Four sermons preachedFoure sermons preached

Mary sitteth to hear the word, as Christ used to sit when ¹he preached the word, to show that the word is to be preached and heard with a quiet mind. In a still night every voice is heard, and when the body is quiet the mind most commonly is quiet also. But Martha is troubled with other affairs, and therefore unfit to hear the word: as the ground that is surcharged with stones, or overgrown with weeds ²and thorns, is unfit to receive the seed, or yield any fruit to him that tilleth it. As often therefore as we come to hear the word of God, we must not come with distracted minds, we must not trouble our selves with the cares of this life, which (as our Saviour saith) are thorns to choke the word, and to make it unfruitful. For Moses was unfit to ³talk with God till he had put off his shoes, and the blind man unfit to come to Christ, till he had thrown away his cloak: so we must think our selves unfit to hear the word, and unapt for every heavenly exercise, till we have put off our shoes, that is, our worldly cogitations and affections, and till we have cast away our cloak, that is, all lets and impediments which might hinder us from profiting ⟨image 20⟩in our profession.

Mary sitteth to heare the word, as Christ vsed to sit when ¹he preached the word, to shew that the word is to be preached and heard with a quiet minde. In a still night euerie voyce is heard, and when the bodie is quiet the minde most commonly is quiet also. But Martha is troubled with other affaires, and therefore vnfit to heare the word: as the ground that is surcharged with stones, or ouergrowne with weedes ²and thornes, is vnfit to receiue the seede, or yeeld any fruite to him that tilleth it. As often therefore as we come to heare the word of God, we must not come with distracted minds, wee must not trouble our selues with the cares of this life, which (as our Sauiour saith) are thornes to choake the word, and to make it vnfruitefull. For Moses was vnfit to