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

But that we may break through all these difficulties, and removing these causes of hindrance, bring these neglected holy conferences into more use, let us consider that they are exceeding profitable, first, for the increasing of our knowledge in spiritual and heavenly things, when we bring all we know (as it were) to a common stock, out of which, every one may take that which best fitteth him for his particular use, and supply his defects out of others abundance, they in the mean time having never the less. And as it is a singular benefit unto every one of any Trade or Mystery, when they have their common Halls where they may meet together, and confer of the best courses for the managing of their affairs, seeing it doth not only much improve their skill, but also further them greatly in all good proceedings; so doth it exceedingly advantage us in our spiritual trading, both for the increasing of our knowledge, and furthering of our practice, when as we often meet together, and confer of those things that belong to our Christian profession. For it doth not only improve and better our judgements, by communicating with others in all that they know, but also inflame our hearts and affections with the love of spiritual things, when as we stir up Gods graces mutually in one another, and like coals which are heaped up together, not only preserve the heat of the love, and zeal which is kindled in us, and would cool and die if we were scattered from one another, but also inflame those which are next unto us with our heat, which being set on fire, will also kindle those who are near unto them. In which regard, that of the Wise man is truly verified; The lips of the righteous feed many; but ¹