A compleat history of the most remarkable providences both of judgment and mercy, which have hapned in this present age extracted from the best writers, the author's own observations, and the numerous relations sent him from divers parts of the three kingdoms : to which is added, whatever is curious in the works of nature and art / the whole digested into one volume, under proper heads, being a work set on foot thirty years ago, by the Reverend Mr. Pool, author of the Synopsis criticorum ; and since undertaken and finish'd, by William Turner...

CHAP. LXIV. Persons Remarkable for Good Discourse.

OƲR Saviour hath told us, we must be accountable for every idle word: and the Apostle hath ex∣ploded all corrupt Communication, and requires strictly of all Christians, that their Speech be season'd (and made savoury) with Grace, to the edification of others: and 'tis certain, that out Tongues are but the Signs and Indications of our Thoughts; and therefore as the Heart thinketh, the Tongue speaketh, commonly. A pure Fountain doth not send out dirty Streams, nor a good Tree bring forth evil Fruit. Besides, our Language doth not only expose our selves, but hath a great Influence in disposing of others, ei∣ther to Good or Evil, to Truth or Error; and therefore we had need be cautious, and use a sober Prudence and Piety in the Government of that little Member. And wise and good People are so, sparing and discreet in their Words.

1. Bembo, a Primitive Christian, coming to a Friend to learn a Psalm, he began to him the 39th: I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not in my tongue. Upon hearing of which Words, he stop his Tutor, saying, This is enough, if I learn it as I ought. And being after Six Months rebuked for not coming again, replied, That he had not learnt his first Lesson: Nay, after Fifteen Years he professed, That in that time he had scarce learned to fulfil that one Line. Anonym.

2. Dr. Potter, when Fellow of Queen's College, Oxon, observing the Fellows after Dinner, accord∣ing to their usual manner, talking together of many trivial things, said nothing; but carefully re∣marked what they said; and when they had done talking, he thus bespake them: Now, my Masters, will you hear all your extravagant Discourses? for I have strictly observed and marked what you said: and thereupon gave them a perfect Rehersal of all their Discourses; which they admired and wondred at. See his Life, by Mr. Clark, p. 155. Much the like Story is reported of Mr. J. Janeway, in his Life.

3. The Essaeans are towards God very Religious: for before the Sun rise, they speak of nothing but Holy Things; and then they make certain Prayers and Vows, after the manner of their Coun∣try, &c. Joseph. de Bell. Jud. l. 2. c. 7.

4. The Council of Trent (because Bishops must be blameless) exhorts, that to prevent idle Di∣scourses, which might arise at the Table of Bishop's themselves, the Holy Scriptures be read. Conc. Trid. Decret. 1. Sess.

5. John Picus, Earl of Mirandula, usually discoursed amongst his Friends, of the Vanity and Un∣certainty of all Earthly Things, and of the Stability of Heavenly Things; and therefore he would often call upon them to love the Lord above all, &c. Clark in his Life.

6. One of Bishop Latimer's Injunctions to the Prior and Convent of St. Mary's House, in Worce∣ster, 1537, was thus:—Item, That the Prior have at his Dinner, or Supper, every Day, a Chapter read, and to have edifying Communication of the same. History of the Reformation, by Dr. Burnet.

7. Cardinal Pool, in the Platform of his Reformation, requires Bishops to have at their Table, the Scriptures, or other good Books read, mixt with pious Discourses. Ibid.

8. The Conferences of (Mr. John Eliot) were like those which Tertullian affirms to have been com∣mon among the Saints in his Days, Ʋt qui sciret Dominum audire: as knowing that the Ear of God was open to them all; and he managed his Rudder, so as to manifest that he was bound Heaven-ward in his whole Communication. He had a particular Art at Spiritualizing of Earthly Objects, and rai∣sing of high Thoughts from very mean Things: As once going with some feebleness up the Hill to Church, he said unto the Person that led him, This is very like the way to Heaven, 'tis up Hill: the Lord by his Grace fetch us up. And instantly spying a Bush near him, he as nimbly added, And truly there are Briars and Thorns in the way too.—As a Friend of the famous Ʋrsin could say, That he never went unto him, without coming away, Aut doctior aut melior; either the wiser or better from him. So 'tis an Animadversion, which more than One Friend of our Eliot's, hath made concerning him: I was never with him, but I got, or might have got some good from him. Cott. Mather in the Life of Mr. J. Eliot, p. 19.

9. Oh! saith Dr. Bolton, that worthless Subjects should so often take up our Tongues, and Thoughts! And Christ so full, so sweet, so delightful, and so profitable a Subject, which shall be Matter for our Soul's Discourse to all Eternity, shall be thrown aside, as not worth taking up! In Vit. ejus.

10. Mr. Giles Firmin speaking of Mr. Daniel Rogers saith, He was a Man of great Parts, great Grace, and great Infirmities. My Father Ward would often say of him, My Brother Roger, hath Grace enough for Two Men, and not half enough for himself: a most woful Temper, or rather Di∣stemper in his Constitution, which hindred much the Lustre of that Grace which was in him. By one passage we may judge of his Grace; he Dined One Day at a Knight's Table, what Company was there, I know not; but he had not that liberty to be a seasoning his Meat with Savoury and Spiritual Discourse, as he was wont to do; to sit at Meals, and not one Word for God, was to him strange: the next Day he comes to my House; the Man was sadly dejected, in such a manner, that those who fall into gross Sins, scarce know so much Sorrow: What is the matter? said I. This was the Reason, that he was a Man of such a base, dastardly Spirit, that he could not speak for God. I told him, Your Father would say, in such Companies, If you cannot sowe any Good, you do well if you can keep out evil. Much ado I had to get up his Spirit. Firmin's Real Christian, Preface to the Reader.

11. The late Countess of Warwick would perfume the Company with good Discourse, to prevent idle or worse Communication; not abruptly, upbraidingly, or importunely, which is very nauseous and fulsome, and spoils a good Game, by bad Playing; but she was like? Spiritual Stove, you should feel the Heat, and not see the Fire, and find yourself in other Company, among the same Persons; and rather wonder, than perceive, how you came there: for she would drop a wise Sentence, or moral, holy Apothegm, (with which she was admirably furnish'd) that suited with, at least not far remote from what was talk'd of, and commending or improving it, that she'd wind about the whole Discourse without offence, yea, with pleasure, Dr. Walker, in her Life.

12. The Discourses which daily fell from Bishop Ʋsher at his Table, in clearing Difficulties in the Scri∣pture, and other Subjects (especially when learned Men came to visit him) tended exceedingly to the Edification of the Heaters; so that it might well be said of him, as the Queen of Sheba said to Solo∣mon, Happy are these thy Servants that stand continually about thee, and hear thy Wisdom. See his Life.

13. Mr. Samuel Fairclough, made such a Reform in his Parish, that divers Persons who had lived many Years in the place, said, That in the whole time, they never heard an Oath sworn, nor ever saw a Person drunk: Nay, it was often said, That every Inhabitant of Kerton, should be distinguished from others, not only by the more savouriness of their Discourse, but also by the universal Strictness and Piety of their Lives. See his Life.