to be a pattern of good works one that in doctrine shew'd uncorruptness gravity sincerity sound speech that could not be condemned One that in conversation shew'd integrity unblameableness and good works that ought to be imitated A few more such Ministers and Christians would convince yea condemn the ungodly generation amongst whom we dwell and make them of another mind who say and think That all Professors are but Pretenders to Religion and that there is no such thing as grace or godliness distinct from moral vertue and righteousness there is no more ready way to refel such Calumnies than to refer them to the conversation of such a person as I have here describ'd as Diogenes confuted one that denied there was any motion Diog. La. e rt l. 6. p. 212. â—â—â— by rising up and walking before his eyes To conclude Vivitur magis ad similitudinem quam ad rationem Sen. de vit beat c. 1. Vide etiam Sen. Ep. 123. Ad rationem vitae exemplis erudimur Plin. l. 8. Ep. 18. my heart's desire and earnest prayer is this That God would use this Narrative for the doing some good in the World that those who wont be guided by Rules and Precepts may be a little mov'd by this holy man's example and practice how many are infected by the vices of good men and why may not others be attracted by their graces Reader whoever thou art that perusest these Lines I shall only say to thee as Christ to that Lawyer Luke 10.37 Go thou and do likewise He lies Interred in the Parish-Church of Bovingdon aforesaid under a fair Stone with this Epitaph ingraven upon it made by the Reverend Doctor Simon Ford. IN MEMORIAM Eruditi Sanctissimi Viri EDMUNDI STAUNTON S. T. D. Qui annum agens Septuagesimum primum Decimo quarto die Julii Anno Domini 1671. Spiritum ejus in manus Domini Jesu Christi summa pace deposuit Scire cupis Lector cujus lapis iste sepulti est En lege summissa sed lege voce precor Se solum nota latuit pietate modestus Erubuitque suis conscius esse bonis Vnde haec vera licet si norit forte verendum Ne fugiat marmor vel cinis ipse loquax In virum Reverendissimum Edmundum Staunton S. T. D. C. C. C. Oxoniens Praesidem non ita pridem Dignissimum â— Acrosticum E ccc virum Coelo dignum dignante Jehova D ux erat ille Gregis Rector Pastorque probatus M ille Patrem hunc animae poterant dictare beatum V irtutum centrum dulci fulgore coruscans N on parcum Christo tot consignare labores D octis atque piis quam suavi melle fluentes V ictor jam laetus cum Jesu mente triumphat S ursum corde sequi nos parvos integer urgens S in dicas desum-vires quis suppetat unde T alia coelicolae vestigia tangere possem A spice de coelo Christi manus Omnipotentis V ictrix qua fretus nil non te posse putandum N il ultra objicias audi vide tangeto facta T itanis clare radios spargentis amicos O rbi Christicolae hoc obstetricante libello N ec sit qui maculas ausit conspergere nigras J. B. EDMVNDVS STAVNTON ANA GRAMMA Non adest ut mundus NOn ut mundus adest nobis hac infima spernit Non ut mundus abest qui perit absque mora Mundus abest praesens absens at adest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Staunton quem nobis reddit amica fides Idem In obitum Reverendi admodum Edmundi Staunton S.T.D. Collegii Corporis Christi apud Oxonienses quondam Praesidis HEroas nimium festina morte peremptos Maestaque tu Vatum funera dulce caput Excipis heu dura fati constrictus eadem Lege illam Plutus quando refiget atrox In genus humanum quando feritate remota Mitescet demum post spolia ampla satis Si quid apud parcas valuisset candor honestus Insignis nec non intemerata fides Flectere si possent malesanas ulla sorores Quae vel suspiciant quaeve stupere solent Mortales hodie nos te poteremur Amice Agmine cultorum cinctus ipse fores Ast quicquid puichrum terrarum ubicunque revidet Quicquid magnificum personat atque plebi Exemptum statim mala surripit Atropos Orbem Nempe premit virtus obruit ipsa suae Dispergit radios dum majestatis onustos Ito Phile ac inter sydena quaere locum Machina terrestris te longe indigna reducat Saturnus terris aurea secla licet Planxit Jonathan Tuckney Cantabrigiensis A. M. Coll. S. Joann Evangelistae nuper Soc. In Reverendissinum dignissimumque Virum Edmundum Stantonem S. T. D. Herculeum quodam doctissimi Calvini Propugnatorem TV bene legisti Calvinum vera docentem Tu bene cepisti candida sensa viri Dum blaterent Hostes Blasphemum figere scriptis Peccata Autori pessima quaeque Deo Hos debellasti fastu quam felle tumentes Frendebant luctu risit at Oxonium Oscula multa dedit plaudens Academia Coelo Calvinus Tibi nunc Oscula multa dedit Vivite Consortes Paradiso vivite juncti Nam studiis animis pietate pares Ben. Agas A brief Relation chiefly of his great care to promote Religion and Learning in the College of which he was President By Mr. J. M. Sometime Fellow of the same IT was a great commendation which Poggius the Florentine though a Papist gave the Renowned Hierome of Prague when observing the great Learning Eloquence O virum dignum memoria hominum sempiterna Aen. Silv. Hist Bohem. cap. 36. and Christian fortitude which he manifested at the Council of Constance he proclaimed him to be a man worthy to be had in perpetual remembrance There are no doubt many thousands in this Nation who having had personal knowledge of the worthy man Dr. Edmund Staunton will remember him while they live and vocally transmit the memory of his name as precious to Posterity And some of them who have often smelt the odour of his ointment for he was anointed with some gifts and graces above many of his Brethren have spread abroad the savour of it by declaring what an excellent spirit was found in him chiefly that men might utter the memory of Gods great goodness to him and to his Church in him as also that such as never knew him might by beholding his Portraicture drawn though it may be not to the life be brought by his example to some conformity to that holiness which did shine forth in him and lastly that so worthy a person might have the honour which is his due Psal 112.6 and which the Lord alloweth to be paid to his faithful servants I also who had the happiness to be near him for many years and observed the excellent workings of the grace of God in him cannot but speak of the things which I have seen and heard He was in his
30 31. He went in to tarrie with them sat at meat with them took bread and blessed it and brake and gave to them and their eyes were opened and they knew him and he vanished out of their sight How they came to know him and how he vanished I 'le not curiously enquire It is enough to my purpose that Christ gave so ample testimony of his approbation of the two disciples ingaged in their holy talke and conference 3 The Holy Ghost 3. That the Holy Ghost also is well pleased with Christian Conference among believers as occasionally they meet together there 's no question Are not good thoughts the motions good words the language of the Spirit in believers and can it be imagined that the blessed Spirit is not delighted in and well pleased with his own work with the thoughts he himself puts into the hearts and words he puts into the mouthes of his Saints and Servants Again the Spirit of God all along in Scripture setting a Crown of honour and highest commendations upon the head of Holy Conference is sufficient demonstration of that delight and contentment which he takes therein take a few expressions among many Pro. 10.20 21. The Tongue of the just is as choice Silver Gartwright in locum The lips of the righteous feed many These metaphorical expressions are significant and emphatical as Choice Silver Silver refined again and again seven times refined Silver in it self is precious but the more purified the more precious Feed many alluding to famous house-keepers men of renowned hospitality who keep open house feed many so the lips of the righteous by words of sound doctrine of correction of instruction feed the souls of others which is the best hospitality There is Gold saith Solomon Prov. 20.15 and a multitude of rubies but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel And our dear Lord Jesus Christ setting forth the graces of the Church saith Thy lips are like a thred of scarlet and thy speech is comely Song of Solomon 4.3 11. Once more in that glorious eminent and promised effusion of the Spirit upon the Apostles Act. 2.3 Why was the apparition in Cloven Tongues like as of fire which sat upon each of them so that they were filled with the holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance The main and principal design no doubt was the publication and propagation of the Gospel among the Nations for every man heard the Apostles speak in his own language vers 5.8 9 10 11. Yet a subordinate design might be to provoke all believers who though they have not the miraculous gift of Tongues as the Apostles had yet they all have their measure of the Spirit and should speak with other Tongues new Tongues be a people of a pure language or lip Zeph. 3.9 and their Tongues should be Cloven Tongues dividing in their talk between truth and error good and evill administring comfort to whom comfort and terrour to whom terrour belongeth Severing between the precious and the vile Jer. 15.19 Not sadding the hearts of the Righteous whom God would not have sadded nor yet strengthning the hands of the wicked by promising them life Ezek. 13.22 Yea fiery Tongues also inflamed with love to God zeal for his glory indignation against sin in our selves or others as that because unto God it is so highly displeasing Surely this heavenly fire of love and zeale in our communication and conference is kindled from above by the Spirit and therefore must of nenessity be very grateful unto and acceptable with that blessed Spirit And so much for the second argument enforcing Christian Conference upon this ground because it is so delightful to the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost 3 Argument Remuner ation of it 3. This duty of Christian Conference finds great remuneration from God and that both here and hereafter First in general as it is the keeping of a command of God for in keeping them is great reward not onely upon and after but in keeping them 1 Inward peace Obedience to the commands is an evidence of grace and for glory carries with it in the very act oftentimes an holy and heavenly tranquillity and serenity of spirit a cheariness of heart as it were wages in the work Hannah prayeth 1 Sam. 1.15 18. that 's her duty and her countenance was no more sad that 's her reward in hand presently I knew a young Minister who being at a wedding feast Instance where was much mirth and Musick also the Fidlers singing Songs lascivious scurrilous and profane enough the young man being sensible that God was thereby highly dishonoured had great trouble in his spirit wonder'd that none would stand up and appeare to rebuke and give check to that disorder still the jolly Fidler plays and sing on and the young mans perploxity and indignation goes on still and was as a fire in his bones whereupon he whispered in the care a Minister by him of more gravity then himself and one that had more relation to and authority with the company then he himself had intreating him to stop that prophaness but in vaine the Aged Minister held his peace the young mans troubles within increased as fire kindling and then he break out to this purpose You Musicians I am not against your Musick by instruments or by voices but the matter of your songs is such as dishonours God may probably corrupt and debauch some of the hearers and doth sad others he said moreover still with some heat and fervour probably zeal for God I do not see any body giving you any thing for your Musick but if you will be still and gone I 'le give you something for your silence whereupon the Musicians withdrew and the young man had tides and flouds of peace and comfort flowing in upon his spirit the impressions whereof were as I have heard him say more then once a refreshing to him many yeares after and possibly are if he be yet alive to this very day Yea the same Minister oft professed and is to be believed so far as humane Faith and Charity which believeth all things will carrie us 1 Cor. 13.7 that he found such delight and contentment in Christian Conference that when upon the Road he fell into company which was willing to discourse and though ignorant yet were willing to learn it was as pleasing to him as theives or high-way-men please themselves when they meet with a prey or booty and seldome mentioned he this but he gave God alone all the glory This is a great and a good reward which the Lord oft gives into the breasts and bosomes of such as speak oft one to another concerning the things of God even joy and peace That peace which the world cannot give nor take away a kind of touch or tast of that peace which passeth all understanding Phi. 4.7 And thus this good man is satisfied from himself
God and was much comforted thereby Supping once at an Inn betwixt Oxford and London where many who Travell'd together did also eat together one amongst the rest was full of vain and prophane discourse I applied my self to him and laboured to convince him of the evil of sin and of the curse and heavy wrath of God which hung over his head And then I told him also of the riches of Gods grace to repenting sinners of his readiness to receive them and be reconciled to them This made him more mute but what farther operation it had upon him I know not only this was remarkable that the opening of the grace of God in the Gospel fell upon a young Scholar that stood by and as he afterwards confest it melted his very heart and help't him from under a spirit of bondage wherewith he had been bow'd down and broken for many Months past Another demonstration of his great zeal for God was his frequent projecting and contriving how he might promote his honour and service in the World How often hath he been heard to say in a Morning to his Friend or Friends Come What shall we do for God this day How shall we Trade with our Talents for the furtherance of his glory Never did any ambitious man more study the advancing of himself * T is recorded of Mr. Joseph Alleine That he never arose in the morning without some heavenly design of promoting Gods glory and the good of Souls accounting it a shame that the Covetous should arise with such anxious projects of compassing his desired wealth the Ambitious his aicry honours and grandeur the Voluptuous his sickly pleasu es and that the Religious man who hath so glorious a Prize and Trophies before his eyes should be a man of no projects and designs History of his Life p. 119. than he did the advancing the Name and Honour of his God 12. His dexterity and delight in Christian conference In this he excell'd and for this excellency alone he deserves to be Chronicled and Recorded to all Posterity if he came behind some in Learning Elocution c. yet he went before all men that ever I knew in this grace or gift We make often mention of a gift of Prayer and of a gift of Preaching and I am satisfi'd that there is a gift of Conference of godly and christian Conference and I believe that he was endued with it above any in this Age. As men have their particular sins so they have their particular graces and excellencies Abraham excell'd in Faith Moses in Meekness Job in Patience and this good man in godly Conference Who ever convers'd with him and did not hear some profitable Discourse proceed from him his speech was alwayes with grace Eph. 4.29 as it argu'd grace in the speaker so it was apt to work grace in the hearer it was ever savoury season'd with salt and good to the use of edifying Psal 45.1 2. Prov. 10.21 Cant. 4.11 His heart was alwayes enditing a good matter and his tongue was as the pen of a ready writer His lips fed many and did alwayes drop as the honey-comb grace was poured into them and it flow'd very plentifully from them He had a good stock and treasure in his heart and from thence upon every occasion he brought forth things new and old Many have admired his skill and readiness this way who will never be able to imitate it One would wonder when he sate at meat with his Friends how dexterously he would turn Water into Wine I mean their merry and idle into serious and useful Discourse When any were talking of their worldly and secular Affairs he had a faculty of fastning or hitching on some heavenly Argument which he did so handsomly that the most ignorant and carnal amongst them could not be offended at it those that would nauseate such Discourse in others would yet accept it from him so cleanly and artificially did he manage it He had a very good hand at warning the unruly and at comforting the feeble-minded but he was wondrously ready at instructing the ignorant such as others would slight and not think worthy of their pains by reason of their meanness and ignorance he would delight in conversing with them and instructing of them their Souls he would say are as precious as the Souls of Nobles Conversion work hath been much promoted by occasional speeches A Maid dwelling in a religious Family was told by a Minister That if she went to Hell out of that Family she would have a deep place there This startled her and she became afterwards a Serious Christian Whén he accidentally met with any person though a stranger as he was sitting in a house or walking or riding by the way he would instantly apply to him and fall into discourse with him not long before his death I went with him to a Gentleman's house where sitting down he presently ask't the servant that attended What Countreyman he was A Minister riding one morning to a Lecture met with some young men carrying their Cocks to a Cock fight he spake to one of them and said Friend our Lord and Master Jesus Christ never came into the world to set up-such Sports as these This saying though the young man went on to his sport that day stuck like an arrow in his liver and he could not be at quiet till he had learned who this Minister was and afterwards gain'd acquaintance with him and thereupon laid these and his other sinnes to heart and made a happy Change of his sinful courses Machin in vita ejus p. 82. and where he was born to which the young man no sooner replied but his next question was I prethee tell me dost thou think thou art born again and by that handle or introduction he took occasion to open to him as Christ did to Nicodemus the nature and necessity of the new birth His success in this way was something answerable to his diligence some having been converted others and those not a few instructed comforted and quickned by his godly discourse His modesty was such that he never judged any thing he did worthy of the Press yet he consented that his Treatise of Christian Conference should be Printed and accordingly 'tis annexed to this Narrative The Reader will find it though a plain yet a profitable discourse Having also by me a Manuscript of his of a Dialogue betwixt a Minister and a Stranger I thought good to Print it with the aforesaid Treatise which may serve for a specimen of the practice therein urg'd and commended Thus I have set before the World one of the fairest Copies that this Age hath produc't Omne tempus Clodios non omne Catones parit Senec. Ep. Tit. 2.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word SINCERITY which is read in our Translation is not found in the Greek Text. Qu. How or why it was added A man that was as the Apostle exhorteth Titus
he had constantly in his eye When he came among persons of Quality being himself well born well educated of a generous spirit and a chearful temper his company and converse was usually very acceptable to them which gave him an advantage to tell them as he would plainly though prudently of what he saw amiss in them to mind them of the vanity of the World of better things above and to put them as he often would upon good designs to shew their thankfulness to God for his mercy to them Nor was there a person so mean but he could and would readily and humbly condescend to him as knowing what precious souls dwell in the poorest houses of clay He spake to such alwayes in their own dialect and in a phrase they well understood trying their knowledge and feeling the pulse of their souls if he found them ignorant or unsensible he would endeavour to awaken them by laying plain Texts of Scripture before them for their conviction If he met with humbled and burdened souls or such as were babes in Christ he would gather them as lambs in his arms and gently lead them to the Wells of Salvation If at any time there hapned to be a mixt company at the Table with him some serious Christians some Professors at large his manner was to be very free and pleasant in discourse with them which caused them all to give great attention to him then might you have seen how ever and anon the honey dropt from his lips while the company were hanging on them how skilful he was in dividing the Word aright to every one his portion and how wise in winning of souls If he observed any to take the boldness from his innocent mirth and pleasant humour to incline to vain and frothy discourse he would very dexterously turn to some more profitable matter and as occasion was given afford a serious reproof tempered with much kindness and love to their souls which was usually well taken at his hand If his occasions required his stay a day or two at any place he seldom departed before he had Preached to the People He found by much and long experience that a plain way of Preaching was most effectual to the ends for which that Ordinance was appointed and therefore he constantly used it even in the College and Vniversity though he could easily have appeared in another strain had he preferred an aiery Reputation with some before the Work of his Master and the real advantage of others To conclude I hope that many who some time were and some who yet are members of that Society having felt his fatherly care heard his sound and pious instructions and seen his godly examples do and will endeavour to hold a conformity thereunto If any neglect or despise them let them know assuredly that God will require it at their hands A Dialogue OR A DISCOURSE BETWEEN A Minister and a Stranger As they were On the High-way together ABOUT Soul Affairs By Edmund Staunton D. D. LONDON Printed for Tho Parkhurst and are to be Sold at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel And at the Gilded Bible on London-bridge under the Gate 1673. A Dialogue or Discourse between a Minister and a Stranger as they were on the High-way together Minister FRiend Good morrow to you How far Travel you this way Stranger To such or such a place Min. I shall be glad of your company Str. And I Sir of yours Min. Little thought you in the Morning of meeting me or I of meeting you Str. True Sir Min. Well Friend since by the Providence of God we are brought together and must be accountable to God at death and judgment how we spend our time whil'st we be together shall we talk of what concerns the good of our Souls and of the Things of God Stranger Yes Sir with all my heart if you please Minister Friend What think you then that your Soul is Str. I think that my Soul is my breath because when a man's breath is gone then he dyeth and his Soul is gone also Min. True Friend when the breath departeth the Soul departeth also yet the Soul of a man is not his breath because 1. Beasts and the Fowls of the Air breathe also and yet you do not think they have reasonable immortal Souls as we have 2. Our breath is but the Air drawn in and cast out again and can you reasonably imagine first that the Air thus sucked in and blown out again should be the Soul or Souls of men or secondly that the whole Region of the Air should be the rational and immortal Souls of men or thirdly that our Souls come in and go out of our bodies as the Air we breathe in doth Stranger Truly Sir you have convinced me that the Soul is not breath whatever it be Minister What else do you think it is Str. I think it is my blood most likely Not so because 1. Beasts and Birds have blood in them as well as Men and yet you do not think they have reasonable immortal Souls as we Men have 2. If our Souls were blood then when our Noses bleed to speak familiarly with you our Souls would even out at our Noses or when we cut our fingers our Souls would run out at our fingers ends Min. Friend guess once more what your Soul is Str. Sir Is it not my Conscience Min. No Friend the understanding will conscience and affections as love hatred are the faculties and endowments of the Soul but not the Soul it self Str. You say well Sir I pray tell me then what my Soul is Minister Friend not to trouble you with any curious definitions the Soul of man is a spiritual substance endowed with reason immortal created and infused into man informeth inliveneth the body doth and acteth all in man the Soul seeth in the eye heareth in the ear speaketh in the tongue c. zach 12.1 God formeth the spirit of man within him Stranger I thank you Sir this is more than ever I heard of before Min. Well Friend having spoken something concerning our Souls shall we speak a little concerning God Str. Yes Sir I like your talk very well Min. What do you think God is Is he an old man or a young Str. An old man surely he hath been a long time Min. No God is neither a young man nor an old man Str. If God be not a man why do the Scriptures speak of God as having eyes ears hands and feet c Min. This kind of speaking is not proper but figurative speaking of God after the manner of men stooping to our understandings and capacities but the Scripture speaking plainly and properly saith God is a Spirit John 4.24 Stranger You say right Sir God is a Spirit Minister Well Friend Are not the Angels spirits too They are called ministring spirits Hebr. 1.13 What then is the difference between God and the Angels Str. God is the greatest and highest of all the
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
blessing be an incouragement to this too much neglected duty of Christian Conference There is an honest able Minister who within these two years told me it for a piece of News and indeed it was welcome newes to me and it was this That in the Knights Family with whom he liveth the Knight is of good quality and repute there was a maidservant he verily believed fearing God in that family which to use his own words dated her Conversion from my discourse with her walking up Highgate Hill together whereupon I remember'd that about four years since I came from London in an Hackny-Coach for St. Albans and there was a Gentlewoman I 'le spare her name with this her maid and others the Gentlewoman was able and willingly maintained good discourse on the way and it being a cold morning I at the bottom of the Hill went out of the Coach to walk up the Hill and warm my self thereby when I was out the Maid asked leave of her Mistriss who stayed in the Coach that she being cold might go up the Hill also which she did and we talked together as we went and I think the summe of my discourse was our misery by nature our disability to help our selves by any thing we could do or suffer that there was an absolute indispensable necessitie of getting an interest in Christ who was infinitely able and willing to save every poor lost soul that came unto him by believing and to this purpose both in Coach and in walking which the onely wise and infinitely gracious Lord God it blessed for the Spiritual and Eternal good of this poor handmaid for which let his Holy Name be for ever glorified and let all good Christians take from hence incouragement to be yet more and more abounding in holy talk and Conference sowing this seed in the morning and in the evening not withholding their hands who knoweth but the gracious Lord our God may bless and prosper both the one and the other The weak strengthened And fourthly if the Holy Word of God rightly managed in Christian Conference be efficacious for the inlightning of the ignorant the reducing the erronious and the converting of stout-hearted sinners then by necessary and undeniable consequence it must be also soveraignly efficacious for the strengthening of the feeble minded and comforting of such as are cast down 1 Thes 5.14 Brethren comfort the feeble minded concernes all and how can this be better done then in Christian Conference and again in the same place support the weak is the common duty of all believers but how support even as a Crutch doth a lame body or as a beame doth a ruinated and tottering house the word significantly imports the holding up one that 's ready to fall by a hand reached out to help him or the assisting any who are lifting and heaving at what 's weighty but have not sufficient strength to move or remove it as they desire Thus by Christian Conference many gracious soules full of doubts and fears ready to fall into dreadfull despairs of mercy have been held up and cheared sometimes by laying before them the precious promises or the great ability and willingness of Christ to save sometimes by imparting to them our own experience how we were cast down and raised up again telling them what God hath done for our Soules or for the soules of others in the like sad and dejected condition as they are in I 'le leave one instance in this case also It 's near twenty years since that several Travellers of us passing between Oxford and London supped together at an Inne in Great-Wickham one of the company carried himself so untowardly and offensively that others at the Table wondered at me for my not rebuking him whether thinking it prudence to forbear at supper time or rather through my want of zeale for God I know not but supper being fully ended I addressed my self as well as I could to speak to this vaine person which accordingly I did laying first the Law before him and the sadness of his condition at present and that if he died impenitently he was like to perish eternally after which I opened the Gospel to him with as much tenderness and compassion as I possibly was able acquainted him with the readiness that is in God and Jesus Christ to receive penitent sinners and how those that came to Christ he would in no wise cast out and many such expressions to this purpose that grace discovered might win and allure him to Christ and to repentance Yet what impression all that was spoken had upon that vain person I know not It seems that there was a Scholler in the Company whom I think then I was altogether unacquainted with he is now an honest able Minister who lay under a spirit of bondage had great feares and troubles upon him he hearken'd attentively and I have cause to be perswaded that by the wise and gracious providence of God much of the Gospel Consolations fell upon his spirit to his great refreshing not unlike that spirit of Adoption which teacheth believers to Cry Abba Father you shall have his own words in a late letter to me This I can unfeignedly say that amongst my spiritual benefactours I do heartily bless God for you and do look upon it as a very good providence I was cast into your Company at that time 5. The strong quickend In the fifth and last place That Christian Conference hath been and still is very beneficiall not only for strengthning those who are weak in the faith but for edifying and quickning even the strongest and most grown in Christianity the Holy Scriptures right reason and sweet experience give in abundant testimony thereunto It 's a Soveraign antidote against Apostacy and defection in Religion and that both as to understanding and affections The Apostle prescribes it Heb. 312.13 Take heed brethren least there be in any of you an evill heart of unbeliefe in departing from the living God But how shall it be prevented he answers Exhort one another dayly while it is called to day least any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin Exhort one another The duty is mutual concerneth Christians of all sexes and sizes dayly that is frequently not by fits and starts while it is called to day to wit presently and speedily delayes in this case are dangerous do not put off for a month a fortnight a week no not for a day and the reason is weighty from the danger of the hearts obduration by the deceitfulness of sin It deceiveth the understanding with errour for truth darkness for light the will with evil for good the heart and affections with what 's loth some and to be abhorred insteed of what 's lovely and to be desired And again the same Apostle to the same purpose Heb. 10.23 25. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is
the wheat the barley and rie in their places saith his God doth instruct him to discretion Againe how the fitches are beaten out with a staff and the Cummin with a rod. How bread Corne is bruised He Concludes This also cometh forth from the Lord of Hosts which is wonderfull in Counsel and excellent in working And to make way for this ioyfull harvest husbandmen speak often of plowing and that soon enough and deep enough though in the cold winter season much very much if not too much of the Countrye mans discourse is harping upon these strings and shall not the generation of believers who themselves are Gods husbandry 1 Cor. 3.9 Mat. 13.4 5 7 8 19 20 21 22 23. be much in talking they cannot be well too much about those several grounds the highway the stony and thorny ground the good ground also mentioned by Christ in the parable with the interpretation thereof And how the Word of God in the plainness and power of it is the good the best seed faithful Ministers such and such are good seeds men this life and therein youth especially when Consciences are stirred by the good motions of the holy Spirit is the time the onely seed time with us and withall shall not believers speak often one to another about cutting down and plucking up by the roots the Cockel and the darnel the weeds and the twich errors in judgement unbeliefe spiritual pride earthly minededness and all disorderly passions and affections consuming and destroying them by that spirit of judgment and of burning And though the Christians harvest their full harvest come not till that last and great day when all the elect their souls and bodies being reunited as shocks of Corne fully ripe shall be gathered into those everlasting barnes and be housed in glory yet shall the husbandman all the year long rejoyce and solace himself in the hopes of a rich Crop when the harvest comes and shall not believers all their life time rejoyce in the hopes of the glory of God Rom. 5.2 Isa 9.3 and their joy be as the joy of harvest yea their joy be unspeakable and full of glory and in order to all this shall not believers in their Christian Conference together much and seriously mind each other to look to it that the plough of legal Convictions Compunctions and Humiliations hath gone deep enough in their hearts breaking up their fallow ground that they sowe not among thornes Jer. 4.3 Certainly all the reason imaginable excites the people of God to such kind of discourses as these are Again we see how all men who are dealers in the world will be talking how the market goeth what good commodities in one kind or in another they can buy and upon what easie rates and shall not believers speak freely and frequently among themselves rejoycing therein and giving glory to God onely what good penny worths they make if I may so express it how they have the choicest and the rarest commodities to be had and that upon the lowest terms Isa 55.12 Rev. 3.18 Waters to cool and cleanse them Wine to glad and chear up their spirits milk to nourish them bread to strengthen their hearts yea and Eye-salve that they may see Gold that they may be rich and white raiment that they may be clothed to wit Christ and his Spirit grace and glory and all this more than which is not to be had without price and without monies It is but ask and have but take by believing and its all yours surely such bargains as these are worth the having the thinking of and speaking of with the highest exultations and with all possible triumphing of spirits whatsoever Yet farther shall Scholars when they meet discourse it concerning the famous Schools they were bred in shall their Tongues run nimbly whiles speaking of Arts and Sciences of Logick or Philosophy or of Divinity dogmatical or polemical yea in all manner of humane learning whether Grammatical or Academical And shall not Christians when they meet tell one another how they were all trained up in one School it 's the best Ma. 4.38 a none-such the School of Christ how they were and still are his disciples his Scholars how Christ is their Master hath taught them to fear God Eccl. 12. Ro. 10.3 Eph. 1.2 and keep his Commandments to denie their own righteousness and to establish the righteousness of God in Christ hath taught them those hard lessons of Faith and repentance of loving their enemies so that they know how to want and how to abound how to be emptie and how to be full Mat. 5 44. Act. 5.31 yea how to live and how to die In a word That they can do all things through Christ strengthening the Phil. 4.11 12 13. Once more shall Lawyers talk much of their Cases and trials and why not Christians be putting of Cases of Consciences and of the trials of their faith in times of temptations persecutions and defertions when the very trial of their faith is more precious than of Gold that perisheth 1 Pet. 1. Shall Physitians and Chyrurgions with their Patients be continually talking of what wonderful Cures have been wrought by them or upon them I saith one was even wasted and worne even to nothing but skin and bone by pining sickness and a long lingering Consumption but such a Doctor cured cured me and I am now full and fleshy strong and hearty And I saith another was troubled with sore Eyes had almost quite lost my sight but such an Oculist healest me and I saith a third was grievously vexed and tormented with the stone for so many years together Oh the grinding pains of the stone how have they held me as upon the rack for weeks or months together but such a Chirurgion cut me fetched it away so bigge so ragged and now I am at ease and as well as ever and what shall not the generation of believers speak much and often of Christ their great Phesicion what strang yea miraculous Cures he hath wrought in them for and upon them how they were in their unregenerations pining away for and in their iniquities Eze. 24.23 a spiritual Consumption upon their soules being hereditarie from their fore-Fathers even as far as Adam yet Christ recovered them Hos 14.4 healed their backslidings How they were as to spiritual Eye-sâ—â—ht not onely dim-sighted but quite blind yea born blind Eph. 1.1 5. but now they see he annointed their Eyes so that they see yea are quick-sighted through grace in the things of God how they were born with a stone in their hearts Rev. 3.18 worse than those in the back or bladder but Christ hath graciously taken away that stony heart Ezek. 36. and given a heart of flesh to them Yea more than all this Christians can and do tell one another how they were born Lepers over-run with a noisome leprosie of sin from head to foot how that no sooner were they
the Lord by Christ our great High-Priest Such should all our Holy Meditations and Communications be the Spirit of God being as firelight in our heads and heat in our hearts would make our Tongues run as the Pens of ready writers talking and discoursing of God and of the great concernments of our soules and of eternity Heads fill'd with the knowledg of God his Christ our Jesus and hearts filled with Faith and affiance in Christ and so with warm affections to Christ would provoke us to speak freely and frequently to others imparting our spiritual experiences to them carrying Christ to the Children of men inviting and drawing others to Christ exerting and putting out to our uttermost that strength of grace which we have by grace received thus laying out our talents for our Masters use 2 Special matter 2. And particularly it is a good preparative for Christian Conference to be well stockt and furnished with special matter of discourse for special occasions as to times and persons and the condition of those with whom we do or may converse If with young people 1 Young wishing them to remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth 2 Tim. 2.22 If with aged persons 2 Old advising them to look to it that their hoary heads be found in a way of righteousness Prov. 16.31 and telling them that a sinner though of an hundred years is accursed Isa 65.20 asking them whithey have found that promise made good to them and in them how that they shall bear fruit in their old age and shall be fat and flourishing Ps 92.14 15. to wit in knowledge grace and holiness If with afflicted ones in any kind 3 Afflicted minding them how the time of being afflicted is a time to be much in prayer Jam. 5.13 Call upon me saith the Lord in a day of trouble Psal 50.15 Though we must pray continually 1 Th. 5.17 yet then in an especial manner and repent also as good King Hezekiah did in his sickness he prayed and wept sore Isa 38.2 3. If with persons full of wisdome and policy 4 Prosperous mighty men for strength and souldiery wealthy thy men full of Monies and Treasures mind them of the Prophets advise and Counsel Jer. 9.23 24. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome neither the mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches but let him that gloryeth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exerciseth loving kindness judgment and righteousnesse in the earth for in these things I delight saith the Lord. Tell the strongest sturdiest and stoutest men you talk with that as lustie as they are a few fits of an ague may soon weaken them and bring them low enough or that a Consumption or any pining sickness may bring them to be bare skin and bones very Skeletons or Anatomies and to be sure in old age if they live to it The keepers of the house shall tremble and the strong men shall bow themselves and the hoary head will hang down the grave must be their house and their long home and their faces bound in secret wish them to remember the dayes of darkness for they shall be many Ec. 12.3 5. Job 17.13 Job 40.13 Eccl. 11.8 If you meet with rich men Charge them to be rich in good works 5 Rich. and to honour God with their substance and to make them friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness 1 Tim. 6.17 18. Pro. 3.9 Luk. 16.9 If with poor people first relieve them 6 Poor and then charge them not to steal not to take the name of God in vain to get poverty of spirit and then they are blessed to be rich in faith and so heirs of the Kingdome Prov. 30.9 Mat. 5.31 Jam. 2.5 Here 's a large field before me but I 'le run and hasten If you discourse with Magistrates 7 Magistrates be their humble remembrancer that Gods great ends in his constitution of civil powers are that they should be a terror not to good works but to the evil be able men such as fear God men of truth hating covetousness Rom. 13.3 Exo. 18.21 If with Ministers advise them 8 Ministers to take heed to themselves and to their Doctrine continue in them c. to be examples to believers in word and conversation 1 Tim. 4.12 16. Tell them they are in a special manner the salt of the earth Mat. 5.13 to season the places wherein and the persons among whom they live with soundness of Doctrine and integritie of life and conversation your Doctrine giving the people the Rule and your lives the example but if the salt hath lost it's savour it 's good for nothing no not for the dunghill Luk. 14.34 35. It 's true not alone of Scandalous Ministers but of Apostate Christians and backsliding professors If you discourse with married persons husbands and wives 9 Married Luk. 1.6 advise them to be as Zacharie and Elizabeth both righteous before God walking in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord blameless and in particular the husband to love his wife even as himself and the wife to see that she reverence her husband Eph. 5.33 10 Vnmarried If with unmarried ones counsel them to care for the things of the Lord how they may please the Lord 1 Co. 7.32 but if they think good to marry let them marry onely in the Lord vers 34 39. If you meet with parents 11 Parents advise them to bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Eph. 6.4 To bring them up that is naturall birds and beasts bring up their young In the nurture keeping them in awe and order that 's moral men as men being rationall and prudent do it in the admonition of the Lord that 's Christian and spiritual If with Children enjoyn them to obey their Parents in the Lord for this is right Eph. 6.11 12 Children And to prevent their stubborness and disobedience mind them of that terrible commination The eye that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the ravens of the vally shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eat it And how that under the Law Deut. 21.18 19 20 21. The stubborn and rebellious son which would not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother was to be stoned to death If you discourse with governors of Families Masters or Mistresses mind them 13 Governors of Families how they must give unto their servants that which is just and equall knowing that they also have a Master in Heaven Col. 4.1 And how they must look to it that their men-servants and maid-servants as well as themselves and their Children sanctifie the Sabbath according to the Fourth Commandment not suffering them to idle it or to wander abroad vainly upon the Lords day 14 Servants If you have occasion to
put upon their heads yet soon withered but Heaven and glory will be fresh and flourishing as at the first so to Eternity But I forget my self am as in a wood or wilderness wherein I may loose or tire my self and the Reader the hints and intimations given for transitions and passings from common discourse to spiritual and Christian conference being well nigh in as great variety as the turnes and occurrences of providence are so that a gracious heart somewhat fitted by natural ingenuity but especially strengthened edged and sharpen'd by the Holy Spirit abiding in it makes well nigh every story or tale told every turne of Providence or word spoken to be as a bridge or boat to carry or waft over from discourse natural or moral to what 's supernatural spiritual and Heavenly And why should we imagine that the Devil and carnal hearts should be more dextrous and active in the advancing of vain and sinful talk then the Spirit of God and believers hearts are in the promoting and advancing of holy and Christian Conference especially considering that greater and stronger is the spirit which is in us and so for us Saints then the spirit which is in the world and so against us Saints 1 John 4.4 God is stronger then the Devil 2. 2 From Providence Having touched upon Christian ingenuity in turning common talke though lawful into spiritual which might be more for the use of edifying let me direct also to raise up good conference from the voice of God in providences smiling or frowning providences be they personal national or oecomenical and Universal such as concerne all mankind as the wayes of God working in a tendency towards the fall of Babilon or towards the rise of Zion in the conversion of the Jewes or the residue of the Gentiles yet in darkness worse then that of Egypt Take a few instances which may serve for those many hundreds which might be given 1. Are great deliverances vouchsafed to and bestowed upon us or others from sore fits of sickness from the Plague of pestilence from dangerous falls from perils by fire or water from bonds of imprisonments or from unreasonable and absurd men or from enemies in any kind full of malice and cruelty then let us provoke our selves and others to gratitude with that holy man What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me Psal 116.12 who made also a Psalm of praises when he was delivered from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul Ps 18. and excite our selves to answer those gracious ends which the Lord aimed at in delivering of us which was not to do abominations Jer. 7.10 but that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear to wit a slavish fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our life Luk. 1.74 75. This is the use God expects we should make not alone of that grand deliverance from the wrath to come but of those lower and lesser deliverances we enjoy here 2. 2 Death of others Again when the newes comes such or such an one is dead or dying the bell toles or rings out for him one it may be young and strong as likely to live possibly as any one you know doth not now pale death as it were take us by the hand and lead us into a deep and due consideration of our latterends which is our wisdome Deut. 32.29 and withal into a serious minding and reminding of our selves and others of our mortality how it is appointed unto men once to dye and after that the Judgment Heb. 9.27 as also of those two Eternities a black eternity of woe and misery which is the portion of sinners and that white eternity of joy and glory which is the gift of God through Christ to all the righteous who are by the bloud of Christ justified and by the Spirit of Christ sanctified and say each of us within our selves when I die as die I must and that I know not how soon whither will my soul go to Heaven or Hell and whereas I am now well O where shall I be an hundred years hence or a thousand years hence where for ever and ever and when Christ comes to judge the world in righteousness shall I be found among the goates on the left hand or among the sheep on the right hand of Jesus Christ Shall I be under that sweet and joyful sentence Come ye blessed c. or under that dolefull doome Depart from me ye cursed c. Matth. 25.34 41. It must be the one or the other therefore let us all look to it 3. 3 Any smart afflictions If Providence frown upon us or others in smart and sore afflictions near and dear relations as husband wife father mother child or friend being taken away by death sore diseases as the Stone Gout Dropsie Consumptions or the like or suppose molestations in estates by oppression and injustice from the men of the world or defamations by lies slanders and cruel mockings blotting and blasting our names and reputations â—ea what if it comes to imprisonment banishment or any cutting evil whatsoever such Providences cry aloud to us and bid us cry and call upon others Let patience have her perfect work Jam. 1.4 Let us search and try our wayes and turn again to the Lord let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the Heavens Lam. 3.40 41. Let us get and keep that middle golden frame of spirit despise not or as the word imports do not little the chastening of the Lord neither faint when thou art rebuked of him Heb. 12.5 Let us not so much desire the rod may be laid aside as that it may bud and blossome that so God may have his ends his gracious ends upon us which are for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness vers 10. Better the rod should lie on still in mercy then be laid aside in wrath and displeasure let not the bitter cup go out of thy hand 'till thou hast found the Sugar in the bottome to be sure it lies there because it 's a Cup in a Fathers hand 'T was an holy mans saying Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions It were easie to be very large and copious upon this subject not a woman delivered of a Child but it prompts to a discourse of regeneration and being born again and of Christ That Child which to us is born that Son which to us is given Isa 9.6 1665 1666 whose name is called wonderful Counseller c. We cannot call to mind that dreadful Plague of Pestilence one year and the dismal burning of the City the next our Childrens Children and after Ages cannot rehearse those black and horrid stories but that they must needs suggest to us and to generations to come how heinous and how abominable a thing sin is which incenseth the wrath of God who is the God
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
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
take it well from their subjects that they should scoff at or sport themselves with their Lawes Acts and Proclamations The holy Scriptures they are Laws Acts and Proclamations of the great God the King of Kings and our making our selves or others merry in a trifling jesting and sinfull way with them will kindle and incense the wrath and fiery indignation of the highest Lord against us and if not repented of and quenched with the blood of Jesus Christ will end in everlasting burnings in Hell and misery for ever 5. 5 Not the Saints Not at the Saints and Servants of the most high God calling them by way of scorn and derision the holy Brethren and Sisters and the Ministers of Christ calling them Priests Baal's Priests Parsons Sir Johns Those ill bred children who mocked Elisha saying Go up c. had the sore curse of God befell them 2 King 2.23 24. Job a perfect and upright man as the Lord himself testifies of him he is a by-word among the children of fools Job 1.1 and Ch. 30.9 And holy David that man after Gods own heart he 's the song of the drunkard Psal 69.12 And he complaineth Psal 35.15 16. The abjects gathered themselves together against me they did tear me and ceased not with hypocritical mockers in feasts they gnashed upon me with their teeth It seems there was in their dayes as it hath been in ours some professed jesters who were a kind of smell-feasts who made it their work at feasts to jest and scoff it to make the company merry and who is the man they sport with upon whom do they set their wits on work but David the choicest Saint in his age There hath been an usage with some of our Nobles formerly to keep Jesters fools they call'd them or made them rather to make them merry at meales and in their mirth the Jobs and Davids of that age must be their laughing stocks and wise men abused to make fools merry Add to all this your Stage-players who in their Comedies Interludes Balls have personated in a way of taunt and scorn learned and godly Ministers in their habit yea in prayer and preaching But no more of this least the age stink we live in in the nostrils of our childrens children If any such abomination be amongst us Tell it not in Gath c. 2 Sam. 1.20 Let us rather say with Jeremy O that my head were turn'd to waters c. And oh the patience and long-suffering of the Lord the great mighty God who doth not send some signal token of his wrath on such abominable wretches as these are sending them packing out of the world with a vengeance Natural Infirmity 6. Not the natural infirmities or calamitous conditions of others to break jests upon and insult over others because crook-shouldred wry-necked flat-nosed wide-mouthed dim-sighted lame-legged club-footed or the like carrieth barbarism and inhumanity in it No though thy enemy Rejoyce not saith Solomon when thy enemy falleth and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth lest the Lord see it and it displease him and he turn away his wrath from him to wit to be avenged on thee Prov. 28.17 18. Not prophane or injurious 7. Not prophane as to God or injurious to our neighbour profane in reference to God when there is a light and jocular using of any of his titles names or attributes or of any part and portion of the Scriptures which the proud and profane wits of men are too apt to make too bold with But I have touched upon this already Nor may our merry discourse be injurious to men in their bodies soules estates names or otherwise If thy witty talk be obscene wanton or lascivious that tends to the wronging of thy neighbours chastity and therein both the soul and body of thy neighbour and so is a breach of the sixth and ninth commandments of the Lord our God If it be derogating from the credit and repute of thy neighbour bitter and absurd this is to wrong him in his good name a breach of the ninth commandment yea a provoking him to wrath and anger yea a driving him into passions violent and unruly yea thy self also and all for want of true love to thy self or neighbour It 's a common evil tost to and fro of men who love death to be reproaching taunting and girding at some in the company to please others which usually carrieth with it defamation and flatterie defamation to him they displease flatterie to him whom they strive to please and humour and great uncharitableness in thy self to both Not self-ended 8. Not self-ended making mirth the end of mirth as if happiness were placed in it or the chief delight and comfort of life were to have a merry life of it some such there are who are never better in their own conceits then when they are in a frolick humour laughing till their sides ake again thinking the time is well passed away when in such jollities but Solomon guided by the Spirit hath past his censure long agoe I said of laughter it is mad and of mirth what doth it Eccl. 2.2 2. 2 Positive directions Positive directions for the ordering of our civil mirth in company of which I shall speak briefly the rather because I have been large if not too large in the negatives and partly also because negatives include at least by consequence positives as positives negatives 1. 1 Well season'd Our mirth in discourse must be well seasoned not so much with wit as with wisdome not with levity but gravity not with ill will to any but love to all not rashly and at random as guided by the vaporing dictates of our wild unruly fancies but well weighing circumstances of persons of whom and to whom we speak of time when and places where we speak for the consideration of circumstances is some of the cornes or graines of salt which must season this recreational discourse also 2. 2 Wel-designed It must be well designed to right ends such as these 1. 1 Honour of Religion To render Christian profession most lovely and desirable in the thoughts of worldly men when they see it's consistency with mirth and cheariness harmless innocent of which before 2. 2 Cheariness of spirit To exhilerate the spirits of our selves and others when dull and heavie that being made more quick and nimble we may be the fresher and fitter for the duties we owe to God or to men as men or to Saints as Saints as to our selves in our callings general or particular whether as Christians or as we stand in our several places and relations Sampson who was one of the Lords Champions to fight his battels and one of the Lords Saints and Servants his name 's enrolled in the Catalogue Heb. 11.32 he hath his merry riddle at a feast to prevent and shut out possibly worse discourse as also to minister occasion of mirth to them by stirring