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
and honour in that happy day of our Lords appearance Awake awake O my glory Psal 57.8 Let each real Saint say Let us therefore arise and be doing and the Lord will be with us and prosper us 1 Chr. 22.16 Having proposed several arguments enforcing the necessity and usefulness of Christian Conference I proceed to lay down somâ— directions for the better performance of that great and weighty duty which may fall under two heads either habitual preparation for or actual execution in the discharge of that duty Habitual preparation Touching our habitual preparation for this spiritual service let me commend to all 1. 1 Heart puritie Heart puritie full of God and good which will fill the mouth with discourse of God and good For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Mat. 12.34 35. As the fountain is to the stream such is the heart to language both good or both bad And our present state being mixed and imperfect the purer the fountain is the more Christal are the streams flowing from it But for the making up this heart purity there is requisite 1. 1 By Blood Our being washed white in the blood of Jesus Christ Rev. 1.5 Nothing washeth white indeed but bloud and no bloud but the bloud of the Lamb Rev. 7.14 not Tears though penitential Tears and rivers of these Tears for all our Tears when all is done even themselves need washing The justification of our persons by the gracious imputation of the righteousness of Christ and by faith received is the prime and grand requisit pride and vain glory may squeeze good words out of the mouths of persons unjustified unsanctified strangers meer strangers to regeneration they lisping and stammering shuffling and bungling at it but holy language never floweth freely and sweetly indeed till Christ dwelleth in the heart by faith That Tree of life whose fruit is for meat and leaves for the healing of the Nations makes and alone makes fountains and streams hearts and language sweet and wholsome which else would be bitter and brackish yea noisome and poisonous Heb. 9.13 14. The Apostle argues from the less to the greater from the Law to the Gospel if the bloud of bulls c. How much more c. 2. 2 By the Spirit Washed also in the waters of the Sanctuary by the holy spirit of Sanctification infusing and implanting gracious qualities and habits into the Soul fitting it to utter speech gracious and such as may minister grace to the hearers and that from such principles as these 1. 1 Faith An habit and principle of faith eying God eying duty I believed saith holy David Psal 116.10 therefore have I spoken Prayer is faith speaking to God and holy Language is saith speaking to men faith herein eyeing the command of God is obedient and doth dutie and eyeing promises of blessings thereunto annexed is heartened and takes incouragement 2. 2 Love Love to God to our neighbours and to our selves that Gods glory may be advanced our neighbours spiritual good promoted and our own inward peace preserved by a Conscientious discharge of this dutie The truth is to speak plain English that even forward professors themselves being too miserably Tongue-tied as to Christian Conference argueth that there is but little true love to God to our neighbours or our selves to be found in us Paul had another frame of spirit more lively more communicative Rom. 1.11 12. He longeth to see the Romans that he might impart to them some spiritual gift to the end that they might be established that he might be comforted together with them by a mutual faith And this is certain his way of imparting to them was not in preaching to them onely but in conferring and discoursing with them also for their establishment his comfort and theirs and the glory of God in all Knowledg puffeth up but charity edifieth 1 Cor. 8.1 Puffeth up as a bladder with wind Charitie edifieth or buildeth up others as an house or Temple for God 3. 3 Fear There is required an holy fear and awe of God upon our spirits They that feared the Lord saith the Prophet Mal. 3.16 spake often one to another c. and therefore they spake often one to another because they feared the Lord. And the reason is cleare and plain all who fear God know that he is offended by sinful silence as well as by sinful language Omissions are destructive as well as Commissions and negatives as positives The servant that hid his Talent is punished with a vengeance Mat. 25.30 Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Not only that evil servant which smote his fellow servants did eat and drink with the drunken when the Lord came was cut in sunder and had his portion appointed with hypocrites where is weeping gnashof teeth Mat. 24.48 49 50 51. The same dreadful doom and dismal vengeance falls on both the idle servant and the wicked Silence or speech if sinful are both accursed 4. 4 Musing A musing meditabundous spirit much fits and disposeth us for holy Conference They who are much in the thoughts of God are like to be much also in speaking of God and for God Mal. 3.16 They that thought on his name spake often one to another David tells us Psal 39.3 My heart was hot within me while I was musing the fire burned then spake I with my Tongue Be it he spake in Prayer to God as his next words import verse 3. Lord make me to know my end c. It holds also in holy Conference words for God though to men A full vessel must have vent and an heart full of holy meditations will vent it self in holy communications with men and in holy ejaculations prayers and praises to God 5. 5 Delighting in God A delighting our selves in God his word works and wayes would dispose us to a more warme and frequent speaking of God his word works and wayes Naturally men love and take occasion to be speaking of such things as they are much delighted in Holy David who said Ps 119.24 Thy Testimonies are my delight said also vers 72. My Tongue shall speak of thy words And again when he had said I will speak of thy Testimonies before Kings and will not be ashamed ver 46. he adds his incitement thereto I will delight in thy Commandments which I have loved 6. 6 Wisdom Wisdome is a great requisite for the well ordering of the Tongue to know the time to speak and the time to keep silence Eccl. 3.71 The vertuous woman openeth her mouth with wisdome And the man that refraineth his lips is wise also Prov. 31.26 Prov. 10.19 Wisdome keepeth the door of the lips openeth and shuts them in due season It 's the Wisdome of the Magistrate which guides a tumultuous people the wisdome of the Pilot which steers the ship tost with winds and billows and it is
their studies so to see it reverently performed and that the whole Society came duly together Every Lords day in the Evening when the whole House met to offer up their Sacrifice of praise and prayer he examined the younger sort calling them to account about what they had heard that day which was a likely means to engage them to the greater attention in hearing and to make the truths by their pondering them sink the deeper into their hearts He took great pains to instruct them of the lower rank in the grounds of Religion calling them one day in the Week into the Chappel where he opened and explained the great and weighty Truths of Christianity to them endeavouring still not only to inform their judgments but to make the truths reach their hearts Whereas the Founder required that the Fellows and Scholars should at such a standing as was said before be ordained to the Ministry he with the consent of such of the Fellows as were impowered by Statute to make orders for the good of the Society decreed That all of such a standing or above should preach every Lords day in the morning by course in the College Chappel before the publick Sermon in the Vniversity By this means they who were designed for the Work of the Ministry might first prove and improve their own abilities And secondly approve themselves to others to be men apt to teach which is one of the qualifications required in the Apostolical Canons in them that are to be called to the Pastoral office Fifthly and lastly besides the Conference which he had often in his own Lodgings about Soul-matters and Communion in the Lords Supper in the College Chappel where he himself did administer and many of the House with others from abroad were partakers he was often discoursing with such of the Society as came to him about any business in such a manner as tended to the promoting of Holiness for he seldom let them depart without some instruction admonition or hearty counsel They especially who by reason of their place and standing were most about him received great benefit by conversing with him For his heart taught his mouth and added learning to his lips When a portion of the Scripture was read at Dinner as is usual he did not only cause altum silentium and reverent attention through the Hall that all might feed their Souls while they were feeding their Bodies but the Chapter ended if there were any difficult places in it he either propounded them to the Fellows that sate at the Table with him to be unfolded by them or else opened and unfolded them himself if it contained practical matter it was a pleasant thing to see and hear how he who applied his heart to the knowledge of God and kept his words and Laws within him had them withall fitted in his lips He lived to see some fruit of his Labours to his great joy and contentment for a competent number of them who were educated ab origine under his care became Learned well-disposed and pious men I cannot refrain but must mention one of them viz. Mr. Joseph Alleine late Minister of the Gospel at Taunton in Somersetshire for as he was a great comfort to this holy man while he continued in the College so it did revive him to hear for he was often enquiring after such as had been of his House as a father after his children that he proved so eminently pious and useful a man in the Church of God But had he lived to see the Relation of his Life now published since his Death he would have fallen into an extasie of joy And I have so much charity for some that were instrumental about his great Sufferings and often Imprisonments as to believe that if they would please to read the Relation aforesaid wherein both Conformists and Nonconformists agree to give him an high testimony for his great parts Learning peaceable spirit quiet deportment zeal of the right kind with ardent love to God and man extending to the worst of his enemies their hearts would smite them for giving so good a man so much trouble however he is now where the weary are at rest Job 3.17 We have seen how vigilant and industrious a Governour this worthy man was in his College he was also one who in compassion to mens souls took every opportunity when at home to Preach in or near the City One of the Impropriations belonging to the College about seven Miles distant having but a small stipend before his time not sufficient to afford a subsistence to an able man to labour and watch among the people for the good of their souls he first went himself afterward he desired some of the Senior Fellows to go over by course and Preach unto the people which desire of his they readily complied with for some time till the Lease of the Impropriation came to be renewed when upon the Presidents proposal the Fellows consented either much to abate or wholly remit the Fine requiring in lieu thereof a competent Sum to be paid yearly to encourage an able man to labour constantly among them When the Affairs of the College called him forth into places remote from the Vniversity he was alwayes ready to take any opportunity to do good to the souls of men One who hath rode many hundred Miles in company with him hath alwayes observed his deportment in all places and toward all persons to be such as became an heavenly minded Christian and a true Minister of Christ When he was riding on the way Deut. 6.7 he entertained his company with heavenly discourse and as variety of Objects did present themselves to him he alwayes drew excellent matter out of them glorifying God for the power wisdom and goodness which appeared in the Works of Greation and Providence Psal 104.24 As he passed by such as were about their occasions in the Fields he would many times make an halt and enter into a short discourse with them He would first ask them some ordinary question such as Travellers use to ask and then take an occasion from their answer to ask them other questions of more weight and concernment to their Souls leaving alwayes some serious word with them at parting for them to ruminate upon And I am persuaded that there are many who never saw his face nor he theirs but thus in transitu that have blest God for him When he came to his Lodging either in a publick or private house as he had a better advantage there so he constantly made good use of it for the glory of God and the edification of whatever company he was cast upon He had an excellent gift and rare faculty beyond what I did ever observe in any man beside to improve discourse so as to make it not only pleasant to those with whom he did converse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but very profitable to their souls aiming still at the last as the mark which
how shall this be helped he answereth but exhorting one another c. Christian Conference well ordered is an excellent preservative of truth and peace in the Church or Churches of Christ and good talke be it Table-talke or High-way talk hath been is and by the blessing of a gracious God will be as a golden Pipe of Conveyance of much spiritual good from one to another until time run up into Eternity and grace into glory Having somewhat largly discovered the profitableness of Christian Conference in that thereby believers abundantly Communicate spiritual good things one to another let me add 3 Arg. It 's peaceableness 3. It 's peaceableness It 's a teeming Mother bringing forth peace at home and abroad within doores and without 1 Peace at home 1. Peace at home Christian Conference is attended usually with sweet inward peace and an heavenly tranquillity of spirit I appeal to your Consciences herein When you lie down in an evening and reflect upon your selves look inward and make inquiry what have the thoughts of my heart the words of my mouth and the actions of my hands been this day as I presume they who keep their watch do and some Heathens by Natures light have done when you find your language and discourse hath been to this person or that holy and spirituall and that upon this design to edifie and minister grace to the hearers surely the fruit thereof hath been a Calme in thy soule and serenity in thy spirits Peace also not alone at the end of each day but at the end of life It was a chearing a reviving Cordial to that good King Hezekiah when he lay as he thought a dying to be able to say Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I walked before thee in truth Isa 38.1 2 3. And so to be able to say and that from the heart sincerely Remember O Lord how I have talked before thee and for thee in thy despised truths ordinances and Ministers how I have in discourse at least and by example also contended for thy holy Sabboths so profaned by a sinfull generation and in brief I have as all sanctified ones and called of God are exhorted earnestly contended for the faith or doctrine of faith once delivered to the saints Jude v. 3. The word is emphaticall and imports such eagerness in contention as is among wrestlers and racers striving for victory Remember O Lord how I have contended with thee by Faith in Prayer for that faith the true Christian faith by thee delivered and how I have contended with erronious persons and Hereticks by arguments an by practice bearing up those truths and ordinances which they pull down surely the remembrance hereof when we go to bed night after night or when we are going to make our beds in the durst to be no more seen will speak much peace and comfort to us And the reason hereof is strong and weighty because good conference if right in the spring flowing from an heart fired with zeal for God and love to my neighbour and right in the ends it designes Gods glory and the good of the hearers is a cleare evidence of a good and gracious heart and grace makes way for peace as the needle for the thred so that those who much lay out themselves in Christian Conference have or may expect to have yea be sure first or last shall have much inward peace and tranquility of spirit Who would not sow good seed when he knows it will grow who would not be scattering words of grace when he knoweth that every such word hath a seed of peace yea of eternal peace in it 2. 2 Peace abroad Christian Conefrence not onely brings forth inward peace and quiet in our breasts and bosomes but also outward peace with men and safety in all places and companies whatever Set you on foot good discourse or run it on and whoever is present there 's no great danger unless it be of a taunt or flout from a prophane Esau or a scoffing Ishmael and that a good honest soul may weare as a Crown of honour as Job speaks of himself Job 31.35 36. My desire is that my adversary had written a book surely I would take it upon my shoulder and bind it as a Crown to me Vpon my shoulder not as a burden but as an honour as standard-bearers carry their ensignes and colours that all may see them Tongue-persecution such as Ismael's was of Isaac breaks no bones but brings under the blessing of God and the promise of a great reward Gal. 4.29 Gen. 21.9 Mat. 5.11 12. No no the danger in discourse is not whilest we are talking of God or of Christ or of the Spirit or of regeneration and the like but the danger comes when you begin to talk of persons this body or that either highly and hyperbolically praising one and that smells of flattery and is possibly by some who are present so accounted or dispraising another and that 's presently suspected of uncharitableness if not of malice The danger is farther heightned when in your discourse course you 'l needs be medling with Authority and State-affairs how soon then may the Tongue be found tripping and you thereby but trip up your own heels and catch a fall possibly such a fall as may break your bones if not your neck So the wisest of Kings tels us Pro. 13.3 21 23. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction Wherein he seemeth to compare man to a City besieged with enemies round about the safety whereof consisteth much in the well ordering the gates duly and wisely opening and shutting them Man is this City his mouth the gate prudently open'd by speech or shut by silence is his protection and safety negligence and imprudence therein oft proves his ruin and destruction That natural principle of self-love should make this argument from self-preservation and safety to be of force and prevalency with us The better and more spiritual our discourses and conferences are the more 's our safety It concernes us at all times to weigh our words well but especially when the company we are in is bad or somewhat dubious and to be suspected Ps 39.1 Thus holy David I said I will take heed to my ways that I sinne not with my Tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle or a Muzzle while the wicked is before me To conclude this Argument Ainsw I have heard of a Sect called Trapanners unknown I presume to our honest Forefathers both name and thing men skilful and active to intangle and ensnare others in their talke I would hope that they are now dead and gone but if hundreds of them should be yet alive and with you and me in a room and hear us discoursing of nothing but faith repentance love and good works and the like methinks we need not much to fear them innocence would be our protection