cheerful giver 2 Cor. 9.7 and man also and a cheerful lender to cheerfulness in a child or servants obedience O how lovely is it It s so also between husbands and wives those offices of love they discharge each to other with readiness and chearfulness what a beauty doth it add thereunto But on the contrary when these or the like services are performed but unwillingly and by constraint with a sad look and a lowring countenance they are render'd ingrateful and unacceptable What 's a feast if no mirth there good looks and language are one of the best dishes at the Table Having spoken concerning the lawfulness and usefulness of civil mirth I proceed to lay down some cautions 3 Cautions to prevent disorders and irregularities therein 1 Vnseasonable 1. As to the timing of mirth it must be seasonable when Zion weeps and bleeds for the sons and daughters of Zion to be upon a merry pin I speak of common civil mirth especially if with constancy and some heights therein is â—s unseasonable as snow in harvest an high and heinous provocation When â—he Lord calls to weeping and mourning and if in that day behold joy and gladness and eating flesh and drinking wine and surely saith the Lord of hosts this iniâ—uitie shall not be purged from you till â—ou dye Is 22.12.13 14. True When the â—ord turnes againe the Captivity of Zion â—hen let our mouthes be fill'd with laughâ—er and our tongues with singing Psal 26.1 2. But when the Jewes are in Captivity then by the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept we hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof Psal 137 1 2. And yet by the way let me insert this that spiritual mirth and rejoycing in the Lord is alwayes a dutie and in the worst of times to be performed by the generation of believers Phil. 4.4 Hab. 3.17 18. Eccl. 10.19 A feast is made for laughter saith the Preacher but at a funeral sighing and mourning is more seasonable especially on a day set apart professedly for solemn humiliation even civil mirth seems abominably unseasonable Let me add also on the Lords day the Christian Sabbath our common civil mirth may well be spared the doing our own wayes the finding our own pleasures the speaking our own words Isa 58.13 Being under a special inhibition whereby the word own we understand not wayes pleasures or words in themselves sinful for such are unlawful at all times but such as are lawful on other dayes but on the Lords day unlawfull as concerning worldly imployments and recreations It s true it is a duty to call the Sabbath a delight but the more spirituâ—â— and heavenly our joy and rejoyâ—ings are the more in the Lord the â—ore agreeable with the day of the â—ord to the advancing of which holy â—irth there is by divine appointment 〈◊〉 Psalme for the Sabbath day Ps 92. 2 Immeasurable Voluptato commendat rarior usus 2. Civil mirth must not be immeasurable excessive and without measure The commendation of all our Civil â—leasures are the sparing use of them To be alwayes in a merry vain jesting and laughing is a swerving from the gravity and sanctity of Christianity â—leasantness of speech should not be â—sed as meat to feed the company with â—ests frollick frothy jokes are but windy not overwholsome they may be indeed as sauce to meat to quicken â—ppetites unto more solid and wholsome discourse or to fit our spirits for higher duties facetious speech is to a sober mind as whetting a sithe is to mowing too much whetting turns the edg of the Sithe and unfits it for service he who is alwayes whetting is an idle mower or rather mowes not at all and he that is alwayes jesting may go for a vain person or a vile one rather 1 Not with the sins of others 1. Not sporting our selves making our selves or others merry with our own sins or the sins of others such a man is one of Solomons fools It is sport to a fool to do mischief Prov. 10.23 And again Fools make a mock at siâ— Prov. 14.9 That is obdurate and hardened sinners having their Conscience seared and being past all sense of goodness take a kind of complacency and delight as in the acts of sinning so in their talking of it and making themselves and others merrie with it afterward Then to set men or Children oâ— fighting and to rejoyce in seeing them beat and hurt each other then witâ— many youngsters never so merry a feasâ— as where there is stoln venison rabbet hens or other provision To whom stolâ— waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant Prov. 9.17 as some quorish and therein theevish servantâ— though they have good food alloweâ— them and enough of it yet get somâ— dainties in a corner how pleasantly 〈◊〉 they go down or as adulterers anâ— adulteresses their secret uncleannesses are the stollen waters and bread in secret which the Spirit chiefly aimeth at as the Context sheweth It s sad to hear how some men will in a jocular way boast how many women and maidens they have defiled and how often So that woful generation of men who are mighty to drink wine and men of strength to mingle strong drink Isa 5.27 How they 'l merrily among their pot companions vaunt and brag it that so many quarts they took off at a sitting laid such a man asleep drunk another dead down laid him under the Table and glory in their shame So the Gamesters the Jewel of their mirth is many a time their cheating such and such an one who played with them how they fetched him over for so many pounds it may be hundreds so the malicious persons of a vindictive spirit how is it mirth and musick to them to boast how they have made even with such or such an one and hope they have given him his own and shall not die in his debt I might inlarge in this too copious a subject but in brief all this kind of mirth is madness and indeed monstrous for men to rejoyce in that for which they ought to mourn to laugh at that till their sides ake and their eyes water for which they should rather grieve till their hearts ake and rivers of Tears flow from their eyes as did Davids and Jeremiahs Those choice servants of the most high God Psal 119.136 Jer. 9.1 2 3. 4. 4 Not Scripture or matters of Religion Not the Scriptures or matters of Religion Jesting in Scripture phrases and the language of the Holy Ghost as Politian the Heathen and Julian the Apostate it 's a Character of profaness in any and in such as profess Christianity of profaneness with an accent of high aggravation and carrieth also much of danger with it if it be ill jesting with edged tools then surely with the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit and sharper than any two edged sword Eph. 6.17 Heb. 4.12 Kings and Princes do not
and honour in that happy day of our Lords appearance Awake awake O my glory Psal 57.8 Let each real Saint say Let us therefore arise and be doing and the Lord will be with us and prosper us 1 Chr. 22.16 Having proposed several arguments enforcing the necessity and usefulness of Christian Conference I proceed to lay down somâ— directions for the better performance of that great and weighty duty which may fall under two heads either habitual preparation for or actual execution in the discharge of that duty Habitual preparation Touching our habitual preparation for this spiritual service let me commend to all 1. 1 Heart puritie Heart puritie full of God and good which will fill the mouth with discourse of God and good For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Mat. 12.34 35. As the fountain is to the stream such is the heart to language both good or both bad And our present state being mixed and imperfect the purer the fountain is the more Christal are the streams flowing from it But for the making up this heart purity there is requisite 1. 1 By Blood Our being washed white in the blood of Jesus Christ Rev. 1.5 Nothing washeth white indeed but bloud and no bloud but the bloud of the Lamb Rev. 7.14 not Tears though penitential Tears and rivers of these Tears for all our Tears when all is done even themselves need washing The justification of our persons by the gracious imputation of the righteousness of Christ and by faith received is the prime and grand requisit pride and vain glory may squeeze good words out of the mouths of persons unjustified unsanctified strangers meer strangers to regeneration they lisping and stammering shuffling and bungling at it but holy language never floweth freely and sweetly indeed till Christ dwelleth in the heart by faith That Tree of life whose fruit is for meat and leaves for the healing of the Nations makes and alone makes fountains and streams hearts and language sweet and wholsome which else would be bitter and brackish yea noisome and poisonous Heb. 9.13 14. The Apostle argues from the less to the greater from the Law to the Gospel if the bloud of bulls c. How much more c. 2. 2 By the Spirit Washed also in the waters of the Sanctuary by the holy spirit of Sanctification infusing and implanting gracious qualities and habits into the Soul fitting it to utter speech gracious and such as may minister grace to the hearers and that from such principles as these 1. 1 Faith An habit and principle of faith eying God eying duty I believed saith holy David Psal 116.10 therefore have I spoken Prayer is faith speaking to God and holy Language is saith speaking to men faith herein eyeing the command of God is obedient and doth dutie and eyeing promises of blessings thereunto annexed is heartened and takes incouragement 2. 2 Love Love to God to our neighbours and to our selves that Gods glory may be advanced our neighbours spiritual good promoted and our own inward peace preserved by a Conscientious discharge of this dutie The truth is to speak plain English that even forward professors themselves being too miserably Tongue-tied as to Christian Conference argueth that there is but little true love to God to our neighbours or our selves to be found in us Paul had another frame of spirit more lively more communicative Rom. 1.11 12. He longeth to see the Romans that he might impart to them some spiritual gift to the end that they might be established that he might be comforted together with them by a mutual faith And this is certain his way of imparting to them was not in preaching to them onely but in conferring and discoursing with them also for their establishment his comfort and theirs and the glory of God in all Knowledg puffeth up but charity edifieth 1 Cor. 8.1 Puffeth up as a bladder with wind Charitie edifieth or buildeth up others as an house or Temple for God 3. 3 Fear There is required an holy fear and awe of God upon our spirits They that feared the Lord saith the Prophet Mal. 3.16 spake often one to another c. and therefore they spake often one to another because they feared the Lord. And the reason is cleare and plain all who fear God know that he is offended by sinful silence as well as by sinful language Omissions are destructive as well as Commissions and negatives as positives The servant that hid his Talent is punished with a vengeance Mat. 25.30 Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Not only that evil servant which smote his fellow servants did eat and drink with the drunken when the Lord came was cut in sunder and had his portion appointed with hypocrites where is weeping gnashof teeth Mat. 24.48 49 50 51. The same dreadful doom and dismal vengeance falls on both the idle servant and the wicked Silence or speech if sinful are both accursed 4. 4 Musing A musing meditabundous spirit much fits and disposeth us for holy Conference They who are much in the thoughts of God are like to be much also in speaking of God and for God Mal. 3.16 They that thought on his name spake often one to another David tells us Psal 39.3 My heart was hot within me while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my Tongue Be it he spake in Prayer to God as his next words import verse 3. Lord make me to know my end c. It holds also in holy Conference words for God though to men A full vessel must have vent and an heart full of holy meditations will vent it self in holy communications with men and in holy ejaculations prayers and praises to God 5. 5 Delighting in God A delighting our selves in God his word works and wayes would dispose us to a more warme and frequent speaking of God his word works and wayes Naturally men love and take occasion to be speaking of such things as they are much delighted in Holy David who said Ps 119.24 Thy Testimonies are my delight said also vers 72. My Tongue shall speak of thy words And again when he had said I will speak of thy Testimonies before Kings and will not be ashamed ver 46. he adds his incitement thereto I will delight in thy Commandments which I have loved 6. 6 Wisdom Wisdome is a great requisite for the well ordering of the Tongue to know the time to speak and the time to keep silence Eccl. 3.71 The vertuous woman openeth her mouth with wisdome And the man that refraineth his lips is wise also Prov. 31.26 Prov. 10.19 Wisdome keepeth the door of the lips openeth and shuts them in due season It 's the Wisdome of the Magistrate which guides a tumultuous people the wisdome of the Pilot which steers the ship tost with winds and billows and it is
deal with servants Charge them to obey their Masters in all things not with eye-service as men pleasers but in singleness of heart fearing God Not answering againe not purloining shewing all fidelitie Col. 3.22 Tit. 2.9 10. Yet again 15. Ignorance if you meet with them that are ignorant tell them That the soul be without knowledge is not good and the high aggravation of the gross ignorance of many is that they are willingly ignorant neither know nor desire or care to know the things of God Prov. 19.2 2 Pet. 3.5 If with men of knowledg 16. Knowing caution them to beware least their knowledg puffeth them up but rather being acted and managed by and with Charitie that it edifie being laid out for the good of others and their lips being the lips of the righteous let them feed many by Christian Conference and holy communication with others 1 Cor. 8. 1. Prov. 10.21 I might be very large and voluminous herein but to close up this direction be still furnished to speak to any persons whatsoever of such points as are of universal concernment as touching regeneration the absolute indispensable necessity of it to salvation as also touching our having a saving interest in Jesus Christ Christ told Nicodemus in plain terms Joh. 3.3 5. That except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdome of God And expresly as to the necessity of union with Christ He that hath the Son hath everlasting life and he that hath not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him vers 36. A third preparative direction 3 Direction for the promoting of Christian Conference in all places and companies where we come is to begin at home each Christian setting it up and keeping it up in his own house and Family that so wife Children and servants may gain an habit of good and savoury discourse to be acted and exercised when you or they go abroad as children mannerly or rude and unmannerly at home use so to carry themselves abroad also and such talk and discourse as is used at home by husbands and wives Parents and Children Masters and Servants is like to be their language abroad also The Lord by Moses gives his peremptory command as to good discourse in families These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and in thy lying down and rising up Deut. 6.6 7. Such was wise King Solomons practice which gave occasion to Sheba Queen of the South in her Princely visit to him to say unto him Happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee and that hear thy wisdome c. Custome is another nature use legs and have legs use memory and have memory use good discourse and you will have good discourse I have seen Children boyes and girles had to neighbour houses upon occasion of feasting visits or the like and when their parents call upon them for manners saying sirra where 's your hat and your leg and girle where 's your Cursy but no hat off no leg or Cursy made why not used to it at home So when we come into Christian Company and we provoke our selves to carry on good discourse and say Awake my glory Answer is given no sleep at home must sleep abroad also Acts frequent beget habits acquired and strengthen infused A dexterity in the managing of Christian Confernece aright as to matter manner principles and ends is I presume an infused habit a special gift of God Isa 50.4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary Given me that is me the Prophet in his measure or rather given me is meant of Christ on whom the Spirit is poured without measure yet so as that every believer hath his proportion of the Spirit and so of this gift and habit of Christian Conference to be used and so improved and strengthen by a frequent and vigorous acting of it for the glory of God and the good of our selves and others with whom we have occasion to converse Let it be one of thy Christian exercises to act and strengthen this habit day by day in this language and communication A fourth preparative direction may be repentance and humiliation for our great failing in our great neglect of so great a duty as Christian Conference is 4 Humiliation We spend little of our time and strength in this duty to wit in such discourse as hath a proper and direct tendency to the conversion or edification of the hearers we are much if not too much upon this talk what newes abroad speaking of persons this body or that magnifying some too high vilifying and depressing others too low possibly erring in a way of flattery on the one hand or of envy and hatred on the other blameworthy in both A fifth Direction I would give 5 Prayer is the pouring out a prayer to God in faith and love every morning that he would guide thy discourse all the day long It was Davids prayer Ps 141.3 Set a watch O Lord before my Mouth keep the door of my lips And again Ps 51.15 O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise and that thou mayst pray in faith plead the promise The Tongue of the dumb shall sing Isa 35.6 fulfilled in the Gospel Corporally and Spiritually Christ made and still makes the dumb to speak and that to his and his Father's glory when they brought a dumb man to Christ possessed of a Devil Christ cast out the Devil and the dumb spake c. Mat. 9.32 33. Then the promise was made good in the very letter of it and in the spirit of it also when the Children in the Temple cried saying Hosanna to the Son of David Mat. 21.15 16. and so fulfil'd that prediction in Psal 8.2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praises Go to God in Christ and say what though a kind of dumb Devil possesseth me thou canst and do thou cast him out What though I be but a babe in Christ and a suckling in grace yet thou canst and O do thou out of the mouth of a babe and suckling as I am ordaine strength Pray in faith fervency and constancy and who knoweth but the gracious Lord thy God may loose and unty thy Tongue and create the fruits even of thy lips peace peace for his own glory the good of others and thy comfort here and for ever And in thy discourse let holy secret ejaculations be frequent and fervent also A sixth Direction is to be much in praises 6. In praises which also will make prayer more successful having found by sweet experience Optimum rogandi genus est gratia agere that God doth enable thee sometimes to let fall some good words in obedience to
Mans Aim Third Emanuel or Miracle of Miracles By Richard Sibbs D.D. 4to An Exposition on the five first Chapters of Ezekiel with useful observations thereupon By Will. Greenhil 4to The Gospel-Covenant or the Covenant of Grace opened Preached in New-England By Peter Bulkeley 4to God's Holy Mind touching Matters Moral which himself uttered in ten words or ten Commandments also an Exposition on the Lords Prayer By Edward Elton B.D. 4to A plain and familiar Exposition of the Commandments By John Dod 4to Fiery Jesuite or an Historical Collection of the Rise Increase Doctrines and Deeds of the Jesuites Exposed to view for the sake of London 4to Horologiographia Optica Dyalling Universal and Particular Speculative and Practical together with the Description of the Court of Arts by a new Method By Sylvanus Morgan 4to Praxis Medicinae or the Physicians Practice wherein are contained all inward diseases from the head to the foot By Walter Bruel Regimen Sanitatis Salerni or the School of Salerns Regiment of Health containing Directions and Instructions for the guide and government of Man's Life 8vo Ames on Peter and on the Psalms Christ and the Covenant the work and way of Meditation delivered in ten Sermons Large Octavo By William Bridge late of great Yarmouth Heart-Treasure or a Treatise tending to fill and furnish the head and Heart of every Christian with soul-inriching treasure of truths graces experiences and comforts to help him in Meditation Conference Religious performances Spiritual Actions Enduring Afflictions and to fit him for all conditions that he may live Holily die happily and go to Heaven triumphantly By O.H. with an Epistle presixed by John Chester The sure Mercies of David or a second part of the Hearts-Treasure Closet Prayer a Christians Duty All three by O. Heywood A Glimpse of Eternity By A. Caley A Practical Discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the Nature and duty of Prayer By Tho. Cobbet Of Quenching the Spirit the evil of it in respect both of its causes and effects discovered By Theâ—â—hilus Polwheile Wells of Salvatioâ—â—â—â—ened or Words whereby we may be saved with advice to Young Men. By Th. Vincent The Re-building of London encouraged and improved in several Meditations By Samuel Rolls The sure way to Salvation or a Treatise of the Saints Mystical Union with Christ wherein that great Mysterie and Priviledge is opened in the nature properties and the necessity of it By R. Steedman M.A. Sober Singularity By the same Author The greatest Loss upon Matth. 16.26 By James Livesey Moses unvailed By William Guild The Protestants Triumph being an exact answer to all the sophistical Arguments of Papists By Ch. Drelincourt A Defence against the fear of Death By Zach. Crofton Gods Soveraignty displayed By Will. Geering A sober Discourse concerning the Interest of Words in Prayer The Godly mans Ark or City of Refuge in the day of his distress in five Sermons with 〈◊〉 Moor's Evidences for Heaven By Edw. Calamy The Almost Christian discovered or the false Professor tryed and cast By Spiritual Wisdome improved against temptation Both by M. Mead. The true bounds of Christian Freedom or a Discourse shewing the extents and restraints of Christian Liberty wherein the truth is setled many errours confuted out of John 8. ver 36. A Treatise of the Sacrament shewing a Christians Priviledge in approaching to God in Ordinances duty in his Sacramental approaches danger if he do not sanctifie God in them Both by Sam. Bolton D. D. The Lords Day enlivened or a Treatise of the Sabbath By Philip Goodwin The Sinfulness of Sin and the Fulness of Christ two Sermons By W. Bridge The Treatises next following are Written by Mr. Thomas Watson The Doctrine of Repentance Heaven taken by Storm Mischief of Sin A Divine Cordial A plea for the Godly The Holy Eucharist or the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The Life and Death of Mr. Tho. Wilson of Maidstone in Kent The Life and Death of Dr. Samuel Winter of Dublin The Conversion of a Sinner The day of Grace A Covert from the Storm Worthy walking pressed upon all that have heard the call of the Gospel All three by Nath. Vincent The Duty of Parents A little book for Little Children A Method and instruction for the Art of Divine Meditation All three by Tho. White The Childs delight togather with an English Grammar A plaine and Familiar Method of instructing the younger sort according to the lesser Catechism of the late Reverend Assembly of Divines Both by Tho. Lye The inseperable Union between Christ and a Believer By Tho. Peck A Practical Discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the Nature and duty of Prayer A Treatise of quenching the spirit the evil of it both in respect of its causes and effects A Defence against the Fear of Death By Zach. Crofton Esops Fables in English and Latin Verse Meditation upon Mr. Baxter's Review of his Treatise of the Duty of Heavenly Meditation By Giles Fermin A Discourse of Excuses setting forth the variety and Vanity of them the Sin and misery brought in by them By John Sheffield Invisible Reality set forth in the Holy Life and triumphant Death of Mr. John Janeway A Discourse concerning the Education of Children By R. Kedder The Saints perseverance asserted in its positive ground against Jer. Ives By Thom Danson
continue and abound This is the old and the new Commandment There is no duty more prest in the Word of God and no duty less practis'd by the people of God Surely the end is at hand because of the flaming out of sin and of the freezing of love These last dayes have introduc't a great many love-killing principles that former Ages were ignorant of we want the Apostle John amongst us or some of his spirit to stir up Christians to love one another Remember wherein the duties of brotherly love consist in relieving instructing admonishing exhorting comforting and bearing with one another He that sayes he loves his brother and lives in the neglect of these is a lyar and the truth is not in him VII Let your Conversation in the world be with simplicity and godly sincerity this is the way to have favour with God he hath pleasure herein 2 Chron. 29.17 he desires truth in the inward parts and reckons sincerity for perfection yea this is the way to have rejoycing in your selves Sincerity affords comfort in every condition of life and in the hour of death A sincere person if he lives in trouble he ordinarily dyes in peace He 's sure to find acceptance for all his services and indulgence for all his offences Oh that it may be said of you as of another in Scripture-story that you are men and women without guile VIII Set the Lord alwayes before you Remember he sees you when you are most out of sight his eyes are never off from you let your eyes be ever towards him One thought it would awe the Romans and make them serious if they did alwayes apprehend that Cato was in company with them It would certainly have a good influence upon our hearts and lives if we did apprehend that God was alwayes at our elbows and that his eyes are upon all our wayes and doings It is an excellent preservative against sin and provocation to duty to carry a remembrance of God about with us into all places and companies IX Fill up all your particular relations with duties Relative duties are better known than practised nature it self teacheth them the very Heathen have excelled herein surely if our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees it must not fall short of that of Heathens and Infidels it sounds like a contradiction for one to be a good Christian and a bad husband or wife father or child master or servant c. X. Promote the power and practice of Religion in your several Families Remember who said he would walk in his house not only in Gods but in his own house with a perfect heart Psal 121.1 resolve with Joshua not only to engage your persons but your houses and families in the service of God Of old the Families of Christians were call'd Churches but now many of them are rather Synagogues of Satan than Churches of Christ not Bethel's but Bethaven's houses of vanity and sin It is commonly said That Governours of Families as well as Pastors of Churches have curam animarum the charge and care of Souls and if any perish through your neglect their blood will be required at your hands How many of your Children and Servants may say to you another day bloody Parents and bloody Masters you have been to us and may they not now say Fathers Masters care you not that we perish Oh let your Families be instructed do I require this or doth God require it Deut. 6.6 7 8 c. Eph. 6.4 who will one day require an account of your doing of it Let there be morning and evening sacrifices of praise and prayer offered up to God in your dwellings God forbid there should be one prayerless habitation in Kingston XI Walk humbly with God Micah 6.8 This is the main thing that he requires of you without this let your other excellencies be never so many they are of no account with him A proud persons graces and good works do him hurt whil'st an humble man is made better by his evil deeds a proud man is made worse by his good deeds Oh pray God that saith he will give grace to the humble to give you that excellent grace of humility You may be brought low and yet not be lowly many are humbled that are not humble Plectuntur sed non flectuntur Salvian XII Follow the good examples of others There are many patterns for imitation in Scripture there 's the example of our Lord Jesus Christ himself be as he was in the world The Word of God aboundeth also with many other excellent instances and presidents it shews you many evil examples which are as Sea-marks to forewarn you and many good examples which are as Land-marks to direct you you have other excellent patterns too besides those upon record in Scripture Take my Brethren your old Pastor whose Life I have here delineated and who hath spoken to you in the Name of the Lord for an example of patience and all other branches of piety Therefore is the story of his Life and Death dedicated to you that it may be imitated by you But of this I spake somewhat before Let us remember here That I am writing an Epistle and not a Treatise ergo manum de tabula Though it were easie to give you many dozens more of such directions as these I have been longer because though I have often Preach't to you yet I never wrote to you before As I have often suggested the counsels of God to yous ears so I would set some few of them before your eyes I have an ardent affection for you you have had Ministers that have Preach't and liv'd better than I have done but never any that lov'd you better than I do I love your Souls and their eternal welfare and would be loth to meet any of you at Christs Tribunal in an unregenerate and Christless condition I would not the many Sermons I have Preach't to you should be at that day as so many Bills of Indictment against you Finally Brethren farewell be of one mind live in peace and let me close this Epistle as Jude doth his build up your selves in your most holy faith pray in the Holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life Vnto his grace and favour I commend you all and subscribe my self Your unworthy Minister And Well-wisher Richard Mayo Nov. 29. 1672. THE LIFE and DEATH OF Edmund Staunton S. T. D. IT is usuall even in the Holy Scripture when mention is made of any persons of Note to record their Genealogy Parents do sometimes bring lustre unto their Children and Children do sometimes bring renowne unto their Parents This excellent person who is the subject of the ensuing narrative was borne Anno 1600 of the Ancient and worshipfull Family of the Stauntons in Bedfordshire his Father Sr Francis Staunton had several sons of whose Education he was
Person were rarely once only but twice in one day Thus this good man in labours more abundant in the morning sowes his seed and in the evening withholds not his hand so liberal he was of his spiritual Almes not knowing whether should prosper this or that or whether they both might not be alike good Eccl. 11.6 so that in imitation of the great Apostle by the power of the Spirit of God he even from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum fully Preached the Gospel of Christ So this excellent Minister of our Lord Jesus from Rickmersworth even round about unto the utmost borders of the County and into the neighbouring Counties also he was spending and being spent in the service of his great Lord and Master By all this the Reader may gather that our Doctor had not layne idle in the University 'till he was rusted and cankered away and fit for no further use in the house of God but as it was said of Joseph that his bow still abode in strength so it was with his parts memory and with his affections also and he was constant untill the act of uniformity imposed that general silence upon all nonconformist August 24. 1662. But yet neither after this time was he willing to be idle every week almost keeping one day as a private fast in his own or else in some other godly Ministers or Christian Family as to humble himself for his own sins so for the abominations that were in the midst of the land and it cannot be easily forgotten with what brokenness of spirit and with what a dissolved soul he would still take up some hours himself on those extraordinary occasions either in the word or prayer or both for indeed he was mighty in prayer as well as in the Scriptures as it is said of Apollo Having passed I think some two yeares his wife now labouring under some weaknesses and being weary with the burden of houshold affairs he retired to a Chamber or two in a private Family some miles distant where he was very useful he much inlightned and quickly leavened the habitation his Ministerial Gifts and graces were such as that indeed he perfumed the whole house As long as he lived there there was a Church alwayes in that house and I presume the govenour and children and servants do bless God for his presence and conference and exemplary conversation to this day and may they never loose the savour of the knowledg of Christ and the sense of the power of the world to come that he manifested and they were under during his abode with them From thence he removed to another private family and I believe his frequent removes were that he might have renewed opportunity of doing more good and God more service where he was entertained as an Angel of God This Family was near S. Albans in which Town from that time he was a great instrument in the hand of God for good to correct some extravagancies amongst some people there by his sober principles and great moderation of spirit and the noble exercises of self-denial and charity being no burden unto any but being crafty catching them with guile 2 Cor. 12.16 His last remove was to a place called Bovingden a little village and I question whether ever it had been mentioned in any story if this good man had not liv'd and ended his days there he was led thither by the invitation of a religious and very kind Gentleman freely accommodating him with all the conveniences of an habitation of his in that place But he once told me that whatsoever was saved that way he still expended proportionably in charitable uses making conscience to give it either in mony or books to the poor to this and the neighbouring places and I believe he hath destributed several hundreds of short Catechisms besides some dozens of little books of that great light of our age Entitled The call to the Vnconverted During his abode here he continued daily to attend the duty of the Family wherein he was instructing the souls belonging thereunto And if one or more of the poor of that place chanced to come in he would say they were welcome and that God came along with them and the poor have the Gospel preached unto them In this place he enjoy'd great privacy which he greatly priz'd and had be been born for himself alone he could alwayes have chosen to have liv'd thus alone How many worthy's in the world have prefer'd retirement to the greatest preferments in Church or State and have thought Scepters and Myters not worthy to be compared with it But he could not thus satifie himself that of Paul was often in his mouth Wo be to me if I preach not the Gospel he was of Calvins mind who would not his Lord should come and find him idle Wherefore he rode often to St. Albans or some other adjacent place and once or twice a year to London and Kingston and seeing he could not preach in a Church to many he would preach in a Chamber to a few T is not the place or company that commends our preaching to God What excellent Sermons have been preacht to despicable auditories and in very ordinary and contemptible places Pauls meeting place in Macedonia was the River side Acts 16.13 and his hearers a few of the weaker Sex Our Lord himself preacht a long Sermon once to one timorous man John c. 3. c. 4. and at another time in the open aire he preacht at large to one silly woman Thus this eminent servant of God like a torch or candle with lighting others consumed and wasted himself On the eighth of July Anno Dom. 1671. aetatis suae 71. he was seiz'd all on one side with the dead palsy by reason of which his speech much faild him so that he spake little and seldome A friend coming to visit him and asking him how he did he answered in the words of the Prophet In measure God debateth with me and in the day of the East-wind he stayeth his rough wind A while after he said to a friend that stood by him I neither fear death nor defire life but am willing to be at Gods disposal At another time he uttered these words very audibly I know that my redeemer liveth and by and by he repeated the fifth verse of the one and thirtieth Psalme in Meter Into thy hand Lord I commit My spirit which is thy due For why thou hast redeemed it Oh Lord my God most true He prest the by-standers so long as he was able to many wholsome duties As to make sure of Heaven in the time of health to keep their evidences fair and unblotted To remember and keep holy the Sabbath day of which he himself as you l find hereafter was a most careful observer When he could not speak himselfe he would desire others to read the Scriptures to him directing to the places which he most desired which were for the most part
Davids Psalms along with him the first thing he did in a morning was to read a portion of Scripture which was matter of meditation and communication also all the day after When he was to seek for matter of good discourse which was not often or when no apt occasion was offer'd otherwise then you should hear him speak of some Scripture that he had read that morning from which he would raise some usefull observations or propose some practical questions to the instruction of the Company And at night when he went to bed he would search out some Scripture or other which suited his present thoughts and that was the subject or matter of his meditation in his waking houres He seldome wrote any letter but he added three or four or more Scriptures for a Postscript and those very pertinent either to the occasion of his writing or the condition of the person to whom he wrote or it may be they should respect the times and the providences of God therein How many letters have I received from him subscribed in that manner He selsome visited or met any friend but he would at parting leave some Scripture or other with him Pray he would say let me leave one Text of Scripture with you and thinke of it when I am gone 5. His giving himself to Prayer He was the most praying Christian that ever I was acquainted with Ps 109.4 Ego oratio ve Tig. vir orationis eram Pagn Vitus Theodor. Once it fell out sayes he I over-heard him but good God with what a spirit what a confidence was in his expressions with such a reverence he sued as one begging of God and yet with such hope and assurance as if he spake to a loving father or friend What David said of himself may be affirmed of him that he gave himself to prayer One sayes of Luther that no day past wherein he did not spend three houres at least in this duty I can't assert so much of this reverend person but this I dare averr that no day past wherein he restrained it or slightly past it over His manner was when ever he came to lodge at any friends house after he had saluted those that were in his way immediately to betake himself to his Chamber where he would spend an houre more or less by himself before any friend could speak with him At night again he would be shut up in his Chamber a considerable time before any servant could be admitted He would often say to his Godly friends that came to visit him Joach pa. Virg. Mar. Mihi cibus et pitus est oratio Come must not we pray together before we part indeed it may be said of him what was said of another that prayer was his repast Nor did he slubber over this duty as many doe but he did it with all his might he prayed in prayer he wrestled with God as our Father Jacob did and he wept for the most part when he made his supplication to him He was not onely affectionate in prayer with others but when he was alone by himself This passage I find under his own hand The Glory be Gods where I have shed one tear in prayer with others I have I think I speak within compass shed two in secret betwixt God and mine own soul One thing I had almost let slip that in prayer alone or with others if he could have room he would perform the duty kneeling on the ground yea though sometimes he was almost lost in the croud by so doing he would say the humblest gesture as well as spirit became the duty of prayer and that he knew no way of wrestling with the Almighty like that of lying at his feet and prostrating our selves before him Of old when the question was propounded Servasti Dominicum the answer was Christianus sum intermittere non possum 6. His Sanctification on the Lords Day the Christian Sabbath He was a strict observer of the Lords day and indeed he is no true Christian that is careless therein Some have observed that the Sanctification of the Sabbath is one of the first things a converted person makes conscience of this good man was every day watchful over his thoughts words and actions but on this day more especially It was rare to hear him speak one idle word or see him do one unnecessary action on the Sabbath day The Jewish Talmud proposeth this question why God made man on the Sabbath Eve and gives this answer that he might presently enter upon the sanctification of the Sabbath and begin his life with that work which was the main end of it His strictness was such herein that some have wondred at it and some too hastily have censur'd him for it I can remember I have kept some Sabbaths with him but alas I could by no means keep pace with him he went from duty to duty as Bees doe from Flower to Flower from publique duty to family duties from family duties to closet duties finding sweetness in them all he would say we must alwayes be good husbands of time especially of holy time we must not spend that time which is not our own about our own things 7. His keâ—…g dayes of prayer and fasting alone and with his Family Ne. 1.4 Dan. 9.3.2 Sa. 12.16 Est 4.16 Mat. 18.19.20 v. Clarks Marrow of Eccl. History p. 932. He accustomed himself to keep private fasts a practise out of use amongst Christians though much commended in the Scriptures This good man sometimes by himself alone and sometimes with his little family kept many whole dayes of prayer and humiliation This he did ordinarily before the Lords Supper and often as he found any corruption to grow or get head in his heart There are some devils and devillish lusts that will be cast out or kept under no other way This particular experience he himself records That when he was a young Preacher he found himself very prone to be puffed up and exalted and indeed it was a common saying with him that Spiritual pride is the special sin of young Ministers whereupon he set apart a day to seek God for strength against that sin and from that day forward he felt 't is his own expression the neck and heart of it was broken And to speak truth which might have been another head he was a most lowly minded Christianâ— He was clothed all over with humility 1 Pet. 5.5 Fuit in honore sine tumore in elatione sine praelationâ— Bernard Clem. de correct Eccl. Stat. c. 22. Aug. de civit Deil. 14. c. 13. that Treasury of grace that ornament of Religion neither his Parentage nor his parts nor his applause nor any thing else did to appearance any way elate or puff him up though he was lifted up in the eyes and hearts of others yet he was lowly in his own how often have I known him to esteem others that were abundantly worse to be better then
evil in the sight of God Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his maker and he that is glad at Calamities shall not be unpunished Prov. 17.5 Reprocheth his Maker to wit his own Maker or the poor mans Maker not owning his soveraignty and wisdome in his various allotments of some to wealth of others to poverty and in not answering God's Holy and gracious ends in his different distributions of things below Thou art rich thy neighbour's poor why not that he should be despised but releaved by thee God made him not to be the object of thy scorne but of thy love pitty and bounty This sin of rejoycing in the hurt or harmes of others hath much of inhumanity in it makes men like that sycophantizing Doeg who betrayed David as he thought into the hands of Saul glorying in it Psal 52.1 Why boastest thou thy self in mischief O mighty man or like to the accursed Children of Edom who in the day of Jerusalem to wit Jerusalem's distress said raze it raze it even to the foundation thereof Psal 137.7 Obad. 10.9 Or like to the bloudy Jewes who Crucifying the Lord of Glory did it with most horrid revilings and barbarous insultations Matth. 27.40 Or last of all which is worst of all this sin makes men as like the Devil as ever they can look who if he could rejoyce would rejoyce in nothing more than in making men like himself sinful and miserable 4 Double Tongued 4. And lastly the double-Tongue speaking one thing to this body another to that must needs be a false and faultering tongue on the one side or on the other To be double tongued is blame-worthy in all as well as Deacons as speaking hot and cold 1 Tim. 3.8 with the same breath The reason why it is so bad is because it argues a double heart in the breasts and bosomes of men The heart doubles first and then the Tongue A double minded man is unstable in all his wayes Jam. 1.8 and in his words also and Cogitations This double minded man is either the dissembler in discourse who speaks one thing but thinks another or rather a sceptick in judgment as a learned Expositor carries it Beza in locum a man unsetled of a doubtful mind now inclining to this opinion or way and then to that not being established in the true Religion many such were in the primitive times and are in our dayes also Yet dissembling in discourse and talke is the evil which I am here striking at an evil so prevailing and reigning in Davids dayes as it made him cry out Help Lord why They speak vanity every man with his neighbour with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak or an heart and an heart As of old to have an Ephah and an Ephah unjust weights and measures was a great Crime and is so still so to have a Tongue and a Tongue an heart and an heart is highly displeasing to God and man and to both very injurious It was the commendation of the Children of Zebulun 1 Chr. 12.33 That they were not of a double heart or a heart and a heart Let it be our temper and our commendation also I might adde that brawlers and liers are as bad as any But no more of this 3 In reference to ourselves 3. Having spoken hitherto touching the Tongues unruliness in reference to God and to our neighbours I shall say a little of its miscarriage in reference to our selves and that very briefly 1. In self-praising 1. Self-praising magnifying our selves what we are as to our birth or breeding our parts and abilities what we have said or done or will do Prov. 20.6 And all the while the Tongue is wandring from that excellent way of Charity which vaunteth not it self 1 Cor. 13.4 is not puffed up to wit as a bladder with wind is blown up So the proud hearts of men swell with a windy conceit of their excellencies bragging and exalting themselves upon all occasions and in all companies whereas alas if they were weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary they would be found but light and empty yea possibly wretched and miserable Creatures 2. In self-Cursings 1. Self-Cursings wishing this or that evill may befall them yea that all the Plagues of God light upon them and theirs if things be not so and so But having already harped upon this string when I spake concerning the Tongues unruliness in Cursing I touch no more upon this or any other of the Tongues Unruliness and irregularities but hast forward to what is most in my design and wherein I must crave leave somewhat to enlarge shewing the Lord assisting the necessity and usefulness of Christian Conference with several directions for the right management and improvement thereof so as that God thereby may be glorified our selves and others edified and all be upon account with Comfort in that great day of the glorious appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ The necessity and usefulness of Christian Conference is evincible and demonstrable by arguments 1. In reference to God 1. There 's a necessity of precepts upon this commanded duty command upon command from God himself enforcing it by Moses to Israel in Deâ—â—â—nomy which is a repetition of the Lâ—â—â— particularly and expresly of the Ten Commandments which being dâ—â—â—vered he stirs up and excites attention Hear O Israel Deu. 6.3 4 5 6. and again Hear O Israel what must Israel hear Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and what else These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and where else why in thy mouth Deut. 4.10 And thou shalt teach or whet them and sharpen them as Mowers and Barbers do their Instruments diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lieft down and when thou risest up Deut. 11.18 19. Yea there is the inculcation of this duty again and again intimating man's natural aversness and backwardness thereunto and withall the infinite wisdome and goodness of God to man in his thus reinforcing it for their good here and for ever This God commands by Solomon the wisest of Kings or men Train up or Catechize a Child in the way 〈◊〉 should go Pr. 22.6 or in his way Now thâ—â—raining up or Catechising work is carried on principally if not only by â—â—â—ferring with Children and talking to them about the things of God and matters of Religion Yet farther the Lord our God presseth this duty of Christian Conference more then once in the New Testament by the Apostle as upon the Ephesians and that both negatively and positively Eph. 4.29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it minister grace to the hearers No Corrupt or rotten putred communication alluding to meats rotten and putrified stinking and unsavoury
blessing be an incouragement to this too much neglected duty of Christian Conference There is an honest able Minister who within these two years told me it for a piece of News and indeed it was welcome newes to me and it was this That in the Knights Family with whom he liveth the Knight is of good quality and repute there was a maidservant he verily believed fearing God in that family which to use his own words dated her Conversion from my discourse with her walking up Highgate Hill together whereupon I remember'd that about four years since I came from London in an Hackny-Coach for St. Albans and there was a Gentlewoman I 'le spare her name with this her maid and others the Gentlewoman was able and willingly maintained good discourse on the way and it being a cold morning I at the bottom of the Hill went out of the Coach to walk up the Hill and warm my self thereby when I was out the Maid asked leave of her Mistriss who stayed in the Coach that she being cold might go up the Hill also which she did and we talked together as we went and I think the summe of my discourse was our misery by nature our disability to help our selves by any thing we could do or suffer that there was an absolute indispensable necessitie of getting an interest in Christ who was infinitely able and willing to save every poor lost soul that came unto him by believing and to this purpose both in Coach and in walking which the onely wise and infinitely gracious Lord God it blessed for the Spiritual and Eternal good of this poor handmaid for which let his Holy Name be for ever glorified and let all good Christians take from hence incouragement to be yet more and more abounding in holy talk and Conference sowing this seed in the morning and in the evening not withholding their hands who knoweth but the gracious Lord our God may bless and prosper both the one and the other The weak strengthened And fourthly if the Holy Word of God rightly managed in Christian Conference be efficacious for the inlightning of the ignorant the reducing the erronious and the converting of stout-hearted sinners then by necessary and undeniable consequence it must be also soveraignly efficacious for the strengthening of the feeble minded and comforting of such as are cast down 1 Thes 5.14 Brethren comfort the feeble minded concernes all and how can this be better done then in Christian Conference and again in the same place support the weak is the common duty of all believers but how support even as a Crutch doth a lame body or as a beame doth a ruinated and tottering house the word significantly imports the holding up one that 's ready to fall by a hand reached out to help him or the assisting any who are lifting and heaving at what 's weighty but have not sufficient strength to move or remove it as they desire Thus by Christian Conference many gracious soules full of doubts and fears ready to fall into dreadfull despairs of mercy have been held up and cheared sometimes by laying before them the precious promises or the great ability and willingness of Christ to save sometimes by imparting to them our own experience how we were cast down and raised up again telling them what God hath done for our Soules or for the soules of others in the like sad and dejected condition as they are in I 'le leave one instance in this case also It 's near twenty years since that several Travellers of us passing between Oxford and London supped together at an Inne in Great-Wickham one of the company carried himself so untowardly and offensively that others at the Table wondered at me for my not rebuking him whether thinking it prudence to forbear at supper time or rather through my want of zeale for God I know not but supper being fully ended I addressed my self as well as I could to speak to this vaine person which accordingly I did laying first the Law before him and the sadness of his condition at present and that if he died impenitently he was like to perish eternally after which I opened the Gospel to him with as much tenderness and compassion as I possibly was able acquainted him with the readiness that is in God and Jesus Christ to receive penitent sinners and how those that came to Christ he would in no wise cast out and many such expressions to this purpose that grace discovered might win and allure him to Christ and to repentance Yet what impression all that was spoken had upon that vain person I know not It seems that there was a Scholler in the Company whom I think then I was altogether unacquainted with he is now an honest able Minister who lay under a spirit of bondage had great feares and troubles upon him he hearken'd attentively and I have cause to be perswaded that by the wise and gracious providence of God much of the Gospel Consolations fell upon his spirit to his great refreshing not unlike that spirit of Adoption which teacheth believers to Cry Abba Father you shall have his own words in a late letter to me This I can unfeignedly say that amongst my spiritual benefactours I do heartily bless God for you and do look upon it as a very good providence I was cast into your Company at that time 5. The strong quickend In the fifth and last place That Christian Conference hath been and still is very beneficiall not only for strengthning those who are weak in the faith but for edifying and quickning even the strongest and most grown in Christianity the Holy Scriptures right reason and sweet experience give in abundant testimony thereunto It 's a Soveraign antidote against Apostacy and defection in Religion and that both as to understanding and affections The Apostle prescribes it Heb. 312.13 Take heed brethren least there be in any of you an evill heart of unbeliefe in departing from the living God But how shall it be prevented he answers Exhort one another dayly while it is called to day least any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin Exhort one another The duty is mutual concerneth Christians of all sexes and sizes dayly that is frequently not by fits and starts while it is called to day to wit presently and speedily delayes in this case are dangerous do not put off for a month a fortnight a week no not for a day and the reason is weighty from the danger of the hearts obduration by the deceitfulness of sin It deceiveth the understanding with errour for truth darkness for light the will with evil for good the heart and affections with what 's loth some and to be abhorred insteed of what 's lovely and to be desired And again the same Apostle to the same purpose Heb. 10.23 25. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is