A helpe to Christian fellowship: or, A discourse tending to the advancement and spirituall improvement of holy societie.: Wherein the practise of it is commended, 1. In the communicating or imparting of their gifts and graces. 2. In their walking together in the ordinances of Christ. 3. In a mutuall serviceablenesse to one another. The particular graces necessary to the qualifying of Christians for it, are propounded. And an invitation unto it is urged by some motives from the benefit and pleasantnesse thereof. Applied to these times for the strengthening of mens hands in the happy work of reformation. By Samuel Torshell. Imprimatur, Charles Herle.

CHAP. X. The Exhortation further urged. A fourth Motive, The comelinesse of this fellowship. The conclusion.

4. I Have reserved one other motive, wherewith to shut up this Exhortation, and that is, the pleasantnesse and comelinesse of

this fellowship. They are the words of the Psalmist. How good and how pleasant is it for brethren to dwell together in unity. How good it is, hath appeared by the former motives, and 'tis so pleasant, that he invites mens eyes unto it, Behold how pleasant is it. It is like the pretious oyntment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aarons beard, that went down to the skirts of his garment. That ointment was pretious and fragrant and yeelded, a most plea∣sant sent. The balsame of Hiericho which was the chiefest ingre∣dient of that oyntment, is counted to be the richest in the world. Nothing more delicate and sweet then the communion of Saints. It is that, that becommeth the Gospell, as the Apostle speakes to the Philippians, Only let your conversation be as becommeth the Go∣spell of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or else be absent. I may heare of your affaires, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospell. The Queen of Sheba when she beheld the order of Salomons family; she was so taken with delight and admiration, that there was no spirit left in her, but cryed out, happy are thy men, happy are these thy ser∣vants, which stand continually before thee. But behold a more beau∣tifull order is here. What a comely thing is it for Christians so to converse, as that they enrich each other, and maintain such a watch, that no discord can arise, but if any difference be occasioned and be∣gin but to appeare between any, it is presently observed, and grave∣ly, prudently, seasonably quashed and layed. It seemes it was the care of Jacob in his great family, and it was the glory of it, which even hi•• heathen neighbours took notice of, and commended, That they lived peaceably. The comelinesse of this sweet agreement will the better appeare if it be set off with a foyle: If we cast our eye up∣on the unhandsome yea ugly face of discord, notably described by that great Italian, to be cloathed with a garment of sundry colours, made up of patches, and yet those also rent, cut and torne, her lap full of Writs, Citations, Processes, Arrests, attended only with Scriveners, Clarkes, Lawyers and Atturneyes, and followed with loud clamours, bawlings and confiesed shouts. And even thus the Apostle describes the condition and conversation of carnall and un∣regenerate men, that they live in malice and envy, hatefull and ha∣••ing one another. A course of life so unbeseeming the profession of Christianity, that the Apostle not only saith it would be to the

shame of the Church at Corinth, if their differences were not taken up by bretheren, but demandes of them how they dared to doe otherwise.

I have writ these things to be pin'd upon the front of the en∣trance or porch of this Temple, that as Themistocles when he had an house to let, caused the cryer to proclaime that it had good neighbours; so I may invite men to come in, assuring them of plea∣sant accommodations and good company: Which if any heed may be given to the resolution of one of the Rabbinicall Schooles, is the best advantage we can meet with in our present journey. The story is in Pirke Aboth, that when the schollers of Rabbi Johannas dis∣puted and contended which is the most disireable thing in this life, the sentence of Rabbi Jose was prefer'd and most commended, who said, The best way is a good neighbour. Hence the Naturalists doe observe, that the Pismires which are reckoned among the most sa∣gacious creatures, and the Bees which are among the most usefull, and the Elephants among the most potent, are for communion, and doe gather and keep together. And the excellency of other crea∣tures is in their communication of themselves, the Sunne raying out his warme and cherishing beames, the Fountain bubling out his purling streames, the Earth yeilding forth soveraign herbs and plants: And Christians are then in their excellency when they are communicative and usefull; nay they encrease by communica∣ting, and gaine by giving away and imparting of their gifts. There is a story in Peter Martyrs History of the West Indies, of some Mountains of Salt in Cumana which never diminished though car∣ried away in abundance by the Merchants, but when a Monopoly was made of it, being exposed to sale, and men being prohibited otherwise from taking of it away, then it decreased, till afterwards that all were again allowed to take of it, it had a new accesse and encrease. I know not whether this relation of his be true, but sure I am, I am right in my application, He that envies unto others the use of his gifts, decayes them, but he thrives most, that is most diffusive.

Notes

• Christian fel∣lowship is comely.
• Psa. 133 1, &c.
• Phil. 1.27.
• 1 King. 10.8.
• Tit. 3.3.
• 1 Cor. 6.1, 5.
• The Appli∣cation.