Gospel Conversation, Sermon 1
PHILIPPIANS, 1. 27.
Only let your Converſation be as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt.March 2. 1645.
THE Apoſtle (in the 23. verſe of this Chapter) we find to be in a ſtraight what to do, whether to be willing to live, or to die; for his own inclination or deſire it was rather to die, becauſe then he ſhould be with Chriſt, which was beſt of all: A notable Scripture to prove the Immortallity of the ſoul. For if ſo be the ſoul did die with the body, it could not have bin better for Paul to have been dead than to live, it were better that Paul had lived even to the day of Judgment than to have died, and ſo to be nothing and turned into duſt; but he ſaith, that when he died, he ſhould be with Chriſt, which was better for him; but that which ſwayed him on the other ſide, why he ſhould be willing to live, it was this, That he might be uſeful to the Churches, Nevertheleſs, it is better for you that I ſhould abide in the fleſh.
Service to the Churches is the great cauſe that makes one who hath made his peace with God, to be willing to live, it is not that he may live in eaſe, and enjoy pleaſures to the fleſh, but that he may live and do ſervice for God, that makes him willing to live. And then he tels them, he is confident he ſhal continue with them a while for the furtherance of their faith, and that by his coming to them their rejoycing ſhould be more abundant; but in the mean time, whether I do come, or come not, Only let your Converſation be as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt. As if he ſhould ſay, I ſhall the more willingly live, my life wil be the more comfortable to me; it will ſomthing recompence my abſence from Heaven, my ſtaying from the joyes of it; if your Converſation be as becometh the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt: If I may hear from you being abſent, or when I come to you, I may ſee that your Converſation be as becommeth the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt. This is the dependancy of the words.
For the opening of the words.
Only] Only let your Converſation. That is as if he ſhould ſay, be not ſolicitous about me and my ſufferings, and what ſhall become of me, and whether I ſhall come to you or not, be not ſo careful about that; only let your care be taken up about this great buſineſs, That your Converſation be as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt: for ſaies he, this ſhould be the main thing that I ſhould aim at if I ſhould come to you; this is that I ſhould put you upon and give you directions about, That your Converſation be as becometh the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt: And if I be abſent there is not any thing I deſire more to hear of than this, That you that have received the Goſpel of Chriſt from my hands (as it were) through my Miniſtry, that your Converſations be as becometh the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt▪ Brethren, if we had Paul here preſent with us, or preaching among us; or if he were alive and could write an Epiſtle to this Congregation, or any other Congregation, the main drift of his preaching or writing would be, to thoſe that had heretofore received the Goſpel, That they would make it their great care that their Converſations be as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt.
Only let your Converſation] The word here, is a word taken from the ordering of a City, or a Common-wealth, wherein every one acts in their own ſphere, and is ſerviceable each unto other, to the publick good; ſo ſaith he, the Church of God, it is as a City, as a Common-wealth wherein every Chriſtian is to act in his own ſphere, and every one laboring for the good each of other in a comely order, that ſo there may not only be peace in the Churches, but edification of all, and the Goſpel may thrive and proſper, that's the meaning of this word tranſlated here, Let your Converſation; As if he ſhould ſay, Do not think it enough that you have ſome enlightenings, that you have ſome ſtirrings, ſome affections are moved by the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, reſt not there, but look to your Converſation.
It is not enough for Chriſtians to have knowledg, and to be able to ſpeak of the Goſpel, and have ſome ſtirrings of affection, but they muſt look to their Converſations, Let your Converſation be,
As it becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt] For the opening of theſe words there are theſe two things conſiderable:
Firſt, What is this Goſpel of Chriſt that here is ſpoken of?
And ſecondly, What is it ſo to live as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt? Let your Converſation be as becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt.
The Goſpel of Chriſt in general is this: It is the good Tydings that God hath revealed concerning Chriſt, This hath come unto your ears, the good Tydings concerning Chriſt, for ſo the word [Goſpel] the Greek word ſignifies nothing elſe but the good Tydings;foreign the good Tydings that comes from Heaven unto you concerning Jeſus Chriſt, that's the Goſpel of Chriſt.
More largely it is this, As all Mankind were loſt in Adam, & become the children of wrath, put under the ſentence of death, God though he left his fallen Angels, and hath reſerved them in the chains of eternal darkneſs, yet he hath thought upon the children of men, he hath provided a way of atonement to reconcile them to himſelf again. Namely, the ſecond Perſon in Trinity takes mans nature upon him, and becomes the Head of a ſecond Covenant, ſtanding charged with mans ſin, and to anſwer for it in a way of ſuffering what the Law and Divine Juſtice required, and for making ſatisfaction, and keeping the Law perfectly, which ſatisfaction and righteouſneſs he tenders up unto the Father as a ſweet ſavor of Reſt for the ſouls of thoſe that are given to him; and now, this mediation of Chriſt is by the appointment of the Father preached to the children of men, of what Nation or rank ſoever, freely offering this unto ſinners for atonement for them, requiring them to beleeve in him, and upon beleeving, promiſing not only a diſcharge of all their former ſins, but that they ſhall never enter into condemnation, that none of their ſins or unworthineſs ſhall ever hinder the peace of God with them, but that they ſhall through him be received into the number of Sons, that they ſhall have the Image of God again to be renewed in them, & that they ſhall be kept by the Power of God through faith and ſalvation, that theſe ſouls and bodies ſhall be raiſed to the height of glory that ſuch creatures are capable of, that they ſhall live for ever enjoying the preſence of God, and Chriſt, in the fulneſs of al good; this is the Goſpel of Chriſt; this is the ſum of the Goſpel that is preached unto ſinners: when you hear ſpeaking of the Goſpel your thoughts may be about this, this glad Tydings that is come into the world for ſalvation of ſinful creatures through Jeſus Chriſt, and all the good things that Jeſus Chriſt by his blood hath purchaſed for ſinners. When Miniſters are cald the Miniſters of the Goſpel, the meaning is, they are appointed by God Miniſters to declare and to preach this glad Tydings to the world: Oh it is glad Tydings indeed to the world; could there be ſuch glad tidings preached at Hell gates, that there were any ſuch way of reconciliation of them to God, we could not but conceive there would be joy there, they would account it acceptable news indeed.
Now then, Thoſe that do beleeve this Goſpel, or do profeſs it, that they have entertain'd this Goſpel, this glad Tydings, they muſt be careful to walk in their Converſation ſo as it becomes this Goſpel, as becomes ſuch glorious glad Tydings as are ſent unto them from Heaven.
As becomes] The word ſignifies,foreign Worthy of the Goſpel, that that is tranſlated in your books become, it ſignifies, worthy of the Goſpel. But this cannot be meant as if ſo be that our Converſation ſhould be ſuch as deſerves al the good that there is in the Goſpel, No, but Worthy, that is, as much as Beſeeming the Goſpel, as meet for the Goſpel, or as it is tranſlated in your books, Becoming the Goſpel; as he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks his own damnation; Can one eat and drink ſo as to be worthy of the Body and Blood of Chriſt? No, but he that eats and drinks ſo, carries himſelf ſo in that Ordinance of the Sacrament as is unbeſeeming the Body and Blood of Chriſt that he comes to receive; and on the other ſide, thoſe that do eat and drink ſo, as to ſanctifie Gods Name in that Ordinance (as you have heard) they do it worthily, for ſo the ſame word is here, Worthy of the Goſpel of Chriſt. And ſo bring forth fruit worthy of repentance, ſaith John to thoſe that came to him, that is meet, ſit for repentance, ſuch fruit as may manifeſt your repentance, as is ſutable unto ſuch men or women that do profeſs their repentance for their ſins. Further, I find that the word that is here tranſlated Becoming, in another place is tranſlated Convenient and meet, and can be underſtood in no other ſenſe; as in 1 Cor. 16. 4. If it be meet that I ſhall go alſo, the word that is tranſlated there, [meet] it is in the Greek [worthy] the ſame word that we have here tranſlated Becoming, foreignif it be a comly thing or a meet or convenient thing then I'le go: ſo then it's cleer that this word that we have here is, meet, convenient, ſutable, or, becoming the Goſpel, Let your Converſation be ſuch, as it meet for, or becoming the Goſpel.
You will ſay, What Converſation is that which is meet for, or becoming the Goſpel?
To that I anſwer, Firſt, a Converſation raiſed to a higher degree than the light of Nature, or than the Law can raiſe one to, it muſt be that certainly, it is not a Converſation becoming the Goſpel, except it be a Converſation raiſed higher than the light of Nature, or than the Law can raiſe one to, it becomes not the Goſpel elſe.
Secondly, A Converſation ſutable and anſwerable to thoſe many bleſſed and glorious truths that are revealed in the Goſpel, there is much of the mind of God revealed in the Goſpel, glorious truths are there preſented to us, that is a Converſation becoming the Goſpel that is ſutable and anſwerable unto theſe bleſſed and glorious truths that are revealed in the Goſpel.
Thirdly, A Converſation manifeſting the power of the Goſpel.
Fourthly, A Converſation that is ſutable unto al the Ordinances of the Goſpel, agreeable unto whatſoever there is in any Ordinance of the Goſpel.
And then fiftly, A Converſation holding forth the beauty, excellency, and glory of the Goſpel before thoſe with whom we do converſe, here's a Converſation becoming the Goſpel; when thoſe that are Chriſtians profeſſing that the Lord hath revealed the Goſpel unto them, and that in ſome meaſure they have been brought to beleeve in the Goſpel, when as now their Converſation is beyond that which any man can attain unto by the light of Nature, when it is beyond that that any man by the Law can be raiſed unto, when it's anſwerable to the many bleſſed and glorious truths that are revealed in the Goſpel, when it manifeſts a power of the Goſpel in him, when it's anſwerable unto the bleſſed Ordinances that he doth enjoy in the Goſpel, and when his Life and Converſation holds forth the beauty, excellency, and glory of the Goſpel before the world, here is a Converſation becoming the Goſpel; and this is that which the Apoſtle here exhorts unto, Only let your Converſation be ſuch, as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt. Thus you have had the words opened.
Now for the Doctrinal Points in the words, only theſe two, the firſt is but to make way to the ſecond.
1. Doct. The firſt is this, That thoſe that profeſs the Goſpel, muſt have a great care of their Converſations.
2. Secondly, This Converſation of theirs muſt be ſuch, as becomes, as beſeems the Goſpel. Theſe are the two main Points in the Text. I ſhall this morning but make way to the ſecond Point which is the great Point in the Text.
Firſt, That Chriſtians that do profeſs the Goſpel, muſt have a great care of their Converſations, to look to them. They muſt not ſatisfie themſelves with what is inward in their minds, or in their affections, but look to their Converſations; You think, or hope at leaſt, that through the Goſpel there hath been converſion wrought in you: After the Lord hath wrought converſion, he doth expect that you be careful of your Converſations before men: you have knowledge, you can ſpeak well, you have ſome ſtirrings of heart that you have felt in hearing of the Word, preaching of the Goſpel, but now look to your Converſations, and know, there is a bond laid upon you more than ever was, to look to your Converſations: in James, 3. ſee the exhortation of the Apoſtle there, at the 13. verſe, Who is a wiſe man, and endued with knowledge among yeu, mark, let him ſhew out of a good Converſation his works with meekneſs of wiſdom. It is a very ſweet and excellent Scripture, Who is a wiſe man and endued with knowledge among you: What ſhould he do? Let him ſhew out of a good Converſation his works with meekneſs of wiſdom: here is wiſe, and knowledge, and wiſdom again. If you would manifeſt that God hath wrought any true ſaving knowledge, any wiſdom in you to ſave your ſouls, why know that God requires that you ſhould ſhow your good Converſation & that with meekneſs and wiſdom, your Converſations, you muſt have a care of them, both in reſpect of men, and in reſpect of God.
In reſpect of men, 1 Pet. 2. 12. Having your Converſation honeſt among the Gentils: And (the latter part wee ſhall ſpeak to by and by) ſo that Chriſtians they muſt look to their Converſations in reſpect of men.
And then in reſpect of God: In 1 Pet. 1. 15. But as be who hath called you is Holy, ſo be ye holy in all manner of Converſation; There you have Honeſt Converſation; and in this ſcripture, holy in all manner of converſation: ſo that you are to have regard to your Converſations, both in reſpect of men, and in reſpect of God: and upon theſe grounds.
Firſt, in general.
Firſt, in regard of God more generally, that God may be honored by your Converſations. Oh! you that have ever heard from God the glorious glad tydings of Salvation in the Goſpel, Is it not in your hearts to do what you can to honor him? now let your Converſation be ſuch; have a care of your Converſations that God may be honored; the Name of God will be blaſphemed, except you have a care of your Converſations, in Matth. 5. 16. Let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven. As if Chriſt ſhould ſay, What, hath God brought the light of the Goſpel to you? hath it ſhined into your hearts? and hath He revealed unto you thoſe glorious Myſteries of Salvation in Him? O then, let this light break forth and ſhine in your Converſations before men, that others ſeeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven. Some men and women are ready to ſay, what do they care what others obſerve in them ſo that God knows their hearts? I but that's not enough, if it could be ſo that you could have good hearts unto God without good Converſations; but we ſhall ſee that there cannot be any ſuch thing, and it is required of you, your works ſhould ſhine forth before men, that they may ſee your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven. 'Tis one thing to do a good work that may be ſeen, and another thing to do a good work that it may be ſeen; to do a good work that may be ſeen that is lawful, though we ſhould not do them principally aiming that they may be ſeen, but our works ſhould be ſuch, that of their own nature they may be ſeen, but not to make that to be our main end, that they may be ſeen; ſo, as aiming not ſo much that they may may be ſeen, but that being ſeen, men may glorifie our Father which is in Heaven, that God may be honoured. Now God is honoured by the Converſations of His Saints many waies, and therefore they ſhould be very careful of their Converſations.
As in the firſt place, The people of God, Saints, Beleevers, they are the great Witneſſes that God hath in the world, to witneſs for Him againſt the corruptions of the world; If ſo be that you are not careful of your Converſations, God will loſe witneſſes to His Truth: Now a witneſſe is not a thing that is kept within, a man cannot be a witneſs by keeping things within his own thoughts and heart, he muſt manifeſt ſomething to witneſs. The Lord makes uſe of the lives of His Saints to be His Witneſſes in the world, to ſtand and witneſs for His Truth; whereas others they will think when the Goſpel is preached that it is but a meer notion, or imagination, and that there is no reallity in what is preached: No ſaith God, look here upon the Converſations of theſe that have beleeved the Goſpel, do you not ſee they witneſſe, that there it a reallity in thoſe things of the Goſpel? look what a change my Goſpel hath made upon them in their lives and converſations, thoſe that were before proud, how humble they are; that were before froward, how meek they are, and the like; theſe are my witneſſes. Many Scriptures might be given, eſpecially that in Revel. 11. 3. where the Saints in general are called witneſſes: And that's the firſt thing. You are to look to your Converſations, that you may be Gods witneſſes.
Secondly: That you may hold forth the Image of God in the world; that Image that God made man in at firſt, by the ſin of man was loſt; but now through the Goſpel it comes to be renewed, and God delights to have His Image held forth in the world, that men may behold ſomewhat of the glory of His Image: But how can the world ſee the Image of God? They cannot ſee it in your hearts, but now God would have it conſpicuous, therefore have you a care of your Converſations, that in your Converſations you may hold forth the Image of God in the world. It's much to the glory of God to have His Image held forth in the world. As men that would honor their parents, and other dear friends, if they have a curious Picture of them, when their image is drawn, they will not ſee it abuſed and ſullyed, but they will keep it fair; a man that hath the image of his father or dear friend, will not hang it in a ſmokey hole behind a chimney, or door, but in ſome conſpicuous place; ſo we ſhould hold forth the Image of God conſpicuouſly, it ſhould appear in our lives and Converſations.
Thirdly, By your Converſations God may be honored, for you will further the great deſigns that God hath in the world: the holy and gracious lives of the Saints ſerve to further the great deſigns that God hath in the world to do.
And laſtly, They may ſerve to make up the great diſhonor that God hath from others; the Lord hath abundance of diſhonor from moſt in the world; but now there are ſome that God cals out of the world, and He gives his Grace unto them to the end that He might have ſome of the great diſhonor that He hath in the world from others made up; now ſuch as are carefull of their Converſations, as walk exactly and cloſely with God (I ſay) they are made uſe of by God for the making up in ſome part of the great diſhonor that God hath in the world. What honor ſhould God have in the world were it not for the holy and gracious Converſations of ſome of His Saints? and therefore you who profeſs the Goſpel, look to your Converſations that God may be honored by you.
Secondly, Have a care of your Converſations, look to them in reſpect of wicked men among whom you live.
As firſt, That you may convince evil and ungodly men among whom you live in the world. 1 Pet. 2. 12. Having your Converſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that whereas they ſpeak againſt you as evil doers, they may by your good works which they ſhall behold, glorifie God in the day of viſitation. This likewiſe doth confirm what was ſaid before, for the glory of God, and the conviction of wicked men; That they beholding, may glorifie God in the day of viſitation. There are many interpretations upon this place, In the day of viſitation, the day wherein God ſhall viſit them. Though now they rail againſt you, yet when God ſhall viſit them, either in His ſtroke upon them by ſickneſs, then they will acknowledg you to be righteous, and holy men, and wiſh that their conditions were like yours; or in the day of viſitation, if God ſhall viſit their ſpirits to turn them, or in the day of viſitatiō (as ſome think) in the day of Jeſus Chriſt: But I find others looking narrowly into the words, In the day of Over ſeeing, the word foreign from whence the word Biſhop comes, it is an Over-ſeer, now this word viſitation, ſignifies nothing elſe but an Overſeeing; as if God ſhould ſay thus, walk ye honeſtly, and holily before the world, perhaps they will vail your glory, & one will ſay this, & the other that, but go ye on in a conſtant way and courſe, there will be a time that all things ſhall be over-ſeen, all things ſhall be examined, and narrowly ſearched into, and when that day comes, the wicked men ſhall be convinced, and ſhal be forced to give glory to God, and ſhal ſay, that whatſoever aſperſions there were caſt upon you, yet certainly you were the ſervants of the living God, in the day of inſpection, of overſeeing; therefore be ye careful of your Converſations in reſpect of wicked men, to convince them.
Secondly, In reſpect of wicked men, to ſtop their mouthes, their malice, violence, and rage, 1 Pet. 2. 15. For ſo is the Will of God, that with well doing ye may put to ſilence the ignorance of fooliſh men. foreign.The word there tranſlated Put to ſilence, it is to put (as it were) a bridle into their mouthes, or to ſtop their mouthes, you may even ſtop their mouthes by your holy Converſation; Oh Chriſtians look to your Converſations, that by them you may ſtop the mouthes of wicked and ungodly men, that they may not be able to ſay any thing againſt your holy Converſations; ſo in 1 Pet. 3. 16. Having a good conſcience, that whereas they ſpeak evil of you as of evil doers, they may be aſhamed that falſly accuſe your good Converſation in Chriſt.
Thirdly, Yea, you may by your good Converſation be a means to convert other men, to bring wicked men into the love of the waies of God: 1 Pet. 3. 1. 2. the exhortation there is directed to wives that had wicked husbands. Likewiſe ye wives be in ſubjection to your own husbands, that if they obey not the word, they alſo may without the word be won by the Converſation of the wives, while they behold your chaſt Converſation coupled with fear. Mark, how the Apoſtle urges upon wives to look to their Converſations to the end that they may be a means to gain their husbands. I am verily perſwaded that there are many gracious women that would give (if they had it) a thouſand worlds to gain their husbands to thoſe waies of godlineſs that they have found ſo much ſweetneſs in, but perhaps they cannot get them to come and hear the Word, and if they do, their hearts riſe againſt it, or it may be they little regard it; but you by your Converſations may do that which the world will not do, you may be converters of them; and in this ſenſe indeed; there may be women preachers, that is, preaching in their lives and Converſations, and that's all the preaching that the holy Ghoſt allows women, let them preach that way, in their lives and Converſations in their families, and preach every day a Sermon, and neither God nor man will find fault with any ſuch thing, and this is the way for them to do great ſervice for God; and ſo likewiſe ſhould husbands do to convert their wives, you complain one of another, but do you labor to convince and convert one another by your holy Converſations? I am confident that there are many that are able to ſay by experience, this; That the Lord ſtruck upon my heart and conſcience by ſeeing the holy Converſation of my wife, ſince ſhe went to hear the Word, by ſeeing the wiſdom, humility, obedience and carriage of my wife, it ſtruck upon my heart. There is many have given glory to God and acknowledged this, both wives by their husbands, and husbands by their wives; and ſometimes the parent in ſeeing it in the child, or the child in the parent, or brother in brother, or one ſervant in another, it hath been a means to turn them unto God.
In the laſt place, If they be not turned to God, then your converſation ſhall ſerve to condemn them, to aggravate their ſin, and their condemnation in the day of Jeſus Chriſt. As it is ſaid of Noah, in Heb. 11. 7. that Noah prepared an ark, by the which he condemned the world. He condemned the world by that courſe of his, in beleeving in God, and in making the Ark, every nail that he ſmote into the Ark, was (as it were) a condemnation of the world: and ſo the Saints by walking in their holy converſation, ſhal be the Judges and Condemners of the world. Therfore you are to be careful of your Converſations, in reſpect of wicked men.
Alſo, In reſpect of the Saints, we muſt be very careful of our Converſations.
1. For by your Converſation you will rejoyce the hearts of the Saints. Oh thoſe that are godly, when they ſee others that profeſs godlines to walk in a ſtrict and holy converſation, how doth it rejoyce their hearts? it is the comfort of their lives.
2. Beſides, they bleſſe God for it; they not only rejoyce in it, but bleſs God for it; when they get alone in ſecret they are bleſſing God for the gracious, and holy, and convincing Converſations of ſuch and ſuch kind of men that they converſe with.
3. And by that means the Saints they have a boldneſs before men, they can lift up their heads whereſoever they go, when they know that all ſuch who make profeſſion of Religion in the places where they live, they walk unblamably: upon that godly men can hold up their heads with boldneſs, whereas otherwiſe it makes ſuch as are profeſſors of Religion aſhamed, when they ſee and hear of ſuch and ſuch that make profeſſion of Religion to walk ſcandalouſly, and looſly: but of them we ſhall ſpeak preſently.
4. Then further, Your holy Converſation it will eſtabliſh the hearts of the Saints, it will ſettle young beginners; there are many that are giving up their names to Chriſt, when they ſee the holy and gracious Converſations of theſe that are Ancient profeſſors, Oh how are they ſtabliſhed in the waies of godlineſſe.
5. And it wil edifie the Saints, they wil edifie and grow up in holineſs, they will imitate you, and will find the graces of God not only ſtrengthened, but increaſed in them by your Converſations, Oh the abundance of good that you may do; and therfore Chriſtians have a care of your Converſations.
6. Then, You in reſpect of your ſelves, by this means you wil have an evidence to your ſouls of the truth of grace in your hearts, which you cannot have if your Converſations be not right. In 1 John, 1. 6. mark what the Apoſtle ſpeaks there, If we ſay that we have fellowſhip with him, and walk in darkneſs, we lye and do not know the truth. And again, you have a notable Scripture in the 3. chap. 7. verſ. Little children, let no man deceive you; He that doth righteouſneſs, is righteous, even as He is righteous. As if he ſhould ſay, there are a company of deceivers in the world, and they think it enough to talk of righteouſneſs, they ſay they beleeve in Jeſus Chriſt, and it's Faith that is only required of them; and as for the other, that's but a meer legal thing, for men to make conſcience of duties, and of their lives, this is but legal, but let them truſt in Jeſus Chriſt, Chriſt hath done all, what can we be ſaved by our lives? hath not Chriſt done all? Is there not righteouſneſs in Him? Let no man deceive you (ſaith the Apoſtle) If there be not a doing righteouſneſs, there is no righteouſneſs in you, He that doth righteouſneſs is righteous: You have nothing to do with the righteouſneſs of Chriſt as your own applied yet unto you, except you do righteouſneſs; therefore have a care of your Converſations, that you may have evidence to your ſouls of the truth that there is in your hearts.
Secondly, Have a care of your Converſations that you may continue and encreaſe that which is within you; certainlie thoſe that make profeſſion of Religion and have not a care of their converſations, they wil never continue in their profeſſion, mark that, they may be a Comets a while, blaſing-ſtars, but they will vaniſh, & within a little while you ſhall find that their profeſſion will wear away; where there is not a godly life together with profeſſion, profeſſion will vaniſh and come to nothing, their very common graces will be taken away from them if they have not a care of their lives, but if they have a care of their lives they wil continue in the waies of godlineſs and grow up and encreaſe more and more.
Thirdly, Have a care of your Converſations, that you may get honor in the very conſciences of men.
Queſt. Some will ſay, Should we have a care of our Converſations that we may get honor?
Anſ. Yes truly, a man may deſire to have the teſtimony of the conſciences of thoſe that he lives withal, it's no matter for their talking this or that, but that you may get into their conſciences, God gives you liberty for that.
Fourthly, You by this means will be Inſtruments of a great deal of publick good, if you live according to your profeſſion, otherwiſe no body will regard you, you are reffuſe, no man will imploy you, you will be contemn'd and ſlighted, but when they ſee mens Converſations according to their profeſſion, everie bodie loves to make uſe of theſe men, they know they ſhall find them faithful in whatſoever they are imployed, and ſo they come to the Inſtruments of much publick good.
Fifthly, You will further a joyful account againſt the great day; for you muſt be call'd to account, not only for your thoughts, and the inward workings of your hearts, but for whatever you have done in the fleſh, we muſt appear before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt to anſwer whatſoever is done in the fleſh: Oh be careful of your Converſations that ſo you may be able to give a comfortable accompt.
Sixtly and laſtly, Be careful of your Converſations in reſpect of your profeſſion: This ſhould be the care of thoſe that make profeſſion, that we may keep up the ſucceſſion of the honor nor of Religion from one generation to another: Heretofore there were ſome godly people that liv'd, and they kept up (in their generation) the honor of the profeſſion of Religion, Wel-now, we are upon the ſtage of the world; and God looks upon us that we ſhould in our generations keep up the ſucceſſion of the honor of the profeſſion of Religion: and ſo afterward in another generation, as men come upon the ſtage of the world and live here: God expects ſucceeding ages ſhould keep up the honor of the profeſſion of Religion in their times. And this one conſideration might go to the very heart of ungodly men (if they would mind it) that it may be thou art the man or woman among others that keeps up in a continual ſucceſſion enmity againſt God in the world; do but conſider of the difference between theſe two, one mans Converſation is wicked, and anothers is holy and gracious, thou that liveſt wickedly this evil is charged upon thee, that thou art the man that joyneſt in this work to keep up a continued ſucceſſion of enmity againſt God in the world, ever ſince Cains time there was an enmity againſt God, and Cains poſterity kept up the ſucceſſion of it; and ſo from one generation to another there hath been wicked men keeping up the ſucceſſion of enmity againſt God, and thou in thy generation art come to it, and this (it ſeems) is thy work: but now on the other ſide, ever ſince Adams and Abels time, there hath bin godly men in the world, and in every generation ſome have kept up the honor of profeſſion: and now, hath God been pleaſed to reveal his glorious Goſpel to thy ſoul? why now, thou being careful of thy life and Converſation, God imploys thee in this work to keep up the ſucceſſion of the honor of profeſſion in the world. And this is a comfortable life indeed.
And thus we have done with the explication or the Point.
Now I ſhall only give you ſome paſſages for the Application of it.
Application.
Only (ſaith the Apoſtle) let your Converſation be as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt. Have a care of this above all things, Oh you would fain get more knowledg, and be accounted ſomebody in the place where you live, and be an eminent profeſſor where you live; Well, whatſoever you would fain be accounted of, let it be your only care, that your Converſation be as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt. Oh! this point ſpeaks bitter things, and ſharply rebukes the careleſneſs of the profeſſors of the Goſpel in point of their Converſation.
Oh Lord, how have we cauſe to bewail the looſneſſe of the profeſſors of the Goſpel at this day! and I fear, that ſome may be preſent whoſe conſciences may tell them that they are very looſe in the point of their Converſations. Thou profeſſeſt thou knoweſt Jeſus Chriſt, that the Lord hath made known the glorious Myſteries of the Goſpel to thee; What is thy life? Canſt thou ſay as in the preſence of God, that thy Converſation is anſwerable? I beſeech you as in the preſence of God, examin but this, ſee whether thou art able to ſay, Lord, thou knoweſt according to what light thou haſt given me in the Goſpel, it hath been my care to look to my Converſation, Oh that I might live to thy honor, and be a witneſſe to thy truth; that I might hold forth thy image and further thy deſigns, and make up the diſhonor that thou haſt from others in the world; and that I might convince wicked men, and ſtop the mouthes of thoſe that are oppoſite; and that I might be a means to convert thoſe that I live with, or otherwiſe to judge them; Oh that I might rejoyce the hearts of the Saints, that they might lift up their heads with boldneſs becauſe of me, that they may, and ſo I might be ſtabliſhed and edified! Go along in the reſt of the heads. Can thy conſcience tell thee that thou haſt done ſo? No, but its quite contrary in ſome. The Lord ſpeaks now to the conſciences of thoſe that this point concerns, that have been negligent in the point of their Converſation, thou art the man or woman that God hath as great diſhonor from as from moſt in the world, yea certainly, there is no men upon the face of the earth that darkens the glory of the bleſſed God ſo much, as profeſſors of Religion who live looſly, al the prophane ones, all your drunkards that reel up and down in the ſtreets, and your blaſphemers, yea name what ſinners you will, there is non that do darken the glorie of God ſo much as thou doeſt, who art looſe in thy Converſation, and yet a profeſſor of the Goſpel, thou caſteſt dirt upon the bleſſed Image of God, thou doeſt as much hinder the deſigne that God hath in the world as any men whatſoever, thou ſtandeſt againſt the great works that God hath to do in the world, Oh wretch that thou art, what is this a time to be looſe and wicked in? There was never a time that the Converſations of the profeſſors of Religion were ſo pried into as now, and never a time ſince Chriſtian Religion was profeſſed upon the earth that the looſe Converſation of Profeſſors have done more hurt; and I verily beleeve never a time wherein there were more looſe Profeſſors. If ſo be that our fore-fathers that were godly and holie, and kept ſtrict with God were now alive again, they would ſpit in the faces of manie that would think themſelves eminent Profeſſors of Religion, becauſe of the looſeneſs of their Converſations: And this is the worſt, that they can all put it upon Chriſt, and the Doctrine of Chriſt: but of that we ſhall ſpeak more when we come to ſhew how our Converſation muſt be as becomes the Goſpel of Chriſt: Certainly it is that that is quite oppoſite to the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt. The Lord rebuke thee this day, and let this point be as a dart in thy liver, thou art the man that liveſt in this generation as if thou wert born to do miſchief; no men live ſo as if they were born to do miſchief as the Profeſſors of the Goſpel that live looſlie in their Converſations: If I ſhould give a mark of a man that were born on purpoſe to do miſchief, it's that man that lives in theſe times and walks looſlie. What, doeſt thou convince wicked men, and ſtop the mouthes of wicked men? Oh no, thou hardeneſt them, and openeſt their mouthes, nay, all the ſcorns of Religion thou art charged with, and ſhalt be brought to an account for it; I ſay ſuch as live looſlie in their Converſations they ſhall be one day charged for all the ſcorn that is caſt upon the profeſſion of Religion, and for all the oppoſition of it, and for all the perſecution of it, and for all the diſhonor of it; it is becauſe of you, you harden the hearts of wicked men, that they think they do God good ſervice in following and perſecuting ſuch and ſuch men ſo forward in Religion, for they think they are all like to you, what care they for mens talking and profeſſion when they ſee your Converſation looſe and wicked, therefore they be hardened by you; and the Saints they fare the worſe for you, they are aſhamed of it, when they go in the ſtreets and meet with ſome of their acquaintance, Oh ſay they, Do you not know ſuch a one, what he did ſuch a week in his houſe, how falſe he was, and how he plaid the knave? What! one that would go in a morning to hear, and riſe early in the winter time, and take ſo much pains, and yet do ſuch and ſuch things! it caſts a mighty ſcorn upon all profeſſors of Religion, and upon the Miniſters of the Goſpel, and the waies of the Goſpel, all (I ſay) is ſcorn'd and contemn'd and men be hardned againſt it, meerly for thy Converſation; and it may be ſome that were coming on, and began to think that the profeſſion of Religion was the way to Heaven, and for them to be more ſtrict than they were, and to enquire after the waies of God more than before, and to attend upon the Miniſtry of the Word; but ſince they heard of ſuch a miſcarriage, ſuch looſneſs in ſuch a ones Converſation, their hearts riſe againſt it, and they bleſſe themſelves from ſuch a way, God bleſſe me (ſay they) from ſuch waies! If this be the fruit of their profeſſion, and of their talking of Religion, to do thus and thus! So that thou proveſt to be a ſtumbling block that others ſtumble at and periſh by, and doſt thou think that (they ſtumbling and periſhing at thy ſins) that thou ſhalt go ſcot-free? Canſt thou think that thou that art a means to ſend ſo many to Hell, that thou ſhalt not go thither thy ſelf? Certainly there's no men in the world that are the cauſes of ſending ſo many to Hell, as ſuch as live looſly in their Converſations, when they make profeſſion of Religion. Canſt thou have any evidence to thy ſoul that there is any work of grace in thee, and yet live looſlie? Oh! Chriſt and His Goſpel will ſcorn ſuch as thou art, ſuch wicked looſe ones, thou art a diſhonor to Jeſus Chriſt, a diſhonor to the Goſpel, and I may ſay of thee that doſt ſo, as it was ſaid of Judas, It had been happy if thou hadſt never been born: eſpecially to be born in theſe times. But we ſhall meet with theſe again, when we come to the point in the particulars, how we ſhould walk as becomes the Goſpel; this is but only in the general for ſuch as are looſe in their Converſations; for certainly this muſt be granted as an everlaſting rule, That that man or woman which makes not conſcience of every thing in their Converſations, makes conſcience of nothing, if there be anie that upon deliberation, and knowing this or that to be ſin beforehand, and yet for by and baſe ends, will ſin to get monie, or the like, and ſo think to gain or free themſelves from ſome trouble, by going againſt their light, and that upon deliberation, let that man or woman know that they can have no evidence that they ever made conſcience of anie one thing: He that breaks one Commandement breaks all; and there is ſuch a bond in the Commandements, and conſcience doth knit the bond ſo uniformlie, that where there is one bond thus broken, the truth is, all is broken: Knoweſt thou not (ſaith Saint James) Oh vain man, what doeſt thou talk of faith if there be no works? thou art a vain man and thou doeſt deceive thy ſelf. Certainlie thoſe men that are looſe in their Converſations, if God doth not humble them, and bring down their hearts, they will grow in time not onlie to loſe their profeſſion (as I ſaid) but to be enemies to thoſe that are ſtricter than themſelves; that is, when men have corrupt hearts, and cannot get up to that height of ſtrictneſs that others do, they fall to perſecute that way which is above them.
Firſt, They begin to envie others that live better than themſelves, and after having envied them, then they will begin to have their hearts riſe againſt them, and to hate them, and after hating to ſpeak againſt them, and after ſpeaking againſt them, to perſecute them, and thus by degrees men that have been forward profeſſors, now they grow as bitter perſecutors as others, Oh therefore look to your Converſations.
And that ſhould have been the exhortation, Chriſtians be careful of your Converſations in your families, be careful there. Pſal. 101. 1. you have an excellent Scripture of Davids profeſſing his care of his Converſation in his familie, how he would walk, I will behave my ſelf wiſely in a perfect way: when wilt thou come unto me? I will walke within my houſe with a perfect heart. Oh I beſeech you look to this Scripture; I will behave my ſelf wiſelie in a perfect way; mark, I'le look that my way may be perfect, everie way right and ſquare to the world, and when it is ſo, I will labor to behave my ſelf wiſelie, I will not carrie my ſelf fooliſhlie in thoſe waies that are good: and then, Oh when wilt thou come unto me? Mark, it was a time that God was abſent from him, and yet then he profeſſes that he will behave himſelf wiſelie in a perfect way; and I wil walk in my houſe with a perfect heart: There are ſome that make profeſſion of Religion indeed, and if you come to them before other companie, then their converſations ſeem to be very fair and ſquare; but if you do but follow them to their families, and ſee what they do there, Oh thoſe that live with them in their families, after they have been abroad in companie ſhall ſee in what guiz they come home. Shal they ſee their converſations to be holy as becomes the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt? But thus it was with David, ſaith David, Let thoſe that live with me in my houſe mark me as narrowlie as they can; I will walk in my houſe with a perfect heart; what I am in the Congregation or among thoſe that are godly, or any company; I will be in my family, that thoſe in my family ſhall ſee my Converſation to be thus and thus. Oh that profeſſors of Religion would look to this, not only to live before others in the pariſh or the town where they live, but to walk in their familie with a perfect heart, ſo as all in their family may even bleſs them and ſay, Oh how doth my Maſter or Miſtriſs walk! how graciouſly in their whol courſe from morning to night! obſerve them in all their waies and you ſhall not be able almoſt to ſee anie miſcarriage in them: Oh that's excellent, when a man ſhall have a better teſtimony even from thoſe in his familie than from thoſe that are ſtrangers; it may be they think though thou makeſt profeſſion of Religion, yet all things are not anſwerable; but thoſe that ſee it everie day can teſtifie all things are anſwerable; thus it ſhould be wth every Chriſtian that profeſſes the Goſpel, to walk with a perfect heart in the midſt of his family, & ſo to converſe in the world. Divers Arguments I ſhall give you, to ſtir you up to look to your Converſations.
1. Arg. Firſt, It is the mercy of God that you have your Converſations among men to this day, that you have not your Converſations among Devils and Reprobates, it might have been your portion that your Converſation might have been among Devils and Reprobates, God might have ſent you down to your own place to have converſed with them. Let this be an Argument for you to look to your Converſations.
2. Arg. Secondly conſider this, Wicked and carnal men (among whom you live) have no skill in the principles that you walk by, but they have skill in your lives and Converſations, they are able to paſs judgment upon your lives and Converſations, but not of your principles. Godlie people are acted by ſuch and ſuch principles that are myſteries to carnal men; but when it comes to their lives they can underſtand them; they cannot ſearch into their principles, whether ſuch a Doctrine be true or no, or ſuch a thing be according to ſuch a Scripture, whether there be a right interpretation of ſuch a Scripture that carries them on in ſuch a way, they take no pains to look after this, but they look to your lives, there they have skill to diſcern how you walk, and whether you walk to the rule or not in your lives and Converſations, and therefore let it be your great care to look to your Converſations.
3. Arg. A third motive is this, There are ſome things that you cannot but do, that will diſpleaſe wicked men, if you will act according to your Principles. Well, but this ſhould make thee ſo much the more careful of thy Converſation in all other things, that ſo wicked men may be convinc'd, that if ſuch men do ſome things that I do not underſtand, yet ſurelie it is for ſome thing that God hath made known to them more than to me, for I find this, that in all things that I do underſtand there they walk exactly, therfore though there be ſome things that they do that I cannot underſtand, why ſhould I be enraged againſt them? As now in point of inſtitution of Worſhip, which doth not depend upon the light of Nature at all, but meerly upon Scripture, and ſuch and ſuch interpretations of Scripture; and ſuch principles wicked men have no skill in: Now the profeſſors of Religion they are tyed up by inſtitution, and by the words of Scripture thus interpreted, which they think in their conſciences is the truth, they having compared all things together think this is the mind of Chriſt rather than the other, and ſo long as they think thus they muſt follow it: Now there's many of theſe things that carnal men underſtand not, (for they take no pains to ſearch into them) and therefore they will be angry with you for them; and indeed they will have cauſe to be angry with you for thoſe things they underſtand not, if they ſee you make no conſcience of thoſe things that they underſtand; but if in other things that they do underſtand you walk circumſpectly, and that it appear to them that in thoſe things they underſtand they walk conſcionably, then they will beleeve that it was meer conſcience that made you differ from them in thoſe things which they underſtood not, or had no skill in; this will make them ready to ſtand for you, yea to ſpeak and plead for you (no ſuch way to get true libertie of conſcience as this is) if you be careful to walk blameleſlie in all thoſe things that they underſtand with whom you converſe; they will be convinced in their conſciences that if theſe men differ from us, it's conſcience that makes them differ, for (ſay they) we find that in all thoſe things we underſtand theſe men walk conſcionablie. Certainlie a holie Converſation will make manie men (even carnal men themſelves) plead for libertie of conſcience (ſo far as things be not deſtructive to godlineſs or the Kingdom) for ſuch men, they will ſay, were they all ſuch men as theſe men are they might verie wel be born withal, for they differ in nothing but that conſcience puts them upon, (ſay they) for we find them in all their waies ſquare and juſt, they walk conſcionablie. Therefore be careful of your Converſations, becauſe in ſome things you cannot but do that which will diſpleaſe wicked men.
4. Arg. Fourthlie, Conſider that your lives are but ſhort, within a while you muſt have your Converſations either among Devils or Angels, one of the two; and how ſoon it may be, only God knows. Now then I would appeal and put this to your conſciences, Are your Converſations now, ſuch as can give you comfort? Oh I hope within a while I ſhall have my Converſation among Angels; I deſire now that the will of God may be done in earth as it is in heaven, and that my familie and life were as it were a heaven, I would fain have my Converſation in heaven now, and this gives me ſome good hope that my Converſation ſhall be with Angels within a while.
But on the other ſide, Will not mens conſciences miſ-give them, if you would make a judgment of what your Converſation ſhall be within a while by that they are now? are not the Converſations of many of you in your families, and when you come in ſome companie more like to thoſe that are appointed to have their Converſation among Devils?
Why? what's done among Devils? there's hatred Religion, and of God, and of his Saints, there's railing and blaſpheming, the Devils they accuſe the Brethren, and blaſpheme the Name of God; And what is your Converſation otherwiſe than theirs? Know, that your Converſation is ſuch as is an evident fore-runner, that if you continue as now you are, that within a while your Converſation will be among Devils; for that's the moſt ſutable to you.
And my Brethren conſider further, The eyes of the world, yea the eyes of God, and of Chriſt, and the Angels are upon you, to ſee how grace acts in your Converſations; the eyes of the world are upon you watching for your halting, and rejoycing: remember but this; that your Converſations are not onlie before men, but the eyes of God, and Chriſt, and His holy Angels, they look upon you where ever you are; when you are in your familie, there God, Chriſt, and His holie Angels ſtand looking upon you to ſee what your Converſation is with your wife, husband, children, ſervants; when you come into companie, there the Lord God, and Jeſus Chriſt, and Angels ſtand looking upon you: and therfore look to your Converſations.
And beſides, The eyes of wicked men are upon you, they watch for your haulting, and they would rejoice to ſee any thing that they might have againſt you. That place that we had before, in 1 Pet. 2. 12. where the Holie Ghoſt ſaith, That whereas they ſpeak againſt you as evil doers, they may by your good works which they ſhall behold, glorifie God in the day of viſitation. The word is thus: that is, Beholding with a narrow circumſpection; it is not onlie ſeeing, but with a narrow circumſpection: Oh! it's an excellent thing, that when wicked men bend their eyes and look narrowlie upon the Saints, and would be glad and rejoice if they could find them halting, yet that they are able to find nothing. As it was ſaid of Chriſt, the Phariſees ſent to watch Him, but they could find nothing amiſs in Him. And ſo though others ſhould be ſent on purpoſe to watch your lives, yet your lives ſhould be ſo exact that they might find nothing amiſſe in you.
And I conclude all with that excellent promiſe that we have to ſuch as are careful of their Converſations. In Pſalm. 50. 23. Theſe times you all crie out of, as dangerous times: Mark, that one Scripture will help you that are careful of your Converſations, againſt the danger of the times wherein we live: Who ſe offereth praiſe, glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his Converſation aright, will I ſhew the Salvation of God. Theſe are times that you are called upon for praiſes and thankſgiving for mercies, we are bound to do that: but mark, Do not put off God with a verbal praiſe: it's true, he that offereth praiſe, honoreth me; but yet together there muſt be an ordering of our Converſations; and to him that ordereth his Converſation aright, will I ſheſh the Salvation of God: This is that which is required of Chriſtians, to order their Converſations aright: Oh! it's an excellent thing to ſee the Converſations of Chriſtians in due order, all guided with Spiritual wiſdom and holineſs; Oh that man or woman that is careful to order their Converſations aright, here is a promiſe to them: That the Lord will ſhew them his Salvation: What ever times thou liveſt in, though never ſo dangerous, though God apear never ſo dreadful in the times wherein thou liveſt, yet if thou canſt have but this teſtimonie of thy conſcience, Lord, thou knoweſt it is the care of my ſoul, not only to make profeſſion of Religion, but to order my Converſation aright, therefore Lord, ſave me in evil times, Lord ſhew me thy ſalvation: thou maieſt take this promiſe and lay it to thy heart, and comfort thy heart with it, thou maieſt plead it with God in prayer, Oh make it to be a matter of thy prayer to God In theſe evil times, that the Lord would ſhew His Salvation to thee, becauſe He hath put it into thy heart through His Grace to order thy Converſation aright.