oâ— private and personall exhortation is plainly prescribed and duely bounded and the evill incident thereunto carefully cautioned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is not to forsake the publick assemblies clearly expressed in the Greek word which signifieth not onely a coming together in the synagâ—gue or plane of Assembly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that in a concourse or multitude and great number and also in the discretive particle but dâ—fferencing the exhortation one of another from the duties to be attended in the assembling of our selves together and enforceing the caution by a sad instance and observation of an evill custome to be avoided as the manner of some is so that schisme from the Church appeareth to â—â—ve been an old attendant on the conâ—erences of the godly Calvin on this Tâ—xt tels us we may here see that of old Schisme from the Church doth ariâ—e from the contempt thereof in men prâ—ud of their seeming sanctity in muâ—uall exhortation and Pareus doth wâ—ll note that whilest we admonish and exhort one another â—he Apostle doth commend to us Reverentiam Erga ministerium Ecclesâ—ae studium frequentâ—ndi Ecclesiasâ—â—câ—s Caetus Râ—verence and Regâ—rd to the publick ministry and Assemblies And as the holy Ghost doth give us the command of confeâ—ence with the caution of its inconvenience to be prevented by this Aposâ—l so we shall find the same duty eâ—jâ—yned by another Apostle with the suggestion of the self same danger Jude 20. verse But ye beloved Edifie one another in your most holy faith the discretive particle leads us back to something before spoken that is the properties of wicked sects seducing and seduced souls who did separate from the Church and are therefore branded with it These are they who separate sensuall not having the spirit verse 19. And are set as evill examples to be avoided but ye beloved that ye may not separate Edifie one another Holy conference should fit us for and fix us in the Communion of the Church and be our fence against Schisme and sinfull separation So that Christians be conversant in your private conferences but carefull that you grow not by them into contempt of Gods publick Assemblies Vse your domestick soâ—ieties but despise not the Church of God take heed that you never give a parity much less a priority to your Charitative instructions with ministeriall authoritative injunctions to your friendly conventicles as brethren with the congregation of Saints in the Church of God keep not so close in private as to neglâ—ct the publick administrations of God give both their due pay your Tith of Mint Cummin but Omit not the weightier matters of the Law know that your exhorting admonishing speaking one to another is a duety but preaching hearing and the Ordinances of God in the Assemblies of his people are greater duties for these are publick that private these to the Church and whole body that to friends brethren single and particular members these by office and with the authority of Jesus Christ that is performed in Charity at the good will of men These are fixed and positive acts of worship for time place method order that occasionall when where and how we can get opportunity these essâ—ntiall to the being of Religion and salvation of the soul That convenient comfortable quickning advantagious and to the well being of the soul so that there can be no parity between them much lesse may we overthrow the publick and standing worship of God by our friendly and fraternall intercourse those that make holy conference an occasion of contempt of publick Assemblies may edifie fancy but not faith may grow in knowledge but not in grace may make Religion shine with a little splendor but not stand in a storm for they do fasten it with a sinful peg or however Schisme is by the Saints of our age minced and made of no moment it will prove destructive to the Church and damnable to the soul for being divided from the body they have forsaken the head and fall into an impâ—ssibiliâ—y of nourishment how horrid are the prophanesses both doctrinal practical acted by the pretended Saints of our age who have sprung up from their private Conventicles into an open separation from the Church and have improved their desired Toleration to the confusion of the Church increase of all heresie error and oppression of truth and order Take heed that ye exhort one another but forsake not the Assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is Caution 2 But a second caution in the exercise of holy conference is this Set not upon soul Edifying acts which are out of your sphere the Edification of the Church is â—he great end of all Gospell-administrations and friendly admonitions of the brethren and to be pursued with the utmost diligence God haâ—h givâ—n Apostles Prophets Evangelâ—sts Pastors and Teachers unto the Edifying of the Saints He hath appointed every joynt to be duely serviceable by Admonition Reâ—uke and consolation each of other as brethâ—en He hath prescribed many different waves and means unto the accompl shment of this great end and Nehemiah-like studious to have the work of the Temple to go forward hath distributed men into their severall stations and to distinct employments in which each one must attend and nothing doth more hinder the work oâ— God or b ing dishonour to Religon then disorder and stepping out of our own places to employ our hands in what is not to us allotted Publâ—ck ministery and private conference are both appointed and conducible to the Edification of the Church but in their proper places and order The ministers of God may not hinder the people of God from their holy conferences Preâ—atical violence against piou Communion of brethren in praying each with and â—or other and speaking one to another wâ—s no mean pul-back to Re igion nor must privaâ—e conference Encroach upon publick ministry or intermeddle with its administrations Vzzah's upholding of the Ark when Shaken doth but hinder its march towards its Resting place if men sinâ—ully break order and stâ—p out of their places the work of God must be hindered whilst his angry hand doth Reduce them into order again the straining of the priviledge of private Christians unto their presumptuous medling with the work of Gospel-minâ—stry hath made the sun of the Gospell stand still nay go backward among us and so weakened piety that the very sinews thereof are shrunk and irreligion increaseth unto blasphemy and almost Atheisme Let it be your care Christians in your private Conference to keep within compass and manage those things which onely belong to private Christians meddle not with matters that appertain to the ministery though they be edifying to the Church yet they must be extended by men of office consecrated to and invested with authority for such service I would not abridge private Christians of the least of their priviledge nor have them in their conference Go one step beyond their bounds
and practiseâ— direct contrary to Scripture precepts and have not they who fear the Lord need to speak often one to another the Colloquies of the ungodly and conferences of the seducers and seduced from the faith do every where abound and shall the men who are sound in the faith zealous for true religion cleaving to the covenant of God with constancy be estranged one to another if ever you had need to strenghen one anothers hands and hearts now is your time there was not more need of Saints frequent conferences in times of Popish persecution and prelaticall restriction then in these dayes of sinfull liberty by shamefull Toleration of all impostors the less restraint is laid on you by the Church or state you should be more watchfull one of another and carefull to kâ—ep each other from the use of your prophanely allowed libertâ— know you that it is a saying beseeming a cursed Cain am I my brothers keeper have we not evills to complain of do not men speak stâ—ut words against God is not all possitive pâ—ety under a pretence of holinesse denied do not men say it is in vain to serve God if you have any sence of Gods honour any zeal for true Râ—ligion any feeling of the foâ—ce oâ— temptation any pity to your weake brethren any faiâ—hfulnesse to your own souls any fear of God be quicknâ—d to holy conference flock together seâ—k opportunities of mutuall Colloquie and having found them see you speak often one to another This duty of holy conference especially in evâ—ll times is in it selfe so evident and so excellent that none do or indeed can deny it I shall not therefore stand to enforce it with motives but referre you to the reasons of the Doctrine before urged which you will find to be quickning considerations thereunto I shall onely present you with some directions unto the right discharge and management of holy conference for it like other good duties doth mâ—ny times miscarry by the râ—sh and unadvised management thereof many I must confesse have been the mismischiefes which have redounded from the private conferences of the Godly especially in this City in so much that although the duty hath been allowed and enforced with thâ— publick authority of the ministry of this City in their jus divinum ministerii Cap 5. pag 78 â—9 90. Yet many par icuâ—ar Paâ—tors to some of their peculiar charge have seen cause in a way prudentiall to discountenance and almost disâ—â—low the conferences of pâ—ivâ—te Christians especially with their fixed circumstances that so the inconveniences accidently thence arising might bee avoided I would gladly divide between the duties and their discommodities I dare not debarre Christian-liberty though I would it mâ—y be wisely enjoyed nor interdict the posi ive duty but wil endeavour to instâ—uct you unto the due management and exercise thereâ—f that the evil and inconveniences thereof may be prevented herein I shâ—l prâ—â—eâ—â— yoâ— with some cautions and some directionâ— 1. Some Cautions of evill to bee avoided in holy conferences which must be carefully observed by â—uâ—h as will speak one unto another to edification not destruction and they are these viz. Caution 1 Separate not from the Church sleight not publique assemblies whilst in zeal you frequâ—nt private conferences it is a sin to be noted to our shame â—hat conferences of private Christians have given occasion to schisme and sinfull separation from publick assemblies justifying our late prelacy in their violent resistance of the private conventions of Christians as Conventicles opposite and destructive to Church assemblies we cannot on serious observation but see that the sinfull Schisme of Independency and shamefull separation of the Congregationallists was founded in and nourâ—shed by the fixed conferences of private Christians and how many are there at this day who leave the publick assemblies break from the Communion of the Church disown publick Ordinances and despise them only creep into private houses and spend thâ—ir Sabbath in Colloquiâ—s if not quaking soliloquies mutual discoursâ—s of the things of God and so not only withdraw from but set themselves against the Church and the publick assemblies of Gods people now although private conference is a duty yet the improvement of it to the neglect much more the contempt of the Church and publick assemblies is an horrid impiety This prophane fruit is not the naturall result of conference but is enforced fâ—om it by the câ—rruption of prophane hearts cloathed with the pretense of piety and drawing wicked conclusions from just premises the loose heart â—hinks private exercises to be sufficient and so makes them jostle with publick acts of Religion and the proud heart not enduring the subjection of disciples to be taught with authority in the name of Christ thinks it is better to abide in privâ—te Conference where he may play the part of a Teacher and proudly acts his supposed gifts and abilities for instruction or mans curious brain is so busily captious that it cannot be confined at any time to positive and convincing assertions of truth but must be conversant in that exercise in which he may captiâ—usly propound his criticisms and groundlesse scrupulosities or sceptical objections against plainest principles all which being to much to be allowed in private conferences doth make hearts not awed with divine pâ—escription of method and order of holinesse and not apprehensive of the consistency of publick and private duties nay the priority and preheminency the publick hath of all private means of edification to which the private must give place and not affected with the conscience-binding authority of publique administrations of instruction wherein God him self speaketh above the charitative admonitions of brethren wherein though the thing spoken be good and true yet it is but the advice of men and wants the authority of God to enforce it too much to cry it up and content themselves with it untill the devill taking at mans disposition doth tempt and prevail unto a neglect of publick ordinances a separation from the Church and sinfull withdrawing from the solemn assemblies and shamefull contempt of the publick Ministry prophanely pleading for and blasphemously defending their impiety urging gods words agâ—inst Gods worshâ—p and arguing wee must speak every man to his neighbour and enquire every man of his brother what hath the Lord answered we must teach one another saying know yee the Lord and shall not need any to teach us This forsaking the assemblies and separating â—rom the Church is an evill and inconvenience so dishonourable to Religion and dangerous to the soul and yet so incident unto the holy conferences of the people of God that the holy Ghost hath taken notice of it and bounded the command of private conference with this very caution concerning publick assemblies Heb. 10.24 25. Consider one another to provoke unto love and good works not for saking the assembling of your selves togâ—ther as the manner of some is but exhorting one another in which the duâ—y
give me leave therefore to appoint the borders of your holy conference and that you may never hereafter pleade ignorance I will tell you what private Christians in their conferences may do and what uâ—der the pretence of conference private Christians may not meddle withall as they tender the edification of the Church advancement of Religion and salvation of their own souls First then there are seven pâ—si ive and speciall acts of conâ—erâ—â—ce and Communion of Saints which particular Christians and private brethren not onely lawfully may but in duty must discharge each with and towards other and they are briefly these 1. Private Christians may and must pray one for another in the behalf of themselves and the whole Church of God prayer is indeed an act of publick worship to be done in and by the Church whose mouth must be the Ministers of God Joel 2.17 But it is also a private and personall duty to be done by every child of God in secret and in society It is Required that every Christian do it and that believers do pray one for another James 5 16. And it is the promise of the covenant of grace that families and tribes shall every of them pray apart and in the times of the Churches perplexity even private Saints though there were no Ministers among them should go together and pray in Communion and by joynt supplication thus did the men that feared God in our Text and the many who were gathered into the house of Mary the mother of John and were praying in the day of Herods Rage acts â—2 12 Some have been angry at but never durst argue against the practice of Christians in private fasts and prayers no it is their duty and priviledge 2. Private Christians may and must confess their sins one unto another none but Papists will confine confession to a Priest or publick officer sin must indeed be sometimes confessed in and to the Church when she is become the object of offence and scandalized by the miscarriage and so the finner become the subject of her censure but private brethren may not onely confess their sins one unto another as they are the parties offended but as they are brethren and subjects of pity and of compâ—ssion who seeing his brother sin a sin not unto death will pray for him and it shall be forgiven him private brethren must not onely pray against the guilt but power also of each others lust and must not onely pray against sin but be serviceable by other means to the subduing the strength thereof and saving the soul from the error of his way and therefore it is commanded that common Saints do confesse their sin one unto another I presume I need not advise prudence in the choice of those brethren to whom we will commit such secrets 3 Private Christians may and must in their private conferences Check and Rebuke one anothers impieties and miscarriages fraternall correption is a duty beyond all exception commanded of God Thou shalt in any wise Rebuke thy brother and not suffer sin up on him Lev. 19.17 Appointed by Christ if thy brother offend tell him of his faults between thee and him as an hinderance to sin and help in temptation exhort by way of Rebuke one another least ye be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin It is the provocation of Repentance balme of a wounded conscience desired by David Let the Righteous smite me it is the Restitution of a Relapsed soul Gal. 6.1 The private mans passage to glory and provision for honour covering a multitude of sins and converting the soul James 5.19.20 The end of mutuall confession is mutuall Reprehension these are the wounds of a friend more faithful then the kisses of an enemy Prov. 27.6 Where let it be Remembred that Reproof is the wound of a friend done in Charity not out of office with pitty and successefull by its truth and justice not with power prevailing by its Authority 4. Private Christians may and must counsell and quicken each others graces And so spur each others duties say come let us return unto the Lord let us joyn our selves to God in an everlasting covenant they must consider observe have an eye unto each others ways and walkings to warm the cold affections and provoke unto love and good works none but the slothfull in duty and slaves to prophanesse can be angry at or argue against the private Rebukes and exhortations of holy conference 5. Private Christians may and must comfort one another in their anguish and affliction sanctity supplanteth no act of society but sets us in a better capacity to perform to Reason much more religion leads friends to visit Job in his afflâ—ctâ—oâ— for to him that is afflicted pity must be shewed by his friend The not speaking consolation was the mistake of Jobs friends in all that long conference they had with him when our friends interr their dead we are directed to comfort each other 1 Thes 5.11 by conferring of the Resurrection of the body the speaking of promises and providences of God so as to prop up a sinking soul to strengthen the feeble hands is the work not onely of publick communion but also of private conference the consolations of God must not be concealed but imparted as occasion requireth unto the good of others 6. Private Christians may and must coÌ„plain of the evil of the times to affect each others hearts with sence of and sorrow for sin or Gods sad providences mens stout words against God must be matter of expostulation to them that fear God Jonathan David must into the field to confer of Sauls wickedness and cruelty Israels abomination must be made mention of among the mourners for it the dâ—eadfull dispensations of God at the death of Christ must be the matter of discourse to the Disciples as they waâ—k to Emmaus every soul must see Gods hand observe Gods providences and make the prosperity of prophaness and escapes impiety the matter of discourse unto his own and other mens discretion to a due demeanor and suitable conversation 7. Private Christians may must confer with each other of the things of faith and salvation none but Papists who lock up the knowledge of the truth from poor souls and the people of God and impose on their faith what the Church doth believe will make it heresie to enquire into and debate of the Articles of the Creed Obadiah may without any sin or disobedience expostulate the injunctions of the Prophets and it shall be a note of Nobility to the Bereans to enquire into the Scriptures to finde the verity of the Apostles doctrine This is no other then the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Christian conference allowed and enforced by the ministers in jus divinum ministerii cap. 5. Pa. 81. of this City Nay and was honoured by our Saviour in joyning in society and debating with the Disciples that went to Emmaus the death and resurrection of himself those
language heavenly discourse godly conference the sweet breath of their sound hearts in an hypocriticall age the evidence of their hearts fullness of piety thus venting its abundance the expression of their care by the words of the wise to preserve knowledg whilst the evil communication of the prosperous prophane did corrupt good manners They that feared the Lord spak often one unto anthere whence we shall propound to your serious thoughts Doct. this observation or point of Doctrine The success of prophaneness must stir up the truly pious to speak often one to another Or thus Prospering prophaneness doth provoke the godly to frequent câ—nference Many are the exercises of piety enjoyned by the Lord to be duely performed by his people some are personal concerne only a particular soul but others are publick to be used unto the conviction of the wicked confirmatioÌ„ of the godly against all temptations that assault them and these are not only the administrations of word sacraments in and to the Church in general but also admonitions expostulations of particular Saints in more private and particular societies expressing the thoughts of their hearts by the help of the tongue and communicating their gifts and graces to each other by godly religions conference Godly conference and christian confabulation is an absolute duty and apparent act of the Communion of Saints Incumbent on all the members of Jesus Christ and brethren in the faith to be carefully performed by all that pray for and in their places propagate the perfection of the whole body by the supply of every particular Joynt This dutie is not indeed fixed unto time place and order as are some other acts of worship and dueties of religion but to be exercised as occasion calls for it and opportunitie doth enforce it no condition time or season is unsuitable for holy conference when ever good men have occasion of commerce and opportunity of serious communication yet some estates of the Church doth more enforce it and an enquirie of opportunitie to enjoy it then others when the tongues of the wicked do walke proudly through the earth the tongues of the godly must be tuned for Heaven when the prophane glutted with their prospering prouidences do speak pride and blasphemy and that in talking stoutly against God and and openly affirm it It is in vain to serve God it is no profit to walk mournfully before him all the day for that the proud are called happie Then above all times is it a time for them that feare the Lord to speak often one unto another though our words must be always seasoned with grace and our care must ever be to admonish one another yet more especially when assaulted with the temptation of prospering prophanenesse then our ordinary language and our often discourse must be holy conference This hath been the care and carriage of them that feared the Lord in all ages of the world you shall not find the old World filled with pride security and sensuallity but Noah the preacher of Righteousnesse will be speaking of and preparing for the approaching Flood Nor shall you read of the Captivity of Righteous Lot but also of Abrahams consultation with his chatechised servants for his rescue conference with Melchizedeck Israels oppression cannot increase by the pride of prosperous Egypt Gen. 14. but Moses Aron will confer of the mind of God concerning their deliverance and their own duty towards it Exod. 4.14.15 16. Sauls pride and blasphemies passe not without the serious conferences of Jonathan and David Sam. 18.19 Job is no sooner brought into distresse but his friends gather about him to conferre of the things of God though they make false conclusions yet they discoursed right â—eligious premises Ahab succeeds not in his idolatry but we shall finde the Prophet Elijah and Elisha and he and Obadiah in godly conference nor can Jesus Christ be crucified and blasphemed at Jerusalem Luk. 24.13 but his disciples will discourse as they walk to Emmans of the things that befell him nor shall the Roman Emperors in their prosperitie oppresse the Faith and afflict the Romane Christians but the Apostle Paul longs to see them to the end he may imparte unto them some spirituall good that they may be established we shall not read in sacred or Ecclesiastick storie of the successe of prophaneness which did not stir up the holy conference of the godly The fellowship of the Saints is never so visible as in the suffering seasons of the Church Arius prosperity unto persecution made the Orthordox resort one to another with frequencie Marian pride in the successe of Poperie made the Protestant reformers to confer with diligence the things of truth and of salvation the late prelaticall crueltie was the spur of the Puritans Conventicles as in derision their holy conferences were called for in such times as these if ever Communion of Saints is necessary profitable and comfortable for then they That feare the Lord speak often one to another By way of complaint of sin and sorrow the wickednesse of men and darke providences of God that the heart may be affected with both and they may as becomes them mourn for the abominations which abound and the blasphemies which are proudly belched against God his name truth Ordinances and people in this day of prospering prophanenesse and duly pray the diversion of these darke providences which are so dishonourable to God and discouraging to Godlinesse sin must not succeed in the World or sorrow seize on the Saints without their sensible observation and sad but serious expostulation with God and each with others by way of confirmation each of others spirit against the strong influence of so sore temptations we have before noted that the prosperity of the wicked is a very great stumbling stone to the godly at this David spurned and had almost slipt unto the condemning the generation of the iust Psal 7.3.7 and charging vanity on the course of piety On this Peter fell to the denyall of his Lord and Master making him with more then ordinary earnestnesse enquire his affection to him Peter lovest thou me Peter lovest thou me Peter lovest thou me It is strange if Ahabs insolency in his Idolatry make not all even the best of Israell to halt between two opinions and most to fall into flat and open Idolatry when the multitude do evill those few who will not follow them have need to cleave close together if ever the feâ—ble knees must be strengthened it must be when they stumble at the prosperity of prophanenesse If ever the godly will be armed against impiety it must be when it ascends the there and becomes the stirrop of authority and sole principle of preferment and if they will ever speakne couragingly of waiting on God and walking with him in holinesse it must be when most men discouragingly determine God hath forsaken the Earth doth not regarde the righteous It 's in
have set up Davids resolution though on different principles to keep a watch before their lips and to Refraine from good talk in the sight of the wicked for saints when they meet seem strange and unacquainted each with other opportunities of holy intercourse are little looked after and when accidentally offered we meet each with other as men of no Relation and little affection our language carrieth with it no life counsell or comfort or bespeaketh us to be men devoted to the world and drowned in the earth speaking of nothing but worldly affairs Though times are evil sin is advanced and sad affliction on the godly snares and temptations are on the best of men and run them one straits not well knowing what to do every tongue is tipped with blasphemy and discountenanceth piety saying it is in vain to serve God yet we who professe speciall Relation to God and each to other in the Lord keep at distance each from other and walk alone in such evil times and when occasionally we meet make little or no mention of the ways of God Case and Condition of the Church or cause of Religion complaints of evil and confirmations in good are to us strange language and such as either wee know not how through our ignorance or are afraid through our weaknesse to administer each to other we shall not deny but there is a time to speak and there is a time to be silent and the multitude of words many times are the notes of folly therefore he that hath knowledge will spare his words and that a fool stopping his lips may bee judged prudent Prov. 17 27. But must caution in speaking be the barre of holy conference must we flie from the fools babling into prophane mens silence of the things of God can the tongue chuse but speake out of the abundance of the heart will not holy affections boil in our bosoms untill they bubble out in heavenly discourses must not the lips of the wise seed many and if ever be the time of speaking one to another must it not be when the wicked do speak against the godly their holy practises when God is dishonoured Religion degraded and danger of seduction and apostasie from truth and piety very palpable because the proud are called happy c. But you will say this season of sins successe and prospering prophanesse is an evill time in which the Prophet saith the prudent shall keep silence Amos. 5.13 But doth this evil of the times engage an absolute silence though the prudent are prohibited by the Rage and violence of the wicked who hate him that Rebuketh in the gate and abhor him that speaketh uprightly verse 10. Yet the Prophets of God must speak â—â—y a loud and not spare to tell Judah of her sins the fear of the Saw did not silence Isaiahs prophesie nor the terrors of the dungeon tongue-tie Jeremiah nor yet the scourge prison and proud commands no more to speak in the name of Jesus stop the ministry of the gospell but you are not in awe of office and so bound to speak against opposition private Saints we grant may with much prudence be silent when like to be made an offendor for a word but yet not altogether silent neither though you speak not to the wicked may you not speak one to another though not to the conviction of the proud and prophane may you not conferre to the confirmation each of of others when should godly conference more abound then when open checks will not bee endured by the wicked if any thing do drive the people of God to joint complaints and mutuall communication of gifts and graces it must be the times that are thus evill and therefore Christian soules you who shun the society each of other and abide silent in sinfull times abstaining from holy conference as strange or dangerous let me tell you there is sin upon you and you are greatly to be blamed for the neglect of anindispensible duty and failing in the exercise profitable to your selves and honourable to your God and your sin is capable of these sad aggravations 1 You degenerate from your pious progenitors I have before mentioned many examples of the pious who were frequent and fervent in holy conference especially in evill times as amongst others these in our Text who did speake often one to another the Corinthians did abound in speech and wisedom one toward another 1 Cor. 1.5 And the Romans were filled with all knowledge admonishing one another Rom. 15.14 And the Philipians continned in fellowship from the first day of their conversion The Virgin Mary could not contain the good news brought her by the Angell but up she went to thâ— hill Country to conferre of them with her cousen Elizabeth hath not Catechizing been the object of Popish and conference of prelaticall rage in our Nation witnesse the bulla Papalis condemning Catechizing and the late Prelates complaint of and contests against Conventicles how did not the Protestants in Queen Maries dayes confirm one another unto Martyrdome It is storied of Rawlius White a poor fisher man in Cardiffe in Wales that hee not being able to read did by the reading of his little boy and conference with good men in the time of King Edward the sixt gain such knowledge that hee became an instructer of others going to his neighbours and conferring with them hee did prepare himselfe and them for the patient undergoing the bloudy persecution in Queen Maries dayes I need not multiply instances of this nature you that have been observant of the godly wickedly and falsly called Puritans well know the common and commendable course of conference by them used such Communion of Saints eomplaining of sin and Gods sad judgments hath been the event of evil times in England as hath caused this note to be left upon our Nation Angelica gens est optima stens pessima ridens England is best all in black when prospering prophanenesse provoketh holy conference then doth piety most flourish can you call your selves brethren to the Saints and so basely degenerate from their practice 2. You demonstrate your selves dead members in Christ's body and that because your silence in such sinfull sad times doth bespeak you in sensible and unprofitable without any feeling of Gods dishonour and Religious danger or zeal for the Lords glory and the safety of piety I have before told you warm affections must word it and have vent by good expressions It is impossible for an holy heart to bee tongue-tied Davids holy heart and heated passions wil burst the padlock of resolved silence and constrain good conference especially if enforced with the desire of our brethrens profit for such as are slack in holy conference are unprofitable for the souls of men are no way fed but by the lips of the wise or preserved from falling but by the understanding of the prudent though every act of woâ—ship in the Church is an act of Communion with the Church
great Articles of Christian faith Rom. 1.11 and Pauls Errand to Rome was to conferre of the doctrine of faith and see his Romans therein established and Schisme tending to an Apostacy from the faith must stirr up the Saints that keep the Union of the Church to hold the Communion of it by Edifying one another in their most holy faith so that it is not to be thought that men must live by an implicit faith to Receive what ever is magisterially imposed or be censured for maintaining a modest and humble debate and expostulation or conference about the fundamentall points and doctrines of faith and of salvation These things Christians you must know do belong to ministers as members of the Church and partakers of the same precious faith with your selves not as they are Ministers and Officers of and in the Church employed about peculiar service which other may not undertake to manage and although some of these are actions to be performed ministerially such as is Rebuking exhorting and the like yet they have adjuncts peculiar and an especial form no they become ministeriall and must not be medled withall by private men but in the matter and substance of them they lie common to believers members of Gods Church Christian brethren so far would I be from coÌ„demning that I would encourage and in the name of the Lord command you to maintain your society and make conscience of holy conference and therein of praying together conâ—â—ssing your sins one to another admonishing exhorting one another and doing all the acts of Communion wherein were the people of God more conversant piety would bee preserved and increased I have shewed you how far you may go in holy conference and hitherto not I but the Word of God will allow justifie you but be so prudent as to keep within your borders and take heed you do not break your bâ—unds I shall therefore in the next place propose those edifying acts which private Christians in their conferences are to apt to be medling withal whilst indeed they are holy more holy than the ordinary and common acts of sanctity and must not be meddled withall by every common hand although a believer nay a believer eminent for parts and piety and they are likewise seven which I do in the name of Christ adjure you to consider and avoid as out of your sphere and they are these viz. Private Christians may not constitute Churches constitution of Churches is an eminent act of authority and cannot be affected by any private hand I well know it hath of late been the principle and practice of many pretenders unto piety in their conferences which were at first private to constitute Churches the independent notions are that seven or eight fewer or more believers conjoyning themselvs into a Church are thereby constituted and therefore in the gathering of their Churches their Ministers have shamefully renounced the ministry and sinfully disowning the authority of Jesus Christ which thâ—y eâ—joyed resolve themselves into a private capacity as members and so by the Church gathered received the Ministery and indeed out of this corruption of holy conference have risen most of our gathered Churches among us which way of Church constitution is irrationall and Irreligious Irrational because no politicall body can constitute it self doth not civill pollicy call it a combination and conspiracy where men embodie themselves without publick authority who will suffer them to enjoy the priviledge or be subject to their Rules and orders as a corporation who Receive not their Charter from nor are constituted by publick Authority Is not the Church a body politique and every particular congregation parts of the Church Catholique and how then shall they constitute themselves Is there any thing true and good in nature and contradicted in Scripture is God a God of order in the world and of confusion in his Church is the Authority of the magistrate essentiall to the constitution of any corporation and company in any Town or City and shall men of Religion embody and give a Church form unto themselves shalâ— simple consent be the Ratio formalis of a civill conspiracy and Religious constitution not onely is it irrational but irreligious without the least colour of Authority or countenance of Scripture I shall not be afraid to challenge all the congregationallists to produce any commission from Jesus Christ by either precepts or president of self constitution of the Church I finde indeed a Commâ—ssion to go and Disciple the Nations and by baptisme to constitute them Churches of Jesus Christ but none dare presume to say this was given to private persons nor is it to constitute themselves unto a Church if there be other commission in the book of God let it be produced as there is no precept so we finde no pattern of a self constituted Church we Read of the Church at Rome Corinth Galatia Ephesus but which of them were of their own constitution had not every of them the Lord Jesus for their foundation and some of the Apostles for their founder in the name and Authority of Jesus Christ did not Christ institute the office of the minister before he did constitute the Church in the world and sent forth ministers to Gather in the elect and to constitute and confirm Churhes so that the ministery is before the Church and for the Church essentiall unto its constituton To Act without a commission and warrant from Christ is no lesse then superstition and presumption but to invert Christ his order and to neglect his method and Authority is high prophanesse to constitute a Church without commission is to build in the sand without any confidence of Protection or preservation to make the ministery to arise out of the Church is to make it the ministry of the Church not of Jesus Christ indeed I read of two self constituted Churches in the Scripture but they were both disowned by God and good men the one was the Church gathered by Corah his company with a cry of sanctity all the Lords people were holy they indeed flung off the ministry of Gods appointment but I need not tell you how good men flew from their tents and how God flunge this Church alive into the earth take heed you perish not in the gain saying of Corah the other was the ten Tribes who casting off the house of David did also cast off the ministry of God and constituted themselves a Church and so consecrated to themselves Priests oâ— the lowest of the people but the Priests of God and those who did fear the Lord throughout Israel packed from among them and they went to Jerusalem and continued in the Church constituted by God and not onely did good men but God himself cast off this self-constituted Church have a care you walk not in the way of Jeroboam Let not your private society and conferences become the Colledge of the Prophets or Rather conspiracies of Schisme however men seemingly holy and
succeeding in their guilded impiety do by doctrine practice direct you to self constitution in Church way decline it depend upon Gods publick ministery in disposing of you untill you can make corporations without Civill think not to make Churches without Religious and divine sanction 2. Private Christians may not under the colour of holy conference consecrate things or Persons unto God self constitution must needs produce sinfull consecrations for no body politick can be preserved or Resolved into order and any capacity of acting without Officers and therefore the Congregationallists in plain the Independents who make self aggregation the form of Church constitution give not only power to men unordained not consecrated to come nigh unto God in the most holy and publick of administrations but make that self-collected body the subject of the keyes and Receptacle of all Church power from and by whom the administrators of Gods ordinances must be appointed and ordained and thus their leaders having resolved themselves members of such a society Receive from that society a ministery but beloved do you consider consecration of any thing or person unto God is an act of office and Authority none may come nigh to God in the administration of holy things but such who are thereunto consecrated this God hath made manifest by the Perez-Vzzah made in Israel for Vzzahs putting forth a common hand to stay Gods holy Arke when tottering and Ready to fall the desire to support Reâ—igion in danger to fall will not defend this impiety and by the leprosie of King Vzziah for presuming to meddle with the Priests function and by the censers of Corah and his company beâ—ten into plates and made Monuments of memoriall that no unconsecrated persons meddle with the holy things of God nor can it in Reason be thought that the ministry should lie common to be taken up by any hand and at pleasure for that it is an office and function place and particular order in the Church of God charged with speciall service appointed to a proper end prepared unto by speciall qualities and indowed wiâ—h speciall priviledges men will not let civill offices lie common who contend to lay open holy functions and so dissolve all order in the Church as none but holy persons may come nigh to God so nothing unhallowed must be presented unto God as a part of his worship if the sons of Aaron pressed into Gods presence with any prophane and unhallowed thing they should perish none but holy fire must burn on Gods altar common Elements as water in baptisme and bread and wine in the Lords supper must be consecrated before they become acts of worship and seals of Gods covenant It is blasphemy and prophanesse to make every table the Lords table and common use of creatures bread or wine the commemoration of Christ his death and sufferings the most sinfull Schismatiques will confess consecration of things and persons necessary and you must know that this is not the work of every no not of any private hand men cannot communicate what they have not received nor stamp peculiarity on others who never had it stamped on themselves It is Gods standing Law that the Priests sons of Aaron consecrated themselvs do consecrate things and persons that shall come nigh to God and therefore it is Israels Horrid impiety in their defection from the house of David and altar of God that whosoevor would might bring a bullock and consecrate himself a Priest unto the Lord nor is the liberty greater under the Gospel for it is the method and order of Christ that the office of the Gospell ministery be transmitted unto faithfull men by the solemn ordination of men themselves ordained to that sacred function we deny not the priviledge of election to be the peoples but the power of ordination abides in officers It is plain that in the Church constituted by Gospell ministery at Jerusalem charge of election is given by and power of consecration Reserved to the officers of Jesus Christ Chuse you out men whom we may appoint and those who act any thing in Christ or his Ministers name without their Authority may expect to be corrected by the Devil himself as were those Exorcists in Acts 19.13 14 15 v. Paul we know and Jesus we know but whence are ye whilest therefore you confer as brethren take heed you consecrate not as officers Remember you may be holy in your kind to your God but not have a power to make other men or things holy to the Lord make not your selves a Church make not your own ministers or Sacraments 3. Private men may not communicate ordinances to the Church in the name and stead of Jesus Christ when you are in your conferences used to speak take heed you presume not to preach whilst you play the men in ministring counsell nay good men in ministring holy instruction and Religious admonition do not so manage it as to presume in your selves or proclaim to others you are more then private brethren even publick â—fficers the Embassadors of Jesus Christ to this end you must take heed that your administrations be not to the Church of Christ nor in the name or stead of Christ these two are boundaries of ministeriall instructions which may not be broken in upon by private men without palpable presumption and prophannesse we shall willingly allow Christians their liberty as Parents and masters of families to speak instruction to their children and families private and particular brethren to exhort admonish and Rebuke in their friendly societies Generalls to make their orations and that like Christians to their Armies and Tutors to Read divinity Lectures to their Pupills in the Universities but let their abilities be never so great we must barre them out o the Church here they must be hearers not speakers the Church is onely the object of ministeriall instruction when men presume to speak in and to the Church of Christ they pâ—esse upon the function of Gospell ministry and make themselves Prophets unto the Lord for all Agents in the Church appear as officers and are on that account to be Received Reverenced heard and obeyed so that their feet that thus bring glad tidings must be beautifull unto the hearers unto prophesying which hath believers for its object mission is essentiall sending of the preacher is one ground of faith in the hearer how therefore can he preach exept he be sent and as we barre private men from speaking to the Church as their object so also from speaking in the name and stead of Jesus Christ the instructions admonitions Rebukes and exhortations of private men must be in amity not authority as friends distinguished dignified by their Relations not deputed by Jesus Christ or invested with his authority only Ministers are the Lords Emabassadors beseeching us in Christ stead as if he himselfe did beseech us to be reconciled to them it is indeed given in charge and to them only to teach and command and in
teaching 1 Tim. 1â— 11 to exhort and rebuke with all authority Titus 2.15 as being over the Church of God Whilst the ministers of the gospell do require credence and obedience to what they declare not only because true and good but because spoken with authority in the name by the Embassie of Jesus Christ private Christians must know that the onely weight and strength of their instructions lye in the turth and goodnesse with some civill and naturall circumstances thereof and the refusall of them may charge the guilt of despising good counsell and disregarding friends but not disobedience unto God and Jesus Christ to your shame it may be spoken that many youngsters adjoyn themselves to your private societies as expectants of the publick ministery and having inured their tongue in your conference to talk of the things of God do with much confidence impose on you their discourses in the name and authority of Jesus Christ and at length uncalled and unqualified presume to step into the pulpit and speak unto the Church of God as if your conferences were no other then nurseries of pride and vanity I would such as thus presume to prophesie would but seriously ponder that which was certainly spoken in reference to gospell times by the Prophet Zach. 13.5 And the Prophet shall be ashamed every one of his vision and shall no more wear a rough garment to deceive but hee shall say I am no Prophet I am an husband man men taught me to keep cattle from my youth Their faith can be but poorly edified which is fed with a phantastique and imaginary ministry and followed with the curse of God because they have run and I have not sent them they shall not profit this people Jer. 23.32 Whilst you give good counsell do not cheat men of their salvation by giving it with the assurance and authority you never received 4. Private Christians cannot under pretence of conferense cast out of the Church excommunication is the highest act of authority in the Church of Christ and however it hath been highly asserted and hotly contended for it yet remains to be proved that the people or body of the Church are the subject of the keys the Savoy conclusions are neither Scripture nor Church Canons nor are they enforced with the least Scripture argument or answer to what on the contrary hath been objected be not magisterially imposed upon by men of no power lock not your selvs under an implicite faith of what some pretenders to piety professe to believe consult Reason and Religion and you shal find popular power unto Church censure repugnant unto both casting out of the Church is an act judicial and that cannot be done by all they must be Rulers and judges that do execute it if this be the whole Church where are the ruled and to be judged when the incestuous person was cast out of the Church at Corinth it was done in the name of Jesus Christ by many and as the word signifieth principal ones nay by those who judged such as were within not by all the assemblies or any private persons I denie you not the liberty of debarring from your friendly societies I believe a strang and discountenancing carriage towards every brother which walks disorderly to be a duty but for private men to deliver any over to Satan is a grand impiety 5. Private men may not in private conferences cancell the condemnation of the Church or conscience the same authority which doth bind must loose they who shut must open absolution is an act undoubtedly ministeriall and Ecclesiastick the Officers of the Church can onely acquit convicted guilt private Christians must confesse their sins each to other to provoke pitty and prayer but not to procure a pardon further then the offence concerns themselves they may comfortably argue and expostulate each with other the hopes of pardon unto the quieting of the anxious conscience but he must be a minister who doth in the name of the Lord pronounce pardon and in the name of the Lord ministerially though not Judicially cancell conscience and quiet the guilty by assuring Remission of sin upon true Repentance It was unto Ministers that Jesus said whose sins you Remit shall be Remitted and it is by them therefore this ground of faith and foundation of hope be must said as private men have not authority to capitulate so they have none to conclude peace between God and the soul the many that punished did pardon the incestuous Person and that in the name of Christ and therefore with authority to apply Gods poomises and require an acquiescency of soul is positive prophanesse 6. Private Christians may not conclude orders and decrees which shall binde the Church All acts of discipline are attendant on the keyes of the Church such as wear them have the onely power of prescription of things Religious Rites and matters of decency and order in the Church of God Legislation is the height of authority they that consult and conclude for to binde the Church and require subjection must be well commissionated Church counsels I doubt not may send a broad their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 determined decrees Acts 16. â— and conscientious obedience must be yielded to them but for private Christians to prescribe unto the Church of God cannot but be high presumption and prophanesse However you conclude prudentiall Rules to preserve the peace and order of your private amicable societies let them never be imposed on others or prescribed to the Church but know subjection is your station in Gods Church and Legislation above your Reach 7. Private Christians may not commend a blessing to the Churâ—h in the name and authority of Jesus Christ we deny not the power of parents blessing their children by prayer and parentall option as did the Patriarchs and Laban to Iacobs children or friends blessing one another by salutation and serious supplication as Jacob at his comming in going out blessed Pharaoh to be common to all the people of God and to be done by private men but ministeriall blessing by pronuntiation thereof in the name of the Lord unto the Church is an act of worship to God and argument of faith to his people and therefore must be done by authority and belongs onely to his Embassadours and commission Officers the Tribe of Levi is separated in Israell to stand before the Lord and Minister unto him and to blesse his name Deut. 10.8 They must and they onely must blesse in the name of the Lord for they are chosen to this very purpose Deut. 21.5 That your private conferences begin and end with prayer is commendable but that your society break up with a formall and pronounced blessing in the name of the Lord is to be condemned very prudent was the practise of the Church when men unordained and onely expectants of the ministry did for probation sake preach were barred from pronouncing the blessing and thereby made known to the people
not yet to have been consecrated to this holy function Thus then Christians I have plainly prescribed and let you see what is your priviledge and what will prove your dammage wherein you as private members and particular joynts may duely make a supply unto the edification of the whole body of Christ and wherein you may be dangerously prejudiciall to the Church and destructive to your own souls all holy duties are to be managed with feare but especially those which are occasionall and at humane liberty wherein without vigilancy and great care we shall be transported by Satans temptation and our own corruption whilst we are tickled with a desire to distribute what we have Received and quickened by the sence of duty to communicate gifts and graces by exhortation rebuke â—nd admonitions we are too Ready Rashly to manage it not Regarding the place wherein we stand and the method and order whereby we must be serviceable to the edification of the Church but break all bounds and presume to turn preachers and assume to our selves all ministerial power and authority pressing on all the acts thereof constiâ—uting Churches consecrating things and persons communicating to the Church in the name and stead of Christ casting out of the Church cancelling conscience concluding orders for the Church commending Gods blessing to the Church I would our sinfull age were not a sad comment on the exorbitancies of Religious conference You take it ill if your priviledge be not asserted in its latitude but think much to be confined to your places as you would not have your Ministers discountenaÌ„ce your conferences drive them not into a sinfull extent avoide the evil that your nature gathereth from them for Gods own occasionall institutions are to be Removed for the prevention of a greater evil as was the brazen Serpent to prevent Idolatry Christian liberty must be restrained when it giveth occasion to Schifme Rebellion and Impiety know therefore that the Church will never be edified by your doing acts of edification out of your sphere and without authority keep at an equall distance from acts of prophanenesse and acts of piety not belonging to your places It is all one in divine acceptance to omit and overact a duty not to serve him and not to serve him in our stations for however men deem he is a God and God of order and order the beauty of his holiness must shine more brightly in the Church then in the world Now that I have bounded your liberty in holy conference by fit cautions I shall direct your duty unto the right discharge of it that it may be honourable to religion profitable to the Church and comfortable to your own souls The directions I shall suggest are three Propound unto your selves Right Direct 1 matter whereof to confer each with other all things Revealed and known may be matters of discourse unto men but all discourse befits not Christian men I need not tell you that Rude Ribald language foolish jestings vile calumniations and contrivancies of prophanenesse and wickednesse are Repugnant to and unfit for humane discourse It is a shame the Tongue mans glory should ever be stained with such language how much more is the contrariety thereof to holinesse and Christianity this may be the language of the prospering prophane men which must provoke our speaking one to another by way of complaint that men should be so wicked but must not be once named among you as becometh Saints The affairs of the world and concernments of our temporall and present estate are matter of Colloquie fit for humane society and may in all commerce be lawfully conferred of by Christian souls sanctity doth not make us cease to be men if we will not confer of the things of the world we must go out of the world but but yet these things fall into Christians discourse as men not as Saints and common prudence will guide in the exercise thereof The conference which we have under coÌ„sideration is Godly speciall belonging to Saints stirred up by the stout words of the wicked and successe of sin springing from the fear of God and thoughts of his name therefore the matter propounded to it must be holy and Religious like the language of the vertuous woman your mouths must be opened with wisdome and the law of kindness be upon your tongue Prov. 31.26 So the matter must be generally good even the word of God which must dwell plentifully in us in all wisedome unto teaching and admonishing one another Col. 3 16. Our discourse must be such matter as is savoury seasoned with salt administring grace and edification to the hearers Col. 4.6 No corrupt communication must come out of your mouths but that which is good Eph. 4.29 Good men must like housholders bring out in holy conference things new old but always such as may witnesse them to be Scribes instructed to the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 13.5 So that in general the â—ind of God word of truth doctrine of the gospell must be propounded as the matter of your conference but more specially propound not to your ordinarie coâ—ference 1. Jewish fables and genealogies or vain jangling notions frivolous matters which minister questions rather then godly edifying in the faith 1 Tim 1.5 fables because frivolous not because false as Calvin â—otes on the text many genealogies and other criticismes are recorded in the Scripture as necessary appendants on the things written which in themselves are not proper matter for conference because unprofitable and the debate of them will be but a laborious loss of time a task not worthy the toil like an Olive or Date stone hard to crack or cleave and affording no kernell when divided holy conference must be employed so that it should not fail of it's end or hinder union and therefore we must see we never make that the matter of it which may genderst rise occasion snarling administer questions but afford no instruction or edification Suetonius tells us that the curious canvasing of the genealogie of Priamus to find out the Pedigree of Aiax and Achilles was ridiculous to all sober men if frivolous things must not be the matter of humane much lesse may they be the matter of Christian debates 2. Conferre not of curious and nice critical cases of concâ—ence Râ—m 14.1 We are required to recâ—ive such as are weak in the faith but not to doubtfull disputations that is criticall debates concerning Christian liberty which indeed stirre up scrupulosity but do not edifie the weak will by scrupulosity of conscience be discouraged in the ways of piety let them not therefore be in your conferences perplexed with such enquiries doubts are soon started and easily raised but not so soon resolved it is sad when soul tormenting scrupulosity becomes the effect of Christian society 3. Conferre not controverted matters of discipline and order in the Chrrch the things of salvation may be enjoyed in the Church where discipline is much wanting and
neglected matters of order tend to the beauty but not the being of the Church articles of faith and acts of holinesse may be followed by men that are ignorant of the debates of Church order disputes of circumstances becomes many times the destruction of the power of godliness it is noted of eminent Mr. Dod that he never loved to meddle with the coÌ„troversies of the times because they dulled his affections to holinesse if in any thing â—oÌ„mon Christian should be concluded by Church officers it is in matters of discipline order 4. Confer not the experiences of Saints manner of Gods work on the heart and conscience because these are meerly personall may prove prejudiciall unto others conviction and consolation is the common condition of all believers but the modus and gradus operandi measure and manner of it is different ordinarily disposed by the temper and disposition of the subject and cannot be a Rule unto others the easiness of Davids must not be the measure of Manasseh his conviction nor must the thundring conviction and conversion of Saul be the square thereof unto Peter experiences of this nature administer no edification but many times engender in some despondencies and in other presumptions leave we therefore a wise God to work his own work in his own way let us make the work it self object of our observation and discourse not much making known the manner and measure thereof These things I advice be not propounded as the matter of your conference because repugnant to its end but instead hereof confer 1. Prophane practices of the wicked with which your hearts are to be affected and that out of zeal to Gods holy name hereby dishonored and piety to immortall souls hereby endangered and compassion to them who by their prosperity in the course of impiety do become a stumbling block temptation and evill example to others multiplying to themselvs the wrath of God unto which they are by their present successe prepared This is more then probable to have been the matter of which the men in our Text did speak one to another we may not alwaies speak to the conviction of the wicked yet we may and must speak to the confirmation of our selves against the temptation of their prospering prophanesse and successefull sin 2. Principles of which are ploin and obvious to every serious Christian studious of Scriptuee and are essentiall to the vâ—ry being of a believer and indispensably necessary to salaation These are the foundations of the oracles of God by which we are conâ—â—ituted Christians and capable of being edified ignorance and inconstâ—ncy in the principles of faith fits us for all heresie and seduction from the truth the matter of Christ his conference with his Disciples in the coasts of Philippi as is evident by his Whom say men that I am and whom say ye that I am Mat. 16.13.16 Was the verity of the Messias who was to be believed and the matter of his conference with the Disciples that walked to Emmaus was his death and Resurrection those great Articles of faith and Pauls Errand to Rome was by conference to establish the Saints in the faith Rom. 1.11 The common work of the Communion of Saints is to edifie one another in their most holy faith and therefore the principles thereof is the proper matter of their conference 3. Practises of piety which are to be performed unto these being to the gracious soul supernaturall and and above his reach beyond his naturall strength nay contra naturall unto which their flesh bears an enmity they cannot but be weak and dull apt to be wearied especially when under affliction and all worldly discouragements men speaking common course of providence seeming to confirm their language that it is in vain to serve God therefore we must consider one another to provoke unto love and good work so long as the willing spirit is Retarded with the weaknesse of the flesh the words of the wise must be as nails and as goads 4. Promises of Grace which must be the props of the soul the uphold of hope under the prospering providences that do attend the prophane and afflictions which are incident to the Righteous whilst the vision is delayed the just must live by faith and by discoursing of Gods promises and properties establish their expectation of a discrimnating deliverance out of all their sorrows though at the present the proud are called happy c. If these and things of the like nature be made the matter of your conference it will produce its end and prove an ordinance of edification informing your judgements affecting your hearts quickning and establishing the soul in faith and holinesse I have done with the first and shall now passe to the 2. direction unto the right management of conference Direct 2 Right matter propounded proceed unto your conference with due prudence wisdom is the ornament and excellency of every action and must be the especiall property of believers that will put forth in exercises of Religion they must proceed with much prudence and beware of betraying the same into scandall by any acts of in discretion many are the snares which attend holy conference and great are the evils which our corrupt natures do draw from so good an exercise we must therfore be very watchfull to improve it to its end and avoid its evill though accidentall the truely prudent will limit themselves in things lawfull least they Run into things unlawfull It is Austins assertion that he who knoweth not how to deny what is in his liberty will never be able to decline what is forbidden and the truely Godly must avoide the appearance of evill not onely the species but shews the kinds but shadows of sin are to be shunned let therefore your conference be managed with all wisdom in point of time place manner and order 1. The time of conference is occasionall as opportunity is offered for holy conference is not a duty fixed to any speciall season but as divine providence and humane condition doth cast and call us into society we are to speak one unto another as in the time of friendly visit in any affliction familiar intercourse in holy actions or falling into each others company by appointed or unexpected affairs so that the Godly must watch for and catch at the opportunity of exhorting and admonishing comforting one another by holy conference yet we do not deny or deem it unlawfull for the Godly of any vicinity and neighbor hood by mutuall consent to keep fixed seasons wherein to associate and speak one unto another in holy conference onely we advise that the time fixed be our own not Gods or our families our own I say not Gods that is not the Lords day and the season of solemne assemblies and publick worship holy conference I confesse doth well become the Sabbath but the Sabbath cannot well be the fixed season of conference epecially the time of publick exercise when God is by
yet gifts and graces are only communicated to the members thereof in Colloquie Saints stand charged each with other and the joints must supply their places by mutuall conferences administring nourishment to the whole body lively and profitable Christians do in evill times enquire the way to Zion with their faces thitherward saying one to another come and let us joyn our selves unto the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant And in evill times they say every one to his neighbour and every one to his brother what hath the Lord answered and what hath hee spoken they do stand charged with the souls each of other and are therefore bound to exhort rebuke admonish comfort edifie one another And if ever the life of grace must bee manifested by acts communication it must bee in evill times the hour of temptation which commeth on them in a day of generall defection and diligent seduction the Saints must edifie one another in their most holy faith and save one another with feaâ—e pulling them out of the fire if you are will ng to witnesse your selves stupid under Gods heavy judgments sencelesse of Gods glory and the welfare of Religion and livelesse uselesse members in the body you may with due shame stand at distance each from other and smother thoughts of God in your own brests for want of vent by holy conference but consider profession of the tongue is no lesse usefull to salvation then the perswasion of the heart and withholding counsell from the weak in evill times is wickednesse 3. You disgrace Religion and are condemned by the wicked of the World whilst you sinfully suggest that sanctity destroyeth society and maketh the ungodly conclude Religion a solitary condition in which communion is not to be enjoyed whereas indeed holinesse is a bond of union and ground of Communion which whilst it seperates us from the Tabernacles of the wicked seateth us in the Temple of God and doth not more divide us from the society of the prophane then drive us into the CoÌ„munion with the Saints the scope of sanctity is to turn the stream and direct mens thoughts and expressions into an holy channell which not being thus employed makes Religion look like the Ruine of charity and that which barrs all kind of counsell admonition or conference The men of this world are wiser in their generations then the children of the kingdom they are Reduced into no straits but they run together and counsel each other to escape and evade them they agitate no affairs in the world but by good counsell and ordinary conference men that seduce from the truth are diligent and dextrous in their discourses Chatechizing and conference the two great preserva ive of truth and Religion have been exercised as eminent means of seduction whilest neglected by such as should be established by them is it not ashame that the enemies of God should beat us at our own weapon Popery Arianisme Socincanisme Anabaptism and other heresies are propagated hy Catechising and conference whilest these edifying exercises are omitted and slighted by the professors of truth in the affairs of this world we are common in Counsels and mutuall Colloquies but mindlesse of the great concernments of salvation Let it therefore be our shame that we are so slack unto acts of Communion and so carelesse of this eminent means of confirmation and the rather for that the successe of sin should stir us up unto the frequent discharge thereof Lay your hands on your hearts and blush who are professors of the same faith and worshippers of the same God pretenders to the same covenant and priviledges and yet such strangers unto each other and so much unacquainted that you speak not unto the comfort confirmation one of another Repent your sinfull neglect of these sociable soul-edifying acts of conference or renounce your relation to the Saints who have gone before you of whose spirit you do not partake Nay renounce your relation to God and his people of and to whom you speak so little that you seem insensible of their estate and unprofitable to their souls The 2. Use that I shall make of this doctrine is of exhortation to stir up the godly to be frequent in holy conference to get together and speak often one to another This is the duty incumbent on you that fear the Lord and cannot but be discharged by you whose hearts are full of thoughts of Gods holy name if you are indeed in union maintain the Communion of Saints and whilst you sit joyntly under the same ministrations of grace fail not in your places and capacities to minister one to another Consider Christian brethren Scripture as well as nature doth teach us it is not good to be alone we are not born for our selves we are members one of another we must seek every man the good of his neighbour the things of others not our own things solitude is not more burdensome and dangerous to nature then to grace nor more unsuitable to man then to a Christian much hurt have the godly received by solitarinesse when David exilde from Israel did walk alone in the land of the Philistins he fell into diffidence and despondency and blasphemous conceits that God had forgotten to be gracious he had in vain washed his hands and cleansed his heart in innocency and when Peter wandered alone in the high Priests hall he was overcome with the temptation to deny his master Profit of holy conference is ever great but most in evil times by it we are established in holinesse kept from falling Restored when fallen strengthened in the day of temptation quickened when dead and dull in duty It is the very veins of the Church by which every joynt supplieth its place unto the edification of the body there is not more profit then priviledge in holy conference It is the Communion of Saints and fellowship of the Gospel the comunication of the gifts and graces of Gods holy spirits it gives counsell in doubts and straits comfort in despondencies and sorrows It is the vent of grief easeth our hearts of the burden of sad apprehensions by friendly coÌ„plaints it is the expression of zeal which would burn he uphold of the heart by the Common consent of good men and mutuall counsell each of other how is it then Christian souls that you are so much unacquainted and unaccustomed to holy conference for shame content not our selves to hear the word preached but conserre of what you have heard live not in the Church but in your places communicate each to others as lively members of the Church are not the times evill in which we live do not the proud prosper are not they who work wickednesse set up and see we not men that tempt God delivered are not truth blasphemed ordinances trampled on sincere sanctity slighted vilified and contemned is not perfidy perjury violation oâ— solemn oaths and covenants the way to preferment do not men court us by providences into wayes pinciples