Page:Cry to the whole earth; a sermon preached by the Reverend Mr. John Welch.pdf/7

 is, our worldly cogitations and affections, and till we have caſt away our cloaks, that is, all letts and impediments, which may hinder us from profiting in our profeſſions. When our minds are quiet, we are fit to deal with heavenly matters; therefore the doctors conferred fitting in the temple, and God he delighteth to deal with us when we are moſt private; he appeared to Abraham ſitting in the door of his tent, Gen. xviii. the Holy Ghoſt; he came down upon the apoſtles, and filled all the 'houſe where they were ſitting;' the eunuch ſitting in his chariot was called and converted, by the preaching of Philip, Acts viii. 37. Mary ſat at Jeſus' feet, yet ſhe ſat not ſleeping as many ſit at the preacher's feet; but ſhe ſat at Chriſt's feet, and heard his words; as Paul was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, Acts xxii. and was perfectly inſtructed in the law of the fathers. Her humility is commendable, in that ſhe ſat at Jeſus' feet, to declare to us that the word is to be heard with all humility: her diligence and earneſtneſs appeareth, in that ſhe would not depart and help her ſiſter, to ſignify, that the hearing of the word muſt be preferred before worldly buſineſs. Her diligence and humility ſerveth to condemn our negligence and contempt of Chriſt and his word; we do not ſit at Chriſt's feet, nay, we ſet Chriſt at our feet, when we are ſo careleſs in hearing of the word; we are as flow to come to the church, as was the raven to come to the ark of Noah, Gen viii. and as loath are we to ſpend any time in the ſervice of God, as Pharoah was loath to let the Iſraelites go to ſerve the Lord. If a commodity were to be ſeen, out of which ſome worldly profit or gain may ariſe, how careful would we be to procure it? What pains would we take to get it? Abſalom was more deſirous of a kingdom, than are the rich men of our time deſirous of golden gain: But if it be a matter A 4