Sixthly, In the next place, come ive often, and sit at Christ's feet, as Mary here came to the ministry. ' He that heareth you heareth me,' saith Chyist. Live under a powerful plain ministry.
Lastly, Labour to draw on others to this choice. By so much the more earnest endeavour, by how much the more we have been a means to draw them to ill heretofore, and this will seal up all the rest, it being a sure sign of our perfect and sincere choice.
' "Which shall not be taken away from her.'
The best things are diversely commended unto us, and here that good part is commended by the continuance, that it shall be ours for ever. The means indeed shall end, for that time must come when Christ shall be all in all, but the fruit of them shall continue for ever in eternal glory; for hereby have we interest in the covenant, and the promises which are for ever assured to us, and the marriage between Christ and his church is an everlasting knot. We are an immortal seed. The image of God in our souls lasts for ever, and cannot be blotted out.
Secondly, Our choosing tiiis good imrt is an evidence God hath chosen us; and once chosen, ever chosen. Our actions are but reflex. He chose us, loved us, knows us, and therefore we choose, love, and know him ; and these being the gifts of God to us, are without repentance on his part. And who can take this part from us ? God will not, for he is unchange- * Qu. ' straitest ' ?— Ed.
296 maby's choice.
able. Enemies cannot, for, as Christ said, ' My Father is greater than all,' John X. 29, and Christ is Lord of hell and death. ' What shall separate us ? Not life nor death, principalities nor powers,' Eph. i. 21. Nothing can be able to separate. By grace are we kept to salvation, ' and by the power of God,' 1 Pet. i. 5 ; so as we shall not depart from him,' Jer. xxxii. 40. ' The peace of God preserves us,' Philip, iv. 7; and this should com- fort us and cstabliish us. We may lose wealth, friends, honours, health, by death. Those that have this ' good part' cannot lose it in all the changes that possibly can happen.
This also 7nay justify a Christian in his labours. It is for the best part, that is everlasting, that which will accompany him in death. The wicked men of this world they labour and spend themselves in getting that which, as far as they know, the next hour they may be constrained to part with. They vex themselves with care in getting, with care in keeping, and with vexing grief in the parting from them.
In the next place, this should content them that are poor and despised in this world. If they have chosen this good part, they have that which will make them amiable in God's eyes ; and this riches shall no man be able to take from them ; and hereafter iheir enemies shall be ashamed, when they shall see these poor contemned ones to reign with Christ as princes a thousand years for evermore, and when they shall see those that were the rich men here to howl in perpetual misery. And therefore the considera- tion of this should encourage us to set ourselves upon the best things, and give no liberty to our consciences to rest till we have found that we have made this good choice ; give our souls no rest till we have made an habitation for the God of Jacob in our hearts. In death we all look for comfort. Is it a time then to look for a choice ? No. Men may shew a desire to repent, but few do it in earnest. They then send for ministers, but it is in fear. Few such ever die with comfort. However God in his mercy dispose of them, it must not be thus. If we look for comfort in death, we should now get oil in our lamps, now get the means of salvation; be at charges for it ; spare no cost or labour. It will quit our cost, and we shall find it. Use prayers privately by ourselves with our families ; care not for the jest- ing of men. He that shall judge the ' quick and the dead' will justify us in that day, and will give us that good part that shall never be taken from us. But how shall we know whether we have chosen this good part ? I answer, we may gather divers signs from what hath been said ; as first, our afi'ections and esteem will testify what is of greatest esteem with us, and beareth the highest place in our hearts. That thing we have chosen ; and therefore, if we love the means of grace principally, if we can say, with David, ' that we love God's testimonies above silver and gold,' Ps. xix. 10, and admire at the value of them, oh! how wonderful are thy command- ments ! how sweet ! how do I love thy law ! as if we count the feet beau- tiful of the messengers of peace, and the communion of saints sweet, this is a sign we have made this choice. Otherwise, if we count basely of the ministry, of the saints as of vile persons fit for scorn, whenas they are ' pre- cious in God's eyes,' Ps. cxvi. 15, whatever we say, we are proud, empty, and vain persons. Peter was of another mind, John vi. 68 ; and let not men think, because Christ is in heaven, they go not from him when they turn from the word, for Christ saith, ' He that heareth you heareth me, and he that despiseth you despiseth me,' Luke x. 16. And because he would honour his ministers' and apostles' doctrine, he did accompany it with a more large portion of his Spirit working effectually than his own