that of the Apostle drawn from a body natural in which each member hath its proper gift not for it self onely but for the whole and every other member in particular thus the Eye sees the ear heares the Tongue speaks the hands work the feet walk not each for it self onely but for each other member and the whole body so in the Church of Christ which is one body mystical Can. 6.9 My dove my undefiled is but one one body Can. 6.9 Eph. 4.4 Yet in that one body there are variety of members and God by his Spirit distributeth gifts and graces variously dividing to every one severaily as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 But to what end He answers it vers 7. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall So in a body politick Perkins Reformed Catholick Of Tradit a Kingdome or Commonwealth all are not Peeres but some Peasants all are not rich but some poore the Peer and the Rich have as much need of the poore Peasant in some cases as they of them in other cases So in the world several Countries have their several commodities and all to maintain mutual Trade Commerce and converse among men but all for the good of the whole What another Apostle speaks in another case in regard of hospitality is here by way of illustration fairely applicable 1 Pet. 4.9 10. As every man hath received the gift so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God There 's much very much of the wisdome and goodness of God in laying up rich treasures of knowledge and gracious experiences in the heads and hearts of some not onely for their own use but for the guiding and leading of others also No member in the body natural or mystical but is designed to be and ought to be usefull and serviceable to the whole The way to compasse our end with God which is to be everlastingly glorified by him and with him in the full enjoyment of him is to give him his ends here on us 1 Cor. 10.31 which is that we should glorify him and that in laying out all our talents to the best advantage of our Master and the use of his family which is his Church and people here below and this end is abundantly advanced by the wise and frequent exercise of Christian Conference The 5th Argument in reference to God 5 Argument propagation of the Gospel which pleads hard for Christian Conference is that it is powerfully efficacious by the blessing of God for the propagation of the Gospel and for the bearing up of the Name Worship and glory of God in the World from generation to generation How was the worship of God transmitted from Adam to Moses but by Oral Tradition and that in Conference Fathers declaring to their Children and so from Children to Children age after age God at first revealed his will to Adam by word of mouth and renewed the the same to the Patriarks not by writings but by speech by dreams and other inspirations and thus the word of God went from man to man for the space of two thousand and four hundred years unto the time of Moses who was the first penman of the Holy Scriptures and all this while men worshipped God and held the Articles of their Faith by tradition not from men but immediately from God himself And the History of the new Testament probably for the space of twenty years at least went from hand to hand by tradition 'till penned by the Apostles or being penned by others it was approved by them And now the Canon of Scriptures being compleated and by the infinite wisdome power and goodness of God kept pure and entire we must to the law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 Eph. 2.20 2 Tim. 3.16 to the Scripture the written word of God for our guidance and direction in matters of Faith and practice But as for the way and manner of Conveyance and propagation of the heavenly and blessed truths contained in the Scriptures that is authoratively by Ministers and by Preaching hearing reading and holy Conference which is common to all who having Tongues to speak should delight to be speaking of God and for God that so religion the knowledge and fear of God might run down all along through the whole race of mankind even from Adam to the end of the world The Psalmist is warme in this argument Psal 78.3 4 5 6 7. That saith he which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us we will not hide it from their Children shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord and his strength and his wonderful works that he hath done For he established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children That the generation to come might know them even the Children which should be born who should arise and declare them to their Children That they might set their hope in God and not forget the work of God but keep his Commandments We pray Thy kingdome come and that 's our duty but we must work also and labour to our uttermost by good Conference by doing or suffering that the kingdome of grace may be advanced more and more in the world that God in Christ may be more known believed in and be loved obeyed owned and honoured by our selves and all others from the rising of the Sun to the setting of the same and this in a perpetual succession from time to time 'till time runs up into Eternity It s reported to be one of the Olympick games that they have a set company of Racers if I mistake not the story each whereof had his stage or Race-post as it were the first takes a great burning torch or blazing link in his hand and away he runs with it with all possible speed to the end of the race then another takes it of him and away way he posts with it might and maine and so a third and a fourth and so one Racer after another 'till the link or light went out I allude onely to it So one generation runneth with the light of the Gospel to another generation and so from generation to generation I cannot say till the light goeth out for it 's an everlasting Gospel and never goeth out but 'till the light of grace be heightned unto or swallowed up in the light of glory The necessity and usefulness of Christian Conference in order to the preservation of the Gospel amongst us and the propagation of it to posterity may sufficiently be evinced if we go a little to School to Priests and Jesuites to all Arch hereticks and seducers do not they spread their opinions and practices even among ignorant ones and illiterate meerly or mainly by discourse and conference do not common swearers adulterers scoffers and the like rabble òf men by their evil
to the Palat loathsome to the stomack and hurtfull to the body so unsavory talke is lothsome to God and good men and of it self hurtful to the soules of all the hearers It corrupts the head with errors the heart with vile affections and the life with sinful practises 1 Cor. 15.33 Be not deceived evil communication corrupts good manners It seems we are apt to be deceived herein therefore the Spirit prefaceth thus Be not deceived Positively but that which is good c. and hath a tendency for good to the heads hearts lives and Conversations of the hearers in it's own nature and our designe for the advance of knowledg and grace in heads and hearts holiness and righteousness in the life and conversation of others To the same purpose command is given to the Colossians Col. 4.6 Let your speech be alway with grace Learned Davenant on the place seasoned with salt As Salt is a preservative against putrefaction so is gracious speech against errors and sins in the heads hearts and lives of the hearers Salt on meats draweth out drieth up some think noxious humors and renders them more apt for digestion and wholsome for nourishment This grace in speech is that pious prudence flowing from the Spirit of God which sanctifieth first the heart and then guides and directs the Tongue and words and makes them sound and solid suitable and seasonable to the Cases and Conditions of others with whom we converse Remember salt must be rubbed in thrust into holes and corners so speech must be set on with life and warmth by the speaker But what must our speech in reference to Children also be with grace and seasoned with salt yea why not to Children so farre as they are subjects capable and recipient of what is spiritual and good What though the understandings and memories of Children be little narrow vessels yet they are every day growing bigger and wider and they are vessels of God's making and therefore good and for good ends and purposes and if parents and friends do not labour to fill these small vessels and to season them with the good liquor of Divine and wholsome truths the Devil and his Instruments wicked ones will bestir themselves to drop store great I can't say good store of venome and poison into them possibly for the tainting sowring and infecting them as long as they live It 's God's command that Parents do bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Eph. 6.4 To bring up that 's natural even the beasts of the field and fowles of the aire bring up feed their young and cherish them In the Nurture that moral and rational men as men if prudent will doe they keep their Children in awe and order therefore the Apostle adds and admonition of the Lord that 's Christian and spiritual Christians indeed will instruct their Children in the Principles of Religion will put good things into their minds as the word imports so farr and so fast as their capacities will take in and their memories retain If any demand what Children at what age must they be instructed All the answer that I will give is this the Original word is large and Comprehensive takes in all that be born and why should I straiten or narrow it Common reason will suggest that the Childs capacity must be the parents guide and rule therein nor is this the taking the Name of God in vain as some ridiculously may fancy it 2 Arg. God taketh delight therein 2. Argument for the promoting of holy conference among Christians is that the Lord our God takes much delight to speak of him as he speaks of himself after the manner of men in a gracious condescension to our weakness and pleasure in the spiritual and heavenly communications of his people And this argument depends as a consequent upon the former Gods command Parents are never better pleased with their Children nor masters with servants then when they are upon the work injoyn'd them to do Yea each glorious person in the God head Father Son and Holy Ghost seem to be much taken with the good language of his people when met together 1 The Father Mal. 3.16 1. The Father himself loves and likes it and takes special notice of it as in the days of Malachi Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought on his name Mal. 3.16 Then in Malachi's days which were none of the best as his Prophecy declares In that it is said The Lord hearkened and heared is implied a kind of delight and complacency which he found therein as men listen to Musick vocal or instrumental which is melodious and harmonious Again in that A book of remembrance is written it imports Gods taking delight in the words of his people as men addicted to learning what they read and hear which they take delight and pleasure in they 'l book it down for after use as occasion shall serve And probably this place is an allusion to Kings and Princes who have their State-Scribes and Secretaries to make Records as of bad services done against them so of good services done to them and for them as Ahasuerus did Mordecai's Esth 6.1 There 's not a word spoken for God his truth ordinances day his ministers or people that shall fall to the ground and be lost for God hath an Ear to hear all and an hand to register and record all so that all will be upon the account of believers with Comfort in life and death at judgment and to eternity 2 The Son 2. God the Son our dear Lord Jesus Christ holy conference to him is welcome and very acceptable What Christ said to his Church concerning her voice in prayer and praises is true also concerning her voice in holy speech and Conference O my dove let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice Can. 2.14 and 4.3 11. And if Christ had not found much content in conferring with Company why did he the very same day in which he rose again from the dead associate himself and that by choice with the two disciples going to Emmans he knew full well they were ingaged in good discourse and whiles they were communing Jesus himself drew near and went with them Luk. 24.15 And to shew how he liked their company and approved their discourse he gave them signal tokens of his love towards them vers 27. He beginning at Moses and all the Prophets expounded to them in all the Scripture the things concerning himself vers 32. the best Divinity Lecture or exposition that ever was made or heard unless such another made by himself Yea he spake to them with authority and power so that their hearts did burn within them He condescended to their entreaties and made some considerable abode with them at Emmans vers 29
his Commandment eyeing his glory and the good of the hearers telling them what God hath done for thy soul Ps 66.16 Be sure to offer up to God the Calves of thy lips a sacrifice of praises on that behalf In the evening look back on the day past and say what have my words bin this day if vain and idle be humbled and lye low before the Lord if at all gracious and savoury lift up thy heart to God in praises giving him all the glory Thus farr concerning our habitual preparations for Christian Conference Now touching actual execution when we are in company take these following directions which may fall under two heads Negative directions and positive 1. Negatives to be cautioned against and carefully avoided 1. As to the outward man that the body be not distempered and so indisposed for so spiritual a piece of service as Christian Conference is as by intemperance or excess in eating and drinking which hath a spice of gluttony or drunkenness in it when it unfits for duty or this duty among the rest Meats and drinks immoderately taken in fill the head with fumes and vapors and incline to sleep rather then discourse if the mouth take in too much the tongue is likely to send out too little as to Conference heavenly and spiritual The body is to soul as the instrument to the Musician let the Musician be never so skilful yet if the instrument be out of tune there 's like to be but little melody Though the head be full of good notions clear and strong the heart stored with grace and good affections yet a disordered body marrs the musick of holy discourse and Conference 2. 2 Inward man 1. Passion As to the inward man 1. Beware of irregular passions disturbances in the affections the lower part of the soul of man To instance only in anger griefe and fear Anger disposeth a man to speak too much and grief too little and fear not to speak at all or else in an abrupt and broken manner I remember in university disputations if the opponent could put the respondent or the respondent the opponent into a flame of anger or into a damp of pannick fear he would soon non-plus and gravel the Antagonist It 's much so in Conference though about matters of Religion violent passions obstruct and impede the understanding faculty in its clear and distinct actions and operations Passions when boiled up to an undue heat and height do no more befriend the intellect in it's reasonings and argumentations then foggs mists and clouds do the Sun in its shinings not at all they obscure and much darken the Sun and so doth passion reason 2. 2 Pride Beware of Pride high overhigh thoughts and conceits of our selves our sufficiency and ability 1. Pride usually is a great ingrosser takes up all the time and all the talk as if he were the only Rabby the Teacher Master all the rest fit only to be hearers and his Disciples inverting or perverting the words of the Apostle who bids us be swift to hear slow to speak Jam. 1.19 The proud man is slow to hear swift to speak 2. Pride is a deceiver speaking beside the condition or above the Capacity of the Company The reason is because the proud man is a self-seeker carried and acted by a principle of vain-glory and ostentation and therefore speaks what he apprehends himself best able to speak as what he hath lately heard or read though impertinent as to his present auditory or so sublime as to matter and language in School-distinctions and metaphysical notions and speculations as that the Company know not what he sayth or whereof he affirmeth An evil found among some publick Preachers sometimes who though they speak English preach as it were in an unknown Tongue much above the Capacities of the people who go away fill'd with admiration or the mans parts and gifts though nothing at all benefited as to edification or salvation yet wit and eloquence is good even in Conference provided it be without vain affection be clearly to be understood be disswasive from evil and perswasive unto good 3. 3 In reference to the whole man In reference to the whole man Beware of losing time precious time whilst you be in company not trifling or squandring it away in sinful silence or in vain and worldly talk much less in sinful and corrupt Communication the least minute of time being too good to be spent in idle words not tending at all to the glory of God or to the spiritual advantage of our selves or others A Heathen by the light of Nature could say Solius temporis sacra avaritia that of time alone there 's a sacred covetousness And the Apostle by the light of the Spirit saith that the redemption of time is a considerable part of our Christian wisdome walk circumspectly Eph. 5.15 18. not as fools but as wise how so he adds redeeming the time c. redemption of time is laudable yea necessary for self-examination soul humiliation secret prayer reading and searching the Scriptures meditation when alone and for good discourse when we are with others 2. For positive directions take them then 1. Common discourse 1. Common discourse may be introductory to special and spiritual and interjectory cast in by the by as sauce to meat For instance it 's lawful in some cases a duty to discourse of things natural as of diet physick medicines for the preserving or restoring of health and strength in our selves or others to discourse of things civil and moral buying selling manuring of Land plowing sowing family concernments publick affairs of Nations and even this discourse may be in a sence spirituall in regard of principle and ends when it 's done with an eye to Gods commands receiving directions for the ordering and guiding of affairs with discretion one property of a man fearing God Ps 112.1 5. And to discourse touching the stateof Zion at home or abroad is not only lawful but an high and holy duty provided we doe not discourse it barely as Newes for so it leaves us as it found us but to provoke us to suitable affections of rejoycing with the sons and daughters of Zion when they rejoyce and weeping with them when they weep and to excite us to such holy duties as the present providence calls for at our hands as good Nehemiah asked Hanani Neh. 1.2 3. and the men of Judah concerning the Jews lost in the captivity and concerning Jerusalem and hearing that they were in great affliction and reproach and how the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates thereof burnt with fire O how deeply was he affected therewith how did he lay it to heart when I heard these words I sat down and wept mourned certain dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven vers 4. His prayer is upon record vers 5. to the end of the Chapter And withal when the