ftrengthen our own feeble endeavours with heavenly aid. But a pure devotion is one of the last great attainments of a religious life; and he who has gained this point; who has his converfation in hea ven, has unquestionably his thoughts in due order likewife. That we all may attain this ftate of perfectionand keep our thoughts ftill furely fixed, where true joys are to be found, may God, of his infinite mercy grant, through Christ Jesus our Lord! SERMON XLIII. LUKE, X. 41. MARTHA, MARTHA, THOU ART CAREFUL, AND TROUBLED ABOUT MANY THINGS: BUT ONE THING IS NEEDFUL. OUR bleffed Saviour, in paffing through a part of Judea, called for refreshment at the house of two fifters, whose names were Martha, and Mary. Tho' both these women were pious, and well-difpofed; they were yet of different tempers. Mary's religion was more purified, than her fifter's. Her thoughts were engaged chiefly by the things of the next world. She had little concern for this. Her foul was her principal care. If she could pass quietly through life, it was all fhe defired. She did not expect her happiness from it but confidered the things of this world only as the means of gaining a better. Martha, pious, and well-difpofed as fhe was, had not yet attained this purified state. Martha thought much of heaven, no doubt, and of her religion but she thought not a little about the things of the world alfo; and by no means confidered them in that very negligent light, in which her fifter confidered them. In fhort, Mary's religion was the religion of the early times of chriftianity, in which fhe lived. Martha's, was more the religion of these days. The gofpel, and the world went amicably hand in hand together.. To thefe different characters, their behaviour to their bleffed guest was conformable. Mary, who thought he had now an opportunity, which fhe might not foon have again, of hearing the difcourfes of the bleffed Jefus, and concluding from her own feelings, how indifferent he was to any thing more than a bare fupply of the neceffaries of life, difengaged herself entirely from the bufinefs of the houfe, fat at Jefus's feet; and liftened to his heavenly inftruction. Martha, with an endeavour (not perhaps wholly blameable) to pay all the honour, and respect she could to her bleffed gueft in her way, totally neglected all confideration of herself; and began with great affiduity to prepare the best entertainment fhe she was able. This was a different attention, it is true, from what her holy guest required; yet ftill it was that attention which fhe thought most respectful and feeing her fifter fitting perfectly compofed, fhe could not help applying, fomewhat in the way of a complaint, to Jefus, "Lord doft thou not care that my fifter hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore, that he come, and help me." Jefus with great mildness answered in the words of the text; Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful. Every word of our Saviour's anfwer to this wellmeaning, but mistaken woman, is inftructive. In the following discourse therefore I fhall confider the inftruction it conveys in the natural order, as it arises. Our Saviour, who knew what was in man, gave this instruction, not only as suited to Martha's particular cafe; but to the case of all others, who are too much addicted to worldly matters. He first forbids her to be careful and troubled. If our Saviour meant to give us two ideas by these two words, the former may apply perhaps most properly to the prefent, the latter to the future. Martha P 3 Martha was careful, that every thing might be done, that was proper in the prefent cafe-and troubled left any thing fhould be left undone, for want of affiftance.-Let us extend the advice into more general use. Under the cenfure of being careful, all thofe immediately fall, who are continually distreffing themselves about fuch merely accidental circumftances in life, as, in fome fhape, are always happening. Every little matter that goes wrong, disturbs them-throws them into diforder-frets their temper and makes them troublesome to themselves, and others. But now confider, my friend; these things, which fo much distress you, are, in the first place, often mere trifles. In a day, or two, perhaps in an hour or two, they are gone-they draw no confequences. after them-their effect is over-and things go on as fmoothly as before. This is truly the character of the generality of thofe little events, which fo often disturb the repose of such as are too careful about the things of the world. Then again, confider the folly of this distress, which you are continually giving yourself. It answers no end. Prevent fuch accidents, if can but as your prudence is limited-and as . you these |