wisdome in believers which ruleth Tongues as tumultuous and turbulent as winds and waves or as an heady multitude It is an unruly evill saith the Apostle James 3.8 7. 7 Courage And lastly he that will order his Tongue well and his discourse aright had need be one of great courage and resolution for many and great discouragements will arise from within and from without to stop the course of Christian Conference David is a resolved man Psalm 39.1 I will take heed to my wayes that I offend not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle Orig. A bridle or muzzel for my mouth And Job is so resolved a man Job 27.24 as that he binds himself by an oath as God liveth my lips shall not speak wickedness nor my tongue utter deceit The Tongue is as the bow words as the arrows it's Scripture language courage and resolution are as the armes which bend and draw the bow wisdome as the eye which levels and layes the arrow right both together shoot near or hit the mark and white in Christian Conference A second preparative direction for the well managing of Christian Conference 2 Direct A forme of sound words is to get and hold fast a form of sound words in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1.13 Faith and love that is what is to be believed and done and so takes in the whole systeme and body of Divinity If this would be and was a good help to Timothy for the carrying on of the work of his Ministery then surely it is greatly usefull for private believers in the maintaining of Christian Conference in the places and companies into which providence casts them For knowledge guides the motions of our lips as eyesight doth the motions of our feet A blind man must be lying sitting or standing still if he will be going he soon stumbles and falls An ignorant person must keep silence if he will be talking he soon trips and falters and falls under disgrace and Contempt in an understanding company And these heads of divinity in order to Christian Conference may be either 1 General matter 1. General which concernes all persons in all places and at all times As 1. Concerning God his Titles Names Attributes works of Creation and Providence Or 2. Concerning sin its heinous nature how it and nothing else is abominable to God and destructive to man Or 3. touching death how all must die none knoweth how soon Or 4. concerning Christ the great and glorious work of redemption wrought by him his ability and willingnesse to save every poor lost sinner who cometh to him for life how little we are sensible of our want of Christ or of the worth of Christ how little Christ is prized by us or beloved of us or believed in or longed after by us or of that absolute indispensable necessitie there is of our getting union with him or else of our unavoidable misery and that for ever 5. As also concerning hell the pains and torments of the damned endless easeless and remedyless and touching also the joyes of Heaven and happiness there such as eye hath not seen eare hath not heard nor hath it enter'd into the heart of man to conceive 1 Cor. 14.9 and these too for ever and ever And withall concerning doomsday that dreadful day when that trumpet shall sound that lowd shrill voice be heard all the world over Arise ye dead and come to judgment when the earth and the Seas shall give up their dead and all shall stand naked before that righteous Judg the Lord Jesus Christ out of whose mouth shall proceed those two last words Mat. 25.34 41. Come ye blessed and go ye cursed c. and so Saints and sinners shall part for ever The righteous who are the blessed of the Father inherit the kingdome prepared for them and go into life eternal but sinners shall go into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his Angels These particulars an ancient Minister now with God laid down thus Thy God thy sin thy death thy Christ The eternal pains of Hell The Joyes of Heaven the day of doome These seven remember well Add hereunto the vanitie of all Creature excellencies riches pleasures honors beauties wit strength nimbleness of body c. as also buildings feastings wine women musick or what ever any mistaken soul calls delectable Solomon the wisest of Kings got up if I may so express my self to the top of the mountain of all Created excellencies and seeing multitudes clambering climbing up the hill after him some for riches some for pleasures some for honours c. he beckons to them all and cries aloud down again back again back again I have seen and find all to be Vanitie of Vanities Vanitie of Vanities Eccl. 1.3 Especially let me commend to you two common Theams for the Subjects of your discourse the sinfulness and miserie of man by nature with the beauty and loveliness of Jesus Christ for the bringing others under the due and deep convictions of sin in themselves and of righteousness in Jesus Christ to be found and in him onely that so sin may be imbittered self may be emptied of all it 's own conceited righteousness and Christ may be indeared as the onely rock to build upon and holiness embraced as the way to happiness and glory Heb. 12.14 Deale with the sons and daughters of men as the Spouse of Christ dealt with the daughters of Jerusalem My beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest among ten thousand his head is the most fine Gold Can. 5.10 to 16. c. and so goeth on in a larg and lively description of Jesus Christ and concludes yea he is altogether lovely this is my beloved and this is my friend O daughters of Jerusalem Who knows but others thereby may be enamoured with Christ and stir'd up to make enquiry after him as the daughters of Jerusalem did whose question presently it was Whither is thy beloved gone O thou fairest among women whither is he turned aside that we may seek him with thee Can. 6.1 An heart fill'd with sweet Meditations concerning Christ and warm affections to Christ will be breaking out in high commendations and recommendations of Christ to others also witness David who saith Psal 45.1 My heart is inditing of a good matter and presently adds I speak of the things I have made touching the King my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Is inditing in the Original toileth or bubleth up fryeth as in a frying pan to wit my heart studieth and prepareth by warm and fervent meditation alluding to the Mincah or meat-offering under the Law made of fine Flour and dressed in the Frying-panâ— boyled in Oyl and then presented to the Lord by the Priest Lev. 2.5 8 9. So the matter of Divine Meditation is as the Mincah the oblation boiled in the grace of the holy Spirit as in Oile so prepared and presented to
he had constantly in his eye When he came among persons of Quality being himself well born well educated of a generous spirit and a chearful temper his company and converse was usually very acceptable to them which gave him an advantage to tell them as he would plainly though prudently of what he saw amiss in them to mind them of the vanity of the World of better things above and to put them as he often would upon good designs to shew their thankfulness to God for his mercy to them Nor was there a person so mean but he could and would readily and humbly condescend to him as knowing what precious souls dwell in the poorest houses of clay He spake to such alwayes in their own dialect and in a phrase they well understood trying their knowledge and feeling the pulse of their souls if he found them ignorant or unsensible he would endeavour to awaken them by laying plain Texts of Scripture before them for their conviction If he met with humbled and burdened souls or such as were babes in Christ he would gather them as lambs in his arms and gently lead them to the Wells of Salvation If at any time there hapned to be a mixt company at the Table with him some serious Christians some Professors at large his manner was to be very free and pleasant in discourse with them which caused them all to give great attention to him then might you have seen how ever and anon the honey dropt from his lips while the company were hanging on them how skilful he was in dividing the Word aright to every one his portion and how wise in winning of souls If he observed any to take the boldness from his innocent mirth and pleasant humour to incline to vain and frothy discourse he would very dexterously turn to some more profitable matter and as occasion was given afford a serious reproof tempered with much kindness and love to their souls which was usually well taken at his hand If his occasions required his stay a day or two at any place he seldom departed before he had Preached to the People He found by much and long experience that a plain way of Preaching was most effectual to the ends for which that Ordinance was appointed and therefore he constantly used it even in the College and Vniversity though he could easily have appeared in another strain had he preferred an aiery Reputation with some before the Work of his Master and the real advantage of others To conclude I hope that many who some time were and some who yet are members of that Society having felt his fatherly care heard his sound and pious instructions and seen his godly examples do and will endeavour to hold a conformity thereunto If any neglect or despise them let them know assuredly that God will require it at their hands A Dialogue OR A DISCOURSE BETWEEN A Minister and a Stranger As they were On the High-way together ABOUT Soul Affairs By Edmund Staunton D. D. LONDON Printed for Tho Parkhurst and are to be Sold at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel And at the Gilded Bible on London-bridge under the Gate 1673. A Dialogue or Discourse between a Minister and a Stranger as they were on the High-way together Minister FRiend Good morrow to you How far Travel you this way Stranger To such or such a place Min. I shall be glad of your company Str. And I Sir of yours Min. Little thought you in the Morning of meeting me or I of meeting you Str. True Sir Min. Well Friend since by the Providence of God we are brought together and must be accountable to God at death and judgment how we spend our time whil'st we be together shall we talk of what concerns the good of our Souls and of the Things of God Stranger Yes Sir with all my heart if you please Minister Friend What think you then that your Soul is Str. I think that my Soul is my breath because when a man's breath is gone then he dyeth and his Soul is gone also Min. True Friend when the breath departeth the Soul departeth also yet the Soul of a man is not his breath because 1. Beasts and the Fowls of the Air breathe also and yet you do not think they have reasonable immortal Souls as we have 2. Our breath is but the Air drawn in and cast out again and can you reasonably imagine first that the Air thus sucked in and blown out again should be the Soul or Souls of men or secondly that the whole Region of the Air should be the rational and immortal Souls of men or thirdly that our Souls come in and go out of our bodies as the Air we breathe in doth Stranger Truly Sir you have convinced me that the Soul is not breath whatever it be Minister What else do you think it is Str. I think it is my blood most likely Not so because 1. Beasts and Birds have blood in them as well as Men and yet you do not think they have reasonable immortal Souls as we Men have 2. If our Souls were blood then when our Noses bleed to speak familiarly with you our Souls would even out at our Noses or when we cut our fingers our Souls would run out at our fingers ends Min. Friend guess once more what your Soul is Str. Sir Is it not my Conscience Min. No Friend the understanding will conscience and affections as love hatred are the faculties and endowments of the Soul but not the Soul it self Str. You say well Sir I pray tell me then what my Soul is Minister Friend not to trouble you with any curious definitions the Soul of man is a spiritual substance endowed with reason immortal created and infused into man informeth inliveneth the body doth and acteth all in man the Soul seeth in the eye heareth in the ear speaketh in the tongue c. zach 12.1 God formeth the spirit of man within him Stranger I thank you Sir this is more than ever I heard of before Min. Well Friend having spoken something concerning our Souls shall we speak a little concerning God Str. Yes Sir I like your talk very well Min. What do you think God is Is he an old man or a young Str. An old man surely he hath been a long time Min. No God is neither a young man nor an old man Str. If God be not a man why do the Scriptures speak of God as having eyes ears hands and feet c Min. This kind of speaking is not proper but figurative speaking of God after the manner of men stooping to our understandings and capacities but the Scripture speaking plainly and properly saith God is a Spirit John 4.24 Stranger You say right Sir God is a Spirit Minister Well Friend Are not the Angels spirits too They are called ministring spirits Hebr. 1.13 What then is the difference between God and the Angels Str. God is the greatest and highest of all the
we inflame it in our selves by comforting others under their various temptations we gather experiences whereby we may comfort our selves in the like trials As the widows Cruse of Oyl and barrel of meale wasted not by emptying but filled rather And the milke in the Mothers breasts which by giving suck to the Child continually increaseth and not drawn out drieth up the sooner Let 's lay out our parts and gifts as opportunity is offered sincerely for God and to be sure we shall be furnished with gifts and parts graciously from God Parents do not use to let their Children want books whilst they have a mind to learn nor Masters their servants to want Tools or lights whilst they are willing to work nor doth the husbandman tilling his ground let his seeds-men want Corne when he seeth they will well and wisely sow and scatter it Thus Christian Conference is not alone beneficial to others but to our selves a great augmenter of parts and gifts I 'le give you for the Confirmation hereof an example of two Women to tell you their names and the places where they lived and died is needless both well in years I think forty at least before they began to mind to purpose the affairs of their souls and the concernments of Eternity both were deeply sensible of their gross ignorance and highly desirous to get knowledge in the things of God neither of them could read at all both were industrious one her eyes being pretty good learned to read the other being weak and dim sighted could not but she also so bestir'd her self in hearing Meditation Prayer and abundantly in Christian Conference putting questions to every one she met with whom she thought able and willing to instruct her that she grew eminent for such an one she was poor also in the knowledge and practice of Christianity and I hope are both long since with God 2 2. To the heart 2. Christian Conference is not onely profitable for the head by augmentation of parts but for the heart also by the communication of spiritual good things the best things to the best part the heart of man and it 's usual with God to bless Christian Conference especially where the hearts of speakers do design his glory the edification and salvation of the hearers Paul's holy temper design and practice 1 Cor. 10.33 I please saith he all men in all things not seeking my own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved and his counsel 1 Cor. 14.12 For as much as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts seek that ye may excell to the edifying of the Church If the question be made what spiritual gifts may be communicated by Conference I 'de answer what not the ignorant may be inlightned the erronious reduced weak Christians may be strengthned and the strong established the worst of sinners may be converted and the best of Saints quickned and all edifyed and saved Take each of these particulars distinctly 1 1. Ignorant inlightned 1. That the ignorant may be inlightned is as clear as the Sunrising turnes the night into day The word of God not alone preached by ministers in office ordain'd and commissionated by Christ to that end but read and discoursed of by private persons may and doth make wise the simple Psal 19.7 The entrance of thy words to wit when it first openeth the door of the understanding it giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple Psal 119.130 Pauls preaching to the Gentiles was to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light Act. 26.18 The daily experience that Godly Parents and governours of families have as to their Children and Servants brought out of darkness worse then that of Egypt into a Goshen where light abounds and in them abounds and that conveighed by Catechizing and 〈…〉 2 2. Erroneous reduced 2. For the reduction of erroneous persons into ways of truth scarce any means more efficacious and successful then that of Christian Conference for thereby the grounds of mistakes in opinions are detected and the scruples and doubts lying in mens spirits are discovered and so answers from Scripture and right reason may be presently pertinently and warmly applyed That of the Apostle speaks methink fully to the purpose Jam. 5.19 20. Bretheren if any of you do erre from the truth and one Convert him Let him know that he which converts a sinner from the errour of his ways shall save a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sins Wherein we may observe as to our point in hand whom he speaks to Brethren even all whom he wrote to so that to reduce the erroneous in away of fraternal correption is a duty belonging to all none exempted brotherly love constraineth hereunto for if I must bring back the straying Ox or Ass of my enemy Exo. 23.4 much more the wandring soul of my brother Again what errours are here to be understood no doubt saith a learned Expositor errours in Doctrine Mars in Plo. and matters of Faith and those fundamentall errours also which are in a special manner destructive and bring death eternal death unavoidably and therefore it is said that he which converts him shall save a soule from death that is from Hell and damnation Now every petty errour about Scholastick subtilties is not so severely threatned as fundamental errours and heresies are which take off from Christ directly or indirectly such unrepented of bring inevitable ruin and destruction Yet I must grant though errours in Doctrine be principally intended yet errours in life and practice are not to be at all excused no not the least sin for the least sin deserveth death eternal death as wages due to it Ro. 6.23 But how doth he that Converts a sinner save his soule from death not by meriting or deserving life for him or by giving life to him but by being an instrument or means under God to repentance and so into the way of Salvation And lastly how doth he hide a multitude of sins that he doth by being a means to bring him to Christ for Righteousness whose Righteousness alone imputed to us and so made ours doth or can hide our sins so as they shall never be imputed to us or charged upon us Jer. 23.6 2 Cor. 5.21 Rom. 5.19 1 Cor. 1.30 And surely this work of converting sinners from their errours of saving soules from death and of hiding a multitude of sins is a gallant work this piece of service is high and noble service and this hath been is and may be done by the blessing of God in a way of Christian converse and Conference I need not give any farther confirmation by Scripture the constant experience not alone of Ministers but or private Christians who themselves have been sound in the Faith and whose hearts filled with a zeal for God and with love to and compassion for their erring brethren and who thereupon have laid out themselves much in Christian