Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	faith_n	true_a	truth_n	4,594	5	5.5207	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91733	Rules for the government of the tongue: together, with directions in six particular cases. [brace] 1 Confession of our faults to men. 2 Confession of Christ before men. 3 Reprehension of faults in others. 4 Christian communication. [brace] Vrbanity and eloquence. 5 Consolation of the afflicted. 6 Self-commendation, and a disproof of perfection in this life. Added, as a supplement, to the Rules for governing [brace] 1 the thoughts, 2 the affections, in the Precepts for Christian practice, or, The rule of the new creature, new model'd. / By Edward Reyner, minister of the Gospel in Lincolne.	Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668.; Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668. Precepts for Christian practice.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1230; Thomason E1594_2; ESTC R208861	220,132	401

upon Baals Priests in a heat of zeal scoffing at them Job on his friends to check their pride and conceit of their own wildome No doubt yee are the People Job 12.2 and wisdome shall dye with you And Paul upon the Corinthians for their Laodicean conceit and boast of fulnesse Now yee are rich 1 Cor. 4.8 1 Cor. 14.36 37 full c. and for their pride what came the word of the Lord out from you or came it to you only Beza saith this is a sharp objurgation of them least they should think themselves the only wisemen and all fools but they or that they were the first Christians none before them or none beside them God taught the Jews to take up a taunting Proverb in way of derision against the King of Babylon Isa 14.4 his state and City The Preachers speech to the young man was Ironical Rejoyce in thy youth Eccl. 11.9 q. d. seeing thou art wilful go on and take thy course but know that for all these things God will bring thee to judgement Such was Micaiahs answer to King Ahab when hee asked him 1 King 22.15 shall wee go against Ramoth Gilead to battel or not he said go and prosper q. d. thy Prophets have bidden thee go and thou hast a mind to go go thy way no doubt but thou wilt prosper Ahab resented it as a scoff An Irony is a nipping jeast or a speech that hath the honey of pleasantnesse in its mouth and a sting of rebuke in its taile There is a texterity in speaking truth in an Irony or in a pleasant sentence which may bee taken sometimes with lesse offence then a plain downright speech to be so addicted to joycing as to loose a friend rather than a jeast this becommeth Jewish friendship saith one rather then Christian love Mr. Bain● Eighth Rule In speech speak not so much to shew wit or eloquence as efficatious power of speech to perswade others to good and to disswade them from evil Speak not out of affectation of praise or delight to hear our selves speak well but out of desire of doing good or of drawing others to do well Many speak against eloquence as they do against learning out of ignorance because they know not the worth or use of it for Art hath no enemy but an ignorant person but I speak only against the proud and vain use and shew of it Of Eloquence HEre I will shew you first That eloquence may be used and secondly how 1 Eloquence may bee used yea there may be good use of it because 1 Eloquence is the gift of God which hee bestows on some of his servants not on others as on Aaron I know saith God to Moses of him Fxo. 4.14 Vers 16 Vers 10 that hee can speak well and he shall be thy spokes-man to the people and instead of a mouth to thee Not on Moses for hee was not eloquent but slow of speech Paul was eminent in eloquence therefore the people of Lystra Act. 14.12 call'd him Mercurius because he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the chief speaker or Master of speech Apollos was an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures Act. 18.24 None of Gods servants should open their mouthes to speak against any of God gifts of which eloquence or the faculty of speech is one 2 Eloquence is a flower of speech both for beauty and sweetnesse which sets off speech with greater grace obtains audience with greater delight and insinuates with more efficacy Though the Gospel was preached at first with greatest plainness of speech 1 Cor. 1.17 and 2.4 yet God hath blessed it since to the furtherance of the gospel The sweetning of speech with eloquence hath been a means sometimes of winning others to hear embrace the Gospel Christ in it Doctor Sibs saith Souls Conflict while Augustine out of curiosity delighted to hear the Eloquence of Ambrose hee was taken with the matter it self sweetly sliding together with the words into his heart Peter Veretus sometime preacher at Geneva was so sweetly Eloquent that hee drew many to bee his hearers who were no friends to Religion and chained his hearers ears to his mouth so as they never thought him tedious but always wished his Sermon longer hee converted thousands to the truth and faith in Christ One saith of Gregory Nazianzen that the true beauty of his Soul did shine forth in his eloquence Rhetorick being both his Companion and his servant It is reported of Mr. Rogers and Mr. Bradford Martyrs that it was hard to say whether there was more force of Eloquence and utterance in their preaching or holinesse in their lives and conversations Both historyes and experience declare that God bestowed an excellent faculty of elocution upon many of his servants both ancient and modern divines whose labours hee blessed to the Conversion of many souls and to the edification of the Church 4 God threatens it as a judgement to take away from Jerusalem and from Judah Isay 3.3 the eloquent Orator or the man skilful in speech and powerful to perswade as well as the wise Counsellour or cunning Artificer Ornamentum maximum reipublicae est eloquentia Philosophorum saith Plato Thus it s made to appear that eloquence is lawfull and usefull 2 I must shew how it should be used 1 Eloquence should flow from us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a nattiral kind of facility as water out of a fountain some command good language as freely as others do speech Though it bee acquired yet it should not be strained or forced as some use it in imitation of others which to judicious cars sounds harsh and ungrateful 2 Whether our eloquence bee naturall or acquired how ever wee come by it wee should use it without affectation and ostentation and not pride our selves in wit words or phrases An humble Christian will forbear or change such expressions as he conceives may seem elegant to others and hee feels or fears his own heart would bee puffed up therewith when Eloquence is affected or boasted then it shews swelling vanity in the minds of the speakers and is not pleasing in the ears of the hearers 3 Wee should strive to bee rather solid then florid in our speeches yet we may use elegance therein so that our end and aim bee more to affect the hearts than tickle the ears of our Auditors Eccl. 12.10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words or words of delight such as are apt not only to sinke into the mind like Davids stone into Goliahs forehead but also to pierce to the heart like a dart of delight Good matter cloathed with good phrase procureth acceptation and suavity of elocution produceth efficacy of perswasion Ninth Rule Speak of good things at home in your own families as yee have occasion to inure your selves unto and to get an habit of fruitfull discourse abroad This was Solomons practice therefore the Queen of Sheba said to

of building his Church of a new frame or model under the Gospel the old Fabrick of the Jewish Church being then to be taken down about the time of Christs passion and the new to be set up after his assension according to his commission and direction given to his Apostles to that purpose Act. 1.2 3. beeing seen of them forty dayes after his Resurrection and speaking to them of the things pertaining to the Kingdome of God that is his Church hee first requires an account or confession of their Faith Whom say yee that I am Vers 15. Then Peter answered in the name of all the Apostles as our sound Orthodox Divines conceive Thou art Christ the Son of the living God Therefore Peter saith in John 6.69 not I only but wee Apostles beleeve and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the Living God and Christ replyed thou art Peter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a stone in this spiritual building yea a pillar in the Church Gal. 2.9 and upon this rock 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 16.18 that is upon this confession made of mee to be the Christ or upon mee the rock as confessed I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Hence we may collect two things 1 That a good confession of Faith in Christ should bee made and laid as a foundation at the gathering or constituting of Churches to build them upon which may bee effectual to keep them sound in the faith and free from errours and to ingage them to hold fast their principles and not to swarve from the same but to preserve the doctrin of Religion pure therein and to strengthen the whole building that is raised upon it 2 That those are the fittest stones for the building of a Church that can give the best account of their faith in Christ 2 At our Admission into a Church of Christ to which wee desire to joyn our selves and they require us to give an account of our faith and holinesse that wee are Saints and Beleevers This we should be free and ready to do 1 Because as to beleeve with the heart makes a man a member of the invisible Church so to confesse with the mouth or open profession of faith qualifies him to bee a member of a visible Church of Christ 2 This will give the Church knowledge of us and satisfaction in us yea move them to glorify God for us and to receive us in the Lord unto fellowship with them in all Christs Ordinances without which they may bee afraid of us as the Church of Jerusalem was of Paul when hee assaied to joyn himself to it until Barnabas had satisfied them concerning him Act. 9.26 27. 3 This seems to have been the practice of the Primitive Church as now it is of the reformed Churches The 3000 converted at Peters Sermon did not they confesse Christ Act. 2. or make a profession of their faith and of a change wrought in them Else how could the Apostles know that they gladly received the word to wit of faith repentance Vers 41. and obedience to the Gospel and distinguish them from all others and upon that account baptise them I am apt to think that those who beleeved at Ephesus confessed their Saviour as well as their sinnes and their Faith as well as their Repentance 4 What is done at the planting of a Church is proper and suitable to bee done in the augmentation of it that is confession of Faith whosoever would bee a Peter that is 1 Pet. 2.5 a lively stone fit to be laid in this building should be a confessour of Christ 2 When wee are called thereunto by a Magistrate or secular powers or brought before Rulers and Governours for Christs sake and examined about our Religion then wee ought to bear witnesse to Christ and his Truth as Christ and his Apostles did 1 Christ who witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate then President in Judea recorded in John 18.37 1 Tim. 6.1 when Pilate said unto him art thou a King Jesus answered Thou sayest that I am a King This is an Hebrew manner of confession aequivalent to an affirmation q. d. that thou sayest is true I am so indeed Christ did the like before the Council Luk. 22.70 when they all said art thou the Son of God and he said unto them ye say that I am q. d. I am what you say and before the High-Priest when hee asked him Art thou the Christ the Sonne of the blessed Mark 14.61 62 And Jesus said I am 2 The Apostles witnessed a good confession of Christ and of that main truth scil that Salvation is onely by Christ as Peter and John before the Council Act. 4.5 to 16. and cap. 5.27 to 33. and Steven Act. 6.12.15 and 7. chapter and Paul before Felix the Governour Act. 24.14 to 22. before King Agrippa Act. 26.2 c. especially 22 23. vers and before Festus 24 25 to 30. vers 2 When wee are called to it privately especially in three cases First When wee are asked by a single person who desires to bee informed by us and seeks not to lay a snare for us Bee ready always 1 Pet. 3.15 to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and reverence Now to give a reason of our hope what is it but to yield an account of our faith which wee are bound to do upon a private demand or when just occasion is given though but by a private person as Christ made confession of himself to the Samaritan woman and to a blind man Iohn 4.25 When shee made confession of the Messiah to Christ as 1 That he would come 2 That he was now upon comming 3 That when hee is come hee will tell us all things i. e. teach his Church more fully and perfectly though shee was a woman Trap in John 4.7 and a Samatan and a poor Tankerd-bearer a sinner one that lived in fornication yet Christ rejects her not but takes occasion from her Confession of the Messiah John 4.26 to confesse or make known himself to her to be the Christ or Messiah shee spake of Though he did not manifest himself so plainly to the Jews no not when they pressed him saying How long doest thou make us doubt John 10.24 if thou bee the Christ tell us plainly But hee would not in plain Termes tell them that hee was hee because hee knew their hearts that they asked not sincerely to beleeve in him but captiously to get advantage against him though hee told the woman because Christ knew shee was now a Convert and would bee a means of the conversion of others When the blind man asked Christ who was the Sonne of God that hee might beleeve in him though the Pharisees had excommunicated him for confessing Christ yet Christ confesseth himself to him and tells him

of his people to bee affected with to make an impression on them The Fifth Rule Get some common heads into your minds and hearts that may bee of general use to all and at all times as the sinfullnesse of sin the excellency of Christ and Grace the vanity of Creatures the uncertainty and troubles of life the approach and great consequence of death the last judgement the joyes of Heaven and torments of Hell the piety and felicity of the godly the iniquity and misery of the wicked especially get not only your heads fraught with notions but your hearts fil'd with affiance in affection to and experience of Jesus Christ and speak of him freely and frequently to others to carry Christ to them or to draw them to Christ As the Spouse did of her beloved Cant 5.10 6.1 c. to the daughters of Jerusalem as the two Disciples going to Emmaus did of Jesus of Nazareth and the Prophet did of that good matter his heart had indited concerning Christ the King of Saints Psal 45.1 for Christ is a most sweet profitable and successfull subject of discourse and ever in season The Sixth Rule The asking and answering of questions aright may conduce much to mutual edification As when others have doubts and desire to bee resolved in matters of Religion or in cases of conscience wee may help them greatly by giving them clear and sound answers or solutions thereof This is a fruitfull way of improving time and talents abilities and opportunities This wee find under precept in the old Testament and under practice in the New 1 Under Precept in the Old Testament there are commands for asking and answering questions about the word and works of God As 1 Children of their Fathers concerning 1 Gods Providence ask thy Father and hee will shew thee D●u 32.6 7 8. thy elders and they will tell thee to wit the wondrous works God did for Israel as in their redemption out of Egypt in dividing the land of Canaan among them by Lot when your Children ask their Fathers in time to come what mean you by these stones set up in the midst of Jordan Then yee shall answer them Josh 1.6 7. that the waters of Jordan were cut off and those stones shall bee for a memorial unto the Children of Israel for ever scil Vers 21 22 That Israel came over this Jordan on dry land As the Children were to ask the meaning of Gods great Works so their Parents were enjoyned to answer them and instruct them in the knowledge thereof 2 Concerning Gods Ordinances or religious Services and the meaning and reason of them as of the Sacraments and administrations of them Children were to ask and their Parents were commanded to teach them the occasion signification and use thereof as of the Passeover Exod. 12.26 27. When your children shall say what mean you by this service yee shall say it is the Sacrifice of the Lords Passeover In like manner should Christians teach their Children the meaning of Gospel-Sacraments scil Exod. 13.14 15. Baptism and the Lords Supper so concerning the consecrating of the first-born see what that meant 3 Concerning the Law of God Deut. 6.20 When thy Son asketh thee what means the Testimonies Statutes and Judgements which the Lord our God hath commanded you That is the whole Law Moral Ceremonial and Judicial Ainsw One calls this A brief Catechism containing the Grounds of Religion Vers 21. to the end Then thou shalt shew unto him the occasion end and benefits thereof the Law was given to the Fathers psal 78.5 6 that they should make it known to their children 2 People of their Ministers Mal. 2.7 The Priests lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth Not only in publick by hearing his Doctrin but in private also by propounding their Doubts and Queries to him 3 One private person of another Thus shall yee say every one to his neighbour and every one to his brother Ies. 23.35 what hath the Lord answered and what hath the Lord spoken It is said in Zech. 3.10 Yee shall call every man his neighbour under the Vine and under the Fig-tree Some understand this not only of a secure State without all danger and fear but of their communion together to promote the salvation one of another 2 The duty of asking Questions wee finde under practise and example in the New Testament this was an edifying course to the Disciples of Christ and Primitive Christians when Christ spake these words concerning the removing of his bodily presence from them Joh 16.16 17 A little while and yee shall not see me c. The Disciples first enquired among themselves what these words meant and because they could not satisfie themselves they were desirous to ask Christ to explain himself Vers 19 20.21 which he perceiving did when the Disciples heard Christ deliver any thing which they understood not they asked him the meaning thereof when he was alone Mark 4.10 As of the Parable of the Sower and of that Parable or sentence Mar. 7.15.17 That which goeth into a man cannot defile the man but the things which come out of him Mar. 10.9 10.11 Mar. 13.1 2 3 4 And of what he spake concerning the indissolubleness of marriage and the destruction of the Temple When the Eunuch understood not what he read in Isaiah concerning Christ Isa 53.7 he asked Philip the meaning Acts 8.34 35 I pray thee of whom speaketh the Prophet this of himself or of some other man Then Philip opened the Scripture to him Let Christians take notice of their doubts and scruples and wait for an occasion to propound them to such as are able to resolve them To question much is the way to learn much especially if the questions bee suited to the Askers necessity and to the Answerers faculty this is the way to glean up knowledge Col. 4.6 There is a dexterity in asking and answering questions aright 1 Questions should be asked not out of curiosity to shew wit or please fancy or to scratch an itching humour but in sincerity out of love to the truth to know it to the end we may do it and readily to submit to it when it is discovered to us 2 Not about things that are vain and unprofitable but what may tend to godly edifying in faith and love 1 Tim. 1.4 in holiness and obedience 3 Avoyd subtile and acute Questions in common discourse which as one saith resemble Crafishes where there is more picking work than meat to eat These ingender strife of words vain janglings and animosities 4 Questions of Religion should bee debated without pride and passion or desire of praise or victory but in a spirit of love and meekness that truth may be made to appear to strike fire that by the sparks of Arguments we may light the lamp of truth 1 Tim. 6.4 Hereby we

14 for which shee is commended in the New Testament Jacob cald his brother Esau Lord. Not onely Elisha cald his Parents 1 King 19.20 and David his 1 Sam. 22.3 My Father and my Mother ● King 2.12 But Elisha a Junior Prophet cald Elijah a Senior who was also his Master My Father Joash King of Israel did the like ● King 13.14 as a Token of love and reverence to this good Prophet when he lay a dying In the New Testament the giving of titles of Father and Master is implyed when duties to them under these names are injoyned for cui competit natura competit nomen They that have the nature or Relation of Fathers or Masters to them of due belong the Names thereof Honour thy Father and thy Mother t Eph. 6.2 and Servants obey your Masters according to the flesh u Vers 5 1 Tim. 6.1 Therefore they ought to call them so Yea upon a Gospel-account we may call those Ministers Fathers whom God hath used as instruments for our Regeneration Though yee have ten thousand Instructors in Christ saith Paul yet not many Fathers for I have begotten you through the Gospel w 1 Cor. 4.15 Gal. 4.19 My little Children saith hee to the Galatians They might call him their Father upon the same account that he cals them his Children Paul and Silas did not prohibit the Jaylor to call them Sirs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 16.30 the word signifieth Masters or Lords Luke calls him Luc. 1.3 most Excellent Theophilus to whom hee writ his Gospel John calls her the Elect Lady to whom hee writ his second Epistle Paul cals the Heathen Governour most Noble Festus Act. 26.25 which were titles more honourable than ordinary than Master Men Brethren and Fathers was Stephens compellation when hee made his defence before the Councill x Act. 7.2 and Pauls when hee spake to the people y Act. 22.1 How are they deluded who deny all reverence and civil respects to others even to all sorts of superiors in Titles and speech as well as in Gestures Phil. 4.8 which is not lovely nor comely nor matter of good report among Christians no nor among Heathens Obj. Doth not Christ say z Mat. 23.8 9.19 call no man your Father upon the Earth neither be ye called Masters Answ Our Saviour forbids not the expression of civil respect giving of the Titles of natural or civil relations to others as Fathers and Masters for then the Apostle should sin in calling them so 〈…〉 But hee prohibits them here in that sense onely in which they were given to the leading-men of the Pharisees Those which sate in Moses chair verse 2. of that Chapter namely as they respected matters of Faith or Doctrin for upon this account were such men called Fathers and Masters viz. that they were Authors and enjoyners of the Pharisaical Religion 1 Masters or Leaders rather for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the place alledged rendred Master is of the same import with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diverse times applyed to the Pharisees in Scripture as Mat. 23.16.24 Rom. 2.19 and denoteth the Leader of a way or the same with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Act. 24.5 The Chieftain or Master of a Sect a Dictator of Religion upon whose authority the Faith of his Followers depends 2 Fathers for their Dictates are called the Traditions b Gal. 1.14 and the Law of the Fathers c Act. 22.3 So peremptory were their injunctions that it was not lawful to contradict or disobey them yea by their commandements they disanulled Gods Mark 7.7 8 9. c. The meaning then of the place objected must bee this Vers 8. and vers 10. Bee yee not called Rabb● 2 Cor. 1.24 nor Masters that is bee not Lords over the faith of others to exercise dominion therein or to impose things upon men in doctrin or in practise by your own or any mans authority Neither expect yee that others should take up things on trust from you without due search into the truth thereof Do not ambitiously affect Titles for herein the Pharisees discovered their pride and folly Ver. 9. Call no man your Father upon the earth that is Let no man bee the Commander of your faith by whom it should bee wholly swayed as a Child by its Parents Receive no Doctrin upon trust from any but search the Scriptures daily as the Noble Bereans did to try the truth of what is delivered Act. 17.11 Pin your Faith upon no mans sleeve Do not attribute too much to men in such matters either for their parts or pains for that 's a derogating from God The Summe of all is neither affect your selves nor give to any other absolute belief and observance for this is due to God alone who only in this sense is your Father and Master Reverence to God and Man well beseemeth the Mouth of one that feareth God and reverenceth man The unjust judge did neither Luc. 18 4. therefore hee had no grace in his Lips nor in his Heart Bee ready alwaies faith d 1 Pet. 3.15 Peter to give an answer to every man that as keth you a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and fear that is with fear of God and reverence to man The sixth Grace of Speech is Caution 6 Caution to be so watchful over our spirits and waies and over all occurrences as wee bee not surprized or distempered by them and to speak so warily and advisedly as 1 Not to give offence to others 1 Cor. 5.12 10.32 Phil. 2.15 whether they are within or without Christians should bee harmlesse and blamelesse without rebuke viz. in word as well as in deed 2 Not to give advantage to others against us to entrap us in our words Christ was so cautelous in his Speech as none that ever came to cavil or catch could get any matter against him The lips of the wise shall preserve them c Prov. 14.3 from giving occasion of exceptions aspersions or ensnarements 3 Yea So warily as if all were to be written which wee say It is observed that some of the Heathen thought it convenient and commodious that mens speeches at meals and such like meetings should be written If those that profess themselves Christians should do so what strange kind of books would there be The seventh and last grace of speech is Constancy and stedfastnesse ● Constancy As a man should tread sure that he may not slip so speak firmly that hee may not alter his words or say and unsay or be fickle in speech and in several tales so as no hold can be had of his words This levity and Inconstancy of speech is a disgrace to the Mouth to the Mind and to the man that ownes them 2 Cor. 1.17 Did I use lightnesse saith Paul or the things that I purpose do I purpose according to the flesh

It is hee that talketh with thee Joh. 7.35 36 37. And hee said Lord I beleeve and hee worshipped him Second Case Wee are cal'd to confesse Christ when wee are engaged in disputes or reasonings with others about the matters of Christ and his Gospel Jud. 3 then we should contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints for defence of the Truth and to convince gainsayers Even as Isaacks Servants strove with the Philistims for the well of water they had found Gen. 26.21 knowing that every Christian in his place Phil. 1.17 is set for the defence of the Gospel as well as Paul How plainly and boldly did Paul confesse Christ and how strenuously did hee contend for the Truth as it is in Jesus Act. 19.29 in his disputes with the Grecians at Jerusalem but they went about to slay him Hee being too hard for them at arguments they would bee too sharp for him at weapons with the Jews and devout persons in the Synagogue and in the market daily with them that met with him Act. 17.18 and with certain Philosophers at Athens wherein hee stoutly maintained that the God who made heaven Vers 24 25 28 and earth and preserves all things Vers 30 31 is the only true God and the doctrin of repentance of the last judgement and of the Resurrection Vers 18 19 20 For which dispute the Philosophers persecuted him and brought him unto Areopagus that was the high Court of Justice in Athens as a violator of their Religion to bee judged Paul and Barnabas were stout Champions for the Truth in their Disputes at Antioch with the Jews Act. 15.2 that maintained the necessity of Circumcision Stephen in his dispute with the Doctors of five several Classes Act. 6.9 Vers 10. so confounded them that they were not able to refist the wisdome of the Spirit by which hee spake then they fell to Satanical Artifices as to subornation of false witnesses against him Vers 11 12 c. and persecution of him even unto death Contending for the truth of Christ is confessing of Christ before men This is a Gospel-becomming conversation among Christians Phil. 1.27 which Paul pressed upon the Philippians that whether hee was present or absent hee might hear of their affairs that they stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or wrestling together for the defence of the Truth Pauls Zeal in striving for the Truth and for every parcel of it because precious to him doth further appear by four things 1 He chid the Galatians for their Levity Gal. 1.16 that they were so soon drawn away from the Truth and hee curseth them that bring any other Gospel than what hath been preached unto them whosoever they bee whether men or Angels and in Chapter 3 verse 1 Gal. 3.1 He rebukes them sharply for being carried away from their obedience to the Truth of the Gospel O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you 2 Gal. 2.4 5 The false Brethren that crept in privily to spy out the liberty which the Apostles had in Christ Jesus from legal observances Paul yielded not an inch to them Gal. 2.5 no not for an hour that the Truth of the Gospel might continue with the Galatians and they might resolvedly continue therein 3 When Peter dissembled and halted between two Opinions scil his eating and nor eating with the Gentiles he others following his example did not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 walk with a right foot according to the Gospel Gal. 2.11 12 13 14 Paul withstood Peter to the face that is Vers 11. Ver. 14 15 16. openly professedly because he was to be blamed and he reproved him sharply boldly before them all 4 Paul wished that the corrupters of Christs Truth or vehement Urgers of Circumcision who troubled or unsetled the Galatians were cut off Gal. 5.12 to wit as superfluous flesh that themselves might suffer what they do The Third Case when we are in company where the Name of Christ is blasphemed or his Truths ways Servants are evil spoken of contradicted or calumniated Then ought 〈◊〉 stand up in defence of Christ and of what is Christs person or things to speak as much for them as others speak against them yea more to out-speak them and put them to silence else wee should betray Christ and his cause by our silence for that would seem to be a consent and the wicked would thereby be imboldened to continue yea to multiply their evil speakings and weak ones would be occasioned to fall from the Faith and strong Christians would bee much offended and the glory of Christ and the splend or of his Truth would be greatly darkened and impeached thereby In this case confession of Christ is necessary though we be not examined about him or his Thus I have shewed when we ought to confess with our mouthes at other times we have liberty to conceal our Faith and opinions yea our persons sometimes as Christ himself did The Third Thing why ought we to confesse with the mouth The Reasons may be drawn from God Christ our selves and others 1 From God they are three 1 Because Confession is a homage service and fealty which God requires of us and swears he will have from us Isa 45.23 compared with Rom. 14.11 As I live Isa 45.24 saith the Lord every knee shall bow to mee and every Tongue shall confesse to God and surely shall one say In the Lord have I Righteousness and strength By denying or not doing the same we make God falsifie his oath or provoke him to punish us 2 Because God the Father did confesse or give Testimony even by a voice from Heaven to his Son Jesus Christ both at his Baptism Mat. 3.17 and at his transfiguration Mat. 17.5 saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased This voice saith Peter came from the excellent glory when Christ received from God the Father honour and glory Our Saviour saith often The Father that sent mee beareth witnesse of mee Joh. 5.32 37 8.18 As we should receive the witnesse of God which hee hath testified of his Son 1 Joh. 5.9 10. else we make God a lyar So we vhould be followers of God as dear Children in giving Testimony of Christ our Saviour and elder Brother as God our Father did 3 By confession of God and Christ and his Truth we give glory to God Every Tongue should confesse that Jesus Christ is Lord Phil. 2.11 to the glory of God the Father Josh 7.19 Rom. 15.6 If by confessing our sins as Joshua said to Achan much more our Saviour and by joynt confession we glorifie God with one mouth Reas 2 From Christ they are two 1 It is his priviledge to be confessed 2 It was his practice to confesse 1 It is Christs priviledge to be confessed or a high