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
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
1.5 c. The odious aspersion of Solifidianism could not be fastened on her though in the point of Justification she depended only and wholly upon the righteousness of Christ imputed to the Believer and received by Faith in this case not at all looking at her own inherent righteousness Her Faith was a lively and active Faith manifesting its vigour and genuine nature by its proper fruits It provoked those Vertues wherewith she was plentifully furnished Virtus à viribus quasi viri vis Varro de Ling. Lat. lib. 4. to exert their force and strength whence they are so called in the production of every good work as she had opportunity And because she was perswaded it was as necessary to do well as to do good which cannot be without some good competency of knowledge to direct each vertuous action Therefore she gave all diligence to add to her Vertue Knowledge not only speculative whereby she knew what she ought to do but practical in doing what she knew which produced the advantage of a further degree viz. experimental knowledge by which means she reaped the sweetest comfort which ariseth from the conscience of well-doing Her knowledg was savoury and her judgement sound in the things that concern salvation She was never tainted with Novel opinions and fancies but well acquainted with and tenacious of the form of sound words contained in the holy Scriptures and as they are taught in the Church of England whereof she was a true and dutiful Child So well was she grounded in the Principles and main points of Religion that she was out of the reach of the subtilest Papists seduction as she sometimes was not free from their attempts but ever from their Impressions Moreover knowing that whilst we are in this Tabernacle we bear in our bosoms a rebel to the law of our mind the Flesh lusting against the Spirit that she might subdue and mortifie that enemy she gave all diligence to add to her knowledge temperance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Maenand that promptuary of Vertue most remarkable 1. In her eminent and exemplary Modesty and Chastity She never came within the reach of the most curious suspicion of Immodesty Virgin or Wife being ever careful to abstain from all appearance of evil by any wanton word or gesture 2. In her moderate use of those subsidia which our heavenly Father knows are needful for us and therefore is pleased to allow us for the comfort of our Life 1. In her Apparel She restrained her self from the use of those Fashions which though in themselves they are unseemly to say no worse yet are too frequent and common in use amongst such as were her equals Peccandi fomenta Lupanaâ—â—… insignia ornamenta Meretricum c. Cypr. de hab Virg. Tertul. de hab Mal. de cult Foeminarum Vide etiam Aug. Epist 73. de Doctr. Christ l. 4. c. 21. Ambr. l. 1. de Virg. Hier. Epist 10. 1 Pet. 3.3 4. whereby the practice is become incorrigible and the contrary disdained by the exorbitant She never used to bare her Breasts and Shoulders or Paint or Spot her Face c. or any such Dress as were ever exploded by all sober Christians and vehemently reproved by the Primitive Fathers as enticements and provocations of Lust ornaments of light persons and inventions of the Devil c. But this chast Soul abhorred to be so disfigured Her ornaments were not broidered or platted Hair Gold or Pearls or costly array though she wanted none of those things if she had fancied them but the hidden man of the Heart Her best Dress was that shamefac'dness and Sobriety commanded by St. Paul 1 Tim. 2.9 and the incorruptible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a meek and quiet spirit which St. Peter tells us takes such worth in the sight of God This is the Dress which Tertullian commends to Christian Women men * Vestite vos serico probitatis byssino sanctitatis purpurâ pudicitiae Taliter pigmentatae Deum habebitis Amatorem Tert. de cultu foemin in fine Cloath your selves saith he with the Silk of Honesty with the Sattin of Sanctity with the Purple of Modesty in such Paints God will be your Lover In such attire would she appear before God as she knew was best pleasing to him 2. Nor was her Temperance less remarkable in reference to her Diet being nothing studious or desirous of dainty or costly Fare Her ordinary food was good and wholesome but plain and such as is most accommodate for the ends for which God hath ordained it viz. preservation of Health and increase of strength not to please a dainty Palate or gratifie an exorbitant Appetite and excite Lust But the ordering of Family provisions by her appointment was plentiful as to ordinary House-keeping generous and free in her entertainments to the great contentment of her Friends and equals whose Visits were exceeding frequent and grateful Neither was she wanting to add fortitude to her other Vertues resolutely persisting in well-doing being strengthened with power by the Spirit in the inward man Eph. 3.16 to resist the temptation and overcome the difficulties which are ever ready to obstruct all godly endeavours She was indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Woman of valour never weary of well-doing nor faint in her mind Prov. 31.10 Lxx. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. L. Mulier fortis Gal. 6.7 Heb. 12.3 Job 17.9 Heb. 10.23 Rev. 2.10 but held on in her way growing yet stronger and stronger she held fast her Profession and was faithful unto the End that she might obtain the promised Crown But the Crown of all her Vertues was her Sincerity They were not in shew only but in reality and truth she was what she seemed her Gold needed no Gilt. She was as is said of the Kings Daughter Psal 45.13 glorious within as well as without Her hidden man was richly furnished though not so much exposed to the eye of man as of him who seeth in secret and searcheth the heart and reins Nevertheless though it be most difficult to determine of any mans sincerity which is only know to him that is the discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart yet where there are such clear appearances and satisfactory evidences he must be less than a Christian that hath not so much Charity as to conclude that such a one as she must needs be sincere who did so uniformly practise godliness to the last period of her Life never varying or abating in her godly care and watchfulness but alwaies proceeding in a constant tenor of an holy conversation according to that invariable rule Gal. 6.16 Her universal closing with all good and detestation of all sin abstaining from the very appearance of evil hating sin both in her self and others her fervent zeal for Gods glory her cordial Love and vehement affection to and constant use of all his holy Ordinances her ready submission to his Will in all things her fear to
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