A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

Alas who can tell what day it is by mens discourses and conferences one with another! how vain, foolish, unprofitable and unsavoury is most mens speech all the day! no jest so idle, no story so common and fruitless, but will pass at our tables and in our private conference.

Alass who can tell what day it is by mens discourses and conferences one with another! how vain, foolish, unprofitable and unsavory is most mens speech all the day! no jest so idle, no story so common and fruitless, but will pass at our tables and in our private conference.

Many spend the best of their time no better than the Idolatrous Athenians did their worst, in nothing else but either telling or hearing some new thing. What news? is the most innocent question, wherewith (I would I could not ⟨p. 141⟩say) most men fill up the vacancies of a Sabbath. And is that sinful will you say? was it not in Nehemiah's question, Nehem. 1.2. Hanani one of my brethren came, he and certain men of Judah, and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were of the Captivity, and concerning Jerusalem, &c. presently what news? And why may not Christians ask the same question? yes, they may, when they ask it with Nehemiah's spirit, to Nehemiah's end, sc. that we may get our hearts suitably affected with the miseries or prosperity of the Church of God abroad or at home: see what a gracious use he makes of his news in that and in the following chapter at your leisure: go ye, and do likewise, and it shall be your honour.

Many spend the best of their time no better than the Idolatrous Athenians did their worst, in nothing else but either telling or hearing some new thing. What news? is the most innocent question, wherewith (I would I could not ⟨p. 141⟩say) most men fill up the vacancies of a Sabbath. And is that sinful will you say? was it not in Nehemiah's question,