Prov. 14.14 2 Estimation with God 2. There 's a greater and higher remuneration then this even in the breast and bosome of God himself that good estimation they are of with him they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts Mal. 3.17 All the world is his made preserved governed commanded by him but these are mine to wit in a way of special propriety my peculiar lot my treasure Exo. 19.5 Jer. 51.19 1. Pet. 2.9 my inheritance my jewels my children my spouse my beloved such honour and titles of honour have the Saints especially such as are active for God speaking often one to another 3 Signal advancement 3. God often rewards them even in this life by setting some signal token upon them of his love and favour which the men of the world cannot but take notice of There was a day when they that feared the Lord spake often one to another What that day was Mal. 3.16 or what they said is not clearly expressed but may be probably gathered from the Context and from the History of the Kings Reign in which he prophesied which lay down plainly how the affaires of Church and State were managed under their Reign and his prophesie But when doth God own them in the open face of the World not presently yet hath he a set time when he will appear for them vers 17. That day saith he when I make up my jewels which refers as most interpreters carry it partly at least to this life to wit in the day of his Churches Restauration and Reformation This is one way and one day of Gods making up his jewels in Church reformation when he turns again Zions Captivity when he maketh according to his promise Kings to be nursing Fathers and Queens nursing Mothers to his Israel When he giveth Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning and to his people Pastors after his own heart when purity of Doctrine Worship and discipline is set up and maintained the will and word of Jesus Christ in such a fair day Jewels will glister and sparkle and the Saints and Servants of the living God usually are advanced and become the heads and not the taile Though God seem to neglect his people yet he hath a day a set day wherein he will throughly plead Zions cause which is indeed his own cause Then shall the Lord of Hosts reign in mount Zion and in Jerusadem and before his ancients gloriously Isa 24.23 4 Sparing them 4. Such as speak often one to another God spareth them in his Fatherly indulgence towards them as a man spares his own Son that serves him Spares son and serves go together adoption and sanctification and find indulgence sueh God spares pardoneth their sins Ps 103.13 accepts their services though tainted with many defects and imperfections pittieth them in all their afflictions and temptations supports and delivers them accepts of their good meaning and endeavours the will for the deed 2 Cor. 8.12 and sometimes remarkably spares them in the black and cloudy dayes of publick Calamity by the destroying sword in the hands of Angels or men in pestilences or warre And which notably sets off Gods love the Saints priviledge is that God so eminently sheweth himself on the side and behalf of his people that the ungodly world cannot but take notice thereof to their great admiration astonishment and terrour Mal. 3.18 13.14 15. vers 18. Then shall ye to wit the blasphemers return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not The Prophets retorts their blasphemies upon themselves making them their own judges and condemners therein Whose words were stout against the Lord who said it is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances who call the prond happy c. And thus God convinceth obstinate and rebellious sinners of their stupidity and Frenzies not to their Conversions but to their horrour and amazement and extorts acknowledgments from the worst of men not alone of his Soveraignty but of his wise administrations how that he is a gracious rewarder of the good as also a just and dreadful revenger of sin and sinners Psal 126.12 Thus when the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion they said among the Heathen The Lord hath done great things for them 5 Owning them at death and judgment 5. For the completing of this argument drawn from Gods gracious remuneration of Christian Conference he doth it not onely here but will do it more amply and abundantly hereafter as may be cleared from the words of Christ Beza at Pacet in Loc. Mat. 12.37 By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Justification stands here in opposition to condemnation and to be justified is to be absolved or declared just not to be made just Our words and speeches are the declarations and publications of what lieth latent in our hearts and so are signs and Characters of what we are good or bad as well as our deeds and actions and God hath a book of remembrance as well for what we speak as for what we do And when the book shall be opened Rev. 20.12 and the dead small and great shall stand before God and be judged according to what is written in these books then it will be known to all the world what good Commucations Gods people have had among themselves and that for their honour and renown before God the Angels and their fellow Saints to all eternity God is if I may so express it all-eye to see all the actions of men all eare to heare all the words of men and all hand to register and record all and not alone good works but good words also shall have a gracious recompence and reward of glory Oh that that 's the day Mal. 3.17 when God will make up his jewels those that spake often one to another compleatly fully then indeed the tyde shall turne the Scene Change the case and face of things shall so be altered as that the damned reprobates whilst howling and roaring among the Divels shall discerne little to their comfort much to their horrour between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not To these three arguments exciting to Christian Conference in reference to God his injunction or commanding of it his remunerations and rewards for it let me adde another The fourth Argument which should provoke us to be much in the duty of Christian Conference 4 Gods end in the variety of gifts bestowed is our answering therein Gods great end in his various distribution of gifts and graces to his Children which is that by gracious discourse and holy communication they might mutually impart each to other for their edification and spiritual advantage For the amplification thereof an apter similitude cannot be used then
and savoury Aaron in his ointments going about was as a Pillar or Cloud of perfumes walking leaving a sweet scent and smell behind him such are Christians indeed in their Communications and Conversations in all places and companies into which the hand of Providence leadeth them The other similitude is also very elegant and expressive As the dew of Hermon c. vers 3. The dew on the earth is a refreshing makes it moist soft and fruitfull full such in an higher nobler and more spiritual way is Christian Conference well and wisely managed to hearers who are humble conscientious attentive docil and tractable A second argument moving to Christian Conference 2 Arg. The day of Judgment in relation to the Creed and things to be believed is fairly and strongly deducible from that great and dreadful day of judgment wherein an account must be given as well of words as of actions before that righteous Judge the Lord Jesus Christ who hath foretold us Mat. 12.26 27. that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment for by thy words thou shalt be condemned An idle word is that which in it self hath no tendency to the edification of speaker or hearer to profit men Par. in loc or honour God Christ our great Lord and Master entrusteth men as stewards with much treasure to be laid out for their Masters use part whereof is that of the Tongue and language which certainly he will call men to an account for and if for idle words then surely for reviling bitter and slandering words against the righteous ones his servants and Children Ministers or people Now some ungodly men think that the worst words of their mouths are too good for them calling them hypocrites dissemblers factious seditious traytors rebels and what not sepaking all manner of evil against them falsly or lying and reproachfully Mat. 5.11 But they will be of another mind another day when Christ cometh 1 Pet. 4.14 And behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodily committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude 14.15 By the way observe that what evil is done to or spoken against Christs little ones he looketh upon as done to or spoken against himself but that which is principally to our purpose is that Christ will then convince sinners force them to know and acknowledge that their speeches of and against the righteous were hard speeches and that conviction will be a dreadful and terrible Conviction he will convince them with a witness before all the world convince them with a vengeance convince them by the flames of Hell a dreadful dismal and everlasting conviction indeed but very just and righteous They would not be convinced by the cleare sweet and pleasant light of the word Law or Gospel to their humiliation therefore they shall be convinced by the fire of Hell though to their terrour and confusion As some letters writ with joyce of Lemons or Onions are not legible by common day light but held to the fire and a little scorched are legible enough so sin and guilt in the Consciences of some wretched sinners are never read by the common-light of the word but when their Consciences are held close to the flames of Hell and well scorched then will they nill they their sins and guilt are made clearly legible and visible unto them filling them with everlasting horror with shame and confusion of face for ever O the sad and doleful reckoning that sinners will make before that dreadfull Tribunal and Judgment seat of Jesus Christ for words onely to pass by thoughts and actions then Conscience throughly awaken'd and terrified will be forced to speak and speak out accusing poor lost sinners Imprimis for idle words multitudes multitudes even innumerable Item for lying scoffing slandering defaming words against the Saints of the most high God Item for Cursing Swearing yea blasphemous words against the most High God himself taking his Name in vaine all the day long and each of these by hundreds thousands yea possibly millions O What will the total sum amount unto tremble sinner tremble to imagine To Close up this we read in the parable of Dives and Lazarus Luk. 16.24 That the rich man in Hell complains particularly and especially of his Tongue how that was tormented in the flame An ancient Writer gives this reason his Tongue was that member which most sinned and therefore that had the sharpest torment Thus we see how the bad words of wicked men will be remenbred and repeated to their shame and anguish at the last day and no question the good words of the righteous shall not be forgotten They shall be had in everlasting remembrance Psal 112.6 and their words also as the Prophet testifieth Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another and a book of remembrance was written with him God booked down every word they said O what great encouragement should this give to all that fear God to be much in speaking of God and for God to and with one another What shall the great and glorious good and gracious Lord God Almighty vouchsafe to write down every good word which droppeth from us and shall not our lips drop apace and that as the Hony-comb the sweetest words imaginable tending to the glory of God and good of men did we indeed believe this one truth O how would it set all our Tongues a going how would every one strive who should talke most and speak fastest vying as it were and contending which of us should have the most words in Christs book at the day of his appearance It s unbelief friends it 's unbelief which makes us so Tongue-tied tieth up the strings both of hearts and Tongues Let 's get yea the Lord give us more faith and then we shall be more talkative in a good sense and to good purpose and so God will be more honoured and our neighburs edified we and they shall have more heights of grace here and weights of glory hereafter I will Close up this argument with Johns Vision Rev. 20.12 I saw the dead saith he small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works Alluding I suppose to the manner of judiciarie proceedings by Judges who have depositions upon record Judge according to the Laws of the Land and matters of fact cleared to them by allegations and proofs this still remembring God needeth none of these records or books but condescending to our capacities he is pleased to speak of himself after the manner of men What the books are that shall be opened is not
2.34 He is set for the fall and for the rising again of many in Israel Rom. 9.2 Though the children of Israel be as the sand of the Sea yet a remnant onely shall be saved Str. I shall never be beaten off from it but that Christ dyed for me as well as others Min. Friend but what if Christ did not dye for you Your conceit that he did dye for you will not serve your turn can you be saved by believing that which is not true that 's but the presumption and vain confidence which you have no ground for for ought I can perceive by you Stranger Sir you are the strangest man that ever I met with in my life you tell me that to believe that Christ dyed for sinners will not save me and that to believe that Christ dyed for me in particular will not save me I pray for God's sake tell me what 's that faith which will save me Minister Friend it 's true I am a stranger to you but what I have spoken to you is nothing but the truth and the way the onely way to be saved is by faith true faith in Jesus Christ Str. Sir what 's that you call true faith whereby we are joined to Christ justified and saved Min. Friend I 'll tell you it 's not a believing that Christ dyed for sinners for that the Devils do it 's not a believing that Christ dyed for me in particular for that 1. Multitudes of ungodly men and reprobates do and may do in a way of presumption and 2. Many a doubting Believer wanting assurance dare not say I believe that Christ dyed for me in particular now that conceit or presumption which an ungodly man may have and a godly man may want can't possibly be that faith which is justifying and saving Stranger Pray what is it then Minister Faith is Friend a receiving of Christ as God the Father offers him in the Gospel as our King to rule us our Prophet to teach us as well as our Priest who made satisfaction and now makes intercession for us it is also out of a sense of our lost estate in our selves a resting on him alone for salvation John 1.12 As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Str. Why Sir do not I do all this Min. Friend I fear not for had you taken Christ as your King you would not dare to allow your self in sinful courses as Swearing and the like which you cannot deny but you are deeply guilty of had you taken Christ as a Prophet you would have been taught by Him by his Word and Spirit and have gotten some knowledge at least in these principles and fundamentals of Christianity Had you rested upon Christ alone for salvation you would not have told me as you did even now that you hoped to be saved by your serving God your good prayers and the like not mentioning a word of Jesus Christ which makes me fear that as yet you are a meer stranger to Christ and faith in Christ Stranger Sir you say enough to make me despair and drive me out of my wits Min. Friend Despairing Yea that 's it I would have I 'd have you to despair in your self that so you might come to believe and hope aright in Jesus Christ And whereas you speak of driving you out of your wits no Friend I would onely drive you out of your sins your vain presumptions and carnal confidences a man is never indeed in his right wits never comes to himself as the Prodigal did Luk. 15.7 till he repents and believeth aright in Jesus Christ Stranger Sir what would you have me to do Minister This is a good question indeed were you pricked in the heart as those Acts. 2.37 were you truly and throughly sensible of sin and misery were you troubled in mind but then you must unsay what you said before that you never in your life questioned your spiritual estate and that you have been alwayes of a strong faith towards God c. Str. Sir what if it should be so with me what if I should be troubled Min. I 'll tell you Friend what you should do and what you will certainly do if through the rich grace of God to you your troubles be in order to conversion and salvation Str. What I pray Sir Min. Friend were you troubled indeed to some good purpose you would put two questions to your self What have I done And what shall I do to be saved What have I done look backward upon the former part of your life with shame and sorrow for what you have done with an unfeigned purpose of heart of turning unto God as David saith Psal 119.59 I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies And Jer. 8.6 No man repented him of his wickedness saying What have I done Stranger Sir for that other question What shall I do what will that put me upon Minister Friend this question What shall I do looks forward and if it be in earnest will put you upon sollicitous and careful thoughts how you may get out of that state of sin and misery which you find your self intangled and involved in will put you upon going to good Ministers and experienced Christians inquiring of them the way to be saved will put you upon searching the Scriptures and the reading good Books upon casting off your old company and acquainting your self with the people of God whom before you hated and cared not for upon secret and earnest prayer to God according to your spiritual wants and necessities will indeed make you to be a new creature Stranger Well Sir I see then when all is done I must mend my life and become a new man Minister Friend you have said well hold there but do you think by your mending your life and becoming a new man to satisfie God for what 's past and that your good deeds shall make amends for your bad Str. I hope so Sir Min. See how you have forgot what even now I told you no Friend satisfaction for what is past or what is to come is made to God the Father onely by Jesus Christ by what he hath done and suffer'd not by any thing we can do or suffer When we have done all we must say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Luke 17.10 Str. But Sir how shall I come to have all this you speak of any part and share in the satisfaction made by Christ and how shall I become a new creature Minister Friend this is a good question I like it very well and will tell you how 1. You must know and acknowledge that you can do nothing of your self by your own strength neither believe nor repent or the like 2. You must by faith relie upon Christ and Christ alone who hath fulfilled the Law satisfied his Fathers justice and and paid the uttermost
we inflame it in our selves by comforting others under their various temptations we gather experiences whereby we may comfort our selves in the like trials As the widows Cruse of Oyl and barrel of meale wasted not by emptying but filled rather And the milke in the Mothers breasts which by giving suck to the Child continually increaseth and not drawn out drieth up the sooner Let 's lay out our parts and gifts as opportunity is offered sincerely for God and to be sure we shall be furnished with gifts and parts graciously from God Parents do not use to let their Children want books whilst they have a mind to learn nor Masters their servants to want Tools or lights whilst they are willing to work nor doth the husbandman tilling his ground let his seeds-men want Corne when he seeth they will well and wisely sow and scatter it Thus Christian Conference is not alone beneficial to others but to our selves a great augmenter of parts and gifts I 'le give you for the Confirmation hereof an example of two Women to tell you their names and the places where they lived and died is needless both well in years I think forty at least before they began to mind to purpose the affairs of their souls and the concernments of Eternity both were deeply sensible of their gross ignorance and highly desirous to get knowledge in the things of God neither of them could read at all both were industrious one her eyes being pretty good learned to read the other being weak and dim sighted could not but she also so bestir'd her self in hearing Meditation Prayer and abundantly in Christian Conference putting questions to every one she met with whom she thought able and willing to instruct her that she grew eminent for such an one she was poor also in the knowledge and practice of Christianity and I hope are both long since with God 2 2. To the heart 2. Christian Conference is not onely profitable for the head by augmentation of parts but for the heart also by the communication of spiritual good things the best things to the best part the heart of man and it 's usual with God to bless Christian Conference especially where the hearts of speakers do design his glory the edification and salvation of the hearers Paul's holy temper design and practice 1 Cor. 10.33 I please saith he all men in all things not seeking my own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved and his counsel 1 Cor. 14.12 For as much as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts seek that ye may excell to the edifying of the Church If the question be made what spiritual gifts may be communicated by Conference I 'de answer what not the ignorant may be inlightned the erronious reduced weak Christians may be strengthned and the strong established the worst of sinners may be converted and the best of Saints quickned and all edifyed and saved Take each of these particulars distinctly 1 1. Ignorant inlightned 1. That the ignorant may be inlightned is as clear as the Sunrising turnes the night into day The word of God not alone preached by ministers in office ordain'd and commissionated by Christ to that end but read and discoursed of by private persons may and doth make wise the simple Psal 19.7 The entrance of thy words to wit when it first openeth the door of the understanding it giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple Psal 119.130 Pauls preaching to the Gentiles was to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light Act. 26.18 The daily experience that Godly Parents and governours of families have as to their Children and Servants brought out of darkness worse then that of Egypt into a Goshen where light abounds and in them abounds and that conveighed by Catechizing and 〈…〉 2 2. Erroneous reduced 2. For the reduction of erroneous persons into ways of truth scarce any means more efficacious and successful then that of Christian Conference for thereby the grounds of mistakes in opinions are detected and the scruples and doubts lying in mens spirits are discovered and so answers from Scripture and right reason may be presently pertinently and warmly applyed That of the Apostle speaks methink fully to the purpose Jam. 5.19 20. Bretheren if any of you do erre from the truth and one Convert him Let him know that he which converts a sinner from the errour of his ways shall save a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sins Wherein we may observe as to our point in hand whom he speaks to Brethren even all whom he wrote to so that to reduce the erroneous in away of fraternal correption is a duty belonging to all none exempted brotherly love constraineth hereunto for if I must bring back the straying Ox or Ass of my enemy Exo. 23.4 much more the wandring soul of my brother Again what errours are here to be understood no doubt saith a learned Expositor errours in Doctrine Mars in Plo. and matters of Faith and those fundamentall errours also which are in a special manner destructive and bring death eternal death unavoidably and therefore it is said that he which converts him shall save a soule from death that is from Hell and damnation Now every petty errour about Scholastick subtilties is not so severely threatned as fundamental errours and heresies are which take off from Christ directly or indirectly such unrepented of bring inevitable ruin and destruction Yet I must grant though errours in Doctrine be principally intended yet errours in life and practice are not to be at all excused no not the least sin for the least sin deserveth death eternal death as wages due to it Ro. 6.23 But how doth he that Converts a sinner save his soule from death not by meriting or deserving life for him or by giving life to him but by being an instrument or means under God to repentance and so into the way of Salvation And lastly how doth he hide a multitude of sins that he doth by being a means to bring him to Christ for Righteousness whose Righteousness alone imputed to us and so made ours doth or can hide our sins so as they shall never be imputed to us or charged upon us Jer. 23.6 2 Cor. 5.21 Rom. 5.19 1 Cor. 1.30 And surely this work of converting sinners from their errours of saving soules from death and of hiding a multitude of sins is a gallant work this piece of service is high and noble service and this hath been is and may be done by the blessing of God in a way of Christian converse and Conference I need not give any farther confirmation by Scripture the constant experience not alone of Ministers but or private Christians who themselves have been sound in the Faith and whose hearts filled with a zeal for God and with love to and compassion for their erring brethren and who thereupon have laid out themselves much in Christian
how shall this be helped he answereth but exhorting one another c. Christian Conference well ordered is an excellent preservative of truth and peace in the Church or Churches of Christ and good talke be it Table-talke or High-way talk hath been is and by the blessing of a gracious God will be as a golden Pipe of Conveyance of much spiritual good from one to another until time run up into Eternity and grace into glory Having somewhat largly discovered the profitableness of Christian Conference in that thereby believers abundantly Communicate spiritual good things one to another let me add 3 Arg. It 's peaceableness 3. It 's peaceableness It 's a teeming Mother bringing forth peace at home and abroad within doores and without 1 Peace at home 1. Peace at home Christian Conference is attended usually with sweet inward peace and an heavenly tranquillity of spirit I appeal to your Consciences herein When you lie down in an evening and reflect upon your selves look inward and make inquiry what have the thoughts of my heart the words of my mouth and the actions of my hands been this day as I presume they who keep their watch do and some Heathens by Natures light have done when you find your language and discourse hath been to this person or that holy and spirituall and that upon this design to edifie and minister grace to the hearers surely the fruit thereof hath been a Calme in thy soule and serenity in thy spirits Peace also not alone at the end of each day but at the end of life It was a chearing a reviving Cordial to that good King Hezekiah when he lay as he thought a dying to be able to say Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I walked before thee in truth Isa 38.1 2 3. And so to be able to say and that from the heart sincerely Remember O Lord how I have talked before thee and for thee in thy despised truths ordinances and Ministers how I have in discourse at least and by example also contended for thy holy Sabboths so profaned by a sinfull generation and in brief I have as all sanctified ones and called of God are exhorted earnestly contended for the faith or doctrine of faith once delivered to the saints Jude v. 3. The word is emphaticall and imports such eagerness in contention as is among wrestlers and racers striving for victory Remember O Lord how I have contended with thee by Faith in Prayer for that faith the true Christian faith by thee delivered and how I have contended with erronious persons and Hereticks by arguments an by practice bearing up those truths and ordinances which they pull down surely the remembrance hereof when we go to bed night after night or when we are going to make our beds in the durst to be no more seen will speak much peace and comfort to us And the reason hereof is strong and weighty because good conference if right in the spring flowing from an heart fired with zeal for God and love to my neighbour and right in the ends it designes Gods glory and the good of the hearers is a cleare evidence of a good and gracious heart and grace makes way for peace as the needle for the thred so that those who much lay out themselves in Christian Conference have or may expect to have yea be sure first or last shall have much inward peace and tranquility of spirit Who would not sow good seed when he knows it will grow who would not be scattering words of grace when he knoweth that every such word hath a seed of peace yea of eternal peace in it 2. 2 Peace abroad Christian Conefrence not onely brings forth inward peace and quiet in our breasts and bosomes but also outward peace with men and safety in all places and companies whatever Set you on foot good discourse or run it on and whoever is present there 's no great danger unless it be of a taunt or flout from a prophane Esau or a scoffing Ishmael and that a good honest soul may weare as a Crown of honour as Job speaks of himself Job 31.35 36. My desire is that my adversary had written a book surely I would take it upon my shoulder and bind it as a Crown to me Vpon my shoulder not as a burden but as an honour as standard-bearers carry their ensignes and colours that all may see them Tongue-persecution such as Ismael's was of Isaac breaks no bones but brings under the blessing of God and the promise of a great reward Gal. 4.29 Gen. 21.9 Mat. 5.11 12. No no the danger in discourse is not whilest we are talking of God or of Christ or of the Spirit or of regeneration and the like but the danger comes when you begin to talk of persons this body or that either highly and hyperbolically praising one and that smells of flattery and is possibly by some who are present so accounted or dispraising another and that 's presently suspected of uncharitableness if not of malice The danger is farther heightned when in your discourse course you 'l needs be medling with Authority and State-affairs how soon then may the Tongue be found tripping and you thereby but trip up your own heels and catch a fall possibly such a fall as may break your bones if not your neck So the wisest of Kings tels us Pro. 13.3 21 23. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction Wherein he seemeth to compare man to a City besieged with enemies round about the safety whereof consisteth much in the well ordering the gates duly and wisely opening and shutting them Man is this City his mouth the gate prudently open'd by speech or shut by silence is his protection and safety negligence and imprudence therein oft proves his ruin and destruction That natural principle of self-love should make this argument from self-preservation and safety to be of force and prevalency with us The better and more spiritual our discourses and conferences are the more 's our safety It concernes us at all times to weigh our words well but especially when the company we are in is bad or somewhat dubious and to be suspected Ps 39.1 Thus holy David I said I will take heed to my ways that I sinne not with my Tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle or a Muzzle while the wicked is before me To conclude this Argument Ainsw I have heard of a Sect called Trapanners unknown I presume to our honest Forefathers both name and thing men skilful and active to intangle and ensnare others in their talke I would hope that they are now dead and gone but if hundreds of them should be yet alive and with you and me in a room and hear us discoursing of nothing but faith repentance love and good works and the like methinks we need not much to fear them innocence would be our protection
fully agreed upon some think the Books of the Old and New Testament wherein God hath prescribed what was to be done by men and what not to be done and that because the Apostle saith Rom. 2.16 In that day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Others by the books understand the Consciences of men which shall then be fully opened and the secrets of all hearts be revealed so that none shall be able to complain of injury done him or injustice in God Because every mans Conscience shall excuse or accuse absolve or condemn him and give him clear and full information whether he did indeed or did not believe in Jesus Christ Faith in Jesus Christ being the only condition of the New-Covenant Mar. 16.16 He that believeth shall be saved he that believeth not shall he damned To preach this is to preach the Gospel Which of these two Books shall be opened I dare not determine why not both Scriptures and Consciences but there 's ' mention of another book to be opened which is expresly called The Booke of Life to wit in which God from Eternity hath written the names of those who shall be saved by Jesus Christ which is frequently spoken of in the Revelations Rev. 3.5.13.8 chap. 17.8 Not that God needs or hath a Book it would be simplicity and blasphemy to fancy it but it is so expressed after the manner of men to shew the certainty of Predestination immutability of Election and the Infallibility of the Salvation of Gods Elect. But I forget what I have in hand Can we rationally immagine that when the book of Conscience is opened words will not he as legible as works yea not only works and words but thoughts also and every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil wherein Scripture is so express Eccl. 12.14 2 Cor. 5.10 O let us remember and lay to heart that at the last day it will be known to all the world what good Communication the Saints have had and what bad the sinners it 's matter of Consolation to the one but of Terror to the others Let us all fear and tremble before this great and glorious Lord our God who taketh most exact notice of every word we speak and will no question call us to an account for what good or hurt we have done by our words and communications as well as by our works and actions let this be as a bitt orbridle in out mouths to curb and restraine us from vaine and sinful language and yet be as a spur in our sides to put on quicken and mend out pace in holy heavenly and Christian Conference I have been much larger than I intended yet I would well hope not too large in arguing for the advance and increase of Christian Conference amongst such as profess Christianitie Let my closing Argument be drawn from the vulgar example Lust Arg. vulgar practice and popular practice of the men of this World in their several ways and imployments how they manage and promote their affairs by discoursing and conferring together The Merchants on the Exchange how do their Tongues run by Sea and Land to the Indies East and West to both the Poles North and South yea all the world over where any thing is to be got by trade and merchandize and shall not Christians who if Christians indeed are wise Merchants speak freely and rejoycingly of the goodly Pearls which they have bought Mat. 13.45 46. and of that Pearl of great price Jesus Christ which they have have found through grace and mercie and of their spiritual merchandize better than that of Gold and Silver shall your Heirs to Nobles and Princes talke and love to talke of what is theirs in reversion of Earledomes Dukedomes Crowns and Kingdomes and shall not Christians discourse and love to discourse of what is theirs in reversion of Crowns of Glory of that heavenly Kingdome how they bring Children are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ Rom. 8.17 and of their inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for them 1 Pet. 1.4 This is to have our Conversation in heaven Phil. 3.20 For heavenly Communication is usually a fruit of heavenly Meditations and affections and the language of Canaan if not forced and hypocritical is a Comfortable evidence of our interest in that Celestial Canaan and heavenly Jerusalem which is above Again shall Countrymen in a strange place delight to be speaking of their native soile their Fathers house the good Company and Society there 1 Pet. 2.21 and shall not believers who are strangers and Pilgrims here delight to be speaking of Heaven willingly and readily with a kind of supernatural naturalness as being their native Country because born from above Joh. 3.3 Heaven born delight to be speaking of their Fathers house where are many mansions Joh. 14.2 and of that sweet invaluable sweet society of Saints and Angels yea of Jesus Christ himself which they shall then and there enjoy and that for ever we know fellow-travellers love to be talking of their way making that sure that they are right Jer. 50.4 5. and shall not Christians who are journying together with their faces Zion-ward Joh. 14.6 going though possibly weeping as they go talke of Christ the way Heb. 12.14 and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord 2 Cor. 13.5 Make Christ sure that they are in Christ and Christ in them making their Callings and Elections sure giving all diligence thereunto 2 Pet. 1.10 Surely it is all the reason in the World that they should be much in thinking and much in speaking of such high such holy and happy things as these are None is ignorant how good Yeomen Farmers and Husbandmen when they meet at Markets or Faires at home or in the Fields delight to discourse it about grounds good or bad the best seed seedmen and seedtime about weeding their Corne in due time casting out the Cockel and darnel burning the twich and when harvest comes O how they work it with both hands and their Tongues are going as fast as their hands in talking laughing whistling and singing and when it is harvest home with them O what shoutings and acclamations what hooping and hollowings so loud and shrill as that the Hills and Dales ring again and Eccho it unto them and to make up the Solemnities of their joy the Horns are winded trumpets sounded yea the fidlers also are sometimes playing with boyes and girles dancing And when harvest is come home the grain housed then the same husbandmen will be talking as fast as ever touching their threshing fanning sifting and so forth and their skill and wisedome in managing these their affairs is the gift of God as the Prophet plainly and fully acknowledgeth speaking of the Plowmans plowing all day Isa 28.24 25 26 27 28 29. his Casting abroad the fitches and scattering the Cummin his ordering