horrible it is when you thinke of torment passing all tormentes and yet a torment passing all that yet this torment is greater then them and passing them all Imagine you see a sinner going to hell and his sumner gape at him his acquaintance looke at him the Angels shoute at him and the Saintes laugh at him and the deuils rayle at him and many looke him in the face and they that said they would liue and dye with him forsake him and leaue him to pay all the scores Then Iudas would restore his bribes Esau would cast vp his pottage Achan would cast downe his golde and Gehezi would refuse his giftes Nabuchadnezzar would bee humbler Balam would bee faithfull and the Prodigall would be tame Mee thinkes I see Achan running about where shall I hide my golde that I haue stolne that it might not bee seene nor stand to appeare for witnesse against mee And Iudas running to the high Priests saying Hold take againe your money I will none of it I haue betrayed the innocent bloud And Esau crying for the blessing when it is too late hauing sold his birthright for a messe of pottage Woe woe woe that euer wee were borne O where is that Diues that would beleeue this before hee felt the fire in hell or that would beleeue the poorest Lazarus in the world to bee better then himselfe before the dreadfull day come when they cannot helpe it if they would neuer so faine when repentance is too late Herod shall then wish that hee were Iohn Baptist Pharaoh would wish that hee were Moses and Saul would wish that hee had bene Dauid Nabuchadnezzar that hee had beene Daniel Haman to haue beene Mardocheus Esau would wish to bee Iacob and Balam would wishe might die the death of the righteous then hee will say I will giue more then Ezechias crie more then Esau fast more then Moses pray more then Daniel weepe more then Marie Magdalen suffer more stripes then Paul abide more imprisonments then Michai abide more crueltie then any mortall man would doe that it might bee Ite Goe yee cursed might be come yee blessed Yea I would giue all the goods in the world that I might escape this dreadfull day of wrath and iudgement and that I might not stand amongst the goe O that I might liue a begger all my life and a Leaper O that I might endure all plagues and sores from the top of the head to the sole of my foote sustaine all sicknesse griefes that I might escape this iudgement The guiltie conscience cannot abide this day The silly sheepe when shee is taken will not bleate but you may carry her and doe what you will with her and shee will bee subiect but the swine if shee bee once taken shee will roare and cry and thinkes shee is neuer taken but to bee slaine So of all things the guiltie conscience cannot abide to heare of this day for they know that when they heare of it they heare of their owne condemnation I thinke if there were a generall collection made through the whole world that there might bee no iudgement day then God would bee so rich that the world would go a begging bee as waste wildernesse Then the couetous Iudge would bring forth his bribes then the craftie Lawyer would fetch out his bagges the Vsurer would giue his gaine and the idle seruant would digge vp his talent againe and make a double thereof But all the money in the world will not serue for our sinne but the Iudge must answere for his bribes hee that hath money must answer how hee came by it iust condemnation must come vpon euery soule of them then shall the sinner bee euery dy ing and neuer dead like the Salamander that is euer in the fire and neuer consumed But if you come there you may say as the Queene of Saba sayde of King Salomon I beleeue the report that I heard of thee in mine owne Countrie but the one halfe of thy wisedome was not tolde mee If you came there to see what is done you may say Now I beleeue the report that was told mee in my owne countrie concerning this place but the one halfe as now I feele I haue not heard of now chuse you whether you will reioyce or remember whether you will stand amongst you blessed or amongst you cursed whether you will enter while the gate is open or knocke in vaine when the gate is shut whether you will seeke the Lord whilest he may be found or be found of him when you would not bee sought being run into the bushes with Adam to hide your selues whether you will take your heauen now here or your hell then there or through tribulation to enter into the kingdome of God and thus to take your hell now here or your heauen then there in the life to come with the blessed Saintes and Angels so that hereafter you may lead a new life putting on Iesus Christ and his righteousnesse FINIS THE SINFVLL MANS SEARCH Iob. 8. 5 6. 7. 5 If thou wilt earely seeke vnto God and pray vnto the Almightie 6 If thou bee pure and vpright then surely he will awake vnto thee and make the habitation of thy righteousnesse prosperous 7 And though the beginning be but small yet thy latter end shall greatly increase IN a sicke and euill affected body dearly beloued we vsually see preparatiues ministred that the maladies may bee made more fit and pliable to receiue wholesome medicines The like yea and greater regard ought wee to haue of our soules which being not crasie only or lightly affected with sinne but sicke euen vnto death had need to bee prepared with threates 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 choyse of this part of Scripture as of a light to shine vnto vs in darkenes a direction to our steps and a lanthorne to our pathes while wee wander through the boystrous waues of this wicked world The text is plaine and obiect to euery mans capacitie naturally budding vnto blossomes The first containing our duetie which we are to performe towards God The second Gods promises if wee performe this duetie Our duetie towards God is implyed in these three conditions First If thou wilt earely seeke vnto God Secondly If thou wilt pray vnto the Almightie Thirdly If thou be pure and vpright so thot the whole consisteth on these three points First what it is that God requireth namely Diuision a diligent and speedy search in these words If thou wilt seeke earely Secondly how thy search is to bee made in prayer in these words If thou wilt pray to the Almightie Thirdly what effect these things ought to worke in vs a puritie and sinceritie of life in these words If thou be pure and vpright As our duetie towards God consisteth in three points so Gods
which they planted not at least vnto which they gaue no increase vpon others increase of vertuous children whereby their posteritie is preserued vpon others the free passage of his word which a long time had been obscured by ignorance the mother of deuotion as the shauelings call it but vnder a stepdame of destruction as we perceiue it though he bestowe but some one or two of his blessings vpon vs yet how much are wee bound for these blessings to sing praise and honour and glory vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne and vnto the Lambe for euer But vpon whom hee hath bestowed all these blessings O how strictly by good cause are they bound to magnifie the Lord and to reioyce in God their Sauiour Examine then your owne consciences I beseech you whether God hath bestowed all these blessings vpon you or no and if he haue O what Psal 99. Psal 96. great cause haue you to come before his face with praise to sing loud vnto him with Psalmes to worship to fall downe before him to giue vnto the Lord the glory of his name to bring an offering of thanksgiuing and to enter into his courts with praise And yet who knoweth whether the Lord hath greater blessings for you in store yee may bee sure hee will pull downe the mightie from their seates and exalt the humble and meeke Surely the Lord doth 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 Lord yea such a blessing as though his beginning be but small yet his latter ende shall greatly encrease God encrease the loue of these things in our hearts and make vs worthy 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 blessings euen the life of the world to come FINIS Maries Choyce Luke 10. 38. 39. c. 38 Now it came to passe as they went that hee entered into a certaine towne and a certaine woman named Martha receiued him into her house 39 And shee had a sister called Marie which also sate at Iesus feete and heard his preaching 40 But Martha was cumbred about much seruing and came to him and sayd Maister doest thou not care that my sister hath left me to serue alone Bid her therefore that shee helpe me 41 And Iesus answered and said vnto her Martha Martha thou carest and art troubled about many things 42 But one thing is needefull Marie hath chosen the good part which shall not be taken away from her AS Christ had shewed himselfe louing vnto Lazarus and his sisters in raysing him Iohn 11. from the death of the body and then from the death of the soule so doe they heere shew their thankful minds to Christ again the one by receiuing him into her house the other by entertaining him into her heart As hee was God he was receiued of Mary as he was man he was receiued of Martha They both desired to entertaine our Sauiour as Iacob and Esau desired to please their aged Gen. 27 Father but Mary made choyce of the better part and was preferred before her sister as Iacob sped soonest of most daintie venison and preuented his brother of the blessing And although the care of Martha in entertayning of Christ be not to bee misliked yet Maries diligence in hearing his doctrine is of purpose preferred to teach vs that it is much better with Mary to study in the word and first to seeke the kingdome of God then with Mat. 6. 35 Martha to labour in the world and to neglect that heauenly kingdome 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 Luke 12. inlarged his Barnes wherein to put his store for many yeares but wee neuer or very late remember to prouide for the life to come like that other Rich man Luke 16. that neuer thought of heauen till he was tormented in the flames of hell In the 11. of Iohn Christ is sayde to loue the whole Familie and here hee is sayd to come vnto them For whom hee loueth hee cannot chuse but visite like the friendes of Iob that came to comfort him in his great aduersitie Iob. 2. yea and the greater loue hee beareth vnto any the oftner hee will resort vnto them yea hee will come and dwell with them Iohn 14. 23. Like Iacob that came downe into Egypt to his beloued Sonne Ioseph and dwelt in Gen. 47 Gen 45. Goshen But Christ is yet more kinde then Iacob was for hee came not till hee was sent for with horses and chariots but Christ came of his owne accord to this beloued familie Thus doth hee 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 hee was requested hee came vnto this noble house O happie house that entertained such a ghest but thrice happie inhabitants to whome such a ghest woulde vouchsafe to come When hee came to the swinish Gadarens they desired him to depart out of their coastes preferring their swine aboue their Sauiour but this godly family Luke 8. receiued him into their houses preferring their God before their golde and the health of their soules before their worldly wealth They receiued him into their house who had not a house wherein to put his head Wherein their hospitalitie is commended and shall certainly bee Mat. 8. 19 rewarded at the dreadfull day for with this and such like workes of mercy the Lord shall answer the sentence of iudgement which is to bee denounced against the wicked that neuer exercised those workes of mercy Let vs learne by their example to bee harberous and giuen to hospitality 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 entertained Angels in the habite of strangers so wee may daily entertaine Christ Iesus in the habite of a poore Gen. 18 Gen. 19 man of a blind man of a lame man and whatsoeuer is done vnto any of these that are his members hee accounteth and accepteth as done vnto himselfe Now as the vertue of hospitalitie is commendable in all sorts of men so is it more especially commended to the Ministers who are expresly commaunded by the Apostle among other things to bee giuen to hospitalitie 1. Tim 3. 2 Num. 35 Vnto the Leuites in the time of the lawe the Lord appointed cities of refuge to signifie that the Ministers house should bee the poore mans harbour and his store their treasure but the true Ministers of our daies haue no cities of refuge for
onely but the richest and greatest the nobles and king also and so all escaped now soone after they returned to their vomit and neuer ceased to adde sin to sinne till they were by open wars miserably wasted and at length fulfilling the prophecie of Nahū vtterly consumed Therefore first for the comfort of the godly since Nah 3. 19 1. King 21. 26. 27. 29 2. Chro. 10. 5. 1. King 14. 22. 2. Chro 14. 6 Ahab humbled himselfe before the Lord Ahab I say that had done exceeding abhominably infollowing Idols and sold himselfe to worke wickednes in the sight of the Lord submitted himselfe vnder the hand of GOD fasting in sack-cloth though he did all in hypocrisie had not the euill threatned brought vpon him in his dayes seeing Roboam and the princes of Israel who had forsaken the Lord and the whole tribe of Iudah which wrought wickednes in the sight of the Lord prouoked him more with their sins then all that their fathers had done hūbling thēselues before the Lord and confessing him iust had not the wrath of the Lord powred vpō them by Shishak K. of Egypt were not destroyed but shortly deliuered yea also thinges prospered in Iudah though the Lorde had threatned to leaue 7. 12. them in the hands of Shishak albeit they truely repented not lastly for as much as Niniuie that bloudie cittie full of lies and robberie the beautifull harlot with multitude of 5 13. Nah. 3. 1. 4 fornications that mistresse of witch-crafts which sold the people through her whoredomes and the nations through her witch-crafts humbling themselues with fasting and putting on of sack-cloth the Lord repented of the euill he had threatned them and did it not how assured may we bee that whatsoeuer iudgement the Lord threatneth vs Ionah 3. 7. 8. 10. and howsoeuer he threaten it it shall not light on vs when we vnfainedly humble our selues in true fasting turning from our euill wayes and from the heart vowing to serue God in all holinesse For this is the cleare promise of the faithfull God If I shut the heauen that there bee no raine or 2. Chro. 7. 13. 14. if I commaund the grashopper to deuour the land or if I sende pestilence among my people if my people among whome my name is called vpon doe humble themselues and pray and secke my presence and turne from their wicked wayes then will I heare in heauen and be mercifull to their sinne and heale their land Againe as generally most plainely sayth iust Iehouah Iere. 18. 7 8. I will speake suddenly against a nation or against a kingdome saying I will plucke it vp and roote it out and destroy it but if this nation against which I haue pronounced this turne from their wickednesse I will repent of the plague that I thought to bring vpon them Let vs then O beloued of the Lord whosoeuer loue the Lord Iesus bee carefull to fulfill the condition and then confident not doubting of the performance of the promise by so much the more by how much the fewer wee bee and by how much the longer and clearer the Lord hath threatned most terrible iudgements Now for the terror of the vngodly as many of them as repent onely when Gods hand is vpon them then humble themselues outwardly onely that but only when the fiercenesse of his wrath appeareth or else after they haue escaped the feared iudgement fall to their wonted wickednesse againe let them bee sure the strong and iust God that consumed Niniuie slidden backe will ouertake them also in wrath and for euer turne them ouer to ceaselesse woe For the greatnesse the beauty the strength and riches of Niniuie could not withstand the hande of God or keepe it from destruction but rather furthered and hastened it For with the more excellent ornaments that it was adorned by the Lord the more hainous and grieuous in his sight was the abuse of them Therefore the hugenesse or the strength of this or any other Cittie cannot saue it from the iudgement of God being sinfull in his sight Gen 15. Iosu 6. 1. King 24. 25. Reuel 18 2 Great Sodome is destroyed great Ierico is destroyed great Niniuie is destroyed great Ierusalem is destroyed and great Rome the roome of all vncleane spirits stayeth for her destruction like a whore that stayeth for her punishment till shee bee deliuered and all these were and shall be punished for vnthankfulnesse and contempt of the word of God Yet Niniuie Ierico Sodom nor Rome haue had halfe the preaching that wee haue had yet wee Gen. 19 21. Iere 41. 17 Gen 17. 18 Esa 19. 17. 5. 6 Gen. 45. are vnthankfull too then what haue we to looke for but when Sodom was burned Zoar stood safe when Ierusalem was destroyed Bethelem stood still so the Lord doth alwayes prouide for his people though hee make neuer so great a slaughter and destruction amongst his enemies For the Lord because of his couenant doth alwayes prouide for his chosen although they bee but a remnaut like the gleaning after haruest or like a cluster of grapes on the top of the vine after the vintage and though there bee neuer so great calamitie or trouble as we see in the booke of Gen 45. chap. when there was a great time of dearth and scarcitie to come vpon the land where Iacob was the Lord had sent Ioseph to prouide for his father Iacob least he should want bread hee or any of his sonnes and folkes and so ordered the matter that Ioseph was treasurer ouer all the corne in Egypt And so among the Turkes and Spaniards and Infidels the Lord will find meanes to doe them good which vnfainedly loue him and in the dungeon in prison in bonds yea and in death the godly shall find God FINIS FOVRE SERMONS Preached by Maister Henry Smith And published by a more perfect Copie then heretofore LONDON Printed by T. D. for Cuthbert Burby 1607. The Contents 1 The Trumpet of the soule 2 The sinfull mans search 3 Maries choyse 4 Noahs drunkennesse 5 A Prayer to be said at all times 6 Another zealous Prayer THE TRVMPET OF the Soule sounding to Iudgement By Henry Smith The Text. Ecclesiastes 11. Chap. 9. verse Reioyce O yong man in thy youth and let thy heart be merry in thy yong dayes follow the wayes of thine owne heart and the lustes of thine eyes But remember for all these things thou come to iudgement WHen I should haue preached vnder the Crosse I mused what text to take in hand to please all and to keepe my selfe out of danger and musing I could not finde any text in the Scripture that did not reproue sin vnlesse it were in the Apocrypha which is not of the Scripture this text bids them that be voluptuous be voluptuous still let them that bee vaine glorious be vaine glorious still let them that be couetous be couetous still let them that be drunkards be drunkards still
it but shake his bones out of ioynt and make his heart melt in the middest of his bowels who was euer so full of woe and brought so low into the dust of death vpon whom did the malice 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 greife in comparison of the rest behold therefore if your wearie eyes will suffer you to behold the depth of all miseries yet behind the sinne that he hated he must take vpon his owne body 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 or heart conceiue the anger of the Father burned in him euen to the bottome of hell and deepe sinke of confusion it wrapped him in the chaines of eternall death it crucified him and threwe 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 water and a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night at the remembrance heereof but least I linger too long about one flower while I haue many to gather I will conclude this one point in a word Sith Christ hath suffered these and an infinite number more such like torments for our sakes it is blasphemous once to dreame or imagine any to bee more willing to helpe vs then hee nay hee is more ready to heare our prayers then we to offer them vnto him insomuch Esay 65. as hee complayneth by the Prophet Esay I haue beene found of them which 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 he saith O Ierusalem Ierusalem how often would I haue gathered thee together as the Hen gathereth Mat. 25. the chickens but ye would not Whereforeto ende this poynt Seeke for knowledge as for a treasure and for wisedome as for the wedge of gold of Ophir No mention shall bee made in comparison of it of Corall Gabish or that precious Onix For wisedome is more precious then pearles But aboue all Iob. 28. things seeke it where it may bee found and where is the place of vnderstanding Surely man knoweth not the path thereof The deepe sayth It is not in mee the sea sayth 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 thereof and vnto man hee saith The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome and to depart from euill s vnderstanding Pro. 9. The third circumstance is when wee must seeke vnto God and holy Dauid answereth Earely euen in a time when hee may bee found Let vs redeeme the day which Psal 32. wee haue foreslowed so many dayes wherein wee haue so long hardened our heartes let vs take vp this day and make it the day of our repentance let vs make it a day of newnesse of life as it is the first day of the newe yeare let euen this moment bee the last of a sinfull life and the Eccle 5. first day to godlinesse And as the wise man saith Make no long tarrying to turke vnto the Lord and put not off from day to day for suddenly shall the Lords wrath breake 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 face of the poore swell not with pride despising his lowe estate Sell not thy righteousnesse for siluer preferring the marchants of Babylon before the Cittizens of Ierusalem Amos. 8. Art thou a priuate labouring man Doe thy dutie truly bee subiect and liue in dread to displease the good Magistrate 1. Pet. 3. Art thou olde and hast consumed the flower of thy youth in wantonnesse Breake off thy 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-flowe thee and if thou doe slacke the reines neuer so little thy sinnes will cary thee like a wild horse thorow brambles and bushes and will leaue no soundnes in thy flesh worke this reformation in thy selfe betimes euen to day euen this first day of the newe yeare If you will heare my voyce harden not your hearts Art thou young and doest begin to flourish like the young palme tree O consider that the onely way to retaine the blossomes of thy beautie and to keepe thy flower from withering and thy life from fading away is to seeke earely vnto God and to apply thy mind to vnderstanding to preuent the morning watches and to giue thy body to bee moystened of the morning dewe For beside the good houres that are well imployed in some good studie and holy exercise earely rising bringing health to thy body and increaseth the number of thy dayes Seeke therefore and seeke earely consecrate your selues Nazarites vnto the Lord touch no vncleane thing giue no prouocation to the flesh Striue with the Cooke in Ec. 12. watchfulnesse and rise with the chirping of the birdes sacrifice your body a sweete smelling sacrifice vnto the Lord. This sacrifice is like a sacrifice of fine flower it is like the fat taken from the peace offering yea it is better then any sacrifice it is like the flowre of roses in the spring of the yeere and as the lillies in the springs of water and as the branches of frankincense in the time of Summer and as a vessell of massie Ec. 32. 47. 50. golde beset with rich precious stones as a fayre Oliue that is fruitefull and as the tree that groweth vp to the cloudes Hauing spoken of the Search it followeth that I speake of the manner howe it is to bee made In prayer by these wordes If thou pray vnto the Almightie I shewed you before the force of our aduersarie receiue now a sheild against his force euen the shield of prayer Hee is not to bee resisted by ringing of an hallowed bell nor by sprinkling of holy water nor by the relikes of Saints nor by our owne workes and merites for these are weapons of his owne making but by an earnest seeking to God which search and seeking must bee made by prayer against which his poysoned venome taketh no effect It is his malice that accuseth prayer pleadeth thy case before God and repelleth all his accusations for all the Prophets doe witnesse that whatsoeuer wee aske in prayer if wee beleeue wee shall receiue it Is it his rage and furie that should terrifie
others for they haue none for themselues they haue not wherewith to relieue the wants of others for they haue not to relieue their owne When Martha had thus entertained Christ as hee was man into her house Marie began to entertaine him as hee 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 he tooke occasion to teach and instruct the family and in stead of bodily foode which they bestowed vpon him to giue vnto them the foode of the soule Thus doth hee alwaies shew himselfe a thankfull ghest into what house so euer hee entreth hee leaueth better things behind him then hee findeth he loues not to be in Zachees debt for his dinner for in stead there of hee Luke 15 bringeth saluation to his house neither doth hee leaue his supper vnpaied for here for in stead thereof hee bestoweth vpon them an heauenly Sermon This should bee the exercise of faithfull Ministers when they are inuited to great feastes that as they are called the salt of the earth which serueth to season the meates to make them sauourie and Mat. 5. 13 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 maner of their deuotion there is such difference that the worldly affection of the one may in some sort bee misliked in respect of the godly exercise and practise of the other Martha is sore in cumbred with much seruing where a little seruice had bin sufficient but Mary is attentiue to heare the word of God which neuer can be heard sufficiently Marie sitteth to heare the word as Christ vsed to sit when hee preached the word to shew that the word is to bee preached and heard with a quiet mind In a still night Mat. 5. Luk. 4. Iohn 8. euery voyce is heard and when the body is quiet the mind most commonly is quiet also But Martha is troubled with other affaires therefore vnfit to heare the word as the ground that is surcharged with stones or ouergrown with weedes and thornes is vnfit to receiue the seede or yeeld any fruit to him that tilleth it As often therefore as Mat. 5. 13 wee come to heare the word of God wee must not come with distracted minds we must not trouble our selues with Luk. 8. 14 the cares of this life which as our Sauiour said are thornes of choake the world and to make it vnfruitfull For Moses was vnfit to walke with God till he had put off Exod. 3 Mar. 10 his shooes and the blind man vnfit 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 till wee haue put of our shooes 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 wee are fit 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 Gen. 18. Acts. 2. 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 chariot was Acts. 8. 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 sat at Christ his feete and heard his word As Paul was brought vp at the feete of Gamaliel and was perfectly instructed in the lawe of the fathers Act. 22. Her humilitie is commended in that she sat at Iesus feet to shew that the word is to bee heard with all humilitie her diligence and earnestnes appeareth in that shee would not depart to helpe her sister to signifie that the hearing of the word must bee preferred before all worldly businesse Her diligence and humilitie serueth to condemne our negligence and contempt of Christ and his word wee doe not sit at Christ his feete nay wee rather set Christ at our feete when wee are so negligent in hearing of his word Wee are as slowe to come to the Church as the Rauen was to come to the Arke and as Ioath to spend any Gene. 8. time in the seruice of God as Pharao was Ioath to let the Israelites goe to serue the Lord. If a commoditie were Exod 8. 32. to bee seene whereour some profit might arise how carefull would wee bee to procure it what paines would we take to get it Absolon was not more desirous of a kingdome then the rich men of our time are desirous of golden 2. Sa. 15. gaine But if it bee a matter of cost or trouble if they cannot heare the word preached without some hinderance to their wordly businesse and some extraordinary Luke 8. Ma. 13. 40. charge to their purse then like the Gadarenes they are content to take their leaue of Christ and his word and had rather lose that heauenly pearle than they would part from their worldly pelfe Thus in Christ we haue the patience of a good pastour and in Marie the patterne of a good hearer Let Ministers 2 Tim. 4. 2 learne by his example to take all occasions to preach the word to bee instant in season and out of season and let Christians learne by her example first to seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnes and then to prouide Math. 6 for the things of this life While Marie was carefull for the foode of the soule Martha was curious to prouide foode for the body her greatest care was to entertaine Christ and to make him good cheere to testifie her thankfull mind vnto him that had done so great things for them he had raised her brother Lazarus from death to life therefore he was worthy to be well entertained If Elias deserued to be well dealt withall at the hand of his hostesse whose sonne hee had restored to life or Elisa deserued such entertainement for her sonnes reuiuing 1. Ki. 17. then surely our Sauiour Christ is worthy to bee welcome hither where hee had raysed Lazarus out of his 2. King 4 graue wherein hee had lyen by the space of foure dayes before It was well done therefore of Martha to shewe her thankefull mind vnto Christ but it was not well done at that time to shew her felfe thankfull in that maner it was Iohn 11. then time to heare the word for at that time Christ preached the word it was no time for her to spend that time in other affaires and to neglect the greatest affaire the meanes of her owne saluation It was not vnlawfull for Martha to labour