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10 have the hearing of the matter before him, and decide the controverſy. Martha played the plaintiff, and accuſeth her ſiſter; Mary, the defendant, anſwereth by her advocate, and Chriſt himſelf, that took upon him the office of an advocate, is become the judge, and giveth ſentence on Mary's ſide; Martha complains of her ſiſter's ſlothfulneſs, and ſeemeth, after her ſort, to blame our Saviour for winking at it, requiring him to ſee the matter redreſſed ſpeedily. But Chriſt firſt reproveth Martha's curioſity and then excuſeth, yea, and commendeth Mary's care. In Martha's doing, it declareth to us how willing we are to pleaſe ourſelves, in our own conceits, and how ready to conceive amiſs of the doings of others; yea, ſometimes to prefer our own defects before the perfections of other men. If David chaſten his ſoul with faſting, Pſ. lxix. it ſhall be turned to his reproof; and if he put on ſackcloth, to teſtify his contrition, they jeſt at him, and the drunkards make ſongs of him. Luke vii. 33. If John the Baptiſt be temperate in his apparel and diet, they will ſay he hath a devil: If Paul anſwer diſcreetly for himſelf, he ſhall be charged to be mad with over-much learning; yea, if our Saviour Chriſt himſelf frequent the company of ſinners, to welcome them from ſin, they will not ſtand to call him a fiend and companion of publicans and ſinners. Luke vii 34. Amongſt us, if there be any that be more forward in religion than others be, or more diligent to hear the word, as Mary was, they ſhall not want ſome one or other to cenſure them at their pleaſure; yea, to find fault, and alſo condemn them for ſo doing. Yet are not the godly hereby to be diſcouraged, or to deſiſt from their godly exerciſe the