Prospering Profaneness Provoking Holy Conference, Part 1

Prospering Profaneness Provoking Holy Conference · Part 1

p. 119Quaerela Piorum OR, Godly conference, the exerciſe o… … godly, in the …imes o… proſpering p…ophane…eſſe. The ſecond part of the di…courſe, on …al. 3.15, 16, 17. Firſt preached at Butolphs Algate, London, an… afterwards co…tracted, and delivered in Peters Church, Weſt-Cheſter, one Lords day 17. July, 1659. in afte… noon.

Mal. 3.16, 17, 18. Then they that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another.

I Have heretofore preſented this Text to your conſideration, and divided it into three general poin…s.

The eſtate of the wicked. Now we call the proud happy. ver. 15.

The exerciſe of the godly: Then they that feared the Lord ſpake often &c. ver. 6.

The event of both, The Lord harkened. &c.

Have done with the Firſt of theſe; and therein ſhewed the eſtate of the wicked, now wee call the proud happy, &c. Whereby p. 120you underſtand that moſt prſopering providences do frequently attend the prophaneſt wretchet.

The next thing to be conſidered, is the holy exerciſe of the godly in ſuch proſperous prophane time. They are men of activity and muſt be employed; they fit not ſtill when all the World are ſtirring; nay they are Godly men fearing the Lord; and following providence unto the duties thereby dictated, they muſt carry like ſelves in theſe ſinfull ſucceſſefull times; and how is that? Is it to ſaile with the wind? Row with the tide? Follow the the multitued to doe evill? and by the ſucceſſe of ſin, proſperity of prophaneneſſe; to be ſwayed in their judgment to threw off a courſe of godlineſſe? renounce the truth? and recede from religion? to reſolve with the proud now called happy, that it in vaine to ſerve p. 121God & it is no profit to walk mourn fully before him all the day long? Oh, no? this is not the carriage of the godly, they read no ſuch leſſon in all God's providence; they dare not make any ſuch inference fro… the premiſes of proſpering prophaneneſſe: they eaſily aſſent unto Jobs propoſition,Job. 12.6.Job 12:6 The Tabernacle of robbers do proſper, and they are in ſafety that provoke God, whome God hath enriched with his hand, Job. 15.4.Job 15:4but yet they withſtand the inference of Eliphaz, thou reſtraineſt prayer before God, and conclude with David, Ii is good for us to draw neer to G…d: Whilſt they ſee men ſucceede in ſin,Pſalm 3.28Ps 3:28 and therefore ſet their mouthes againſt heaven, and ſpeak ſtout words againſt God, they as men ſollicitous for their own eſtabliſhment in piety under ſo ſtrong temptations, and ſtudious of the ſupport of others; that God and p. 122godlyneſſe may not want witneſſes in the worſt of times, ſpeak often one unto another.

Theſe words are rendered by Montanus, tunc vaſtati ſunt timen…es dominum.Then they that feared the Lord were wasted …nd deſtroyed, (Scil.) by the impious Atheiſts who prevailed and invaded them; the proud who were called happie, and bent their violence againſt them, and the word which is here uſed, is indeed uſed to ſignifie divaſtation and deſtruction: Thus in 2 Cron. 22.10. Pſal. 2.5. But in this place it can in no wiſe be ſo underſtood, it being here uſed by the holy Ghoſt, to expreſſe the exerciſe, not the eſtate of the godly in ſuch ſinfull proſperous times & therefore is by all other expoſitors, & in all other verſions expreſſed as in our Engliſh Tranſlation, Then they that feared the Lord ſpake often one to another and the cohaerence of the Text p. 123muſt needs …eade us to this ſence of the words.

The words might (ſhould we inſiſt on them) be devided into theſe three parts.

1. A religious act or exerciſe they ſpake often one to another.

2. The ſubjects of this act or exerciſe, not every man, but ſome under ſpeciall qualification, they that feared the Lord.

3. The ſeaſon of this act and exerciſe, and that not only when religion proſpered, and was pleaded for: but then when men could ſpeake againſ… God, and the proud were called happie, &c

Each of theſe parts would afford as a very profitable obſervation or point of Doctrine, as from the time and ſeaſon when theſe that feared God did thus ſpeak one unto another: Then, when men ſpak ſtout words, againſt God: And ſcornfully againſt godlineſſe, p. 124and ſaid it was vanity; when none fared ſo well as the worſt; when prophaneneſſe was the only paſſage to preferment, the moſt graceleſſe appeared greateſt, then, when if men wou…d ſerve God they muſt ſerve him for nought: we cannot but obſerve.

Obſer.Proſpering prophaneneſs is good mens provocation to pietie.

Succeſuful ſin is the Saints ſeaſon of zeal in acts of piety; they are beſt in the worſt times, moſt wary to walk with God when all men war againſt him; to cleave to Chriſt. when all forſake him: to adhere to holineſſe, when nothing but hardſhip attends it: to appear againſt prophaneneſſe, when all men appeare in it, and make advantage by it: to ſerve God when men crie generally it is vaine to ſerve God, and abſtaine from impiety, when only they who worke wickedneſſe are ſet up: they p. 125are awed by a divine command, not acted by the current of providence, or courſe of the world: however the proude are called happie, and they that tempt God are even delivered: they dare not fallow the multitde to do evill: But with Noah by faith build the Arke, however derided by a prodhane world, and with Lot, do grieve for, and complaine of the abominations of Sodom, though the men abhor and ſeeke to deſtroy him:1 King. 32.13. with Michaiah, they They will ſpeak the mind of God, though 400. Prophets ſpeak the mind of the King: with Antipas, ſuffer martyrdome and the Church of Pergamus hold faſt the name of Chriſt, Rev. 2.13.Rev 2:13and deny not the faith, when Satan his ſeate is ſet among them: With Athanaſius will conclude, for the faith when the whole Empire is Arrian, and with Luther, enforce reformation, when Pope, Biſhops, Emperor, p. 127and Kings are againſt him: Thus they approve the ſincerity of grace, and uprightneſſe of their hearts, by ſtanding in a ſtorme, abiding the utmoſt influence of temptation and ſerving God for naught,Jam. 1.5.Jas 1:5 leaving all outward comforts for a naked Chriſt and his Croſſe: Animate their weak bretheren, Phil 1.14.Phil 1:14by their confidence for, and conſtancie in the waves of God, under ſo ſharpe conflicts, and ſad diſcouragements as they meet withall: Anſwere, the expectation of God, who diſpoſeth them into trouble, for the tryall of their faith; and expect to have it found unto praiſe honour and glory in the day of the Lord Jeſus, 1 Pet. 1.7.1 Pet 1:7and therefore triumphantly obſerveth their faith and patience: And abate the inſolency and contempt of the wicked, whoſe wayes are rebuked by the good converſation of the godly, their very keeping of p. 126the law is a contending againſt the wicked;Phil. 2.16.Phil 2:16 among whom they live as lights in the midſt of a crooked and perverſe generation, holding forth the word of life.

How repugnant to the carriage of the good men is the Tepidity, Luke warmneſſe, nay Changeableneſſe and Apoſtaſie of thoſe veſpertine profeſſors of Religion that ſquare their principles and piety according to the company, times and places, where, and among whom they live. So long as Religion flowriſheth, they are the forwardeſt in pleading for it but if prophaneſſe proſper they ſhake hands with pietie. and do as the moſt do, that they may be leaſt ſpoken of, what ever becoms of their conſcience they wil make ſure to ſleep in a whole skin: and if their age afford but few Martyrs, they make ſure that they will be none of the number: they are great adorers of providence p. 228unto the diſobedience of precepts and degeneration from all holy men, whoſe care is in times of proſpering prophaneſſe to provoke themſelves and others unto zeal and ſeriouſneſſe in acts of piety: but of this I ſhall ſpeak more hereafter,

Secondly.From the ſubjects of this holy exerciſe they that feared the Lord we ſhoul obſerve this point of doctrine.

The fear of God is the ſpur and preſervation of piety in times of proſpering prophaneſſe. Obſerv.The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wiſdome, Pſal. 111 10.Ps 111:10by it men depart from iniquity; the want of the fear of God is the ground of all impiety and ir. religiō When Abraham travels he expects all acts of violence & cruelty in Aegypt and Gerar, becauſe the fear of God is not in this place: and the unjuſt Judge is deſcribed by this note he feared not God, nay p. 189when mens throats become an open ſepulcher, and with their tongues they uſe deceit, the poyſon of Aſps is under their lips: their mouth is full of curſing and bitterneſſe, their feet is ſwift to ſhed blood. It is becauſe there is no fear of God before their eyes, Roma. 3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. But the feare of God is the bridle of corruption: Joſephs nature is reſtrained with, an hew ſhall I do this great wickedneſſe, and ſin againſt God: the bar unto temptation, the feare of him that can caſt the ſoule and body into Hell, makes us ſcorne the allurements of the world, and ſcoffe at the rage of men, and utmoſt ſuffering can overtake us in the way of piety: and the hand of holineſſe, that wee cannot ceaſe to pray unto God though we be, with Daniell, caſt into the Lyons Den: The fear of God, and only the feare of God is the ſpur of piety, when we row p. 190againſt the ſtreame of the world, & the preſervatiue of religion when we ſee a general apoſtaſie ſeconded, with the height of proſperity.

Let it be noted that this feare of God muſt be ſpiritual, not natural ingenions & filliall, not ſlaviſh as of a vaſſal, it muſt be a feare of reverence ſenſibly apprehending Gods holineſſe, power, iuſtice majeſty, and all his attributes, and that great deſparitie & diſproportion which is between God and us, which was in Abraham conſtraining him, to cry out I…hat am but duſt & aſhes having taken upon me to ſpeak unto the Lord: Gen. 18.27. And in Iſaiah, I am a man of polluted lips, & live among a people of polluted lips & I have ſeen the Lord of hoſt: Iſa. 6.5. The carriage of Saints, muſt be as becomes the Children of ſo great a God, & ſo glorious majeſty. The feare of ſence awfully affecting the heare with the horror of Gods fearfull p. 191judgments, dreadfully diſcerning that it is a fearful thing to fal into the hands of a living God, this led Joſiah to the renting of his garments and humbling himſelf before the Lord; and made the marked of God in Jeruſalem, mourn for her abominations Ezek. 9.4. Stupidity under Gods judgments threatned or inflicted is folly. Jer. 5.2. ſecurity and ſenſeleſſneſſe of the ſymptoms of Gods anger, is a note of ſtubbornneſs incotrigible; and faſteneth a guilt indelible, Iſa. 22.16. Deut. 29.1…, 20, The feare of diligence attending all dangerous aſſaults of ſin, and animating unto moſt difficult duties of holineſſe, as the ſouldier ſtanding ſentinell and lying perdue in a Land of peace, keeping an Army undermilitary diſcipline in a conquered Land, working out their own ſalvation with feare & trembling becauſ it is God that worketh in them to will and to do, of his own good pleaſure.

p. 192No marvel if few be found pleading f…r God & cleaving to his covenant in evil backſliding days for there are not many that fear the Lord: if we will be of the number of the men that ſpeak one to another in evil tims; wil be ſpurred to piety, and kept from iniquity; will ſteer our courſe by precepts, not by providence cleave cloſe to the covenant of God, when al men count it, & carry towards it, as analmanack out of date: will we commend Gods truth, juſtice & faithfulneſs, and manifeſt godlineſs with contentment to be gain when the proſperity of prophaneneſs, make moſt men ſay it's in vain to ſerve God & no profit to walke mournfully before him all the day, the proud are only happy: Let it be our care ſtudie & prayer to fil our minds with the fear of the Lord.

But on theſe circumſtances I muſt not inſiſt, intending to acquaint you of, and effect you with the exerciſe it ſelf which was eſpecially performed by theſe, God fearing men in theſe ſin ſucceſſfull times & that is holy language, heavenly diſcourſe, godly conference the ſweet breath of their ſound hearts, in an hypocriticall age: the evidence of their hearts fullneſs of piety, thus venting its abundance: the expreſſion of their care by the words of the wiſe to preſerve knowledg? whilſt the evil communication of the proſperous prophane did corrupt good manners, They that feared the Lord ſpak often one unto anthere, whence we ſhall propound to your ſerious thoughts, Doct. this obſervation or point of Doctrine.

The ſucceſs of prophaneneſs muſt ſtir up the truly pious to ſpeak often one to another. Or thus

Proſpering prophaneneſs doth provoke the godly to frequent c…nference.

Many are the exerciſes of piety p. 194enjoyned by the Lord to be duely performed by his people, ſome are perſonal & concerne only a particular ſoul but others are publick, & to be uſed unto the conviction of the wicked & confirmatiō of the godly againſt all temptations that aſſault them: and theſe are not only the administrations of word & ſacraments, in, and to the Church in general: but alſo admonitions & expoſtulations of particular Saints, in more private and particular ſocieties expreſſing the thoughts of their hearts by the help of the tongue and communicating their gifts and graces to each other by godly & religions conference. Godly conference and chriſtian confabulation is an abſolute duty, and apparent act of the Communion of Saints; Incumbent on all the members of Jeſus Chriſt, and brethren in the faith to be carefully performed by all that pray for, and in their places propagate the perfection p. 195of the whole body, by the ſupply of every particular Joynt: This dutie is not indeed fixed unto time, place, and order as are ſome other acts of worſhip, and dueties of religion, but to be exerciſed as occaſion calls for it; and opportunitie doth enforce it: no condition, time or ſeaſon is unſuitable for holy conference when ever good men have occaſion of commerce, and opportunity of ſerious communication: yet ſome eſtates of the Church doth more enforce it, and an enquirie of opportunitie to enjoy it, then others: when the tongues of the wicked do walke proudly through the earth, the tongues of the godly muſt be tuned for Heaven when the prophane, glutted with their proſpering prouidences do ſpeak pride and blaſphemy, and that in talking ſtoutly againſt God and and openly affirm it. It is in vain to ſerve God, it is no profit to walk p. 196mournfully before him all the day, for that the proud are called happie., Then above all times is it a time for them that feare the Lord, to ſpeak often one unto another, though our words muſt be always ſeaſoned with grace, and our care muſt ever be to admoniſh one another, yet more eſpecially, when aſſaulted with the temptation of proſpering prophaneneſſe: then our ordinary language, and our often diſcourſe muſt be holy conference.

This hath been the care and carriage of them that feared the Lord in all ages of the world, you ſhall not find the old World filled with pride, ſecurity, and ſenſuallity, but Noah the preacher of Righteouſneſſe will be ſpeaking of, and preparing for the approaching Flood: Nor ſhall you read of the Captivity of Righteous Lot, but alſo of Abrahams conſultation p. 197with his chatechiſed ſervants for his reſcue & conference with Melchizedeck: & Iſraels oppreſſion cannot increaſe by the pride of proſperous Egypt, Gen. 14.Gen 14but Moſes & Aron will confer of the mind of God, concerning their deliverance and their own duty towards it: Exod. 4.14.15, 16. Sauls pride and blaſphemies paſſe not without the ſerious conferences of Jonathan and David: Sam. 18.19Job is no ſooner brought into diſtreſſe, but his friends gather about him to conferre of the things of God, though they make falſe concluſions, yet they diſcourſed right & …eligious premiſes, Ahab ſucceeds not in his idolatry, but we ſhall finde the Prophet Elijah and Eliſha, and he and Obadiah in godly conference: nor can Jeſus Chriſt be crucified and blaſphemed at Jeruſalem, Luk. 24.13.Luke 24:13but his diſciples will diſcourſe as they walk to Emmans, of the things that befell him: nor ſhall the Roman p. 198Emperors in their proſperitie oppreſſe the Faith, and afflict the Romane Chriſtians, but the Apoſtle Paul longs to ſee them, to the end, he may imparte unto them ſome ſpirituall good, that they may be eſtabliſhed, we ſhall not read in ſacred or Eccleſiaſtick ſtorie of the ſucceſſe of prophaneneſs which did not ſtir up the holy conference of the godly: The fellowſhip of the Saints, is never ſo viſible, as in the ſuffering ſeaſons of the Church, Arius proſperity unto perſecution, made the Orthordox, reſort one to another with frequencie. Marian pride, in the ſucceſſe of Poperie made the Proteſtant reformers to confer with diligence, the things of truth and of ſalvation: the late prelaticall crueltie was the ſpur of the Puritans Conventicles (as in deriſion, their holy conferences were called) for in ſuch p. 199times as theſe, if ever; Communion of Saints is neceſſary, profitable, and comfortable, for then they That feare the Lord ſpeak often one to another.

By way of complaint of ſin and ſorrow, the wickedneſſe of men and darke providences of God, that the heart may, be affected with both, and they may as becomes them, mourn for the abominations which abound, and the blaſphemies which are proudly, belched againſt God, his name, truth, Ordinances, and people in this day of proſpering prophaneneſſe: and duly pray the diverſion of theſe darke providences; which are ſo diſhonourable to God and diſcouraging, to Godlineſſe: ſin muſt not ſucceed in the World, or ſorrow ſeize on the Saints without their ſenſible obſervation, and ſad, but ſerious expoſtulation with God, and each with others p. 200[by way of confirmation] each of others ſpirit, againſt the ſtrong influence of ſo ſore temptations: we have before noted, that the proſperity of the wicked, is a very great ſtumbling ſtone to the godly? at this David ſpurned, and had almoſt ſlipt unto the condemning the generation of the iuſt, Pſal 7.3.7.Ps 7:3Ps 7:7and charging vanity on the courſe of piety. On this Peter, fell to the denyall of his Lord and Maſter, making him with more then ordinary earneſtneſſe, enquire his affection to him, Peter loveſt thou me? Peter loveſt thou me? Peter loveſt thou me: It is ſtrange if Ahabs inſolency in his Idolatry, make not all even the beſt of Iſraell to halt between two opinions, and moſt to fall into flat and open Idolatry: when the multitude do evill, thoſe few who will not follow them have need to cleave cloſe together: if ever the fe…ble knees p. 201muſt be ſtrengthened, it muſt be when they ſtumble at the proſperity of prophaneneſſe: If ever the godly will be armed againſt impiety, it muſt be when it aſcends the there, and becomes the ſtirrop of authority, and ſole principle of preferment: and if they will ever ſpeakne couragingly of waiting on God, and walking with him in holineſſe it muſt be when moſt men diſcouragingly determine God hath forſaken the Earth, doth not regarde the righteous, It's in vain to ſerve him: when the ſucceſſe of prophaneneſſe, is the ſoule object of ſence, and the darke providences of God, the cloud of his truth, and check of holineſſe, then muſt Godly conference awe conſcience to duty and animate faith, to dependance on a never failing God.

But not to ſtay long on the illuſtration of a duetie, ſo poſitive and plaine, even obvious to the p. 203common capacity of every ſober chriſtian ſeriouſly ſtudious of Scripture, or obſervant of the ſociety of the Saints, I ſhal briefly propound the reaſon of the point, and ſo paſſe unto the application.

And the reaſons why the proſperity of prophaneneſs muſt prouoke the godly to holy conference are reducible to theſe three heads. It is

Directed by, and delighfull to the Lord.

Declareth the ſincerity of ſanctitie,

Deriveth much profit, & advantage.

Of theſe in their order; and firſt of the firſt.

The Firſt reaſon why proſpering prophaneneſſe, ſhould provoke holy conference is becauſe holy conference is directed by, and delightfull to the Lord: the deſire of the righteous is to do the pleaſure of the Lord, and his delight is not more in them that fear him; p. 202then theirs is to make mention of his name. Now holy conference is a duty by him directed, who doth alſo diſpoſe the time, & condition that doth ſpecially reqvire the diſcharg there of: fraternal correptiō friendly confabulation is not only a duty directed in the light of nature by the neceſſity of publick good, and naturall enjoyment and improvement of humane ſociety, but alſo by poſitive preſcription of ſcripture: God enjoyning his people, both in the old and new Teſtament times, unto mutuall colloquie, and reciprocall conferrence of, and concerning his councell, and their owne condition: we ſhall find amongſt other ſoule eſtabliſhing meanes appointed to Iſraell, that one was frequent and familiar conference of divine councell, he muſt not only learn the law himſelf and Catechize his Family therein, but alſo make it the p. 204duplicate page p. 251duplicate page p. 204matter of his or dinarie languag Thou ſhalt talke of them when thou ſitteſt in thine houſe, and when thou walkeſt in thy way, and when thou lieſt down, and when thou riſeſt up: Deuternomie, 9.7. Family and friendly conference muſt be converſant about Gods Law, let our companie be at home or abroad, this muſt be our diſcourſe, for exciting the ſoule to duty, and encouragment of the heart in difficultie, and to the reſtraint of ſin, it is Gods own direction that we ſhal rebuke a brother, by all brotherly argumentation diſcourſe and conference with him concerning his impiety Levit. 19.17. He is by words to ſhew him, what is right, and what is wrong, ſaith Ainſworth, nor was this religious reaſoning, peculiar to the Jewes, by whom it was in an Ordinany and familar way practiſed: but it belongs to the whole houſehold p. 251of faith, and is more fully enjoined by the Lord Jeſus and his Apoſtles in the New Teſtament: who makes private conference with his brother, the praecurſor of publick complaint againſt a brother, Mat. 11.15, 16. and poſitively enjoins us in days of temptation unto ſin, to exhort one another daily whilſt it is called to day, Heb. 3.13. And conſider one another to provoke unto love and good works, Heb. 10.24. To admoniſh one another, Rom 15.14. To comfort one another, 1 Theſ. 5.11. Jude 20. All which is done by conference and friendly diſcourſe: and declare but the ſeveral parts thereof, ſometimes by complaint againſt ſin, warning the unruly; ſometimes by counſell unto duty exhorting and quickning the dull and diſcouraged: ſomtimes by convincing arguments eſtabliſhing in the faith ſuch as are in danger of Apoſtaſie: and ſometimes p. 252by conſideration of merciemercy, power, juſtice, and the like confirming the mind that waxeth feeble in affliction: ſo that we muſt throw away our Bibles, or wilfully ſhut our eyes if we ſee not holy conference be a duty directed by the Lord, and eſpecially to be diſcharged in evill times when we are under temptations to ſin, diſcouragements to holineſs, and deſpondency in affliction.

Nor is it onelyonly directed by, but alſo delightfull to the Lord; it cannot but be pleaſing to him, becauſe preſcribed by him: and indeed God doth ſignifie much delight in the diſcourſes of the Godly: their complaints he calls for, Let me hear thy voice, for it is pleaſant, Cant. 2.14. Their communication is his complacency: Our Father loves to ſee his children diſtribute his ſweet meats among their brethren: he gives neither p. 253gifts nor graces to any for their ſole private uſe, but the publick edification of the body; every one muſt distribute as he hath received: if the Apostles be comforted it is that they may comfort others, by the ſelfſame conſolation with which they are comforted in themſelves, 2 Cor 1.5. and if the Romans be full of goodneſs and knowledge it is, that they may admoniſh one another. God will not that any of his ſervants hide their Talent, and conceal his counſell; they muſt indeed keep their places, and adminiſter the ſupply proper to ſuch joints. Private conference is diſtinct from publick preaching: and the one as well as the other tends to the perfecting of the body of Chriſt. Private conference in families and friendly ſocieties; and preaching to the Church & in publick Miniſtry, and each of theſe make ſweet muſick in Gods ear, if not marred p. 254in the order: the hand miſcarrieth when it would become the eye, and the foot when it would be the head. Private conference is to bee contemned when it preſſeth upon publick Miniſtry, and becomes provoking to God: (but of this I ſhall ſpeak more in the applicati…n) otherwiſe it is exceeding pleaſing to God: ſo delightfull that David determines the talking of Gods righteouſneſs, as the p…eaſant holding of his ſongs of praiſe, Pſa. 71.24. and cheering of his own drooping and deſponding ſpirits as the help againſt diffidence, hee will talke of all Gods doings, Pſal. 77.12. he accounts it to bee the precious and pleaſant fruit of all his inſtruction and eminently to be eſteemed by the Lord, he prays for that oyl that may make this Lamp ever burn, make me to underſtand the w…y of thy precepts, ſo ſhall I talk of all thy wondrous works, Pſal. 119. p. 25527. Gods eſteem of the holy language and heavenly diſcourſe of his people in prophane times is emphatically expreſſed in the text, when they that feared the Lord ſpake one nnto another the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written for them and they ſhall be mine, &c. There are three expreſſions of Gods acceptance of his godly conference.

1. He regards it, he heareth and hearkeneth, he liſteneth, and laieth his ear cloſe as loath to loofe one ſyllable of this holy language.

2. He records it as fearing it ſhould be forgotten, a book of remembrance is written, and that not in the earth where it may be trampled out by prophane feet, but before himſelf; where it ſhal be cōſerved with care, and free from the leaſt corruption, as fit for his own contemplation.

3. Rewards it and puts more honour on them then ever p. 256Ahaſhueroſh did on Mordecay when by the record of his good ſervice his oblivion was allarum'd, for his compaſſion doth work towards them, he is peirced to the heart with this holy language; his pity is provoked to ſpare them as a man ſpareth his own ſon, which ſerveth him; Nay his complacency is in them, they ſhall be his is propriety and his jewels in peculiarity, whoſe hearts cauſe ſuch holy language in ſo bad and evil times: (but of theſe I ſhall ſpeak more fully hereafter) we ſee then what delight God takes in holy conference, no tender parent can with more delight liſten to the tatlings of her babe; or lay up in her heart the pretty prudent reaſons urged by the child and ſet her heart on the childe, with more ſerious and compaſſionate affections then God doth to his people in their holy conference: nor p. 257is, it to be wondered at; for this diſcourſe is the expreſſion of the thoughts of his holy name which they fear: and evidence of thoſe zealous affections they bear unto the honour of his name, & wayes of his holineſs; and this leads me to the 2^d. Reaſon of the point:

Proſpering prophaneſs provokes Reaſon. 2 holy conference to declare the ſincerity of ſanctity: God loves the truth in the inward parts; hypocriſie is to God an abomination: all outward profeſſion of his name and attendance on his ordinances are of no value without, ſincere ſanctity, and an upright heart, he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that circumciſion which is of the fleſh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and whoſe circumciſion is of the heart, whoſe praiſe is not of men but of God: ſuch as will be delight unto the Lord, muſt be p. 258upright in heart; the integrity of the heart covereth many infirmities, God winks at the weakneſs of his ſincere ſervants, whoſe hearts are right before him: mens care muſt be to manifeſt that holy conference in evill times; as an evident declaration of ſincere grace, ſuch as have ſuperficiall and temporary graces may be forward in common and ordinary acts of holineſſe and religion; but are eſtranged to and careleſſe of the rare and extraordinary acts thereof. Common Chriſtians, make ſome care of publique exerciſes of Religion; ſuch as hearing, Reading, and the like ordinances of the Church in common, but when acts of private and perſonall concernment are to to be performed, they think them needleſs and ſuperfluous; all ſpecialties in Religion are in their account ſingularities, and nicities and p. 259the agents in them deemed buſie bodies, and giddy ſpirits making themſelves over righteous, but the ſincere make conſcience of keeping all Gods commands and performing every preſcribed duty as well thoſe which are private and perſonall, as thoſe which are publick and common: and in this their ſpeaking one to another, there are theſe evidences of their ſincere holineſs.

1. It is an eſpecial ſervice to God, a ſpeaking to him, & for him, cōplaining of the diſhonor done to him, & confirming each others in adependence on him: holy conferēce in ſo ſinful times, under ſo ſad diſcouragements doth ſpring out of an heart.

1. Apprehenſive of preſent affairs, obſervant of the diſpenſations of God towards his people; ſecurity & ſenſleſneſs under gods hand, is the object of a wo. God threatens ſenſuality as a ſin indelible. p. 260I…a 22.13. & non-apprehēſion of his peoples affliction with moſt heavy judgments, to live at eaſe in Lion, and not to regard the affliction of Joſeph is the work of an hypocrite and an high tranſgreſſion. Amos 6.4. But to apprehend Gods anger provoked, and his hand lifted up, the Lord looks on that with delight, Joſiah ſhal dye in peace becauſe his heart was tender when he heard the words of the Lord againſt Jeruſalem. 2 Cor. 34.27. And the mourners for all Jeruſalems abominations make ſuch melody in Gods ears, that they ſhall be the marked of the Lord in the day of Jeruſalems deſolation. Ezek. 9. It is a kind check Godgives Samuel for mourning over Sauls rejection. 1 Sam. 16.1. It is an how long? not why duſt thou mourn for Saul? the matter was pleaſing, the meaſure is burthenſome and to be blamed.

2. Affectionate and ardent for p. 261Gods honour. Their good thoughts did heat their affections, and make them to boil over into holy conference, heat of heart towards God muſt have vent of tongue for God thus when David muſed, the fire waxed hot, untill he at length was conſtrained to break his reſolved ſilence, zeal for Gods honour, grief for ſins ſucceſſe ſets the Godly on conference each to others; holy language is the Ruptures of the heated affections and provoked paſſions of an holy heart. The Parents danger will make that child ſpeak who never ſpake before; Stephen ſpake with ſuch fulneſs & fervency, as when the cōmotions of his ſoul ſtirred by the blaſphemies of the Jews ſhewed him to be full of the holy Ghoſt. Acts 7.

3. Aſſociated to the Saints. Communion of Saints is an Article of Creed, and advantage of grace to every ſincere ſoul: Schiſme cannot p. 261be a ſign of ſanctity, it is a fruit of the fleſh, never was any ſavingly nverted, but he preſently ſought Communion with the Church; for extra Eccleſiam nulla ſalus, no ſalvatiō without the pale of the Church. Saul is no ſooner become a Paul, but he aſſayed to join himſelfe to the Church. Act. 9.26. No member of the Church muſt be idle and dead or unprofitabl, bu… muſt gives and receive nutriment towards the increaſe of the whole body, every joint muſt ſupply it's proper part; which is, and can only be done by holy conference. Good lives and languages are the Churches veins in which the blood of Gods word doth run unto it's ſtrength and growth: ſo that the men who manifeſt life in their union with the Church are carefull to maintain Communion, and they that confirm themſelvs by holy conference in evill times, do evidence themſelves p. 262in ſociety with, and ſerviceable to the Saints. Colloquy is an act of Communion conference is in company.

4. Adhaerence unto God: profeſſions are the ſouls obligations, purpoſes bind a man at his own good will and pleaſure, and are alterable; but promiſes, profeſſions and publike diſcourſes provoke other mens obſervation and expectation of performance and accompliſhment, and ſo abide not within our power: conſcience of a backſliding ſpirit doth bring many of the Saints under the bond of promiſes, profeſſions, and good conference; from which they cannot ſtart without ſhame: but conference of God and Religion in times of proſpering prophanen…ſſe proclaim a reſolution of adhaerency a care againſt apoſtaſy by ſuch confirming ſoul-eſtabliſhing Colloquies. They muſt needs reſolve p. 265to follow God & piety who are fervent in diſcourſe for, and of them when they find no favour in the World: an heart apprehenſive of preſent affairs, affected with Gods honour, aſſociating with the Saints & adhaering to God in times of diſcouragement is approved ſincere in Gods ſight: but holy conference is the vent, iſſue & reſult of ſuch an heart out of this abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh.

2. The ſervice it ſelfe doth not more plainly evidence the ſincere ſanctity of the heart, then the principle from which it ſprings, and by which it is enforced, and that is the fear of God and thinking upon his name; thoſe ſpurs and preſervatives of piety: They that feared the Lord, ſpake often one to another and they were the men that thought on Gods holy name. The fear of God is the fountain of wiſdom; that fils their lips with words p. 264of underſtanding: ſerious thoughts of Gods holy name blaſphemed ſtirreth up their ſenſible diſcourſe: all acts of ſervice and obſervance are not arguments of ſincerity: the dog is Reſtrained and a ſlave made ſerviceable by the cudgell, but fear of a father and zeale for his honour, are onelyonly notes of ingenuity and candor, becauſe principles of obedience, and ſpurs of duty: hypocrites may cry to God in diſtreſſe, but will not pray alwayes, they muſt fear God who ſeeing the proſperity of the prophane will not reſtrain prayer before him: men may be full and forward for Gods Religion in fair weather; but they muſt be pricked with his holy fear that can ſpeak of him, and for him in a foul and ſtormy ſeaſon: holy conſcience is burdenſome to the fleſh eſpecially when contrary to the courſe and countenance of the p. 264world, and muſt therefore be forced by the fear of God, and thoughts of his holy name, when diſcouragements do abound it muſt be an I dare not offend my father muſt open the mouth for God, when the times dictate ſilence to the prudent, they muſt be pricked with an aw of God, that ſpeak one unto another: they that fear not God will ſoon tail in their profeſſion, and forſake the faith: it is only the fear of God can anſwer the allurements and counter poize the affrightments that ariſe from proſpering prophaneneſſe, when men are ſtout againſt God they muſt fear him that are ſtout & ſeek to ſtrenghthen one another for God: to ſerve God, when men cry it is in vain to ſerve him, muſt ſpring from the thoughts of his name, ſo do evidence ſincere ſerving God for nought

3. Sincere grace is not more evident p. 265in the ſervice done, and principle of holy conference then in its ſeaſon, it is performed then when prophaneſſe proſpers, the proud are called happy, &c. Many receive good ſeed of Gods word, who are offended at tribulation; Mat. 15.21.Matt 15:21and fall back from their profeſſion: they muſt be ſound at heart who will ſpeak of and for God when all men ſpeak againſt him, they m…ſt be Cordiall that ſeek to confirm themſelves and others againſt the diſcouragements of proſpering prophaneſſe.

So that if men will appear ſincerely ſanctified, they muſt ſpeak one to another; and be buſied in holy conference in the times of ſins ſucceſs by proſpering providence But thirdly.

Holy conference doth derive Reaſon. 3 much profit and advantage: diſcourſe is not more profitable to humane then to Chriſtian ſociety, p. 264duplicate page p. 265duplicate page p. 266provided it be duly ſeaſoned: that of things naturall and civill; this of things ſpirituall and Religious: as ſincerity is the life of Religion ſo is ſociety the life of ſincerity. The Philippians are obſerved, with much profit, to holdfellowſhip in the Goſpel from the firſt day of their converſiō, Phil. 1.5.6. The lips of the Righteous ſaith Solomon do feed many, Prov 10.21. Holy conference is not more comfortable to our ſelves as the evidence of a ſincere heart, & ſupport of a deſponding ſpirit then profitable unto others by the anticipating and expulſion of ſin: it is no ſmall fence againſt corruption or help unto repentance: It is appointed of God as a curb to our own hatred; and cure of our brothers ſin, thou ſhalt in no wiſe hate thy brother, but ſhalt Rebuke thy brother and not ſuffer ſin upon him: Levit. 19.17. Wrath retained in ſilence works Revenge, as in Abſalon towards Amnon; but expreſſed p. 267in Rebuke, it eaſeth the offended heart and helpeth the offender to Repentance: and on this account, It is deſired of David as a moſt ſoveraign ointment Let the Righteous ſmite me, ſaith he and it ſhall not hurt me, Nay it ſhall be a kindneſſe; Let him Reprove me it ſhall be an excellent oil, Pſal. 141.5. Chriſtian conference is preſcribed of God as an antidote to the venome of cuſtome in ſin. Exhort one another daily whileſt it is called to day, leaſt any of you be hardened through the deceitfulneſs of ſin, Heb. 3.13. Fraternall correption is a skilfull ſetting of a lapſed ſoul in joynt,foreign. Gal. 6.1.Gal 6:1 Reſtoring the fallen brother with meekneſſe; private conference is the firſt corraſive of ſin, & muſt precede publick cenſure in the enforcement of a ſinners repentance Complaints againſt ſinners are not allowable whilſt private conference meets with acceptance andMat. 18.15.16.17.Matt 18:15Matt 18:16Matt 18:17 p. 268ſucceſs, nor doth this benefit of holy conference appear more by the preſcription then by the probation of it; many experiments of its efficacy are left in ſacred and Eccleſiaſtique ſtory. David was reſtrained from acting his ſelf Revenge conceived againſt Naboth, 30.31.35. Sam. 25.by the prudent conference had with Abigail: whom and whoſe advice he bleſſeth, and the private diſcourſe between him and Nathan did a waken his conſcience unto repentance for his murther and adultery in which he lay a long time:2. Snm. 12. the woman of Samaria was convinced and converted by the holy and familiar conference of our Lord Jeſus. John 4.John 4The Iberians were converted by the holy conference of a Captive maid; Edeſius & Frumentius both private Chriſtians by their good diſcourſe brought the Indians to the Chriſtians faith: Juſtin Martir tells us in his 2^d. Apology p. 269that he came to the Chriſtian faith: by the conſtant patience of the Martyrs and the holy conference of a certain grave old man, who met him in the walks of his retirement; and Junius profeſſeth of himſelf; that he eſcaped the ſnares of Atheiſme in which he was entangled by the plain and fervent diſcourſe of an ordinary Country man in Florence; and Latimer was recovered from Popery by the private confernce of Bilſney. So ſerviceable is holy conference to converſion of ſouls; that the very reward thereof is promiſed to it: if any man Erre from the faith, and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth the ſinner from the error of his way, ſhall ſave a ſoul from death, and ſhall hide a multitude of ſin; is the encouragement of Chriſtian conference urged by the Apoſtle James, 5.19.20. The wiſe ſhall ſhine as the firmament, p. 270and they that turn many to Righteouſneſſe as the ſtarrs for ever and ever: is the aſſurance given by the Angel, Dan. 12.2. So that if in times of ſore temptation, by the ſucceſſe of ſin, we are deſirous to prevent impiety and Recover any that are fallen under this proſpering prophaneſſe, we muſt be provoked to be frequent and fervent in holy con…erence.

2. It is profitable to excite, and animate unto duty: holineſſe is ſupernaturall to mans heart, and above his reach, he muſt ſtrain and ſtretch till tired, that will work out his own ſalvation: Nay it is contranatarall to corrupt man, the naturall man is at an enmity with God; He that walks with God, walks up hill, Roweth againſt tide; and ſaileth againſt winde and cannot but be wearied and finde many times their very ſpirits faile: but eſpecially p. 271when under the ſtorms of proſpering providences to prophaneſſe and the diſcouragements of ſucceſſefull ſin; the ſtouteſt heart will finde work enough to keep his ſtation, and bear up againſt the weather; it is indeed a lively faith that keeps the ſoul then fixed, and hopes from fainting, God, as ſenſible of our flagging ſpirits, hath left us Cordiall counſels and promiſes, to encourage us and earneſt cautions to quicken our faith,Gal. 6.9. 1 Theſ. 3.13: Rev. 2.15.Gal 6:91 Thess 3:13Rev 2:15 as be not weary of wel doing ye ſhal reap if ye faint not Having begun in the ſpirit, do not end in the fleſh; Hold faſt that thou haſt let no man take thy Crown & the like: Yet ſo dull are our hearts ſo drouſie our ſpirits, that the beſt of Chriſts Diſciples may rejoyce in the compaſſion of their maſter which maketh him conclude when he findes them ſleeping: The ſpirit indeed is willing but the p. 272fleſh is weak; even the ſtouteſt David is ready to faint with waiting long on the Lord, and to ſlack in holineſſe and ſay as the wicked it is in vain to ſerve God, when he conſidereth the proud are called happy, they who tempt God are delivered: but holy conference is an help to our weak and ſainting ſpirits; ſociety is ſerviceable in heavens way. They travel chearfully in the Communion of Saints who would be tyred alone. Two are better then one, ſaith the preacher they help one the other, and they hearten one the other. Eccleſ. 4.10.11. If at any time we wax dull in duty, and begin to draw heavily in the yoak of Chriſt; the words of the wiſe are as Goads & as nails to ſpur, and quicken us: if we grow faint and feeble that our ſpirits do begin to be drooping and deſpondent as ointment, and perfume Rejoyce the heart. So doth the ſweetneſſe p. 273of a mans friend by hearty councell Prov. 27.9. Cold hearts in hard times are warmed and heated by holy conference, conſider one another to provoke unto love and good works; ſaith the Apoſtle Heb. 10.20. The Greek word is conſider one another into a Taroxiſme; a violent heat as the fit of an Ague or burning of a Feaver: to make each other earneſt and vigorous in love and good works; for the dulleſt ſpirit is ſharpened by holy conference as an Edge-tool is ſharpned by a whetſtone, as Iron ſharpneth Iron, ſo a man ſharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Prov. 27.17. by colloquie, debates, conference, familiar diſputes, ſpeaking one to another, ſaith Mer…er and Lavater on the text: the heathen do much mention the quickning efficacy of conference, Euripides makes it the mother of all arts, and Cicero, the p. 274means of all wiſedome and councell: the quickner of all diligence, heating benummed members with rubbing: and what force ſoever is in conference, is the profit of the Saints, when the conference is Chriſtianized in the matter and manner of it: for thereby we are encouraged in difficulties, enlivened in deadneſſe, enlightned in darkneſſe; as Gregory Nazianzen notes, Chriſtians ſharpen each others ſpirits by their conference, as Boars ſharpen their tuſhes by rubbing them one againſt another.

3. Holy conference is proſitable to eſtabliſh in the faith and fear of God, profeſſed by us: faith is the firſt & foundation of grace of the ſoul, al our ſanctity, nay our very ſalvation is dependant on our faith: holding faſt the profeſſion of our faith, is the great duty of a Chriſtian; of all graces faith is moſt eſteemed p. 275by the Lord, it is found unto praiſe and honour and glory at the day of judgment. 1 Pet. 1.7. And therefore our Saviour prayeth that our faith fail not. Luke. 22, 32. And faith is moſt envied by the Devill, all his temptations are to overthrow our faith, this is the only errand of all the allurements of proſpering prophaneneſſe, and the threat… that are ſounded out by ſucceſſeful ſin, if at any time, we make ſhipwrack of faith we looſe ſalvation: but holy conference is a means for confirmation, making known common perſwaſion; and by a friendly debate, removing all ſcruples and doubts which ariſe in the ſoul; the only errand of Pauls expedition to Rome was Conference, and the only end of that conference, the confirmation of the Saints in the faith of Chriſt: I long to ſee you to the end I may impart to you ſome ſpirituall good that your faith may p. 276be eſtabliſhed. Rom. 1.11.12. The Lord Jeſus, whileſt upon earth, and before his death, did not onelyonly familiarly cōfer with, & explain to his Diſciples the miſteries of ſalvation which he preached to others in parables, unto the confirmation of their faith therein, but alſo after his Reſurrection he condeſcended to aſſociate with the two Diſciples as they walked to Emmaus; Luke 24.Luke 24and familiarly to conferre of his own ſufferings and confirm them in the faith of his Reſurrection: Thus alſo he in a friendly manner did conferre with the two Maries, and with the Eleven Diſciples; when they ſate at meat and with the other Diſciples when fiſhing. So excellent & advantagious is holy conference for confirmation in the faith; that it is honoured by the exerciſe of the Authour and Finiſher of our faith: It is alſo enjoyned unto all p. 277the Saints: for the ſupport each of other in dayes of ſeduction and apoſtacy from the faith. Jude 20. Builde up one another in your moſt holy faith: Saints have the inſpection of one another and muſt endeavour the eſtabliſhments and edification one of another, and there is no way within their capacity whereby they may perform it, but holy conference.

We ſee then that if the godly have any care of divine direction and delight; deſire to declare the ſincerity of their ſanctity & dilight in the expulſion of ſin, excitation one of another to duty, and eſtabliſhment each of other in their moſt holy faith, they muſt in times of ſins ſucceſſe, ſpeak often one to another, by proſpering prophaneſſe, be provoked to godly conference: but I haſten unto the uſe and application of this doctrine, which will be

p. 278Reproof for the neglect of this duty, exhortation unto the diſcharge thereof.

The firſt uſe I ſhall make of this doctrine is, by way of Reproof ſeeing proſpering prophaneſſe; ſhould provoke holy conference. They are juſtly to be blamed who profeſſing to the fear of God, fall ſhort in this duty and ſpeak not one to another of the things of God: conference is indeed common among men but it is ſeldom good, Rarely holy; moſt men are unacquainted with the language of Canaan, and unskilled in heavenly diſcourſe: the moſt of men ſeem to have ſet up Davids reſolution though on different principles, to keep a watch before their lips; and to Refraine from good talk in the ſight of the wicked: for ſaints, when they meet, ſeem ſtrange and unacquainted each with other; opportunities of holy intercourſe p. 279are little looked after, and when accidentally offered, we meet each with other, as men of no Relation and little affection, our language carrieth with it no life, counſell or comfort, or beſpeaketh us to be men devoted to the world, and drowned in the earth ſpeaking of nothing but worldly affairs: Though times are evil, ſin is advanced, and ſad affliction on the godly, ſnares and temptations are on the beſt of men, and run them one ſtraits not well knowing what to do, every tongue is tipped with blaſphemy and diſcountenanceth piety; ſaying it is in vain to ſerve God, yet we who profeſſe ſpeciall Relation to God and each to other in the Lord, keep at diſtance each from other; and walk alone in ſuch evil times, and when occaſionally we meet make little or no mention of the ways of God, Caſe and Condition p. 280of the Church, or cauſe of Religion: complaints of evil and confirmations in good are to us ſtrange language and ſuch as either wee know not how through our ignorance, or are afraid through our weakneſſe to adminiſter each to other: we ſhall not deny but there is a time to ſpeak and there is a time to be ſilent and the multitude of words many times are the notes of folly, therefore, he that hath knowledge will ſpare his words, and that a fool ſtopping his lips may bee judged prudent. Prov. 17, 27. But muſt caution in ſpeaking, be the barre of holy conference? muſt we flie from the fools babling into prophane mens ſilence of the things of God? can the tongue chuſe but ſpeake out of the abundance of the heart? will not holy affections boil in our boſoms untill they bubble out in heavenly diſcourſes? muſt not the lips of p. 279the wiſe ſeed many? and if ever be the time of ſpeaking one to another; muſt it not be when the wicked do ſpeak againſt the godly & their holy practiſes, when God is diſhonoured Religion degraded and danger of ſeduction and apoſtaſie from truth and piety very palpable, becauſe the proud are called happy, &c. But you will ſay this ſeaſon of ſins ſucceſſe and proſpering prophaneſſe; is an evill time in which the Prophet ſaith, the prudent ſhall keep ſilence, Amos. 5.13. But doth this evil of the times engage an abſolute ſilence? though the prudent are prohibited by the Rage and violence of the wicked, who hate him that Rebuketh in the gate and abhor him that ſpeaketh uprightly, verſe 10. Yet the Prophets of God muſt ſpeak …y a loud, and not ſpare to tell Judah of her ſins: the fear of the Saw did not ſilence, p. 280Iſaiahs propheſie; nor the terrors of the dungeon tongue-tie Jeremiah; nor yet the ſcourge, priſon and proud commands, no more to ſpeak in the name of Jeſus, ſtop the miniſtry of the goſpell: but you are not in awe of office, and ſo bound to ſpeak againſt oppoſition, private Saints we grant may with much prudence be ſilent, when like to be made an offendor for a word: but yet not altogether ſilent neither; though you ſpeak not to the wicked, may you not ſpeak one to another? though not to the conviction of the proud and prophane, may you not conferre to the confirmation each of of others? when ſhould godly conference more abound then when open checks will not bee endured by the wicked? if any thing do drive the people of God to joint complaints and mutuall communication p. 281of gifts and graces it muſt be the times that are thus evill: and therefore Chriſtian ſoules, you who ſhun the ſociety each of other, and abide ſilent in ſinfull times, abſtaining from holy conference as ſtrange or dangerous; let me tell you there is ſin upon you, and you are greatly to be blamed for the neglect of anindiſpenſible duty and failing in the exerciſe profitable to your ſelves and honourable to your God: and your ſin is capable of theſe ſad aggravations.

1 You degenerate from your pious progenitors. I have before mentioned many examples of the pious who were frequent and fervent in holy conference eſpecially in evill times, as amongſt others theſe in our Text, who did ſpeake often one to another: the Corinthians did abound in p. 284ſpeech and wiſedom one toward another. 1 Cor. 1.5. And the Romans were filled with all knowledge admoniſhing one another. Rom. 15.14. And the Philipians continned in fellowſhip from the firſt day of their converſion. The Virgin Mary could not contain the good news brought her by the Angell, but up ſhe went to th… hill Country, to conferre of them with her couſen Elizabeth: hath not Catechizing been the object of Popiſh, and conference of prelaticall rage in our Nation, witneſſe the bulla Papalis, condemning Catechizing, and the late Prelates complaint of, and conteſts againſt Conventicles: how did not the Proteſtants in Queen Maries dayes confirm one another unto Martyrdome. It is ſtoried of Rawlius White a poor fiſher man in Cardiffe in Wales that hee, not being able to read, p. 283did by the reading of his little boy and conference with good men, (in the time of King Edward the ſixt) gain ſuch knowledge that hee became an inſtructer of others, going to his neighbours and conferring with them, hee did prepare himſelfe and them for the patient undergoing the bloudy perſecution in Queen Maries dayes. I need not multiply inſtances of this nature, you that have been obſervant of the godly (wickedly and falſly called Puritans (well know the common and commendable courſe of conference by them uſed ſuch Communion of Saints, eomplaining of ſin and Gods ſad judgments hath been the event of evil times in England as hath cauſed this note to be left upon our Nation.

p. 282Angelica gens eſt optima ſtens peſſima ridens.

England is beſt all in black, when proſpering prophaneneſſe provoketh holy conference, then doth piety moſt flouriſh: can you call your ſelves brethren to the Saints, and ſo baſely degenerate from their practice?

2. You demonſtrate your ſelves dead members in Chriſt's body: and that becauſe your ſilence in ſuch ſinfull ſad times doth beſpeak you in ſenſible and unprofitable: without any feeling of Gods diſhonour and Religious danger or zeal for the Lords glory and the ſafety of piety, I have before told you warm affections muſt word it, and have vent by good expreſſions. It is impoſſible for an holy heart to bee tongue-tied. Davids holy heart and heated paſſions wil burſt the padlock of reſolved ſilence; p. 283and conſtrain good conference: eſpecially if enforced with the deſire of our brethrens profit for ſuch as are ſlack in holy conference are unprofitable, for the ſouls of men, are no way fed but by the lips of the wiſe, or preſerved from falling, but by the underſtanding of the prudent: though every act of wo…ſhip in the Church is an act of Communion with the Church, yet gifts and graces are only communicated to the members thereof in Colloquie: Saints ſtand charged each with other, and the joints muſt ſupply their places by mutuall conferences adminiſtring nouriſhment to the whole body: lively and profitable Chriſtians do in evill times enquire the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, ſaying one to another come and let us joyn our ſelves unto the Lord in a perpetuall p. 282Covenant. And in evill times they ſay every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, what hath the Lord anſwered, and what hath hee ſpoken: they do ſtand charged with the ſouls each of other, and are therefore bound to exhort, rebuke, admoniſh, comfort, & edifie one another. And if ever the life of grace muſt bee manifeſted by acts communication, it muſt bee in evill times the hour of temptation which commeth on them: in a day of generall defection and diligent ſeduction, the Saints muſt edifie one another in their moſt holy faith, and ſave one another with fea…e, pulling them out of the fire: if you are will ng to witneſſe your ſelves ſtupid under Gods heavy judgments, ſenceleſſe of Gods glory and the welfare of Religion, and liveleſſe, uſeleſſe members in the body, you may with due ſhame ſtand at diſtance p. 287each from other, and ſmother thoughts of God in your own breſts, for want of vent by holy conference, but conſider profeſſion of the tongue is no leſſe uſefull to ſalvation then the perſwaſion of the heart: and withholding counſell from the weak in evill times is wickedneſſe.

3. You diſgrace Religion and are condemned by the wicked of the World, whilſt you ſinfully ſuggeſt that ſanctity deſtroyeth ſociety, and maketh the ungodly conclude Religion a ſolitary condition in which communion is not to be enjoyed: whereas indeed holineſſe is a bond of union and ground of Communion, which whilſt it ſeperates us from the Tabernacles of the wicked ſeateth us in the Temple of God; and doth not more divide us from the ſociety of the prophane then drive us into the Cōmunion with the Saints the ſcope p. 288of ſanctity is to turn the ſtream and direct mens thoughts and expreſſions into an holy channell, which not being thus employed makes Religion look like the Ruine of charity, and that which barrs all kind of counſell admonition or conference. The men of this world are wiſer in their generations then the children of the kingdom; they are Reduced into no ſtraits but they run together and counſel each other to eſcape and evade them: they agitate no affairs in the world, but by good counſell and ordinary conference, men that ſeduce from the truth are diligent and dextrous in their diſcourſes:: Chatechizing and conference the two great preſerva ive of truth and Religion have been exerciſed as eminent means of ſeduction, whileſt neglected by ſuch as ſhould be eſtabliſhed by them: is p. 289it not aſhame that the enemies of God ſhould beat us at our own weapon? Popery Arianiſme, Socincaniſme, Anabaptiſm, and other hereſies are propagated, hy Catechiſing and conference whileſt theſe edifying exerciſes are omitted and ſlighted by the profeſſors of truth: in the affairs of this world we are common in Counſels and mutuall Colloquies, but mindleſſe of the great concernments of ſalvation.

Let it therefore be our ſhame that we are ſo ſlack unto acts of Communion; and ſo careleſſe of this eminent means of confirmation, and the rather for that the ſucceſſe of ſin ſhould ſtir us up; unto the frequent diſcharge thereof: Lay your hands on your hearts and bluſh who are profeſſors of the ſame faith, and worſhippers of the ſame God: pretenders to the ſame covenant and p. 290priviledges and yet ſuch ſtrangers unto each other; and ſo much unacquainted that you ſpeak not unto the comfort & confirmation one of another: Repent your ſinfull neglect of theſe ſociable ſoul-edifying acts of conference; or renounce your relation to the Saints, who have gone before you: of whoſe ſpirit you do not partake: Nay renounce your relation to God and his people, of, and to whom you ſpeak ſo little that you ſeem inſenſible of their eſtate; and unprofitable to their ſouls.

The 2. Uſe that I ſhall make of this doctrine, is of exhortation to ſtir up the godly to be frequent in holy conference; to get together and ſpeak often one to another. This is the duty incumbent on you that fear the Lord, and cannot but be diſcharged by you whoſe hearts are full of thoughts, of Gods holy name if you are indeed in union, p. 291maintain the Communion of Saints, and whilſt you ſit joyntly under the ſame miniſtrations of grace; fail not in your places and capacities to miniſter one to another. Conſider Chriſtian brethren, Scripture as well as nature doth teach us it is not good to be alone; we are not born for our ſelves, we are members one of another; we muſt ſeek every man the good of his neighbour, the things of others not our own things: ſolitude is not more burdenſome and dangerous to nature then to grace; nor more unſuitable to man then to a Chriſtian: much hurt have the godly received by ſolitarineſſe; when David exilde from Iſrael, did walk alone in the land of the Philiſtins, he fell into diffidence and deſpondency and blaſphemous conceits; that God had forgotten to be gracious; he had in vain waſhed his hands and cleanſed p. 293his heart in innocency: and when Peter wandered alone in the high Prieſts hall, he was overcome with the temptation to deny his maſter: Profit of holy conference is ever great but moſt in evil times, by it we are eſtabliſhed in holineſſe; kept from falling, Reſtored when fallen; ſtrengthened in the day of temptation? quickened when dead and dull in duty. It is the very veins of the Church by which every joynt ſupplieth its place unto the edification, of the body there is not more profit then priviledge in holy conference: It is the Communion of Saints and fellowſhip of the Goſpel, the comunication of the gifts and graces of Gods holy ſpirits: it gives counſell in doubts and ſtraits, comfort in deſpondencies and ſorrows. It is the vent of grief eaſeth our hearts of the burden of ſad apprehenſions by p. 292friendly cōplaints: it is the expreſſion of zeal which would burn; he uphold of the heart, by the Common conſent of good men, and mutuall counſell each of other; how is it then Chriſtian ſouls that you are ſo much unacquainted, and unaccuſtomed to holy conference? for ſhame content not our ſelves to hear the word preached, but conſerre of what you have heard; live not in the Church but in your places communicate each to others as lively members of the Church: are not the times evill in which we live? do not the proud proſper? are not they who work wickedneſſe ſet up? and ſee we not men that tempt God delivered? are not truth blaſphemed ordinances trampled on, ſincere ſanctity ſlighted vilified and contemned? is not perfidy perjury violation o… ſolemn oaths, and covenants the way to preferment? do p. 294not men court us by providences, into wayes pinciples and practiſe… direct contrary to Scripture precepts? and have not they who fear the Lord need to ſpeak often one to another? the Colloquies of the ungodly and conferences of the ſeducers and ſeduced from the faith do every where abound, and & ſhall the men who are ſound in the faith, zealous for true religion, cleaving to the covenant of God with conſtancy; be eſtranged one to another? if ever you had need to ſtrenghen one anothers hands and hearts now is your time; there was not more need of Saints frequent conferences in times of Popiſh perſecution and prelaticall reſtriction, then in theſe dayes of ſinfull liberty by ſhamefull Toleration, of all impoſtors: the leſs reſtraint is laid on you by the Church or ſtate you ſhould be more watchfull one of another, p. 295and carefull to k…ep each other from the uſe of your prophanely allowed libert…, know you that it is a ſaying beſeeming a curſed Cain: am I my brothers keeper? have we not evills to complain of? do not men ſpeak ſt…ut words againſt God? is not all poſſitive p…ety, under a pretence of holineſſe, denied? do not men ſay it is in vain to ſerve God? if you have any ſence of Gods honour, any zeal for true R…ligion; any feeling of the fo…ce o… temptation, any pity to your weake brethren, any fai…hfulneſſe to your own ſouls, any fear of God; be quickn…d to holy conference, flock together, ſe…k opportunities of mutuall Colloquie, and having found them, ſee you ſpeak often one to another.

p. 296This duty of holy conference eſpecially in ev…ll times, is in it ſelfe ſo evident and ſo excellent that none do, or indeed can deny it; I ſhall not therefore ſtand to enforce it with motives, but referre you to the reaſons of the Doctrine before urged, which you will find to be quickning conſiderations thereunto: I ſhall onelyonly preſent you with ſome directions unto the right diſcharge and management of holy conference, for it, like other good duties, doth m…ny times miſcarry by the r…ſh and unadviſed management thereof, many, I muſt confeſſe, have been the miſmiſchiefes which have redounded from the private conferences of the Godly; eſpecially in this City: in ſo much that although the duty hath been allowed and enforced with th… publick authority of the miniſtry of this City; p. 297in their jus divinum miniſterii. Cap 5. pag 78, …9, 90. Yet many par icu…ar Pa…tors, to ſome of their peculiar charge, have ſeen cauſe, in a way prudentiall, to diſcountenance, and almoſt diſ…low the conferences of p…iv…te Chriſtians; eſpecially with their fixed circumſtances, that ſo the inconveniences accidently thence ariſing might bee avoided: I would gladly divide between the duties and their diſcommodities, I dare not debarre Chriſtian-liberty, though I would it m…y be wiſely enjoyed nor interdict the poſi ive duty, but wil endeavour to inſt…uct you unto the due management and exerciſe there…f, that the evil and inconveniences thereof may be prevented & herein I ſh…l pr…e… yo… with ſome cautions and ſome direction….

1. Some Cautions of evill to bee avoided in holy conferences which muſt be carefully obſerved p. 298by …u…h as will ſpeak one unto another to edification not deſtruction: and they are theſe. viz.

Caution. 1 Separate not from the Church, ſleight not publique aſſemblies whilſt in zeal you frequ…nt private conferences: it is a ſin to be noted to our ſhame, …hat conferences of private Chriſtians have given occaſion to ſchiſme and ſinfull ſeparation from publick aſſemblies, juſtifying our late prelacy in their violent reſiſtance of the private conventions of Chriſtians, as Conventicles oppoſite and deſtructive to Church aſſemblies: we cannot on ſerious obſervation, but ſee that the ſinfull Schiſme of Independency, and ſhamefull ſeparation of the Congregationalliſts was founded in and nour…ſhed by the fixed conferences of private Chriſtians: and how many are p. 299there at this day who leave the publick aſſemblies, break from the Communion of the Church, diſown publick Ordinances and deſpiſe them, & only creep into private houſes and ſpend th…ir Sabbath in Colloqui…s if not quaking ſoliloquies) & mutual diſcourſ…s of the things of God, and ſo not only withdraw from, but ſet themſelves againſt the Church and the publick aſſemblies of Gods people: now although private conference is a duty, yet the improvement of it to the neglect, much more the contempt, of the Church and publick aſſemblies is an horrid impiety.

This prophane fruit is not the naturall reſult of conference, but is enforced f…om it, by the c…rruption of prophane hearts cloathed with the pretenſe of piety, and drawing wicked concluſions from juſt premiſes, the looſe heart …hinks private exerciſes to be ſufficient, and ſo makes them joſtle with publick acts of Religion; and the proud heart not enduring the ſubjection of diſciples to be taught with authority in the name of Chriſt, thinks it is better to abide in priv…te Conference; where he may play the part of a Teacher, and proudly acts his ſuppoſed gifts and abilities for inſtruction; or mans curious brain is ſo buſily captious, that it cannot be confined at any time to poſitive and convincing aſſertions of truth, but muſt be converſant in that exerciſe in which he may capti…uſly propound his criticiſms and groundleſſe ſcrupuloſities or ſceptical objections againſt plaineſt principles: all which being to much to be allowed in private conferences doth make hearts, not awed with divine p…eſcription of method and p. 301order of holineſſe, and not apprehenſive of the conſiſtency of publick and private duties, nay the priority and preheminency, the publick hath of all private means of edification, to which the private muſt give place and not affected with the conſcience-binding authority of publique adminiſtrations of inſtruction, wherein God him ſelf ſpeaketh above the charitative admonitions of brethren, wherein though the thing ſpoken be good and true yet it is but the advice of men, and wants the authority of God to enforce it: too much to cry it up, and content themſelves with it, untill the devill, taking at mans diſpoſition, doth tempt and prevail unto a neglect of publick ordinances, a ſeparation from the Church, and ſinfull withdrawing from the ſolemn aſſemblies and ſhamefull contempt p. 302of the publick Miniſtry prophanely pleading for, and blaſphemouſly defending their impiety, urging gods words ag…inſt Gods worſh…p and arguing, wee muſt ſpeak every man to his neighbour and enquire every man of his brother, what hath the Lord anſwered? we muſt teach one another, ſaying, know yee the Lord and ſhall not need any to teach us.

This forſaking the aſſemblies, and ſeparating …rom the Church is an evill and inconvenience ſo diſhonourable to Religion, and dangerous to the ſoul, and yet ſo incident unto the holy conferences of the people of God, that the holy Ghoſt hath taken notice of it, and bounded the command of private conference with this very caution concerning publick aſſemblies. Heb. 10.24, 25. Conſider one another to provoke p. 303unto love and good works: not for ſaking the aſſembling of your ſelves tog…ther, as the manner of ſome is but exhorting one another: in which the du…y o… private and perſonall exhortation is plainly preſcribed and duely bounded; and the evill incident thereunto carefully cautioned,foreign. which is not to forſake the publick aſſemblies, clearly expreſſed in the Greek word, which ſignifieth not onelyonly a coming together in the ſynag…gue or plane of Aſſembly:foreign and that in a concourſe or multitude and great number: and alſo in the diſcretive particle but d…fferencing the exhortation one of another, from the duties to be attended in the aſſembling of our ſelves together: and enforceing the caution by a ſad inſtance and obſervation of an evill cuſtome, to be avoided as the manner of ſome is; ſo that ſchiſme from the Church appeareth p. 304to …ve been an old attendant on the con…erences of the godly. Calvin on this T…xt tels us, we may here, ſee, that of old, Schiſme from the Church doth ari…e from the contempt thereof in men pr…ud of their ſeeming ſanctity in mu…uall exhortation: and Pareus doth w…ll note that whileſt we admoniſh and exhort one another …he Apoſtle doth commend to us Reverentiam Erga miniſterium Eccleſ…ae & ſtudium frequent…ndi Eccleſiaſ…c…s Caetus. R…verence and Reg…rd to the publick miniſtry and Aſſemblies. And as the holy Ghoſt doth give us the command of confe…ence, with the caution of its inconvenience, to be prevented by this Apoſ…l , ſo we ſhall find the ſame duty e…j…yned by another Apoſtle; with the ſuggeſtion of the ſelf ſame danger, Jude 20. verſe. But ye beloved Edifie one another in your moſt holy faith, the p. 305diſcretive particle leads us back to ſomething before ſpoken & that is, the properties of wicked ſects, ſeducing and ſeduced ſouls; who did ſeparate from the Church, and are therefore branded with it. Theſe are they who ſeparate, ſenſuall, not having the ſpirit, verſe 19. And are ſet as evill examples to be avoided, but ye, beloved, that ye may not ſeparate Edifie one another. Holy conference ſhould fit us for, and fix us in, the Communion of the Church: and be our fence againſt Schiſme and ſinfull ſeparation: So that (Chriſtians) be converſant in your private conferences, but carefull that you grow not by them into contempt of Gods publick Aſſemblies. Ʋſe your domeſtick ſo…ieties but deſpiſe not the Church of God, take heed that you never give a parity much leſs a priority to your Charitative inſtructions, with miniſteriall authoritative p. 306injunctions, to your friendly conventicles, as brethren, with the congregation of Saints in the Church of God; keep not ſo cloſe in private, as to negl…ct the publick adminiſtrations of God, give both their due; pay, your Tith of Mint & Cummin; but Omit not the weightier matters of the Law, know that your exhorting, admoniſhing, ſpeaking one to another is a duety: but preaching hearing and the Ordinances of God in the Aſſemblies of his people; are greater duties: for theſe are publick that, private, theſe to the Church, and whole body, that to friends, brethren ſingle and particular members; theſe by office, and with the authority of Jeſus Chriſt, that is performed in Charity at the good will of men; Theſe are fixed and poſitive acts of worſhip; for time, place, method, order that; occaſionall, when, where p. 307and how we can get opportunity: theſe eſſ…ntiall to the being of Religion and ſalvation of the ſoul That convenient, comfortable, quickning, advantagious and to the well being of the ſoul: ſo that there can be no parity between them much leſſe may we overthrow the publick and ſtanding worſhip of God, by our friendly and fraternall intercourſe; thoſe that make holy conference an occaſion of contempt of publick Aſſemblies, may edifie fancy but not faith; may grow in knowledge but not in grace: may make Religion ſhine with a little ſplendor but not ſtand in a ſtorm, for they do faſten it with a ſinful peg; or however Schiſme is, by the Saints of our age, minced and made of no moment, it will prove deſtructive to the Church and damnable to the ſoul: for being divided from the body they have forſaken the p. 308head and fall into an imp…ſſibili…y of nouriſhment: how horrid are the prophaneſſes both doctrinal & practical acted by the pretended Saints of our age who have ſprung up from their private Conventicles into an open ſeparation from the Church, and have improved their deſired Toleration to the confuſion of the Church, increaſe of all hereſie error, and oppreſſion of truth and order: Take heed that ye exhort one another, but forſake not the Aſſembling of your ſelves together as the manner of ſome is.

Caution. 2 But a ſecond caution in the exerciſe of holy conference is this: Set not upon ſoul Edifying acts which are out of your ſphere, the Edification of the Church, is …he great end of all Goſpell-adminiſtrations and friendly admonitions of the brethren, and to be purſued with the utmoſt diligence, p. 309God ha…h giv…n Apoſtles, Prophets, Evangel…ſts, Paſtors and Teachers, unto the Edifying of the Saints. He hath appointed every joynt to be duely ſerviceable by Admonition, Re…uke and conſolation each of other as breth…en. He hath preſcribed many different waves and means unto the accompl ſhment of this great end; and Nehemiah-like ſtudious to have the work of the Temple to go forward, hath diſtributed men into their ſeverall ſtations, and to diſtinct employments in which each one muſt attend: and nothing doth more hinder the work o… God, or b ing diſhonour to Religon then diſorder, and ſtepping out of our own places to employ our hands in what is not to us allotted: Publ…ck miniſtery and private conference are both appointed and conducible to the Edification of the Church; p. 310but in their proper places, and order. The miniſters of God may not hinder the people of God from their holy conferences; Pre…atical violence againſt piou Communion of brethren in praying each with and …or other, and ſpeaking one to another w…s no mean pulback to Re igion: nor muſt priva…e conference Encroach upon publick miniſtry, or intermeddle with its adminiſtrations, Ʋzzah's upholding of the Ark, when Shaken doth but hinder its march towards its Reſting place; if men ſin…ully break order and ſt…p out of their places; the work of God muſt be hindered, whilſt his angry hand doth Reduce them into order again; the ſtraining of the priviledge of private Chriſtians unto their preſumptuous medling with the work of Goſpel-min…ſtry, hath made the ſun of the Goſpell ſtand ſtill, nay go p. 339backward among us and ſo weakened piety; that the very ſinews thereof are ſhrunk and irreligion increaſeth unto blaſphemy, and almoſt Atheiſme: Let it be your care (Chriſtians) in your private Conference to keep within compaſs, and manage thoſe things which onelyonly belong to private Chriſtians? meddle not with matters that appertain to the miniſtery, though they be edifying to the Church yet they muſt be extended by men of office: conſecrated to and inveſted with authority for ſuch ſervice: I would not abridge private Chriſtians of the leaſt of their priviledge, nor have them in their conference. Go one ſtep beyond their bounds; give me leave therefore to appoint the borders of your holy conference; and that you may never hereafter pleade ignorance; I will tell you what private Chriſtians p. 340in their conferences may do: and what u…der the pretence of conference, private Chriſtians may not meddle withall, as they tender the edification of the Church, advancement of Religion, and ſalvation of their own ſouls.

Firſt then there are ſeven p…ſi ive and ſpeciall acts of con…er…ce; and Communion of Saints which particular Chriſtians and private brethren not onelyonly lawfully may, but in duty muſt diſcharge each with and towards other: and they are briefly theſe

1. Private Chriſtians may and muſt pray one for another, in the behalf of themſelves and the whole Church of God: prayer is indeed an act of publick worſhip to be done in, and by the Church; whoſe mouth muſt be the Miniſters of God, Joel. 2.17. But it is alſo a private and perſonall duty, to be done by every child of God, p. 341in ſecret and in ſociety. It is Required that every Chriſtian do it: and that believers do pray one for another; James. 5 16. And it is the promiſe of the covenant of grace that families and tribes ſhall every of them pray apart and in the times of the Churches perplexity; even private, Saints though there were no Miniſters among them, ſhould go together and pray in Communion, and by joynt ſupplication; thus did the men that feared God in our Text and the many who were gathered into the houſe of Mary the mother of John, and were praying in the day of Herods Rage acts. …2.12. Some have been angry at, but never durſt argue againſt the practice of Chriſtians in private faſts and prayers; no, it is their duty and priviledge.

2. Private Chriſtians may, and muſt confeſs their ſins one unto p. 342another: none but Papiſts will confine confeſſion to a Prieſt or publick officer: ſin muſt indeed be ſometimes confeſſed in and to the Church, when ſhe is become the object of offence and ſcandalized by the miſcarriage and ſo the finner become the ſubject of her cenſure: but private brethren may not onelyonly confeſs their ſins one unto another, as they are the parties offended, but as they are brethren and ſubjects of pity and of comp…ſſion? who ſeeing his brother ſin a ſin, not unto death, will pray for him, and it ſhall be forgiven him; private brethren muſt not onelyonly pray againſt the guilt, but power alſo of each others luſt; and muſt not onelyonly pray againſt ſin but be ſerviceable by other means to the ſubduing the ſtrength thereof, and ſaving the ſoul from the error of his way; and therefore it is commanded that p. 343common Saints do confeſſe their ſin one unto another: I preſume I need not adviſe prudence in the choice of thoſe brethren to whom we will commit ſuch ſecrets.

3 Private Chriſtians may and muſt in their private conferences, Check and Rebuke one anothers impieties and miſcarriages; fraternall correption is a duty beyond all exception commanded of God Thou ſhalt in any wiſe Rebuke thy brother, and not ſuffer ſin up on him, Lev. 19.17. Appointed by Chriſt if thy brother offend tell him of his faults between thee and him; as an hinderance to ſin and help in temptation: exhort (by way of Rebuke) one another leaſt ye be hardened through the deceitfulneſſe of ſin: It is the provocation of Repentance; balme of a wounded conſcience; deſired by David Let the Righteous ſmite me: it is the Reſtitution of a Relapſed p. 344ſoul, Gal. 6.1. The private mans paſſage to glory, and proviſion for honour; covering a multitude of ſins and converting the ſoul: James 5.19.20. The end of mutuall confeſſion is mutuall Reprehenſion: theſe are the wounds of a friend more faithful then the kiſſes of an enemy. Prov. 27.6. Where let it be Remembred that Reproof is the wound of a friend done in Charity not out of office, with pitty and ſucceſſefull by its truth and juſtice not with power; prevailing by its Authority.

4. Private Chriſtians may and muſt counſell and quicken each others graces. And ſo ſpur each others duties, ſay come let us return unto the Lord let us joyn our ſelves to God in an everlaſting covenant; they muſt conſider, obſerve, have an eye unto each others ways and walkings, to warm the cold affections, and provoke p. 345unto love and good works none but the ſlothfull in duty and ſlaves to prophaneſſe; can be angry at, or argue againſt, the private Rebukes and exhortations of holy conference.

5. Private Chriſtians may, and muſt comfort one another in their anguiſh and affliction: ſanctity ſupplanteth no act of ſociety; but ſets us in a better capacity, to perform to Reaſon much more religion leads friends to viſit Job in his affl…ct…o…, for to him that is afflicted: pity muſt be ſhewed by his friend. The not ſpeaking conſolation was the miſtake of Jobs friends in all that long conference they had with him: when our friends interr their dead we are directed to comfort each other, 1 Theſ. 5.11.1 Thess 5:11by conferring of the Reſurrection of the body: the ſpeaking of promiſes and providences of God, ſo as to prop up a ſinking ſoul & to ſtrengthen p. 346the feeble hands is the work not onelyonly of publick communion but alſo of private conference: the conſolations of God muſt not be concealed but imparted as occaſion requireth unto the good of others.

6. Private Chriſtians may and muſt cōplain of the evil of the times, to affect each others hearts with ſence of, and ſorrow for ſin or Gods ſad providences; mens ſtout words againſt God, muſt be matter of expoſtulation to them that fear God: Jonathan & David muſt into the field to confer of Sauls wickedneſs and cruelty? Iſraels abomination muſt be made mention of among the mourners for it; the d…eadfull diſpenſations of God, at the death of Chriſt muſt be the matter of diſcourſe to the Diſciples as they wa…k to Emmaus: every ſoul muſt ſee Gods hand obſerve Gods providences, and make the p. 347proſperity of prophaneſs and eſcapes impiety, the matter of diſcourſe unto his own and other mens diſcretion to a due demeanor and ſuitable converſation.

7. Private Chriſtians may & muſt confer with each other of the things of faith and ſalvation; none but Papiſts who lock up the knowledge of the truth from poor ſouls and the people of God; and impoſe on their faith what the Church doth believe will make it hereſie to enquire into and debate of the Articles of the Creed: Obadiah may without any ſin or diſobedience expoſtulate the injunctions of the Prophets; and it ſhall be a note of Nobility to the Bereans to enquire into the Scriptures to finde the verity of the Apoſtles doctrine. This is no other then the foreign and Chriſtian conference allowed and enforced by the miniſtersin jus divinum miniſterii cap. 5. Pa. 81. p. 348of this City: Nay and was honoured by our Saviour in joyning in ſociety and debating with the Diſciples that went to Emmaus; the death and reſurrection of himſelf; thoſe great Articles of Chriſtian faith:Rom. 1.11.Rom 1:11 and Pauls Errand to Rome was to conferre of the doctrine of faith; and ſee his Romans therein eſtabliſhed and Schiſme, tending to an Apoſtacy from the faith, muſt ſtirr up the Saints that keep the Union of the Church, to hold the Communion of it by Edifying one another in their moſt holy faith: ſo that it is not to be thought that men muſt live by an implicit faith, to Receive what ever is magiſterially impoſed; or be cenſured for maintaining a modeſt and humble debate and expoſtulation or conference; about the fundamentall points and doctrines of faith and of ſalvation.

p. 449Theſe things Chriſtians you muſt know do belong to miniſters as members of the Church, and partakers of the ſame precious faith with your ſelves not as they are Miniſters and Officers of, and in the Church employed about peculiar ſervice which other may not undertake to manage: and although ſome of theſe are actions to be performed miniſterially ſuch as is Rebuking, exhorting, and the like; yet they have adjuncts peculiar, and an eſpecial form, no, they become miniſteriall and muſt not be medled withall by private men: but in the matter and ſubſtance of them they lie common to believers & members of Gods Church. Chriſtian brethren; ſo far would I be from cōdemning that I would encourage and in the name of the Lord command you to maintain your ſociety and make conſcience of holy conference, and therein of p. 350praying together, con…ſſing your ſins one to another, admoniſhing, exhorting one another: and doing all the acts of Communion, wherein were the people of God more converſant, piety would bee preſerved and increaſed.

I have ſhewed you how far you may go in holy conference, and hitherto not I, but the Word of God will allow & juſtifie you but be ſo prudent, as to keep within your borders, and take heed you do not break your b…unds. I ſhall therefore in the next place propoſe thoſe edifying acts, which private Chriſtians in their conferences are to apt to be medling withal, whilſt indeed they are holy, more holy than the ordinary and common acts of ſanctity, and muſt not be meddled withall by every common hand, although a believer, nay a believer eminent for parts and piety; and they are likewiſe ſeven which I do in the name of p. 351Chriſt adjure you to conſider and avoid as out of your ſphere, and they are theſe, (viz.)

Private Chriſtians may not conſtitute Churches: conſtitution of Churches is an eminent act of authority and cannot be affected by any private hand: I well know it hath of late been the principle and practice of many pretenders unto piety in their conferences (which were at firſt private) to conſtitute Churches; the independent notions are that ſeven or eight fewer or more believers conjoyning themſelvs into a Church, are thereby conſtituted, and therefore in the gathering of their Churches, their Miniſters have ſhamefully renounced the miniſtry, and ſinfully diſowning the authority of Jeſus Chriſt, which th…y e…joyed, reſolve themſelves into a private capacity, as members, and ſo by the Church gathered, received p. 352the Miniſtery: and indeed out of this corruption of holy conference have riſen moſt of our gathered Churches among us: which way of Church conſtitution is irrationall and Irreligious. Irrational, becauſe no politicall body can conſtitute it ſelf, doth not civill pollicy call it a combination and conſpiracy, where men embodie themſelves without publick authority who will ſuffer them to enjoy the priviledge or be ſubject to their Rules and orders as a corporation who Receive not their Charter from, nor are conſtituted by publick Authority. Is not the Church a body politique? and every particular congregation parts of the Church Catholique? and how then ſhall they conſtitute themſelves? Is there any thing true and good in nature and contradicted in Scripture; is God a God of order in the world and p. 353of confuſion in his Church? is the Authority of the magiſtrate eſſentiall to the conſtitution of any corporation, and company in any Town or City, and ſhall men of Religion embody and give a Church form unto themſelves? ſhal… ſimple conſent be the Ratio formalis of a civill conſpiracy, and Religious conſtitution not onelyonly is it irrational but irreligious, without the leaſt colour of Authority or countenance of Scripture I ſhall not be afraid to challenge all the congregationalliſts to produce any commiſſion from Jeſus Chriſt, by either precepts or preſident of ſelf conſtitution of the Church. I finde indeed a Comm…ſſion to go, and Diſciple the Nations and by baptiſme to conſtitute them Churches of Jeſus Chriſt; but none dare preſume to ſay, this was given to private perſons nor is it to conſtitute themſelves unto a p. 354Church if there be other commiſſion in the book of God let it be produced: as there is no precept ſo we finde no pattern of a ſelf conſtituted Church; we Read of the Church at Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Epheſus; but which of them were of their own conſtitution? had not every of them the Lord Jeſus for their foundation; and ſome of the Apoſtles for their founder in the name and Authority of Jeſus Chriſt? did not Chriſt inſtitute the office of the miniſter, before he did conſtitute the Church in the world: and ſent forth miniſters to Gather in the elect, and to conſtitute and confirm Churhes ſo that the miniſtery is before the Church and for the Church, eſſentiall unto its conſtituton: To Act without a commiſſion and warrant from Christ, is no leſſe then ſuperſtition and preſumption: but to invert Christ his order and p. 355to neglect his method and Authority is high prophaneſſe: to conſtitute a Church without commiſſion, is to build in the ſand without any confidence of Protection or preſervation, to make the miniſtery to ariſe out of the Church is to make it the miniſtry of the Church not of Jeſus Chriſt indeed I read of two ſelf conſtituted Churches in the Scripture; but they were both diſowned by God and good men, the one was the Church gathered by Corah & his company, with a cry of ſanctity all the Lords people were holy: they indeed flung off the miniſtry of Gods appointment, but I need not tell you how good men flew from their tents, and how God flunge this Church alive into the earth; take heed you periſh not in the gain ſaying of Corah, the other was the ten Tribes who caſting off the houſe of David, did alſo caſt off the miniſtry of God and conſtituted p. 356themſelves a Church, and ſo conſecrated to themſelves Prieſts o… the loweſt of the people: but the Prieſts of God and thoſe who did fear the Lord throughout Iſrael packed from among them, and they went to Jeruſalem and continued in the Church conſtituted by God and not onelyonly did good men, but God himſelf caſt off this ſelf-conſtituted Church; have a care you walk not in the way of Jeroboam: Let not your private ſociety and conferences become the Colledge of the Prophets, or Rather conſpiracies of Schiſme: however men ſeemingly holy and ſucceeding in their guilded impiety do by doctrine & practice, direct you to ſelf conſtitution in Church way, decline it, depend upon Gods publick miniſtery in diſpoſing of you: untill you can make corporations without Civill; think not to make Churches without p. 357Religious and divine ſanction

2. Private Chriſtians may not under the colour of holy conference conſecrate things or Perſons unto God: ſelf conſtitution muſt needs produce ſinfull conſecrations, for no body politick can be preſerved or Reſolved into order; and any capacity of acting without Officers, and therefore the Congregationalliſts in plain the Independents, who make ſelf aggregation, the form of Church conſtitution, give not only power to men unordained, not conſecrated, to come nigh unto God, in the moſt holy and publick of adminiſtrations; but make that ſelf-collected body the ſubject of the keyes, and Receptacle of all Church power from, and by whom, the adminiſtrators of Gods ordinances muſt be appointed, and ordained: and thus their leaders having reſolved themſelves members p. 358of ſuch a ſociety; Receive from that ſociety a miniſtery: but (beloved) do you conſider conſecration of any thing, or perſon unto God, is an act of office and Authority: none may come nigh to God, in the adminiſtration of holy things, but ſuch who are thereunto conſecrated: this God hath made manifeſt; by the Perez-Ʋzzah, made in Iſrael for Ʋzzahs putting forth a common hand, to ſtay Gods holy Arke, when tottering, and Ready to fall: the deſire to ſupport Re…igion in danger to fall, will not defend this impiety: and by the leproſie of King Ʋzziah for preſuming to meddle with the Prieſts function and by the cenſers of Corah, and his company, be…ten into plates and made Monuments of memoriall that no unconſecrated perſons, meddle with the holy things of God, nor can it in Reaſon be p. 359thought, that the miniſtry ſhould lie common, to be taken up by any hand, and at pleaſure: for that it is an office and function, place and particular order in the Church of God: charged with ſpeciall ſervice: appointed to a proper end: prepared unto by ſpeciall qualities and indowed wi…h ſpeciall priviledges? men will not let civill offices lie common; who contend to lay open holy functions; and ſo diſſolve all order in the Church: as none but holy perſons may come nigh to God; ſo nothing unhallowed muſt be preſented unto God as a part of his worſhip; if the ſons of Aaron preſſed into Gods preſence with any prophane and unhallowed thing they ſhould periſh: none but holy fire muſt burn on Gods altar: common Elements as water in baptiſme and bread and wine in the Lords ſupper muſt be conſecrated p. 360before they become acts of worſhip, and ſeals of Gods covenant: It is blaſphemy and prophaneſſe to make every table the Lords table; and common uſe of creatures bread or wine the commemoration of Chriſt his death and ſufferings; the moſt ſinfull Schiſmatiques, will confeſs conſecration of things and perſons neceſſary; and you muſt know that this is not the work of every, no, not of any private hand: men cannot communicate what they have not received; nor ſtamp peculiarity on others who never had it ſtamped on themſelves. It is Gods ſtanding Law, that the Prieſts ſons of Aaron, conſecrated themſelvs, do conſecrate things, and perſons that ſhall come nigh to God: and therefore, it is Iſraels Horrid impiety, in their defection from the houſe of David, and altar of God, that whoſoevor would might p. 361bring a bullock and conſecrate himſelf a Prieſt unto the Lord? nor is the liberty greater under the Goſpel; for it is the method, and order of Chriſt; that the office of the Goſpell miniſtery be tranſmitted unto faithfull men, by the ſolemn ordination of men themſelves ordained to that ſacred function: we deny not the priviledge of election to be the peoples; but the power of ordination abides in officers: It is plain that in the Church conſtituted by Goſpell miniſtery at Jeruſalem; charge of election is given by, and power of conſecration Reſerved to, the officers of Jeſus Chriſt: Chuſe you out men whom we may appoint, and thoſe who act any thing in Christ, or his Miniſters name without their Authority may expect to be corrected by the Devil himſelf as were thoſe Exorciſts in Acts 19.13, 14, 15 v. p. 362Paul we know and Jeſus we know but whence are ye: whileſt therefore you confer as brethren take heed you conſecrate not as officers: Remember, you may be holy in your kind to your God; but not have a power to make other men or things holy to the Lord: make not your ſelves a Church, make not your own miniſters or Sacraments.

3. Private men may not communicate ordinances to the Church, in the name and ſtead of Jeſus Chriſt, when you are in your conferences, uſed to ſpeak take heed you preſume not to preach: whilſt you play the men, in miniſtring counſell; nay good men, in miniſtring holy inſtruction, and Religious admonition, do not ſo manage it, as to preſume in your ſelves, or proclaim to others, you are more then private brethren, even publick …fficers the Embaſſadors of Jeſus Christ: to this p. 339end you muſt take heed that your adminiſtrations be not to the Church of Chriſt: nor in the name or ſtead of Chriſt; theſe two are boundaries of miniſteriall inſtructions; which may not be broken in upon, by private men, without palpable preſumption, and prophanneſſe: we ſhall willingly allow Chriſtians their liberty; as Parents and maſters of families to ſpeak inſtruction to their children and families; private and particular brethren to exhort, admoniſh and Rebuke in their friendly ſocieties; Generalls to make their orations (and that like Chriſtians) to their Armies; and Tutors to Read divinity Lectures to their Pupills in the Univerſities; but (let their abilities be never ſo great we muſt barre them out o the Church here they muſt be hearers not ſpeakers: the Church p. 364is onelyonly the object of miniſteriall inſtruction; when men preſume to ſpeak in, and to the Church of Christ, they p…eſſe upon the function of Goſpell miniſtry; and make themſelves Prophets unto the Lord, for all Agents in the Church appear as officers; and are on that account to be Received, Reverenced, heard and obeyed: ſo that their feet that thus bring glad tidings muſt be beautifull unto the hearers unto propheſying which hath believers for its object: miſſion is eſſentiall: ſending of the preacher, is one ground of faith in the hearer: how therefore can he preach exept he be ſent and as we barre private men from ſpeaking to the Church as their object ſo alſo from ſpeaking in the name and ſtead of Jeſus Chriſt the inſtructions, admonitions, Rebukes, and exhortations of private p. 365men, muſt be in amity not authority; as friends diſtinguiſhed & dignified by their Relations not deputed by Jeſus Chriſt, or inveſted with his authority: only Miniſters are the Lords Emabaſſadors, beſeeching us in Chriſt ſtead, as if he himſelfe did beſeech us to be reconciled: to them it is indeed given in charge, and to them only to teach and command, and in teaching 1 Tim. 1….11 to exhort and rebuke with all authority. Titus 2.15. as being over the Church of God. Whilſt the miniſters of the goſpell do require credence and obedience; to what they declare, not only becauſe true, and good, but becauſe ſpoken with authority; in the name & by the Embaſſie of Jeſus Chriſt; private Chriſtians muſt know that the onelyonly weight and ſtrength of their inſtructions lye in the turth and goodneſſe with ſome civill and naturall circumſtances thereof: and the refuſall of them, may p. 366charge the guilt of deſpiſing good counſell, and diſregarding friends, but not diſobedience unto God and Jeſus Chriſt: to your ſhame it may be ſpoken; that many youngſters adjoyn themſelves to your private ſocieties, as expectants of the publick miniſtery; and having inured their tongue in your conference to talk of the things of God; do with much confidence, impoſe on you their diſcourſes, in the name and authority of Jeſus Chriſt, and at length uncalled and unqualified, preſume to ſtep into the pulpit; and ſpeak unto the Church of God: as if your conferences were no other then nurſeries of pride and vanity: I would ſuch as thus preſume to propheſie would but ſeriouſly ponder that which was certainly ſpoken in reference to goſpell times, by the Prophet Zach. 13.5. And the Prophet ſhall be aſhamed, every one of his p. 367viſion; and ſhall no more wear a rough garment to deceive; but hee ſhall ſay, I am no Prophet, I am an husband man; men taught me to keep cattle from my youth: Their faith can be but poorly edified, which is fed with a phantaſtique and imaginary miniſtry: and followed with the curſe of God, becauſe they have run and I have not ſent them, they ſhall not profit this people. Jer. 23.32. Whilſt you give good counſell, do not cheat men of their ſalvation, by giving it with the aſſurance and authority you never received.

4. Private Chriſtians cannot, under pretence of conferenſe, caſt out of the Church: excommunication is the higheſt act of authority in the Church of Chriſt: and however it hath been highly aſſerted and hotly contended for, it yet remains to be proved that the people or body of the Church are the ſubject p. 368of the keys, the Savoy concluſions are neither Scripture nor Church Canons; nor are they enforced with the leaſt Scripture argument; or anſwer to what on the contrary hath been objected: be not magiſterially impoſed upon, by men of no power: lock not your ſelvs under an implicite faith, of what ſome pretenders to piety, profeſſe to believe: conſult Reaſon and Religion; and you ſhal find popular power unto Church cenſure repugnant unto both: caſting out of the Church is an act judicial; and that cannot be done by all; they muſt be Rulers and judges that do execute it: if this be the whole Church where are the ruled; and to be judged, when the inceſtuous perſon was caſt out of the Church at Corinth, it was done in the name of Jeſus Chriſt by many, and as the word ſignifieth principal ones; nay by thoſe who judged ſuch as were p. 369within, not by all the aſſemblies, or any private perſons: I denie you not the liberty of debarring from your friendly ſocieties: I believe a ſtrang and diſcountenancing carriage towards every brother which walks diſorderly to be a duty: but for private men to deliver any over to Satan, is a grand impiety.

5. Private men may not in private conferences cancell the condemnation of the Church or conſcience: the ſame authority which doth bind muſt looſe: they who ſhut muſt open: abſolution is an act undoubtedly miniſteriall and Eccleſiaſtick: the Officers of the Church can onelyonly acquit convicted guilt, private Chriſtians muſt confeſſe their ſins each to other, to provoke pitty and prayer; but not to procure a pardon; further then the offence concerns themſelves: they may comfortably p. 370argue and expoſtulate each with other the hopes of pardon, unto the quieting of the anxious conſcience; but he muſt be a miniſter who doth in the name of the Lord pronounce pardon and in the name of the Lord miniſterially though not Judicially cancell conſcience, and quiet the guilty by aſſuring Remiſſion of ſin; upon true Repentance: It was unto Miniſters that Jeſus ſaid whoſe ſins you Remit ſhall be Remitted; and it is by them therefore this ground of faith and foundation of hope: be muſt ſaid as private men have not authority to capitulate ſo they have none to conclude peace between God and the ſoul: the many that puniſhed, did pardon the inceſtuous Perſon, and that in the name of Chriſt: and therefore with authority to apply Gods poomiſes and require an acquieſcency of ſoul p. 371is poſitive prophaneſſe.

6. Private Chriſtians may not conclude orders and decrees, which ſhall binde the Church. All acts of diſcipline are attendant on the keyes of the Church; ſuch as wear them have the onelyonly power of preſcription of things, Religious Rites, and matters of decency and order in the Church of God: Legiſlation is the height of authority, they that conſult and conclude; for to binde the Church; and require ſubjection; muſt be well commiſſionated: Church counſels I doubt not may ſend a broad their foreign determined decrees:Acts 16.….Acts 16 and conſcientious obedience muſt be yielded to them; but for private Chriſtians to preſcribe unto the Church of God; cannot but be high preſumption and prophaneſſe: However you conclude, prudentiall Rules, to preſerve the peace p. 372and order of your private amicable ſocieties; let them never be impoſed on others, or preſcribed to the Church: but know ſubjection is your ſtation in Gods Church, and Legiſlation above your Reach.

7. Private Chriſtians may not commend a bleſſing to the Chur…h, in the name and authority of Jeſus Chriſt: we deny not the power of parents bleſſing their children by prayer and parentall option as did the Patriarchs, and Laban to Iacobs children, or friends bleſſing one another by ſalutation and ſerious ſupplication as Jacob at his comming in, & going out bleſſed Pharaoh; to be common to all the people of God, and to be done by private men: but miniſteriall bleſſing by pronuntiation thereof in the name of the Lord: unto the Church is an act of worſhip to God, and argument of faith p. 373to his people and therefore muſt be done by authority, and belongs onelyonly to his Embaſſadours and commiſſion Officers: the Tribe of Levi is ſeparated in Iſraell to ſtand before the Lord and Miniſter unto him and to bleſſe his name, Deut. 10.8. They muſt, and they onelyonly muſt bleſſe in the name of the Lord, for they are choſen to this very purpoſe, Deut. 21.5. That your private conferences begin and end with prayer is commendable, but that your ſociety break up with a formall and pronounced bleſſing in the name of the Lord is to be condemned: very prudent was the practiſe of the Church when men unordained and onelyonly expectants of the miniſtry did, for probation ſake, preach, were barred from pronouncing the bleſſing and thereby made known to the people not yet to have p. 374been conſecrated to this holy function.

Thus then (Chriſtians) I have plainly preſcribed, and let you ſee what is your priviledge; and what will prove your dammage, wherein you as private members and particular joynts may duely make a ſupply unto the edification of the whole body of Christ: and wherein you may be dangerously prejudiciall to the Church and deſtructive to your own ſouls: all holy duties are to be managed with feare, but eſpecially thoſe which are occaſionall, and at humane liberty; wherein without vigilancy, and great care we ſhall be tranſported, by Satans temptation, and our own corruption: whilſt we are tickled with a deſire to diſtribute what we have Received: and quickened by the ſence of duty to communicate, gifts and graces by exhortation rebuke, …nd p. 375admonitions: we are too Ready Raſhly to manage it; not Regarding the place wherein we ſtand, and the method, and order, whereby we muſt be ſerviceable to the edification of the Church: but break all bounds and preſume to turn preachers; and aſſume to our ſelves all miniſterial power and authority, preſſing on all the acts thereof, conſti…uting Churches, conſecrating things and perſons, communicating to the Church in the name and ſtead of Chriſt caſting out of the Church, cancelling conſcience, concluding orders for the Church, & commending Gods bleſſing to the Church, I would our ſinfull age were not a ſad comment on the exorbitancies of Religious conference. You take it ill if your priviledge be not aſſerted in its latitude; but think much to be confined to your places; as you would not have your p. 376Miniſters diſcountenāce your conferences, drive them not into a ſinfull extent; avoide the evil that your nature gathereth from them: for Gods own occaſionall inſtitutions are to be Removed for the prevention of a greater evil: as was the brazen Serpent to prevent Idolatry: Chriſtian liberty muſt be reſtrained when it giveth occaſion to Schifme, Rebellion, and Impiety: know therefore; that the Church will never be edified, by your doing acts of edification out of your ſphere, and without authority: keep at an equall diſtance, from acts of prophaneneſſe; and acts of piety not belonging to your places: It is all one in divine acceptance, to omit, and overact a duty: not to ſerve him, and not to ſerve him in our ſtations: for (however men deem) he is a God, and God of order; and order the beauty of his holineſs muſt ſhine p. 377more brightly in the Church; then in the world.

Now that I have bounded your liberty in holy conference by fit cautions, I ſhall direct your duty unto the right diſcharge of it that it may be honourable to religion; profitable to the Church, and comfortable to your own ſouls: The directions I ſhall ſuggeſt are three.

Propound unto your ſelves Right Direct. 1 matter whereof to confer each with other: all things Revealed and known may be matters of diſcourſe unto men; but all diſcourſe befits not Chriſtian men; I need not tell you that Rude & Ribald language, fooliſh jeſtings, vile calumniations, and contrivancies of prophaneneſſe and wickedneſſe; are Repugnant to, and unfit for humane diſcourſe: It is a ſhame the Tongue mans glory ſhould ever be ſtained with p. 378ſuch language: how much more is the contrariety thereof to holineſſe and Chriſtianity? this may be the language of the proſpering prophane men which muſt provoke our ſpeaking one to another, by way of complaint that men ſhould be ſo wicked: but muſt not be once named among you, as becometh Saints.

The affairs of the world and concernments of our temporall and preſent eſtate, are matter of Colloquie fit for humane ſociety; and may in all commerce be lawfully conferred of by Chriſtian ſouls; ſanctity doth not make us ceaſe to be men, if we will not confer of the things of the world, we muſt go out of the world: but but yet theſe things fall into Chriſtians diſcourſe, as men, not as Saints, and common prudence will guide in the exerciſe thereof.

The conference which we have p. 379under cōſideration is Godly & ſpeciall; belonging to Saints, & ſtirred up by the ſtout words of the wicked, and ſucceſſe of ſin, ſpringing from the fear of God, and thoughts of his name, therefore the matter propounded to it, muſt be holy and Religious, like the language of the vertuous woman, your mouths muſt be opened with wiſdome, and the law of kindneſs be upon your tongue. Prov. 31.26. So the matter muſt be generally good, even the word of God which muſt dwell plentifully in us in all wiſedome, unto teaching and admoniſhing one another. Col. 3 16. Our diſcourſe muſt be ſuch matter as is ſavoury, ſeaſoned with ſalt, adminiſtring grace and edification to the hearers. Col. 4.6. No corrupt communication, muſt come out of your mouths but that which is good. Eph. 4.29. Good men muſt like houſholders bring out in holy conference, things new & old but always ſuch as may p. 380witneſſe them to be Scribes inſtructed to the Kingdome of Heaven. Mat. 13.5. So that in general, the …ind of God, word of truth, doctrine of the goſpell, muſt be propounded as the matter of your conference but more ſpecially, propound not to your ordinarie co…ference.

1. Jewiſh fables and genealogies or vain jangling notions, frivolous matters which miniſter queſtions rather then godly, edifying in the faith. 1 Tim 1.5. fables becauſe frivolous not becauſe falſe, as Calvin …otes on the text, many genealogies, and other criticiſmes, are recorded in the Scripture, as neceſſary appendants on the things written; which in themſelves are not proper matter for conference; becauſe unprofitable, and the debate of them will be but a laborious loſs of time, a task not worthy the toil, like an Olive or Date ſtone, hard p. 381to crack or cleave, and affording no kernell when divided: holy conference muſt be employed ſo, that it ſhould not fail of it's end, or hinder union; and therefore we muſt ſee we never make that the matter of it which may genderſt riſe, occaſion ſnarling, adminiſter queſtions, but afford no inſtruction or edification; Suetonius tells us that the curious canvaſing of the genealogie of Priamus, to find out the Pedigree of Aiax and Achilles, was ridiculous to all ſober men, if frivolous things muſt not be the matter of humane much leſſe may they be the matter of Chriſtian debates.

2. Conferre not of curious and nice critical caſes of conc…ence. R…m. 14.1. We are required to rec…ive ſuch as are weak in the faith, but not to doubtfull diſputations: that is criticall debates, concerning Christian liberty, which indeed p. 382ſtirre up ſcrupuloſity; but do not edifie: the weak will by ſcrupuloſity of conſcience be diſcouraged in the ways of piety; let them not therefore be in your conferences, perplexed with ſuch enquiries; doubts are ſoon ſtarted, and eaſily raiſed, but not ſo ſoon reſolved; it is ſad, when ſoul tormenting ſcrupuloſity becomes the effect of Chriſtian ſociety.

3. Conferre not controverted matters of diſcipline and order in the Chrrch, the things of ſalvation may be enjoyed in the Church where diſcipline is much wanting, and neglected matters of order tend to the beauty but not the being of the Church; articles of faith and acts of holineſſe may be followed by men that are ignorant of the debates of Church order: diſputes of circumſtances becomes many times the deſtruction of the power of godlineſs: it is noted of eminent p. 383Mr. Dod that he never loved to meddle with the cōtroverſies of the times, becauſe they dulled his affections to holineſſe if in any thing, …ōmon Chriſtian ſhould be concluded by Church officers, it is in matters of diſcipline & order.

4. Confer not the experiences of Saints, & manner of Gods work on the heart and conſcience becauſe theſe are meerly perſonall, & may prove prejudiciall unto others: conviction and conſolation is the common condition of all believers but the modus and gradus operandi meaſure and manner of it, is different; ordinarily diſpoſed by the temper and diſpoſition of the ſubject: and cannot be a Rule unto others the eaſineſs of Davids muſt not be the meaſure of Manaſſeh his conviction: nor muſt the thundring conviction and converſion of Saul be the ſquare thereof unto Peter: experiences of this nature p. 384adminiſter no edification, but many times engender in ſome deſpondencies, and in other preſumptions: leave we therefore a wiſe God to work his own work, in his own way; let us make the work it ſelf object of our obſervation and diſcourſe, not much making known the manner and meaſure thereof.

Theſe things I advice be not propounded as the matter of your conference becauſe repugnant to its end but inſtead hereof confer.

1. Prophane practices of the wicked: with which your hearts are to be affected, and that out of zeal to Gods holy name hereby diſhonored; and piety to immortall ſouls hereby endangered; and compaſſion to them who by their proſperity in the courſe of impiety do become a ſtumbling block, temptation and evill example to others; multiplying to themſelvs the wrath of God, unto which p. 385they are by their preſent ſucceſſe prepared: This is more then probable to have been the matter of which the men in our Text did ſpeak one to another, we may not alwaies ſpeak to the conviction of the wicked yet we may and muſt ſpeak to the confirmation of our ſelves againſt the temptation of their proſpering prophaneſſe and ſucceſſefull ſin.

2. Principles of which are ploin and obvious to every ſerious Chriſtian ſtudious of Scriptuee and are eſſentiall to the v…ry being of a believer and indiſpenſably neceſſary to ſalaation: Theſe are the foundations of the oracles of God, by which we are con…ituted Chriſtians and capable of being edified: ignorance and inconſt…ncy in the principles of faith fits us for all hereſie and ſeduction from the truth: the matter of Chriſt his conference with his Diſciples in p. 386the coaſts of Philippi as is evident by his, Whom ſay men that I am? and whom ſay ye that I am. Mat. 16.13.16. Was the verity of the Meſſias who was to be believed: and the matter of his conference with the Diſciples that walked to Emmaus, was his death and Reſurrection thoſe great Articles of faith: and Pauls Errand to Rome was by conference to eſtabliſh the Saints in the faith, Rom. 1.11. The common work of the Communion of Saints is to edifie one another in their moſt holy faith: and therefore the principles thereof is the proper matter of their conference.

3. Practiſes of piety which are to be performed unto theſe, being to the gracious ſoul ſupernaturall and and above his reach, beyond his naturall ſtrength; nay contra naturall unto which their fleſh bears an enmity, they cannot but be p. 387weak and dull, apt to be wearied; eſpecially when under affliction and all worldly diſcouragements: men ſpeaking, & common courſe of providence ſeeming to confirm their language, that it is in vain to ſerve God: therefore we muſt conſider one another to provoke unto love and good work, ſo long as the willing ſpirit is Retarded with the weakneſſe of the fleſh the words of the wiſe muſt be as nails and as goads.

4. Promiſes of Grace which muſt be the props of the ſoul, the uphold of hope under the proſpering providences that do attend the prophane; and afflictions which are incident to the Righteous: whilſt the viſion is delayed the juſt muſt live by faith, and by diſcourſing of Gods promiſes and properties, eſtabliſh their expectation of a diſcrimnating deliverance out of all their ſorrows, p. 388though at the preſent the proud are called happy, &c.

If theſe, and things of the like nature, be made the matter of your conference, it will produce its end; and prove an ordinance of edification; informing your judgements; affecting your hearts, quickning and eſtabliſhing the ſoul in faith and holineſſe.

I have done with the firſt, and ſhall now paſſe to the 2. direction unto the right management of conference.

Direct. 2 Right matter propounded, proceed unto your conference with due prudence, wiſdom is the ornament and excellency of every action; and muſt be the eſpeciall property of believers, that will put forth in exerciſes of Religion, they muſt proceed with much prudence, and beware of betraying the ſame into ſcandall; by any acts of in diſcretion: many are the ſnares which p. 389attend holy conference; and great are the evils which our corrupt natures do draw from ſo good an exerciſe, we muſt therfore be very watchfull to improve it to its end and avoid its evill, though accidentall: the truely prudent will limit themſelves in things lawfull leaſt they Run into things unlawfull: It is Auſtins aſſertion that he who knoweth not how to deny what is in his liberty, will never be able to decline what is forbidden: and the truely Godly muſt avoide the appearance of evill not onelyonly the ſpecies but ſhews; the kinds but ſhadows of ſin are to be ſhunned: let therefore your conference be managed with all wiſdom, in point of time, place, manner, and order.

1. The time of conference is occaſionall as opportunity is offered; for holy conference is not a duty fixed to any ſpeciall ſeaſon; but as divine providence and humane condition doth caſt and call us into ſociety, we are to ſpeak one unto another: as in the time of friendly p. 390viſit in any affliction; familiar intercourſe in holy actions, or falling into each others company by appointed or unexpected affairs; ſo that the Godly muſt watch for, and catch at the opportunity of exhorting, and admoniſhing, comforting one another, by holy conference: yet we do not deny or deem it unlawfull for the Godly of any vicinity and neighbor hood; by mutuall conſent to keep fixed ſeaſons, wherein to aſſociate and ſpeak one unto another in holy conference: onelyonly we adviſe that the time fixed be our own, not Gods or our families, our own, I ſay, not Gods, that is, not the Lords day: and the ſeaſon of ſolemne aſſemblies and publick worſhip: holy conference (I confeſſe) doth well become the Sabbath; but the Sabbath cannot well be the fixed ſeaſon of conference: epecially the time of publick exerciſe; when God is by his Embaſſadors ſpeaking to the whole Aſſembly, it becomes not private Members to be ſpeaking one to another: the p. 391Lords day is deſigned of God himſelf unto duties of Religion publick, domeſtick, and perſonall; and acts of ſociety muſt be occaſionall: It is great folly nay groſſe prophaneneſſe to ſpend the time of Church edification and inſtruction, in private colloquie. I would we had not known ſome good men guilty of it; do not many among us get into a private houſe, and employ themſelves in holy conference, unto the negle…, nay at length the contempt of publick ordinances? or muſt we fix for holy conference, the time which is our families that is to ſay the feaſon of our particular calling, in which we ought to labour unto the ſubſiſtance of our ſelves and family: when poor men leave their trades and ſpend much time in the ſociety of the Saints and holy conference, but leave their families in want, their affections to holineſſe may be commended; but their indiſcretion is to be blamed: no exerciſe of holineſſe which is private and occaſionall muſt p. 392hinder our particular callings: when God teacheth we need not teach one another: and when hardſhip hinders ſpeciall acts of holy ſociety, it is not required at our hands.

8. Nor muſt you manage your conference with more caution in reference to time then to the Place: all places are in point of holineſſe alike; but not ſo in point of prudence: …he people of God may occaſionally conferre in any place, and ſo in the Church, as well as an houſe: but when by mutuall conſent you make conference a fixed duty you muſt in prudence avoide the Church, for private duties do not become publick places, the Church is a place purpoſely prepared, and preſerved for publick Aſſembly, and adminiſtrations of the Church; and therefore bears its name Church as the notation of its nature: and by long and uninterrupted cuſtome and practice of all Chriſtian ages and nations, all holy exerciſes in theſe publick places, have the Church for their object, and preſuppoſe p. 393miniſteriall authority for their form: avoid therefore theſe places as you would avoid all enchroachments on the holy function of the miniſtry and the appearances thereof.

3. Nor muſt we have more care in reference to the time and place, then the manner of holy conference: let us us not inſtead of conference, make ſet, and formal diſcourſes after the manner of miniſteriall inſtruction: I have come into ſome private ſocieties, who have aſſembled to confer, and heard one man preach to the reſt, rather then conferre with them, and I have indeed ſadly obſerved that ſociety to be a nurſery of preſumption to the miniſtry: I do not ſay that private Chriſtians are prohibited from inferring doctrines from Scriptures and enforcing them with reaſons and application; I doubt not but maſters may thus do in, and to their families; and tutors in the univerſity to their pupils; each according to their capacity: but for private Chriſtians in p. 394any fixed friendly ſociety thus to do; is (in my eye) without the leaſt of warrant: for they want not only the miniſteriall, but parentall and magiſterial authority; which ſhould award ſuch a kind of inſtruction; I do believe the propheticall priveledge of a believer is preſcribed and limited to thoſe whom nature hath put in ſubjection to him; and will not, nay, muſt not be extended to his Peeres & brethren: moreover they, in ſo doing, deſtroy the duty to which they pretend, for their work ſhould be to conferre by colloquy, to communicate each to other: their buſineſſe is foreign mutual debate, expoſtulation, colloquie, each ſpeaking to other, anſwering one another, when ſpeak in order propoſing their doubts, urging their objections, imparting their thoughts; and ſo communicating one unto another; which is clearly deſtroyed, where one only is the ſpeaker, & all the reſt are hearers: ſhould a ſtranger come into ſuch an aſſembly, and obſerve that one inſtruct the others and that withall magiſteriall, nay miniſteriall p. 395circumſtances, could he call this a conference, or would he not rather conclude it a preaching to the Church.

4. Prudence muſt direct us unto order in our conference as wel as care in reſpect of time, place and manner: confuſion is incident to, and muſt be carefully ſet againſt by all ſociety: when the godly meet to conferre, they muſt be orderly in the matter of their conference, laying the foundation before they rear the ſuperſtructure; acquainting themſelves with Rudiments and principles; before they enquire into higher matters of faith: there are many things in Religion which men whilſt weak in, or ignorant of principles are not able to bear: firſt conferre of matters eſſentiall to ſaith, and then go forward: debate the duties, before the dignities of a believer; the high flown Saints of our age can conferre of nothing but their priviledges and high enjoyments of God, Chriſt and the ſpirit: and ſo nouriſh pride and fancy; but not faith: and as you muſt be orderly in the matter, debating what p. 396may profit, more then what may pleaſ: ſo alſo you muſt be in the manner, ſpeaking one unto another and one after another, ſuiting an anſwer proper for the thing propounded, not ſpeaking all at once unto confuſion and diſtraction: & whatever coms firſt into your mouth without any care of it's pertinencie to the thing diſcourſed.

Having then aſſociated each with other, and made your holy conference (a dutie in it ſelf occaſionall and tranſient) to be fixed, manage it withall wiſdome in reſpect of time, place, manner, and order for by the miſcarriage of theſe you do expoſe your ſelvs and exerciſe unto ſcandall, and juſt cenſures; giving way to the Devill in a little, you lay your ſelves open to temptation: conference in the time, place and manner of goſpell miniſtry is but a praeludium to the prophane, contempt, and preſumptuous undertaking that holy function,; give me leave to enforce this direction with a ſad example of the ſinfull iſſue of the imprudent management p. 397of holy conference: which hath fallen within my own time and knowledge, which proved the prologue of apoſtacy from the Church and Covenant of God unto the men that uſed it: In Audly pariſh in the County of Stafford, lived many eminent profeſſors of Religion with whom I have had ſweet Communion, and taken ſweet counſell many times; many of them were men of eminent parts unto prayer and conference, in which they were very converſant: in proceſſe of time, they fell under a very weak & dul miniſtrie; which gave them occaſion to be more frequent in their conference each with other; and eſpecially on the Lords day; pretending by themſelvs to make up the defects of the miniſtry which was over them; untill at length they fixed their conference on one day in the week, and ſometimes on the Lords day to be held in the publick place or Church and did cal unto it by the tolling of the bell; & one of them more apt then the reſt, ſpake unto the reſt, of which miſcarriage in a private duty I p. 398had (by ſome more humble then the reſt) notice given me & came to the men and blamed their indiſcretion, who in the ſinfulneſſe of pride, ſcorned my inſtruction and would not be admoniſhed; another grave and reverend divine, (whom they had much eſteemed) dealt with them on the ſame account but all in vain; for in this courſe they continued untill they brake out into the contempt of the miniſtry; the ſeparating from the Church; and caſting off the Covenant of their baptiſme; and conſtituted themſelves a Church; unto which, the men of beſt parts but moſt proud, are at this day become leaders, and profeſſed Miniſters; be wiſe in time for it is ſad to ſee how by pretence of piety Gods ordinances are ſlighted and ſouls ſeemingly Godly are ſeduced from the truth. Thus much for the 2. direction.

The 3. and laſt direction is this, poſſeſſe a ſuitable frame of ſpirit unto the due management of holy conference: It is p. 399the duty of every Saint, but ſuch as are moſt converſant therein, and will ſtudy to make it edifying, and enforce it to its end, muſt be fitted thereunto, by theſe eſpecial qualifications which muſt be poſſeſſed. viz. the

1. Sence of Ʋnion and Relation, Union is the Reaſon of Communion, and Relation engageth communication: know we that we are brethren? this makes us familiar, and members of the ſame body, it will provoke inſpection and mutuall ſupply and corroboration. They muſt know one another that do know how to ſpeak one unto another. Strangers are ordinarily ſilent.

2. Spirit of wiſdom and underſtanding. The lips of the wiſe muſt feed many; the word of God muſt dwell plentifully in them, who will admoniſh one another: men of holy conference muſt be Scribes furniſhed for the kingdom of heaven, bringing forth of their treaſure things new & old: be ſtudious of Gods mind Revealed in his word, if you ſtudy to be profitable members in Chriſt his body.

p. 4003. Zealous affections to God and holineſſe: apt to be grieved when men transgreſſe Gods law; and ready to pleade for God and piety, when moſt men ſay, it is in vain to ſerve God, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth muſt ſpeak, they muſt fear God and think upon his name, who will ſpeak often one to another in evill times.

4. Serious obſervations of, and ſympathy with our brethren; though charity begins at home yet we muſt love our neighbour as our ſelves: whilſt our chief care muſt be of our ſelves; we muſt not ſhut our eyes to our brethrens ſouls or frailties: we muſt ſee the brother Erring from the truth, if we will convert him: know his ſin if we will Rebuke him: apprehend his temper if we will make admonition affect him; all natures are not a like nor to be alike dealt withall: ſee his ſorrows if we will ſupport him by our counſell; they muſt conſider one another, who will provoke unto love and good works: they muſt well ſtudy the ſins and ſorrows; conditions p. 401and conſtitutions; actions and abilities of their brethren; who will ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to a wearied ſoul.

5. Sincere deſire to edifie and be edified; to propagate grace and godlineſs not to proclaim parts and proudly act abilities: if conference be Pauls Errand to Rome, his onelyonly end is to impart ſome ſpeciall gift that the Saints may be eſtabliſhed; and he be comforted by the mutuall faith of one another: the weakeſt member of the body is profitable in its place: every joynt makes its proper ſupply unto the increaſe of the whole body.

5. Speciall meekneſſe and humility: ſubmiſſely hearkning to the counſell of others and ſetting on them a due eſſteem; not puffed up with confidence of our own knowledge: and with all tenderneſſe of compaſſion Reproving admoniſhing and comforting one another: if any that is weak in the faith be over taken with a fault they that are ſtronge muſt Reſtore him with a Spirit p. 402of meekneſs; knowing that they alſo themſelves may be tempted: and if we will fulfill the Apoſtles joyes in Chriſtian conference nothing muſt be done, through ſtrife or vain glory but in lowlineſs of mind; each eſteeming other better then themſelves, looking not every man at his own things but every man at the things of others: Phil. 2, 3, 4, 5. Spirituall pride is the bane and baſeneſs of holy conference.

Let (Chriſtians) theſe directions be Remembred and carefully practiſed by you, and then what ever providence attends you or eſtate doth befall the wicked, you may, and muſt be frequent and fervent in holy conference & provoked to ſpeak often one to another: until the Lord hearken & hear and cauſe a book of Remembrance to be written be: fore him, for them that fear the Lord, &c. And ſo much for the 2. part of the Text (viz) the exerciſe of the Godly in the time of the proſperous eſtate of the wicked.