MABY S CHOICE.
And first, Consider in everything what reference it hath to this one thing, what reference it hath to grace and glory. So long as we neglect this, the devil cares not what we have, whither we go, in what company we are ; all is one to him.
Secondly, Carry ourselves respectively according to the necessity of the things that ice are to be busied about, whereof some are more, some less necessary, according as they have more or less good in them. Those that cannot stand with this main one thing, cut them off, for other things that are necessarily required for our well-being in this Hfe, as our daily bread, our callings in these, and the like.
Thirdly, Take heed of faithless cares, and beg ivisdom to despatch business so as they ptrejudice not the main, and look still how they aim at the main end. As travellers and warriors do unburden themselves of things less necessary, so let us take heed of entangling ourselves in the cares of this life, 2 Tim. ii. 4. The covetous man labours for riches, others for pleasures, that they may live sensually, wherein they never can come to the degree of that happiness that brutish creatures do, that have them without care and enjoy them without fear ; but for a Christian this is the whole, * to fear God and keep his commandments,' Eccles. sii. 13.
Fourthly, lu all business ire should observe xchat the main end is, and labour to direct them to that main end. In baptism, the one thing there, is the covenant ; in funerals, the one thing is a work of charity, to commit the dead body to the ground. Yet in these and such like things, all the time is taken up in ceremonious preparations. In our buildings and dwellings we look for good air, good soil, good neighbours, but where is the main ? Who inquireth what minister have we ? What means of salvation ? Tush ! this enters not into their thoughts ; and thus do they invert God's order. So, in bringing up of children, men look to teach them to read and to be fit for the course of life they intend they shall follow, and how to leave them enough to make them rich and great ; but who desires and endeavours to have the image of God engraven in their hearts, and to provide an eternal inheritance for them.
Fifthly, Every morning ive should consider ivliat is most necessary for the day. Have we renewed our covenant with God and renewed our repent- ance ? Have we armed ourselves by prayer against all occasions of temptations, and provided to avoid such as are likely to meet with us ? Alas ! how few trouble themselves this way. ' What shall we eat, drink, how shall we spend the time ?' These things take up the minds of most ; how to uphold a short troublesome life. And yet all their care cannot add one inch to their stature, or change the colour of a hair. ' But seek thou the kingdom of God and his righteousness,' this one thing, ' and all other shall be added,' Mat. vi. 33.
' And Mary hath chosen the better part,' and yet censured we see by Mary's example. It is the lot of God's children sometimes to undergo the censures of those that are good, for their forwardness ; and thus did David's brethren censure David : * We know the pride of thine heart ; thou art come down to see the battle,' 1 Sam. xvii. 28. But let us be comforted, for as it often falls out that we suffer rebuke with Mary, so we shall have Christ to justify us as she had ; and therefore.
Use. Let us resolve icith Saint Paul not to pass for the censure of man, but remember that day when God will justify those that are his. Here we pass through a hidden eclipsed glory, but the time will come that we shall be approved ; and it shall appear then what we are. Let us learn
294 Mary's choice.
innocency, that thoagh we undergo their censure yet we may not justly deserve it, and then whatever men do deem of us, we should be encouraged to bear it, in regard our witness is in heaven, in our own hearts, and in the hearts and spirits of good men.
But to proceed : Christ takes Mary's part, and justifies Mary's choice to be the best ; in handling whereof wo will lay down, in the first place, some grounds that I will go upon, as first that there are diversity of parts, and diversity of ra)ilcs of yood things ; and of these some concern this life, some concern the other life ; and of either of these God gives to some more, to others less. Some have the goods of this life in plenty, others are endued with the gifts fitting them for a better life, and thus God sets forth his free rule over all creatures, and his free liberty to dispose them as he thinks best ; aijd God exercises his children in the use of all sorts of things, and in discerning of things that difier,
A second ground is that there is a spirit of discretion planted in man, to discern of the difference of things, and this he is enabled to by the word especially, for man hath not this wisdom of himself.