A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

What say you now? do we not fall much short of those that we should imitate, rather then do too much in preaching? But what need we more then the text it self, where for hearing, Mary is so commended, and her sister blamed for neglecting it, though it was to make provision for Christ himself and those that were with him? Acts 20. 7. [And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them, being to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight.] Jam. 1. 19. [Let every one be swift to hear.] Rev. 2. 7. &c. [He that hath ear, let him hear.] Luke 8. 21. [Jesus said, My mother and my brethren are those which hear the Word of God and do it.] I hope you see this duty is past question.

2. Is it the reading of the Scripture that is the Puritanism or too much ado that you blame? Or is it the frequent meditating on such high and holy things? Hear what the Spirit saith of this: Psalm 1. 1, 2. [Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law doth he meditate day and night—The ungodly are not so.—] Psalm 119. 97. [O how I love thy Law! it is my meditation all the day.] 99. [Thy testimonies are my meditation.] v. 148. [Mine eyes prevented the night watches, that I might meditate on thy Word.]. Job 23. 12. [I have esteemed the words of his mouth more then my necessary food.] Psalm 119. 72. [The Law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of gold and silver.]