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
of the things of God and of the great concernments of your Soul and of Eternity Let me give you some good counsel before we part it may be you and I shall never meet again and as we never saw the faces one of another for ought we know before this day so possibly we never may see each other again till the day of Judgments that great and terrible day of the Lord. Let me advise you and the Lord persuade your heart 1. To make Conscience of secret Prayer begging of God for Christ his sake that he would make you sensible of the ignorance of the blindness of the mind of the hardness and impenitency of the heart of the carelesness and mindlesness of the spirit in the great things of grace and salvation be earnest with God to give you knowledge and consider that the soul be without knowledge is not good Prov. 19.2 As also for repentance from dead Works and a true saving faith in Jesus Christ Beg of God an heart to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and that you may be of those who strive to enter in at the strait gate and of those violent ones who take the Kingdome of Heaven by force c. 2. Be careful to hear good Ministers preach remembring what most concerneth you in what you hear 3. Be much in searching the Scriptures and reading of good Books Catechisms and such like 4. Make choice of good Company of such as fear God and walk precisely holily righteously and soberly in this present evil world and improve such acquaintance by good conference with them putting such questions to them as may make for your edification and they let me tell you will be as glad of your society as you of theirs 5. Be sure if you have a Family to set up the worship of God in your Family reading the Scriptures and praying morning and evening with the houshold Catechizing and instructing your Children and Servants if you have aâ—y 6. And lastly be strict in sanctifying the Sabbath spend that day well though the rest of the Neighbours be loose and careless therein and though men ungodly men hate you mock and persecute you it matters not so long as God loveth you Remember that 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution And that of Christ Matth. 5.10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of God And ver 11 12. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you c. And now Friend fare you well and the Lord bless you Stranger And you also good Sir I hope I shall remember you and some of your words to me as long as I live onely let me desire one favour of you that I may know your name and where you live Minister That you shall Friend my name is so and so and I live at such a place and if your occasions call you thither I shall be glad to see you and let me know your name and where you live and possibly if I come that way I may see you Once more Farewell FINIS TREATISE OF Christian Conference MY design being to bear up the honour the necessity and usefulness of Christian Conference too much neglected even by the best of men it will not be wholly impertinent to bear down some of that unruliness and irregularity The Tongues Vnruliness which the Tongues of too many are too much guitly of The Apostle James as it were bores the black tongues of men with a red hot Iron of sharp but just rebuke vers 6. The Tongue is a Fire a world of iniquitie setteth on fire the course of Nature and it is set on fire of Hell For every kind of beasts and of birds and of Serpents and things in the Sea is tamed and hath been tamed of mankind But the Tongue can no man Tame it is an unruly evil full of deadly poyson It s untamedness and unruliness appears in its great miscarriage and that both in reference to God and man 1 In reference to God in speaking In reference to God we are too tongue tied in speaking both to God in Prayer Praises and Confessions and of God with others To God He was a great man 1 To God and you will say as good as great who being a man of few words and of much prayer was thought to speak more to God than men Possibly that man after Gods own heart was such a one who saith very truly though of himself Ps 119.164 109.4 Seven times a day do I praise thee and again I give my self unto prayer Possibly some Popish Votaries in a superstitious way possibly also a man may be found in our dayes who is very slow to speak but of a musing medirabundous spirit in holy ejaculations Colloquies and Soliloquies betwixt God and himself much also in prayer by himself and with others but such a man where-ever he dwells I believe he dwells alone by himself is a very great rarity one of many thousands who speaks more to God than to men Again 2 Of God and for God We are all born and live too much tongue-tied as to our Speech of God to and with others 1 Omission though we have a large and spacious field very pleasant Fragrant flowery and Odoriferous for our Discourse to walke up and down and expatiate it self in to wit God in his essence and subsistencies the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost God in his Decrees in his works of Creation and Providence God in his Covenants made with man that of Works and that of Grace God in his Word Law and Gospel in his commands promises and threatnings Againe touching Christ his person natures and offices his humiliation and Exaltation As also touching the Holy Ghost his beginning and carrying on the work of God in the Elect from the first to the last Adde hereunto the many and great priviledges and benefits which the effectually called ones are and shall be made partakers of by Christ in life at death at the Resurrection and to Eternity I might inlarge but one would think in what is said there were room enough and enough for all the nimble â—â—ngued in the world to busy tire and weary themselves in O how sad then is it to have so little of God in our Mouths to observe how people who have their faces Zion-ward can spend hour after hour together it may be day after day and yet scarce have a word concerning God Christ the Spirit or the great affairs of their soules and of Eternity from one end of the prattle to the other This fruit indeed is bad and bitter but yet the root is worse The true and onely reason The reason God is little in our hearts Mat. 12.34 35. I know of is this God is not much in our hearts and therefore but little in our Mouths for out of the
the Lord by Christ our great High-Priest Such should all our Holy Meditations and Communications be the Spirit of God being as firelight in our heads and heat in our hearts would make our Tongues run as the Pens of ready writers talking and discoursing of God and of the great concernments of our soules and of eternity Heads fill'd with the knowledg of God his Christ our Jesus and hearts filled with Faith and affiance in Christ and so with warm affections to Christ would provoke us to speak freely and frequently to others imparting our spiritual experiences to them carrying Christ to the Children of men inviting and drawing others to Christ exerting and putting out to our uttermost that strength of grace which we have by grace received thus laying out our talents for our Masters use 2 Special matter 2. And particularly it is a good preparative for Christian Conference to be well stockt and furnished with special matter of discourse for special occasions as to times and persons and the condition of those with whom we do or may converse If with young people 1 Young wishing them to remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth 2 Tim. 2.22 If with aged persons 2 Old advising them to look to it that their hoary heads be found in a way of righteousness Prov. 16.31 and telling them that a sinner though of an hundred years is accursed Isa 65.20 asking them whithey have found that promise made good to them and in them how that they shall bear fruit in their old age and shall be fat and flourishing Ps 92.14 15. to wit in knowledge grace and holiness If with afflicted ones in any kind 3 Afflicted minding them how the time of being afflicted is a time to be much in prayer Jam. 5.13 Call upon me saith the Lord in a day of trouble Psal 50.15 Though we must pray continually 1 Th. 5.17 yet then in an especial manner and repent also as good King Hezekiah did in his sickness he prayed and wept sore Isa 38.2 3. If with persons full of wisdome and policy 4 Prosperous mighty men for strength and souldiery wealthy thy men full of Monies and Treasures mind them of the Prophets advise and Counsel Jer. 9.23 24. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdome neither the mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches but let him that gloryeth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exerciseth loving kindness judgment and righteousnesse in the earth for in these things I delight saith the Lord. Tell the strongest sturdiest and stoutest men you talk with that as lustie as they are a few fits of an ague may soon weaken them and bring them low enough or that a Consumption or any pining sickness may bring them to be bare skin and bones very Skeletons or Anatomies and to be sure in old age if they live to it The keepers of the house shall tremble and the strong men shall bow themselves and the hoary head will hang down the grave must be their house and their long home and their faces bound in secret wish them to remember the dayes of darkness for they shall be many Ec. 12.3 5. Job 17.13 Job 40.13 Eccl. 11.8 If you meet with rich men Charge them to be rich in good works 5 Rich. and to honour God with their substance and to make them friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness 1 Tim. 6.17 18. Pro. 3.9 Luk. 16.9 If with poor people first relieve them 6 Poor and then charge them not to steal not to take the name of God in vain to get poverty of spirit and then they are blessed to be rich in faith and so heirs of the Kingdome Prov. 30.9 Mat. 5.31 Jam. 2.5 Here 's a large field before me but I 'le run and hasten If you discourse with Magistrates 7 Magistrates be their humble remembrancer that Gods great ends in his constitution of civil powers are that they should be a terror not to good works but to the evil be able men such as fear God men of truth hating covetousness Rom. 13.3 Exo. 18.21 If with Ministers advise them 8 Ministers to take heed to themselves and to their Doctrine continue in them c. to be examples to believers in word and conversation 1 Tim. 4.12 16. Tell them they are in a special manner the salt of the earth Mat. 5.13 to season the places wherein and the persons among whom they live with soundness of Doctrine and integritie of life and conversation your Doctrine giving the people the Rule and your lives the example but if the salt hath lost it's savour it 's good for nothing no not for the dunghill Luk. 14.34 35. It 's true not alone of Scandalous Ministers but of Apostate Christians and backsliding professors If you discourse with married persons husbands and wives 9 Married Luk. 1.6 advise them to be as Zacharie and Elizabeth both righteous before God walking in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord blameless and in particular the husband to love his wife even as himself and the wife to see that she reverence her husband Eph. 5.33 10 Vnmarried If with unmarried ones counsel them to care for the things of the Lord how they may please the Lord 1 Co. 7.32 but if they think good to marry let them marry onely in the Lord vers 34 39. If you meet with parents 11 Parents advise them to bring up their Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Eph. 6.4 To bring them up that is naturall birds and beasts bring up their young In the nurture keeping them in awe and order that 's moral men as men being rationall and prudent do it in the admonition of the Lord that 's Christian and spiritual If with Children enjoyn them to obey their Parents in the Lord for this is right Eph. 6.11 12 Children And to prevent their stubborness and disobedience mind them of that terrible commination The eye that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the ravens of the vally shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eat it And how that under the Law Deut. 21.18 19 20 21. The stubborn and rebellious son which would not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother was to be stoned to death If you discourse with governors of Families Masters or Mistresses mind them 13 Governors of Families how they must give unto their servants that which is just and equall knowing that they also have a Master in Heaven Col. 4.1 And how they must look to it that their men-servants and maid-servants as well as themselves and their Children sanctifie the Sabbath according to the Fourth Commandment not suffering them to idle it or to wander abroad vainly upon the Lords day 14 Servants If you have occasion to
his Commandment eyeing his glory and the good of the hearers telling them what God hath done for thy soul Ps 66.16 Be sure to offer up to God the Calves of thy lips a sacrifice of praises on that behalf In the evening look back on the day past and say what have my words bin this day if vain and idle be humbled and lye low before the Lord if at all gracious and savoury lift up thy heart to God in praises giving him all the glory Thus farr concerning our habitual preparations for Christian Conference Now touching actual execution when we are in company take these following directions which may fall under two heads Negative directions and positive 1. Negatives to be cautioned against and carefully avoided 1. As to the outward man that the body be not distempered and so indisposed for so spiritual a piece of service as Christian Conference is as by intemperance or excess in eating and drinking which hath a spice of gluttony or drunkenness in it when it unfits for duty or this duty among the rest Meats and drinks immoderately taken in fill the head with fumes and vapors and incline to sleep rather then discourse if the mouth take in too much the tongue is likely to send out too little as to Conference heavenly and spiritual The body is to soul as the instrument to the Musician let the Musician be never so skilful yet if the instrument be out of tune there 's like to be but little melody Though the head be full of good notions clear and strong the heart stored with grace and good affections yet a disordered body marrs the musick of holy discourse and Conference 2. 2 Inward man 1. Passion As to the inward man 1. Beware of irregular passions disturbances in the affections the lower part of the soul of man To instance only in anger griefe and fear Anger disposeth a man to speak too much and grief too little and fear not to speak at all or else in an abrupt and broken manner I remember in university disputations if the opponent could put the respondent or the respondent the opponent into a flame of anger or into a damp of pannick fear he would soon non-plus and gravel the Antagonist It 's much so in Conference though about matters of Religion violent passions obstruct and impede the understanding faculty in its clear and distinct actions and operations Passions when boiled up to an undue heat and height do no more befriend the intellect in it's reasonings and argumentations then foggs mists and clouds do the Sun in its shinings not at all they obscure and much darken the Sun and so doth passion reason 2. 2 Pride Beware of Pride high overhigh thoughts and conceits of our selves our sufficiency and ability 1. Pride usually is a great ingrosser takes up all the time and all the talk as if he were the only Rabby the Teacher Master all the rest fit only to be hearers and his Disciples inverting or perverting the words of the Apostle who bids us be swift to hear slow to speak Jam. 1.19 The proud man is slow to hear swift to speak 2. Pride is a deceiver speaking beside the condition or above the Capacity of the Company The reason is because the proud man is a self-seeker carried and acted by a principle of vain-glory and ostentation and therefore speaks what he apprehends himself best able to speak as what he hath lately heard or read though impertinent as to his present auditory or so sublime as to matter and language in School-distinctions and metaphysical notions and speculations as that the Company know not what he sayth or whereof he affirmeth An evil found among some publick Preachers sometimes who though they speak English preach as it were in an unknown Tongue much above the Capacities of the people who go away fill'd with admiration or the mans parts and gifts though nothing at all benefited as to edification or salvation yet wit and eloquence is good even in Conference provided it be without vain affection be clearly to be understood be disswasive from evil and perswasive unto good 3. 3 In reference to the whole man In reference to the whole man Beware of losing time precious time whilst you be in company not trifling or squandring it away in sinful silence or in vain and worldly talk much less in sinful and corrupt Communication the least minute of time being too good to be spent in idle words not tending at all to the glory of God or to the spiritual advantage of our selves or others A Heathen by the light of Nature could say Solius temporis sacra avaritia that of time alone there 's a sacred covetousness And the Apostle by the light of the Spirit saith that the redemption of time is a considerable part of our Christian wisdome walk circumspectly Eph. 5.15 18. not as fools but as wise how so he adds redeeming the time c. redemption of time is laudable yea necessary for self-examination soul humiliation secret prayer reading and searching the Scriptures meditation when alone and for good discourse when we are with others 2. For positive directions take them then 1. Common discourse 1. Common discourse may be introductory to special and spiritual and interjectory cast in by the by as sauce to meat For instance it 's lawful in some cases a duty to discourse of things natural as of diet physick medicines for the preserving or restoring of health and strength in our selves or others to discourse of things civil and moral buying selling manuring of Land plowing sowing family concernments publick affairs of Nations and even this discourse may be in a sence spirituall in regard of principle and ends when it 's done with an eye to Gods commands receiving directions for the ordering and guiding of affairs with discretion one property of a man fearing God Ps 112.1 5. And to discourse touching the stateof Zion at home or abroad is not only lawful but an high and holy duty provided we doe not discourse it barely as Newes for so it leaves us as it found us but to provoke us to suitable affections of rejoycing with the sons and daughters of Zion when they rejoyce and weeping with them when they weep and to excite us to such holy duties as the present providence calls for at our hands as good Nehemiah asked Hanani Neh. 1.2 3. and the men of Judah concerning the Jews lost in the captivity and concerning Jerusalem and hearing that they were in great affliction and reproach and how the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates thereof burnt with fire O how deeply was he affected therewith how did he lay it to heart when I heard these words I sat down and wept mourned certain dayes and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven vers 4. His prayer is upon record vers 5. to the end of the Chapter And withal when the
not exclusive of mirth natural and civil for there was feasting The Jewes had joy Est 8.17 Neh. 8.10 and gladness a feast and a good day and in their feasts did eat the fat and drink the sweet And let me adde this that even civil mirth well ordered and regulated is a good natural preparative for rejoycing in a more sublime and holy manner And the reason is because of the Spirits which are in men natural animal and vital spirits ingendred in the Livers heads and hearts of men which being kept up lively and agil by civil mirth are as wings to the Souls even of Saints in their sublimer higher and nobler operations And herein I may appeal to the experience of the choicest servants of God who find when their spirits are down and low an indisposition in them thereby for holy duties The disciples themselves when they should have been watching and praying Jesus Christ found them sleeping for sorrow But when our Spirits are up lively Luk. 22.45 and cheary they dispose for duty and our heads and hearts as wheels oyled move more nimbly 2. As for the usefulness and expediency of mirth and lightsomness I say not levity of spirit 2 Vseful 1. Preservation of the bodies health It 's not only serviceable to the soul in its gracious actings and operations as I said before but to the body also for the preservation of health and strength vigor and activity by the multiplying and refining of spirits in us A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance It doth good indeed to the whole body Prov. 15.13 but the good it doth appears and shewes it self especially in the Countenance as being made thereby more amiable and lovely the eye more lively and sharp-slighted the Cheeks more ruddy the bloud more pure and sparkling Though the countenance onely is mentioned yet the whole body is to be understood as receiving good by the hearts cheeriness for though the soul and body differ in substance as spirit and flesh yet God having joyn'd them together in so close a union as to the making up of one person they mutually sympathize each with other a sickly body makes a sad heart and a wounded spirit makes a crasie bodie and I think the body is less able to bear the souls burdens then the soul is the bodys To return to what is in hand that a merry heart countenance appears by the example of Esau none of the best whose heart being gladded by the present sent by Jacob when they met his countenance was so cheerful that Jacob said Gen. 33.10 I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God And by Daniel and his associates none of the worst who though they did eat pulse onely and had nothing but water to drink yet their countenances were fair and fat Deut. 12.15 Why they had merry hearts quiet consciences in their breasts and bosomes arising from their reconciliation and peace with God It 's not choice meats and drinks much less painting or dawbing with vermilions but a good conscience that makes a merry heart and so a cheerful countenance To the same purpose vers 15. He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast By a merry heart he means not carnal mirth and jollity in eating drinking singing musick dancing this he elsewhere calls madness but the merry heart he commendeth is a good conscience sprinkled with the bloud of Christ his righteousness being imputed to us for our justification and so having peace with God Ecc. 2.2 and peace of Conscience which the Apostle expresseth by a pure heart a good conscience and faith unfained 1 Tim. 1.5 Once agâ—â—â—e the wise King tells us That a merry 〈◊〉 doth good like a medicine Prov. 17.22 and that because cheaâ—ness of spirit helps Nature's operations with its food and Physick whereas sadness and heaviness of heart hinders both I 'le close up this with a true story I was once in company at dinner where kindred and friends were met and among the rest one a learned and godly man was very merry in telling Tales breaking jests harmless and inoffensive Yet I was somewhat troubled to see and hear it and in some heat break out and asked him saying Sir I pray what is the meaning of those words of the Apostle Let your communication be that which is good to the use of edifying Eph. 4.29 to which he answered me to this purpose we have bodies to edifie as well as soules and harmless mirth doth good to both and so it doth if it be well and wisely ordered 2 Honour to Religion 2. This cheariness of spirit in Company hath its usefulness in reference to others even those without who are strangers to the work of grace and wâ—â—es of Christianity and are apt to 〈◊〉 up prejudices against the people of God as a morose and sour people and that the life they lead is but an uncomfortable life full of melancholy and they verily think that when any set their faces this way Zion-ward that they never have a merry day after but live mopishly and disconsolately all their dayes Now the harmless mirth and merriment in the communications and conversations of Christians is a practicall and reall confutation of this mistake and so is a removing of that stumbling block in their way and withall a fair invitation and allurement of them to come in and to ingage in a stricter and higher profession of Saintship when they are eye and eare-witnesses of its consistency with all possible civil mirth and merriment which is lawfull and commendable Instance Let me back this from my own experience I knew a Lawyer of good parts and practice who being naturally of a lepid and chearful spirit and possest with hard thoughts touching Religion in the strictness of it and exactness therein as necessitating the professors thereof to lay quite aside that kind of mirth which he was addicted to was thereby kept off from ingaging himself in any forwardness in Christianity but afterwards observing the carriage of some Ministers of note and eminency for piety and Ministerial abilities how pleasant they were how facetious in their discourse yet still keeping within the bounds which God in his Word had set them he changed his opinion embraced the Societie of the Saints walked with them in the wayes of God and died I believe a true servant of God and of his Christ our Jesus and that he is now in glory To strengthen this argument The mirth of a Christian life by Zac. Bogan printed at Oxford 1653. I 'le commend to the reading a little Treatise made by a learned holy man whom I knew both in his life and death 3. This cheariness of spirit hath this commendable vertue in it that it puts a shine and lustre upon duties and offered of love performed to men 3 Alustre upon duties and that in the eyes both of God and man God loveth a
more then ordinarily careful though he left them good estates yet he did not think it enough that they should barely live upon the estates he left them He was of Solomons mind Eccl. 7.11 Otium fortunae grandioris vitium Symach l. 10. Ep. 2. that wisdome was good with an inheritance Eccl. 7.11 And yet He was of opinion too that an inheritance was little worth without wisdome he abhor'd the two Epidemical vices of our English Gallants which in time are procreative of many more the one is ignorance and the other Idleness He resolv'd therefore to traine up his children in learning not onely that it might be an ornament to them Nihil sordidius imo crudelius quam si rempublicam is arroderet qui nihil in eam suo labore conferret Jul. Capit in vit Anton. Pii but that they might be serviceable by it to the Church or Commonwealth Our Edmund one of the younger brothers after he was furnisht with a competency of Grammar learning was sent to Oxford and admitted into C. C. C. where he so ply'd his study and got such applause that whilst he was yet an under-graduate he was chosen a Probationer fellow in that Colledge before 18 of his Seniors a Bedfordshire place falling void by the death of Mr Andrews a fellow of the house When he was about eighteen years of Age he fell dangerously sick in the Colledge and was very farre spent and near unto death before those about him understood his distemper 'till anon a skilful Physitian coming in and finding it to be a Pleurisie gave order that a veine should be forthwith opened whereupon a Chirurgeon was immediately sent for but it was long ere he could be found at length the messenger brought him from a Táverne and though he saw the way thither yet he did not know how to do his work when he came there he strook the Patients arme twice but no more blood came then if he had prickt him in the palme of his hand In this posture the sottish Chirurgion leaves him it being late all night but when he had slept himself sober he came the next morning very early and knockt at the Colledge Gate which being open'd he hastily ran to his Chamber and askt if he were yet alive and coming in presently open'd a veine in his Arme which bled freely and the Patient half dead soon after recover'd grew well again Another strange deliverance he met with a little after when he was newly Batchelour of Arts going into the water alone to wash himself and not being able to swim he fell into a deep hole where his feet could feel no bottome but as the Providence of God order'd it he caught hold of a little turfe of Grass by the bankside by means whereof he climb'd up the bank if that little hold had fail'd him he had in all probability miscarried These mercifull deliverances and preservations were preparatory to that good work which about this time God began in his heart for about the year 1620. to use his own words which I have by me in a manuscript under his own hand I had many sad and serious thoughts concerning my spiritual and eternal estate Then upon the advice of Dr Barcroft I bought Brinsley's watch the second part where the sins against the commandments are set down in order and I fell upon the work of examination wherein this seems remarkeable that reading over the several sins there mention'd my heart such was the blindness and deceitfulness of it cry'd not guilty of any one of them whereupon I began to suspect my heart and calling upon God to enlighten mine eyes and discover my sins to me and then reading them over again I judg'd my self guilty very guilty even of most of the sins there set down and enumerated After this I lay about two months under a spirit of bondage being full of fears and inward trouble so that many times I durst not close mine eyes in the night least I should awake in Hell I thought every night the Devil would come for me and fetch me away but anon the Lord was graciously pleas'd to shine upon me and this remarkeable passage I shall never forget That being one evening at prayer all alone in the Darke I remember the Chamber in C. C. C. and the corner of the Chamber well I was very earnest with God for the manifestation of his love to my soule and the assurance of pardon for my sins and at length I brake out into these words or words to this purpose Lord I will not cut off thy presence Non ab te absquete discedam I will not go off from my knees till thou speak comfort to me whereupon I was immediately fill'd with a strong perswasion of the love of God to my soule and with joyes unspeakable and full of Glory From this time he apply'd himself to the diligent reading of the Scripture and to the study of Divinity and when he was Master of Arts his Father will'd him to choose his profession whether that of a Lawyer a Physitian or a Preacher he readily pitcht upon the latter telling his Father that he had for some time past inclin'd his studies that way and that he esteem'd the turning of soules to righteousness to be the most desireable work in all the world and that it would have the greater reward hereafter Vide Mr. Chr. Loves speech upon Tower Hill though the other callings were like to bring in more wealth and honour here His tender Father would not thwart but rather encourage him in this his pious resolution and to that end he layd out to procure a good living or place of settlement for him in meane time our Edmund was not idle but having an invitation to preach a lecture on the Lords day in the afternoon at Witny about ten miles from Oxford he accepted of of it Rom. 16.5 1 Cor. 16.15 there he continued preaching well nigh half a year and had comfortable seales of his Ministry as Epenetus and Stephanas were Pauls first fruits in Achaia so there are some yet living or were lately alive in that place who were his first fruits unto Christ So acceptable were his labours during his abode there that hearers from all parts round about flockt to him as the Doves to their Windowes This was not very pleasing to him who was incumbent there he therefore spent the more time in reading Prayers that this novel lecturer might have the lesse for Preaching his Sermons and when he had protracted the Common Prayers all he could he himself would go out of the Church being followed by no one but his Clark whom he would not suffer to call a Psalme but the Lecturer himself or one Mr. Martin an inhabitant of the Town one that fear'd God above many was faine to supply his roome The text of Scripture which he a long time insisted on was that excellent saying of Solomons Prov. 23.23 Buy
Person were rarely once only but twice in one day Thus this good man in labours more abundant in the morning sowes his seed and in the evening withholds not his hand so liberal he was of his spiritual Almes not knowing whether should prosper this or that or whether they both might not be alike good Eccl. 11.6 so that in imitation of the great Apostle by the power of the Spirit of God he even from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum fully Preached the Gospel of Christ So this excellent Minister of our Lord Jesus from Rickmersworth even round about unto the utmost borders of the County and into the neighbouring Counties also he was spending and being spent in the service of his great Lord and Master By all this the Reader may gather that our Doctor had not layne idle in the University 'till he was rusted and cankered away and fit for no further use in the house of God but as it was said of Joseph that his bow still abode in strength so it was with his parts memory and with his affections also and he was constant untill the act of uniformity imposed that general silence upon all nonconformist August 24. 1662. But yet neither after this time was he willing to be idle every week almost keeping one day as a private fast in his own or else in some other godly Ministers or Christian Family as to humble himself for his own sins so for the abominations that were in the midst of the land and it cannot be easily forgotten with what brokenness of spirit and with what a dissolved soul he would still take up some hours himself on those extraordinary occasions either in the word or prayer or both for indeed he was mighty in prayer as well as in the Scriptures as it is said of Apollo Having passed I think some two yeares his wife now labouring under some weaknesses and being weary with the burden of houshold affairs he retired to a Chamber or two in a private Family some miles distant where he was very useful he much inlightned and quickly leavened the habitation his Ministerial Gifts and graces were such as that indeed he perfumed the whole house As long as he lived there there was a Church alwayes in that house and I presume the govenour and children and servants do bless God for his presence and conference and exemplary conversation to this day and may they never loose the savour of the knowledg of Christ and the sense of the power of the world to come that he manifested and they were under during his abode with them From thence he removed to another private family and I believe his frequent removes were that he might have renewed opportunity of doing more good and God more service where he was entertained as an Angel of God This Family was near S. Albans in which Town from that time he was a great instrument in the hand of God for good to correct some extravagancies amongst some people there by his sober principles and great moderation of spirit and the noble exercises of self-denial and charity being no burden unto any but being crafty catching them with guile 2 Cor. 12.16 His last remove was to a place called Bovingden a little village and I question whether ever it had been mentioned in any story if this good man had not liv'd and ended his days there he was led thither by the invitation of a religious and very kind Gentleman freely accommodating him with all the conveniences of an habitation of his in that place But he once told me that whatsoever was saved that way he still expended proportionably in charitable uses making conscience to give it either in mony or books to the poor to this and the neighbouring places and I believe he hath destributed several hundreds of short Catechisms besides some dozens of little books of that great light of our age Entitled The call to the Vnconverted During his abode here he continued daily to attend the duty of the Family wherein he was instructing the souls belonging thereunto And if one or more of the poor of that place chanced to come in he would say they were welcome and that God came along with them and the poor have the Gospel preached unto them In this place he enjoy'd great privacy which he greatly priz'd and had be been born for himself alone he could alwayes have chosen to have liv'd thus alone How many worthy's in the world have prefer'd retirement to the greatest preferments in Church or State and have thought Scepters and Myters not worthy to be compared with it But he could not thus satifie himself that of Paul was often in his mouth Wo be to me if I preach not the Gospel he was of Calvins mind who would not his Lord should come and find him idle Wherefore he rode often to St. Albans or some other adjacent place and once or twice a year to London and Kingston and seeing he could not preach in a Church to many he would preach in a Chamber to a few T is not the place or company that commends our preaching to God What excellent Sermons have been preacht to despicable auditories and in very ordinary and contemptible places Pauls meeting place in Macedonia was the River side Acts 16.13 and his hearers a few of the weaker Sex Our Lord himself preacht a long Sermon once to one timorous man John c. 3. c. 4. and at another time in the open aire he preacht at large to one silly woman Thus this eminent servant of God like a torch or candle with lighting others consumed and wasted himself On the eighth of July Anno Dom. 1671. aetatis suae 71. he was seiz'd all on one side with the dead palsy by reason of which his speech much faild him so that he spake little and seldome A friend coming to visit him and asking him how he did he answered in the words of the Prophet In measure God debateth with me and in the day of the East-wind he stayeth his rough wind A while after he said to a friend that stood by him I neither fear death nor defire life but am willing to be at Gods disposal At another time he uttered these words very audibly I know that my redeemer liveth and by and by he repeated the fifth verse of the one and thirtieth Psalme in Meter Into thy hand Lord I commit My spirit which is thy due For why thou hast redeemed it Oh Lord my God most true He prest the by-standers so long as he was able to many wholsome duties As to make sure of Heaven in the time of health to keep their evidences fair and unblotted To remember and keep holy the Sabbath day of which he himself as you l find hereafter was a most careful observer When he could not speak himselfe he would desire others to read the Scriptures to him directing to the places which he most desired which were for the most part
he had constantly in his eye When he came among persons of Quality being himself well born well educated of a generous spirit and a chearful temper his company and converse was usually very acceptable to them which gave him an advantage to tell them as he would plainly though prudently of what he saw amiss in them to mind them of the vanity of the World of better things above and to put them as he often would upon good designs to shew their thankfulness to God for his mercy to them Nor was there a person so mean but he could and would readily and humbly condescend to him as knowing what precious souls dwell in the poorest houses of clay He spake to such alwayes in their own dialect and in a phrase they well understood trying their knowledge and feeling the pulse of their souls if he found them ignorant or unsensible he would endeavour to awaken them by laying plain Texts of Scripture before them for their conviction If he met with humbled and burdened souls or such as were babes in Christ he would gather them as lambs in his arms and gently lead them to the Wells of Salvation If at any time there hapned to be a mixt company at the Table with him some serious Christians some Professors at large his manner was to be very free and pleasant in discourse with them which caused them all to give great attention to him then might you have seen how ever and anon the honey dropt from his lips while the company were hanging on them how skilful he was in dividing the Word aright to every one his portion and how wise in winning of souls If he observed any to take the boldness from his innocent mirth and pleasant humour to incline to vain and frothy discourse he would very dexterously turn to some more profitable matter and as occasion was given afford a serious reproof tempered with much kindness and love to their souls which was usually well taken at his hand If his occasions required his stay a day or two at any place he seldom departed before he had Preached to the People He found by much and long experience that a plain way of Preaching was most effectual to the ends for which that Ordinance was appointed and therefore he constantly used it even in the College and Vniversity though he could easily have appeared in another strain had he preferred an aiery Reputation with some before the Work of his Master and the real advantage of others To conclude I hope that many who some time were and some who yet are members of that Society having felt his fatherly care heard his sound and pious instructions and seen his godly examples do and will endeavour to hold a conformity thereunto If any neglect or despise them let them know assuredly that God will require it at their hands A Dialogue OR A DISCOURSE BETWEEN A Minister and a Stranger As they were On the High-way together ABOUT Soul Affairs By Edmund Staunton D. D. LONDON Printed for Tho Parkhurst and are to be Sold at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel And at the Gilded Bible on London-bridge under the Gate 1673. A Dialogue or Discourse between a Minister and a Stranger as they were on the High-way together Minister FRiend Good morrow to you How far Travel you this way Stranger To such or such a place Min. I shall be glad of your company Str. And I Sir of yours Min. Little thought you in the Morning of meeting me or I of meeting you Str. True Sir Min. Well Friend since by the Providence of God we are brought together and must be accountable to God at death and judgment how we spend our time whil'st we be together shall we talk of what concerns the good of our Souls and of the Things of God Stranger Yes Sir with all my heart if you please Minister Friend What think you then that your Soul is Str. I think that my Soul is my breath because when a man's breath is gone then he dyeth and his Soul is gone also Min. True Friend when the breath departeth the Soul departeth also yet the Soul of a man is not his breath because 1. Beasts and the Fowls of the Air breathe also and yet you do not think they have reasonable immortal Souls as we have 2. Our breath is but the Air drawn in and cast out again and can you reasonably imagine first that the Air thus sucked in and blown out again should be the Soul or Souls of men or secondly that the whole Region of the Air should be the rational and immortal Souls of men or thirdly that our Souls come in and go out of our bodies as the Air we breathe in doth Stranger Truly Sir you have convinced me that the Soul is not breath whatever it be Minister What else do you think it is Str. I think it is my blood most likely Not so because 1. Beasts and Birds have blood in them as well as Men and yet you do not think they have reasonable immortal Souls as we Men have 2. If our Souls were blood then when our Noses bleed to speak familiarly with you our Souls would even out at our Noses or when we cut our fingers our Souls would run out at our fingers ends Min. Friend guess once more what your Soul is Str. Sir Is it not my Conscience Min. No Friend the understanding will conscience and affections as love hatred are the faculties and endowments of the Soul but not the Soul it self Str. You say well Sir I pray tell me then what my Soul is Minister Friend not to trouble you with any curious definitions the Soul of man is a spiritual substance endowed with reason immortal created and infused into man informeth inliveneth the body doth and acteth all in man the Soul seeth in the eye heareth in the ear speaketh in the tongue c. zach 12.1 God formeth the spirit of man within him Stranger I thank you Sir this is more than ever I heard of before Min. Well Friend having spoken something concerning our Souls shall we speak a little concerning God Str. Yes Sir I like your talk very well Min. What do you think God is Is he an old man or a young Str. An old man surely he hath been a long time Min. No God is neither a young man nor an old man Str. If God be not a man why do the Scriptures speak of God as having eyes ears hands and feet c Min. This kind of speaking is not proper but figurative speaking of God after the manner of men stooping to our understandings and capacities but the Scripture speaking plainly and properly saith God is a Spirit John 4.24 Stranger You say right Sir God is a Spirit Minister Well Friend Are not the Angels spirits too They are called ministring spirits Hebr. 1.13 What then is the difference between God and the Angels Str. God is the greatest and highest of all the
the time to come by his grace and holy Spirit working in you Stranger Sir I hope I am truly humbled for my sins I grieve and am sorry for them I have had many afflictions and smarted for my sins Minister If your sorrow for sin be right it is not so much because of afflictions and judgments felt or feared as because you have offended God who hath been so good and merciful unto you You will also loath and leave your sins as the abominable thing which God hates Jerem. 44.4 Rom. 7.15 The evil which I hate Str. Sir I hope also that I hate my sins truly and indeed Min. Friend if the hatred of sin be right then 1. You 'll hate all sin as I told you before Prov. 8.13 The fear of the Lord is to hate every false way 2. And withal know this that whoever hateth sin loveth God and his people Str. Why Sir I make no question of it but I do love God and his people Minister Friend if you do indeed love God you do also keep his Commandments John 14.15 Not allowing your self in any known sin and for the godly if you love them you are then acquainted with them delight in their company as David Psal 119.63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy precepts And Paul when he was converted joined himself to the Disciples which were at Jerusalem and at Damascus Acts 9.19 and 26. Now if we be unacquainted with such people if shie of their society c. it 's in vain to think we love the Brethren 1 John 3.4 if we do not love the brotherhood 1 Pet. 2.17 the society of Saints and that when they are most strict and spiritual in their communication and conversation if you be a meer stranger to them where is your love towards them what say you to this Friend Stranger Sir you in your talk with me put me hard to it Lord help me Min. Friend your saying Lord help me puts me in mind to ask you what good prayers do you use to say Stranger Such as my friends taught me the Ten Commandments I believe in God c. and the Lords prayer Minister Friend do you think the Ten Commandments and I believe in God c. be good Prayers Str. Yes Sir Min. No Friend the Ten Commandments are a rule of life shewing us what we must do and I believe in God c. sheweth us what we ought to believe but they are not Prayers and when we say them we ask nothing at Gods hands Sir They are good things and it is good to learn them Min. Friend that is true it is good to learn them and to understand the meaning of them to live according to the Commandments and to believe according to the Articles of our Christian Faith but to think they are Prayers and to say them over instead of Prayers that is your mistake Str. Sir I confess my error therein Min. Friend what think you of the Creed I believe in God c is that form of words Scripture the written Word of God as well as the Ten Commandments and the Lords Prayer Stranger Yes surely Sir Minister No Friend we find the Ten Commandments in Exod. 20. and the Lords Prayer in Matth. 6.9 but I believe in God c. in so many words together is not in all the Bible but that form of words was made up and laid together by men yet it is agreeable to the Word of God and so is of good use for all Believers Str. Sir I thank you if you would explain and open something to me out of the Ten Commandments I believe in God and the Lords Prayer you would do me a great courtesie Min. Friend I am glad to find you willing to learn but that is too long a work for the little time we are like to be together and therefore I would advise you by all means when you come home to learn good Catechisms and to talk with good Ministers and good People putting questions to them and they will help you Str. True Sir but whilst we are together it may be you may say something out of them which may do me good Minister Why then Friend in the first Commandment Thou shalt have c. what do you think God forbids in that Commandment Stranger I think the having more Gods than one Min. Friend what you say is a general truth but what is it to have other Gods Str. Sir to have other Gods is I think to worship the Sun Moon or Stars c. Min. Friend let me tell you the Commandment of God is spiritual and reacheth the hearts of men so that to love desire joy fear trust in any thing more than God is to have other gods thus we may make husbands wives children friends trades customers c. riches honours pleasures c. to be our gods when our hearts run out more after are set more upon them than upon God Str. Sir this is strange Min. Friend as strange as it is it is very true for God saith Prov. 23.26 Give me thine heart and Matth. 22.37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind and it is certain to have our hearts upon any person or thing more than God is to make that our God and our Idol Stranger Sir then by what you say if any be more careful to please or more fearful to offend a husband a wife a master or mistriss a land-lord or great man that rules over us than we are careful to please or fearful to offend God is to make them our gods Minister Friend it is certainly so however it may seem to be new doctrine to you And for the second Commandment Thou shalt not make c. what think you is forbidden in this Commandment Str. I think we are forbidden to worship Images as the Papists do Min. Friend that you say is true but the Commandment of God hath a farther reach in it and forbids not only the worshipping of Images or God by Images but the worshipping of God any other way not appointed in his Word Deut. 12.32 What thing soever I command you he speaks of worship ver 31. observe to do it thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it Stranger I confess Sir this is plain Scripture I cannot gainsay it Minister Well Friend for the third Commandment Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain c. What think you is meant by the Name of God Str. To deal plainly with you Sir I cannot well tell on a sudden what is meant by the Name of God though I have said it over many and many a time Min. Friend are not men known by their names you and I and others why then the Name of God is that whereby God makes himself known by his Titles Attributes Ordinances Word and Works Str. Sir I think what you say
heart deceives you you have expressed a great deal of malice and hatred in what you said last Str. Sir I am sorry if I have offended you Minister Alas Friend you do not offend me it troubles me indeed to see how you offend God and delude your own soul and how the Devil cheats you makes you to have better thoughts a great deal of your self than there is any cause for Stranger Sir I hope for all this that I live in charity and do as I would be done by Min. Friend it is well if your hope do not make you ashamed if any man had wronged you would you not have him to acknowledge his fault to you and to make restitution for all the wrong you sustained Str. Yes Sir you may be sure I think it all the reason in the world I should Min. Now Friend let Conscience speak out did not you at such and such a time defraud and go beyond such and such a man working upon his simplicity or necessity have you not put off bad wares and bad money many a time have not you spoken an untruth told many a lye in bargaining and did you ever yet go to them whom you wronged did you ever make them satisfaction and where is now your doing as you would be done by Stranger I must confess my heart smites me upon what you say Minister Friend if your heart condemns you God is greater than your heart and knoweth all things by you 1 John 3.20 And look to it least the Devil and your heart deceive you with shews and shadows of faith repentance love and charity instead of the graces themselves in truth and reality Str. I thank you Sir for the good counsel you give me and I pray God I may follow it Min. Friend I remember in the beginning of our discourse you told me of your saying over the Ten Commandments Lords Prayer and I believe in God c. every morning and every night Str. Sir I did so and would you would say something to me concerning the Lords Prayer and I believe in God c. as you have concerning the Ten Commandments Minister Say you so Friend I cannot withstand so good a motion tell me therefore do you think that the bare saying over these words Our Father c. is acceptable service to God Stranger Sir I hope so why else did our friends teach it us when we were children Min. Friend your Parents and friends did well to teach you to say the words by heart but it had been better if they had also taught you the meaning of them that so when you came to years of discretion you might have been able to go it over with understanding Str. That is true Sir and I hope I understand it Min. Friend what do you pray for or ask at Gods hands when you say Hallowed be thy Name Str. Why Thy Kingdom come Min. Friend Thy Kingdom come is another part of the Prayer but what is the thing you beg for and would have when you say Hallowed c. Str. Truly Sir I cannot tell you Minister Friend you have said over the words 100 and 100 times but it seems never said them with understanding and surely that is not right for Paul saith 1 Cor. 14.15 I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding also That is so that others who join with us may understand us much more we understand our selves and our own meaning Stranger Sir what should I think of and pray for when I say those words Hallowed c Min. Friend you should pray and desire of God that he would order all things in the world for his own honour and glory and that he would enable you and others to glorifie and honour him in a due and right use of his Ordinances Word and Works or whatever he maketh himself known by Str. Truly Sir to deal plainly with you I never thought of or desired any such thing as oft as I have said those words Min. Friend I cannot conveniently go over the other Petitions in the Lords Prayer with you What hath been said already in discourse about the first Petition Hallowed c. may abundantly convince you of your saying you knew not what and in a very ignorant and formal way Stranger Truly Sir I am I confess ignorant yet I am willing to learn Minister Friend I believe you are or else you would not have held on the discourse so long and so freely with me for I fall in company with some upon the Road who will by no means speak one word with me concerning God and the things of God and if I motion such talk a little they are either altogether dumb and silent or shift out of my company saying They must ride faster that their business requireth haste or they will lagg behind or go out of the way to speak with a friend and some fall a quarrelling saying What have you to do to Catechize me I will not learn of you every Tub must stand upon its own bottom c. Str. Sir If I had in my younger dayes been so willing to learn as I should have been I had not been so far to seek in these things as now I am nor so ignorant as you find me to be Minister Well said Friend that was a savoury speech of yours I like it very well and therefore am willing to have a word or two with you about the Creed I believe in God c. before we part though much of our former discourse hath been about things to be believed Stranger I thank you Sir I pray speak on I will hear you Min. Friend I hope you remember what I told you even now that this form of words I believe in God c. is not Scripture though it be agreeable to the Word of God and that it is not a Prayer not to be said for a Prayer Let me now hear you say your Belief Str. I believe in God c. and I believe the Holy Catholick Holy-Church c. Min. Friend What is that you say Holy Catholick Holy-Church you mistake the words I fear therefore you know not the meaning of them it is not Holy Catholick Holy-Church but the word is Catholick and what mean you by Catholick Stranger Sir I cannot tell it is a hard word methinks Minister Friend it is so but you that say it over and over day by day should have asked the meaning of it that you might have known what you had said Str. I pray Sir what is meant by it Min. Friend it is originally a Greek word and signifieth Universal or General so that to believe the Catholick Church is to believe that there is an Universal Church and that God hath a people up and down scattered in several places and in all ages of the world Str. Sir I never understood so much before Min. Friend you perceive again by this that you have lived very ignorantly mindless of knowledge and
born but legions of Devils got possession of them so many beloved lusts as bad or worse than so many Devils and how they were still born dead quite dead in Trespasses and Sins but now through the riches of Grace in Christ the Lepers are cleansed the Devils are cast out and the dead are quickned and raised to the life of grace and glory Eph. 2.1 To hasten shall Souldiers old Souldiers love to be talking of what battels they have been in what sharp Conflicts and hot disputes they have had with such and such enemies what victories obtained what spoils they have divided what joyful triumphs they have solemnized and shall not Old Disciples yea all experienced believers who are the good souldiers of Jesus Christ discourse and love to discourse what spiritual combats they have had with the Devil the world and the flesh the corruption of their own hearts their unbelief pride passions covetousness how they have conflicted with ungodly men their Cruel mockings and persecutions yea how they have gotten the victory have overcome the world by their faith Heb. 11.36 Gal. 4.29 Joh. 5.4 what spoils they are inriched with what answers to prayers what mortifying of such and such Corruptions what eminent growth in grace how faith hath been marvellously strengthen'd love inflamed zeal fired longing after communion with God heightened and the like and all this because they fought under such a Captain who puts spirit and life into all marching under his banners even Jesus Christ the Captain of their Salvation yea the Lord of Hosts himself mighty in battel Heb. 2.10 Jer. 50.34 Again shall wrestlers and racers speak much of their strength and swiftness And why not believers of their wrestling not against flesh and blood only but against principalities and powers Eph. 6.12 and of their running with patience the race set before them He. 12.1 and how they can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth them shall wise men be speaking Phil. 4.13 Je. 9.23 24. yea glorying in their wisdome mighty men glorying in their might and rich men in their riches which is their sin and their shame and shall not the Saints of the most high God each glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth me saith the Lord which glorying is their duty and honour also yea Gal. 6.14 glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom or whereby the world is Crucified unto them and they unto the world shall men addicted to recreations who devote themselves to hunting and hawking fishing and fowling speak much of what delight and contentment they find therein one praising his pack of Hounds for being well mouthed hunting close and round as in a ring another commending his hawk for mounting high as an Eagle even to the Skies and when the fowle ariseth for falling and shooting down upon the prey like a thunder bolt out of the Cloudes and so forth Then surely the generation of believers have more cause to speak one to another and that not with a carnal and sensual delight as men in their sports and recreations but with a spiritual and heavenly cheariness of what contentment and satisfaction they have found in God delighting themselves in the Lord their God David speaks to all his fellow Saints Ps 66.16 Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my soul to wit how he hath heard my prayers quickned me when dull and dead raised me up when I was brought very low delivered me from the hands of all mine enemies and from the Hands of Saul Psal 18. the Title He giveth us his judgment plainly A day in thy Courts O God is better then a thousand and backs it with the choice he made I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the tents of wickedness Ps 84.10 Talk with men called of God according to his purpose who in their youth poured out their soules to vanities to all manner of sports and pastimes and they will ingeniously confess that they find more sweetness and hearts solace in one hours communion with God in secret prayer in one day of humiliation or thanksgiving in hearing a good Sermon or in being partakers of the Lords Supper and so sitting with the King at his Table Can. 1.12 then they did in all their youthfull games and recreations all their dayes To conclude shall the worst of men the cheating gamester the swinish drunkard the beastly adulterer be so bold as to talke and that in a jolly boasting way of their false Dice and coggings of their drinking down such and such laying them under the Table of their defiling Women or Maidens satisfying their lust to the full with them all glorying in their shame Phil. 3.19 and shall not Christians in their Conference speak freely with joy and thanksgivings ascribing all the glory to the Lord their God of their diligence and faithfulness in their lawful callings of their Temperance and Chastity yea farther how their hearts have bin raised up and ravished with holy Meditations and heavenly ejaculations how their spirits are got above the world whilst in the world how their fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ through the Spirit 1 Joh. 1.3 How the Father and the Son love them make their abode with them and manifest themselves unto their soules Joh. 21.23 How Jesus Christ is pleased Can. 1.2 to kiss them with the kisses of his mouth day by day O Friends what I say are not bare words and notions but things and realities and glorying herein is good for it is glorying in the Lord. But I fear my fancy and pen run too fast and too far in this argument possibly to the tiring of some faint and feeble readers Therefore in a word know the Devil drives a great and mighty though an ungodly and accursed Trade in the Tongues of Sinners they speak often one to another corrupting poisoning and debauching each other and how unwearied are they in this drudgery advancing and promoting to their uttermost the Kingdome of darkness and of the Devil as they are going toward Hell together and shall not our God and Father and our dear Redeemer Jesus Christ carry on an holy and blessed Trade if I may so phrase it in the mouths and lips of his Saints and Servants his sons and daughters to the convincing and converting of sinners if possible or at the least to the rendring them more inexcusable in that great and terrible day of the Lord and to the edifying strengthening and comforting one another speaking much of God and for God even with all their might striving and labouring to inlarge the Kingdome of Christ in grace here and so in glory hereafter Whilst we are Travellers here below in our present pilgrimage to be very busie active and toyling as it were in the work of the Lord will doubtless be upon our account to our safety comfort
deal with servants Charge them to obey their Masters in all things not with eye-service as men pleasers but in singleness of heart fearing God Not answering againe not purloining shewing all fidelitie Col. 3.22 Tit. 2.9 10. Yet again 15. Ignorance if you meet with them that are ignorant tell them That the soul be without knowledge is not good and the high aggravation of the gross ignorance of many is that they are willingly ignorant neither know nor desire or care to know the things of God Prov. 19.2 2 Pet. 3.5 If with men of knowledg 16. Knowing caution them to beware least their knowledg puffeth them up but rather being acted and managed by and with Charitie that it edifie being laid out for the good of others and their lips being the lips of the righteous let them feed many by Christian Conference and holy communication with others 1 Cor. 8. 1. Prov. 10.21 I might be very large and voluminous herein but to close up this direction be still furnished to speak to any persons whatsoever of such points as are of universal concernment as touching regeneration the absolute indispensable necessity of it to salvation as also touching our having a saving interest in Jesus Christ Christ told Nicodemus in plain terms Joh. 3.3 5. That except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdome of God And expresly as to the necessity of union with Christ He that hath the Son hath everlasting life and he that hath not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him vers 36. A third preparative direction 3 Direction for the promoting of Christian Conference in all places and companies where we come is to begin at home each Christian setting it up and keeping it up in his own house and Family that so wife Children and servants may gain an habit of good and savoury discourse to be acted and exercised when you or they go abroad as children mannerly or rude and unmannerly at home use so to carry themselves abroad also and such talk and discourse as is used at home by husbands and wives Parents and Children Masters and Servants is like to be their language abroad also The Lord by Moses gives his peremptory command as to good discourse in families These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and in thy lying down and rising up Deut. 6.6 7. Such was wise King Solomons practice which gave occasion to Sheba Queen of the South in her Princely visit to him to say unto him Happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee and that hear thy wisdome c. Custome is another nature use legs and have legs use memory and have memory use good discourse and you will have good discourse I have seen Children boyes and girles had to neighbour houses upon occasion of feasting visits or the like and when their parents call upon them for manners saying sirra where 's your hat and your leg and girle where 's your Cursy but no hat off no leg or Cursy made why not used to it at home So when we come into Christian Company and we provoke our selves to carry on good discourse and say Awake my glory Answer is given no sleep at home must sleep abroad also Acts frequent beget habits acquired and strengthen infused A dexterity in the managing of Christian Confernece aright as to matter manner principles and ends is I presume an infused habit a special gift of God Isa 50.4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary Given me that is me the Prophet in his measure or rather given me is meant of Christ on whom the Spirit is poured without measure yet so as that every believer hath his proportion of the Spirit and so of this gift and habit of Christian Conference to be used and so improved and strengthen by a frequent and vigorous acting of it for the glory of God and the good of our selves and others with whom we have occasion to converse Let it be one of thy Christian exercises to act and strengthen this habit day by day in this language and communication A fourth preparative direction may be repentance and humiliation for our great failing in our great neglect of so great a duty as Christian Conference is 4 Humiliation We spend little of our time and strength in this duty to wit in such discourse as hath a proper and direct tendency to the conversion or edification of the hearers we are much if not too much upon this talk what newes abroad speaking of persons this body or that magnifying some too high vilifying and depressing others too low possibly erring in a way of flattery on the one hand or of envy and hatred on the other blameworthy in both A fifth Direction I would give 5 Prayer is the pouring out a prayer to God in faith and love every morning that he would guide thy discourse all the day long It was Davids prayer Ps 141.3 Set a watch O Lord before my Mouth keep the door of my lips And again Ps 51.15 O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise and that thou mayst pray in faith plead the promise The Tongue of the dumb shall sing Isa 35.6 fulfilled in the Gospel Corporally and Spiritually Christ made and still makes the dumb to speak and that to his and his Father's glory when they brought a dumb man to Christ possessed of a Devil Christ cast out the Devil and the dumb spake c. Mat. 9.32 33. Then the promise was made good in the very letter of it and in the spirit of it also when the Children in the Temple cried saying Hosanna to the Son of David Mat. 21.15 16. and so fulfil'd that prediction in Psal 8.2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praises Go to God in Christ and say what though a kind of dumb Devil possesseth me thou canst and do thou cast him out What though I be but a babe in Christ and a suckling in grace yet thou canst and O do thou out of the mouth of a babe and suckling as I am ordaine strength Pray in faith fervency and constancy and who knoweth but the gracious Lord thy God may loose and unty thy Tongue and create the fruits even of thy lips peace peace for his own glory the good of others and thy comfort here and for ever And in thy discourse let holy secret ejaculations be frequent and fervent also A sixth Direction is to be much in praises 6. In praises which also will make prayer more successful having found by sweet experience Optimum rogandi genus est gratia agere that God doth enable thee sometimes to let fall some good words in obedience to