15.32 7 Apurchase made 7. The making a purchase of house or land leads us into a discourse of purchasing the field wherein lay hid the treasure and of selling all to buy the pearl of great price Matth. 13.44 45 46. In brief where I have given one instance I might with ease give an hundred the voice of Providence uttering fresh newes every day Providence is the best and truest interpreter of the Decrees of God and what lay in the womb of Decree before time even from eternity that Providence brings forth day by day and so administreth fresh matter continually for Christian Conference to all that delight and take pleasure therein 3 From the word of God 3. If the voice and speech of men one to another and the voice of God in Providence suggest occasion for holy discourse and conference then surely the voice of God in his word read preached or heard doth it much more Christians do you not read and search the Scriptures day by day I take it for granted that you do and take delight in so doing and what understandest thou all thou hearest or readest is there nothing too hard for thee if so then put questions to persons of understanstanding Ministers or people among whom thou comest saying what is the meaning of this or that portion of Scripture And they will be opening and expounding hard places to thee Ministers especially their lips should keep knowledg that 's their duty and for the people to seek the law at their mouths Mat. 27. is their dutie also And studie not out questions tending to strife and vain jangling or abstruse inquiries to puzzle others as some do and go away scoffing and boasting saying I think I have posed one parson to day or gravelled such or such an one non-plust him so that he had nothing to answer but let the questions be such as tend to the edification of your selves and others by inlarging the understanding in a way of knowledge but principally to the warming of your hearts and affections to the purging of your consciences to the regulation and better ordering of your lives and conversations For when you have heard the word preached know it is spiritual seed labour to harrow it into your hearts by holy meditation Mat. 13.3 4. and 18 19. 1 Pe. 2.2 Isa 55.2 and by Christian communication that so it may spring up and grow in heart and life and thou maist have a rich and goodly crop of it in grace and glory It is also our spiritual food and in order to nourishment must have its due digestion Now they tell us of three concoctions as to natural food the first they call Chylification in the Stomack the second Sanguification with the Liver and the last Assimilation in every part the nutriment being conveyed to every part is made like to that part it is conveyed to suitable hereunto the Word in order to our spiritual nourishment and growth in grace must have various digestions First by Meditation and Conference A second in our will and affections being subdued by it to will what God wills to love or hate what God loves or hates and lastly in our lives and practice when we exercise our selves herein to have consciences void of offence toward God and toward men as Paul did Acts 24.16 Yet there is this vast difference in the resemblance for wheras our meats and drinks are assimilated and made like to the parts of man fed by them the word our spiritual food changeth the man into its own likeness makes the inward and outward man spiritual and holy like it self so far as it turns to nourishment And remember this that an errour in the first concoction is seldome mended in the second or third but vitiates the whole and the gross neglect of meditation and conference is one great cause why we are no better in our hearts and in our lives and many too many professors who hear much but thrive little they have or seem to have good appetites but to be sure they have very bad digestions by reason of their failings in holy Meditation and Christian Conference FINIS Books to be Sold by Tho Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside A Commentary on the Hebrews By John Owen D. D. fol. Sermons upon the whole Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians By Mr. John Daille Translated into English by F. S. Tho Taylor 's Works the first Volume fol. 2. An Exposition of Temptation on Matth. 4. verse 1. to the end of the 11th Divine Characters in two parts distinguishing the Hypocrite in his best dress By Samuel Crook B.D. A Learned Commentary or Exposition on the first Chapter of the second Epistle to the Corinthians By Richard Sibbs D.D. fol. A Commentary on the whole Epistle of S. Paul to the Ephesians By Mr. Paul Bain Fol. A practical Exposition on the third Chapter of the first Epistle of S. Paul to the Corinthians with the Godly Mans Choice on Psal 4. ver 6 7 8. By Anthony Burgess fol. The dead Saint speaking to Saints and sinners living in several Treatises The first on 2 Sam. 24.10 The second on Gant 4.9 The third on John 1.50 The fourth on Isa 58.2 The fifth on Exod. 15.11 By Samuel Bolton D.D. folio Christianographia or a Description of the multitude and sundry sorts of Christians in the world not subject to the Pope By Eph. Pagit fol. These seven Treatises next following are written by Mr. George Swinnock 1. The Christian Man's Calling or a Treatise of making Religion ones business in Religious Duties Natural Actions his Particular Vocation his Family Directions and his own Recreation to be read in Families for their Instruction and Edification The first Part. 2. Likewise a second Part wherein Christians are directed to perform their Duties as Husbands and Wives Parents and Children Masters and Servants in the conditions of Prosperity and Adversity 3. The third and last part of the Christian Mans Calling wherein the Christian is directed how to make Religion his business in his dealings with all Men in the choice of his Companions in his carriage in good Company in bad Company in solitariness or when he is alone on a weekday from morning to night in visiting the sick on a Dying bed as also the means how a Christian may do this and some motives to it 4. The Door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration 5. Heaven and Hell Epitomised and the True Christian characterized 6. The fading of the Flesh and the flourishing of Faith Or One cast for Eternity with the only way to throw it well 7. The Incomparableness of God in his Being Attributes Works and Word opened and applyed All these by Geo. Swinnock M.A. An Antidote against Quakerism By Steven Scanderet A learned Commentary on the fourth Chapter of the second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians to which is added First A conference between Christ and Mary Second The Spiritual
evil in the sight of God Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his maker and he that is glad at Calamities shall not be unpunished Prov. 17.5 Reprocheth his Maker to wit his own Maker or the poor mans Maker not owning his soveraignty and wisdome in his various allotments of some to wealth of others to poverty and in not answering God's Holy and gracious ends in his different distributions of things below Thou art rich thy neighbour's poor why not that he should be despised but releaved by thee God made him not to be the object of thy scorne but of thy love pitty and bounty This sin of rejoycing in the hurt or harmes of others hath much of inhumanity in it makes men like that sycophantizing Doeg who betrayed David as he thought into the hands of Saul glorying in it Psal 52.1 Why boastest thou thy self in mischief O mighty man or like to the accursed Children of Edom who in the day of Jerusalem to wit Jerusalem's distress said raze it raze it even to the foundation thereof Psal 137.7 Obad. 10.9 Or like to the bloudy Jewes who Crucifying the Lord of Glory did it with most horrid revilings and barbarous insultations Matth. 27.40 Or last of all which is worst of all this sin makes men as like the Devil as ever they can look who if he could rejoyce would rejoyce in nothing more than in making men like himself sinful and miserable 4 Double Tongued 4. And lastly the double-Tongue speaking one thing to this body another to that must needs be a false and faultering tongue on the one side or on the other To be double tongued is blame-worthy in all as well as Deacons as speaking hot and cold 1 Tim. 3.8 with the same breath The reason why it is so bad is because it argues a double heart in the breasts and bosomes of men The heart doubles first and then the Tongue A double minded man is unstable in all his wayes Jam. 1.8 and in his words also and Cogitations This double minded man is either the dissembler in discourse who speaks one thing but thinks another or rather a sceptick in judgment as a learned Expositor carries it Beza in locum a man unsetled of a doubtful mind now inclining to this opinion or way and then to that not being established in the true Religion many such were in the primitive times and are in our dayes also Yet dissembling in discourse and talke is the evil which I am here striking at an evil so prevailing and reigning in Davids dayes as it made him cry out Help Lord why They speak vanity every man with his neighbour with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak or an heart and an heart As of old to have an Ephah and an Ephah unjust weights and measures was a great Crime and is so still so to have a Tongue and a Tongue an heart and an heart is highly displeasing to God and man and to both very injurious It was the commendation of the Children of Zebulun 1 Chr. 12.33 That they were not of a double heart or a heart and a heart Let it be our temper and our commendation also I might adde that brawlers and liers are as bad as any But no more of this 3 In reference to ourselves 3. Having spoken hitherto touching the Tongues unruliness in reference to God and to our neighbours I shall say a little of its miscarriage in reference to our selves and that very briefly 1. In self-praising 1. Self-praising magnifying our selves what we are as to our birth or breeding our parts and abilities what we have said or done or will do Prov. 20.6 And all the while the Tongue is wandring from that excellent way of Charity which vaunteth not it self 1 Cor. 13.4 is not puffed up to wit as a bladder with wind is blown up So the proud hearts of men swell with a windy conceit of their excellencies bragging and exalting themselves upon all occasions and in all companies whereas alas if they were weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary they would be found but light and empty yea possibly wretched and miserable Creatures 2. In self-Cursings 1. Self-Cursings wishing this or that evill may befall them yea that all the Plagues of God light upon them and theirs if things be not so and so But having already harped upon this string when I spake concerning the Tongues unruliness in Cursing I touch no more upon this or any other of the Tongues Unruliness and irregularities but hast forward to what is most in my design and wherein I must crave leave somewhat to enlarge shewing the Lord assisting the necessity and usefulness of Christian Conference with several directions for the right management and improvement thereof so as that God thereby may be glorified our selves and others edified and all be upon account with Comfort in that great day of the glorious appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ The necessity and usefulness of Christian Conference is evincible and demonstrable by arguments 1. In reference to God 1. There 's a necessity of precepts upon this commanded duty command upon command from God himself enforcing it by Moses to Israel in Deâ—â—â—nomy which is a repetition of the Lâ—â—â— particularly and expresly of the Ten Commandments which being dâ—â—â—vered he stirs up and excites attention Hear O Israel Deu. 6.3 4 5 6. and again Hear O Israel what must Israel hear Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and what else These words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart and where else why in thy mouth Deut. 4.10 And thou shalt teach or whet them and sharpen them as Mowers and Barbers do their Instruments diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lieft down and when thou risest up Deut. 11.18 19. Yea there is the inculcation of this duty again and again intimating man's natural aversness and backwardness thereunto and withall the infinite wisdome and goodness of God to man in his thus reinforcing it for their good here and for ever This God commands by Solomon the wisest of Kings or men Train up or Catechize a Child in the way 〈◊〉 should go Pr. 22.6 or in his way Now thâ—â—raining up or Catechising work is carried on principally if not only by â—â—â—ferring with Children and talking to them about the things of God and matters of Religion Yet farther the Lord our God presseth this duty of Christian Conference more then once in the New Testament by the Apostle as upon the Ephesians and that both negatively and positively Eph. 4.29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it minister grace to the hearers No Corrupt or rotten putred communication alluding to meats rotten and putrified stinking and unsavoury
that of the Apostle drawn from a body natural in which each member hath its proper gift not for it self onely but for the whole and every other member in particular thus the Eye sees the ear heares the Tongue speaks the hands work the feet walk not each for it self onely but for each other member and the whole body so in the Church of Christ which is one body mystical Can. 6.9 My dove my undefiled is but one one body Can. 6.9 Eph. 4.4 Yet in that one body there are variety of members and God by his Spirit distributeth gifts and graces variously dividing to every one severaily as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 But to what end He answers it vers 7. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall So in a body politick Perkins Reformed Catholick Of Tradit a Kingdome or Commonwealth all are not Peeres but some Peasants all are not rich but some poore the Peer and the Rich have as much need of the poore Peasant in some cases as they of them in other cases So in the world several Countries have their several commodities and all to maintain mutual Trade Commerce and converse among men but all for the good of the whole What another Apostle speaks in another case in regard of hospitality is here by way of illustration fairely applicable 1 Pet. 4.9 10. As every man hath received the gift so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God There 's much very much of the wisdome and goodness of God in laying up rich treasures of knowledge and gracious experiences in the heads and hearts of some not onely for their own use but for the guiding and leading of others also No member in the body natural or mystical but is designed to be and ought to be usefull and serviceable to the whole The way to compasse our end with God which is to be everlastingly glorified by him and with him in the full enjoyment of him is to give him his ends here on us 1 Cor. 10.31 which is that we should glorify him and that in laying out all our talents to the best advantage of our Master and the use of his family which is his Church and people here below and this end is abundantly advanced by the wise and frequent exercise of Christian Conference The 5th Argument in reference to God 5 Argument propagation of the Gospel which pleads hard for Christian Conference is that it is powerfully efficacious by the blessing of God for the propagation of the Gospel and for the bearing up of the Name Worship and glory of God in the World from generation to generation How was the worship of God transmitted from Adam to Moses but by Oral Tradition and that in Conference Fathers declaring to their Children and so from Children to Children age after age God at first revealed his will to Adam by word of mouth and renewed the the same to the Patriarks not by writings but by speech by dreams and other inspirations and thus the word of God went from man to man for the space of two thousand and four hundred years unto the time of Moses who was the first penman of the Holy Scriptures and all this while men worshipped God and held the Articles of their Faith by tradition not from men but immediately from God himself And the History of the new Testament probably for the space of twenty years at least went from hand to hand by tradition 'till penned by the Apostles or being penned by others it was approved by them And now the Canon of Scriptures being compleated and by the infinite wisdome power and goodness of God kept pure and entire we must to the law and to the Testimony Isa 8.20 Eph. 2.20 2 Tim. 3.16 to the Scripture the written word of God for our guidance and direction in matters of Faith and practice But as for the way and manner of Conveyance and propagation of the heavenly and blessed truths contained in the Scriptures that is authoratively by Ministers and by Preaching hearing reading and holy Conference which is common to all who having Tongues to speak should delight to be speaking of God and for God that so religion the knowledge and fear of God might run down all along through the whole race of mankind even from Adam to the end of the world The Psalmist is warme in this argument Psal 78.3 4 5 6 7. That saith he which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us we will not hide it from their Children shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord and his strength and his wonderful works that he hath done For he established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children That the generation to come might know them even the Children which should be born who should arise and declare them to their Children That they might set their hope in God and not forget the work of God but keep his Commandments We pray Thy kingdome come and that 's our duty but we must work also and labour to our uttermost by good Conference by doing or suffering that the kingdome of grace may be advanced more and more in the world that God in Christ may be more known believed in and be loved obeyed owned and honoured by our selves and all others from the rising of the Sun to the setting of the same and this in a perpetual succession from time to time 'till time runs up into Eternity It s reported to be one of the Olympick games that they have a set company of Racers if I mistake not the story each whereof had his stage or Race-post as it were the first takes a great burning torch or blazing link in his hand and away he runs with it with all possible speed to the end of the race then another takes it of him and away way he posts with it might and maine and so a third and a fourth and so one Racer after another 'till the link or light went out I allude onely to it So one generation runneth with the light of the Gospel to another generation and so from generation to generation I cannot say till the light goeth out for it 's an everlasting Gospel and never goeth out but 'till the light of grace be heightned unto or swallowed up in the light of glory The necessity and usefulness of Christian Conference in order to the preservation of the Gospel amongst us and the propagation of it to posterity may sufficiently be evinced if we go a little to School to Priests and Jesuites to all Arch hereticks and seducers do not they spread their opinions and practices even among ignorant ones and illiterate meerly or mainly by discourse and conference do not common swearers adulterers scoffers and the like rabble òf men by their evil
Mans Aim Third Emanuel or Miracle of Miracles By Richard Sibbs D.D. 4to An Exposition on the five first Chapters of Ezekiel with useful observations thereupon By Will. Greenhil 4to The Gospel-Covenant or the Covenant of Grace opened Preached in New-England By Peter Bulkeley 4to God's Holy Mind touching Matters Moral which himself uttered in ten words or ten Commandments also an Exposition on the Lords Prayer By Edward Elton B.D. 4to A plain and familiar Exposition of the Commandments By John Dod 4to Fiery Jesuite or an Historical Collection of the Rise Increase Doctrines and Deeds of the Jesuites Exposed to view for the sake of London 4to Horologiographia Optica Dyalling Universal and Particular Speculative and Practical together with the Description of the Court of Arts by a new Method By Sylvanus Morgan 4to Praxis Medicinae or the Physicians Practice wherein are contained all inward diseases from the head to the foot By Walter Bruel Regimen Sanitatis Salerni or the School of Salerns Regiment of Health containing Directions and Instructions for the guide and government of Man's Life 8vo Ames on Peter and on the Psalms Christ and the Covenant the work and way of Meditation delivered in ten Sermons Large Octavo By William Bridge late of great Yarmouth Heart-Treasure or a Treatise tending to fill and furnish the head and Heart of every Christian with soul-inriching treasure of truths graces experiences and comforts to help him in Meditation Conference Religious performances Spiritual Actions Enduring Afflictions and to fit him for all conditions that he may live Holily die happily and go to Heaven triumphantly By O.H. with an Epistle presixed by John Chester The sure Mercies of David or a second part of the Hearts-Treasure Closet Prayer a Christians Duty All three by O. Heywood A Glimpse of Eternity By A. Caley A Practical Discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the Nature and duty of Prayer By Tho. Cobbet Of Quenching the Spirit the evil of it in respect both of its causes and effects discovered By Theâ—â—hilus Polwheile Wells of Salvatioâ—â—â—â—ened or Words whereby we may be saved with advice to Young Men. By Th. Vincent The Re-building of London encouraged and improved in several Meditations By Samuel Rolls The sure way to Salvation or a Treatise of the Saints Mystical Union with Christ wherein that great Mysterie and Priviledge is opened in the nature properties and the necessity of it By R. Steedman M.A. Sober Singularity By the same Author The greatest Loss upon Matth. 16.26 By James Livesey Moses unvailed By William Guild The Protestants Triumph being an exact answer to all the sophistical Arguments of Papists By Ch. Drelincourt A Defence against the fear of Death By Zach. Crofton Gods Soveraignty displayed By Will. Geering A sober Discourse concerning the Interest of Words in Prayer The Godly mans Ark or City of Refuge in the day of his distress in five Sermons with 〈◊〉 Moor's Evidences for Heaven By Edw. Calamy The Almost Christian discovered or the false Professor tryed and cast By Spiritual Wisdome improved against temptation Both by M. Mead. The true bounds of Christian Freedom or a Discourse shewing the extents and restraints of Christian Liberty wherein the truth is setled many errours confuted out of John 8. ver 36. A Treatise of the Sacrament shewing a Christians Priviledge in approaching to God in Ordinances duty in his Sacramental approaches danger if he do not sanctifie God in them Both by Sam. Bolton D. D. The Lords Day enlivened or a Treatise of the Sabbath By Philip Goodwin The Sinfulness of Sin and the Fulness of Christ two Sermons By W. Bridge The Treatises next following are Written by Mr. Thomas Watson The Doctrine of Repentance Heaven taken by Storm Mischief of Sin A Divine Cordial A plea for the Godly The Holy Eucharist or the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The Life and Death of Mr. Tho. Wilson of Maidstone in Kent The Life and Death of Dr. Samuel Winter of Dublin The Conversion of a Sinner The day of Grace A Covert from the Storm Worthy walking pressed upon all that have heard the call of the Gospel All three by Nath. Vincent The Duty of Parents A little book for Little Children A Method and instruction for the Art of Divine Meditation All three by Tho. White The Childs delight togather with an English Grammar A plaine and Familiar Method of instructing the younger sort according to the lesser Catechism of the late Reverend Assembly of Divines Both by Tho. Lye The inseperable Union between Christ and a Believer By Tho. Peck A Practical Discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the Nature and duty of Prayer A Treatise of quenching the spirit the evil of it both in respect of its causes and effects A Defence against the Fear of Death By Zach. Crofton Esops Fables in English and Latin Verse Meditation upon Mr. Baxter's Review of his Treatise of the Duty of Heavenly Meditation By Giles Fermin A Discourse of Excuses setting forth the variety and Vanity of them the Sin and misery brought in by them By John Sheffield Invisible Reality set forth in the Holy Life and triumphant Death of Mr. John Janeway A Discourse concerning the Education of Children By R. Kedder The Saints perseverance asserted in its positive ground against Jer. Ives By Thom Danson