[ 1390] Blessednesse of the Poor in spirit in the matter of Hearing Gods Word.
IT is fabled,* 1.1 that when Iuno on a day had proclaimed a great Reward to him that brought her the best present; there came in a Physitian, a Poet, a Mer∣chant, a Philosopher, and a Beggar; The Physitian presented a hidden secret of Nature, a prescript able to make an old Man young again: The Poet, an En∣comiastick Ode of her bird, the Peacock; The Merchant, a rare hallow Iewell to hang at her ear: The Philosopher, a book of strange Mysteries, The poor qua∣king Beggar, onely a bended knee, saying; I have nothing that is worth acceptance, Accipe meipsum,* 1.2 Take my self. Thus it is, that many come unto God in the hearing of his Word with prescripts of their own; they have receipts enow alrea∣dy, they care for no more: Others like the Poet, come to admire Peacocks, the gawdy Popinjayes and Fashionists of the time, all to be dawb'd with gold and silver Feathers; Others like the Merchant present Jewels, but they are hallow, they come with criticall or hypocritical humours, like Carps to bite the net, and wound the Fisher, not to be taken; Some like the Philosopher, bring a book with them which they read, without minding the Preacher, saying; They can find more Learning there then he can teach them: But blessed are the poor in spirit, that like the Beggar give themselves to God, Iuno gave the reward to him, and God gives the blessing to these.* 1.3 It is a poor Reverently devoted heart that car∣ries away the comfort, Godlinesse in the humble dust of adoration, that shall be lifted up by the hand of Mercy.