NEighbour Aquila , as I wish you may prosper , euen as your soule prospereth ; so I cannot but aske , what meane● those cheekes of yours so bedewed with teares ?

Alas brother , is not this the time euen of Iacobs trouble ? you heare how great the affliction of Ioseph is abroad ; and you know the reproach that lyeth on vs at home , and how in●quity getting the vppe● hand , doth with a a Esay 48. 4. the iron sinew & brow of brasse , so out-face & beare down the b b Heb. 13. 22 word of exhortation , tha● now ( as in the Prophet Ho● sea his time ) c c Hos. 4. 4. no man may striue nor reproue an other for this people are as the● that striue with the Priest yea , they d d 〈◊〉 . 5. 10. hate him tha● rebuketh in the gate , an● abhorre him that speaketh vprightly . Hauing therefore so great cause to feare , that e e Amos 8. 10. the end hereof may be as a bitter day , euen the f f Hos. 4. 5. destruction of our Mother , as the Prophet speaks : is it not better to weepe in Sion , for keeping out of Babel , then in sitting downe by Babels riuers to weepe for Sion ?

I confesse that as this is a g g Esa. 22. 1● day wherein the Lord God of hoast cals to weeping and mourning , and wherein hee that h h Psal. 122. 6. 9. loueth Sion , and seekes her good , should with good i i Neh. 1. 4. Nehemiah , and k k Psal. 109. 136. Dauid , weepe and mourne : so if men will not bee l l Amos 6. 6. grieued for the affliction of Ioseph , nor m m Eze. 9. 4. mourne for the abhominations of Ierusalem , the Scripture marketh them out ( as with a blacke cole or a n n Amos 7. 8. plumbe-line ) for o o Amos 6. 7. slauery , or for p p Eze. 9. 5. 6. the slaughter . But shall tel you how in this very day , they that loue to play the good fellowes , ( saying q q 1 Cor. 15. 32. lot vs eate and drinke , for tomorrow wee dye ) talke of vs r r Esa. 61. 3. mourners in Sion ? Oh say they , let them , according to the Scriptures , s s Iam. 4. 8. cleanse their hands , and purge their hearts , as well as mourn & weepe , and so t t Iool 2. 13. turne to the Lord , as well as rent their hearts ; else what is all their mourning better then v v Heb. 12. 17 Esaus blubbering , or their hearts-renting then w w Mat. 27. 3 Iudas his repenting ?

Let x x Luke 4. 23 the Physitians therfore heale themselues say they ; and let them y y Mat. 3. 8. bring forth fruits worthy of repentance , in dealing their bread to the hungry , and couering the naked , &c. or else the z z Esa. 58. 5. 6 , 7 Prophet tels them , that all this afflicting of their soules , for a day , with their heads bowed downe like bul-rushes , and sackecloath and ashes spred vnder them , euen all their fasting and mourning is as plaine a mockery as our merriment and fast-eating .

Though a a Pro. 26. 18 19 mad men make sport in casting firebrands and arrowes , and death , and the b b Psal. 11. 2. vpright in heart be the speciall marke such mad fooles priuily shoote at , out of the very c c Esa. 26. 11 enuy they haue against Gods people , whereof they shall one day be ashamed : yet this reproach stickes as a d d Psal. 42. 10 sword in my bones , and it may e e Psal. 69. 20 breake our hearts to thinke how many of vs that are large in shewes of humiliation , are too strait — laced in workes of mercy , and f f 2 Sam. 12. 14 giue great occasion to the enemies of the Lord thus to blaspheme .

And for my own part , when I consider what g g Hos. 10. 1. empty vines many professors are in these respects , and how much fruit they beare to themselues , as the Prophet speakes ; and how according to the goodnesse of our Land , they make goodly idols of backe and belly , of purchases and buildings , whereunto they sacrifice the first fruits , the fat and bloud of all their substance and increase in excessiue superfluities : when in the meane time the Lord Jesus ( to whose h h Pro● . 3. 9. honour these should be dedicated in more i i Heb. 13. 10 pleasing sacrifices ) is suffered to lye in his poore members harbourlesse , here hungry , and there naked , yea , sicke and imprisoned , and yet vnfrequented and vnuisited : when I thinke on these things , I say , my k k Hab. 3. ● . belly trembleth to conceiue how speechlesse many a professor will be found in that great day of reckoning , when l l Math. 25. 35 account wil be exacted of these very particulars .

The Lord therfore graunt that in the meane time the reproches of those that m m Ier. 20. 1● watch for our haltings , may serue vs as n n Tit. 1. 13. cutting rebukes , to make vs sound in the Faith , the o o 2 Tim. 1. 5 vnfained faith which p p Gal. 5. 6. worketh by loue ; that wee q q Heb. 12. 13 may make straight steps to our feete in these r r 2 Tim. 3. 1. last pe●ilous times , wherein s s Rom. 2. 2● the ●orme of Knowledge and t t 2 Ti● 3. 5. shew of godlinesse haue so shrunke the sinews of the power thereof , that few among many v v Gal. 2. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . foote it aright , according to the truth of the Gospell . For w w Gal. 6. 7. God is not mocked , x x Iam. 2. 13. but hee shall haue iudgement without mercy , that hath shewed no mercy , and mercy reioyceth against iudgement .

I call to remembrance this day , a great fault of mine in a higher straine of mercy , and I would to God it were not a generall fault of professors , and yet it is generally lesse heeded .

What is that I pray ?

Euen that which at first your complaint might haue minded vs of , that wee haue suffered the duty of exhortation to be husht and put to silence amongst vs . For to what end hath the Lord put y y Cant. 3. 11 hony & milke vnder our tongues , I meane the z z 1 Pet. 2. 2. sincere milke of the word , a a Psal. 19. 10 ( sweeter then hony and the hony-comb ) but that wee should looke to b b Pro. 10. 21 lip-feeding , as well as to hand-feeding ? And if a man should hereupon aske vs , whether is greater , the body or the soule ( as our Lord did in an other case , c c Mat 6. 25 whether is greater the body or the ●ayment ) might he not soone lay the finger to the soare ? If wee deale our bread to the hungry bodies onely , may not d d Mat. 5. 46 ▪ euen a Publican , a Pagan , doe so ? Euery foole tha● ri●h is , if they would bu● e e Mat. 6. 2. sound the trumpet , an● play the hypocrites , migh● winne the applause for doing such almes : but f f Pro. 11. 30. hee ● wise that winneth soules and he g g Pro. 10. 21 the righteous man ( in Gods account ) that feedeth many with his lips .

Howsoeuer therfore naturall men , h h 2 Pet 2. 12 as bruit beasts made to be destroyed , cannot sauour this i i Ioh. 6. 27. food that endureth to eternall life ; ye● we that are k k 1 Cor. 2. 17 spirituall , and should discerne all things , should be more sensible in l l Rom. 8. 5. minding the things of the spirit . Otherwise for vs to bemoane the Apostacy of the times , to sigh for the abhominations of the land , and to cry out ( as many doe ) on the m m Ier. 23. 11 15. prophanenesse of Prophets , from whom prophanesse is gone forth into all the land ; if in the meane time we forbeare lip-feeding , and restraine those n n Ioh. 7. 38. riuers of water of life , that should flow from vs to quench this o o Iam. 3. 6. world of wickednesse , that being set on fire of hell , may set on fire the course of nature among vs : what is it else , but as if men should looke to acquit themselues as mercifull neighbours by bewailing their neighbours house on fire , and all-while forbeare the casting on of water to quench the same ?

You haue opened a veyne that may make our hearts bleede within for the bloud-guiltinesse of our neighbours soules : and my soule hauing now in remembrance that speech of our Sauiour , p p Mat. 12. 30 hee that gathereth not , scattereth , is humbled in me to cry with Dauid the Prophet , q q Psal. 51. 14 Lord deliuer mee from bloud-guiltinesse , r r Psal. 19. 12. cleanse thou me from secret faults .

And your so sensible remembrance cals to my minde , what you and I with many others heard pressed to the full not long since by a Preacher out of Hebr. 3. where he s s Heb. 3. 13. shewing that exhortation was inioyned , as a preseruatiue against apostacy , concluded thence , that the neglect of the one , attracteth the guilt of the other .

What now remaineth , but as euer wee hope to be t t 1 Ioh. 1. 7. cleansed from this so great a guilt , by the bloud of Gods owne Son , so wee walke in the light ; and shew so v v Luk. 7. 42. &c. much the more loue in a future zealous performance of that which wee haue so much neglected ? And to this end , I pray helpe call to minde with me , what wee thence heard concerning the duty of Exhortation .

Oh that this might bee as fully performed , as it is seasonably moued . But vnlesse your memory by better then mine , I feare wee shall proue as slippery riuen vessels , in w w Heb. 2. 1. letting slip much of that doctrine , which then so x x Deut. 32. 2 dropped , and rained , and showred vpon vs .

In this you may say to mee ; Lame , helpe thy fellow . For euen when I begin to remember , feare takes hold on mee , that I shall finde it to be with my memory , as with many a false seruant , who is deemed trusty , till he be called to reckoning : and this is a lamentable effect of our want of y y Heb. 2. 1. earnest heed to the things wee haue heard . O what a candle did God light within vs , when that doctrine was taught vs ! But when by repetition , conference and practise , we should haue z z Mar. 4. 21. set it on a candlesticke , to giue light to our families and neighbours , we in part did put it vnder a bushell . And now the a a Mar. 4. 24. 25. same measure is meated to vs , which we measured to others : as we had not ( for our Masters aduantage ) that which was giuen vs , so that which wee then had , is now in part taken from vs . And if all were taken from vs , and our selues b b Mat. 25. 30 cast with ●he vnprofitable seruant into vtter darknesse , we had but our own deseruings .

But though our memories may much fayle vs , yet God , who c c Esa. 66. 2. looketh to the contrite heart that trembleth at his word , will d d Heb. 13. 5. neuer fayle vs ; either in e e 1. Cor. 11. 31. acquitting those that iudge themselues , or in f f Iac. 4. 8. drawing neare to those that draw neare to him . Remember , g g Dan. 9. 20. &c. whiles Daniel the Prophet was speaking and praying , and confessing his sinne ( as we doe now in part ) the man Gabriel was sent vnto him with consolatory information , as flying vpon the wings of the winde . And while the h h Luk. 24. 15 &c. two Disciples were sad and perplexed in their conferences about their Master , Iesus himselfe drew neare ; and rather then his truth , should faile to be their sheild and buckler , hee himselfe out of Moses and all the Prophets expounded the things concerning himselfe , to cleare their scruples . But loe , who comes yonder I pray ?

If is euen Mr. Archippus himselfe , who is best able to bring all to our remembrance that we heard from him , and therefore l●t vs without delay addresse our selues towards him .

Mr. Archippus you are welcome as i i Iob. 33. 23. one of a thousand , and blessed be God , k k Act. 1. 7. in whose hands are the times and seasons , that he hath sent you vnto vs so seasonably , and l l Esa. 50. 4. giuen you a tongue of the learned to minister a word in season to vs , who are now full m m Mat. 11. 28. weary of our former heedlesnes in hearing you .

What is the matter my deare brethren ?

Oh Sir , you remember what not long since you taught vs ( out of Hebr. 3. ) concerning the duty of exhortation to the full ; and we tremble in our selues to finde in our account , how little of so much wholsome doctrine we haue either put in practise , or kept in memory . As therefore we now feele how it will be n n Phil. 3. 1. for vs a safe thing , so let it not be grieuous to you ( we pray ) to rehearse summarily the same things to vs : whom o o Esa. 50. 4. God hath now awakened to heare , if not as the learned , yet surely as those who vnfainedly desire to learne of you .

Blessed be God , who hath thus p p Psal ▪ 40. 6. boared your eares , and the Lord q q Mic. 3. 8. fill me with power and iudgment by his Spirit , to satisfie your desires , and to stablish your harts in a duty so necessary . And for your better memory I will reduce the summe of all into thee rheads , insisting , 1. in the necessity of the duty , 2. in the reasons enforcing it , 3. in the right manner of performing it . And seeing we are now r r Marc 4 10 apart ( where your questioning will disturbe no publique ministery nor audience ) be bold I pray , with Chrish Disciples , to aske the full meaning of any thing that may seeme as a hidden parable vnto you . For this is noted as a remarkeable property of s s Luk. 8. 9 , 10. Mar 4. 10. 11 those , to whom it is giuen to know the mystery of the Kingdome of God : such Go● teacheth t t Mare . 4. 34 Luk. 10. 23. a-part , when others , though presenta● publique teaching , are u u Mat. 13. 11 13. &c. nothing the wiser ; & such a● of Gods priuy councell and haue the w w Psa. 25. 14 secrets of the Lord reuealed vnto them , from which x x Luk. 10. 21 others are kept as strangers to their dying day .

Brother Aquila , in guilt of our owne vnworthines might not we say with the y y Ioh. 14. 22 Apostle , Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy selfe vnto vs and not vnto the world ? But seeing it is Gods good pleasure thus to sequester vs from those z z Act. 13. 41 despisers , that wonder and perish in their infidelity ; God forbid that wee should stand in our owne light by any vaine admiration or inquisition . And therfore as our a a Luk. 4. 20. eyes are fastened on you Mr. Archippus , beeing b b Act. 10. 33 heere present before God to heare all the counsayle of God that you shall reueale vnto vs : so according to your methode first shew vs the necessity of exhortation we pray .

Mutuall exhortation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a duty so necessary , that none can be , or abide in the state of sauing grace● but 〈◊〉 only who indeauour the performance of it .

Before you goe on ▪ I must intreate you to explaine fully the meaning o● those two words , mutua●● exhortation .

The origina● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c c Heb. 3. 13. word in Hebr. 3. which ● commonly translated , exhort , signifieth properly , t● call vnto .

1. It is sometimes tak● in a strict or limited sence as where Saint Paul saith d d 2. Tim. 4. 2 reproue , rebuke , exho● with all long-suffering an● doctrine . Heere that whic● the Apostle speaketh ( ●● shew what he meant b● preaching the word ) ma● according to the twofol● vse of scripture ( Speculatiue as they call it , or practicall ) be reduced into two heads . First that which concernes the informing of the vnderstanding and iudgment , which is done either by reprouing , called elsewhere e e Tit. 1. 9. conuincing ; or by doctrine , elsewhere called f f Rom. 15. 4. learning or teaching .

Secondly that which concernes the reforming of the will and affections , which is done either by rebuke , called elsewhere g g 2 Tim 3. 16 correction ; or by exhortation , called elsewhere h h Verse the same . instruction in righteousnes . And heere doctrine , though ranked in the last place , is yet so added as that which must be inter-weaued with the former , as the woofe with the warpe , being the chiefe of all the rest . For reprouing goeth before but as an vsher , by remouing errors to make way for doctrine to enter ; and doctrine is that which both in faith and manners giues life and strength to rebuking ● and exhorting . So that by exhorting heere we are to vnderstand neither reprouing , nor rebuking , no● teaching ( it being distinct from all these ) but that only which in other places is figuratiuely expressed by i i 2. Pet. 1. 13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . rowzing , or k k Heb. 19. 24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . whetting . Whereby we are to learne , that albeit the state of Gods children may be such , that they need not so much as others to be either reproued for errors , or rebuked for disorders , or informed in faith and manners : yet euen these are sometimes l l Mat. 25. 5. slumbering and sleeping as the wise virgins , and then haue need of rowzing ; & sometimes m m Heb. 5. 11 dull as the beleeuing Hebrewes , and then haue neede of whetting .

And thus exhortation in a strict sence signifieth only rowzing or whetting , which if it be for with-standing ill or errors , is called n n 1 Cor. ● . 1● . admonition ; if for pursuing truth or goodnes , it s called o o 2 Cor. ● . 2. Rom. 11. 14. prouocation ; If for sustayning difficulties or grieuances accompa●ing both the former , it s called p p Rom. 15. 4 consolation .

2 Exhortation in other Scriptures ( as q q Heb. 3. 13 Heb. 3. ) where it is not restrayned by other words or circumstances of the text , is taken in a large sence , implying all the former meanes of building vp our selues in our most holy faith . And it this large sence , Saint Pa●● saith , r r 1 Thes. 5 13 exhort one another , and edifie one another ▪ where hee addeth the similitude of edifying , to explaine the general meaning of the word exhorting . Fo● as in materiall buildings , some stones are to be hewed for their hardnesse , some planed for their softnesse ▪ some rammed in for their vneuennesse , others supported for their weaknesse , and euery empty place filled ▪ the crooked straightned , the high leuelled , and the low aduanced ; that so the whole frame may bee fitly proportioned , and fully erected : So in s s 1 Pet. 2. 5 building vp each other as liuing stones , a spirituall house for God ; some are exalted with high imaginations against the knowledge of God , they must bee t t 2 Cor. 10. 5 cast downe with the word of reproofe ; some are hardened in their sinnes , as rockes or adamants , they must be v v Hos. 6. 5. hewed or w w Ier. 23. 29 broken with rebuke ; some sinne as children , for want of knowledge , their emptinesse must be supplied by x x Eph. 6. 1. information of doctrine ; some are out of square by vnrulinesse , no y y 2 Cor. 13. 2. & 10. 10. weight of admonition must bee spared to bring them within compasse ; some fall too short by negligence , by z z Heb 6 11 , 12. prouocation must they bee drawne forward ; and some are sunk downe by feeblenesse of minde , and they are to bee raised vp with z z 1 Thes 5. 15. comfort . And thus in this large and generall sence doe I now presse this duty of exhortation .

Blessed bee God for such a a a Luk. 11. 52 key of knowledge , whereby he thus b b Acts 16. 14 openeth our hearts , as wel● as the Scriptures ; wee now wai●e for the explanation of the other word , mutuall .

The Greek a a Heb. 3 1● . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word , in Heb. 3. which is translated , one an other , signifieth properly your selues ; as the translators in an b b Iude verse 20. other place render it . Yet here as c c Col. 3. 16. else-where , well doe they expresse the meaning of the spirit by these words ( one an other ) because in the same d d Heb. 10. 24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Epistle , the spirit so explaineth himselfe , saying , let vs consider one an other , to prouoke vnto loue and good workes ; and so more plainely in an 1 Thes. 5. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Beza : singuli , singulos . other place , saying , exhort your selues , and edifie one another ; where the spirit , who f f 1 Tim. 4. 1. speaketh expresly ( being the best interpreter ) doth interpret the word , your selues , by the words one an other ; as the word exhort , by the word edifie . And this is that which I meane by mutuall exhortation ▪ viz. that euery one of vs must exhort each other : that as wee are g g 1 Cor. 12. 27. the body of Christ , and memoers in particular , so h h Verse 25. the members should haue the same care one of another , the i i Verse 21. head being not able to say to the feete , I haue no neede of you . And vpon this very ground , the spirit saith , ex●ort your selues , when ●ee meaneth , euery one each other ; not onely because beleeuers may not be hypocrites , ( to w●om he s●ith , k k Rom. 2. 21 thou that teachest another , teachest thou not thy selfe ? ) but chiefly because being l l 1 Cor. 12. 13. all one body , as m m Eph. 5. 31. man and wife are one flesh ; hee that teacheth another , teacheth himselfe , euen as n n Verse 28. hee that loueth his wife , loueth himselfe .

Blessed bee God , o o 1 Sam. 25. 32. who hath sent you this day to meete vs with such a p p 1. Cor. 12. 4 , 10. gift of interpretation : proceede now I pray to shew vs the necessity of this duty .

To prooue that none can be or abide in the state of sauing grace , but they who endeuour the performance of this duty , I will chiefly insist in that of Heb. 3. where the Apostle saith , q q Heb. 3. 12 , 13 Take heede brethren least there be in any of you an euill hart of vnbeleife , in departing from the liuing of God : but exhort one another dayly , while it is called to day , least any of you be hardned through the deceiptfulnes of sinne . Heere we see that if they who r r Heb. 3. 1. are partakers of the heauenly calling ( whereby they s s Heb. 6. 4. 5 were once enlightned & haue tasted of the heauenly gift , and were made partakers of the holy Ghost ; and haue tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come ) if they , I say , take not heede and exhort each other , sin with its t t Iac. 1. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 baites & Satans v v 2 Cor. 11. 3 subtilty may through w w 1 Ioh. 2. 16. the lust of the flesh , the lust of the eyes , and pride of life deceiue any of them , were he in shew as holy and righteous , as indeed x x 1 Tim 2. 13 14. the Woman was , that was deceiued in Paradise .

Secondly as sinne may deceiue them , so the custome of sin may harden them by y y Zeph. 1. 12 setling them on their ●ees ( as by continuance the z z Iob. 38. 30 face of the deepe is frozen ) and then their consciences ( though wounded ) may haue no more feeling of sinne ( as it is the a a 1 Cor. 15 , 56. sting of death ) then wounds that are b b 1 Tim. 4. 2 Esa. ●4 . 4. seared with an hot iron . Their neck is an iron sinew , and their brow brasse ; in which case they can now neither * * Ier. 6. 15. blush , nor * * Ier. 2. 19. feare .

Thirdly an hardned heart may transport them to an euill heart ( as bad almost as c c Mat. 13. 19 the euill one the diuell d d Luk. 8. 12. himselfe ) when men e e Eph. 4. 19. being past feeling may giue themselues ouer to worke all vncleannes with greedines , f f Iob. 15. 16 drinking iniquity like water , and making no more conscience of any sinnes be they neuer so grosse . Be it g g Hos. 4. 4. swearing , lying , stealing , whoring , killing , yea or h h Psal. 14. 4. eating vp Gods people as bread , they are all now i i Pro. 4. 17. as meate an● drinke to them , yea a● k k Iob. 20. 12 13. sweete morsels , which they are loath to depart withall ; nay their l l Pro. 4. 16. sleepe departs from them , vnle● they cause some to fall wit● them .

Fourthly when men a● come to this pitch of a● euill heart , then whiles they are m m Esa. 4 18. drawing iniquity with cordes of vanity , and sinne as with a cart-rope , the diuell drawes and holds them to an heart o● vnbeleife ; wherby they are n n Rom. 1. 28. giuen vp to such a reprobate minde , that they are now as o o T●t. 1. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . contumacious or refractary , as before they were abhominable : euen such a p p Mat. 17. 17 faithlesse and peruerse generation , that no means , fayre or foule , neither q q Pr● . 29. 9. raging nor laughing as Salomon saith , nor r r Mat. ●1 . 17 piping nor mourning as Christ speaketh , can worke vpon them to s s 2 Cor. 5. 11 perswade them . Yea though a t t Mat. 13. 52. Scribe instructed vnto the Kingdome of heauen should bring out of his treasure things new and old , as our Sauiour speaketh ; euen all that v v Heb. 12 , 18 &c. mount Sinai or w w Ve●s . 22. &c. mount Sion may afforde , all the precious promises of the one , and all the tremblable curses of the other : yet all would be to them but as x x Ier. 5. winde , and no better in their esteeme the● y y Act 17. 18. babling , or z z 2 Cor. 10. 10. speach contemptible , or idle addle talk against all which they ca● set their a a Zach. 7. 12 harts as adaman● stones , and b b Psa. 58. 4. 5 stop the● eares like the deafe adde● which will not heare th● voice of the charmer , charming neuer so wisely .