Page:Everlasting love of God, and Mary's good choice.pdf/23

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things, than that one needful thing; and yet we desire all things, and we neglect that one thing which is ſo needful. This one thing hath Mary chosen, and therefore hath chosen the better part: Martha's part is good, because it provideth for this present life; but Mary's part is better, because it leadeth unto eternal life. It is good to be occupied about our calling, to get our living: but it is better to be occupied in hearing the word, which is able to ſave our ſouls.

Chriſt loves Martha for hospitality, as Isaac loved Esau for his venison; and Christ loved Mary for her care and diligence in hearing his word, as Rebecca loved Jacob for the hearkening to her voice, Gen. xxv. As a nurse, that having her breasts full of milk, doth love the child that ſucks it from her, even ſo the Lord Jesus Christ, when he hath his breast full of heavenly milk, is glad when he hath children to ſuck the ſame. Let us therefore, as the apostle willeth us, "Lay aside all maliciousness, guile and dissimalation; all envy and ill-ſpeaking; and, as new-born babes, desire the ſincere milk of the word, that we may grow thereby, to perfect men in Christ Jesus," 1 Pet. ii. 1. Let us breathe after the fountain of living water, which ſpringeth up into everlasting ufe, John iv. 14.