Page:Cry to the whole earth; a sermon preached by the Reverend Mr. John Welch.pdf/6

 when they are invited to a great feaſt, that as they are called the ſalt of the earth, Mat. v. 18. to make meat ſavoury and well ſeaſoned, and to preſerve them from putrefaction; ſo the miniſters and paſtors ſhould reaſon the table with ſome godly conferences and communications, 'to miniſter grace unto the hearers,' Eph. vi. 26. Both theſe ſiſters were godly women, and both earneſt ſavourers of Jeſus Chriſt; and yet in the manner of their devotions, there is ſuch difference, that the worldly affections in the one may in ſome ſort be miſliked, in reſpect of the godly exerciſe and practice of the other. Martha is ſore incumbred with much ſerving, when a little ſervice had been ſufficient; but Mary is attentive to hear the word of God which can never be heard ſufficiently. Mary ſitteth hear the word, Mat. v. as Chriſt uſeth to fit, Luke iv. when he preached the word; to declare unto us, that the word is to be preached and heard with a quiet mind. In a ſtill night every voice heard, and when the body is quiet, the mind  commonly is quiet alſo  But Martha is  with other affairs, and therefore unfit to hear the word, as is the ground that is ſcorched with ones, and over-grown with weeds and thorns,  is indeed unfit to receive the feed, Mat. v. to yield any fruit to him that tilleth it. As often as we come to hear the word of God, we  not come with diſtracted minds, we muſt not trouble ourſelves with the cares of this life, which,  our Saviour faith, are but thorns to choak the, Luke viii. 4. and to make it unfruitful: For Moſes was unfit to talk with God till he had put  his ſhoes, Exod. iii. and the blind man unfit to to Chriſt, until he had thrown away his ak, Mark x. ſo we muſt think ourſelves unfit to  the word of God, and unapt for every  exerciſe, till we have put off our ſhoes, that