A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 4 Of the manifold and dangerous abuses of Conferences in these days; and the causes of them.

§. Sect. 4 Of the manifold and dangerous abuses of Conferences in these daies; and the causes of them.

And these are the duties which are to be observed in our society and conversation one with another, in respect of our speeches and conferences. The which in these days, are all for the most part lamentably neglected, to the great dishonour of God, and our own exceeding hindrance in our Christian progress. And contrariwise, as we find by daily and woeful experience, all our time at our meetings, is wholly spent about earthly trifles, and things of no value. Of which neglect of the one, and too much use of the other, there are divers causes. As first, the malice and subtlety of the devil, who knowing how much religious conferences do weaken his kingdom, and build us up in all spiritual graces, and how much they strengthen us unto all Christian duties, doth use all his Art and skill to hinder and interrupt them, by putting into mens minds matters of no use and profit, earthly vanities, and things utterly impertinent to our persons, states, and callings. Or if we will needs talk of Religion, he is ready to propound unto us by some of his instruments, captious questions, or wrangling controversies about trifles of no value, which tend not to the use of edifying, but to cause heart-burning, and alienation of affections, strife, and contention, that so for the present he may keep out all profitable conferences, about sanctification and the main points of Christian Religion, and at length may break off all such meetings, when as men find by experience, that little or no good cometh of them. And with him joineth the world and worldly men to hinder these conferences, not only by offering earthly things unto us, for the subject of our speech, but also by interrupting us, when we have entered into any good conference, by speaking of worldly matters, that so they may divert our speech from going on in any Christian discourse. Unto both which our enemies, our corrupt flesh is ready to betray us, which is soon weary of spiritual and heavenly things, because it findeth no taste or savour in them, and is never satisfied in thinking and speaking of things worldly, carnal, and sensual, as best relishing to our corrupt and fleshly appetite. A second cause is, because we are not mortified in our love to the world, nor have our hearts and affections weaned from it.