to the Palat loathsome to the stomack and hurtfull to the body so unsavory talke is lothsome to God and good men and of it self hurtful to the soules of all the hearers It corrupts the head with errors the heart with vile affections and the life with sinful practises 1 Cor. 15.33 Be not deceived evil communication corrupts good manners It seems we are apt to be deceived herein therefore the Spirit prefaceth thus Be not deceived Positively but that which is good c. and hath a tendency for good to the heads hearts lives and Conversations of the hearers in it's own nature and our designe for the advance of knowledg and grace in heads and hearts holiness and righteousness in the life and conversation of others To the same purpose command is given to the Colossians Col. 4.6 Let your speech be alway with grace Learned Davenant on the place seasoned with salt As Salt is a preservative against putrefaction so is gracious speech against errors and sins in the heads hearts and lives of the hearers Salt on meats draweth out drieth up some think noxious humors and renders them more apt for digestion and wholsome for nourishment This grace in speech is that pious prudence flowing from the Spirit of God which sanctifieth first the heart and then guides and directs the Tongue and words and makes them sound and solid suitable and seasonable to the Cases and Conditions of others with whom we converse Remember salt must be rubbed in thrust into holes and corners so speech must be set on with life and warmth by the speaker But what must our speech in reference to Children also be with grace and seasoned with salt yea why not to Children so farre as they are subjects capable and recipient of what is spiritual and good What though the understandings and memories of Children be little narrow vessels yet they are every day growing bigger and wider and they are vessels of God's making and therefore good and for good ends and purposes and if parents and friends do not labour to fill these small vessels and to season them with the good liquor of Divine and wholsome truths the Devil and his Instruments wicked ones will bestir themselves to drop store great I can't say good store of venome and poison into them possibly for the tainting sowring and infecting them as long as they live It 's God's command that Parents do bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Eph. 6.4 To bring up that 's natural even the beasts of the field and fowles of the aire bring up feed their young and cherish them In the Nurture that moral and rational men as men if prudent will doe they keep their Children in awe and order therefore the Apostle adds and admonition of the Lord that 's Christian and spiritual Christians indeed will instruct their Children in the Principles of Religion will put good things into their minds as the word imports so farr and so fast as their capacities will take in and their memories retain If any demand what Children at what age must they be instructed All the answer that I will give is this the Original word is large and Comprehensive takes in all that be born and why should I straiten or narrow it Common reason will suggest that the Childs capacity must be the parents guide and rule therein nor is this the taking the Name of God in vain as some ridiculously may fancy it 2 Arg. God taketh delight therein 2. Argument for the promoting of holy conference among Christians is that the Lord our God takes much delight to speak of him as he speaks of himself after the manner of men in a gracious condescension to our weakness and pleasure in the spiritual and heavenly communications of his people And this argument depends as a consequent upon the former Gods command Parents are never better pleased with their Children nor masters with servants then when they are upon the work injoyn'd them to do Yea each glorious person in the God head Father Son and Holy Ghost seem to be much taken with the good language of his people when met together 1 The Father Mal. 3.16 1. The Father himself loves and likes it and takes special notice of it as in the days of Malachi Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought on his name Mal. 3.16 Then in Malachi's days which were none of the best as his Prophecy declares In that it is said The Lord hearkened and heared is implied a kind of delight and complacency which he found therein as men listen to Musick vocal or instrumental which is melodious and harmonious Again in that A book of remembrance is written it imports Gods taking delight in the words of his people as men addicted to learning what they read and hear which they take delight and pleasure in they 'l book it down for after use as occasion shall serve And probably this place is an allusion to Kings and Princes who have their State-Scribes and Secretaries to make Records as of bad services done against them so of good services done to them and for them as Ahasuerus did Mordecai's Esth 6.1 There 's not a word spoken for God his truth ordinances day his ministers or people that shall fall to the ground and be lost for God hath an Ear to hear all and an hand to register and record all so that all will be upon the account of believers with Comfort in life and death at judgment and to eternity 2 The Son 2. God the Son our dear Lord Jesus Christ holy conference to him is welcome and very acceptable What Christ said to his Church concerning her voice in prayer and praises is true also concerning her voice in holy speech and Conference O my dove let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice Can. 2.14 and 4.3 11. And if Christ had not found much content in conferring with Company why did he the very same day in which he rose again from the dead associate himself and that by choice with the two disciples going to Emmans he knew full well they were ingaged in good discourse and whiles they were communing Jesus himself drew near and went with them Luk. 24.15 And to shew how he liked their company and approved their discourse he gave them signal tokens of his love towards them vers 27. He beginning at Moses and all the Prophets expounded to them in all the Scripture the things concerning himself vers 32. the best Divinity Lecture or exposition that ever was made or heard unless such another made by himself Yea he spake to them with authority and power so that their hearts did burn within them He condescended to their entreaties and made some considerable abode with them at Emmans vers 29
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
Angels Min. No Friend God is not an Angel at all God is a Spirit uncreated having his being of himself infinite and eternal the Angels are creatures were made by God are finite have a beginning Col. 1.16 By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be thrones and dominions principalities or powers all the Angels were made by God Str. I believe Sir what you say concerning God and the Angels Min. Where is God think you Str. Why God is in heaven Minister What is God no where els but in heaven Stranger Yes I hope he is in the hearts of all good people also Min. Is God in hell also Str. No not in hell unless by his power onely Min. Yes God is in hell also and that not onely by his power but in his essence and being or else How is God infinite if he be not every where Str. What you say is true but I never heard so much before Min. Friend How many Gods be there Str. There is but one God Min. Is there not God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost And are there not then three Gods Str. Yes Sir three Gods Min. No Friend three persons indeed but onely one God Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. Str. Yea three persons and one God I remember it now Minister Having said something concerning God what think you Friend concerning your self Are you a sinner against this God or no Stranger Yes Sir we are all sinners God help us Min. Why Friend which of the Commandments of God have you ever broken Str. Sir I break them all every day in thought word and deed Min. Say you so Friend let us come to each particular Commandment Did you ever break the first Commandment Thou shalt have c Str. No Sir I believe there 's but one God Min. What say you to the second Commandment Thou shalt not make c Str. I am sure I have not broken this Commandment I am no Papist I abhor Images I am a Protestant and so was my father before me Min. Did you ever break the third Commandment Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain c Stranger No Sir I am no common Swearer it may be I let fall an Oath now and then as others do but I am sorry for it when I have done Minister What think you of the fourth Commandment Do you keep holy the Sabbath Str. Yes truly Sir I keep the Church all my Neighbours can bear me witness I hear our own Minister sometimes I stay at home but not very often Min. For the fifth Commandment Honour thy Father c. Have you broken this Commandment Str. I hope not much Sir my father and mother were they alive would say I was as good a child as any they had and we were so many of us Min. What think you of the sixth seventh and eighth Commandments Thou shalt not kill commit adultery steal Have you broken these Commandments Str. I hope not for I am no murderer no adulterer no thief Min. For the ninth Commandment Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour have you kept or broken it Stranger I hope I have not broken it for I never took a false Oath against any man in my life Minister What think you of the tenth Commandment Thou shalt not covet c Are you guilty or not Str. Covet would I were as free from other sins as I am from Covetousness if you would have me tell you the truth I am to blame rather on the other hand I spend my money too fast Min. Oh Friend how do these things stand together you said even now that you broke all the Commandments every day in thought word and deed and now I have dealt with you upon each particular Commandment you clear your self in all as if you had broken none of the Commandments in thought word or deed Str. I pray Sir tell me something that I may understand my self better Min. Know Friend that you are grievously ignorant and that Satan the god of this World hath miserably blinded you that your heart fearfully deceiveth you pray earnestly to God that he would inlighten you hear read the Scriptures Catechisms and other good Books remember Sermons go to the Minister intreating him to instruct you in the principles of Religion grow acquainted with good people talk and discourse much with them about heavenly matters and by the blessing of God in a little time you will come to know God more and your self better Stranger I thank you heartily Sir and when I come home I purpose to think of your counsel and to follow it Minister Say and hold Friend and remember that a blind ignorant Soul is worse than a dark and blind body And that the soul be without knowledge is not good Prov. 19.2 Str. I hope I shall remember what you have said to me as long as I live and I confess I am a sinner Min. Are you guilty of Adam's sin in his eating the forbidden fruit Str. No Sir that was long before my time I know nothing of it Min. Yes Friend I and you and all Mankind except Christ are guilty of Adams first sin Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all for that all have sinned Stranger True Sir now I remember my self I have heard them say that we are all guilty of Adam 's sin because we were all in his loins Minister I have heard them say you must not build your faith upon hear-sayes but upon the written Word of God and for your reason why we are guilty of Adam's sin because we were all in his loins that 's not the main reason for then we should be as well guilty of the sins of our Fathers and Grandfathers c. for we were in their loins also Str. How then I pray you came we to be guilty of Adam 's first sin Min. Why thus Adam was a publick person representing all Mankind and the Covenant of life made with him was not for himself only but for all his posterity so that when he sinned we sinned when he fell we fell with him in that his first transgression Stranger I must needs confess that I am guilty of Adam 's first sin Minister Friend You and I are not only guilty of Adam's first sin but also of many actual transgressions You said even now that sometimes you let fall an Oath in your common discourse which is swearing and taking the Name of God in vain and you said truly also that we break the Commandments of God in thought word and deed and the Scripture saith Rom. 3.23 All have sinned c. So that you and I and all men are sinners certainly Str. I acknowledge Sir that I am a sinner Min. Yea Friend but are you such a sinner as that you deserve
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
of the things of God and of the great concernments of your Soul and of Eternity Let me give you some good counsel before we part it may be you and I shall never meet again and as we never saw the faces one of another for ought we know before this day so possibly we never may see each other again till the day of Judgments that great and terrible day of the Lord. Let me advise you and the Lord persuade your heart 1. To make Conscience of secret Prayer begging of God for Christ his sake that he would make you sensible of the ignorance of the blindness of the mind of the hardness and impenitency of the heart of the carelesness and mindlesness of the spirit in the great things of grace and salvation be earnest with God to give you knowledge and consider that the soul be without knowledge is not good Prov. 19.2 As also for repentance from dead Works and a true saving faith in Jesus Christ Beg of God an heart to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and that you may be of those who strive to enter in at the strait gate and of those violent ones who take the Kingdome of Heaven by force c. 2. Be careful to hear good Ministers preach remembring what most concerneth you in what you hear 3. Be much in searching the Scriptures and reading of good Books Catechisms and such like 4. Make choice of good Company of such as fear God and walk precisely holily righteously and soberly in this present evil world and improve such acquaintance by good conference with them putting such questions to them as may make for your edification and they let me tell you will be as glad of your society as you of theirs 5. Be sure if you have a Family to set up the worship of God in your Family reading the Scriptures and praying morning and evening with the houshold Catechizing and instructing your Children and Servants if you have aâ—y 6. And lastly be strict in sanctifying the Sabbath spend that day well though the rest of the Neighbours be loose and careless therein and though men ungodly men hate you mock and persecute you it matters not so long as God loveth you Remember that 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution And that of Christ Matth. 5.10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of God And ver 11 12. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you c. And now Friend fare you well and the Lord bless you Stranger And you also good Sir I hope I shall remember you and some of your words to me as long as I live onely let me desire one favour of you that I may know your name and where you live Minister That you shall Friend my name is so and so and I live at such a place and if your occasions call you thither I shall be glad to see you and let me know your name and where you live and possibly if I come that way I may see you Once more Farewell FINIS TREATISE OF Christian Conference MY design being to bear up the honour the necessity and usefulness of Christian Conference too much neglected even by the best of men it will not be wholly impertinent to bear down some of that unruliness and irregularity The Tongues Vnruliness which the Tongues of too many are too much guitly of The Apostle James as it were bores the black tongues of men with a red hot Iron of sharp but just rebuke vers 6. The Tongue is a Fire a world of iniquitie setteth on fire the course of Nature and it is set on fire of Hell For every kind of beasts and of birds and of Serpents and things in the Sea is tamed and hath been tamed of mankind But the Tongue can no man Tame it is an unruly evil full of deadly poyson It s untamedness and unruliness appears in its great miscarriage and that both in reference to God and man 1 In reference to God in speaking In reference to God we are too tongue tied in speaking both to God in Prayer Praises and Confessions and of God with others To God He was a great man 1 To God and you will say as good as great who being a man of few words and of much prayer was thought to speak more to God than men Possibly that man after Gods own heart was such a one who saith very truly though of himself Ps 119.164 109.4 Seven times a day do I praise thee and again I give my self unto prayer Possibly some Popish Votaries in a superstitious way possibly also a man may be found in our dayes who is very slow to speak but of a musing medirabundous spirit in holy ejaculations Colloquies and Soliloquies betwixt God and himself much also in prayer by himself and with others but such a man where-ever he dwells I believe he dwells alone by himself is a very great rarity one of many thousands who speaks more to God than to men Again 2 Of God and for God We are all born and live too much tongue-tied as to our Speech of God to and with others 1 Omission though we have a large and spacious field very pleasant Fragrant flowery and Odoriferous for our Discourse to walke up and down and expatiate it self in to wit God in his essence and subsistencies the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost God in his Decrees in his works of Creation and Providence God in his Covenants made with man that of Works and that of Grace God in his Word Law and Gospel in his commands promises and threatnings Againe touching Christ his person natures and offices his humiliation and Exaltation As also touching the Holy Ghost his beginning and carrying on the work of God in the Elect from the first to the last Adde hereunto the many and great priviledges and benefits which the effectually called ones are and shall be made partakers of by Christ in life at death at the Resurrection and to Eternity I might inlarge but one would think in what is said there were room enough and enough for all the nimble â—â—ngued in the world to busy tire and weary themselves in O how sad then is it to have so little of God in our Mouths to observe how people who have their faces Zion-ward can spend hour after hour together it may be day after day and yet scarce have a word concerning God Christ the Spirit or the great affairs of their soules and of Eternity from one end of the prattle to the other This fruit indeed is bad and bitter but yet the root is worse The true and onely reason The reason God is little in our hearts Mat. 12.34 35. I know of is this God is not much in our hearts and therefore but little in our Mouths for out of the
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
Conference with them I say their abundant experience of good success may save me the labour of farther enlargements herein Yet let me drop my mites and give an instance or two in the case Though I have been very very remiss and negligent in taking and improving opportunities in this kind for which I desire to be humbled in the sight of God and men yet my being through grace sometimes a little active herein hath not been altogether in vain I have had occasionally discourse with Papists about Justification by works with more touching Salvation by living up to the light within them with more yet who hoped to be saved by their good Prayers serving of God leading a good life doing as they would be done by and the like several of them in each sort well-meaning people I hope yet all split upon the same rock works works whereas the Scriptures say expresly By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Rom. 3.20 And again By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God not of works least any man should boast Eph. 2.8 9. Not to multiply quotations so well known to all who search the Scriptures take but one more Tit. 3.5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost It is by as the way not for as the deserving and meritorious cause of salvation that is Christ and none but Christ Act. 4.12 But to instance a little for Papists I know not any by me reduced I hope many are by others and I rejoyce therein and bless the Lord for it For the second sort who expect Salvation by living up to the light within them a generation of men as much to be pittied prayed for and tenderly dealt with as any who by reason of some opinions and practices lie under the wrath of men and for others without breach of Charity we may say lie under the wrath of God onely one I can speak of a fellow passenger with my self and others in an hackny Coach from St Albans to London who after long and warme disputes at length ingeniously confessed that no righteousness but the righteousness of Christ imputed to us could availe for satisfaction to God the Father nor for our justification and salvation or to this effect For the third sort those who hope to be saved by their good prayers their serving God and so forth think and profess they think their repentance and good deeds for time to come will make amends for their bad deeds in time past and make satisfaction to God for all that formerly hath been done amiss by them I hope by the good hand of God upon weak endeavours the whole of glory be the Lords many have been plucked out of this snare of the Divel I perceive this work groweth upon my hands take but one instance therefore There was some few years since a young gentlewoman who waited on a Lady in a Noble mans family who passing by Coach with others and my self from Barnet to London upon discourse I soon found that this young woman had a devotion and a zeale for God cared not for vain frothy Company gave her self to reading Scriptures and good Books she was well read talked willingly and understandingly at last discoursing with her and putting questions to her touching Justification I perceived she built much upon works and a legall righteousness whereupon my bowels yerned towards her and I told her in plain termes I feared she was not yet in the way of life and Salvation and I spake as seriously and pertinently as I could shewing the insufficiency of all our own righteousnesses and the impossibility of justification life and salvation to be had by the deeds of the Law and withall opened the Covenant of grace to her how that it was Christ and he alone that was made under the Law to redeem them who were under the Law of the fulness and sufficiency and also willingness and readiness in him to save us and to this effect I discoursed about half an hour together and perceiving that she had pulled her hood over her face and was weeping I held my peace dropping a few words sometimes at length she breaks out in expressions to this purpose Now Sir I see the mind of God towards me this day which is to bring me off from that sandy foundation of works which I have been building upon this many a day and to bring me to free grace in Jesus Christ so setting me upon that rock which is higher then I and I bless the Lord that I saw your face this day that I fell into your company the good I hope I have received from you will stick by me and comfort me as long as I live I hear and believe that her Conversation ever since hath not been a dishonour to her profession and that she hath not hinder'd the advance of Religion at all in that noble family but a means to promote it rather 3 Rebellious converted 3. That Christian Conference may be useful and availeable even for the Conversion of obstinate and rebellious sinners I make no question the place forecited aboundantly proves it for whereas the Apostle saith Jam. 15.19 20. He that converteth a sinner from the errour of his way by sinner we must needs take in such as are vicious and flagitious in life and conversation as well as one erring from the truth persons erronious and Heretical Again Pauls injuction Eph. 4.29 Let no rotten communication proceed out of your mouth but such as may Minister grace to the hearers and why not Converting grace ministred and regeneration work wrought even by Christian Conference This I may safely say that the Ministers of Christ have been not only by the publick Preaching of the word but by private Conference very instrumental under God in the converting many souls to righteousness and the ground hereof to me is plain and abvious because Christ setteth them apart on purpose for that work and gave gifts to men Eph. 4.11 12 13. He received gifts even for the rebellious that the Lord God might dwell among them Ps 68 18. And though private Christians and Ministers speak the same words yet there 's this difference that what private Christians say in Conference comes from fraternal Charity what the messengers of Christ say comes from speciall ministerial authority and their discoursing about matters of Religion is properly enough preaching and hath been eminently instrumental for the Conversion of many from darkness to light and from the Kingdome of Satan unto God Experiments herein I believe are frequent and usual through the blessing of God and his Christ who by promise hath freely and graciously engaged himself to be with his Gospel-ministery to the worlds end Mat. 28.19 20. Let me leave you but one instance which may by the Lords
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