2. It should press us to holy conferences set. There may be, and should be, some set time for mutual edification. It is not the duty only of the ministers, but also of private Clmstians, keeping within the bounds of their station and the measures of their knowledge, to teach and to instruct one another. The scriptures are full of this : Col. iii. G ; Col. i. 5-11; Heb. iii. 13; Jude 20. Christians should often meet together for prayer and spiritual edification. So Heb. x. 24, 25 ; Eom. xv. 14. I heap up these places because of the error of the Papists, who will not have the laity speak of scripture, or things pertaining to scrip- ture. Whereas you see these injunctions are plain and clear, and it is a great part of that holy communion that should pass between saints, this mutual exhorting, quickening, and strengthening one another's
128 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XIV.
hands in the work of the Lord. These places are not to be under- stood of public communion, of church societies, but of private confer- ences, by way of interchangeable discourse and mutual edification. It is not necessary these set conferences should be always, and all the members of the church meet and confer together ; but a company of savoury Christians, whose spirits suit best in commerce, and most likely to help one another. Though I am to love all the brotherhood, and carry a respect to all in relation to me, yet I am to single out for my advantage some of the most eminent, or the most suitable ; for great regard is to be had to that, Christ made a distinction in his little flock, in his family, shall I call it ; some he singleth out for more im- mediate converses, as Peter, James, and John, in his transfiguration, in Mat. xvii. 1, and in his agonies ; these were the flower, the choice, that he singled out for his special converse. I speak not of public meetings, in public societies, but set conferences with gracious Chris- tians with whom our spirits suit best, and are likely to be of greatest help in maintaining of the spiritual life. These set times the people of God have ever made conscience of. It is a great comfort and refreshing to be conscious to the exercise of each other's grace : Rom. i. 12, 'That I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me.' And it is a mighty strengthening in evil times: Mai. iii. 16, ' Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it.' And you will find the benefit of the manifold graces of God, that what one wants will be supplied by the help of another. God doth not so give his gifts to one but that he needs others' help. Paul calls Aquila and Priscilla ' fel- lows or helpers in Christ Jesus ;' and ApoUos, a mighty man in the scriptures, had a great deal of help by Aquila and Priscilla, Eom. xvi. 3 ; 1 Cor. xii. 21, ' The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee ; nor the head to the feet, I have no need of you.' The mean- est have their use, quickening and strengthening one another. This mutual edification difiereth from ministerial or church society; because the one is an act of authority, the other of charity ; the one in the face of the congregation, the other by a few Christians in private ; and it may be improved to awaken each other to consider of God, of the ways of God, the word of God, the works of creation and providence, redemption, the judgments he executes in the world, mercies towards his people, the experiments and proofs of his grace in your Christian warfare ; Ps. Ixvi. 16, ' Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.' Perus speaks of some old monks, Conveniehant in unum, audiebatui' verhum Dei, d:c. — they were wont to meet together, and after they had read the word of God, every one did acquaint one another with his weaknesses, with his temptations, and mutually asked counsel, and comforted one another out of the word of God ; and after this they concluded all with prayer, and so every man went to his home. These examples, did we observe them, they would be most useful to us; we might drive on a trade to heaven, and be of very great profit in the spiritual life ; if the gifts of private Christians were managed without pride, vainglory, and without despising of the weak, it would be of exceeding honour to God, use and comfort to the saints.
VeE. 14.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 129
SERMON XV.
/ liave rejoiced in the tvay of thy commandments, as much as in all riches. — Ver. 14.
These words may respect the 12th verse, as another argument where- with to back his request, ' Teach me thy statutes ; for I have rejoiced in the way of thy commandments as much as in aH riches.' Many are for worklly wealth, but I have other desires : Lord, teach me how to understand and keep thy statutes, and this will be a greater benefit than any worldly possession whatsoever. Or you may refer them to the 13th verse, as a reason of his practice ; every man will be speaking of that wherewith he is delighted : ' Lord, thy testimonies are my re- joicing ;' therefore, I have and will be speaking of them upon all occa- sions. Or this may be the fruit of what was mentioned before : those that are exercised about the word, the study, and practice of it, and conference about it, have a sweet sense of the goodness of it in their own souls, so as they delight and rejoice in it above all things ; and if we have not felt this effect, it is because we are strangers to the word.