Page:Cry to the whole earth; a sermon preached by the Reverend Mr. John Welch.pdf/14

 notwithſtanding ſome favours and courteſies received of them before.

If Chriſt took occaſion to find fault with Martha for her too much diligence, in his entertainment, it ſeems he was not very curious of his diet, but would have been content with ſimple meats; he was no delicate ordinary gueſt, he did not affect or delight in ſumptuous banquets or coſtly fare, he rather requireth a religious heart, a conſtant faith, a willing mind to hear the word, Luke xi. 28. with an earneſt care to live thereafter. Theſe are the things wherein the Lord delighteth; theſe are the morſels which he deſireth, and which he preferreth before all earthly cheer: Thus is Martha reprehended for her curioſity.

Now let us ſee how Mary is excuſed and commended for her godly care. 'One thing is neceſſary,' ſaith our Saviour; and what is that one thing? Even to hear the word preached, 'which is the power of God unto ſalvation, to every one that believeth,' Rom i. 16. A man may better want all things than that one needful thing; and yet we deſire all things, and we neglect that one thing which is ſo needful. This one thing hath Mary choſen, and therefore hath choſen the better part; Martha's part is good, becauſe it provideth for this preſent life; but Mary's part is better, becauſe it leadeth unto eternal life. It is good to be occupied about our calling, to get our living; but is better to be occupied in hearing the word, which is able to ſave our ſouls. As the head and the foot are both needful in the body, ſo Mary and Martha are both needful in a commonwealth. Man hath two vocations, the one earthly by his labour, the other heavenly by his prayer. There is the active life, which conſiſteth only in practiſing the