The Christians Daily Walk in Holy Security and Peace, Treatise · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Of keeping Company, as in the ſight of God.
SECTION 1.
VVHen you ſhall be in company of whatſoever …rt you muſt amongſt them …alke with God.
Directions hereunto are of twoHow a man ſhould carry himſelfe to all. …rts. Firſt, ſhewing how towards …ll: Secondly, how towards good …r bad.
Firſt, in whatſoever companie you are, your Converſation in word and deede muſt be ſuch, as …a… procure (1) aMat. 5. 16Glory to God; …2) b1 Tim. 6. 1Credit to Religion: (3) cGen. 2. 18All …utuall lawfull content, helpe, and …ue benefit to each other. For theſe …re the ends, firſt, of ſocietie; ſecondly, of the variety d1 Cor. 12 7. 25of the good …ifts that GOD hath given unto men to doe good with.
To attain theſe ends, your converſation muſt be, 1. holy: 2. humble: 3. wiſe: 4. loving.
Firſt, it muſt be e1 Pet. 1. 15.holy, you muſt as much as in you is, prevent all evill ſpeech & behaviour, which might elſe breake forth, being alike carefull to breake it off, if it be alreadie begun in your company. Suffer not the name and Religion of God, nor yet your brothers name to be traduced; but in due place, and manner, conteſt againſt either. Be diliget to watch, and to take all good occaſions to utter, and to nouriſh good ſpeech, and good motions; even whatſoever may tend to the practice, and increaſe of godlineſſe, and honeſtie.
Secondly, your converſation muſt be humble. You muſt give f1 Pet. 2. 17 Ephe. 5. 21all due respect to all men, according to their ſeverall places, and gifts; reverencing your betters, ſubmitting to all in authoritie over you. Eſteeme your dPhil. 2. 3.equals better then your ſelves, in honor preferring them before you, Condeſcend unto, and tender them of the eRom. 12. 16lower ſort.
Thirdly, you muſt be wiſe and …iſcreet in your carriage towards all, and that in divers particulars.
1. Be not too open, nor too reſerved. Not f1 Cor. 13 7over-ſuſpicious, nor gIoh. 2. 24 Ier. 40. 14 15, 16over-credulous. For the hPro. 14. 15ſimple beleeveth every word, but the prudent looketh well to his going.
2. Apply your ſelfe to the ſeverall conditions & diſpoſitions of men in all indifferent things, ſo farre as you may without ſin againſt God, or offence to your brother, i1 Cor. 9 19, 20, 23becomming all things to all men, comporting with them in ſuch ſort, that if it be poſſible, you may live in kRom 12. 18peace with them, and may gaine ſome intereſt in them to doe them good.
But farre be it from you to beA Caution to…hing becoming all things to all men. as many, who, under this pretence, are for all companies, ſeeming religious with thoſe that be religious; but indeed are prophane and licentious with thoſe that are prophane & licentious: for this is carnal policy, and damnable hypocriſie, no true wiſedome.
3. Intermeddle not with h1 Theſ. 4 11other mens buſineſſe, but upon due calling.
4. Know when to i1 Tim. 5 13ſpeake, and when to be ſilent. How kEccle. 3. 7excellent is a word ſpoken in ſeaſon? As either ſpeech or ſilence will make for the glory of God, and for the cauſe of Religion, and good one of another, ſo ſpeake, and ſo lPro. 15. 23 Pro. 25. 11hold your peace.
5. Be not mProv. 29 11haſtie to ſpeake, nor be nPo. 17. 27 Eccl. 10. …4much in ſpeaking, but onelyonly when juſt cauſe ſhall require; for as it is oPr. 18. 13ſhame and folly to a man to anſwer a matter before he heare it: ſo it is for any to ſpeake before his pIob 32. 4, …5, 6time, & turne. This is commended to you in the example of Elihu in Iob. Likewiſe know, that in the oPro. 10. 19multitude of words wanteth not ſin; but he that refraineth his lips, is wiſe.
6. Be ſparing to ſpeake of your ſelfe, or actions, to your owne prayſe, except in caſe of p2 Cor. 12 11neceſſary Apologie, and defence of Gods cauſe maintained by you, and in the clearing of your wronged innocency, or needfull manifeſtation of Gods power and grace in you; but then it muſt be with all moddeſtie, giving the prayſe qPhil. 4. 12 13unto God. Neither muſt you cunningly hunt for prayſe by debaſing or excuſing your ſelfe and actions, that you might give occaſion to draw forth commendations of your ſelfe from others. This ſeeking of prayſe any way, argueth pride and folly. But doe prayſe-worthy actions, ſeeking therein the prayſe of God, that God may be glorified in you, then you ſhall have rRom. 2. 29prayſe of God, whatſoever you have of mā. Howſoever, follow Salomōs rule; sPro. 27. 2Let another prayſe thee, not thine owne mouth, a ſtranger, and not thine owne lips.
7. As you muſt bee wiſe inHow to mak… a good uſe to a mans …fe by others company. your carriage toward others, ſo you muſt be wiſe for your ſelfe, which is to make a good uſe to your ſelfe of all things that fall out … company. Let the good you ſe…, be …er of con…ent, and of thankes to GOD, and for your tRom. 12. 9imita…ion. Let the evill you ſee, be matter of grefe & humiliation, and a warning to you, leſt you commit the like, ſith you are made of the ſame mould that others are made of. If men report good of you to your face, repreſſe thoſe ſpeeches as ſoone, and as wiſely as you can, uGen 41. 15, 16. Act. 12. 23.giving the prayſe of all things to God, knowing that this is but a temptation, xPro. 27. 14.and a ſnare, and a meanes to breed and feed ſelfe-love, pride and vaine-glory in you. If this good report be true, bleſſe God that he hath enabled you to give cauſe thereof, and ſtudie by vertuous living to continue it. If this good report be falſe, endevour to make it good by being hereafter anſwerable to the report.
If men report evill of you to your face; Be not ſo much inquiſitive who raiſed it, or thought-ſome how to bring him to his anſwer, or how to cleare your reputation amongſt men, as to make a good uſe of it to your owne heart before God.
For you muſt know, this evill report doth not riſe without y2 Sam. 16 11.Gods providence. If the report be true, then ſee Gods good providence, it is that you may ſee your error and fault, that you may repent. If the report be falſe in reſpect of ſuch or ſuch a fact: yet conſider, have you not runne into the appearance and occaſions of thoſe evils? then ſay, Though this report be falſe, yetit commeth juſtly upon mee, becauſe I did not ſhunne the occaſions and appearances. This ſhould humble you, and cauſe you to bee more circumſpect in your wayes. But if neither the thing reported be true, neither yet have y… runne into the occaſions thereof, yet ſee GODS wiſe and good providence; not onelyonly in diſcovering the folly of fooliſh, and the malice of evill men, who raiſe and take up an evill report againſt you without cauſe▪ but in giving you warning to looke to your ſelfe, ieſt you deſerve thus to be ſpoken …. And what doe you …now, …at that you ſho…d have …allen into the ſame, or the …ke ev…ll, if by theſe reports you had not beene for… warned? Make uſe of the railings and b2 Sam 16 10, 11, 12reviling of an enemy: for though he be a bad Iudge, yet he may bee a good Remembrancer; for you ſhall heare from him thoſe things, of which flatterers will not, and friends being blinded, or over-indulgent through love, doe never admoniſh you.
Fourthly, your converſation amongſt all muſt be loving▪ you ſhould be kinde and pTit. 3. 2.courteous towards all men: Doe qGal. 6. 1…good to all, according as you have ability and opportunity. Give r1 Cor. 10 32offence wittingly to none. Doe s1 Cor. 6. 1, 7, 8wrong to no man either in his name, life, chaſtitie, or eſtate, or in any thing that is his, but be ready to tCol. 3. 13forgive wrongs done to you, and to take wrong rather then to revenge, or unchriſtianly to ſeek to be righted. As you ſhall have calling and opportunitie, doe all good to the ſoule of your neighbours, u1 Theſ 5. 14exhort and incourage unto well-doing. If they ſhew not themſelves to be aMat. 7. ….dogs and ſwine, that is, obſtinat ſcorners of good m…n▪ & con…emners of the pearle of good counſell, you muſt ſo far as God giveth you any intereſt in them, bLevit. 19admoniſh and informe them with the ſpirit of meeknes and wiſdome. With this c1 Pet. 48cloak… of love you ſhould cover and cure a multitude of your companions infirmities and offences. In all your demeanour towards him, ſeeke not ſo much to dRom. 15. 2▪pleaſe your ſelfe, as your Companion, in that which is good to his edification.
eTit▪ 3. 2.Speake evill of no man, nor yet ſpeak the evill you know of any man, exceptin theſe or like caſes. (1) When you are thereuntoIn what caſes a man may ſpeake of others evill deeds, yet not ſpeak evil. lawfully called by Authoritie. (2) When it is to f1 Cor. 1. 11.thoſe whom it concerneth, to reforme and reclaim him of whom you ſpeake, and that you doe it to that end. (3) When it is to prevent certaine xAct. 23. 6dammage to the ſoule or ſtate of your neighbour, which would enſue, if it were not by you thus diſcovered. (4) When the concealment of his evil may make you guiltie and acceſſary. (5) When ſome particular remarkeable judgement of God is upon a notorious ſinner for his ſinne, then to the end that GOD may be acknowledged in his juſt judgments, and that others may be warned, or brought to repent of the ſame or like ſinne, you may ſpeake yPſa. 52. 6of the evils of other. But this is not to ſpeake evill, ſo long as you doe it not in envy and malice to his perſon, nor with aggravation of the fault more then is cauſe, nor yet to the judging of him as concerning his finall eſtate.
When you ſhall heare any in your company ſpeake evill of your neighbor, by ſlandering, or whiſpering tale-bearing, whereby hee detracts from his good name, you muſt not onelyonly ſtop your eares at ſuch reports; but muſt ſet your ſpeech and countenance againſt him, like a aPro. 25. 23.Northwind againſt raine.
When you heare another well reported of, let it not be grievous to you, as if it detracted from your credit; but rejoyce at it, in ſo much that God hath enabled him to be good, and to doe good; all which maketh for the advancement of the common cauſe, wherein you are intereſſed: Envie him not his due prayſe.
Detract not from any mans credit, either by open nPſal. 15. 3backbiting, or by ſecret oPro. 16. 28▪whiſpering, or by any cunning meanes of caſting evil aſperſions, whether by way of pittying him, or otherwiſe: As, He is good, or doth well in ſuch and ſuch things; But, &c. This but marreth all.
And to heape up all in a word, In all your ſpeeches to men, and cōmunication with them, your ſpeech muſt bee bCol. 4. 6.gracious, that which is good to the uſe of edifying, that it may miniſter grace, not vice, to the hearers. It muſt not be prophane, nor any way cEph. 4. 29▪corrupt, filled out with oathes, curſes, or prophane jeſts, it muſt not be *Iob 17. 5flattering, nor yet detracting▪ Not dEph. 4. 31bitter, not railing, not girding, either by cloſe ſq…is or ſalt eEph. 5. 3▪ …ieſts againſt any man; It m…t not be fCol. 3 8wanton, ribaldry, laſci…ious and filthy. It muſt not be *Col. 3. 9▪falſe; no nor yet g1 Cor. 15 33▪fooliſh, idle, and fruitleſſe: For all evi… communication d…th corrupt good manners. And, hMat. … 36▪Wee muſt anſwer for every idle word which wee speake. Beſides, a man may eaſily be diſcerned of what Country he is, whether of Heaven, or of the earth, by his language; his ſpeech will bewray him.
There is no wiſdome or powerMeanes of good ſpech & carriage in all compan…e. here below can teach and enable you to doe all, or any the forementioned duties. This wiſdome and power muſt bee had from iIam 3. 13 to 18▪above. Wherefore if you would in all companies carrie your ſelfe worthy the Goſpell of Chriſt:
Firſt, be ſure that the kPſal▪ 37. 30, 31 Pro. 31. 26▪Law of God, and the power of grace bee in your heart, elſe the Law of grace and kindneſſe cannot bee in your life and ſpeech. You muſt be indued therefore with a ſpirit of holineſſe, humilitie, love, gentleneſſe, appeaſeableneſſe, longſuffering, meekeneſſe, and wiſedome; elſe you can never converſe with all men as you ought to doe. For ſuch as the heart is, ſuch the converſation will bee. lMat. 15. 19.Out of the evill heart come evill thoughts and actions; but mMat. 12. 34, 35.A good man, out of the good treaſure of his heart bringeth forth good things, and according to the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh A man muſt have the lPro. 16. 23.heart of the wiſe, before the tongue can be taught to ſpeake wiſely.
Secondly, You muſt reſolve before-hand (as David did) to mPſ. 39. 1.take heed to your wayes, that you ſinne not with your tongue: And that you will keepe your mouth as with a bridle. And, before your ſpeech and actions, be well adviſed; weigh and ponder in the ballance of diſcretion, all your actions and words, before you vent them.
Thirdly, Let no paſſion of joy, griefe, feare, anger, &c. get the head, and exceed their limits. For wiſe and good men, as well as bad, when they have beene in any of theſe paſſions, have spoken nIob 3. 3. 2…. Pſal. 106. 32. 3…. Mar. 9. 5, 6 Ion. 4. 8, 9. Mar. 6. 22, 23.unadviſedly with their lips. And experience will teach you, that your tongue doth never runne before your wit, ſo ſoone, as when you are over-feared, over-grieved, over-angry, or over-ioyed.
Fourthly, You muſt be much in prayer unto God, before you come into company, that you may be able to order your converſation aright: Let your heart alſo be lifted up oft to God when your are in company, that he would oPſal. 141. 3, 4.ſet a watch before your mouth, and keepe the doore of your lips, and that your heart may not incline to any evill thing, to practiſe wicked workes with men that worke iniquity, and that he would pPſ 51. 1…open your lippes, that your mouth may ſhew forth his prayſe, and that you may qCol. 4. 6.ſpeake as you ought to ſpeake, knowing how to anſwer every man; for the tongue is ſuch an unruly evill, that no man, onelyonly God, can tame and governe it.Iam. 3, 8
SECTION 2. Of ordering a mans ſelfe well in ill Company.
VVHen Company is ſinfull and naught (if you mayRules of ordering ones ſelfe in ill company. chooſe) aPro. 1. 15 Pro. 23. 20 Pſa 26. 4, 5come not into it at all. For keeping evill company, wil (1) blemiſh your Name. (2) It wil expoſe you oft-times to many b1 Kin. 22. 29, 31, 32 2 Chro. 18 31 and 22. 6. 8. 9 Gen. 14. 11 12hazards of your life & ſtate, And (3) you are alwayes in danger to be corrupted by the cPro. 22. 24, 25contagious infection of it.
By bad company, I doe not onelyonly underſtand ſeducers, and ſuch as are openly prophane, or riotous; but alſo ſuch civill men, who yet remaine meere worldlings, and all luke-warme profeſſours, who are neither hot nor cold. For although the ſinnes of theſe latter, doe not carrie ſuch a manifeſt appearance of groſſe impietie and diſhoneſtie, as doe the ſinnes of open Blaſphemers, Drunkards, whore-Maſters, and the like; yet they are not leſſe dangerous; your hart wil quickly riſe againſt theſe manifeſt enormous evils: but the other, by reaſon of their unſuſpected danger, through that tolerable good opinion which (in compariſon) is had of them, though in truth they be as dangerous and as hatefull, will ſooner inſnare & infect you, by an inſenſible chilling of your ſpirits, & by taking off the edge of your zeale which you had to the power of godlineſſe: And ſo by little and little draw you to a remiſſeneſſe, and indifferencie in Religion, and to a love of the world. If you ſhall thinke, that by keeping evill company, you may convert them, and draw them to goodneſſe; be not deceived: It is preſumption ſo to think▪ Hath not God expreſly dPro. 23. 20.forbidden you ſuch company? If you be not neceſſarily called to be in ſinfull company, you may juſtly feare that you ſhall be ſooner ePſa. 106. 34. 35.perverted, and made naught by their wickednes, than that they ſhould be converted and made good by your holineſſe.
Secondly, when by reaſon of common occaſions in reſpect of the affaires of your calling, generall, or particular, in Church, Common-wealth, and Familie, you cannot ſhunne ill company: Looke, (1) that in ſpeciall ſort your converſation be c1 Theſ. 4 12.honeſt, dPhil. 2. 15 16. Eph. 5. 15, 16.unblameable, & harmeleſſe, even with a Dove-like eMat. 10. 16.innocency, that by your good example, they may f1 Pet. 3. 1without the Word be brought to the Word, and to a love of the power and ſinceritie of that true Religion which you profeſſe. Howſoever, g1 Tim. 5. 14.give no advantage to the adverſary to ſpeake evill, either of you, or of your Religion; but, by a holy life, ſ1 Pet. 2. 15.ſtop the mouths of ignorant and fooliſh men: or if they will notwithſtanding ſpeake againſt you; this your holy life t1 Pet. 3. 16.ſhall ſhame all that blame your good converſation in Chriſt Ieſus. (2) Be uCol. 4. 5. Mat. 10. 16.wiſe as ſerpents: Walke warily, leſt they bring you into trouble, and doe harme you: but eſpecially leſt they infect you with their ſinne; for x1 Cor. 5. 6a little leaven will quickly ſowre the whole lumpe.
That you may not be infectedHow to be kept from infection of ſin by ill company. by that ill company which you cannot avoid; uſe theſe preſervatives: (1) Be not yRom. 11. 20.high minded; but feare, leſt you doe commit the ſame, or the like ſinne; for you are of the ſame nature, and are ſubject to the ſame, and like temptations. He that ſeeth his neighbour ſlip and fall before him, had need to z1 Cor. 10 12.ta… heed l…ſt he himſelfe fall. (2) Your ſoule, (like the riotous ſoule of Lot) muſt be i2 Pet. 2. 8 Pſal. 119 136, 158vixed daily with ſeeing and hearing their unlawfull deeds. (3) Raiſe your heart to a ſenſible loathing of their ſinne; yet have kIud. 22. 23compaſſion on the ſinner, and, ſo farre as you have calling, l2. Theſ. 3 14, 15admoniſh him as a brother. (4) When you ſee or heare any wickednes, lift up your heart to GOD, and before him mPſal. 120 5, 6confeſſe it, and diſclaime all liking of it, pray unto God to keepe you from it, and that he would forgive your companion his ſinne, and give unto him grace to repent of it.
Laſtly, though you may converſe with ſinnefull companie (when your calling is to be with them) in a common and …older kinde of fellowſhip, by a common love, whereby you do wiſh well to all, and would doe good to all; yet you muſt not converſe with them with ſuch ſpeciall and intimate Christian familiaritie, and nPſal. 16. 3delight, as you doe with the Saints that are excellent. Thus doe, and the Lord can and will keepe you in the midſt of Aegypt, and Babel, as hee did Ioſeph, and Daniel, if hee call you …o it.
Thirdly, As ſoone as poſſibly you can, oPro. 14 7depart out of their company, when you finde not in them the …ppes of knowledge; or when they …ny way declare that they have onelyonly a p2 Tim. 3 5forme; but deny the power of godlineſſe. From ſuch turne away, …aith the Apoſtle. And ſo uſe the preſervatives preſcribed, or any other whereof you have proofe, that you depart not more evill; or leſſe good, then when you …ame together.
SECTION 3. How a man ſhould carry himſelfe towards good company.
NOw touching good company. Firſt, qPſa. 163highly eſteeme of it, and much deſire it. For you ſhould r1 Pet. 2. 17.love the brotherhood, howſoever the world ſcoffe at it; and ſHeb. 10. 25.forſake not the fellowſhip, or conſorting with the godly, as the manner of ſome is: But (with David) as much as may be, tPſal. 119. 63.be a companion with them that feare God.
Secondly, when you are in good company, you muſt expreſſe all brotherly love; improving your time together for your mutuall good, chiefly in the increaſe of each others uRom. 1. 11, 12.faith and holineſſe, xHeb. 10. 24.provoking one another to love, and to good workes.
Then you love brotherly, (1) When you love them out of a a1 Pet. 1. 22.pure heart fervently, which …s, when you love them, becauſe they are brethren, bHeb. 3. 1.partakers of the ſame Faith and Spirit of Adoption, having the ſame Father, and being of the ſame cGal 6. 10houſhold of faith with you. (2) When you love them not onelyonly with a love of humanity, as they are men, (for ſo you love all men, even your enemies;) nor yet onelyonly with a common love of Chriſtianity, wherewith you love all profeſſing true Religion, though actually they ſhew little fruit and power thereof; but with a ſpecialty 1 Pet. 1. 22 1 Pet. 4. 8.of love, for kinde, ſpirituall; and for degree, more abundant. Therefore it is called dRom. 12. 10.brotherly kindneſſe, and a ſervent love, diſtinct from charitie, or a common love, 2 Pet. 1. 7.
Where this love is, it will knit hearts together, like c1 Sam. 18 1.…onathans and Davids; making you to be of dAct. 4. 32 Benefits of brotherly love.one heart and ſoule. It will make you enjoy each others ſocietie with ſpirituall ePſal. 16▪ 3delight: It will make you to beare one with another; and to fGal. 6. …beare each others burthens. It will make you to communicate in all things communicable, with gladneſſe, and gAct. 2. 46ſingleneſſe of heart, as you are able, and that by a hGal 6. 10ſpecialtie, beyond that which you ſhew to them which are not alike excellent. Yea it is ſo entire and ſo ardent, that you will not hold your life to be too deare, to lay downe1 Ioh. 3. 16 for the common good of the brethren.
When therefore you meeteHow brotherly love is expreſſed. with thoſe that feare God, make improvement of the Communion of Saints, not onelyonly by communicating in naturall, and temporall good things as you are able, and as there is neede; but eſpecially in the communion of things ſpirituall, iIude 20. 1 The. 5. 11edifying your ſelves in your moſt holy faith, by holy ſpeech and conference, and in due time and place) in reading the holy Scriptures & good Bookes, and by prayer, and ſinging of hCol. 3. 16 Rules of ſinging.Pſalms together.
That your ſinging may pleaſe God, and edifie your ſelfe and others, obſerve theſe:
Sing as in Gods ſight, and, in1 Pſal. 30. 4. matter of prayer & praiſe ſpeake …o God in ſinging.
The matter of your Song muſt2 Col. 3. 16 be ſpiritual, either indited by the Spirit, or compoſed of matter agreeing thereunto.
You muſt ſing with underſtanding.3 1 Cor. 14. 15
You muſt ſing with judgement,4 being able in private to make choiſe of Pſalmes befitting the preſent times and occaſions; And both in private and publike to apply the Pſalme ſung to your owne particular, …s, when & how …o pray and praiſe in the words of the Pſalme, taking heede that you do not apply the imprecations made againſt the enemies of Chriſt and his Church in generall, to your enemies in partilar; alſo know how to confirme your faith, and incline your will and affections when you ſing the propheſies of Chriſt, promiſes, threats, commands, mercies, judgements, &c.
You muſt make melody to the Lord in your heart, which is5 Col. 3. 16. done (1) by aPſa. 57. 7.preparing and ſetting the heart in tune, it muſt be an honeſt heart: (2) the heart muſt be bPſa. 25. 1.lift up, (2) the c1 Cor. 14 15.minde intentive, (4) the affections freſh and dPſa. 33. 3 Rev. 14. 3.new (the heart beleeving) and, in matter of prayſe and thanks, ePſa. 84. 1.joyous.
Laſtly, the voyce muſt be diſtinct,1 and tuneable.
Loſe not your ſhort and precious time, with idle complemēts, worldly diſcourſes, or talke of o1 Tim. 5. 13.other mens matters and faults; nor yet *Act 17▪ 21Athenian-like in a barren and fruitleſſe hearing and telling of newes, out of affectation of ſtrangeneſſe, and novelty. But …et the matter of your talke be, …ither of God, or of his Word and …ayes wherein you ſhould walk; …r of his works of Creation, Preſervation, Redemption, Sanctifica…ion, and Salvation; of his Iudgements which he executeth in the world, and of his mercies ſhewed towards his people: or matter of Chriſtian advice, either of the things of this life, or of that which is to come. Impart alſo each to other the experiments and proofes you have had of Gods grace and power, in this your Chriſtian warfare. And (as there ſhall be cauſe) k1 Theſ. 5 11. 14. Meanes to live, and love brotherly.Exhort, admoniſh, and comfort one another.
To doe all theſe well, it will require a ſpecialty of godly wiſdome, humility, and love. If theſe three be in you and abound, your ſocietie will bee profitable: The ſtrong will not lRom. 14. 1. 3.deſpiſe the weak, neither will the weake iudge the ſtrong. You will be farre from m1 Ioh. … 10 Rom. 14. 13. 19putting a ſtumbling-blocke, or an occaſion to fall in your brothers way, but you will follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith you may edifie one another. You will then nRom. 15. 1, 2, 3beare with each others infirmities, and not ſeeke to pleaſe your ſelfe, but your neighbour, for his good to edification.
You muſt firſt be wiſe to make choiſe, not onelyonly of ſuch matter of ſpeech as is good and lawfull, but ſuch as is fit, conſidering the condition and neede of thoſe before whom you ſpeake. In propounding queſtions, you muſt not onelyonly take heed that they be not o2 Tim. 2. 23.vaine, …coliſh, and needleſſe, ſuch as pTit. 3. 9.ingender ſtrife, and doe q1 Tim. 1. 4minister and multiply questions, rather than godly edifying; but you muſt be carefull that they be apt, and pertinent, both in reſpect of the perſon to whom they are propounded, & in reſpect of the perſon or perſons before whom they muſt bee anſwered.
Some men have ſpeciall gifts for one purpoſe, ſome for another. Some for interpreting Scripture; ſome for deciding of controverſies; ſome for diſcovering Satans methods and enterpriſes; ſome are excellent for comforting, and curing afflicted and wounded conſciences; ſome are better skilled & more exerciſed in one thing, than in another. And ſome alſo of Gods deare children, as they are not able to …eare rMat. 9 15 16, 17.all exerciſes of Religion, ſo neither are they capable of hearing and profiting ſHeb. 5. 11 12▪ 13.by all kinde of diſcourſes of Religion. If this were wiſely obſerved, Chriſtian con…rence would bee much more …uitfull than uſually it is▪
Secondly, you muſt be lowly…ded, and of an humble ſpirit, or tRom 12. 3preſuming above your gifts …nd calling. When you ſpeake …f the things of God, be reve…end, ſerious, and ſober, keeping your ſelfe within your 2 Cor. 10 13ſine, both of your calling, and the meaſure of the knowledge and grace which God hath given you, ſpeaking poſitively, and confidently only of thoſe things which you clearly underſtand, and whereof you have experience, or ſure proofe. Thinke not your ſelfe too good to xAct. 18. 26learne of any, neither harden your necke againſt the admonitions and reproofes of any. If you have an humble heart, you will doe as David did, when he was admoniſhed and adviſed by a woman. He ſaw God in it, and bleſſed him for it, he received the good counſell, and bleſſed it, he tooke it well at Abigails hands, and bleſſed her. Now bleſſed bee 1 Sam. 25 32, 33God which hath ſent thee to meet me this day (ſaith he) and bleſſed be thy advice, and bleſſed bee thou which hast kept mee this day from comming to ſhed bloud, &c.
Thirdly, there will be need of the exerciſe of much ſervent love and charitie, even amongſt the beſt. For ſith that Satan doth ſpite all good company, and good conference, he will caſt in matters of jarres, difference, and diſcord. And becauſe the beſt men differ in opinion, (though not in fundamentals, yet) in Ceremonies, and leſſe neceſſary points of Religion; and for that they all have infirmities, and, while the reliques of corrupt nature are in them, are ſubject and apt to miſtake and miſconſtrue one anothers actions and ſpeeches, as alſo the ends of their actions and ſpeeches; you will need that this bond of love be ſtrong, that it be not broke aſunder by any of theſe, or any other meanes: but that you remain faſt and ſweetlyEphe. 4. 3. knit together in the unitie of the Spirit, through this bond of peace.
I commend this Chriſtian ſocietyOthermotives to brotherly love. in brotherly love the rather, becauſe, 1. there is nothing giveth a more ſenſible evidence of your converſion, and tranſlation from death to life than this. 2. Nothing doth more further the increaſe 1 Ioh 3. 14 Acts 2. 44, to 47. Acts 4. 32, 33 Note.and power of godlineſſe in any place or perſon then this. For let it be obſerved, though there be never ſuch an excellent Miniſtrie in any place; you ſhall ſee little thriving in grace amongſt the people, untill many of them become of one heart; ſhewing it by conſorting together in brotherly fellowſhip, in the Communion of Saints 3. Nothing bringeth more feeling joy, comfort, and delight (next the communion with God i… Chriſt) then the *Pſa. 16. 2. Acts 2. 46, 47.actuall communion of Saints, and the love of brethren. It is the beginning of that our happineſſe on earth, which ſhal be perfected in Heaven. It is for kind the ſame, that onelyonly differeth in degrees.
And, to conciude this ſubject,What muſt be done after aman hath been in company. after that you have beene in company, good or bad, it will be worth your while to examine how far forth you have hindred any evill in other, & have preſerved your ſelfe from evill: how farre you have endevoured to doe good to others, and how much you hauehave bettered your ſelfe in knowledge, good affection, zeale, or any other good grace, by your company; and according as you find, let your heart checke, or cheare you.