John Welch

“ Amongst us, if there be any that be more forward in religion than others be, or more diligent to hear the word, as Mary was, they shall not want some one or other to censure them at their pleasure; yea, to find fault, and also condemn them for so doing. Yet are not the godly hereby to be discouraged, or to desist from their godly exercise the templative life, which consisteth in the meditation of heavenly things wherein man fhews himself to be like to the angels, for they who labour in their temporal vocations do but live like men; but they who labour in spiritual matters, live like angels. ”

“ If we should be invited to some man's table, and kindly entertained thereat, it would be unkindly taken, if we should find fault with any misorder: But for as much as all Christ's actions are the only instructions of christians, therefore every christian man, but especially preacher, to whom it more particularly appertaineth, must learn by this example, how to behave themselves when they are invited to great feasts, namely to speak to the conscience freely, when they shall see a fault. ”

“ If we make choice of any other thing besides, it must be taken from us, or we must be taken from it : But if we make choice of this one thing, it shall never be taken from us, neither in this life nor the life to come. ”

“ When they hear the word, they hear God speaking unto them, but when they pray, God hears them speaking to him; so that there is a continual conference betwixt God and them that are thus exercised, either in hearing, or yet in praying. Christ loves Martha for hospitality, as Isaac loved Esau for his venison, and the Lord loves Mary for her care and diligence in hearing his word: as Rebecca loved Jacob for the hearkening to her voice. ”

“ And for as much as many things are so troublesome, and one thing is so needful, let us ever be seeking that needful thing, even the end of all things, that is to learn to fear God, and to strive continually to keep his commandments. ”

“ When our minds are quiet, we are fit to deal in heavenly matters: therefore the doctors conferred sitting in the temple, and God delighteth to deal with us when we are most private! He appeared to Abraham sitting in the door of his tent Gen. xviii.; the Holy Ghost, came down upon the apostles, and filled all the 'house where they were sitting;' the eunuch, sitting in his chariot was called and converted, by the preaching of Philip, Acts viii. 27. Mary sat at Jesus' feet, yet she sat not sleeping as many sit at the preacher's feet; but she sat at Christ's feet, and heard his words ”

“ If Paul answer discreetly for himself, he shall be charged to be mad with over-much learning; yea, if our Saviour Christ himself frequent the company of sinners, to welcome them from sin, they will not stand to call him a fiend and companion of publicans and sinners. ”

“ What a comfortable thing is it to be godly, and to the godly that the King of kings will take their part, and will not suffer them to sustain any wrong. He is a most pure and trusty friend, that will not abide his friend to be backbitten or evil spoken of, but either he will answer in their defence, or he will find some means to stop their mouths, and restrain the slanderous tongues of their enemies: As sometimes he stopped Balaam's passage when he went to curse his people, and caused the dumb ass to speak, Numb. ”

“ The five foolish virgins, Marth. xxv. wasted their oil to no purpose, and when they went to buy, they were excluded the marriage; and these foolish men spend their time and day of grace, vainly and wantonly, as tho' after this life, there were no time of justice and vengeance to be feared. The day serveth for their pride, the night is spent in sport and pleasure, and no time is left to hear the word. When we are praying, they are playing; when we are preaching, they are eating and drinking, like the old world, that ate and drank, Gen vi. ”

“ And as Baal's priests, 2 Kings xxi. wounded themselves to serve their idols; so these men took dangerous counsel, and strangely troubled themselves to serve the devil. Now Martha findeth herself grieved, and beginneth to envy her sister's exercise, as Joseph's brethren envied him for his dreams, Gen xxxvii and the sons of Jesse, who disdained their brother David, for his forwardness to combat with Goliah, I Sam. xv. These two sisters that in other things agreed so well together, in this do so much differ, that Christ must have the hearing of the matter before him, and decide the controversy. ”

“ The Lord cannot abide to hear his servants evil spoken of but is always ready to maintain their right, and to answer for them : He will not suffer Laban to speak one evil word to his servant Jacob, Gen. ”