Four sermons preachedFoure sermons preached

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 to 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. As the head and the foot are both needful in the body, so Mary and Martha are both needful in a Common-wealth: man hath two vocations, the one earthly, by his labour, the other heavenly by his prayer. There is he active life, which consisteth in practising the affairs of this life, wherein man showeth himself to be like himself, and there is the contemplative life, which consisteth in the meditation of divine and heavenly things, wherein man showeth himself to be like the Angels: for they which labour in their temporal vocations, do live like men, but they which labour in spiritual matters, live like Angels. When they hear the word, God speaketh unto them: when they pray, they speak unto God, so that there is a continual conference between God and them, because they are continually exercised in hearing and praying.

This one thing hath Marie chosen, and therefore hath chosen the better part. Marthaes part is good, because it prouideth for this present life: but Maries part is better, because it leadeth to eternall life. It is good to bee occupied about our calling, to get our liuing: but it is better to bee occupied in hearing the worde, which is able to saue our soules. As the head and the foote are both needefull in the bodie, so Mary and Martha are both needful in a Common-wealth: man hath two vocations, the one earthly, by his labour, the other heauenly by his praier. There is he actiue life, which consisteth in practising the affaires of this life, wherein man sheweth himselfe to be like himself, and there is the contemplatiue life, which consisteth in the meditation of diuine and heauenlie thinges, wherein man sheweth himselfe to be like the Angels: for they which labour in their temporall vocations, doe liue like men, but they which labour in spirituall matters, liue like Angels. When they heare the word, God speaketh vnto them: when they pray, they speake vnto God, so that there is a continuall conference betweene God and them, because they are continuallie exercised in hearing and praying.