Page:Cry to the whole earth; a sermon preached by the Reverend Mr. John Welch.pdf/15

 affairs of this life, wherein man ſhews himſelf to be like unto himſelf, which is an earthly man, caring for earthly things; and there is the contemplative life, which conſiſteth in the meditation of heavenly things; wherein man ſhews himſelf to be like to the angels, for they who labour in their temporal vocations do but live like men; but they who labour in ſpiritual matters, live like angels. When they hear the word, they hear God ſpeaking unto them, but when they pray, God bears them ſpeaking to him; ſo that there is a continual conference betwixt God and them that are thus exerciſed, either in hearing or yet in praying. Chriſt loves Martha for hoſpitality, as Iſaac loved Eſau for his veniſon, and the Lord loved Mary for her care and diligence in hearing his word; as Rebecca loved Jacob for the hearkening to her voice, Gen. xxv. 28. as a nurſe that having her breaſt full of milk, doth love the child that ſucks it from her, even ſo the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, when he hath his breaſt full of heavenly milk, is glad when he hath children to ſuck the ſame. Let us therefore as the apoſtle willeth, Peter ii. . 'Laying aſide all maliciouſneſs, guile and diſſimulation, all envy and ill ſpeaking, as new born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the word, that we may grow thereby,' to be perfect men in Chriſt Jeſus. Let us breathe after the fountain of living water, which ſpringeth up into eternal life, as the hart brayeth for the rivers of water, Pſal. lxii. . to quench his thirſt. And for as much as many things are ſo troubleſome, and one thing is ſo needful, let us ever be ſeeking that needful thing, even the end of all things, that is, to learn to fear God, and to ſtrive continually to keep his commandments, Eccl. xii. 13. which we muſt learn by hearing of the word of God, whereby faith (without the which it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, Heb. xi.9) may be