not exclusive of mirth natural and civil for there was feasting The Jewes had joy Est 8.17 Neh. 8.10 and gladness a feast and a good day and in their feasts did eat the fat and drink the sweet And let me adde this that even civil mirth well ordered and regulated is a good natural preparative for rejoycing in a more sublime and holy manner And the reason is because of the Spirits which are in men natural animal and vital spirits ingendred in the Livers heads and hearts of men which being kept up lively and agil by civil mirth are as wings to the Souls even of Saints in their sublimer higher and nobler operations And herein I may appeal to the experience of the choicest servants of God who find when their spirits are down and low an indisposition in them thereby for holy duties The disciples themselves when they should have been watching and praying Jesus Christ found them sleeping for sorrow But when our Spirits are up lively Luk. 22.45 and cheary they dispose for duty and our heads and hearts as wheels oyled move more nimbly 2. As for the usefulness and expediency of mirth and lightsomness I say not levity of spirit 2 Vseful 1. Preservation of the bodies health It 's not only serviceable to the soul in its gracious actings and operations as I said before but to the body also for the preservation of health and strength vigor and activity by the multiplying and refining of spirits in us A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance It doth good indeed to the whole body Prov. 15.13 but the good it doth appears and shewes it self especially in the Countenance as being made thereby more amiable and lovely the eye more lively and sharp-slighted the Cheeks more ruddy the bloud more pure and sparkling Though the countenance onely is mentioned yet the whole body is to be understood as receiving good by the hearts cheeriness for though the soul and body differ in substance as spirit and flesh yet God having joyn'd them together in so close a union as to the making up of one person they mutually sympathize each with other a sickly body makes a sad heart and a wounded spirit makes a crasie bodie and I think the body is less able to bear the souls burdens then the soul is the bodys To return to what is in hand that a merry heart countenance appears by the example of Esau none of the best whose heart being gladded by the present sent by Jacob when they met his countenance was so cheerful that Jacob said Gen. 33.10 I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God And by Daniel and his associates none of the worst who though they did eat pulse onely and had nothing but water to drink yet their countenances were fair and fat Deut. 12.15 Why they had merry hearts quiet consciences in their breasts and bosomes arising from their reconciliation and peace with God It 's not choice meats and drinks much less painting or dawbing with vermilions but a good conscience that makes a merry heart and so a cheerful countenance To the same purpose vers 15. He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast By a merry heart he means not carnal mirth and jollity in eating drinking singing musick dancing this he elsewhere calls madness but the merry heart he commendeth is a good conscience sprinkled with the bloud of Christ his righteousness being imputed to us for our justification and so having peace with God Ecc. 2.2 and peace of Conscience which the Apostle expresseth by a pure heart a good conscience and faith unfained 1 Tim. 1.5 Once agâ—â—â—e the wise King tells us That a merry 〈◊〉 doth good like a medicine Prov. 17.22 and that because cheaâ—ness of spirit helps Nature's operations with its food and Physick whereas sadness and heaviness of heart hinders both I 'le close up this with a true story I was once in company at dinner where kindred and friends were met and among the rest one a learned and godly man was very merry in telling Tales breaking jests harmless and inoffensive Yet I was somewhat troubled to see and hear it and in some heat break out and asked him saying Sir I pray what is the meaning of those words of the Apostle Let your communication be that which is good to the use of edifying Eph. 4.29 to which he answered me to this purpose we have bodies to edifie as well as soules and harmless mirth doth good to both and so it doth if it be well and wisely ordered 2 Honour to Religion 2. This cheariness of spirit in Company hath its usefulness in reference to others even those without who are strangers to the work of grace and wâ—â—es of Christianity and are apt to 〈◊〉 up prejudices against the people of God as a morose and sour people and that the life they lead is but an uncomfortable life full of melancholy and they verily think that when any set their faces this way Zion-ward that they never have a merry day after but live mopishly and disconsolately all their dayes Now the harmless mirth and merriment in the communications and conversations of Christians is a practicall and reall confutation of this mistake and so is a removing of that stumbling block in their way and withall a fair invitation and allurement of them to come in and to ingage in a stricter and higher profession of Saintship when they are eye and eare-witnesses of its consistency with all possible civil mirth and merriment which is lawfull and commendable Instance Let me back this from my own experience I knew a Lawyer of good parts and practice who being naturally of a lepid and chearful spirit and possest with hard thoughts touching Religion in the strictness of it and exactness therein as necessitating the professors thereof to lay quite aside that kind of mirth which he was addicted to was thereby kept off from ingaging himself in any forwardness in Christianity but afterwards observing the carriage of some Ministers of note and eminency for piety and Ministerial abilities how pleasant they were how facetious in their discourse yet still keeping within the bounds which God in his Word had set them he changed his opinion embraced the Societie of the Saints walked with them in the wayes of God and died I believe a true servant of God and of his Christ our Jesus and that he is now in glory To strengthen this argument The mirth of a Christian life by Zac. Bogan printed at Oxford 1653. I 'le commend to the reading a little Treatise made by a learned holy man whom I knew both in his life and death 3. This cheariness of spirit hath this commendable vertue in it that it puts a shine and lustre upon duties and offered of love performed to men 3 Alustre upon duties and that in the eyes both of God and man God loveth a
farthing for all poor lost Souls that come unto him 3. You must pray hard beg the Spirit of God to help your infirmities to work all your works in you and for you and God hath promised to give his holy Spirit to them which ask him Luke 11.13 Stranger I believe in Jesus Christ and repent with all my heart what would you have me do more Min. Friend concerning faith in Jesus Christ we have spoken somewhat before enough to startle you and awake you out of your carnal security if you did indeed believe the Word of God Now for your repentance what do you do when you repent Stranger Why I cry God mercy for all my faults and desire him to Jorgive me Minister Friend that 's Prayer it 's not Repentance to say Lord have mercy on me and so forth is praying Str. Oh but Sir I am sorry for my sins Min. Friend You speak these words so smilingly and merrily as if your heart were not much orewhelmed with sorrow at the present for your sin Str. Yea but Sir I grieve for my sin though now I am a little merry I confess I hope there 's no harm in that Min. Tell me truly Friend did you ever weep for sin in secret between God and your own soul Str. Sir you put me hard to it I do not remember that ever I shed any tears for my sins but some men are not apt to weep Min. What you say Friend is very true some are naturally more apt to weep than others but cannot you weep and take on bitterly for other things for the death of a wife father child or some special friend of yours Stranger I confess then indeed I have mourned greatly and almost wept my eyes out Minister Friend it seems somewhat strange that you who have tears in abundance at command upon other sad occasions should not have some tears also for your sins against God Str. Well Sir though I weep little or not at all for my sins yet I grieve for my sins and hate my sins as much as another man Min. Friend if your grief for sin were right it would be 1. For sin as it is sin displeasing to God a dishonour to God and a defilement to your own soul 2. Godly sorrow works repentance 2 Cor. 7.10 That is amendment in heart and life Str. I hope I grieve for sin and hate it also though you Sir object something still against what I say Min. Friend be not angry that I object so much and so oft I do it only to find and beat out the truth and for your good Str. It may be so Sir Minister Friend You think and say you hate your sins let me put a few questions to you 1. Do you hate all sins one as well as another he that hates one Toad hates all Toads 2. Do you long to be the death of your sins is your hatred a mortal a deadly hatred do you mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit Rom. 8.13 3. Deal plainly and truly as you will answer it at death and judgment is there not some beloved sin that you are loth to part with loth to be told of by friends or Ministers some sinful way of profit or pleasure which you have no mind to leave but allow your self in it Stranger Sir I have had a great deal of talk with our own Minister who is a very good Churchman and he never said half so much to me Min. It may be so but what say you to my last question is there not some sin that you allow your self in which is as dear as your right eye and right hand unto you Str. Sir I am not bound to confess to you you have no authority to examine me Minister No Friend I speak in love to you desiring if the Lord please to do some good to your soul but let me tell you I fear your conscience cryes guilty you begin to be so touchy Stranger Sir it 's my fault to be angry but you do so pinch me yet I am persuaded you mean me no hurt therefore if you 'll needs have my heart out of me it 's even no better nor no worse I confess I love the company of some that are none of the best and I can't shake them off the world is hard and unless a man have some tricks there is no living in it and I do walk in some wayes not to mince the matter with you which my conscience tells me I ought not to walk in Min. Friend You do well to be open with me by the blessing of God it may be for your good therefore tell me a little farther do you not sometimes take the Name of God in vain Str. I hope not or very little Min. What think you of such words as these As I live As I am an honest man As I am a Christian Let me never stir Let me never be believed more if it be not thus and thus What think you of By my Faith By my Troth and By our Lady and of saying O Lord O God O Jesus and the like in common discourse which kind of words I heard fall from you at least some of them since you and I met Stranger Truly Sir I think they were better forborn Minister I think so too for they look like Oaths and Curses as a light and irreverent using of the Name of God Christ saith Matth. 5.37 Let your conversation be yea yea nay nay for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil Str. Sir People will not believe what I say unless I use such expressions as these Min. It matters not much so long as you speak the truth plainly if men will not believe you the fault is theirs and let me tell you that those who are wise men indeed will believe you the less for the using such words as these and say He that will swear will lye he that sticks not at dishonouring God by taking his Name in vain will not stick at deceiving man by a lye and speaking an untruth Stranger Sir what you say I confess is reason Minister Friend since I find you in so good a vein and willing to discourse it on which I am glad of tell me do you not use to break the Sabbath Str. No Sir I go to Church constantly when I am well and nothing hinders me Min. But Friend do not you accustom your self to lie long a Bed in the morning to sit idling at the doors that day to talk of worldly business to make bargains to hire or pay Labourers to walk in the fields needlesly do you not use some Sports Pastimes and Recreations do you not Travel that day to or prepare for Markets and Fairs and the like Str. I confess I have done so but I 'll do so no more Min. Friend you must desire God to humble you for these as all other your sins to pardon you in the blood of Christ and to strengthen you against them for
of the things of God and of the great concernments of your Soul and of Eternity Let me give you some good counsel before we part it may be you and I shall never meet again and as we never saw the faces one of another for ought we know before this day so possibly we never may see each other again till the day of Judgments that great and terrible day of the Lord. Let me advise you and the Lord persuade your heart 1. To make Conscience of secret Prayer begging of God for Christ his sake that he would make you sensible of the ignorance of the blindness of the mind of the hardness and impenitency of the heart of the carelesness and mindlesness of the spirit in the great things of grace and salvation be earnest with God to give you knowledge and consider that the soul be without knowledge is not good Prov. 19.2 As also for repentance from dead Works and a true saving faith in Jesus Christ Beg of God an heart to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and that you may be of those who strive to enter in at the strait gate and of those violent ones who take the Kingdome of Heaven by force c. 2. Be careful to hear good Ministers preach remembring what most concerneth you in what you hear 3. Be much in searching the Scriptures and reading of good Books Catechisms and such like 4. Make choice of good Company of such as fear God and walk precisely holily righteously and soberly in this present evil world and improve such acquaintance by good conference with them putting such questions to them as may make for your edification and they let me tell you will be as glad of your society as you of theirs 5. Be sure if you have a Family to set up the worship of God in your Family reading the Scriptures and praying morning and evening with the houshold Catechizing and instructing your Children and Servants if you have aâ—y 6. And lastly be strict in sanctifying the Sabbath spend that day well though the rest of the Neighbours be loose and careless therein and though men ungodly men hate you mock and persecute you it matters not so long as God loveth you Remember that 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution And that of Christ Matth. 5.10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of God And ver 11 12. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you c. And now Friend fare you well and the Lord bless you Stranger And you also good Sir I hope I shall remember you and some of your words to me as long as I live onely let me desire one favour of you that I may know your name and where you live Minister That you shall Friend my name is so and so and I live at such a place and if your occasions call you thither I shall be glad to see you and let me know your name and where you live and possibly if I come that way I may see you Once more Farewell FINIS TREATISE OF Christian Conference MY design being to bear up the honour the necessity and usefulness of Christian Conference too much neglected even by the best of men it will not be wholly impertinent to bear down some of that unruliness and irregularity The Tongues Vnruliness which the Tongues of too many are too much guitly of The Apostle James as it were bores the black tongues of men with a red hot Iron of sharp but just rebuke vers 6. The Tongue is a Fire a world of iniquitie setteth on fire the course of Nature and it is set on fire of Hell For every kind of beasts and of birds and of Serpents and things in the Sea is tamed and hath been tamed of mankind But the Tongue can no man Tame it is an unruly evil full of deadly poyson It s untamedness and unruliness appears in its great miscarriage and that both in reference to God and man 1 In reference to God in speaking In reference to God we are too tongue tied in speaking both to God in Prayer Praises and Confessions and of God with others To God He was a great man 1 To God and you will say as good as great who being a man of few words and of much prayer was thought to speak more to God than men Possibly that man after Gods own heart was such a one who saith very truly though of himself Ps 119.164 109.4 Seven times a day do I praise thee and again I give my self unto prayer Possibly some Popish Votaries in a superstitious way possibly also a man may be found in our dayes who is very slow to speak but of a musing medirabundous spirit in holy ejaculations Colloquies and Soliloquies betwixt God and himself much also in prayer by himself and with others but such a man where-ever he dwells I believe he dwells alone by himself is a very great rarity one of many thousands who speaks more to God than to men Again 2 Of God and for God We are all born and live too much tongue-tied as to our Speech of God to and with others 1 Omission though we have a large and spacious field very pleasant Fragrant flowery and Odoriferous for our Discourse to walke up and down and expatiate it self in to wit God in his essence and subsistencies the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost God in his Decrees in his works of Creation and Providence God in his Covenants made with man that of Works and that of Grace God in his Word Law and Gospel in his commands promises and threatnings Againe touching Christ his person natures and offices his humiliation and Exaltation As also touching the Holy Ghost his beginning and carrying on the work of God in the Elect from the first to the last Adde hereunto the many and great priviledges and benefits which the effectually called ones are and shall be made partakers of by Christ in life at death at the Resurrection and to Eternity I might inlarge but one would think in what is said there were room enough and enough for all the nimble â—â—ngued in the world to busy tire and weary themselves in O how sad then is it to have so little of God in our Mouths to observe how people who have their faces Zion-ward can spend hour after hour together it may be day after day and yet scarce have a word concerning God Christ the Spirit or the great affairs of their soules and of Eternity from one end of the prattle to the other This fruit indeed is bad and bitter but yet the root is worse The true and onely reason The reason God is little in our hearts Mat. 12.34 35. I know of is this God is not much in our hearts and therefore but little in our Mouths for out of the
how shall this be helped he answereth but exhorting one another c. Christian Conference well ordered is an excellent preservative of truth and peace in the Church or Churches of Christ and good talke be it Table-talke or High-way talk hath been is and by the blessing of a gracious God will be as a golden Pipe of Conveyance of much spiritual good from one to another until time run up into Eternity and grace into glory Having somewhat largly discovered the profitableness of Christian Conference in that thereby believers abundantly Communicate spiritual good things one to another let me add 3 Arg. It 's peaceableness 3. It 's peaceableness It 's a teeming Mother bringing forth peace at home and abroad within doores and without 1 Peace at home 1. Peace at home Christian Conference is attended usually with sweet inward peace and an heavenly tranquillity of spirit I appeal to your Consciences herein When you lie down in an evening and reflect upon your selves look inward and make inquiry what have the thoughts of my heart the words of my mouth and the actions of my hands been this day as I presume they who keep their watch do and some Heathens by Natures light have done when you find your language and discourse hath been to this person or that holy and spirituall and that upon this design to edifie and minister grace to the hearers surely the fruit thereof hath been a Calme in thy soule and serenity in thy spirits Peace also not alone at the end of each day but at the end of life It was a chearing a reviving Cordial to that good King Hezekiah when he lay as he thought a dying to be able to say Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I walked before thee in truth Isa 38.1 2 3. And so to be able to say and that from the heart sincerely Remember O Lord how I have talked before thee and for thee in thy despised truths ordinances and Ministers how I have in discourse at least and by example also contended for thy holy Sabboths so profaned by a sinfull generation and in brief I have as all sanctified ones and called of God are exhorted earnestly contended for the faith or doctrine of faith once delivered to the saints Jude v. 3. The word is emphaticall and imports such eagerness in contention as is among wrestlers and racers striving for victory Remember O Lord how I have contended with thee by Faith in Prayer for that faith the true Christian faith by thee delivered and how I have contended with erronious persons and Hereticks by arguments an by practice bearing up those truths and ordinances which they pull down surely the remembrance hereof when we go to bed night after night or when we are going to make our beds in the durst to be no more seen will speak much peace and comfort to us And the reason hereof is strong and weighty because good conference if right in the spring flowing from an heart fired with zeal for God and love to my neighbour and right in the ends it designes Gods glory and the good of the hearers is a cleare evidence of a good and gracious heart and grace makes way for peace as the needle for the thred so that those who much lay out themselves in Christian Conference have or may expect to have yea be sure first or last shall have much inward peace and tranquility of spirit Who would not sow good seed when he knows it will grow who would not be scattering words of grace when he knoweth that every such word hath a seed of peace yea of eternal peace in it 2. 2 Peace abroad Christian Conefrence not onely brings forth inward peace and quiet in our breasts and bosomes but also outward peace with men and safety in all places and companies whatever Set you on foot good discourse or run it on and whoever is present there 's no great danger unless it be of a taunt or flout from a prophane Esau or a scoffing Ishmael and that a good honest soul may weare as a Crown of honour as Job speaks of himself Job 31.35 36. My desire is that my adversary had written a book surely I would take it upon my shoulder and bind it as a Crown to me Vpon my shoulder not as a burden but as an honour as standard-bearers carry their ensignes and colours that all may see them Tongue-persecution such as Ismael's was of Isaac breaks no bones but brings under the blessing of God and the promise of a great reward Gal. 4.29 Gen. 21.9 Mat. 5.11 12. No no the danger in discourse is not whilest we are talking of God or of Christ or of the Spirit or of regeneration and the like but the danger comes when you begin to talk of persons this body or that either highly and hyperbolically praising one and that smells of flattery and is possibly by some who are present so accounted or dispraising another and that 's presently suspected of uncharitableness if not of malice The danger is farther heightned when in your discourse course you 'l needs be medling with Authority and State-affairs how soon then may the Tongue be found tripping and you thereby but trip up your own heels and catch a fall possibly such a fall as may break your bones if not your neck So the wisest of Kings tels us Pro. 13.3 21 23. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction Wherein he seemeth to compare man to a City besieged with enemies round about the safety whereof consisteth much in the well ordering the gates duly and wisely opening and shutting them Man is this City his mouth the gate prudently open'd by speech or shut by silence is his protection and safety negligence and imprudence therein oft proves his ruin and destruction That natural principle of self-love should make this argument from self-preservation and safety to be of force and prevalency with us The better and more spiritual our discourses and conferences are the more 's our safety It concernes us at all times to weigh our words well but especially when the company we are in is bad or somewhat dubious and to be suspected Ps 39.1 Thus holy David I said I will take heed to my ways that I sinne not with my Tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle or a Muzzle while the wicked is before me To conclude this Argument Ainsw I have heard of a Sect called Trapanners unknown I presume to our honest Forefathers both name and thing men skilful and active to intangle and ensnare others in their talke I would hope that they are now dead and gone but if hundreds of them should be yet alive and with you and me in a room and hear us discoursing of nothing but faith repentance love and good works and the like methinks we need not much to fear them innocence would be our protection
fully agreed upon some think the Books of the Old and New Testament wherein God hath prescribed what was to be done by men and what not to be done and that because the Apostle saith Rom. 2.16 In that day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel Others by the books understand the Consciences of men which shall then be fully opened and the secrets of all hearts be revealed so that none shall be able to complain of injury done him or injustice in God Because every mans Conscience shall excuse or accuse absolve or condemn him and give him clear and full information whether he did indeed or did not believe in Jesus Christ Faith in Jesus Christ being the only condition of the New-Covenant Mar. 16.16 He that believeth shall be saved he that believeth not shall he damned To preach this is to preach the Gospel Which of these two Books shall be opened I dare not determine why not both Scriptures and Consciences but there 's ' mention of another book to be opened which is expresly called The Booke of Life to wit in which God from Eternity hath written the names of those who shall be saved by Jesus Christ which is frequently spoken of in the Revelations Rev. 3.5.13.8 chap. 17.8 Not that God needs or hath a Book it would be simplicity and blasphemy to fancy it but it is so expressed after the manner of men to shew the certainty of Predestination immutability of Election and the Infallibility of the Salvation of Gods Elect. But I forget what I have in hand Can we rationally immagine that when the book of Conscience is opened words will not he as legible as works yea not only works and words but thoughts also and every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil wherein Scripture is so express Eccl. 12.14 2 Cor. 5.10 O let us remember and lay to heart that at the last day it will be known to all the world what good Communication the Saints have had and what bad the sinners it 's matter of Consolation to the one but of Terror to the others Let us all fear and tremble before this great and glorious Lord our God who taketh most exact notice of every word we speak and will no question call us to an account for what good or hurt we have done by our words and communications as well as by our works and actions let this be as a bitt orbridle in out mouths to curb and restraine us from vaine and sinful language and yet be as a spur in our sides to put on quicken and mend out pace in holy heavenly and Christian Conference I have been much larger than I intended yet I would well hope not too large in arguing for the advance and increase of Christian Conference amongst such as profess Christianitie Let my closing Argument be drawn from the vulgar example Lust Arg. vulgar practice and popular practice of the men of this World in their several ways and imployments how they manage and promote their affairs by discoursing and conferring together The Merchants on the Exchange how do their Tongues run by Sea and Land to the Indies East and West to both the Poles North and South yea all the world over where any thing is to be got by trade and merchandize and shall not Christians who if Christians indeed are wise Merchants speak freely and rejoycingly of the goodly Pearls which they have bought Mat. 13.45 46. and of that Pearl of great price Jesus Christ which they have have found through grace and mercie and of their spiritual merchandize better than that of Gold and Silver shall your Heirs to Nobles and Princes talke and love to talke of what is theirs in reversion of Earledomes Dukedomes Crowns and Kingdomes and shall not Christians discourse and love to discourse of what is theirs in reversion of Crowns of Glory of that heavenly Kingdome how they bring Children are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ Rom. 8.17 and of their inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for them 1 Pet. 1.4 This is to have our Conversation in heaven Phil. 3.20 For heavenly Communication is usually a fruit of heavenly Meditations and affections and the language of Canaan if not forced and hypocritical is a Comfortable evidence of our interest in that Celestial Canaan and heavenly Jerusalem which is above Again shall Countrymen in a strange place delight to be speaking of their native soile their Fathers house the good Company and Society there 1 Pet. 2.21 and shall not believers who are strangers and Pilgrims here delight to be speaking of Heaven willingly and readily with a kind of supernatural naturalness as being their native Country because born from above Joh. 3.3 Heaven born delight to be speaking of their Fathers house where are many mansions Joh. 14.2 and of that sweet invaluable sweet society of Saints and Angels yea of Jesus Christ himself which they shall then and there enjoy and that for ever we know fellow-travellers love to be talking of their way making that sure that they are right Jer. 50.4 5. and shall not Christians who are journying together with their faces Zion-ward Joh. 14.6 going though possibly weeping as they go talke of Christ the way Heb. 12.14 and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord 2 Cor. 13.5 Make Christ sure that they are in Christ and Christ in them making their Callings and Elections sure giving all diligence thereunto 2 Pet. 1.10 Surely it is all the reason in the World that they should be much in thinking and much in speaking of such high such holy and happy things as these are None is ignorant how good Yeomen Farmers and Husbandmen when they meet at Markets or Faires at home or in the Fields delight to discourse it about grounds good or bad the best seed seedmen and seedtime about weeding their Corne in due time casting out the Cockel and darnel burning the twich and when harvest comes O how they work it with both hands and their Tongues are going as fast as their hands in talking laughing whistling and singing and when it is harvest home with them O what shoutings and acclamations what hooping and hollowings so loud and shrill as that the Hills and Dales ring again and Eccho it unto them and to make up the Solemnities of their joy the Horns are winded trumpets sounded yea the fidlers also are sometimes playing with boyes and girles dancing And when harvest is come home the grain housed then the same husbandmen will be talking as fast as ever touching their threshing fanning sifting and so forth and their skill and wisedome in managing these their affairs is the gift of God as the Prophet plainly and fully acknowledgeth speaking of the Plowmans plowing all day Isa 28.24 25 26 27 28 29. his Casting abroad the fitches and scattering the Cummin his ordering
15.32 7 Apurchase made 7. The making a purchase of house or land leads us into a discourse of purchasing the field wherein lay hid the treasure and of selling all to buy the pearl of great price Matth. 13.44 45 46. In brief where I have given one instance I might with ease give an hundred the voice of Providence uttering fresh newes every day Providence is the best and truest interpreter of the Decrees of God and what lay in the womb of Decree before time even from eternity that Providence brings forth day by day and so administreth fresh matter continually for Christian Conference to all that delight and take pleasure therein 3 From the word of God 3. If the voice and speech of men one to another and the voice of God in Providence suggest occasion for holy discourse and conference then surely the voice of God in his word read preached or heard doth it much more Christians do you not read and search the Scriptures day by day I take it for granted that you do and take delight in so doing and what understandest thou all thou hearest or readest is there nothing too hard for thee if so then put questions to persons of understanstanding Ministers or people among whom thou comest saying what is the meaning of this or that portion of Scripture And they will be opening and expounding hard places to thee Ministers especially their lips should keep knowledg that 's their duty and for the people to seek the law at their mouths Mat. 27. is their dutie also And studie not out questions tending to strife and vain jangling or abstruse inquiries to puzzle others as some do and go away scoffing and boasting saying I think I have posed one parson to day or gravelled such or such an one non-plust him so that he had nothing to answer but let the questions be such as tend to the edification of your selves and others by inlarging the understanding in a way of knowledge but principally to the warming of your hearts and affections to the purging of your consciences to the regulation and better ordering of your lives and conversations For when you have heard the word preached know it is spiritual seed labour to harrow it into your hearts by holy meditation Mat. 13.3 4. and 18 19. 1 Pe. 2.2 Isa 55.2 and by Christian communication that so it may spring up and grow in heart and life and thou maist have a rich and goodly crop of it in grace and glory It is also our spiritual food and in order to nourishment must have its due digestion Now they tell us of three concoctions as to natural food the first they call Chylification in the Stomack the second Sanguification with the Liver and the last Assimilation in every part the nutriment being conveyed to every part is made like to that part it is conveyed to suitable hereunto the Word in order to our spiritual nourishment and growth in grace must have various digestions First by Meditation and Conference A second in our will and affections being subdued by it to will what God wills to love or hate what God loves or hates and lastly in our lives and practice when we exercise our selves herein to have consciences void of offence toward God and toward men as Paul did Acts 24.16 Yet there is this vast difference in the resemblance for wheras our meats and drinks are assimilated and made like to the parts of man fed by them the word our spiritual food changeth the man into its own likeness makes the inward and outward man spiritual and holy like it self so far as it turns to nourishment And remember this that an errour in the first concoction is seldome mended in the second or third but vitiates the whole and the gross neglect of meditation and conference is one great cause why we are no better in our hearts and in our lives and many too many professors who hear much but thrive little they have or seem to have good appetites but to be sure they have very bad digestions by reason of their failings in holy Meditation and Christian Conference FINIS Books to be Sold by Tho Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Commentary on the Hebrews By John Owen D. D. fol. Sermons upon the whole Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians By Mr. John Daille Translated into English by F. S. Tho Taylor 's Works the first Volume fol. 2. An Exposition of Temptation on Matth. 4. verse 1. to the end of the 11th Divine Characters in two parts distinguishing the Hypocrite in his best dress By Samuel Crook B.D. A Learned Commentary or Exposition on the first Chapter of the second Epistle to the Corinthians By Richard Sibbs D.D. fol. A Commentary on the whole Epistle of S. Paul to the Ephesians By Mr. Paul Bain Fol. A practical Exposition on the third Chapter of the first Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians with the Godly Mans Choice on Psal 4. ver 6 7 8. By Anthony Burgess fol. The dead Saint speaking to Saints and sinners living in several Treatises The first on 2 Sam. 24.10 The second on Gant 4.9 The third on John 1.50 The fourth on Isa 58.2 The fifth on Exod. 15.11 By Samuel Bolton D.D. folio Christianographia or a Description of the multitude and sundry sorts of Christians in the world not subject to the Pope By Eph. Pagit fol. These seven Treatises next following are written by Mr. George Swinnock 1. The Christian Man's Calling or a Treatise of making Religion ones business in Religious Duties Natural Actions his Particular Vocation his Family Directions and his own Recreation to be read in Families for their Instruction and Edification The first Part. 2. Likewise a second Part wherein Christians are directed to perform their Duties as Husbands and Wives Parents and Children Masters and Servants in the conditions of Prosperity and Adversity 3. The third and last part of the Christian Mans Calling wherein the Christian is directed how to make Religion his business in his dealings with all Men in the choice of his Companions in his carriage in good Company in bad Company in solitariness or when he is alone on a weekday from morning to night in visiting the sick on a Dying bed as also the means how a Christian may do this and some motives to it 4. The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration 5. Heaven and Hell Epitomised and the True Christian characterized 6. The fading of the Flesh and the flourishing of Faith Or One cast for Eternity with the only way to throw it well 7. The Incomparableness of God in his Being Attributes Works and Word opened and applyed All these by Geo. Swinnock M.A. An Antidote against Quakerism By Steven Scanderet A learned Commentary on the fourth Chapter of the second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians to which is added First A conference between Christ and Mary Second The Spiritual