Lips which were to her like Lillies dropping sweet smelling Myrrhe Cant. 5.13 How sweet were his words unto her tast yea sweeter than Honey to her mouth Psal 119.103 She sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to her tast Cant. 2.3 It is true Hearing is but the Means to attain some degrees of this good part But it being so considerable a part of Mary's Choice and her present employment and an evidence of her choice of the rest we shall consider how good it is One observes out of Seneca To. de Trugill in fest Assumpt as he tells us that all external things are propter corpus for the Body as Meat Cloaths c. And that the Body is propter sensus for the Senses that by corporal Organs we might perceive the wonderful works of God and that the Senses are propter mentem for the Mind being subservient to it and the Mind in which are the rational faculties of understanding and will is propter Deum that we may attain to heavenly knowledge and divine wisdom c. This alone were sufficient to commend Hearing the Word of God which tends to the perfecting of mans best part and the obtaining of his utmost End But to speak something more largely of it Consider that 1. It is the Means which God hath ordained Acts 26.18 Rom. 12.2 John 5.25 Ephes 2.1 Nemo adeò ferus est ut non miâ—escere possit Si modo culturae patientem accommodet aurem Hor. Ep. 1. â— to turn men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God It changeth men from Sinners to Saints from children of Wrath to children of God and Heirs of Heaven transforming them thus by the renewing of their mind whereby they come to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God It raiseth from Death to Life so were the Ephesians quickned who before were dead in trespasses and sins It will meeken and tame the fiercest nature as one said well of Learning forcing the most Tyger-like and Lion like hearts as they feigned of Orpheus's Harp to lay aside their bruitish and cruel nature and become tractable It is by the power of the Gospel thus received That the Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid c. and a little Child shall lead them Isa 11.6 c. This is the Fire and Hammer wherewith God breaks the Rocks the stoniest hearts in pieces It makes the flintyest heart contrite and humble and to tremble at the Hearing of it whereby it becomes tractable and ductile â—om 6.37 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apt to receive divine impressions Hence the Apostle praiseth God who had so moulded the Romans that they were delivered into that form or type of Doctrine for so it is in the Greek they were cast into that mould or received that stamp Surely that which hath such an happy operation upon the heart must needs be good 2. It leads the way to every other Duty We hear that we may learn and learn that we may practise and do that which we have learned It is from hence that we are furnished with meet subjects for meditation and with direction in our Prayers to God By this we are instructed in our duty both to God and man For it is this Grace of God which bringeth salvation Tit. 2.11 12. that teacheth us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world 3. It is therefore preferred before other duties and employments Martha's diligence in her careful and loving entertainment of Christ is here set behind Mary's devotion in hearing his Word To offer sacrifice was a necessary duty under the Law Exod. 23.15 None must appear before the Lord empty Yet when this is neglected sacrifice is not esteemed but rather abhorred For to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of Rams 1 Sam. 15.22 Prov. 15.8 Jer. 6.19 20. Isa 1.11.66.3.4 Psalm 51.17 Isa 66 2. Eccles 5.1 Prov. 28.9 Acts 6 2. 1 Cor. 1.17 Praedicandi munus est prius potius difficilius magis necessarium Par. in 1 Cor. 1.17 But the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. When men do not hearken to his Word but reject it to what purpose is their bringing Incense from Sheba c. Their burnt-offerings are not acceptable nor their sacrifices sweet The most acceptable sacrifice is a broken spirit and an heart that trembles at Gods Word What ever men pretend in religious service if they be not ready to hear all they do is in Gods account no better than the sacrifice of Fools And he that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law even his Prayer shall he abomination Therefore the Apostle preferred the Preaching of the Word before Alms and administring the Sacraments which yet are necessery duties but this is more excellent difficult and necessary as being ordained for the salvation of all those that by true and lively Faith receive it Sam. 1.21 1 Tim. 4.16 and without which we know not how to perform the other Now Hearing is the nearest End of Preaching therefore the excellency that is ascribed to Preaching is for the sake of Hearing 4. It is the most excellent Antitode against the poison and the malignity of sin Now are ye clean saith our Saviour through the Word which I have spoken to you John 15.3.17.17 Psalm 119.9 Even young men in that wanton and unruly Age may cleanse their way by this means For it discovers the ugliness of Sin so that a mind well instructed cannot but loath that abominable thing which the Lord hates and himself also Jer. 44.4 Ezek 6.9 Jam. 1.23 Eph. 5.12 13. for the evils that he hath committed in all his abominations The Law of God is a mirrour or Glass whereby a man may discover his spiritual deformities it is the light which makes manifest the hidden things of darkness and sets them out in their proper colours and that shews us the way wherein we should walk and guides our feet into the way of Peace 5. It is indeed the Word of Eternal Life the Word of Salvation John 6.68 Acts 13.26.20.32 the Word of Gods Grace which is able to build us up and to give us an inheritance amongst the sanctified Therefore to make choice of this must needs be with Mary to choose that good part whereof indeed this is the least part as but leading to that which doth compleat it II. The second illustration of this Choice is that this good part is also durable It shall not be taken away This makes good the former it is therefore the better good because permanent Psalm 1.3 The fruit of this devout Hearing shall never fade Those that are thus planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God Psal 92.13 14. Boni
operis transituri merces est requies permansura A g. Mat. 6.19 20. they shall bring forth fruit in old Age they shall be fat and flourishing The wages of this transient work shall be everlasting rest This part shall not be taken away For 1. No enemy can take it away no Thief can rob us of this treasure If any could it must be either the Devil or the World or the Flesh or Death But 1. The Devil cannot notwithstanding all his malice power or subtilty The Gates of Hell with all their temptations terrours or stratagems can never deprive us of this choice That enemy may tempt and sift and buffet 1 Cor. 7.5 Luk. 22.31 32. 2 Cor. 12.7 9. c. But the grace of God is sufficient to preserve and uphold the soul in temptation and through Christs intercession Faith shall not fail He may thrust sore at the child of God to make him fall but the Lord will help Upon resistance he is forced to flee Psalm 118.13 Jam. 4.7 Rom. 16.20 Gal. 2.20 Ephes 3.17 Luke 11.22 1 John 4.4 and shall at length be trod underfoot through the power of Christ who lives and dwells in every true Believer The victory must certainly in this case fall to the stronger and surely greater is he that is in his Saints than he that is in the World 2. The World cannot take it away notwithstanding all its enmity and malignity or its scorns and reproaches and cruel mockings and persecutions or yet its snares enticements John 16.33 1 John 5.4 5. c. There is power enough in Christ by Faith in him to overcome it 3. Nor yet shall the Fesh that remains in corrupt nature ever be able to take it away notwithstanding all its averseness to that which is good or perverseness and strong inclination to that which is evil Rom. 7. Though it be rebellious and lust against the Spirit and hindreth from duty and provoketh to sin yet shall it never prevail so far as to deprive a Believer of his choice For it is daily crucified mortified Gal. 5.24 and subdued by the power of divine Grace which worketh mightily in every child of God Though he be compassed about with this body of death and forced to cry out with St. Paul Rom. 7.23 24. O wretched man that I am c. Yet he can also him thank God that Jesus Christ is his deliverer 4. Neither yet can Death or any of its attendants take it away For it is never able to separate from the love of Christ Ro 8.35 c. 1 Cor. 15.54 being swallowed up in that victory which God giveth us through Christ our Lord. 2. As no enemy can so God will not take it away For 1. He delights in it Isa 57.15 to see his children to make this choice He whose Name is holy who inhabiteth Eternity whose Throne is the Heaven and the Earth his foot-stool 66.1 2. c. Yet this Almighty God hath a special eye to him that is of a poor and contrite spirit and trembleth at his Word For he sees his own Image and likeness there wherewith he is so taken that he is held in the Galleries to behold it Cant. 7.5 Psalm 34.18 1 Cor. 6.19 Psa 132.13 14. So great pleasure doth he take in this that he is ever nigh unto such an heart and delights to dwell in it It is his Temple his chosen and desired habitation his Rest where he will dwell for he hath desired it and will take up his residence and make his abode there He engageth his Word and Promise never to forsake it John 14.23 Heb. 13.5 2. Besides it is the work of his own Spirit by which he leads into all truth brings the soul in frame sacrifices the whole man kindles holy desires and fervent affections towards himself and what ever may conduce to everlasting happiness It is the Spirit which worketh all our works in us Isa 26.12 Rom. 8.26 Phil. 2.13.1.6 helps our infirmities gives both to will and to do and what he hath begun he will not take off his hand until he hath also finished 3. Furthermore it is part of the purchase of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ viz. to sanctifie here as well as to glorifie in Heaven He hath procured both the Choice and Grace to choose And he shall surely obtain the fruit of his sufferings he shall see of the travel of his Soul Isa 53.11 and shall be satisfied Having paid an infinite ransome for his Captives he will take care that they may be actual partakers of that dear bought Freedom He will lose none of those whom the Father hath given him John 6.39.17.12 therefore he improves the opportunity of his exaltation to the right hand of the Father in making intercession for them and a part of his Prayers in their behalf is Rom. 8.34 Luke 22.32 Joh. 17.11 15 17 19 23 24. that their Faith may not fail but that they may be kept through the Name of the Father from the evil that is in the World and that they may be sanctified through the Truth which is his Word that they may be made perfect in one until they be with him where he is that they may behold his Glory Heb. 7.25 John 11.42 Heb. 5.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vid. Par. Gerh. Estius and à Lap. in loc Now he ever liveth to intercede thus for them and he is sure to speed for the Father will deny him nothing and he is heard alwaies for his Piety or as others for his Dignity All which being considered it must follow that as he hath merited for them Grace to choose this good part so likewise that what they have so chosen shall never be taken away from them 4. Yea God hath laid upon himself a Covenant-engagement to maintain this Priviledge which he hath vouchsafed to his Saints As for me Isa 59.21 this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit which is upon thee and my Words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth c. from benceforth and for ever Again I will put my fear in their hearts and write it in their inward part and I will be their God Jer 31.33.32.4 Heb. 13.5 and they shall be my People and I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Likewise he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee And very aptly to our purpose speaks that Promise of our Saviour Whosoever drinketh of the water John 4.14 that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up into everlasting Life And in another place He that believeth in me John 7.38 Tit. 1.2 2 Tim. 2.13 Psalm 119.49 out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Water Thus he hath promised who is the God of
be expected than of every pious Soul Mat. 6.6 2 Sam. 7.18 Dam. 6 1â— whose care is not to be seen or heard in those retirements by any but their heavenly Father yet by providence something was found among her Papers written with her own hand upon a special occasion which may afford some discovery of her godly and devout frame of Spirit even in that heavenly and secret Duty The occasion was this That Reverend and holy man of God Mr. John Hudson now the Right Reverend Bishop of Elphin in Ireland Preaching upon that Text 1 Sam. 1.27 For this Child I prayed c. amongst other savoury passages observed That Mercies and Blessings obtained by Prayer will be sweet and that we should especially record special mercies which practice would both help our memory we being very apt to forget mercies Psal 106.7 and also strengthen our Faith Psal 85.1 2 3 c. vers 8 9. I will hear what God the Lord will speak c. Surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him Her gracious Soul made such good use of that Sermon that she from that time resolved to keep a Record of such special mercies as it should please the Lord to vouchsafe her more especially such as were given in upon Prayer And in those Papers wherein they were found Recorded she thus bespeaks the Lord in her Prayers O my God I desire now to come before thee humbled in my Soul for my own baseness and filthiness from Head to Foot Every member of my Body being ready and inclined to every sin every faculty of my Soul being polluted and defiled with that foul and ugly sin wherein I was conceived and born And to aggravate this having received and still possessing more mercies and gracious dispensations from thee than I think ever any creature had But it is thy free-grace who canst as well give me a thankful heart as a receiving hand which I beg for his sake upon whose account only I come before thee and have this confidence to approach unto thee And here O Lord through thine assistance I desire to recount as I am able some of those innumerable mercies that I daily receive Then after an enumeration of many general mercies she thus proceeds Good God give me the Grace likewise that all this thy goodness may not be in vain upon my poor Soul I bless thy Name for the gracious presence of thy blessed Spirit at all times when I set my self before thee in earnest to seek thy face and favour in private and in especial at a Fast I kept and Sacrament I received when I was left all alone at Wobourn when I received much comfort c. Then again reckoning up many particular mercies received at the Lords hand upon her Prayers to him for her Husband and Son amongst which she forgets not affectionatly to mention the good means of Grace and Salvation they had lived under and the contented peaceable plentiful chearful condition they had enjoyed ever since they came together But these saith she are but Ones of thousands that I have and do enjoy O give me to live in some measure answerable to this goodness of thine c. After this manner hath she Recorded the many special mercies deliverances blessings which she her Husband Son and Family had received noteing the day and month of the year And the whole contexture is in the same tenour of Prayer and Praises ever desiring of the Lord that he would give her to live the life of Faith and Thanksgiving which was her frequent expression But the particular mercies conferred upon her self and her Relations were not the only Subject of her thankful praises So great was her affection to the Church of God and to her dear native Country that publick blessings were also sound Recorded in her secret Devotions Thus when it pleased God to heal the breaches of this distracted Nation by the happy Restauration of his Royal Majesty she thus expresseth her deep sense of that wonderful change But now O God I am confounded and know not what to say nor which way to begin to bless and praise by great Name for thy infinite preservations of deliverances to and blessed restauration of our dear King and his Family from their sad banished and distracted condition which they have long lain under to their own Inheritance And all this is beyond what we could have asked or thought to be without blood or obligation to strangers or any thing but thy own hand which is for ever to be magnified and adored for this great Work for which I beseech thee to give me and all thine to live the life of Faith and Thanksgiving to lay our selves in the dust and to be low in our own eyes that thou alone maist be exalted for these great and wonderful things that thou hast done in our daies for preserving them in the true Religion in the midst of diverse temptations and keeping them from diverse dangers of Soul and Body for all which let our Souls bless thy great Name This may suffice to give some aim whereby to measure her private Devotions which could not otherwise be discovered but by her own Papers occasioned as is before declared But by this it may appear how serious she was in her Meditation of Gods loving-kindness to her and her Relations in every concernment with which she was so exceedingly affected that she could not forbear to speak of it in her private discourses with her friends In the short time of our acquaintance how frequently have I heard her with tears of joy express her deep apprehensions of Gods gracious Providence in their outward prosperity beyond her hopes admiring his blessings according to his holy promise heaped upon them she knew not how owing his hand and disowning all their own care and endeavour as of no signification in reference to the greatness of even outward mercies received This wrought her Soul to the highest content with that Estate which it pleased God to place her in which had it been much meaner would yet no doubt have been acceptable to her thankful heart which ever took its measure from the consideration of Gods bountiful providence in administring blessings sutable to her condition and not from any ambitious emulation of others grandeur Such as is said was her more private converse with God What was more obvious to the eyes of men was very exemplary whether we consider her deportment in the publick Congregation or in her Family duties In the publick Prayers in the Church as also in the Family her Posture outward gesture and voice was ever most decent humble and reverent with all evidences of a broken contrite serious and servent spirit expressing greatest affection with such diligent and undistracted attention without the least shew of Ostentation that whosoever observed her deportment could not but conclude 1 Sam. 1.12 13. Sancti sine voce clâ—mant ad Deum Inspirante Spiritu sancto apud Deum per
silentium Sanctorum clamor auditur Aug. Ser. 90. de temp that her Prayers like Hannah's were more the work of the heart than of the lips or as it is said of Moses that he cried to the Lord even whilst he kept silence Exod. 14.15 And that she might not lose the opportunity of enjoying any part of Divine Service she ever came to the Church before the beginning of Prayers at the usual hour Nor had she less regard to the Preaching of the Word She would not miss one Sermon whilst she was able to go abroad And she constantly writ every Sermon which every morning she perused in the following Week that she might both better digest in Meditation what she had heard and that her memory might better guide her in the contexture with the next Discourse upon the same Subject This Ordinance she ever highly prized esteeming it one of the greatest blessings it pleased the divine bounty to vouchsafe her Isa 66.2 Heb. 5.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Joh. 1.1 1 Thes 5.21 She was one of them that trembles at his Word which ever had an awe upon her spirit Having her senses exercised by reason of use or habit obtained by customary diligence to discern between good and evil so that she was able to try the spirits whether they were of God and to prove all things that she might hold fast that which is good when she was satisfied concerning the soundness of the Doctrine and Orthodoxy of the Preacher she would receive that which was so Preached not as the word of man but as it is indeed the Word of God 1 Thes 2.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 16 14. which had therefore an effectual operation on her believing heart which like Lydia's was ever open to attend with all reverence to the things which were spoken She considered that she was at that place and time especially present before God to hear what his Embassadour had in commission to say to her what she was about and to what end she came thither viz. to learn not to carp at or despise what she heard She was so judicious as to discern the Preachers weakness if he were such but yet had so much reverence to the Ordinance of God and charity to the Minister as to pity not despise his weakness Her humble heart like the low Valley Corfluit enim aqua ad humilitatem convallis denatat de tumoribus collis Aug. Ser. 27. de verb. Domini entertained those refreshing Streams which were sent forth from the Fountain of Life that could find no place of abode in a proud and censorious heart Such was her pious regard to the Preaching of the Word Nor had she less respect to both those holy Sacraments which our Saviour ordained in his Church in their respective use Therefore when any Infant was to be Baptized she would ever attend with all reverence to the whole Office rejoycing to behold a new Member admitted with such solemnity into the Church fervently and affectionately joyning with the Congregation in Prayers to God for it As for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper she so greatly hungred after that spiritual food that she would not lose the opportunity of one Sacrament when as at the feast of Easter it was more frequently administred What care she took that she might be a fit guest at that heavenly Feast may appear by that passage which was before observed out of her Papers humbling her self in a private solemn Fast the week before the Sacrament that she might by self-examination become more sensible of her failings and wants whereby she might be prepared with more eager appetite and desire to partake of those comforts which are there represented ratified and exhibited to every true Believer And it appears by her own careful observation that the fruit was answerable in these words Wherein saith she I received much comfort I have never observed in any Communicant greater evidence of humility reverence and devotion than in her reception of the holy Elements which together with her eager desire careful preparation and diligent attendance upon that divine Ordinance was a sure argument of that great comfort which she received in the use of it The last Sacrament which she ever received was upon June 9. 1672. being the occasion of her coming abroad after a long weakness which had confined her to her house and was indeed the last time of her being abroad She had a longing desire to receive it in the publick Congregation having once before received it in private by reason of her great weakness which was as God was pleased to order it to the great prejudice of her health That morning more than her strength could bear she rose two hours earlier than of a long time before she had done the day was very rugged and the air unmild so that in all probability her coming abroad was a great cause of increasing her distemper But with desire she desired to eat with us this Passover before her approaching Death Luke 22.15 Being therefore conducted by her tender Husband to the Church after Sermon she received the Sacrament with more than ordinary Devotion which was indeed to her a blessed viaticum before her departure hence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into her heavenly Mansion which was but the tenth day after where she now enjoys him immediately without the use of Ordinances whom her Soul loved Besides this conscientious attendance on and careful improvement of the Ordinances and publick means of Salvation her earnest desire of holiness and increase of Grace was evident by the great pleasure she took in godly discourse and conference wherein that part which she usually bore was proposal of such Queries in which she desired further satisfaction with some affectionate expressions arguing self-application and that seldom if ever without contrite tears Her humble and broken spirit would ever judge her self unworthy of offered comfort yet would earnestly listen to it desiring with David to hear the voice of joy and gladness admiring it Psal 51.8 and not willfully rejecting what she was urged to receive entertaining each argument with joyful tears which might give her any assurance or hope of divine favour through Christ on whose alone merits she wholly relied trampling under-foot all conceit of any worth of her own Righteousness And when there was any occasion to speak to her by way of advice exhortation or admonition with what complacency would she receive it What ever was said on such occasion to her with any evidence from the Word that it was the Will of God and a declared duty was ever readily admitted without the least reluctancy or hesitancy For the true fear of God and his love shed abroad in her heart constrained her obedience Yea so careful was she that she might not in any thing offend that she would make request where she was confident of Faithfulness to be reproved of which I had this experiment Upon our