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
is right but I do not well understand you I pray tell me what you mean by Titles Attributes Ordinances Word and Works Min. Friend I like this inquiring of yours well and I will tell you 1. By the title of God is meant Lord Jehovah Jah c. 2. An Attribute of God is that which is spoken of God as that he is a Spirit infinite eternal and unchangeable that God is Almighty most wise most holy most merciful just faithful c. 3. By Ordinances I understand every part of that worship which God hath appointed as Prayer Preaching Reading Hearing Singing Psalms the Sacraments c. 4. By the Word I mean the Scriptures wherein God revealeth his Will and maketh himself known to the children of men 5. By Works I understand the works of Creation and Providence whereby God revealeth much of himself to men who eye God in them Stranger What is it then to break this Commandment Minister It is to prophane or abuse any thing whereby God makes himself known Str. I hope Sir you will tell me something also out of the fourth Commandment Min. Friend why is that day we keep holy call'd the Lords day and the Sabbath for these are names which the Scriptures give that day Rev. 1.10 Gen. 2.23 Stranger Sir I never heard that question put before Minister Friend it is called the Lords day because the Lord appointed it to be kept holy and that in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great work of Redemption wrought by him And it is called the Sabbath which signifieth rest because it is to be kept by us as an holy rest unto the Lord. Str. What must we do on the Sabbath day Min. Friend we must spend the whole day in worshipping God publickly and privately Str. Sir may not works of mercy and necessity be done that day Min. Yes Friend if they be indeed works of necessity and mercy and not so in pretence only Str. Sir you said the whole day must be kept holy what mean you by the whole day Min. Friend by the whole day I mean full Four and twenty hours for the Sabbath must be as long as any other day of the week besides Stranger I pray Sir what must we not do on the Sabbath Minister Friend we must not make that day 1. A day of idleness barely resting from labour as our Beasts do 2. Nor a day of worldly business in buying selling or the like 3. Nor a day of sports and recreations much less 4. Nor a day of sinning especially as in drunkenness stealing and the like 5. Nor a day only of outside devotions but we must labour to worship God in spirit also and to enjoy some spiritual communion with God in his holy Ordinances Str. Sir but am I not at liberty as to my thoughts and words that day Min. No Friend for God is a Spirit his day and worship spiritual so that we ought to lay aside all unnecessary thoughts and words that day as well as works about worldly employments and recreations Isa 58.13 Not speaking thine own words on the Sabbath Str. Sir I hope you will say something to me also concerning the other Commandments Minister Yes Friend but more briefly lest our time should fail us what think you is meant by Father and Mother in the fifth Commandment Stranger Sir I think my Father that begot me and my Mother that bore me Min. Friend that is true you say but there is more in it by Father and Mother we must understand Magistrates and Ministers and all our Superiours in any kind whatsoever Str. Sir and what is it to honour my Superiours Min. Friend it is to give them that inward and outward respect which is due to them and to obey the lawful commands of those who are over us Str. Sir doth this command require only our duty to Superiours Min. Yes it injoined also the duties of Superiours to Inferiours Str. Sir I pray tell me what the sixth seventh eighth and nine Commandments require of us Min. Briefly thus the sixth Commandment enjoineth all lawful endeavours for good of the life the seventh of the chastity the eighth of the wealth and outward estate the ninth of the good name of our selves and others each Commandment forbidding whatsoever is contrary or opposite thereunto Stranger The tenth Commandment also I pray Sir speak to Minister The tenth Commandment Thou shalt not covet c. requireth not only a full contentment with our own condition but a right and charitable frame of heart toward our Neighbour and all that is his Str. Sir I thank you for all this good discourse of yours I have rid many a mile with some Ministers and never had half so much from them Min. Friend it may be so but was not you your self much in fault did you put questions to them such as I have now put to you and you to me Str. No Sir to speak the truth and I am afraid I am much to blame for it Min. One word more before we part I presume Friend you have been at the Sacrament and received the Communion Stranger Yes many a time at Easter methinks I have a mind to it Minister Friend and why not at other times also Is your foul an hungry and doth the spiritual appetite come to you but once a year Str. Sir that is the time we use to go and then the rest of my Neighbours receive Min. Friend then it seems you go much for custom and company but tell me did you ever get any good by the Sacraments Str. Sir I hope no hurt Min. Friend they who live ignorantly or scandalously eat and drink unworthily are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord and so eat and drink judgment or damnation to themselves 1 Cor. 11.27 29. Str. I hope I go better prepared than so Min. How do you prepare your self Str. Sir I give my name to the Minister aforehand I put on my best apparel I fast that morning lay the blessed bread and wine next my heart yea I am in love and charity with all men and forgive give those that have wronged me with all my heart Minister Friend that which in your answer fell last from you is quickly said not so soon done how can you say you are in love and charity with all men c. when your own heart tells you and all your Neighbours can testifie that for such and such a man you cannot give him a good word or a good look you express much joy when any evil befalls him or his where is your love then Stranger Sir you can't imagine what a deal of wrong he hath done me for many years together my heart cannot but rise against him whenever I see him but I hope to be eaven with him and to pay him all I owe him before I dye Min. Look you now Friend what is become of your charity and of forgiving with all your heart those words were but wind your
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
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
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
Angels Min. No Friend God is not an Angel at all God is a Spirit uncreated having his being of himself infinite and eternal the Angels are creatures were made by God are finite have a beginning Col. 1.16 By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be thrones and dominions principalities or powers all the Angels were made by God Str. I believe Sir what you say concerning God and the Angels Min. Where is God think you Str. Why God is in heaven Minister What is God no where els but in heaven Stranger Yes I hope he is in the hearts of all good people also Min. Is God in hell also Str. No not in hell unless by his power onely Min. Yes God is in hell also and that not onely by his power but in his essence and being or else How is God infinite if he be not every where Str. What you say is true but I never heard so much before Min. Friend How many Gods be there Str. There is but one God Min. Is there not God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost And are there not then three Gods Str. Yes Sir three Gods Min. No Friend three persons indeed but onely one God Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord. Str. Yea three persons and one God I remember it now Minister Having said something concerning God what think you Friend concerning your self Are you a sinner against this God or no Stranger Yes Sir we are all sinners God help us Min. Why Friend which of the Commandments of God have you ever broken Str. Sir I break them all every day in thought word and deed Min. Say you so Friend let us come to each particular Commandment Did you ever break the first Commandment Thou shalt have c Str. No Sir I believe there 's but one God Min. What say you to the second Commandment Thou shalt not make c Str. I am sure I have not broken this Commandment I am no Papist I abhor Images I am a Protestant and so was my father before me Min. Did you ever break the third Commandment Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain c Stranger No Sir I am no common Swearer it may be I let fall an Oath now and then as others do but I am sorry for it when I have done Minister What think you of the fourth Commandment Do you keep holy the Sabbath Str. Yes truly Sir I keep the Church all my Neighbours can bear me witness I hear our own Minister sometimes I stay at home but not very often Min. For the fifth Commandment Honour thy Father c. Have you broken this Commandment Str. I hope not much Sir my father and mother were they alive would say I was as good a child as any they had and we were so many of us Min. What think you of the sixth seventh and eighth Commandments Thou shalt not kill commit adultery steal Have you broken these Commandments Str. I hope not for I am no murderer no adulterer no thief Min. For the ninth Commandment Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour have you kept or broken it Stranger I hope I have not broken it for I never took a false Oath against any man in my life Minister What think you of the tenth Commandment Thou shalt not covet c Are you guilty or not Str. Covet would I were as free from other sins as I am from Covetousness if you would have me tell you the truth I am to blame rather on the other hand I spend my money too fast Min. Oh Friend how do these things stand together you said even now that you broke all the Commandments every day in thought word and deed and now I have dealt with you upon each particular Commandment you clear your self in all as if you had broken none of the Commandments in thought word or deed Str. I pray Sir tell me something that I may understand my self better Min. Know Friend that you are grievously ignorant and that Satan the god of this World hath miserably blinded you that your heart fearfully deceiveth you pray earnestly to God that he would inlighten you hear read the Scriptures Catechisms and other good Books remember Sermons go to the Minister intreating him to instruct you in the principles of Religion grow acquainted with good people talk and discourse much with them about heavenly matters and by the blessing of God in a little time you will come to know God more and your self better Stranger I thank you heartily Sir and when I come home I purpose to think of your counsel and to follow it Minister Say and hold Friend and remember that a blind ignorant Soul is worse than a dark and blind body And that the soul be without knowledge is not good Prov. 19.2 Str. I hope I shall remember what you have said to me as long as I live and I confess I am a sinner Min. Are you guilty of Adam's sin in his eating the forbidden fruit Str. No Sir that was long before my time I know nothing of it Min. Yes Friend I and you and all Mankind except Christ are guilty of Adams first sin Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all for that all have sinned Stranger True Sir now I remember my self I have heard them say that we are all guilty of Adam 's sin because we were all in his loins Minister I have heard them say you must not build your faith upon hear-sayes but upon the written Word of God and for your reason why we are guilty of Adam's sin because we were all in his loins that 's not the main reason for then we should be as well guilty of the sins of our Fathers and Grandfathers c. for we were in their loins also Str. How then I pray you came we to be guilty of Adam 's first sin Min. Why thus Adam was a publick person representing all Mankind and the Covenant of life made with him was not for himself only but for all his posterity so that when he sinned we sinned when he fell we fell with him in that his first transgression Stranger I must needs confess that I am guilty of Adam 's first sin Minister Friend You and I are not only guilty of Adam's first sin but also of many actual transgressions You said even now that sometimes you let fall an Oath in your common discourse which is swearing and taking the Name of God in vain and you said truly also that we break the Commandments of God in thought word and deed and the Scripture saith Rom. 3.23 All have sinned c. So that you and I and all men are sinners certainly Str. I acknowledge Sir that I am a sinner Min. Yea Friend but are you such a sinner as that you deserve
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
born but legions of Devils got possession of them so many beloved lusts as bad or worse than so many Devils and how they were still born dead quite dead in Trespasses and Sins but now through the riches of Grace in Christ the Lepers are cleansed the Devils are cast out and the dead are quickned and raised to the life of grace and glory Eph. 2.1 To hasten shall Souldiers old Souldiers love to be talking of what battels they have been in what sharp Conflicts and hot disputes they have had with such and such enemies what victories obtained what spoils they have divided what joyful triumphs they have solemnized and shall not Old Disciples yea all experienced believers who are the good souldiers of Jesus Christ discourse and love to discourse what spiritual combats they have had with the Devil the world and the flesh the corruption of their own hearts their unbelief pride passions covetousness how they have conflicted with ungodly men their Cruel mockings and persecutions yea how they have gotten the victory have overcome the world by their faith Heb. 11.36 Gal. 4.29 Joh. 5.4 what spoils they are inriched with what answers to prayers what mortifying of such and such Corruptions what eminent growth in grace how faith hath been marvellously strengthen'd love inflamed zeal fired longing after communion with God heightened and the like and all this because they fought under such a Captain who puts spirit and life into all marching under his banners even Jesus Christ the Captain of their Salvation yea the Lord of Hosts himself mighty in battel Heb. 2.10 Jer. 50.34 Again shall wrestlers and racers speak much of their strength and swiftness And why not believers of their wrestling not against flesh and blood only but against principalities and powers Eph. 6.12 and of their running with patience the race set before them He. 12.1 and how they can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth them shall wise men be speaking Phil. 4.13 Je. 9.23 24. yea glorying in their wisdome mighty men glorying in their might and rich men in their riches which is their sin and their shame and shall not the Saints of the most high God each glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me saith the Lord which glorying is their duty and honour also yea Gal. 6.14 glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom or whereby the world is Crucified unto them and they unto the world shall men addicted to recreations who devote themselves to hunting and hawking fishing and fowling speak much of what delight and contentment they find therein one praising his pack of Hounds for being well mouthed hunting close and round as in a ring another commending his hawk for mounting high as an Eagle even to the Skies and when the fowle ariseth for falling and shooting down upon the prey like a thunder bolt out of the Cloudes and so forth Then surely the generation of believers have more cause to speak one to another and that not with a carnal and sensual delight as men in their sports and recreations but with a spiritual and heavenly cheariness of what contentment and satisfaction they have found in God delighting themselves in the Lord their God David speaks to all his fellow Saints Ps 66.16 Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my soul to wit how he hath heard my prayers quickned me when dull and dead raised me up when I was brought very low delivered me from the hands of all mine enemies and from the Hands of Saul Psal 18. the Title He giveth us his judgment plainly A day in thy Courts O God is better then a thousand and backs it with the choice he made I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tents of wickedness Ps 84.10 Talk with men called of God according to his purpose who in their youth poured out their soules to vanities to all manner of sports and pastimes and they will ingeniously confess that they find more sweetness and hearts solace in one hours communion with God in secret prayer in one day of humiliation or thanksgiving in hearing a good Sermon or in being partakers of the Lords Supper and so sitting with the King at his Table Can. 1.12 then they did in all their youthfull games and recreations all their dayes To conclude shall the worst of men the cheating gamester the swinish drunkard the beastly adulterer be so bold as to talke and that in a jolly boasting way of their false Dice and coggings of their drinking down such and such laying them under the Table of their defiling Women or Maidens satisfying their lust to the full with them all glorying in their shame Phil. 3.19 and shall not Christians in their Conference speak freely with joy and thanksgivings ascribing all the glory to the Lord their God of their diligence and faithfulness in their lawful callings of their Temperance and Chastity yea farther how their hearts have bin raised up and ravished with holy Meditations and heavenly ejaculations how their spirits are got above the world whilst in the world how their fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ through the Spirit 1 Joh. 1.3 How the Father and the Son love them make their abode with them and manifest themselves unto their soules Joh. 21.23 How Jesus Christ is pleased Can. 1.2 to kiss them with the kisses of his mouth day by day O Friends what I say are not bare words and notions but things and realities and glorying herein is good for it is glorying in the Lord. But I fear my fancy and pen run too fast and too far in this argument possibly to the tiring of some faint and feeble readers Therefore in a word know the Devil drives a great and mighty though an ungodly and accursed Trade in the Tongues of Sinners they speak often one to another corrupting poisoning and debauching each other and how unwearied are they in this drudgery advancing and promoting to their uttermost the Kingdome of darkness and of the Devil as they are going toward Hell together and shall not our God and Father and our dear Redeemer Jesus Christ carry on an holy and blessed Trade if I may so phrase it in the mouths and lips of his Saints and Servants his sons and daughters to the convincing and converting of sinners if possible or at the least to the rendring them more inexcusable in that great and terrible day of the Lord and to the edifying strengthening and comforting one another speaking much of God and for God even with all their might striving and labouring to inlarge the Kingdome of Christ in grace here and so in glory hereafter Whilst we are Travellers here below in our present pilgrimage to be very busie active and toyling as it were in the work of the Lord will doubtless be upon our account to our safety comfort
which number was Mr Staunton he was of his mind that said Praestatar are quam saltare die sabbathi Aug. It was better to work them sport to plow then Dance on the Sabbath Day he would rather loose his place then countenance such a practise amongst his people During his suspension he took his degree of Doctor in Divinity in Oxford which he did to use his own words that he might put the greater honour upon his sufferings when he answered in Comitiis and opposed in Vesperiis he was wonderfully applauded by all that were present There were several Doctors in the University whose fingers did itch to be dealing with him because he was a Country Minister and a Puritan amongst which was a Doctor whose name I shall conceale though a man of great note amongst them who was so miserably nonplust by Staunton that the Auditors hiss'd at him and one call'd out for a Candle that the Doctor might see his Arguments of this good Providence Staunton himself takes thankful notice giving all the glory to God making use of that Scripture him that honoureth me I will honour At that time also he Preacht in the University upon those words of Christ in Mar. 8.36 What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his own soule c. of which Sermon he sayes He was call'd on to preach several times before the Parliament and his sermons ordered to be Printed That God did both graciously assist him in the Preaching of it and wonderfully prosper it when Preacht When the Assembly of Divines was call'd at Westminster Dr. Staunton was chosen one of that Reverend Assembly and was in good esteem amongst them insomuch that he was nominated for one of the six the Pâ—â—â—cht that useful Lecture morning by â—…ng in Westminster Abby In the year 1648 there were Visitors appointed for the University of Oxford who discharg'd Dr Newlin from his headship in C. C. C. and no man was thought so fit to succeed in that place as Dr. Staunton That Colledge had been happy in an eminently Learned and Godly President before the famous Doctor John Reynolds and now it was blest againe with the residence and regency of this excellent person what Colledge in either of the Universities can shew such another pair of Governours Here he continued above twelve years in all which time his behaviour was very exemplary not onely to those that were of his own Colledge but to the heads of other Colledges in that University Be pleased to take a short account of his Conversation from the Pen of one that was Scholar and Fellow of the House the greatest part of the time that he was President Thus he Writes At his first coming to the Colledge he put in execution and that vigorously all such Statutes as tended most to the advancement of Learning and Religion and was frequently himself present at all Lectures and other Exercises to encourage the Studious and reprehend the negligent He set up a Divinity Lecture every Lords Day early in the Morning in the Colledge Chappel for the initiating and exercising the Elder Students in order to the work of the Ministry He constantly Catechis'd the younger sort publiquely in the Chappel every Saturday He preacht once or twice every Lords Day to the edification and comfort of many besides his constant course in the Vniversity Church and Colledge Chappel and several lectures in the Country whereunto he was alwayes most ready rather seeking opportunities then declining them He had every week a meeting at his own lodgings for prayer and spiritual Conference as well of the members of the Colledge as others wherein himself alwayes bore the principal part bringing forth out of his store of experimental knowledg things new and old He was constantly present in publique duties of worship in the Chappel morning and evening observing all and reproving any that were negligent and remiss He took great care to introduce and elect into the Colledge such as he either saw or heard to have some appearances of grace at least such as were docible and inclineable towards that which is good Spiritual discourse was his meat and drink and when he sat at meals in the Colledge Hall his constant course was either from the Chapter then Read or from some occasion or other to speak that which might tend to the instruction of those who were present and to call up their minds to some heavenly contemplation In the year 1660. Being discharged from the Colledge where he had been so eminent a blessing by his prudent government and Pious example and none know this so well as such whose lot was cast to live there under his constant instruction and discipline 2 Tim. 3.10 11. both which were so far effectual that Religion and Learning scarce flourished more in any one Society in the whole Vniversity then in that little Nursery he reckoned it adviseable to withdraw also from the City in which he had sown many handfuls of precious seed and he always well watered it with his tears few that I ever heard of Preached with greater Affection and less Affectation But when the time of his departure came there are living that still know and remember with what sad hearts his dear Friends Scholars and Citizens parted with him Some have assured me it was much-what like Paules departure from Ephesus taking his last leave of the Elders Acts 20. latter end Where they all wept fore and fell on Pauls neck and kissed him sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake that they should see his face no more and they accompanied him out of the City From the Famous University and City Recommending of himself unto the Divine Providence to fix the Bounds of his habitation for him his first flight was to Rickmersworth a small Market Town in Hertfordshire where he had not been long but he had a very kind welcome both from the Gentry as a Gentleman and other good Christians of inferiour rank as a Minister of Jesus Christ His first and chief design when a little acquainted in the place was to make way for the settlement of an able Minister of the New Testament there reckoning that one of the best accommodations of a house was wanting when such a Minister was wanting and he used to say That Rickmersworth were a good place if there were better water meaning a better Minister there and that the design took no effect was not through any default of his all means being used on his part for the bringing that purpose to pass but however he quickly found the way to that Pulpit himself and because the entrance being narrower there then in some places he sought out a wider door and more effectuall and I believe it may be affirmed he found above twenty more scarce one Sabbath passing wherein he Preached not the Gospel of the kingdome in a new Pulpit and his paines though an old man and somewhat infirm in
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
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man c. The Psalmist giveth the ungodly man a black brand saying God is not in all his thoughts Ps 10.4 and let it be for an humiliation and lamentation that God is no more in the hearts and Months of the best amongst us Secondly Having laid down a little and but a little of the Tongues Unruliness in reference to God it is sinful silence neither speaking much to Gods nor of God which is its greivous miscarriage by way of omission Let some enquiry be made after the Tongues positive guilt by way of Commission 2. Commission it 's speaking irreverently lightly or prophanely and that in reference to God and so speaking too much of God For instance First 1 Titles abused There is a frequent abuse of the Titles and Attributes of God in our common discourse saying O Lord O God O Christ O Jesu O dear God O sweet Saviour and the like and this upon very trifling occasion as when one meets an acquaintance unexpectedly out flye these words or the like and usher in no more but an how dost thou who thought to see thee here to day or a whence comest thou or whither art thou going Is not this to play with Sacred things and to take the name of the Lord our God in vain A question also may be whether when we hear onesneeze to cry God bless you or Christ help you be a bounden duty which upon this occasion God requires at our hands It s the judgment of a worthy Writer of this Nation who was no dishonour to the Nation that there is more cause with us to pray for a man Coughing than Sneezing for Coughing argueth the Cold taken to be too strong for Nature to eject it but sneezing sheweth Natures strength in mastering the Cold taken and casting of it out When I was young as I remember I read it in the French Academy that Sneezing was a good sign of a bad cause of natures strength though cold were taken Adde also this question Whether to apply the incommunicable Attributes of God as Allmighty Infinite and the like to persons or things here below as to say I love or hate such a person or thing infinitely might not such language well be spared Secondly 2 Scriptures abused The Tongue trips and falls foully when it makes bold with Scriptures using or abusing rather the phrase and language of it in jesting to provoke mirth in Company 1 In jesting or in wresting it to maintain erronious opinions as seducers do I grant that there is a facetiousness a witty cheariness in discourse which being well ordered may not onely be lawful but a duty yet to jest it in the words of Scripture as when asked why did not you come at such a time to such a place as you promised To answer merrily saying I have a Farm c. I pray you have me excused or I have a Wife and could not come and an hundred the like expressions which the Devil and prophane wits of men can forge and fancy surely this way of tossing the word of God to and fro falls within the Compass of that jesting which the Apostle saith Eph. 5.4 is not Convenient The Original word used which the Philosophers ranked among one of their vertues the Holy Apostle puts in the Catalogue of vices as fornication covetousness foolish talking Vers 3. and jesting Talking scurrilously and lasciviously is alwayes bad enough especially when cloathed with Scripture Language that is a breach of many commands together Jesting in Scripture phrases is inbeseeming the gravity and fanctity of Christianity Remember it is ill jesting with edged Tooles such surely is the word of God yea Heb. 4.12 it 's sharper than any two edged sword Againe the holy Word of God is miserably abused and prophaned 2 In wresting the Scripture in the wresting and misapplying it to the countenancing and patronizing of errors and heresies or of vicious words and practices 2 Pet. 3.16 This the Apostle Complains of saying That in Pauls Epistles are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction Unlearned and unstable Ignorance is the Root of instability Againe ignorance and instability are the Mother and Nurse of most or all the corrupt opinions and wayes which are taken up and walked in by the mistaken children of men and one great Engine which Satan useth in his seductions is the wresting misconstruing and the misapplying the Holy Scriptures making men believe that the Spirit of God speaketh that in the word which indeed never was at all the meaning of the Holy Ghost The word in the Original significantly points at this alluding to tormentors who lay men on the Rack and make them to speak that which they never meant or thought so that this wresting is to torment and rack the Scriptures and which is dreadfull to think all this is to their own destruction As if a man sadly distempered walking in a pleasant Spring or Grove should cut up a young Twig and be twisting and twining of it till he had made a with of it and then go and hang himself therein Thus the Sabbath breakâ—… who profane the day by idleness The Sabbath breaker 〈◊〉 speaking their own words by finding their own pleasure upon Gods holy day if rebuked will plead saying Mar. 2.27 The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath Thus the greedy worldlings The worldling Amos. 2 7. Hab. 2.6 who pant after the dust of the Earth and all the day long are lading themselves with thick Clay mind nothing but Earth Earth Earth if questioned why do ye thus why spend ye your strength for that which is not Bread and labour for that which will not satisfie they have a ready answer 1 Tim. 5.8 If any provide not for his own and specially for those of his own house he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel The Glutton Phil. 3.19 Luk. 16.19 Thus the gluttons and voluptuous Epicures of our Age who make their bellies their gods faring deliciously every day who care for nothing but to eat the fat and drink the sweet if a reason of this their brutish sensuality be demanded They 'l presently tell you Eccl. 2.24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink and that he should make his soulenjoy goâ—… his labour The worst of sinners Yea the worst of sinners 〈◊〉 on swearers drunkards adulterers lyers cheaters and such like will wrest and pervert Scriptures to their own delusion obduration and destruction 3 By swearing 3. The Tongues of men grow black and bloody with Oathes of several sorts and sizes 1. Blasphemous Oathes by the parts and
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
Prov. 14.14 2 Estimation with God 2. There 's a greater and higher remuneration then this even in the breast and bosome of God himself that good estimation they are of with him they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts Mal. 3.17 All the world is his made preserved governed commanded by him but these are mine to wit in a way of special propriety my peculiar lot my treasure Exo. 19.5 Jer. 51.19 1. Pet. 2.9 my inheritance my jewels my children my spouse my beloved such honour and titles of honour have the Saints especially such as are active for God speaking often one to another 3 Signal advancement 3. God often rewards them even in this life by setting some signal token upon them of his love and favour which the men of the world cannot but take notice of There was a day when they that feared the Lord spake often one to another What that day was Mal. 3.16 or what they said is not clearly expressed but may be probably gathered from the Context and from the History of the Kings Reign in which he prophesied which lay down plainly how the affaires of Church and State were managed under their Reign and his prophesie But when doth God own them in the open face of the World not presently yet hath he a set time when he will appear for them vers 17. That day saith he when I make up my jewels which refers as most interpreters carry it partly at least to this life to wit in the day of his Churches Restauration and Reformation This is one way and one day of Gods making up his jewels in Church reformation when he turns again Zions Captivity when he maketh according to his promise Kings to be nursing Fathers and Queens nursing Mothers to his Israel When he giveth Judges as at the first and Counsellors as at the beginning and to his people Pastors after his own heart when purity of Doctrine Worship and discipline is set up and maintained the will and word of Jesus Christ in such a fair day Jewels will glister and sparkle and the Saints and Servants of the living God usually are advanced and become the heads and not the taile Though God seem to neglect his people yet he hath a day a set day wherein he will throughly plead Zions cause which is indeed his own cause Then shall the Lord of Hosts reign in mount Zion and in Jerusadem and before his ancients gloriously Isa 24.23 4 Sparing them 4. Such as speak often one to another God spareth them in his Fatherly indulgence towards them as a man spares his own Son that serves him Spares son and serves go together adoption and sanctification and find indulgence sueh God spares pardoneth their sins Ps 103.13 accepts their services though tainted with many defects and imperfections pittieth them in all their afflictions and temptations supports and delivers them accepts of their good meaning and endeavours the will for the deed 2 Cor. 8.12 and sometimes remarkably spares them in the black and cloudy dayes of publick Calamity by the destroying sword in the hands of Angels or men in pestilences or warre And which notably sets off Gods love the Saints priviledge is that God so eminently sheweth himself on the side and behalf of his people that the ungodly world cannot but take notice thereof to their great admiration astonishment and terrour Mal. 3.18 13.14 15. vers 18. Then shall ye to wit the blasphemers return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not The Prophets retorts their blasphemies upon themselves making them their own judges and condemners therein Whose words were stout against the Lord who said it is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances who call the prond happy c. And thus God convinceth obstinate and rebellious sinners of their stupidity and Frenzies not to their Conversions but to their horrour and amazement and extorts acknowledgments from the worst of men not alone of his Soveraignty but of his wise administrations how that he is a gracious rewarder of the good as also a just and dreadful revenger of sin and sinners Psal 126.12 Thus when the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion they said among the Heathen The Lord hath done great things for them 5 Owning them at death and judgment 5. For the completing of this argument drawn from Gods gracious remuneration of Christian Conference he doth it not onely here but will do it more amply and abundantly hereafter as may be cleared from the words of Christ Beza at Pacet in Loc. Mat. 12.37 By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Justification stands here in opposition to condemnation and to be justified is to be absolved or declared just not to be made just Our words and speeches are the declarations and publications of what lieth latent in our hearts and so are signs and Characters of what we are good or bad as well as our deeds and actions and God hath a book of remembrance as well for what we speak as for what we do And when the book shall be opened Rev. 20.12 and the dead small and great shall stand before God and be judged according to what is written in these books then it will be known to all the world what good Commucations Gods people have had among themselves and that for their honour and renown before God the Angels and their fellow Saints to all eternity God is if I may so express it all-eye to see all the actions of men all eare to heare all the words of men and all hand to register and record all and not alone good works but good words also shall have a gracious recompence and reward of glory Oh that that 's the day Mal. 3.17 when God will make up his jewels those that spake often one to another compleatly fully then indeed the tyde shall turne the Scene Change the case and face of things shall so be altered as that the damned reprobates whilst howling and roaring among the Divels shall discerne little to their comfort much to their horrour between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not To these three arguments exciting to Christian Conference in reference to God his injunction or commanding of it his remunerations and rewards for it let me adde another The fourth Argument which should provoke us to be much in the duty of Christian Conference 4 Gods end in the variety of gifts bestowed is our answering therein Gods great end in his various distribution of gifts and graces to his Children which is that by gracious discourse and holy communication they might mutually impart each to other for their edification and spiritual advantage For the amplification thereof an apter similitude cannot be used then
Conference with them I say their abundant experience of good success may save me the labour of farther enlargements herein Yet let me drop my mites and give an instance or two in the case Though I have been very very remiss and negligent in taking and improving opportunities in this kind for which I desire to be humbled in the sight of God and men yet my being through grace sometimes a little active herein hath not been altogether in vain I have had occasionally discourse with Papists about Justification by works with more touching Salvation by living up to the light within them with more yet who hoped to be saved by their good Prayers serving of God leading a good life doing as they would be done by and the like several of them in each sort well-meaning people I hope yet all split upon the same rock works works whereas the Scriptures say expresly By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Rom. 3.20 And again By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God not of works least any man should boast Eph. 2.8 9. Not to multiply quotations so well known to all who search the Scriptures take but one more Tit. 3.5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost It is by as the way not for as the deserving and meritorious cause of salvation that is Christ and none but Christ Act. 4.12 But to instance a little for Papists I know not any by me reduced I hope many are by others and I rejoyce therein and bless the Lord for it For the second sort who expect Salvation by living up to the light within them a generation of men as much to be pittied prayed for and tenderly dealt with as any who by reason of some opinions and practices lie under the wrath of men and for others without breach of Charity we may say lie under the wrath of God onely one I can speak of a fellow passenger with my self and others in an hackny Coach from St Albans to London who after long and warme disputes at length ingeniously confessed that no righteousness but the righteousness of Christ imputed to us could availe for satisfaction to God the Father nor for our justification and salvation or to this effect For the third sort those who hope to be saved by their good prayers their serving God and so forth think and profess they think their repentance and good deeds for time to come will make amends for their bad deeds in time past and make satisfaction to God for all that formerly hath been done amiss by them I hope by the good hand of God upon weak endeavours the whole of glory be the Lords many have been plucked out of this snare of the Divel I perceive this work groweth upon my hands take but one instance therefore There was some few years since a young gentlewoman who waited on a Lady in a Noble mans family who passing by Coach with others and my self from Barnet to London upon discourse I soon found that this young woman had a devotion and a zeale for God cared not for vain frothy Company gave her self to reading Scriptures and good Books she was well read talked willingly and understandingly at last discoursing with her and putting questions to her touching Justification I perceived she built much upon works and a legall righteousness whereupon my bowels yerned towards her and I told her in plain termes I feared she was not yet in the way of life and Salvation and I spake as seriously and pertinently as I could shewing the insufficiency of all our own righteousnesses and the impossibility of justification life and salvation to be had by the deeds of the Law and withall opened the Covenant of grace to her how that it was Christ and he alone that was made under the Law to redeem them who were under the Law of the fulness and sufficiency and also willingness and readiness in him to save us and to this effect I discoursed about half an hour together and perceiving that she had pulled her hood over her face and was weeping I held my peace dropping a few words sometimes at length she breaks out in expressions to this purpose Now Sir I see the mind of God towards me this day which is to bring me off from that sandy foundation of works which I have been building upon this many a day and to bring me to free grace in Jesus Christ so setting me upon that rock which is higher then I and I bless the Lord that I saw your face this day that I fell into your company the good I hope I have received from you will stick by me and comfort me as long as I live I hear and believe that her Conversation ever since hath not been a dishonour to her profession and that she hath not hinder'd the advance of Religion at all in that noble family but a means to promote it rather 3 Rebellious converted 3. That Christian Conference may be useful and availeable even for the Conversion of obstinate and rebellious sinners I make no question the place forecited aboundantly proves it for whereas the Apostle saith Jam. 15.19 20. He that converteth a sinner from the errour of his way by sinner we must needs take in such as are vicious and flagitious in life and conversation as well as one erring from the truth persons erronious and Heretical Again Pauls injuction Eph. 4.29 Let no rotten communication proceed out of your mouth but such as may Minister grace to the hearers and why not Converting grace ministred and regeneration work wrought even by Christian Conference This I may safely say that the Ministers of Christ have been not only by the publick Preaching of the word but by private Conference very instrumental under God in the converting many souls to righteousness and the ground hereof to me is plain and abvious because Christ setteth them apart on purpose for that work and gave gifts to men Eph. 4.11 12 13. He received gifts even for the rebellious that the Lord God might dwell among them Ps 68 18. And though private Christians and Ministers speak the same words yet there 's this difference that what private Christians say in Conference comes from fraternal Charity what the messengers of Christ say comes from speciall ministerial authority and their discoursing about matters of Religion is properly enough preaching and hath been eminently instrumental for the Conversion of many from darkness to light and from the Kingdome of Satan unto God Experiments herein I believe are frequent and usual through the blessing of God and his Christ who by promise hath freely and graciously engaged himself to be with his Gospel-ministery to the worlds end Mat. 28.19 20. Let me leave you but one instance which may by the Lords
and savoury Aaron in his ointments going about was as a Pillar or Cloud of perfumes walking leaving a sweet scent and smell behind him such are Christians indeed in their Communications and Conversations in all places and companies into which the hand of Providence leadeth them The other similitude is also very elegant and expressive As the dew of Hermon c. vers 3. The dew on the earth is a refreshing makes it moist soft and fruitfull full such in an higher nobler and more spiritual way is Christian Conference well and wisely managed to hearers who are humble conscientious attentive docil and tractable A second argument moving to Christian Conference 2 Arg. The day of Judgment in relation to the Creed and things to be believed is fairly and strongly deducible from that great and dreadful day of judgment wherein an account must be given as well of words as of actions before that righteous Judge the Lord Jesus Christ who hath foretold us Mat. 12.26 27. that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment for by thy words thou shalt be condemned An idle word is that which in it self hath no tendency to the edification of speaker or hearer to profit men Par. in loc or honour God Christ our great Lord and Master entrusteth men as stewards with much treasure to be laid out for their Masters use part whereof is that of the Tongue and language which certainly he will call men to an account for and if for idle words then surely for reviling bitter and slandering words against the righteous ones his servants and Children Ministers or people Now some ungodly men think that the worst words of their mouths are too good for them calling them hypocrites dissemblers factious seditious traytors rebels and what not sepaking all manner of evil against them falsly or lying and reproachfully Mat. 5.11 But they will be of another mind another day when Christ cometh 1 Pet. 4.14 And behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodily committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude 14.15 By the way observe that what evil is done to or spoken against Christs little ones he looketh upon as done to or spoken against himself but that which is principally to our purpose is that Christ will then convince sinners force them to know and acknowledge that their speeches of and against the righteous were hard speeches and that conviction will be a dreadful and terrible Conviction he will convince them with a witness before all the world convince them with a vengeance convince them by the flames of Hell a dreadful dismal and everlasting conviction indeed but very just and righteous They would not be convinced by the cleare sweet and pleasant light of the word Law or Gospel to their humiliation therefore they shall be convinced by the fire of Hell though to their terrour and confusion As some letters writ with joyce of Lemons or Onions are not legible by common day light but held to the fire and a little scorched are legible enough so sin and guilt in the Consciences of some wretched sinners are never read by the common-light of the word but when their Consciences are held close to the flames of Hell and well scorched then will they nill they their sins and guilt are made clearly legible and visible unto them filling them with everlasting horror with shame and confusion of face for ever O the sad and doleful reckoning that sinners will make before that dreadfull Tribunal and Judgment seat of Jesus Christ for words onely to pass by thoughts and actions then Conscience throughly awaken'd and terrified will be forced to speak and speak out accusing poor lost sinners Imprimis for idle words multitudes multitudes even innumerable Item for lying scoffing slandering defaming words against the Saints of the most high God Item for Cursing Swearing yea blasphemous words against the most High God himself taking his Name in vaine all the day long and each of these by hundreds thousands yea possibly millions O What will the total sum amount unto tremble sinner tremble to imagine To Close up this we read in the parable of Dives and Lazarus Luk. 16.24 That the rich man in Hell complains particularly and especially of his Tongue how that was tormented in the flame An ancient Writer gives this reason his Tongue was that member which most sinned and therefore that had the sharpest torment Thus we see how the bad words of wicked men will be remenbred and repeated to their shame and anguish at the last day and no question the good words of the righteous shall not be forgotten They shall be had in everlasting remembrance Psal 112.6 and their words also as the Prophet testifieth Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often one to another and a book of remembrance was written with him God booked down every word they said O what great encouragement should this give to all that fear God to be much in speaking of God and for God to and with one another What shall the great and glorious good and gracious Lord God Almighty vouchsafe to write down every good word which droppeth from us and shall not our lips drop apace and that as the Hony-comb the sweetest words imaginable tending to the glory of God and good of men did we indeed believe this one truth O how would it set all our Tongues a going how would every one strive who should talke most and speak fastest vying as it were and contending which of us should have the most words in Christs book at the day of his appearance It s unbelief friends it 's unbelief which makes us so Tongue-tied tieth up the strings both of hearts and Tongues Let 's get yea the Lord give us more faith and then we shall be more talkative in a good sense and to good purpose and so God will be more honoured and our neighburs edified we and they shall have more heights of grace here and weights of glory hereafter I will Close up this argument with Johns Vision Rev. 20.12 I saw the dead saith he small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works Alluding I suppose to the manner of judiciarie proceedings by Judges who have depositions upon record Judge according to the Laws of the Land and matters of fact cleared to them by allegations and proofs this still remembring God needeth none of these records or books but condescending to our capacities he is pleased to speak of himself after the manner of men What the books are that shall be opened is not
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
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
wisdome in believers which ruleth Tongues as tumultuous and turbulent as winds and waves or as an heady multitude It is an unruly evill saith the Apostle James 3.8 7. 7 Courage And lastly he that will order his Tongue well and his discourse aright had need be one of great courage and resolution for many and great discouragements will arise from within and from without to stop the course of Christian Conference David is a resolved man Psalm 39.1 I will take heed to my wayes that I offend not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle Orig. A bridle or muzzel for my mouth And Job is so resolved a man Job 27.24 as that he binds himself by an oath as God liveth my lips shall not speak wickedness nor my tongue utter deceit The Tongue is as the bow words as the arrows it's Scripture language courage and resolution are as the armes which bend and draw the bow wisdome as the eye which levels and layes the arrow right both together shoot near or hit the mark and white in Christian Conference A second preparative direction for the well managing of Christian Conference 2 Direct A forme of sound words is to get and hold fast a form of sound words in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1.13 Faith and love that is what is to be believed and done and so takes in the whole systeme and body of Divinity If this would be and was a good help to Timothy for the carrying on of the work of his Ministery then surely it is greatly usefull for private believers in the maintaining of Christian Conference in the places and companies into which providence casts them For knowledge guides the motions of our lips as eyesight doth the motions of our feet A blind man must be lying sitting or standing still if he will be going he soon stumbles and falls An ignorant person must keep silence if he will be talking he soon trips and falters and falls under disgrace and Contempt in an understanding company And these heads of divinity in order to Christian Conference may be either 1 General matter 1. General which concernes all persons in all places and at all times As 1. Concerning God his Titles Names Attributes works of Creation and Providence Or 2. Concerning sin its heinous nature how it and nothing else is abominable to God and destructive to man Or 3. touching death how all must die none knoweth how soon Or 4. concerning Christ the great and glorious work of redemption wrought by him his ability and willingnesse to save every poor lost sinner who cometh to him for life how little we are sensible of our want of Christ or of the worth of Christ how little Christ is prized by us or beloved of us or believed in or longed after by us or of that absolute indispensable necessitie there is of our getting union with him or else of our unavoidable misery and that for ever 5. As also concerning hell the pains and torments of the damned endless easeless and remedyless and touching also the joyes of Heaven and happiness there such as eye hath not seen eare hath not heard nor hath it enter'd into the heart of man to conceive 1 Cor. 14.9 and these too for ever and ever And withall concerning doomsday that dreadful day when that trumpet shall sound that lowd shrill voice be heard all the world over Arise ye dead and come to judgment when the earth and the Seas shall give up their dead and all shall stand naked before that righteous Judg the Lord Jesus Christ out of whose mouth shall proceed those two last words Mat. 25.34 41. Come ye blessed and go ye cursed c. and so Saints and sinners shall part for ever The righteous who are the blessed of the Father inherit the kingdome prepared for them and go into life eternal but sinners shall go into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his Angels These particulars an ancient Minister now with God laid down thus Thy God thy sin thy death thy Christ The eternal pains of Hell The Joyes of Heaven the day of doome These seven remember well Add hereunto the vanitie of all Creature excellencies riches pleasures honors beauties wit strength nimbleness of body c. as also buildings feastings wine women musick or what ever any mistaken soul calls delectable Solomon the wisest of Kings got up if I may so express my self to the top of the mountain of all Created excellencies and seeing multitudes clambering climbing up the hill after him some for riches some for pleasures some for honours c. he beckons to them all and cries aloud down again back again back again I have seen and find all to be Vanitie of Vanities Vanitie of Vanities Eccl. 1.3 Especially let me commend to you two common Theams for the Subjects of your discourse the sinfulness and miserie of man by nature with the beauty and loveliness of Jesus Christ for the bringing others under the due and deep convictions of sin in themselves and of righteousness in Jesus Christ to be found and in him onely that so sin may be imbittered self may be emptied of all it 's own conceited righteousness and Christ may be indeared as the onely rock to build upon and holiness embraced as the way to happiness and glory Heb. 12.14 Deale with the sons and daughters of men as the Spouse of Christ dealt with the daughters of Jerusalem My beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest among ten thousand his head is the most fine Gold Can. 5.10 to 16. c. and so goeth on in a larg and lively description of Jesus Christ and concludes yea he is altogether lovely this is my beloved and this is my friend O daughters of Jerusalem Who knows but others thereby may be enamoured with Christ and stir'd up to make enquiry after him as the daughters of Jerusalem did whose question presently it was Whither is thy beloved gone O thou fairest among women whither is he turned aside that we may seek him with thee Can. 6.1 An heart fill'd with sweet Meditations concerning Christ and warm affections to Christ will be breaking out in high commendations and recommendations of Christ to others also witness David who saith Psal 45.1 My heart is inditing of a good matter and presently adds I speak of the things I have made touching the King my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Is inditing in the Original toileth or bubleth up fryeth as in a frying pan to wit my heart studieth and prepareth by warm and fervent meditation alluding to the Mincah or meat-offering under the Law made of fine Flour and dressed in the Frying-panâ— boyled in Oyl and then presented to the Lord by the Priest Lev. 2.5 8 9. So the matter of Divine Meditation is as the Mincah the oblation boiled in the grace of the holy Spirit as in Oile so prepared and presented to
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
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
Lord turneth again the Captivity of Zion we are like unto them that dream our mouth is filled with laughter and our tongue with singing Psal 126.1 2 3 4. Such Sympathizing frames are sweet and honourable Mirth and Cheerfulness 2. Mirth and pleasantness of speech by way of cheariness and recreation is not only lawful but expedient by way of introduction or of interjection cast in now and then being as sauce to the meat that so more solid and serious discourse may go down more easily and it may be more profitable also And now I am accidently as it were fallen upon this Theame give me leave to speak something concerning this kind of talk though it be a digression and should be somewhat a large digression yet by the blessing of God it may be for his glory and the spiritual good of readers or hearers which I desire may run in three streams 1. Shewing the lawfulness of mirth and pleasantness of speech and in some cases a dutie 2. Touching the usefulness and expediency of it in some cases Thirdly Cautions to prevent miscarriages therein which are soon and easily run into a merry heart being like a boyling pot which if not well eyed and looked to will quickly sieth over 1. As concerning the lawfulness of mirth and merry discourse even to laughter methinks its evincible upon these accounts 1 Natural Faculty 1. God and Nature hath given man a faculty of risibility as a property distinguishing him specifically from other Greatures and surely not in vain but this Facultie may be acted and exercised and Solomon tells us that there is a time to laugh as well as a time to weep Eccl. 3.4 And if mirth and laughter be lawful then chearful discourse is lawful also as being a natural means exciting thereunto or rather part thereof 2. It 's highly commended at least 2 Commended if not commanded also by the wisest of Kings acted and guided by the inspiration of God who tells us that there is nothing better for a man then that he should eat and drink and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour This also I saw that it was from the hand of God Eccl. 2.24 chap. 3.13 22. chap. 5.18 chap. 8.15 He oft strikes and harps upon this meery string When he saith there is nothing better c. he speaketh not absolutely and simply for the love and favour of God in Christ the fear of God seasoning our hearts is far better yea the assurance of the acceptation of our persons and services is better also as being the ground and occasion of our mirth and merriment as he expresseth it Go thy way eat thy bread with joy and drink thy wine with a merry heart for God now accepteth thy works Eccl. 9.7 The root is better in the fruit the cause in the effect To know our acceptance with God in all our natural and civil mirth and merriment though it be also honest and lawful So that when he saith nothing is better he speaks comparatively that riches houses lands are good but the comfortable injoyment of them is better using them to the glory of God to the chearing up and refreshing our selves and others doing good with them and rejoycing in God in the liberal yet sober use of them And to be sure the Spirit of God in Solomon had no mind by these expressions to patronize Epicurisme sensuality gluttony drunkenness though some wanton prophane wits may study to wrest such a carnal liberty from them which to do hath in it a spice of blasphemy 3. It 's commanded also 3 Commanded and it is not only lawful but a duty Be glad in the Lord and rejoyce ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart Psal 32.11 Shouting is laughing in in its elevation and triumph But why Because He that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall compass him about vers 10. It 's commanded by the Apostle Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes and again I say rejoyce Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce evermore 1 Thes 5.16 You 'le say this joy is spiritual Yea that is it I 'de have as best becoming the gravity and sanctity of Christians Joy in the heart holy and heavenly venting it self by a lightsome countenance by chearful discourse and singing also a duty much neglected scarce any more inforced four times in a verse Sing praises to God sing praises sing praises unto our king sing praises Psal 47.6 and civil mirth if regular helps rather then hinders spiritual of which by and by 4. It 's promised 4 Promised and duties are couched in promises what God promises we shall be or do is our duty to be and doe They shall praise the Lord that seek him your heart shall live for ever Psal 22.26 Shall live or be lively chearful comfortable as when Jacob heard that Joseph was alive the spirit of Jacob revived Gen. 45.27 To the same purpose The humble shall see this and be glad your heart shall live that seek God Psal 69.32 As at the down-fall of Gods and his Churches enemies so upon Doegs ruin it 's promised That the righteous shall see and fear and laugh at him Lo this is the man that made not God his strength Psal 52.6 7. 5. Practised by the best of Saints 5 Practised The man after Gods own heart was the sweet singer of Israel He 's upon a merry pin but an holy a pin in the Sanctuary He cries out Awake my glory awake Psaltery and Harp I my self will awake early Ps 57.8 or I 'le awake the morn be up before it and fit it up Ainsworth especially when it goes well with Zion The Book of Esther is a book of Providence of amazing Providence Esther is made Queen is spirited for the work with zeal and wisedome Mordecai is advanced Haman is hanged the Jewes are delivered and by them their enemies destroyed and what joy and rejoycing is thereupon Their Purims instituted dayes of feasting and joy and of sending portions one to another and gifts to the poor Est 9.20 21 23. Like to them this was the temper of the Churches of God when the Jewes returned out of the Babilonish Captivity Ps 12.12 When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion we were like to them that dream then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing c. I might tell you how that before all this when Pharaoh and his host were drowned in the Red sea Exo. 19.1 Moses and all Israel sung a sweet song unto the Lord c. and how after all this when Antichrist that great Pharisaical of Rome shall be destroyed the Saints will have a merry time of it when the harps of them are in their hands and the Song of Moses and of the Lamb in their mouths Rev. 15.2 3. I confess the joy and rejoycing commanded promised and practised was for the main spiritual heavenly and supernatural yet
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