to admonish vs often of our dutie and such is the dulnesse and peruersenesse of our crooked nature that wee cannot bee gayned by the first admonition but the Lord must call vs often and earnestly before we will harken vnto him There are two things in this speach of Christ to be obserued The first is his modest reprehension of Marthaes immoderate care the other is his friendly defence of Maries choise Though Martha was very carefull to entertaine Christ in the best manner yet if he perceiue any thing in hir worthie of reprehension he will not stick to tell hir of it he will not sooth hir in hir saying nor smooth hir in hir owne conceit for all the trouble and cost that she bestowes vpon him If we be often inuited to some mans table and kindely enterteyned it would bee vnkindlye taken if wee should finde fault with any disorder but forasmuch as all Christ his actions are the instructions of Christians therefore euery Christian but especially Preachers whome it more specially concerneth must learne by this example how to behaue themselues when they are inuited to great feasts namely to speake their conscience freely when they see a fault The best requitall that wee can make for our good cheere is to giue good counsell and wholsome admonition to them that inuite vs. When Christ dined with the Pharisey Luke 11. and was misliked for not washing before dinner hee tooke occasion to reprooue their hypocrisie their outward show of holinesse which was the sinne of the Pharises and at another time he noteth them for preasing to the chiefe places at banquets and sheweth what modestie is to bee obserued in sitting downe to meate and what guests should be bidden to our table So should Preachers behaue themselues towards those that inuite them to great feasts where they see perhaps some fault or disorder either in the Maister of the house or in some other of the guests to saye vnto them thus or otherwise as the case requireth I will warne you of one thing that will doo you good that you would leaue your vsurie and extortion your couetousnesse and oppression that you would leaue your swearing and blaspheming the name of God that you would forbeare to prophane the Lords Sabaoth that you would leaue your pride and excesse in your dyet and apparrell that you would forbeare to speake ill of any behind their backes or to beare any malice or hatred to any of your neighbors These are the faults which are easie to be espyed almost in euery place and these are the faultes which the faythfull minister of Christ Iesus should not leaue vnreprooued wheresoeuer he commeth but as Elias tould Ahab of his Idolatrie though hee were his king and Iohn Baptist tould Herod of his adulterie though he did many things for him and heard him gladly so should the preacher reprooue the people for their notorious offences notwithstanding some fauours and curtesies receiued from them If Christ had cause to finde faulte with Martha for hir too much diligence in his enterteinement it seemes hee was not curious of his dyet but would haue beene content with simple cates he was no delicate or daintie guest hee did not affect or delight in sumptuous banquets or costly fare he rather requireth a religious heart a constant faith a willing mind to heare the word with an earnest care to liue thereafter These are the things wherin the Lorde delighteth these are the iuncates which hee desireth and which he preferreth before all earthly cheere Thus is Martha reprehended for hir curiositie now let vs see how Marie is excused and commended for hir godly care One thing is necessary saith Christ and what is that one thing euen to heare the word preached which is the power of God to saluation to euery one that beleeueth A man may better want all things then that one needful thing and yet we desire all other things and neglect that one thing which is so needfull This one thing hath Marie chosen and therefore hath chosen the better part Marthaes part is good bicause it prouideth for this present life but Maries part is better bicause it leadeth to eternall life It is good to be occupyed about our calling to get our liuing but it is better to bee occupied in hearing the word which is able to saue our soules As the head and the foot are both needfull in the body so Marie and Martha are both needfull in a commonwealth man hath two vocations the one earthlye by his labour the other heauenly by his prayer There is the actiue life which consisteth in practising the affayres of this life wherein man sheweth himselfe to bee like himselfe and there is the contemplatiue life which consisteth in the meditation of diuine and heauenly things wherein man sheweth himselfe to bee like the Angels for they which labour in their temporall vocations do liue like men but they which labour in spirituall matters liue like Angels When they heare the word God speaketh vnto them when they pray they speake vnto God so that there is a continual conference betweene God and them bicause they are continually exercised in hearing or praying Christ loued Martha for hir hospitalitie as Isaac loued Esau for his Venison So did he loue Mary for hir diligence in hearing his word as Rebecca loued Iacob for harkning to hir voice A nursse which hath hir brest full of milke doth loue the child that sucks it from hir and Christ which hath his brest full of heauenly milke is glad when he hath children to suck the same Let vs therfore as the Apostle willeth vs 1. Pet. 2.1.2 laying aside all maliciousnesse and all guile and dissimulation and enuie and all euill speaking as new borne babes desire that sincere milke of the worde that we may grow thereby to bee perfect men in Christ Iesus let vs breath after the fountaine of liuing water which springeth vp vnto eternall life as the faintie Hart desireth the water brook to quench his thirst and for as much as many things are so troublesome and one thing is so needefull let vs seeke that one needfull thing the end of all things euen to feare God and keepe his commandements which we must learne by hearing the word of God whereby faith without the which it is impossible to please God is begotten nourished in the hearts of men This is that good part which Marie hath chosen by so much better then hir sisters choise bicause it concerneth a better life and hath the fruition of this present life Mary hath a double portion She heard the word and eate of the meate which hir sister dressed for godlinesse hath the promise of this life of the life to come As for all other things whether they be honors promotions pleasures and what not they serue onely for the maintenance of this present lyfe which is so short and subiect to
mutabilitie but the word of God is the foode of the soule the bread of life that immortall seede which bringeth foorth fruite vnto eternall life Let the worde of God therefore be precious vnto vs because it is so permanent for heauen and earth must passe but the worde of God endureth for euer If we make choise of any thing beside it must be taken from vs or we shal be taken from it but if we make choise of this one thing it shall neuer bee taken from vs neither in this world nor in the world to come The Lord grant that wee be not only hearers but doers of the word that it may be truly sayd of vs as Christ said of his disciples that heard his preaching Behold my brother my sister and mother or as hee answered the woman that commended his carnall kindred Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe the same FINIS A Godly Prayer to bee said at all times BEcause I haue sinned ô Lord and doone wickedly in thy sight and prouoked thee to anger by my abhominable wickednes making my bodie which thou hast ordained a vessell for thine honor an instrument to most detestable filthines ô Lord be merciful vnto me and pardon mee this great wickednes looke not vpon mee good father with the eyes of iustice neither do thou drawe against me the sword of iudgement for then how shall I that am but dust stand in thy presence when thy wrathfull indignation commeth foorth as a whirlewind and thy heauie displeasure as a mightie tempest seeing the earth trembleth the depths are discouered and the verie heauens are shaken when thou art angrie Exercise not therefore thy furie against me that am but as chaffe before the winde and as stubble against a flaming fire though I haue sinned grieuouslie in thy sight preferring my wicked desire before thy holy commandement esteeming the pleasute of a moment before eternall and euerlasting ioyes nay which is worse making more account of vilenesse and vanitie and extreame folly and madnes then of the glory and maiesty of the most excellent wonderfull and blessed God nothing dreading his displeasure whose wrath maketh the diuels to quake and burneth vnquenchable vnto the bottomlesse pit of hell whose might is so great that by the breath of his nosthrils he is able in the twinkling of an eye to destroy a thousand worlds yet am I bold prostrating my selfe before the throne of thy maiestie heartily to beseech and humblie to entreate thee that thou wilt not deale with me according to my merites for I haue deserued that thou shouldst raine downe fire and brimstone from out of heauen vpon me to deuour me or to open the earth vnderneath me to swallow me vp quick vnto hell but thou art gratious and full of compassion and rich in mercies therefore do men put their trust vnder the shadow of thy wings I haue none in heauen to flie vnto but thee nor in earth of whom I may receiue any comfort but at thy fauourable hands which are stretched out day and night to receiue all that by earnest repentance turne vnto thee being readie to ease all those that are laden with the burthen of their sinne and to refresh their distressed consiences In the multitude of thy mercies I approche vnto thee ô Lord desiring thee to looke downe from the height of thy sanctuarie vppon me poore and wretched sinner and to wipe away mine offences and to blotte out my misdeedes especiallie this my vngratious vncleane and vngodlye act that it may not come vppe in remembrance with thee nor bee imputed to mee for euer for ' thy sonnes sake ô Lorde in whome thou art well pleased in whom thou wast fully satisfied vppon the crosse for my sinnes graunt mee free pardon and remission of that I haue so foolishlie by my exceeding frailtie committed against thee in this shamefull deed But ô thou my vncleane and vnthankfull soule my vngodly and rebellious heart what did I sinfull wretch and execrable caitife so blindlie and desperatlie attempt Howe art thou become quite sencelesse that thou wast so readie to anger thy most louing God and to prouoke thy most mightie iudge that thou mightest satisfie thy filthie fleshe suborned both by thine and Gods moste malitious aduersarie to grieue and vex the spirit of the Lord and to damne thy selfe for euer Hath not God of his singular fauour made the heauens of old and placed the sunne and moone in them two glorious lights with innumerable starres a wonderfull workmanship for thy vse and benefit Hath hee not lifted vp the clouds by his strong arme and heaped treasures of raigne haile and snow to doe thee seruice Hath hee not in the midst of the world laid the foundations of the earth that thou mightest haue a stable habitation and mightest from thence behold euery way thou lookest the walles of his beautifull pallace Hath hee not gathered the waters into one place and made the drie land appeare and drawne foorth by his powre a pure substance of aire betweene heauen and earth that fishes might multiplie in the seas foules in great aboundance flie in the open face of the firmament tender plants hearbs flowers and tree◠in all varietie growe and fructifie vpon the ground yea creeping things cattell and beasts increase in infinite number in pastures fields gardens orchards and groues and all these to doe thee pleasure Hath he not further giuen thee springs and riuers gold and siluer pearles and iewels euen plentie of streames stones and mettall to furnish thee with whatsoeuer for profite thou needest or for pleasure desirest Hath hee not made thee Lord and ruler ouer all his craatures euen ouer the huge Elephants the Whale the strong Lion and Vnicorne and horse of warre ouer the sauage Tigars Beares and Wolues ouer the mightie Eagle Griffin Vultur Ostrich and Haulke Art thou not clad and defended fed and enriched cheered and renowned by these his creatures and that all the partes of thy bodie and sences of thy minde might be partakers of his goodnes and with his sweetnes refreshed comforted delighted in great measure Yea aboue all this hath hee not breathed into thy bodie an immortall soule that thou mightest remaine with him in glorie for euer Did hee not at the first frame thee like vnto himselfe that he might therefore loue thee as his sonne Did hee not cast into thy spirit the beames of his wisedome that thou through thy vnderstanding mightest behold him and his glory and stirred vp sparkes of goodnes in thy heart that thou mightest by thy affection imbrace him and his bountie and bee made perfectly blessed by his infinite happinesse who when Adam thy vngratefull father by distrusting him that had faithfully promised was throughlie able to fulfill his will and resolutely determined exceedingly to aduance him hauing giuen him this whole worlde in testimonie thereof by discontenting his minde with the excellent estate he was placed in of
all in the Lorde The Gods of the Gentiles they haue mouthes and speake not eyes and see not eares and heare not then what can be looked for at their hands But the Lorde is strong and mightic a mercifull God and therefore thorow the Scriptures hee is called a Rocke a Fortresse a strong Tower a Sheeld a horne of saluation a refuge the Lorde of Hoastes with other such like appellations that we might bee assured that our helpe and deliuerance commeth from the Lord. Puttest thou any trust in man whose breath is in his nosthrils Curssed is he that maketh man his strength and flesh his arme Surely Pharaoh and all princes are a broken staffe on which if a man leane it will strike into his hande and pierce it and lay him groueling in the dust It is better therefore to trust in the Lorde then to put anye confidence in Princes Thinkest thou that Angels or Saints or Images can helpe thee O foolish and impious pietie to attribute more vnto the Angels then they dare arrogate vnto themselues The Angell in the Reuelation forbiddeth Iohn to worship him As for the Image we read that to turne the glory of the incorruptible God into the similitude of a corruptible creature is idolatrie Well may I then affirme with Moses curssed be the Image and the Image maker The conclusion therefore of this point is this that we seeke the Lord and his strength euer more that we pray vnto God in humilitie and sinceritie and in full assurance of faith continually who without end is to be sought because without end he is to be beloued The third thing contained in our dutie is what effect this seeking and praying ought to worke in vs comprehended in these wordes If thou be pure and vpright If the clowdes bee full they will powre foorth raine vpon the earth and vnpossible is it that a man that seeketh after God and prayeth to the Almightie should not bring foorth the fruites of a godly life for if the tree be good the fruits cannot be bad and if the head of the water be pure it will send foorth pure waters into the Cesterns Wherefore as good motions are stirred vp by prayer so must they be fostered by practise of life according to that of the Apostle Quenche not the spirit nor greeue the holy one of God by whom yee are sealed to the day of redemption Hee quencheth dearely beloued the spirit which being once lightened with the sparckles of faith and felt Gods motions in his heart dooth neglect to encrease the one to a flame and the other to good workes in his lyfe but with the dogs turneth to his vomit and with the Sow that was washed to her wallowing againe in the mire Therefore beloued loue and seeke the Lord pray to the Almightie be pure and vpright in conuersation flie from sinne as from a serpent for if thou come neere it will bite thee The teeth therof are as the teeth of a Lion to slay the soules of men all iniquitie is as a two edged sword the wounds that it giues cannot be healed I dare not scand as I would vpon these points fearing tediousnes wherfore let this suffice for the former generall part concerning the dutie we owe vnto God Now Gods promises for the performance hereof yeeld vnto vs most plentifull matter of doctrine and consolation First of his iustice that as hee will suffer no sinne vnpunished so he will leaue no good worke vnrewarded but giueth to euery seuerall action his seuerall hyre iust recompence of rewarde Shall the hower come in which all that are in their graues shall heare a voyce come foorth they that haue doone well to the resurrection of life they that haue done euill to the resurrection of condemnation Shall the Lorde search Ierusalem with Lanthorns Shall all foule corners be swept and all pleits and wrinckles be vnfolded Shall the sea graue death and hell giue vp all that is in them and shall all the dead both great and small stand before GOD when the bookes are opened and shall euery man haue praise of God according vnto his deseruing Shall wee then discerne betweene the vessels of honour and of wrath betweene Sheepe and Goates the iust and vniust Finallie shall there bee an infallible generall and incorrupt iudgement wherein the booke of al our offences shall be laide wide open Now God bee mercifull vnto vs bee fauourable O Lord be fauourable But to proceed is it thy nature O Lorde to gather vp the wheat and burne the tares to cut down all frutlesse trees and cast them into the fire yea into a fierie furnace that neuer shall bee quenched into an vtter darknesse where is weeping wayling and gnashing of teeth then bee fauourable O Lord be fauourable Dooth not the Lorde spare Dauid a king and a prophet for murther dooth he not spare the Sichemites for adultery nor Absolon for treason nor Saule for tyrannie nor Elie for negligence nor Achab Ieroboam nor Iezabell for crueltie nor Herod Nabuchadnezar and Lucifer for pride nor Paraoh for incredulitie then be fauourable O Lord bee fauourable to vs in whom almost euery one of these sinnes do dwell remaine Did the Lord for corruption ouerflow the world with water did he burne Sodome for her villanie did he cast Adam and Eue out of Paradise for eating of the forbidden frute did hee stone a poore wretch to death for gathering chips on the Sabaoth day then be fauourable O Lord be fauourable vnto vs. But dooth not the Lord spare the Cedar tree for his height nor the Oake for his strength nor the Poplar for his smoothnes nor the Lawrell for his greennes No verely from the Cedar that is in Lybanon euen to thy Hysope that groweth out of the wall yea euery one that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire it is a righteous thing with God to render vengeance to those that disobey him and to destroy such as haue forsaken the law by euerlasting perditiō Behold the Lorde shall come in the great and latter day of iudgement when none shall escape his iudgement seate with clowds shall hee come and euery eye shall see him euen they which pierced him thorow shall also wayle before him being summoned all to appeare moste fearefullye before his imperiall throne of Maiestie then be fauorable O Lord be fauourable Alas with whateies shall we miserable sinners behold him so gloriouslie sitting in his royall kingdom with all his mighty and holy Angels and whole number of Saints sounding with the voice of the archangell trumpet of God causing the heauens to passe away with a noyse and the elements to melt like waxe and the earth to burne with the woorkes thereof yea with what eyes shall wee behold him when we see the Sunne darkened the Moone eclipsed and the starres fall downe from heauen But alas