Page:Cry to the whole earth; a sermon preached by the Reverend Mr. John Welch.pdf/5

 laſt day. Theſe godly fathers, Abraham, Gen. xviii. and Lot, Gen. xix. entertained angels in their houſes in the habit of ſtrangers, ſo we may daily entertain Chriſt Jeſus in the habit of a poor man, of a blind man, of a lame man, and whatſoever is done to any of thoſe that are his members, he doth account thereof as it were done to himſelf. Now as this virtue of hoſpitality is commendable in all ſorts of perſons, ſo it is our ſpecial concern, and more eſpecially commended unto miniſters, who are expreſsly commanded by the apoſtles, 1 Tim. iii. 2. among other things to be given to hoſpitality: unto the Levites in the time of the law, the Lord appointed cities of refuge, Numb. xxxv. to ſignify thereby that the miniſter's houſe ſhould be the poor man's harbour, and his ſtore their treaſury. But the true miniſters, in theſe our days, have no cities of refuge for others becauſe they have none for themſelves, they have not to relieve the wants of others, for they have not to relieve their own neceſſities.

Now when Martha had once entertained as he was man, into her houſe, Mary began to entertain him as he was God into her heart: ſhe  at his feet to hear his preaching. For no came Chriſt into the houſe, but he took occaſion  teach and inſtruct the family, and inſtead of  food which they beſtowed on him, he  upon them the food of the ſoul. Thus doth always ſhew himſelf a thankful gueſt: For in whatſoever houſe be entereth in, he leaveth  things behind him than he findeth: He loves  to be in Zaccheus' debt for his dinner, for inſte thereof he bringeth ſalvation to his houſe;  does he here leave his ſupper unpaid, for  thereof he beſtoweth on them a heavenly. This ſhould be the exerciſe of al faithful. A 3