§ 14. (4.) Let thy eternal rest be the subject of thy frequent serious discourse; especially with those that can speak from their hearts, and are seasoned themselves with a heavenly nature. It is pity Christians should ever meet together, without some talk of their meeting in heaven, or of the way to it, before they part: It is pity so much time is spent in vain conversation, and useless disputes, and not a serious word of heaven among them. Methinks we should meet together on purpose, to warm our spirits with discoursing of our rest. To hear a Christian set forth that blessed, glorious state, with life and power, from the promises of the gospel; methinks should make us say, _Did not our hearts burn within us, while he opened to us the Scriptures?_[337] If a Felix will _tremble_, when he hears his judgment powerfully represented, why should not the believer be revived, when he hears his eternal rest described? Wicked men can be delighted in talking together of their wickedness; and should not Christians then be delighted in talking of Christ? and the heirs of heaven in talking of their inheritance? This may make our hearts revive, as it did Jacob's to hear the message that called him to Goshen, and to see the chariots that should bring him to Joseph. O that we were furnished with skill and resolution, to turn the stream of men's common discourse to these more sublime and precious things! And when men begin to talk of things unprofitable, that we could tell how to put in a word for heaven, and say, as Peter of his bodily food, _Not so, for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean!_ O the good that we might both do and receive by this course! Had it not been to deter us from unprofitable conversation, Christ would not have talked of our _giving an account of every idle word in the day of judgment_.[338] Say then, as the Psalmist, when you are in company, _Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy_.[339] Then you shall find it true, that _a wholesome tongue is a tree of life_.[340] [Footnote 337] Luke xxiv, 32. [Footnote 338] Matthew xii, 36. [Footnote 339] Psalm cxxxvii, 6. [Footnote 340] Proverbs xv, 4.