Page:Cry to the whole earth (2).pdf/9



9 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 appear, 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 serve to condemn our negli- gence 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 the word: We are as slow to come to the church, as was the raven to come to the ark of Noah, Gen. viii. and as loth are we to spend any time in the service of God, as Pharaoh was loth to let the Israelites go to serve the Lord. If a commodity were to be seen, out of which some worldly profit or gain might arise, how careful would we be to procure it? what pains would we take to get it? Absa- lom was not more desirous of a kingdom, than are the richmen, of our time desirous of golden gain: but if it be a matter of cost and trouble unto them; if they cannot hear the word preached, without some hinderance to their worldly business and some extraordinary charge of their purse,