant answereth by hir Aduocate and Christ himselfe that tooke vppon him the office of an Aduocate is become the Iudge and giueth sentence on Maryes side Martha complaineth of hir sisters slothfulnesse and seemeth after a sorte to blame our Sauiour for winking at it requiring him to see the matter redressed speedily But Christ first reprooueth Marthaes curiositie and then excuseth yea and commendeth Maries care In Martha it appeareth howe willing wee are to please our selues in our owne conceits and how ready to conceiue amisse of others dooings yea sometime to prefer our owne defects before the perfections of other men If Dauid chasten his soule with fasting it shall bee turned to his reproofe if hee put on Sackcloth to testifie his contrition they iest at him and the drunkards make songs of him if Iohn Baptist be temperate in his apparrell and dyet they will say hee hath a diuell If Paul answere discreetely for himselfe he shall bee charged to bee mad with ouermuch learning yea if our Sauiour Christ himselfe frequent the companie of sinners to reclaime them from sinne they will not sticke to call him a friend and companion of Publicans and sinners Among vs if there be any that be more forward in religion then the rest and more diligent to heare the worde as Marie was there shall not want some or other to censure them at their pleasure yea to finde faulte and to condemne them for so doing yet are not the godly to bee discouraged herewith or to desist from theyr godly exercises for as the Lorde answered for Mary when shee held hir peace so the Lorde will defend their cause and take their part against their aduersaries The Lorde cannot abide to heare his seruants ill spoken off but is alwayes ready to mainteine their right and to answere for them He will not suffer Laban to speake an ill worde to his seruant Iacob And if Aaron and Myriam murmure against Moises the Lorde will punish it with leprosie what a comfortable thing is this to the godly that the king of kings will take their parts and will not suffer them to susteyne any wrong Hee is a most sure and trustie friend that will not abide his friend to bee backbited or ill spoken of but eyther hee will answere in their defence or hee will finde some meanes to stop the mouthes and restraine the slanderous toungs of their enemies as somtime he stopt Balaams passage when hee went to curse his people and caused the dumbe beast to speake and to reprooue the madnesse of the Prophet rather then he woulde haue his people to bee curssed The repitition of Marthaes name argueth the vehemencie and earnestnesse of this admonition The Lord is faine to be very earnest and importunate with vs before hee can reclaime vs. So when God spake vnto Abraham hee calleth him twise by name Christ called Peter thrise by name Iohn 21. to cause him make his three-fould confession to make amends for his threefold deniall And when the Lorde spake vnto Samuel hee called him foure seuerall times by name before hee answered for such is the great mercie of GOD that he is content
THE SINFVLL MANS SEARCH OR SEEKING OF GOD. Preached by Henrie Smith and published according to a true corrected Copie sent by the Author to an Honorable Ladie LONDON Printed for Cuthbert Burby 1592. THE SINFVLL MANS SEARCH IOB 8.5.6.7 5. If thou wilt earlie seeke vnto God and pray to the Almightie 6. If thou be pure and vpright then surelie hee will awake vnto thee and make the habitations of thy righteousnes prosperous 7. And though thy beginning be but smal yet thy latter end shall greatlie encrease IN a sick and euill affected bodie dearely beloued we vsuallie see preparatiues ministred that the maladies may bee made more fit and pliable to receiue wholesome medicines The like yea and greater regarde ought wee to haue of our solues which being not crasie onelie or lightlie affected with sinne but sick euen vnto death had neede to be prepared with threats and exhortations comforts and consolations one way or other that they may bee made fit not to receiue the preparatiue but the perfection of happie saluation And for this cause haue I made choise of this part of Scripture as of a light to shine vnto vs in darkenesse a direction to our steps and a Lanthorne to our pathes while we wander through the boistrous waues of this wicked world The Text is plaine and obiect to euerie mans capacitie naturallie budding into blossomes The first containing our dutie which wee are to performe towards God The second Gods promises if we performe this dutie Our dutie towards God is implied in these three conditions First If thou wilt earlie seeke vnto God Secondlie If thou wilt pray vnto the Almightie Thirdlie If thou be pure and vpright so that the whole consisteth on these three points First what it is that God requireth namelie a diligent and speedie searche in these words If thou wilt seeke earlie Secondlie how thy search is to be made in praier in these words If thou wilt pray to the Almightie Thirdlie what effect these thinges ought to worke in vs a puritie and sinceritie of life in these words If thou bee pure and vpright As our dutie towards God consisteth in three points so Gods blessings towards vs is also threefold answerable to the same First for seeking hee promiseth he will awake vnto thee Secondlie for praying vnto him hee will make the habitations of thy righteousnes prosperous Thirdly for being pure and vpright hee will make thy latter end encrease exceedinglie yea though thy beginning be but small First therfore concerning the search it is a worke both in desire and labour to bee ioyned to God In the Psalme this standeth for the burthen of the song They called vpon the Lord in the time of their trouble and he deliuered them It is but Aske and haue seeke and finde knock and it shall be opened vnto you Sauing that heere these things are to bee regarded to wit how by whom and when we must seeke the Lord. How First faithfully for if yee haue but as much as a graine of Mustard seede and say vnto this mountaine remooue it shall remooue and nothing shall be vnpossible vnto yee Then next humblie for it is the humble petition that pierceth the skies and that shewed the Publican to depart home to his house more iustified then the boasting Pharisie and they alone that be humble and meeke finde rest for their soules And last of all continually for wee must not faint in well dooing because the rewarde is not promised to him that dooth but to him that continueth to do But wee may long seeke and neuer finde except wee seeke the father by the sonne For no man knoweth the Father but the Sonne and hee to whome the Sonne shall disclose him he is the waye the truth and the life and no man commeth to the Father but by him There is one God and one mediatour betwixt God and man the man Christ Iesus So that if we sinne we haue an aduocate Iesus Christ the iust and hee is the propitiation for our sinnes onely let vs seeke the Lorde while he may be found And to this end the word Seeking is vsed in this place that we may learne that as the heauens the planets and the whole frame of nature were ordained to finish their course by motions and operation so man as he was ordained to a most blessed and happie end should attaine therevnto not by sloth and idlenesse but by an earnest seeking of the same The kingdom of heauen is like vnto a treasure which cannot be found without seeking and digging for it It is like the precious Pearle for which the wise Merchant was content not onely to seek but to sell all that he had to buie it God hath placed vs heere in this world as husbandmen to plough vp the fallow of our hearts as labourers to worke in his vineyard as trauailers to seeke a countrie as souldiours to fight the battaile of the Lord against the flesh the world and the deuil And for this purpose hath he proposed vnto vs an vntilled land a vineyard a triple enemie to fight against that wee might remember that we must till the ground if we will reape the fruit that wee must prune the Vine if wee will drinke of the grape that we must fight if we will ouercome He that tilleth the land saith the wise man shall be satisfied with bread but he that followeth idlenesse shal be filled with pouertie Idlenesse is a moath or canker of the minde and the fruites thereof are wicked cogitations euill affections and worse actions corrupt trees without fruite twice dead and plucked vp by the roote engendring in the minde a loathing of God and godlinesse Eschue therefore idlenesse I beseech yee and by the want ye find in others learne instructions for your selues Be not forgetfull how busie your enemie is if he finde yee idle first hee putteth yee in minde of some vanitie then offereth opportunitie to practise then he craueth consent and if yee graunt him that hee triumpheth by adding practise hee leaueth no meanes vnattempted whereby he may subuert and bring yee to perdition To one as to Eua hee promiseth the knowledge of good and euill Another he seduceth with lying speeches as he did Pharaoh the king whom hee deceiued by false Prophets To the Iewes he pretended the Temple of the Lord. To the Heathen hee shewed vniuersalities and antiquities And to omit particulers hee leaueth no meane vnattempted wherby hee may entangle the soules of the simple and wrap them in the snares of death Flie idlenesse therefore and seeke vertue and the way therof seeke learning as for a iewell make diligent search and inquisition after hir seeke earlie and seeke late In the morning sowe thy seede and in the euening let not thy hand rest seeke him in the day of trouble and hee will deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie him Seeke him there is the
the Lorde dooth all those that put their trust in him Can there bee any more willing to helpe vs then Christ whose whole head was sicke and whose heart was heauie for our sakes yea in whose bodie from the sole of the foote to the crowne of the head was nothing but woundes and swellings and sores but alas this was nothing to that he suffered for our sakes He was compassed about with feares and horrors till his sweat was drops of bloud his bones brused in the flesh hee was whipped and scourged and chastised with sorrows till he cried out in the bitternes of his soule O Lord if it be possible let this cup passe from me The heauie hand of God was so grieuous vpon him that it brused his very bones and rent his reines a sunder he could finde no health in his fleshe but was wounded yea wounded to the death euen the most bitter death vpon the crosse His tender fingers were nayled to the crosse his face was wrinkled with weeping wailing his sides embrued and gored with his own bloud spurting gushing fresh from his ribs the shadow of death was vpon his eies O what greefe could bee like to this or what condemnation could bee so heauie sith there was no wickednes in his hands sith he was the brightnes of his fathers glorie the sonne of righteousnes that shined in the world as to see his dayes at an end to see such throbing sighes and carefull thoughts without cause of his so deeply engrauen in the tables of his brest But was this all no my brethren sith his excellency was such aboue al creatures that the world was not worthy to giue him breath it was a greater greef vnto him to see himselfe made a worme and not a man a shame of men and contempt of the people to see his life shut vp in shame and reproches how could it but shake his bones out of ioint make his heart melt in midst of his bowels who was euer so ful of wo who euer bin brought so low into the dust of death vpon whom did the mallice of Sathan euer get so great a conquest This though it were exceeding yet it was not all no it was but a taste of greefe in comparison of the rest behold therfore if your watrie eyes will suffer yee to behold the depth of all miseries yet behinde the sinne that he hated he must take vpon his owne bodie and beare the wrath of his father powred out against it This is the fulnesse of all paines that compassed him round about which no tongue is able to vtter nor heart conceiue the anger of the father burneth in him euen to the bottome of hell and deepe sincke of confusion it wrapped him in the chaines of eternall death it crucified him and threw him downe into the bottomlesse pit of calamitie and made his soule by weeping and wayling to melt into these bitter teares trickling from his eyes O God my God why hast thou forsaken me O that my head were a Well of waters and a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night at the remembrance heereof but least I linger too long about one floure while I haue many to gather I will conclude this point thus in a word Sith Christ hath suffered these and an infinite number such like torments for our sakes it is blasphemous once to dream or imagine any to bee more willing to helpe vs then he nay he is more readie to heare our prayers then we to offer them vnto him insomuch that hee complaineth by the Prophet Esay I haue beene found of them that sought mee not all the day long haue I stretched out my hand vnto a rebellious people which walked in a way that was not good euen after their owne imaginations And vnto Ierusalem hee saith O Ierusalem Ierusalem how often would I haue gathered you together as the Hen gathereth hir Chickens and you would not wherefore to ende this point Seeke for knowledge as for a treasure and for wisdome as for the wedge of golde of Ophir No mention shall be made in comparison of it of Corrall Gabish or that precious Onix For wisdome is more precious then Pearles But aboue all things seeke it where it may bee found and where is this place of vnderstanding Surely man knoweth not the path therof the depth saith it is not in me the sea saith it is not in mee death and destruction say wee haue heard the fame thereof with our eares all creatures say it is not with vs but God vnderstandeth the way therof and vnto man he saith The feare of the Lorde is the beginning of wisedome and to depart from euill is vnderstanding The third circumstance is when we must seeke vnto God and holy Dauid answereth Earlie euen in a time when he may be found Let vs redeeme this day which wee haue foreslowed so many daies wherein we haue so long hardened our hearts let vs take vp this day and make it the day of our repentance let vs make it a day of newnes of life as it is the first day of the new yeere let euen this moment bee the last of a sinfull life and the first day to godlinesse And as the wise man saith Make no long tarrying to turne vnto the Lord and put not off from day to day for suddenly shal the Lords wrath breake and in thy securitie thou shalt bee destroyed and shalt perish in the time of vengeance Art thou a Magistrate placed in high roome and authoritie and seated in the throne of dignitie then vse not this thy might to wrong and oppression grinde not the faces of the poore swell not with pride despising his lowe estate Sell not thy righteousnesse for siluer preferring the Merchants of Babilon before the Cittizens of Ierusalem Art thou a priuate labouring man Doo thy dutie truelie bee subiect and liue in dread to displease the good Magistrate Art thou olde and hast consumed the floure of thy youth in wantonnesse Breake off the course and frame thy selfe to sobrietie giue the water no passage no not a little for if it haue neuer so little issue it will ouer-flow thee and if thou doo slack the reynes neuer so little thy sinnes will carrie thee like a wilde horsse thorow brambles and bushes and will leaue no soundnesse in thy flesh worke this reformation in thy selfe betimes euen to day euen this first day of the new yeare If ye will heare my voyce harden not your hearts Art thou young and doost begin to flourish like the young Palme tree O consider that the only way to retaine the blossome of thy beautie and to keepe thy floure from withering and thy leafe from fading away is to seeke earlye vnto GOD and to applie thy minde to vnderstanding to preuent the morning watches and to giue thy body to be moystened of the morning dew For beside the good houres that are
their worldlye wealth They receiued him into their house who had not a house wherein to put his head Wherein their hospitalitie is commended and shall certainely be rewarded at that dreadfull day for with this and such like works of mercie the Lord shall answere the sentence of iudgement which is to be denounced against the wicked that neuer exercised those workes of mercie Let vs learne by their example to be harberous and giuen to hospitalitie which is so often commended vnto vs in the Scripture and shall bee so richly rewarded at the last day Those godly Fathers Abraham and Lot enterteyned Angels in the habite of strangers So wee may dayly entertaine Christ Iesus in the habite of a poore man of a blinde man of a lame man and whatsoeuer is doone vnto any of these that are his members he accompteth and accepteth as doone vnto himselfe Now as this vertue of hospitalitie is commendable in all sorts of men so is it more specially commended to the ministers who are expressely commanded by the Apostle among other things to bee giuen to hospitalitie Vnto the Leuites in the time of the lawe the Lorde appointed citties of refuge to signifie that the Ministers house should bee the poore mans harbor and his store their treasurie but the true ministers of our dayes haue no citties of refuge for others for they haue none for themselues they haue not wherewith to releeue the wants of others for they haue not to releeue theyr owne When Martha had thus enterteyned Christ as hee was man into hir house Marie began to enterteine him as he was God into her heart shee sat at his feete to heare his preaching for no sooner was Christ come into the house but that hee tooke occasion to teach and instruct the family and in steede of bodily food which they bestowed vppon him to giue vnto them the foode of the soule Thus dooth he alwayes shew himselfe a thankfull guest into what house so euer hee entreth he leaueth better things behind him then he findeth hee loues not to be in Zacheus debt for his dinner for insteed thereof he bringeth saluation to his house neither dooth hee leaue his supper vnpaide for heere for insteed thereof hee bestoweth vppon them a heauenly sermon This should be the exercise of faithfull ministers when they are inuited to great feasts that as they are called the salt of the earth which serueth to season the meates to make them sauery and preserue them from putrifaction so they should season the table talke with some godly conference to minister grace vnto the hearers Ephe. 4 29. These sisters were godly women and both earnest fauourers of Iesus Christ and yet in the manner of their deuotion there is such difference that the worldly affection of the one may in some sort be misliked in respect of the godly exercise and practise of the other Martha is sore encumbred with much seruing where a little seruice had beene sufficient But Marie is attentiue to heare the worde of God which neuer can be heard sufficiently Marie sitteth to heare the word as Christ vsed to sitte when he preached the word to shew that the word is to bee preached and heard with a quiet minde In a still night euery voyce is heard and when the body is quiet the minde most commonly is quiet also But Martha is troubled with other affayres and therefore vnfit to heare the word as the ground that is surcharged with stones or ouergrowne with weedes and thornes is vnfit to receiue the seed or yeeld any fruite to him that tilleth it As often therefore as wee come to heare the word of God wee must not come with distracted mindes wee must not trouble our selues with the cares of this lyfe which as our sauiour saith are thornes to choake the worde and to make it vnfruitfull For as Moses was vnfit to talke with God till he had put off his shooes and the blind man vnfitte to come to Christ till hee had throwne away his cloake so we must thinke our selues vnfit to heare the word and vnapt for euery heauenly exercise til we haue put off our shoes that is our worldly cogitations and affections and till we haue cast away our cloake that is all lets and impediments which might hinder vs from profiting in our profession When our mindes are quiet we are fitte to deale with heauenly matters therefore the Doctors conferred sitting in the Temple and God delighteth to deale with vs when wee are most priuate hee appeared to Abraham sitting in the doore of his Tent. The holy Ghost came downe vpon the Apostles and filled all the house where they were sitting The Eunuch sitting in his charret was called and conuerted by Philips preaching Marie sat at Iesus feete yet sat shee not sleeping as many sit at the Preachers feete but shee sate at Christ his feete and heard his worde As Paul was brought vp at the feete of Gamaleell and was perfectly instructed in the law of the Fathers Hir humilitie is commended in that she sat at Iesus feete to shew that the word is to bee heard with all humilitie hir diligence and earnestnes appeareth in that shee would not depart to helpe hir sister to signifie that the hearing of the word must be preferred before worldly businesse Hir diligence and humilitie serueth to condemne our negligence and contempt of Christ and his word we doo not sit at Christ his feete nay we rather set Christ at our feet when wee are so negligent in hearing of his worde Wee are as slowe to come to the Church as the Rauen was to come to the Arke and as loth to spend any time in the seruice of God as Pharao was loth to let the Israelites goe to serue the Lord. If a commoditie were to bee seene whereout some profit might arise how carefull would wee be to procure it what paines would wee take to get it Absalon was not more desirous of a kingdome then the rich men of our time are desirous of golden gaine But if it bee a matter of coste or trouble if they cannot heare the worde preached without some hinderance to their worldlye businesse and some extraordinarie charge to their pursse then like the Gadarenes they are content to take their leaue of Christ and his worde and had rather loose that heauenly Pearle then they would parte from their earthly pelfe Thus in Christ wee haue the patterne of a good Pastor and in Marie the patterne of a good hearer Let Ministers learne by his example to take all occasions to preach the word to be instant in season and out of season and let Christians learne by hir example first to seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and then to prouide for the things of this lyfe While Marie was carefull for the foode of the soule Martha was curious to