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will not despise the weak, neither will the weak judge the strong, Rom. xiv. 1 - 3. You will be far from putting a stumbling block, or an occasion to fall in your brother's way, but you will follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith you may edify one another, 1 John ii. 10, Rom. xiv. 13 - 19. You will then bear with each other's infirmities, Rom. xv. 1 - 3, and not seek to please yourself, but your neighbour, for his good to edification.

You must first be wise to make choice, not only of such matter of speech as is good and lawful, but such as is fit, considering the condition and need of those before whom you speak. In proposing questions, you must not only take heed that they be not vain, foolish, and needless, 2 Tim. ii. 23; such as engender strife, Tit. iii. 9; and do minister and multiply questions, rather than godly edifying, 1 Tim. i. 4; but you must be careful that they be fit and pertinent, both in respect of the person to whom they are proposed, and in respect of the person or persons before whom they must be answered.

Some men have special gifts for one purpose, some for another. Some for interpreting Scripture; some for deciding of controversies; some for discovering Satan's methods and enterprises; some are excellent for comforting and curing afflicted and wounded consciences; some are better skilled, and more exercised in one thing than in another. And some also of God's dear children, as they are not able to bear all exercises of religion, Matt. ix. 15 - 17; so neither are they capable of hearing and profiting by all kind of discourses of religion, Heb. v. 11 - 13. If this were wisely observed, Christian conference would be much more useful, than usually it is.

Secondly, You must be lowly minded, and of an humble spirit, not presuming above your gifts and calling, Rom. xii. 3. When you speak of the things of God, be reverent, serious, and sober, keeping yourself within the line, 2 Cor. x. 13, both of your calling, and the measure of that knowledge and grace which God has given you; speaking positively and confi-