Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	body_n	soul_n	whole_a	1,004	5	5.1794	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A80845	Fœlix scelus, querela piorum, et auscultatio divina; or, prospering prophaneness provoking holy conference, and Gods attention, in which you have the [brace] happy estate of the wicked, holy exercise of the godly, hazard and event of both. Plainly propounded in sundry sermons preached at Botolphs Algate London: and after contracted in two sermons preached in Peters Church in West-Chester, July 17. 1659. Now published to the counsell and confirmation of the godly; and check of the false surmises and reports of the wicked. / By Zachary Crofton.	Crofton, Zachary, 1625 or 6-1672.	1659 (1659)	Wing C6993; Thomason E1870_1; ESTC R209731	120,321	422

not yet to have been consecrated to this holy function Thus then Christians I have plainly prescribed and let you see what is your priviledge and what will prove your dammage wherein you as private members and particular joynts may duely make a supply unto the edification of the whole body of Christ and wherein you may be dangerously prejudiciall to the Church and destructive to your own souls all holy duties are to be managed with feare but especially those which are occasionall and at humane liberty wherein without vigilancy and great care we shall be transported by Satans temptation and our own corruption whilst we are tickled with a desire to distribute what we have Received and quickened by the sence of duty to communicate gifts and graces by exhortation rebuke ●nd admonitions we are too Ready Rashly to manage it not Regarding the place wherein we stand and the method and order whereby we must be serviceable to the edification of the Church but break all bounds and presume to turn preachers and assume to our selves all ministerial power and authority pressing on all the acts thereof consti●uting Churches consecrating things and persons communicating to the Church in the name and stead of Christ casting out of the Church cancelling conscience concluding orders for the Church commending Gods blessing to the Church I would our sinfull age were not a sad comment on the exorbitancies of Religious conference You take it ill if your priviledge be not asserted in its latitude but think much to be confined to your places as you would not have your Ministers discountenāce your conferences drive them not into a sinfull extent avoide the evil that your nature gathereth from them for Gods own occasionall institutions are to be Removed for the prevention of a greater evil as was the brazen Serpent to prevent Idolatry Christian liberty must be restrained when it giveth occasion to Schifme Rebellion and Impiety know therefore that the Church will never be edified by your doing acts of edification out of your sphere and without authority keep at an equall distance from acts of prophanenesse and acts of piety not belonging to your places It is all one in divine acceptance to omit and overact a duty not to serve him and not to serve him in our stations for however men deem he is a God and God of order and order the beauty of his holiness must shine more brightly in the Church then in the world Now that I have bounded your liberty in holy conference by fit cautions I shall direct your duty unto the right discharge of it that it may be honourable to religion profitable to the Church and comfortable to your own souls The directions I shall suggest are three Propound unto your selves Right Direct 1 matter whereof to confer each with other all things Revealed and known may be matters of discourse unto men but all discourse befits not Christian men I need not tell you that Rude Ribald language foolish jestings vile calumniations and contrivancies of prophanenesse and wickednesse are Repugnant to and unfit for humane discourse It is a shame the Tongue mans glory should ever be stained with such language how much more is the contrariety thereof to holinesse and Christianity this may be the language of the prospering prophane men which must provoke our speaking one to another by way of complaint that men should be so wicked but must not be once named among you as becometh Saints The affairs of the world and concernments of our temporall and present estate are matter of Colloquie fit for humane society and may in all commerce be lawfully conferred of by Christian souls sanctity doth not make us cease to be men if we will not confer of the things of the world we must go out of the world but but yet these things fall into Christians discourse as men not as Saints and common prudence will guide in the exercise thereof The conference which we have under cōsideration is Godly speciall belonging to Saints stirred up by the stout words of the wicked and successe of sin springing from the fear of God and thoughts of his name therefore the matter propounded to it must be holy and Religious like the language of the vertuous woman your mouths must be opened with wisdome and the law of kindness be upon your tongue Prov. 31.26 So the matter must be generally good even the word of God which must dwell plentifully in us in all wisedome unto teaching and admonishing one another Col. 3 16. Our discourse must be such matter as is savoury seasoned with salt administring grace and edification to the hearers Col. 4.6 No corrupt communication must come out of your mouths but that which is good Eph. 4.29 Good men must like housholders bring out in holy conference things new old but always such as may witnesse them to be Scribes instructed to the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 13.5 So that in general the ●ind of God word of truth doctrine of the gospell must be propounded as the matter of your conference but more specially propound not to your ordinarie co●ference 1. Jewish fables and genealogies or vain jangling notions frivolous matters which minister questions rather then godly edifying in the faith 1 Tim 1.5 fables because frivolous not because false as Calvin ●otes on the text many genealogies and other criticismes are recorded in the Scripture as necessary appendants on the things written which in themselves are not proper matter for conference because unprofitable and the debate of them will be but a laborious loss of time a task not worthy the toil like an Olive or Date stone hard to crack or cleave and affording no kernell when divided holy conference must be employed so that it should not fail of it's end or hinder union and therefore we must see we never make that the matter of it which may genderst rise occasion snarling administer questions but afford no instruction or edification Suetonius tells us that the curious canvasing of the genealogie of Priamus to find out the Pedigree of Aiax and Achilles was ridiculous to all sober men if frivolous things must not be the matter of humane much lesse may they be the matter of Christian debates 2. Conferre not of curious and nice critical cases of conc●ence R●m 14.1 We are required to rec●ive such as are weak in the faith but not to doubtfull disputations that is criticall debates concerning Christian liberty which indeed stirre up scrupulosity but do not edifie the weak will by scrupulosity of conscience be discouraged in the ways of piety let them not therefore be in your conferences perplexed with such enquiries doubts are soon started and easily raised but not so soon resolved it is sad when soul tormenting scrupulosity becomes the effect of Christian society 3. Conferre not controverted matters of discipline and order in the Chrrch the things of salvation may be enjoyed in the Church where discipline is much wanting and

language heavenly discourse godly conference the sweet breath of their sound hearts in an hypocriticall age the evidence of their hearts fullness of piety thus venting its abundance the expression of their care by the words of the wise to preserve knowledg whilst the evil communication of the prosperous prophane did corrupt good manners They that feared the Lord spak often one unto anthere whence we shall propound to your serious thoughts Doct. this observation or point of Doctrine The success of prophaneness must stir up the truly pious to speak often one to another Or thus Prospering prophaneness doth provoke the godly to frequent c●nference Many are the exercises of piety enjoyned by the Lord to be duely performed by his people some are personal concerne only a particular soul but others are publick to be used unto the conviction of the wicked confirmatiō of the godly against all temptations that assault them and these are not only the administrations of word sacraments in and to the Church in general but also admonitions expostulations of particular Saints in more private and particular societies expressing the thoughts of their hearts by the help of the tongue and communicating their gifts and graces to each other by godly religions conference Godly conference and christian confabulation is an absolute duty and apparent act of the Communion of Saints Incumbent on all the members of Jesus Christ and brethren in the faith to be carefully performed by all that pray for and in their places propagate the perfection of the whole body by the supply of every particular Joynt This dutie is not indeed fixed unto time place and order as are some other acts of worship and dueties of religion but to be exercised as occasion calls for it and opportunitie doth enforce it no condition time or season is unsuitable for holy conference when ever good men have occasion of commerce and opportunity of serious communication yet some estates of the Church doth more enforce it and an enquirie of opportunitie to enjoy it then others when the tongues of the wicked do walke proudly through the earth the tongues of the godly must be tuned for Heaven when the prophane glutted with their prospering prouidences do speak pride and blasphemy and that in talking stoutly against God and and openly affirm it It is in vain to serve God it is no profit to walk mournfully before him all the day for that the proud are called happie Then above all times is it a time for them that feare the Lord to speak often one unto another though our words must be always seasoned with grace and our care must ever be to admonish one another yet more especially when assaulted with the temptation of prospering prophanenesse then our ordinary language and our often discourse must be holy conference This hath been the care and carriage of them that feared the Lord in all ages of the world you shall not find the old World filled with pride security and sensuallity but Noah the preacher of Righteousnesse will be speaking of and preparing for the approaching Flood Nor shall you read of the Captivity of Righteous Lot but also of Abrahams consultation with his chatechised servants for his rescue conference with Melchizedeck Israels oppression cannot increase by the pride of prosperous Egypt Gen. 14. but Moses Aron will confer of the mind of God concerning their deliverance and their own duty towards it Exod. 4.14.15 16. Sauls pride and blasphemies passe not without the serious conferences of Jonathan and David Sam. 18.19 Job is no sooner brought into distresse but his friends gather about him to conferre of the things of God though they make false conclusions yet they discoursed right ●eligious premises Ahab succeeds not in his idolatry but we shall finde the Prophet Elijah and Elisha and he and Obadiah in godly conference nor can Jesus Christ be crucified and blasphemed at Jerusalem Luk. 24.13 but his disciples will discourse as they walk to Emmans of the things that befell him nor shall the Roman Emperors in their prosperitie oppresse the Faith and afflict the Romane Christians but the Apostle Paul longs to see them to the end he may imparte unto them some spirituall good that they may be established we shall not read in sacred or Ecclesiastick storie of the successe of prophaneness which did not stir up the holy conference of the godly The fellowship of the Saints is never so visible as in the suffering seasons of the Church Arius prosperity unto persecution made the Orthordox resort one to another with frequencie Marian pride in the successe of Poperie made the Protestant reformers to confer with diligence the things of truth and of salvation the late prelaticall crueltie was the spur of the Puritans Conventicles as in derision their holy conferences were called for in such times as these if ever Communion of Saints is necessary profitable and comfortable for then they That feare the Lord speak often one to another By way of complaint of sin and sorrow the wickednesse of men and darke providences of God that the heart may be affected with both and they may as becomes them mourn for the abominations which abound and the blasphemies which are proudly belched against God his name truth Ordinances and people in this day of prospering prophanenesse and duly pray the diversion of these darke providences which are so dishonourable to God and discouraging to Godlinesse sin must not succeed in the World or sorrow seize on the Saints without their sensible observation and sad but serious expostulation with God and each with others by way of confirmation each of others spirit against the strong influence of so sore temptations we have before noted that the prosperity of the wicked is a very great stumbling stone to the godly at this David spurned and had almost slipt unto the condemning the generation of the iust Psal 7.3.7 and charging vanity on the course of piety On this Peter fell to the denyall of his Lord and Master making him with more then ordinary earnestnesse enquire his affection to him Peter lovest thou me Peter lovest thou me Peter lovest thou me It is strange if Ahabs insolency in his Idolatry make not all even the best of Israell to halt between two opinions and most to fall into flat and open Idolatry when the multitude do evill those few who will not follow them have need to cleave close together if ever the fe●ble knees must be strengthened it must be when they stumble at the prosperity of prophanenesse If ever the godly will be armed against impiety it must be when it ascends the there and becomes the stirrop of authority and sole principle of preferment and if they will ever speakne couragingly of waiting on God and walking with him in holinesse it must be when most men discouragingly determine God hath forsaken the Earth doth not regarde the righteous It 's in

honour on them then ever Ahashuerosh did on Mordecay when by the record of his good service his oblivion was allarum'd for his compassion doth work towards them he is peirced to the heart with this holy language his pity is provoked to spare them as a man spareth his own son which serveth him Nay his complacency is in them they shall be his is propriety and his jewels in peculiarity whose hearts cause such holy language in so bad and evil times but of these I shall speak more fully hereafter we see then what delight God takes in holy conference no tender parent can with more delight listen to the tatlings of her babe or lay up in her heart the pretty prudent reasons urged by the child and set her heart on the childe with more serious and compassionate affections then God doth to his people in their holy conference nor is it to be wondered at for this discourse is the expression of the thoughts of his holy name which they fear and evidence of those zealous affections they bear unto the honour of his name wayes of his holiness and this leads me to the 2d. Reason of the point Prospering prophaness provokes Reason 2 holy conference to declare the sincerity of sanctity God loves the truth in the inward parts hypocrisie is to God an abomination all outward profession of his name and attendance on his ordinances are of no value without sincere sanctity and an upright heart he is not a Jew who is one outwardly nor is that circumcision which is of the flesh but he is a Jew who is one inwardly and whose circumcision is of the heart whose praise is not of men but of God such as will be delight unto the Lord must be upright in heart the integrity of the heart covereth many infirmities God winks at the weakness of his sincere servants whose hearts are right before him mens care must be to manifest that holy conference in evill times as an evident declaration of sincere grace such as have superficiall and temporary graces may be forward in common and ordinary acts of holinesse and religion but are estranged to and carelesse of the rare and extraordinary acts thereof Common Christians make some care of publique exercises of Religion such as hearing Reading and the like ordinances of the Church in common but when acts of private and personall concernment are to to be performed they think them needless and superfluous all specialties in Religion are in their account singularities and nicities and the agents in them deemed busie bodies and giddy spirits making themselves over righteous but the sincere make conscience of keeping all Gods commands and performing every prescribed duty as well those which are private and personall as those which are publick and common and in this their speaking one to another there are these evidences of their sincere holiness 1. It is an especial service to God a speaking to him for him cōplaining of the dishonor done to him confirming each others in adependence on him holy conferēce in so sinful times under so sad discouragements doth spring out of an heart 1. Apprehensive of present affairs observant of the dispensations of God towards his people security senslesness under gods hand is the object of a wo. God threatens sensuality as a sin indelible I●a 22.13 non-apprehēsion of his peoples affliction with most heavy judgments to live at ease in Lion and not to regard the affliction of Joseph is the work of an hypocrite and an high transgression Amos 6.4 But to apprehend Gods anger provoked and his hand lifted up the Lord looks on that with delight Josiah shal dye in peace because his heart was tender when he heard the words of the Lord against Jerusalem 2 Cor. 34.27 And the mourners for all Jerusalems abominations make such melody in Gods ears that they shall be the marked of the Lord in the day of Jerusalems desolation Ezek. 9. It is a kind check Godgives Samuel for mourning over Sauls rejection 1 Sam. 16.1 It is an how long not why dust thou mourn for Saul the matter was pleasing the measure is burthensome and to be blamed 2. Affectionate and ardent for Gods honour Their good thoughts did heat their affections and make them to boil over into holy conference heat of heart towards God must have vent of tongue for God thus when David mused the fire waxed hot untill he at length was constrained to break his resolved silence zeal for Gods honour grief for sins successe sets the Godly on conference each to others holy language is the Ruptures of the heated affections and provoked passions of an holy heart The Parents danger will make that child speak who never spake before Stephen spake with such fulness fervency as when the cōmotions of his soul stirred by the blasphemies of the Jews shewed him to be full of the holy Ghost Acts 7. 3. Associated to the Saints Communion of Saints is an Article of Creed and advantage of grace to every sincere soul Schisme cannot be a sign of sanctity it is a fruit of the flesh never was any savingly nverted but he presently sought Communion with the Church for extra Ecclesiam nulla salus no salvatiō without the pale of the Church Saul is no sooner become a Paul but he assayed to join himselfe to the Church Act. 9.26 No member of the Church must be idle and dead or unprofitabl bu● must gives and receive nutriment towards the increase of the whole body every joint must supply it's proper part which is and can only be done by holy conference Good lives and languages are the Churches veins in which the blood of Gods word doth run unto it's strength and growth so that the men who manifest life in their union with the Church are carefull to maintain Communion and they that confirm themselvs by holy conference in evill times do evidence themselves in society with and serviceable to the Saints Colloquy is an act of Communion conference is in company 4. Adhaerence unto God professions are the souls obligations purposes bind a man at his own good will and pleasure and are alterable but promises professions and publike discourses provoke other mens observation and expectation of performance and accomplishment and so abide not within our power conscience of a backsliding spirit doth bring many of the Saints under the bond of promises professions and good conference from which they cannot start without shame but conference of God and Religion in times of prospering prophanen●sse proclaim a resolution of adhaerency a care against apostasy by such confirming soul-establishing Colloquies They must needs resolve to follow God piety who are fervent in discourse for and of them when they find no favour in the World an heart apprehensive of present affairs affected with Gods honour associating with the Saints adhaering to God in times of discouragement is approved sincere in Gods sight but holy conference is the vent

o● private and personall exhortation is plainly prescribed and duely bounded and the evill incident thereunto carefully cautioned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is not to forsake the publick assemblies clearly expressed in the Greek word which signifieth not onely a coming together in the synag●gue or plane of Assembly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that in a concourse or multitude and great number and also in the discretive particle but d●fferencing the exhortation one of another from the duties to be attended in the assembling of our selves together and enforceing the caution by a sad instance and observation of an evill custome to be avoided as the manner of some is so that schisme from the Church appeareth to ●●ve been an old attendant on the con●erences of the godly Calvin on this T●xt tels us we may here see that of old Schisme from the Church doth ari●e from the contempt thereof in men pr●ud of their seeming sanctity in mu●uall exhortation and Pareus doth w●ll note that whilest we admonish and exhort one another ●he Apostle doth commend to us Reverentiam Erga ministerium Eccles●ae studium frequent●ndi Ecclesias●●c●s Caetus R●verence and Reg●rd to the publick ministry and Assemblies And as the holy Ghost doth give us the command of confe●ence with the caution of its inconvenience to be prevented by this Apos●l so we shall find the same duty e●j●yned by another Apostle with the suggestion of the self same danger Jude 20. verse But ye beloved Edifie one another in your most holy faith the discretive particle leads us back to something before spoken that is the properties of wicked sects seducing and seduced souls who did separate from the Church and are therefore branded with it These are they who separate sensuall not having the spirit verse 19. And are set as evill examples to be avoided but ye beloved that ye may not separate Edifie one another Holy conference should fit us for and fix us in the Communion of the Church and be our fence against Schisme and sinfull separation So that Christians be conversant in your private conferences but carefull that you grow not by them into contempt of Gods publick Assemblies Vse your domestick so●ieties but despise not the Church of God take heed that you never give a parity much less a priority to your Charitative instructions with ministeriall authoritative injunctions to your friendly conventicles as brethren with the congregation of Saints in the Church of God keep not so close in private as to negl●ct the publick administrations of God give both their due pay your Tith of Mint Cummin but Omit not the weightier matters of the Law know that your exhorting admonishing speaking one to another is a duety but preaching hearing and the Ordinances of God in the Assemblies of his people are greater duties for these are publick that private these to the Church and whole body that to friends brethren single and particular members these by office and with the authority of Jesus Christ that is performed in Charity at the good will of men These are fixed and positive acts of worship for time place method order that occasionall when where and how we can get opportunity these ess●ntiall to the being of Religion and salvation of the soul That convenient comfortable quickning advantagious and to the well being of the soul so that there can be no parity between them much lesse may we overthrow the publick and standing worship of God by our friendly and fraternall intercourse those that make holy conference an occasion of contempt of publick Assemblies may edifie fancy but not faith may grow in knowledge but not in grace may make Religion shine with a little splendor but not stand in a storm for they do fasten it with a sinful peg or however Schisme is by the Saints of our age minced and made of no moment it will prove destructive to the Church and damnable to the soul for being divided from the body they have forsaken the head and fall into an imp●ssibili●y of nourishment how horrid are the prophanesses both doctrinal practical acted by the pretended Saints of our age who have sprung up from their private Conventicles into an open separation from the Church and have improved their desired Toleration to the confusion of the Church increase of all heresie error and oppression of truth and order Take heed that ye exhort one another but forsake not the Assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is Caution 2 But a second caution in the exercise of holy conference is this Set not upon soul Edifying acts which are out of your sphere the Edification of the Church is ●he great end of all Gospell-administrations and friendly admonitions of the brethren and to be pursued with the utmost diligence God ha●h giv●n Apostles Prophets Evangel●sts Pastors and Teachers unto the Edifying of the Saints He hath appointed every joynt to be duely serviceable by Admonition Re●uke and consolation each of other as breth●en He hath prescribed many different waves and means unto the accompl shment of this great end and Nehemiah-like studious to have the work of the Temple to go forward hath distributed men into their severall stations and to distinct employments in which each one must attend and nothing doth more hinder the work o● God or b ing dishonour to Religon then disorder and stepping out of our own places to employ our hands in what is not to us allotted Publ●ck ministery and private conference are both appointed and conducible to the Edification of the Church but in their proper places and order The ministers of God may not hinder the people of God from their holy conferences Pre●atical violence against piou Communion of brethren in praying each with and ●or other and speaking one to another w●s no mean pul-back to Re igion nor must priva●e conference Encroach upon publick ministry or intermeddle with its administrations Vzzah's upholding of the Ark when Shaken doth but hinder its march towards its Resting place if men sin●ully break order and st●p out of their places the work of God must be hindered whilst his angry hand doth Reduce them into order again the straining of the priviledge of private Christians unto their presumptuous medling with the work of Gospel-min●stry hath made the sun of the Gospell stand still nay go backward among us and so weakened piety that the very sinews thereof are shrunk and irreligion increaseth unto blasphemy and almost Atheisme Let it be your care Christians in your private Conference to keep within compass and manage those things which onely belong to private Christians meddle not with matters that appertain to the ministery though they be edifying to the Church yet they must be extended by men of office consecrated to and invested with authority for such service I would not abridge private Christians of the least of their priviledge nor have them in their conference Go one step beyond their bounds

give me leave therefore to appoint the borders of your holy conference and that you may never hereafter pleade ignorance I will tell you what private Christians in their conferences may do and what u●der the pretence of conference private Christians may not meddle withall as they tender the edification of the Church advancement of Religion and salvation of their own souls First then there are seven p●si ive and speciall acts of con●er●●ce and Communion of Saints which particular Christians and private brethren not onely lawfully may but in duty must discharge each with and towards other and they are briefly these 1. Private Christians may and must pray one for another in the behalf of themselves and the whole Church of God prayer is indeed an act of publick worship to be done in and by the Church whose mouth must be the Ministers of God Joel 2.17 But it is also a private and personall duty to be done by every child of God in secret and in society It is Required that every Christian do it and that believers do pray one for another James 5 16. And it is the promise of the covenant of grace that families and tribes shall every of them pray apart and in the times of the Churches perplexity even private Saints though there were no Ministers among them should go together and pray in Communion and by joynt supplication thus did the men that feared God in our Text and the many who were gathered into the house of Mary the mother of John and were praying in the day of Herods Rage acts ●2 12 Some have been angry at but never durst argue against the practice of Christians in private fasts and prayers no it is their duty and priviledge 2. Private Christians may and must confess their sins one unto another none but Papists will confine confession to a Priest or publick officer sin must indeed be sometimes confessed in and to the Church when she is become the object of offence and scandalized by the miscarriage and so the finner become the subject of her censure but private brethren may not onely confess their sins one unto another as they are the parties offended but as they are brethren and subjects of pity and of comp●ssion who seeing his brother sin a sin not unto death will pray for him and it shall be forgiven him private brethren must not onely pray against the guilt but power also of each others lust and must not onely pray against sin but be serviceable by other means to the subduing the strength thereof and saving the soul from the error of his way and therefore it is commanded that common Saints do confesse their sin one unto another I presume I need not advise prudence in the choice of those brethren to whom we will commit such secrets 3 Private Christians may and must in their private conferences Check and Rebuke one anothers impieties and miscarriages fraternall correption is a duty beyond all exception commanded of God Thou shalt in any wise Rebuke thy brother and not suffer sin up on him Lev. 19.17 Appointed by Christ if thy brother offend tell him of his faults between thee and him as an hinderance to sin and help in temptation exhort by way of Rebuke one another least ye be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin It is the provocation of Repentance balme of a wounded conscience desired by David Let the Righteous smite me it is the Restitution of a Relapsed soul Gal. 6.1 The private mans passage to glory and provision for honour covering a multitude of sins and converting the soul James 5.19.20 The end of mutuall confession is mutuall Reprehension these are the wounds of a friend more faithful then the kisses of an enemy Prov. 27.6 Where let it be Remembred that Reproof is the wound of a friend done in Charity not out of office with pitty and successefull by its truth and justice not with power prevailing by its Authority 4. Private Christians may and must counsell and quicken each others graces And so spur each others duties say come let us return unto the Lord let us joyn our selves to God in an everlasting covenant they must consider observe have an eye unto each others ways and walkings to warm the cold affections and provoke unto love and good works none but the slothfull in duty and slaves to prophanesse can be angry at or argue against the private Rebukes and exhortations of holy conference 5. Private Christians may and must comfort one another in their anguish and affliction sanctity supplanteth no act of society but sets us in a better capacity to perform to Reason much more religion leads friends to visit Job in his affl●ct●o● for to him that is afflicted pity must be shewed by his friend The not speaking consolation was the mistake of Jobs friends in all that long conference they had with him when our friends interr their dead we are directed to comfort each other 1 Thes 5.11 by conferring of the Resurrection of the body the speaking of promises and providences of God so as to prop up a sinking soul to strengthen the feeble hands is the work not onely of publick communion but also of private conference the consolations of God must not be concealed but imparted as occasion requireth unto the good of others 6. Private Christians may and must cōplain of the evil of the times to affect each others hearts with sence of and sorrow for sin or Gods sad providences mens stout words against God must be matter of expostulation to them that fear God Jonathan David must into the field to confer of Sauls wickedness and cruelty Israels abomination must be made mention of among the mourners for it the d●eadfull dispensations of God at the death of Christ must be the matter of discourse to the Disciples as they wa●k to Emmaus every soul must see Gods hand observe Gods providences and make the prosperity of prophaness and escapes impiety the matter of discourse unto his own and other mens discretion to a due demeanor and suitable conversation 7. Private Christians may must confer with each other of the things of faith and salvation none but Papists who lock up the knowledge of the truth from poor souls and the people of God and impose on their faith what the Church doth believe will make it heresie to enquire into and debate of the Articles of the Creed Obadiah may without any sin or disobedience expostulate the injunctions of the Prophets and it shall be a note of Nobility to the Bereans to enquire into the Scriptures to finde the verity of the Apostles doctrine This is no other then the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Christian conference allowed and enforced by the ministers in jus divinum ministerii cap. 5. Pa. 81. of this City Nay and was honoured by our Saviour in joyning in society and debating with the Disciples that went to Emmaus the death and resurrection of himself those