(5) ' rabl'e nature of the G'ood which fhe haddtofen, and promife the continuance of ir. Concerning Martha, fome expofir'ors run in~o two extreams.' Some think that fbe was an unregenerate worldhng, and favour a · ed only flefhly things, and th~t thefe words of C~rift, defcr.ibe her ftace as one that had not yet made choice ol the one thmg. needful, and the ~etter part. But it is only her prefent a8ion that: Chrifi doth reprehend at'ld cenfure, and not her fiate ; Her en– ter·ra·r.ment of ChriH, and fpeeches to him, a_n~ other p<dfa&e~: give us great probability that fhe was a true dtfctple, a5 after 1t 1s faid that {e/us!ovedher, 'john I I.). · On the other fide One Learned AnnotP!tor thus Paraphrafeth · , the words of Chrifi toMnrtha, [Thou tak._eft agreat durl of una - nectjfary ,; thoughnot culpable pains J; as if Chrifis words were · noreprehenfion of her, nor her courfe blame-worthy. . . But the plain truth lieth between rhefe two· extreams: M•tr.;. ·. th'tt, though moll: probably a true Difciple, was here too blame, . in preferring a lef[er Jury before a greater; and doing ·rhat unfeafonaNy, which in due rime was to be done, and in negle– ~ing an oppornmity for the hearing of Chrifis word ~ which Mllry took. lt was not only blamclefs, but a duty in it felf, ro makeoprovilion for Chrifi and hi5 attendants: but the £hould have been hearing firjf while he was preaching, · . and taken that orportunity for the benefit of her foul : It was no ordinary Preacher that was come under her roof: · His flay was not like to be long; his doctrine concerned her falvation: She knew not whether ever fhe fhouid have the like -opporm– nity again : And therefore fue iliouJd ha·ve rather fiayed- for l1is own diredion, when eo go make provifion for their bodies, , then to have omitted the hearing of his word. But you,l ask perhaps, [when a Sermon and othrr worldly _., . bufimf.r fail rwt at .once; are We 11lwayes bound to ·hear the · Ser· · mon ?] 1 · • I anfwer, No, not ·alwayes: For elfe in great Cities that have ·~ fr~quel'lt preaching, yot:l fhould do nothing t/fe bu~ hear: We : ha.ve a Body ~swell as a Soul; ~nd m'l:lfi .have meetlmployment for -both; and muit make due provifion for both· and muft be · I' • b' t Jervtcea .e ro the boa'i(y wtlf•tr-e of others, and to the corr.~ - mongoo~ .. Our bodily labour~ and remporal employment mufl: .. be, coufCio~ably f9~lo.we.d, , as- well as our_fpiriJual; for ·God :: ~ 3j hath u
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