Eighteen Directions for Saving Conversion Unto God, Tract 3 – Postscript

Eighteen Directions for Saving Conversion Unto God · Tract 3 – Postscript

p. 13Motives, with Directions, unto Religious Diſcourſe; ſuch as tends to promote Converſion and holy Converſation. By the ſame Author. Thus Publiſhed for the Poor.

THE H. Spirit ſetting forth the ſin of all the Members of the Body, inſiſteth longeſt upon the Inſtruments of Speech. Rom. 3.13, 14. Their Throat is an open ſepulchre, with their Tongues they have uſed deceit, the poiſon of Aſps is under their lips: Whoſe Mouth is full of curſing and bitterneſs. He declares alſo, that our Safety depends upon the right or ill uſing hereof, Prov. 18.21. Death and Life are in the power of the Tongue, and they that love it ſhall eat the fruit thereof. And p. 14that one of the prime things that ſhall be brought to Judgment are our Words, Mat. 12.37. For by thy words thou ſhalt be juſtified, and by thy words thou ſhalt be condemned. He makes our Speech the great diſcovery of our Heart, Mat. 12.34. O generation of Vipers, how can ye, being evil, ſpeak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh. Pſal 37.30. The mouth of the righteous ſpeaketh wiſdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

And accordingly holy men, watch againſt the ſins of the Tongue, Pſal. 39.1. I ſaid, I will take heed to my ways, that I ſin not with my Tongue: I will keep my Mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. Yea and Pray unto God to aſſiſt their watch, Pſal. 141.3. Set a Watch, O Lord, before my mouth: Keep the door of my Lips. They make conſcience of expreſſing the Image of their hearts in holy diſcourſes, Pſal. 37.30. The mouth of the righteous ſpeaketh wiſdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. And count it abſurd to pretend to be religious, if their Diſcourſe be not governed by Religion, Jam. 1.26. If any man among you ſeem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this mans Religion is vain.

p. 15God, for Chriſt's ſake forgive me my treſpaſſes! And proſper unto many others, with me, theſe twelve Motives to Religious and Uſeful Diſcourſe.

M. 1. Our Speech is given us by God for Religious Diſcourſe. Jam. 3.9. Therewith we bleſs God. We do ſo, it we uſe it to the end for which He gave it. It is a Faculty moſt Excellent; and therefore ought to be conſecrated unto the holy uſes, for which it was by Him intended. Otherwiſe, we oppoſe his juſt Deſign, and abuſe his rich and extraordinary Gift. That which He hath beſtown upon no Creatures, but thoſe that are capable of Religion; and beſtown it on them for no uſe ſo much as of Religion.

M. 2. Religious Diſcourſe is the moſt Honourable. Doth God excel Creatures? Doth Eternal Bleſſedneſs tranſcend momentany things? As truely and plainly doth Religious diſcourſe out-ſhine all other. Men, deſpiſe Childrens talk of their Play-things; Princes, contemn Subjects talk of their Shops and Farms; and, no leſs, do New-born Souls ſlight Princes talk of Crowns and Kingdoms, in compariſon of talk concerning Heaven. It is only holy Breath, that is Nobly ſpent.

p. 16M. 3. Religious Diſcourſe is the moſt Delightful. It is moſt apt to Delight; and doth actually Delight Men moſt, when Sin corrupts not their Senſe. As Honey is incomparably ſweeter than Whites of Eggs, when no Diſeaſe hath vitiated our Palates. For, what is Delightful, but Goodneſs? And what is Goodneſs, but Pleaſingneſs unto God? And, what Diſcourſe ſo pleaſeth God, as Religious? And who have ſo much Pleaſure as they in Heaven, who have no diſcourſe but Religious? Prov. 15.26. The words of the pure are pleaſant words.

M. 4. Religious Diſcourſe is the moſt Profitable. It trafficks in the richeſt Commodities. God hath no richer, than what it trades for. Yea, and its words be a wind that do always blow good unto both the Speaker and Hearer. They prevent evil Words and Thoughts abundance of them; if not much other Sin. They awaken the Speakers Mind, and affect his Heart; and give him a rich promiſe of Gods Bleſſing. Prov. 11.25. The liberal Soul ſhall be made fat: and he that watereth ſhall be watered alſo himſelf. Mal. 3.16, 17. Then they that feared the Lord, ſpake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened, and heard it; and a book of remembrance was written before p. 17him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his Name. And they ſhall be mine, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, in that day when I make up my Jewels, and I will ſpare them as a man ſpareth his own Son that ſerveth him. They alſo Save and Convert ſome Souls; and Quiet and Comfort others of the Hearers. Talk of Health and of Riches will not cure the Sick, nor enrich the Poor. But full often hath talk of Holineſs made holy and bleſſed the Hearers of it. Who knows not many Inſtances?

M. 5. Religious Diſcourſe is a Duty moſt Undoubted, moſt Cheap, and moſt Advantageous to do good. Undoubted; for no Law forbids any man to praiſe his God-Cheap, for what doth coſt leſs than words? or what will you ſpend for God, if you will not ſpeak for Him unto your Friends? Advantageous; for in Diſcourſe, you may better know any man's Capacity; and ſo, ſute it better, in the matter and language, than in Preaching. Beſides, you ſpeak ſingly and more particularly, and inſinuatingly. Deut. 6.7. And thou ſhalt teach them diligently unto thy Children, and ſhalt talk of them, when thou fitteſt in thine houſe, and when thou walkeſt by the way, and p. 18when thou lyeſt down, and when thou riſeſt up.

M. 6. Religious Diſcourſe is a Duty of greateſt opportunity. Not a day, but Providence gives you an opportunity, for more or leſs of it. Not any Company you ever come into, but every Soul needs it. Converts, men Unconverted, and men Doubtful whether they are Reconciled unto God, or no; all do need the Lips that diſperſe Knowledge, Gal. 6.10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, eſpecially unto them who are of the houſhold of faith.

M. 7. Religious Diſcourſe is a Duty helpful unto the beſt Miniſtry. The Miniſtry has done little good upon you, until it has brought you unto the uſe of it. But when you do uſe it, you will exceedingly further the good of the Miniſtry. Some will not hear the fitteſt Miniſters for them, till Diſcourſe bring them. Others cannot Underſtand, or Remember much, till Diſcourſe help them.

M. 8. Religious Diſcourſe is a Duty forced upon us by Satan's party. They are all of them, every day, ſpeaking againſt Godlineſs. How can any of the Lovers of God hold their peace, therefore? It is ſaid, that a dumb Child did once break ſilence, p. 19when his Father was ſpoke againſt. Our heavenly Father is ſpoken againſt every day; ſhall he not every day be ſpoken for? He is every where Reviled; ſhall he not be every where Praiſed? All ſorts, young Men and Maidens, old Men and Children, let their Tongues run out againſt Him; ſhall not all ſorts of his true Servants Plead for Him? O Lord, open the mouths of all, and let them ſhew forth thy Praiſe! Amen and Amen.

M. 9. Religious Diſcourſe is a Duty that every good man has had the bleſſing of. I do not think any one can ſay, that all the good he ever reaped, was from ſet continued Sermons. Doubtleſs, all have taſted the good of familiar Diſcourſes. All muſt ſay; that gracious words, dropped from one and another good man occaſionally, at Tables ends, and by Fire ſides, have been worth more than a little unto their Souls. And if ſo, how Unnatural is the cruelty, to ſee Souls about them periſhing, and not miniſter unto them as they themſelves were miniſtred unto? Not ſo much as dropping the words, which, by experience, they know to be helpful. Luke 24.32. And they ſaid one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?

p. 20M. 10. Religious Diſcourſe is a Duty that is inſeparable from Charity. From the Love of God and of Men. If I Love God, I ſhall Deſire his Glory. If I rightly Deſire it, I ſhall Endeavour it. If I Endeavour it, ſurely as I have opportunity, I muſt Speak for it. If I Love Men's Souls, I cannot grudge a few words for their Converſion or Edification. Love is chill where holy Diſcourſe is ſcarce; and dead, where it is abſent. In all appearance dead. Epheſ. 4.16. From whom the whole Body fitly joyned together, and compacted by that which every joynt ſupplieth, according to the effectual working in the meaſure of every part, maketh increaſe of the body unto the edifying of it ſelf in love.

M. 11. Religious Diſcourſe is a Duty that is a mighty Promoter of Charity. Love, I think, is all Religion. The Soul of all. And who knows not this? Love of God is the grace we can leaſt ſpare; but the grace that of all is the moſt ſubject to abate in us. It is in us as Fire in green Wood, that needs continual blowing. And Religious Diſcourſe is an experienced Bellows to blow it. Love of one another alſo, eaſily waxeth cold. But what exciteth that, will excite this. And let Experience ſpeak; who do ſo Love p. 21each other, as thoſe who moſt edifie and are edified by each others Religious diſcourſe? I can Love no Man ſo intenſely as him, who either helps me toward Heaven, or receives help from me. Philem. v. 12, and 16. Whom I have ſent again: thou therefore receive him, that is mine own bowels. Not now as a ſervant, but above a ſervant, a brother beleved, ſpecially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the fleſh and in the Lord?

M. 12. Religious Diſcourſe is a univerſal Miniſtry. All and every one, of Chriſt's adult Diſciples, are more or leſs Qualified for it, and Commiſſioned unto it. If thou haſt not in ſome meaſure Taſted and Seen that the Lord is good, thou art not a Chriſtian. If thou haſt, thou art able to ſay ſomewhat of that which thou haſt Seen and Taſted. And if thou haſt ſuch a Talent as that Ability, the exerciſe of it is thy unqueſtionable Duty. Who doubts but that our Saviour calleth all his Servants the SALT of the Earth, and the LIGHTS of the World? though one Order of them be ſo moſt eminently. But what Salt are they, that rarely drop a ſavoury word? Or what Lights be they, who carry it ſo that no body Knows or Remembers God ever the more p. 22for them? Of all vile creatures, the Miniſters that neglect Preaching, are contemned in the eyes of God and of good Men. But thus far as I ſay, you that are Chriſtians are Miniſters. And if you neglect this Miniſtry of yours that I ſpeak of, you are more ſinful and vile than you are aware. Tell me not that there be ſome, who ſay, that it's not for Children, Women, or Unlearned men to talk of Religion. I know many do ſay ſo; and I know if many ſuch Sinners entice you, it will be your death to hearken, conſent, and follow them againſt God's expreſs and plain Word. Young Men and Maidens, old Men and Children are bid to praiſe God. Even CHILDREN themſelves. It is made the praiſe of the Excellent Woman, Prov. 31. that in her mouth was the Law of Kindneſs. By which, Commentators of the beſt rank do underſtand no leſs than the Law of Grace, the Word of Reconciliation, the Doctrine of the Kindneſs and Love of God towards us. Whereof this rare Matron was perpetually diſcourſing with her Children and Handmaids. To conclude; Our Words have a middle place between our Thoughts and our Deeds; and of a mighty influence they are upon both; and certainly the ordering p. 23of them, as I have ſaid, is a great Ordinance of God for Making and Keeping good our Thoughts and Works, and our Neighbours alſo. Wherefore a needful prayer it is for us, O Lord, open our mouths! that is, give us DISCRETION wherewith to open them, and HOLY AFFECTION wherewith to open them, and deſirable OPPORTUNITIES wherein to open them for thy Glory, and our own and our Brethren's Edification. Amen.

Twelve Directions for Religious Diſcourſe. Prov. 1.5. A wiſe man will hear, and increaſe Learning. Good Proficients will give heed to firſt plain Elements.

D. 1. Underſtand well the TRUTHS and DUTIES of Religion. Read, Hear, Enquire, ſpare no Pains to get a good underſtanding of the Creed, Lords Prayer, Ten Commandments, and Doctrine of the Sacraments. A well informed mind it is, that muſt teach the Mouth, and add Learning to the Lips. Prov. 16.23. The heart of the wiſe teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. An inquiſitive humble man will not long be Ignorant. And when he ceaſes to be Ignorant, he will preſently be uſefully Eloquent. [And it is no matter if he be not gawdily ſo]

p. 24D. 2. Believe the things of Religion to be real. Even as the things that you ſee with your Eyes. Believe thus the Being and Glory of God, the Sinfulneſs of Sin, the Beauty and Importance of Holineſs, the Joys of Heaven, the Torments of Hell, the Eternity of Both. Whatever your Head be, if your Heart be faithleſs, your Diſcourſe will be heartleſs. And muſt be extorted from you too; it will not come freely, as little as its worth will be. But ſtrong Faith, makes forward to ſpeak, bold in ſpeaking, and unreſtrainable from it. 2 Cor. 4.13. It is written, I Believed, and therefore have I ſpoken: we alſo Believe, and therefore ſpeak.

D. 3. Love the real things of Religion with all your Heart. Knowledge, and Faith too, is an idle mute, without Love. They work, yea and ſpeak alſo, by Love. It is out of nothing of the heart, ſo much as Love, that the Mouth ſpeaks. Love maketh the Lips of thoſe that are aſleep to ſpeak, Cant. 7.9. And the roof of thy mouth like the beſt wine, for my beloved, that goeth down ſweetly, cauſing the lips of thoſe that are aſleep to ſpeak. Nothing ſooner caſts out dumb Devils. Who ever knew a great Lover of his God, a ſilenced Man? Undoubtedly our p. 25Affections are chilled, before our Tongues are tyed.

D. 4. Perfect the Subjection of your Selves unto Religion. Be conſtantly and univerſally under its government, in all your ways. Eat and Drink, by religious rule. Buy and Sell by the ſame. Pray and Worſhip by the ſame. For if you allow your ſelves in any one Sin, you cannot reprove others for any. You cannot Decently, nor can you Sincerely. Under the Law the Snuffers were to be made of pure Gold. Teaching, that Reformers of other Men, were to be Unſpotted and Inoffenſive themſelves, and Praiſe-worthy. Exod 37.23. And he made his ſeven lamps, and his ſnuffers, and his ſnuff-diſhes of pure gold.

D. 5. Compaſſionate the Souls that be void of all ſound Religion. Conſider their Miſery; and their Helpleſneſs unleſs help be brought quickly. Remember that Sinners be Stray creatures, from God their Owner. And be ſinking under the burthen of their ſins, into Hells bottomleſs Pit. Remember alſo, that God who hath called thee into his way of Salvation, and hath forgiven thy Sins, will be exceeding angry, if thou hideſt thy ſelf from thy periſhing Neighbours. If thou Pretendeſt that thou knoweſt p. 26not the caſe of their Souls; or Paſſeſt them by unreproved and uninſtructed, as though thou didſt not know it. God will be angry if thou ſheweſt not more Pity upon an Ox, or a Sheep, or an Aſs; yea though it be thy very Enemies. Exod. 23.4, 5. If thou meet thine enemies Ox or his Aſs going aſtray, thou ſhalt ſurely bring it back to him again. If thou ſee the Aſs of him that hateth thee, lying under his burden, and wouldeſt forbear to help him, thou ſhalt ſurely help with him. Deut. 22.1, 4. Thou ſhalt not ſee thy Brothers Ox or his Sheep go aſtray, and hide thy ſelf from them: thou ſhalt in any caſe bring them again unto thy Brother. Thou ſhalt not ſee thy Brothers Aſs or his Ox fall down by the way, and hide thy ſelf from them: thou ſhalt ſurely help him to lift them up again. They be Cruel as Oſtriches, that are Dumb as Dogs. Yearning Bowels will bring forth Edifying Diſcourſes.

D. 6. Covet earneſtly your own Proficience in Religion. In the Gifts, Graces, Services, and Comforts of it. Prov. 11.25. The liberal ſoul ſhall be made fat: and he that watereth ſhall be watered alſo himſelf. To water others, is one way, a ſure one, and an excellent to have God water us. God never muzzles p. 27the Mouths of ſuch as do kindly and painfully tread out Corn to others. He doth then moſt ſenſibly Teach us, while we are Teaching others. Ordinarily he doth ſo, as Experience tells us. I believe we may all ſay, as one great man ſaith expreſly. —I am never backward to help or cold in helping the Souls of others, until a baſe cold is gotten into my own Soul; and it is waxed careleſs of it ſelf. Deſire of our own Spiritual good, will certainly put upon Endeavours for other Men's good. Although Covetouſneſs of earthly things puts upon a contrary practice.

D. 7. Keep a Law of Moral Kindneſs in your Lips towards Religious men, and Irreligious. Remember ſtill that Goſpel Precept, 1 Pet. 3.8. Be ye courteous. Forgetfulneſs of it, is an extreme damage to the Intereſt of the Goſpel. It is an unknown miſchief that one rough rugged word will many times do. How many thouſands of good ones it will prevent, or fruſtrate. Whereas, Affable ones do wonderfully open our Ears, Mouths, and Hearts unto each other. Do not think to impart Wiſdom, where you do not pleaſantly expreſs Love. It muſt be your Lovers, to whom you will have much pleaſure to Diſcourſe. And who will with much pleaſure Hear you. Neither p. 28may you expect to make or keep many ſuch Lovers, without Moroſity and Sourneſs of behaviour abandoned. If Love caſt not them out, they will ſoon caſt Love out; and then farewel to good Diſcourſe. You may ſee how the very Apoſtles were fain to carry it, to maintain their Miniſtry, and its Uſefulneſs, 1 Theſ. 2.7. We were GENTLE among you, even as a NURSE cheriſheth her Children. A winning Affability is as neceſſary as Breath it ſelf to profitable Diſcourſe; eſpecially with weak Chriſtians.

D. 8. Perfume your own Houſes with Religious Diſcourſes. Make it ſaid in your Neighbourhoods, that happy are your Children, and happy your Servants which live continually near you, and hear your Wiſdom. Be ſure that your Lips diſperſe Knowledge at home; and that your Families have Precept upon Precept. Fail not to be Guides of your own Blind. Of your own Relations, of Souls under your own Roofs. Unleſs you exerciſe this Charity at home, it will juſtly enough be concluded Vain-glory, that ſets your Tongue going religiouſly abroad. And by and by you ſhall be told what is true, Prov. 26.7. The legs of the lame are not equal: ſo is a Parable in the mouth of fools. Pious ſpeeches out of a fools mouth, make the p. 29fool ridiculous, and become themſelves contemptible.

D. 9. By Counſel and with good Advice order your religious Diſcourſe. It is War againſt Sin and Satan, Offenſive. For Gods Glory, and Mens Salvation, Defenſive. It well deſerves good thinking; and will requite it well. Wherefore ruſh not into it, raſhly. And do not fancy that extemporary ſuggeſtions are all you need beſtow upon it. I would that upon the walls of your houſes you had written, Heb. 10.24. And let us conſider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works. The Duty required, is provocation of one another by religious Diſcourſes unto Love and good Works. The Means preſcribed, as neceſſary for its right performance; is Conſideration of one another; to wit, of one anothers Circumſtances, Conditions, Eſtates, Lives, Virtues, Faults, Wants, &c. Even that we may ſuit our Miniſtrations unto them with a due heedfulneſs. And take the moſt proper Matter, Language, Method, Time, and every thing elſe to do them good. Thus do, and many ſhall ſay unto you, as David to Abigail, 2 Sam. 25.32, 33. David ſaid to Abigail, Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, which ſent thee this day to meet me. And p. 30bleſſed be thy advice, and bleſſed be thou which haſt kept me this day from coming to ſhed blood, and from avenging my ſelf with mine own hand.

D. 10. Let the one thing Needful, be the main one in all your religious Diſcourſe. Even RIGHTEOUSNESS; Imputed, Inherent, and Practical. HOLINESS to the Lord; the Principle of it, the Practice of it, the Progreſs, and the Perſeverance. As high as they ſour in notions, & in profeſſion, and in vogue, they be not the true Eagles of Heaven, that ſpend their time in catching at Flies. The Kingdom of God is not in Meat and Drink; i. e. Chriſtianity conſiſts not in the Circumſtantials of Religion. Wo to them whoſe Diſcourſes conſiſt of little beſide. You ſhall not repent it, if you determine as St. Paul, 1 Cor. 2.2. For I determined not to know any thing among you, ſave Jeſus Chriſt, and him crucified. The Converting, Edifying, Comforting Knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, Crucified and Glorified. Doubtleſs ſo meant the Apoſtle.

D. 11. Believe Reproaches for truly religious Diſcourſes to be honours and treaſures. Otherwiſe, you will ſoon faint. But you know who thought it their Honour, to ſuffer more than Reproach. Acts 5.41, 42. And they p. 31departed from the preſence of the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to ſuffer ſhame for his Name. And daily in the Temple, and in every houſe, they ceaſed not to teach and preach Jeſus Chriſt. And who thought it Treaſure, even richer than Egypts. Heb. 11.26. Eſteeming the reproach of Chriſt greater riches than the treaſures in Egypt: for he had reſpect unto the recompence of the reward. Neither may you expect to reach their Heaven, if you poſſeſs not their Temper, and walk not in their way. And this remember; it is dangerous to be without ſinners Reproaches; and more dangerous to have their Applauſe. 'Tis its own that the World loveth. The Witneſſes of Chriſts Truth, are ſaid to have tormented them that dwelt upon the Earth; or earthly ſenſual lives Solomons Throne was ſupported by Lions; and truely ſo muſt Chriſts Kingdom and Intereſt be. Daſtardly Spirits will never be Trumpets of his praiſe; for the fear of man brings ſuch a ſnare on the heart, as tyeth the tongue it ſelf.

D. 12. Be Companions of them that beſt maintain Religious Diſcourſe. With beſt Ʋnderſtanding, Zeal, Humility, and Succeſs. Have no other Company of choice, but that which will either Teach you, or Learn from you What will be your Phyſicians, or your Patients. Let all your Delight be in theſe as the excellent ones of the Earth. And be always willing to Borrow and to Lend. To Lend to thoſe that know leſs than you do; and to Borrow from ſuch as know more than you. Otherwiſe, whatever company you keep, it is little, by them, that you are like to gain. For there is no Edification, where men too Ignorant to Teach, are too Proud to Learn: and they who have very much knowledge, have too little humility and grace to draw it forth; except it be in publick places, where they expect applauſe and acceptation with p. 32multitudes. Pious Humility makes us both Communicative of the knowledge we have, and Inquiſitive after more. And it is certain, that by communicating, the wiſeſs do grow wiſer; and by enquiring, the weakeſt do get to be wiſe. Eccleſ. 10.15 The labour of the fooliſh wearieth every one of them, becauſe he knoweth not how to go to the City. The ſenſe is this, I judge: Becauſe a Fool is to proud, or too baſhful and fearful to go and enquire in the City, of one able to Direct him to diſpoſe of his Labour therefore doth he unprofitably throw it away, that it doth but Weary him and not Benefit or Enrich him (Let the Learned ſee in l. Ludov. de Dieu. in Po. Synop…

POSTSCRIPT.

Reader; The Serpents Seed will Hiſs, and eſpecially againſt ſuch Arguments as thoſe, and ſuch Management of them. I pray God they may but Hiſs, and no Sting thy Soul; for their Venom caſt on my Name, is worthy of no complaint or fear. Very probably thou wilt be told, this Diſcourſe is rankly Fanatical. Let ſuch as do ſuggeſt ſo, be told; that, godly Learned Epiſcopal Men have praiſed this Fanaticiſm. Have Encouraged the printing it; do buy it and communicate it. And Biſhop Wilkins (the late honour of his Order,) in a Sermon publiſhed by Dr. Tillotſon, (a Dean of a thouſand) hath theſe words, which are full out as Fanatical as any of mine, Practical Religion wou'd be much advantaged, if men were but more free towards one another in communicating their Doubts, Temptations, Comforts; warming their Affections, and building up one another by MƲTƲAL CONFERENCE. O that we Diſſenters may make good uſe, and not evil, of the honour put upon us in this Nation; by Mens calling all ſerious practical CHRISTIANITY, Fanaticall Presbyterian, &c.

FINIS.

End of the text · Daniel Burgess, Eighteen Directions for Saving Conversion Unto God (1691)