ONE THOUSAND FAMOUS THINGS 163

What kind of preacher is he ? said she.

Martha replied, It is one Jesus of Nazareth ; he is the handsomest
man that ever you saw with your eyes. Oh ! he shines in beauty,
and is a most excellent preacher.

Now what does Mary, after a little pause, but goes up into her
chamber, and with her pins and her clothes decks up herself as fine
as her fingers could make her. This done, away she goes, not with
her sister Martha but as much unobserved as she could, to the
sermon, or rather to see the preacher. So he comes in, and she
looks, and the first glimpse pleased her. Well, Jesus addresseth
himself to Ms sermon, and she looks earnestly on him.

Now at that time, saith my author, Jesus preached about the Lost
Sheep, the Lost Groat, and the Prodigal Son. When he came to
show what care the shepherd took for one lost sheep, and how the
woman swept to find her piece which was lost, and what joy there
was at their finding, Mary began to be taken by the ears, and forgot
what she came about, musing what the preacher would make of it.
But when he came to the application, and showed that by the lost
sheep was meant a great sinner, that by the shepherd's care was
meant God's love for great sinners, and that by the joy of the neigh-
bours was showed what joy there was among the angels in heaven
over one great sinner that repenteth, she began to be taken by the
heart. As he spake these last words she thought he pitched Ms
innocent eyes just upon her, and looked as if he spake what was
now said to her, wherefore her heart began to tremble, being shaken
with affection and fear. Then her eyes ran down with tears apace,
wherefore she was forced to hide her face with her handkerchief,
and so sat sobbing and crying all the rest of the sermon.

Sermon being done, up she gets and away she goes, and withal
enquired where this Jesus the preacher dined that day ? One told
her at the house of Simon the Pharisee, so away goes she, first to
her chamber, and there strips herself of her wanton attire; then
falls upon her knees to ask God forgiveness for all her wicked life.

This done, in a modest dress she goes to Simon's house, where
she finds Jesus sat at dinner. So she gets behind him, and weeps,
and drops her tears upon his feet like rain, and washes them, and
wipes them with the hair of her head. She also kissed his feet with
her lips and anointed them with ointment . . . And he said unto
her, Thy sins are forgiven. John Bunyan

i

To the Death
DO not agree with a word that you say, but I will defend to the
death your right to say it. Voltaire