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church_n	epistle_n	paul_n	timothy_n	2,910	5	10.4803	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91733	Rules for the government of the tongue: together, with directions in six particular cases. [brace] 1 Confession of our faults to men. 2 Confession of Christ before men. 3 Reprehension of faults in others. 4 Christian communication. [brace] Vrbanity and eloquence. 5 Consolation of the afflicted. 6 Self-commendation, and a disproof of perfection in this life. Added, as a supplement, to the Rules for governing [brace] 1 the thoughts, 2 the affections, in the Precepts for Christian practice, or, The rule of the new creature, new model'd. / By Edward Reyner, minister of the Gospel in Lincolne.	Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668.; Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668. Precepts for Christian practice.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1230; Thomason E1594_2; ESTC R208861	220,132	401

consolatorie letters to the Churches Rome Corinth Ephesus Collosse c. and to particular persons as Timothy Titus and Philemon and the other Apostles James Peter John and Jude writ Epistles purposely to comfort as well as to instruct Jesus Christ did write letters by the hand of his Secretary John to the seven Churches of Asia to comfort them that were capable of it and fit for it Rev. 2.10 11. cap. 3.10 11. as the Church of Smyrna and of Philadelphia God useth the tongue to comfort them that are present with us and God blesseth the pen to comfort those that are absent and at a distance from us Some have done God and his people much good service this way as Divines both ancient and modern The Martyrs in prison and many since as Mr. Paul Baynes whose Christian pithy letters full of divine Counsels and Comforts have been and are of singular use 2 Send Messengers to comfort others as Paul a Prisoner at Rome sent Tichicus a faithfull Minister Col. 4.7 8 9. and Onesimus a beloved Brother to the Colosians purposely to know their state and to comfort their hearts Ephes 6 21 22. to perswade them to patience and perseverance and Tichicus to the Emphesians 1 Thes 3.1 2 5 Paul sent Timothe us from Athens to the Thessalonians to establish them and to comfort them concerning their faith Paul was greatly comforted by the return of his Messengers from the Churches and by the tydings they brought him of their gracious state and prosperous affairs 2 Cor. 7.6 7 as by the comming of Titus from the Church at Corinth and of Timothy from the Church of Thessalonians 1 Thes 3.6 7. 3 Take journeys to comfort such as are cast down and disconsolate even the presence and visits of friends are comfortable Paul beg'd of God hee might have a prosperous journey to the Saints at Rome for hee longed to see them to impart some spirituall gift to them to establish them to comfort them and to bee comforted in them Rom. 1.10 11 12. by the mutuall faith of them and him For the same end and purpose Paul prayed exceedingly night and day to see the Thessalonians face 1 Thes 3.9 10 11. and that God the Father and God the Son would direct his way unto them So much of the Rules Now follow the Reasons why wee should comfort others which may bee drawn from four heads 1 The necessity and commodity of comfort in respect of others 2 The misery of them that want it 3 The excellency of the duty it self 4 The equity of it in respect of our selves 1 Reas The Necessity and Commodity of comfort in afflictions in respect of others both souls and bodyes as well as our own 1 Comfort is needfull and usefull for the spirits of others in six respects 1 To support them or bear them up from sinking under the pressures of troubles inward or outward Comfort is that to an heart that is loadened with grief to uphold it which a prop or shore is to a house that is ready to fall which a hand is to one that is oppressed with a heavy burden to take it off or which a shoulder being put under is to help him to bear it Pro. 18.14 The spirit of a man being shored up with Comfort will sustain his infirmities but a wounded spirit that wants the healing plaister of Consolation is intollerable it is like a prick in the shoulder that hath a heavy burden upon it who can bear it 2 To quicken them or keep life in their spirits and to preserve or recover them from fainting and swounding Comforts are reviving cordialls Comfort is the life of our spirits yea the life of our lives without which life would bee no life but a lingring death Now wee live saith Paul if ye stand fast in the Lord that is 1 Thes 3.8 our lives are made comfortable to us by the joy and comfort we take in your stedfastnesse that is wee injoy the comfort of our lives by the joy and comfort we take in your perseverance The damned though they live in Hell are said to dye eternally because their state is void of all joy and comfort whereas to make the hearts of them sad by slanders revilings bitter speeches or otherwise and to impair the cheerfullness of their spirits and dead them Ezek. 13 22. is a kind or degree of murder It is murder in divinity though not in civill policie 3 Comfort is needfull and usefull for others to chear refresh and rejoyce their drooping spirits to raise them up from their sorrow and sadnesse which hath bowed down their souls even to the dust In the multitude of my sad troubled thoughts within me saith David Psal 94.19 thy Comforts which are breathed into mee by thy spirit or handed to mee by thy servants delight my soul Comforts poure the oyl of gladness into hearts full of heavinesse take off their mourning garments and cloath them with cheerfullness Joy is as one calls it the spring of our year Mr. Caryl the light of our day the Sun in our firmament Comfort is honey in the mouth melody in the ear and a Jubilee in the heart Comforts in season that is when others stand in need of them and are fit to receive them are very sweet like flowers in May or apples fully ripe or like the singing of birds in the Spring Right Comforters are birds of joy that sing most sweetly to sad souls to cheer them up with their pleasant Notes Cant. 2.12 when the season of comforting the afflicted commeth then the time of the singing of birds is come that is a time of great refreshing 4 Comfort is needfull to quiet and compose the spirits of others when inwardly disquieted and perplexed Comforts cause a calm in a tempested tumultuated soul which is like a troubled Sea they make all quiet they say to the winds and waves or storms of inward troubles peace and be still 5 To establish confirm and settle others in a good frame of spirit and in a right course of life in Gods truths and wayes and in the exercise of grace to hold their spirits fast and close from being shaken or removed or tossed too and fro as unsetled and unstable souls are 1 Cor. 16 13. Paul writ consolatory Epistles to the Corinthians that they might stand fast in the faith quit themselves like men and be strong to the Ephesians that thy might not bee carryed about with every wind of Doctrin Ephes 4.14 weather-cock-like to the Colossians that they might bee rooted and built up in Christ Co● 2.6 7. and stablished in the faith Paul sent Timotheus to the Thessalonians to establish them and comfort them concerning their faith that is to establish them in the saith by comforting them 1 Thes 3.2 Paul prayed God would comfort the hearts of the Thessalonians and establish them in every good word and work that

of which have spent whole or the greatest part of chapters upon that subject As that good governour Nehemiah did the thirteenth chapter of his book as a Naerrative of the good deeds hee had done for the house of his God and for the offices thereof which hee intreats the Lord to remember vers 14. against the prophanation of the Sabbath and the marriages with strange wives and the fifth chapter in relating his pitty and bounty to the poor Jews in freeing them from their oppressions vers 1. to 14. and from their charge of provision which they were bound to bring in to their governour vers 14 15. hee forbore his own allowance yet kept hospitality and hee prayes in the close of the chapter Think upon me my God for good according to all that I have done for this people Job makes protestation of his innocency and integrity not only here and there often in his book but the 29. and 31. chapters contain his continued vindication thereof or a catalogue of his good works Paul spends many chapters in declaring what hee had received from God and what hee did and suffered for God and his people as Act. 20. Phil. 3.1 Thes 2.2 Cor. 11. and 12. chapters Quest In what cases is self-commendation allowed to Gods people Ans I shall name eleven First case is of afflictions from God wherein they have professed their faith in God First Case their patience obedience sincerity constancy notwithstanding the same so did Job when hee took his flesh in his teeth and put his life in his hand Though God slay mee saith he yet will I trust in him I will maintain mine own wayes before him and my foot hath held his steps Job 13.14 15. Chap. 23.10.11 12. his way have I kept and not declined neither have I gone back from the commandement of his lips no not when God laid a load of sorrows upon him And the Church in Psal 44.17 18 19 c. All this evil is come upon us from the Lord yet have wee not forgotten thee nor dealt falsly in thy Covenant our heart is not turned back c. And Jeremy when afflicted and humbled under the hand of God As for mee Jer. 17 1● I have not hasted from being a pastour to follow thee neither have I desired the woefull day thou knowest Vers 17. that which came out of my lips was right before thee bee not a terrour unto mee thou art ray hope in the day of evil The second Case is Second Case Injuries from men in word or deed 1 In word by scoffs or reproaches 2 Sam. 6 2● as David when Michal mocked him for dancing before the Ark hee justified his Act as done before the Lord out of zeal for his glory joy in him and thankfullness to him Vers 21. and if this make mee vile I will yet bee more vile than thus Or by slanders and false Accusations of our good conversation In this case it may bee needfull to make just Apologies for defence of our innocency and vindication of our good names as Paul did before the people of Jerusalem Act. 22.1 2 c. Act. 21.27 28. when the Jews of Asia cryed out against him that hee taught all men every where against the people and the law and the temple And when hee was brought before the Council in Act. 23.1 men and Brethren saith he I have lived in all good conscience before God untill this day When Tertullus the Oratour accused him before Felix the governour wee have found this man a pestilent fellow and a mover of sedition Act. 24.5 6. among all the Jews c. what a large Apologie did Paul then make for his faith Vers 10. to 22. life doctrin and conscience and afterwards before King Agrippa in the 26 of the Acts Thus wee may and ought to plead our cause and defend our innocency to wit the grace of God we have received and the work of God which wee have done when wee are called before Rulers and Governours for Christs sake Mic. 10.18 19 20. when wee are accused to them or examined by them of our faith holinesse or conversation Jacob made an Apologie for his faithfullness in Labans service Gen. 31.36 to 42. when Laban compelled him to commend himself and thereby to defend himself as Job did frequently when his friends charged him wrongfully David did the like to clear his slandered innocency and Paul to vindicate his person office and doctrin from the aspersions and calumniations of his emulous Adversaries the false Apostles whereby they laboured to cast an odium upon him which forced him into a commendation of himself as in the 11. and 12. chapters of the second Epistle to the Corinthians Yea Christ himself did commend himself to defend himself against the Jews which of you convinceth mee of sin saith he Joh. 8.46 48. and when they said to him say wee not well that thou art a Samaritan Vers 49. and hast a Devill Jesus answered I have not a Devil but I honour my Father and yee do dishonour mee 3 In case of Injuries from men in deed wee may protest our innocency to prove wee suffer wrongfully as Daniel did his before King Darius when hee was cast into the Lions den for calling upon his God My God hath sent his Angell and hath shut the Lions mouths that they have not hurt mee Dan. 6.22 for as much as before him innocency was found in mee and also before thee O King have I done no hurt When the Jews took up stones to stone Christ hee pleaded his innocency Joh. 10.31 32. many good works have I shewed you from my Father for which of those works do you stone mee and now yee seek to kill mee a man that hath told the truth Joh. 8.40 which I have heard of God The third Case Third Case wherein it is lawfull to commend our selves is this To shew forth the infinite riches of Gods free grace and mercy to such vile unworthy Creatures as wee are in giving us grace to bee what wee are and inabling us by grace to do what wee do to incourage weak beleevers unto dependence on God for grace and mercy and against despondency notwithstanding all their infirmities and unworthiness Upon this account Paul commended himself before the Corinthians and Timothy and all that read his Epistles to them that hee might commend the great love and kindness of God to him before them all and to propound himself as an example of Gods free and rich mercy to them all I persecuted saith hee to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15.9 10. the Church of God but by the grace of God I am that I am and I laboured more abundantly than they all that is the rest of the Apostles and to Timothy he saith I was before a Persecuter a Blasphemer 1 Tim. 1 1● and injurious yea the chief of sinners Vers 15 16 but I

obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering for a pattern to them which should hereafter beleeve on him to life everlasting Paul commends himself for his grace and labour through grace to commend God for his mercy and grace to poor sinners that none may despair of either but apprehend a possibility and hope thereof seeing he obtained both who was so unworthy of it Fourth Case is Fourth Case To give others occasion and provocation 1 To pray for us as the Apostle did the Hebrews Heb. 13.18 Pray for us for we trust wee have a good Conscience in all things willing to live honestly Paul speaks of his good Conscience and honest living to them to bespeak their prayers to God for him 2 To praise God for us and glorifie God on our behalf Paul craved the Corinthians not only prayers but praises that thanks may be given to God by many on the behalf of him and Timothy 2 Cor. 1.11 12 Why so For our rejoycing is this the restimony of our Conscience that in all simplicity and godly sincerity and by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the World and more abundantly to you wards The conversion of sinners Gal. 1.24 Eph. 1.15 16 and the graees of the Saints are just occasion of great thanksgiving to God 3 To glory on our behalf before others especially those that seek to traduce and slander us 2 Cor. 5.11 12 We are made manifest in your Consciences saith Paul to the Corinthians that is we have attested and manifested our sincerity to you not to get praise from you Vers 12. but to give you an occasion to glory on our behalf that you may have somewhat to answer the false Apostles the enemies of our credit and comfort which glory in the face and not in heart 2 Thes 1.4 Paul gloried in the Thessalouians in the Churches of God for their faith and patience in all their tribulations Fifth case is Fifth Case when others require an account of our faith holiness obedience or experience as Christ asked the Disciples Mar. 16.19 Ioh. 21.15 Whom say yee that I am and Peter Simon thou Son of Jonas lovest thou me or when any ask us a reason of the hope that is in us either for their satisfaction to know what manner of persons we are whether the root of the matter be in us or what progress wee have made in Christianity or for their instruction to learn something from us concerning Gods dealings with us 1 Pet. 3.15 in this case we should be ready always to give an answer to every man be free and open to them Sixth Case Sixth Case When wee would propound our selves unto others as examples of faith patience godliness or the like to draw others to follow our steps To this end we should invite them to us and tell them what God hath done for our souls as the Psalmist did Psal 66.16 Paul commended himself to the Philippians as a pattern for their imitation or copy to write after Phil. 3.17 Brethren saith he bee followers together of me c. Wherein Hee declares his steps throughout the Chapter in worshipping God in the Spirit Vers 3. Vers ● and rejoycing in Christ Jesus in counting all things dung for Christ in being found in Christ having on his righteousness Vers 9 10 Vers 12 13 14 20 and being made conformable to him in forgetting what is behind and pressing towards the mark in having his conversation in heaven Christs Ministers do often preach their own Graces Lives Experiences that the hearts and lives of their Hearers may bee fashioned and ordered accordingly Seventh Case Seventh Case When our enemies accuse us falsly and our friends who can and ought to vindicate us refuse or neglect to do it then we may commend our selves and bear witness to our selves 2 Cor. 12.11 as Paul saith he was compelled to doe because the Corinthians would not do it for him when the false Apostles did slanderously asperse him I am saith he become a fool in glorying yee have compelled or necessitated me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for I ought to have been commended of you It was your duty to have attested my uprightness and unblameableness and to have maintained the honour of my Ministry and to have contested for me with my undermining false accusing Opposers but yee would not commend me therefore am I forced to commend my self and if I bee a fool in glorying yee have made yea constrained me to be so Eighth Case Eighth Case To shew and approve our integrity and reality that we are Israelites indeed sound at bottom not almost but altogether Christians before those to whom we relate or with whom wee have to do to make our selves manifest in their Consciences as Paul did to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 5.11 to stand right in their opinion and make it appear that wee seek not theirs but them 2 Cor. 12.14 1 Thes 3.4 5 6 not their praise nor their Temporal good but their Spiritual profit that they may be saved 1 Cor. 10.33 that we may appeal to God and them as witnesses thereof as Paul did to the Thessalonians Yee are witnesses and God also Vors 10.11 how holily justly and unblameably wee behaved our selves among you that beleeve Thus wee may commend our selves 1 To uphold the credit of our Callings as Paul did of his Ministry 2 To further the success of our labours as Paul did in his Epistles to the Churches to adde weight to his Doctrin 3 To promote the efficacy of the Counsel or charge we give to others and make it penetrate as Paul related to Timothy That he served God from his fore-fathers with a pure conscience and had remembrance of him in his prayers night and day To what end 2 Tim. 1.8 To perswade him to hearken to his advice which was to stirre up the gift of God which is in him 2 Tim. 1.6 by the putting on of Pauls hands i. e. execute the office to which he was set apart by imposition of hands 4 To manifest our love to others by unbosoming our selves or opening our hearts or the cabinet of our souls to them to let them look in and see the treasures of graces comforts and experiences the Jewels God hath laid up in them 2 King 20.13 as Hezekiah shewed the Embassadours of the King of Babylon the house of his precious things to testifie his respect to them and as men shew their best Rooms and Furniture Jewels and Ornaments to them they love best Also to gain their love to us to insinuate into their bosoms and bee a means of doing them more good to take prejudice off their spirits against us and jealousies of us and to obtain kindness from them Receive us saith Paul to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 7.2 Why so for wee have wronged no man defrauded no man

the Churches state that hee might have joy and comfort in their perseverance Phil. 2.19 and progress in holiness I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you that I may be of good comfort when I know your state Sixth means of comforting others is prayer to God 1 For comfort to be conveyed into the hearts of others ●ol 2.1 2 Paul its probable wrestled with God by prayer for the Colossians and for them of Laodicca that their hearts might bee comforted 2 For the gift or faculty of comforting others to be given to us Isa 50.4 the tongue of the learned which God hath promised that we may know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary It is a special and excellent gift to be able to comfort afflicted souls worth beging of God by prayer Fifth Rule Consider the persons who are fit to be comforted as 1 In general Gods people above all others for it is their portion it is the childrens bread that must not be given to doggs Isa 48.22 There is no peace nor comfort to the wicked Cap. 40.1 2 saith the Lord. But comfort yee comfort yee my people saith your God speak yee comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished and her iniquity is pardoned Paul sent to comfort the Saints and Beleevers at Rome Corinth Ephesus Colosse and Thessalonica Christ said to the Woman diseased twelve years Daughter be of good comfort Mat. 9.22 thy saith hath made thee whole They are the fittest subjects and best bottles to pour the water of comfort into to them of due it belongs therefore give it to them 2 Weak and faint souls 1 Thes 5.14 We exhort you brethren saith Paul comfort the feeble minded support the weak Such as are dejected with fear or feeling of tentations or afflictions or duties or tossed too and fro with fluctuations of mind that have little strength to perform Duties or bear Crosses or resist Tentations or wait for Promises such should be supported strengthened Isa 35.3 4 and encouraged Strengthen yee the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees say to them that are of a fearful heart be strong fear not c. The Shepheards of Israel are sharply reproved for this Ezek. 34.4 2 Cor. 7.6 They strengthened not the weak God himself comforts them that are cast down scil in their mindes and hearts and lye low in their own eyes the humble or the abjects as the Old Translation hath it if this be a glorious act of mercy in God sure it can be no less than an honourable duty in man Third sort are Mourners for sin for want of Gods presence and for misery 1 Mourners for Sin who are deeply humbled in the sight and sence of their sins and in the apprehension of Gods displeasure against them such have need and are fit to receive comfort Acts 2.37 38 as the Jews when they were pricked in their hearts at Peters Sermon and the Jaylor when he came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas Act. 16.29 30 31 saying Sirs what must I do to be saved And the Excommunicated person when he was a true penitent for his sins Paul writ to the Church of Corinth to forgive him and comfort him lest such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow even for sin for sorrow is a Gulf which when it exceeds will devour And the Woman in the Gospel that had been a notorious sinner Luk. 7.37 38 when she stood at Christs feet behind him weeping washing them with her tears wiping them with her hairs and kissed them that is humbled her self low before him then Christ comforted her he said unto her thy sins are forgiven Vers 48. Mat. 5.4 Christ hath pronounced them blessed that mourn and promised they shall be comforted and his servants not only Ministers but people must be his instruments to perform the same Isa 57.18 God promiseth to restore comfort to penitentiall mourners 2 Mourners not only for sin but for want of Gods presence and the light of his countenance as those that walk in darkness and see no light or go mourning without the Sun as wives when their husbands are gone from home Job 30.28 and Children when their Parents are in a far Country The Children of the Bride-chamber have need of Comfort when the Bridegroom is taken from them and they mourn for his absence Mat. 9.15 3 Mourners for misery ought to bee comforted as for necessities death of friends persecutions or any outward afflictions as the Jews Captives in Babylon God gave charge they should bee comforted so some understand that place by publishing to them the approach of their deliverance Isa 40.1 2. that their warfare was accomplished that is their seventy years captivity were expired or drew to an end Job implyes this when he saith hee dwelt as a King in the Army as one that comforteth the mourners Job 29.25 To him that is afflicted pity should bee shewed that is comfort should bee given from his friend saith Job and hee that refuseth to do it Job 6.14 for saketh the fear of the Almighty Comfort is as needfull as Wine to bee given unto those that bee of heavy hearts Pro. 31.6 7. that they may drink and remember their misery no more The Fourth Sort are seekers of Christ Cant. 3.1 2. these are objects of comfort as the Spouse when she sought her Beloved up and down night and day in her bed and in the broad wayes The watchmen should have comforted her with tidings of her beloved but did not yea they smote and wounded her Ver. 3. Cap. 5 6 7 8. while she was in pursuit of him and sick of love for him And the women that came to the Sepulcher to seek their dead and buried Saviour See how an Angel comforts them fear not for I know that yee seek Jesus which was crucified Mat. 28.5 hee is not here for hee is risen go quickly and tell his Disciples that hee is risen from the dead and they departed with fear and great joy Christ himself appeared to Mary Magdalen when shee was weeping and seeking him at the Sepulcher Joh. 20.11 to 19. Mary saith hee to her Rabboni that is Master saith she to him Cryers after Christ should bee comforted as blind Bartimeus was probably by the Disciples when hee cryed vehemently Jesus thou son of David have mercy on mee they said unto him bee of good comfort behold hee i. e. Christ calleth thee and hee casting away his garment arose and came to Jesus Mar. 10.49 50. These four sorts to wit Saints weak ones mourners seekers are sons of Peace and capable of comfort to bee sons of Consolation The Sixth Rule Write Letters send Messengers and take journeys of purpose to comfort others 1 Write letters of consolation to the afflicted as Paul did Epistles which are