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. III. The other part of the Description. The ex∣ercising of Christian fellowship. The mutuall exchange of gifts and graces.

MEN being thus qualified for fellowship, The exercising of it, is in these three things.

1. A mutuall exchange and imparting of gifts and graces.

2. A mutuall walking, and holding hands, in the Ordinances of Christ.

3. A mutuall serviceablenesse to the bodies and foules of one another.

1. In the exercise of holy fellowship, there must be a mutuall exchange and imparting of gifts and graces. God hath dispen∣sed variety of gifts unto his people; all are not qualified alike. There are some eminent graces that make the countenances of some Saints to shine. Job was exemplary for singlenesse and plaine∣nesse of heart; Moses for faithfullnesse and meeknesse; Josiah for tendernesse and a melting spirit; and for activity in the cause of Reformation; Timothy for ministeriall diligence, and a naturall care of the state of the flock. Athanasius was prudent and active, Cyprian zealous and vigilant, Basil heavenly and of a faire sweet spirit, Chrysostom laborious and without affectation, Ambros resolved and grave, &c. The gift of Christ is grace according to measure. He measures to such a one, such gifts, to another such, to a third, such and such, as he pleaseth. This I take to be the meaning of the Apostle, when he saith, Ʋnto every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. God gave the Spirit without measure unto Christ, considered in his hu∣mane nature, when he was sent forth, as himselfe speakes; But we have it according to our scantling, and as he pleaseth to honor and entrust us. To one is given the word of wisedom, to another the word of knowledge, to another faith, to another prophecie, to another the discerning of spirits, to another divers kinds of ton∣gues, &c. Thus, every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. One hath quicknesse of parts,

but not so solid a judgement, another is solid, but not ready and presentiall, one hath a good wit, another a good memory, a third good utterance. One is zealous but ungrounded, another well principled but timerous, one is wary and prudent, another open and plain hearted, one is trembling and melting, another is cheare∣full and full of joyes. God is a free giver, and a most wise dispo∣ser; that we may be ingaged to use his bounty to each others help. The knowing Christian is to impart unto him that is weake in gifts, and the other that it may be hath fewer notions but more warmth, and fuller of love to those truths that he knowes, is to impart of his heate to his knowing friend; for the eye, the know∣ing man, cannot say to the hand, the active man in Gods cause, I have no need of thee. The members must have care one of ano∣ther; the knowing men of the ignorant; yea the knowing men are to care for one another, not envying the communicating of their notions; for some truths may be more cleared and revealed to one, then to another who is otherwise every way his equall in habituall knowledge. The Christian that hath collected expe∣riences, or found out methods for the advancement of holinesse, must not deny such knowledge to the body. We must like it well that others may thrive as well as we, God makes no Patentees, nor will he endure any Monopolies. Christians must drive an open and free trade. They must teach one another the mysterie. He that growes rich in notions or in graces, must let others know the thriving way. Tell your experiences, and tell your conflicts, and tell your comforts. Make all that thou hast, the bodies, and all that the body hath, thine. Some say the Art of Medicine was thus perfected; as any one met with an herbe and discovered the vir∣tue of it by any accident, he would post it up in some publike place; and if any were sick or diseased, he was laid in some beaten passage, that every one might communicate the best receipt; and so the Physitians skill was perfected by a collection of those posted experiments and receipts. Of all things take heed of the napkin, wrap not up the talent thorough envy, for then thou art not fit for our great masters family. But as every one hath received the gift, even so must we minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. We are stewards for the use of our brethren, and are accountable unto God, how we have

layd out our knowledge, our utterance, our spirit of prayer, our ability of discerning, our experiences of God, our tast of the pro∣mises, our enlargements after prayer, our improvement by con∣serence, our comforts after private humiliation, our strengthning by the Sacraments, or what else might be instanced in, for use of others. How we got rid of such a lust, how we mastered another temptation, how we attained to such a facility in this or that du∣ty. There must be this commerce among them, that are in this hea∣venly partnership. In this body fitly joyned and compacted, every joynt must supply, and there must be an effectuall working in the measure of every part to the encrease of the body. According to this rule, the Apostle speaking in the same chapter of discourse and conserence, admonishes the Ephesians, not to suffer any corrupt communication to proceed out of their mouthes, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hea∣rers. We must lay out our gift of discourse, or any other gift, pro∣fitably with respect unto the wellfare of the whole.

Notes

• The exercise of it.
• A mutuall ex∣change of gifts and graces.
• Iob 1.8.
• Numb. 12.3. 2 King. 22.19.23, 25. Phil. 2.20.
• Ephes. 4.7.
• Joh. 3.34.
• 1 Cor. 12.8, 9, 10.
• 1 Cor. 1.7.
• 1 Cor. 12.21.
• ver. 25.
• 1 Pet. 4.10.
• Ephes. 4.16.
• ver. 29.