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occupied about our calling to get our living;
but it is better to be occupied in hearing
the word, which is able to save our souls.
As the head and the foot are both needful
to the body, so Mary and Martha are both
needful in a commonwealth. Man hath
two vocations, the one carthly by his la-
bour, the other heavenly by his prayer. -
There is the active life, which consisteth
only in practising the affairs of this life,
wherein man shews himself to be like unto
himself, which is an earthly man, caring
for earthly things; and there is the con-
templative life, which consisteth in the
meditation of heavenly things, wherein
man shows himself to be like to the angels,
for they who labour in their temporal vo-
cations do but live like men; but they who
labour in spiritual matters, live like angels.
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, ei-
ther 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
