first and second Rules pag. 441. third Rule pag. 444. fourth Rule Ibid. fifth Rule pag. 450. Discretions Rules touching the Circumstance of Time 3. The Circumstance of Time pag. 459. 1. Rule hereabout pag. 460. the second Rule 462. wherein a man may somewhat yeelde to the times and yet not be a Temporizer pag. 467. How farre euill men may in some cases be tollerated pag. 469. some indiscretion to bee pardoned to some men pag. 478. CHAP. VIII Of Compassion the last thing with which Zeale must be qualified page 479. False Compassion page 482. Three sorts of Compassion page 485. The fruitlesnesse of Zeale without Compassion page 490. THE FIRE of the SANCTVARIE Vncouered OR A TRACT OF ZEALE CHAP. I. EXCELLENT and Admirable is the Nature Vse of the holy Fire of Zeale No acceptable Sacrifice can be offered without it a Nullum omnipotenti Deo est tale Sacrificium quale est Zelus animaruâ— Greg. hom 12. in Ezek. no oblation it selfe so pleasing to God yet no one Grace so much in disgrace what by ignorance of and emnity against this arch enimy to sin b Irae sua stimulum iustitiae ZeluÌ„ putant cuÌ„ vitium virtus putatur culpa sine metu cumulatur Greg de past cura lib. 3. cap. 1. admâ—n 17. Some take the heate which their fiery disposition blowes vp to be Zeale for Religion and let vice once bee thought a virtue What a mountaine of euils will soone be cast vp without feare of ill-doing Others truly zealous are often at a losse when they set vpon the chace which prophane men espying thinke that warrant enough to pull downe the whole Fabricke of Zeale because indiscreete Zeale hath sparkled two farre And laying themselues in ballance with such zealots suppose that of the two themselues though the worst be the wisest men Thus is the pretious fire of Zeale blasphemed because mistaken And when more then now How few Ieremies feele that fire in their bones c Ier. 20.9 which will not be kept in How many ready to cut in whole riuers vpon that little sparke which is in those few How few Dauids that are eaten d Psal 69.9 vp with the zeale of Gods house How many zealous to e Psal 83.12 take to themselues the houses of God in possession and eate them vp The generall coldnesse of these last and therfore worst daies benuÌ„ming our spirits reqâ—ires a fire to warme them And the malice of the world puts a danger vpon Zeale vnlesse we haue wisedome so to guide this fire as to auoid the Snares which malice will set before vs and endeauour to hunt vs into The more disgrace to be zealous the more need to shew zeale accompanied with discretion to rule this heauenly flame Fire-workes proue dangerous to the vnskilfull Better quench that fire which is already kindled then to kindle that which we cannot gouerne It cannot then but bee a needfull and gratefull worke to shew the Nature and Qualities of a Fire so vsefull that he can be no good Christian who is without it so vnknowne that hardly the best know the properties of it and how to vse it How little hath beene written on this Theame a more able and exquisite Lynceus hath made report and powred out a zealous complaint against the great iniustice offered to zeale for that no man hath done her the right of a iust Treatise This I thinke is one maine cause that makes the world so strange to her and her to the world The Antients f Amb. in Psal 119. Greg Naz in LaudeÌ„ Heronis alibi August tract 10. in Iohn nec nâ—â— in Psal 69. Chrisost hom 62. ad Sopul Greg. Mag. Hom. 12. in Ezek. Bern. Ser. 23 24. 49. super Cant. alibi who taught it rather by Practise then Pen spent more lines in the praise then in the description of it After them the Schoole-men their translators either spake lesse or lesse to the purpose For by that time a thing nick-named Discretion had rak't out this fire Hee now was the onely man that could chop Diuinitie into smallest shreds and driue it nearest together placing Religion rather in Contemplation then Action No maruaile therefore if Zeale got no more rome in their Voluminous Writings and that as if she had deserued no better then Iezabel there is scarce so much left her as the skull and the feete and the palmes of her hands to know her by Long after the rode of Zeale had been vntrauelled and the High way growne ouer with the Mosse of Key-coldnesse New Zelographers arose who like Caleb Ioshua in coasting of Canaan began to trauell and discouer that Region anew setting vp way-markes and encouraging others to go vp and possesse it Of which first discouery I hope it will offend no good man to say that it deserues more honour then the latter more elaborate Descriptions of Others who taking direction from those first Spyes haue made the paths more plaine and the way more direct Those first Searchers of late time gaue a good ghesse at the Nature and Bounds of Zeale but drew it not in so large a Map as could bee wished Their meditations and labours in this kind are herein like the Obseruations of seuerall Trauellers into Forraine Countries some obseruing one thing and some another but none all that deserues to be noted It will not then bee amisse out of the seuerall Trauells of Others and mine owne Suruey to compile a Compleate Treatise of Zeale In persuite of which proiect my cheefe aime is to set forth to life the Nature the Obiects the Grounds the Ends and the Qualification of this Sanctuary Fire CHAP. II. Of the Nature of Zeale This Chapter hath 3. Sections THE first thing to bee knowne is the Nature of Zeale To attaine this wee must first search out the precize signification of the word then the seuerall acceptations of it as by vse of speech it is applied and thirdly ariue at some Definition of it Sect. 1. Sect. 1. Of the signification of the word Zeale The word it selfe is Greeke which is therefore retained in the best later Languages because the most Learned could neuer finde another word fully to expresse it as he a Ioan. Driedo de Râ—gul dogm S. Script lib. 3. tract 2. Cap. 1. Augustinus autem quibusdam in locu Suidaâ— alij vtriusque linguae periti qui non habentes latinum vocabulum quo vim verbi Zeli sufficienter explicarent c. inquit ille that hath done best in explication thereof hath obserued Zeale b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ferueo bullio Eustathius annotat vero per onomatopaeian esse factum hoc verbum à sono literae is a branch of that Roote say Gramarians which signifieth a hyssing noise made by burning hot mettle cast into water Zeale then in strict acception of the word is a fiery hissing heat fighting
Zelo domus dei qui omnia quae ibi videt peruersa cupa emendare c. Aug. tract 10. in Iohn of God there to bee performed but by prophane imployments polluted A thing so prouoking his spirit that hee could not expresse indignation enough in rescuing the honour of that place from such abuses This action so well beseemed Christ himselfe that euen by this hee clearely demonstrated to his Disciples the substance of that Type which Dauid once was they then remembring that it was writteÌ„ the Å¿ Ioh. 2.17 ex Psal 69.9 zeale of thine house hath euen eaten me vp And what need wee any further precept any better warrant herein Howbeit as in defence of the Word the rule of worship most Zeale must bee spent for points fundamentall so care must be had in maintaining the Worship it selfe to fortifie the Substantialls most Such was the flame of Elias Zeale t 1 King 18.40 that nothing but the bloud of all Baals Prophets could quench it But marke the obiect of it It was no smalle matter It was for no lesse then Gods Couenant which by their meanes the children of Israel had forsaken u Ibid. ver 10. for his Alters which they had throwne downe and for his Prophets which they had slaine with with the sword Thus when any Substantiall part of Gods Worship is corrupted deteyned remoued or endangered then is a time for Christians to quit themselues like men in vindicating the same But here a Caution touching the former example It is no warrant for our Zeale to breake out so farre as his did it onely shewes vs wherein we must be zealous so farre as the bounds of our Calling admit It had not been lawfull for Eliah to put those Idolaters to the sword if hee had not been able to pleade his speciall Commission from God as he did * Ibid. ver 36. I haue done all these things at thy word The want of which warrant made Peter liable to reproofe of our Lord euen when he fought in defence of our Lord and cut off but an eare of the high Priests seruant For this little Christ applied vnto him that Lawe against Murtherers x Mat. 26.52 Ex Gen. 9 6. All they that take the sword shall perish by the sword Not that this little deserued that iudgement but to giue him notice whereto his Zeale would make him obnoxious if hee proceeded to the taking away of any mans life vpon so slender a ground It is then the duty of Christians if priuate men to pray zealously if Ministers to preach zealously in defence of Gods Worship vseing no Armes but those of Ambrose to Augustus Prayers and Teares y Rogamus Auguste non pugnamus non timemus sed rogamus Hoc Christianos decet vt tranquillitas pacis optetur fidei veritatisque constantia Amb. Epist. 33. ad Marcellinam And againe Orat. in Auxentium coactus repugnare non noui dolere potero potero flere potero gemere aduersus arma milites Gothâ—s quoque lachrymae meae arma sunt c. aliter nec debeo nec possum resistere Hee that being vnder Authority will rather resist then suffer makes the cause suffer by his resistance and so in steed of standing zealously for it he doth in effect raise forces against it It was not the prohibitions and threats of the Iewish Gouernors that could silence Peter and Iohn from preaching Iesus z Act. 4.18.19 20. because their Commission from God must be executed against all iniunctions of Men. But on the other side their Zeale neuer made them resist with hostile force euen in their greatest affronts If they were apprehended they suffered with patience and reioycing if they could they fled Zeale may stand with suffering and flying but not with resistance which is flat Rebellion And no good cause calles Rebellion to aide Christ giues not onely liberty but precept when we are persecuted in one City to fly into another not meaning we should be lesse zealous but spare our selues for better times and occasions If it were contrary to Zeale to fly Christ would neuer haue giuen a Reu. 12.14 wings of a great Eagle to the woman that she might flie into the wildernesse into her place from the face of the Serpent And though our Sauiour makes it the trik of an b Ioh. 10.12 hyreling to leaue the sheepe flee when he seeth the Wolfe comming yet that is when the Wolfe comes to worry and deuoure the flock principally not when many Woules come directly against the shephard himselfe after the best sheepe bee slaine or fledd and the rest ready to ioyne with the Wolues against him Then a Minister may yea must flie if he can when his flock notwithstanding his best care and diligence bee either so scattered that hee cannot draw them together or so ouergrowne with the scab of heresie that it is impossible to cure them and euery man ready to seeke his life to take it away making the quarrell personall against the Shephard rather then generall against the sheepe In this case Eliah fled from c 1 King 17.3 Ahab and that by Gods own direction And after from Iezabl when he thought that d 1 King 19.10 hee onely was left alone though at that time there were seauen thousand that neuer bowed knee vnto Baal yet so scattered that he knew not where to finde them So also Paul fled from Tessalonica to e Act 17.13.15 Athens and from the Gouernor of Damascus desirous to apprehend him f 2 Cor. 11.32.33 being let downe through a window in a basket by the wall and so escaped his hands So did Athanasius often flie from the Arrians Nor is any man debarred this benefit if the case bee alike Herein if in any thing the Prouerbe is true One paire of heeles is worth too paire of hands which any man may vse without disparagement to his Zeale or danger to be branded with the opprobrious Marke of an Hireling But in matter of Circumstance or Ceremonies which are not parts but onely appurtenances of Worship g Non partes cultus sed ad cultum ceremoniae no neede no warrant to be so hot as for defence thereof to incurre such perills In Substantiall duties of Worship hee that is not with God in a zealous defence is against him h Luk. 11.23 And yet in things of lesse moment he that is not against him by an open crossing is with him i Mark 9.40 by holding the maine Zeale therefore must not spit fire at such as are not foes but friends nor be at defiance with those who holding the head doe not putrifie the members I thinke no wise man doubts that euen in the purer times of the Old Church in Israel corruptions grew in Ceremonies as well as in the substance of Gods worship And yet pry into the Scriptures neuer so carefully wee shall not finde any of the most zealous Saints fall
containing all necessarie rules of Faith d Zelus cum in bono accipitur est quidam feruor animi quo mens relicto humano timore pro defensione veritatis accenditur Alcuinus The office of zeale about this is to preserue the honour thereof vntainted from all blemishes of error staines of heresie indignities of Tyrants and Atheists striuing for the faith of the e Phil. 1.27 Gospell Holding fast f T it 1.9 the faithfull word not quarrelling to separation for euery difference in opinion touching points not fundamentall and vndecided In which case no man must be iudged for his doubting g Rom. 14.1 See the marginall note of our last Translators nor may any doubting man iudge others who h Ibid. ver 3 doubt not The fire of zeale must blaze highest in maintenance of capitall truths i Iude ver 3. Earnestly contending for the faith once deliuered vnto the Saints Wise men will defend that part of a Citie most which may occasion most dammage by suffering a breach And zeale will then especially be as one of the Cherubins with a flaming sword to keepe safe the word of Life when the chiefest mysteries are corrupted or questioned Saint Paul when the honour of his Gospell lay at the stake seemeth vnable to expresse the heate he was in marke his vehemency though we saith he or an Angell from heauen should preach any other Gospell vnto you k Gal. 1.8 then that which we haue preached vnto you let him be accursed A heauie doome most vehemently denounced And yet not satisfying himselfe in shewing so much zeale as he was able to expresse by one single pronouncing this dreadfull anathematisme he doubles his speech as if the fornace of his heart were now heated with zeale seauen times hotter then it was wont l Ibid. ver 9. As we said before so say I now againe if any man preach vnto you another Gospell then that ye haue receiued let him be accursed Thus in cases of like consequence must we be affected But to be all on fire in defence of questionable truths which if they were yeelded vnto vs could adde nothing to that stocke of graces which accompanie saluation is a thing ill beseeming those diuine flames of holy zeale To what profit are those hot disputes and sharpe contentions about the place assigned for that maze of horror vnto vngodly men the Oecumenicall Assise the Equalitie of glorie the Hierarchie of Angels and many more He that putteth himselfe vpon the office of a Superuisor and Controuler of other mens opinions touching points of this nature may breed vaine ianglings but will edifie but a little These things are of the nature of sauce rather then meate dish them out as curiously as Art can deuise and when all is done they nourish not Marke such as are zealous of spirituall gifts if they seeke not to excell to the vse of edifying you shall be sure to finde them excelling in vanitie And more quarrels arise by one such conceited Doctor then many wise men with all their wisedome shall be able to take vp This is that bloudie knife that cutteth asunder the very sinewes of Christian loue This causeth Professors of the same faith to leade huge armies of sectaries like Pigmies and Cranes one against another so wasting their zeale in defence of trifles that they haue none left to make a wall of fire about points of more moment With what heart can we ioyne against a common enemie when euery little difference is prosecuted with such heate as if it were vnlawfull or at least dangerous to vnite our forces for feare of fiering one anothers tents by encamping together He that can be so hote with his brother for a trifle would certainly exceed the proportion of any cause with an enemie destroying more by intemperance then he is able to build by his zeale Witnesse the bickerings betweene some Lutherans Caluinists as they are by some nick-named which haue giuen RELIGION since the last reformation thereof a greater blow then all the thunderbolts of Rome set together Is it not Nuts to our Romish neighbours to see men belch out such bitter raylings and to put out such tart volumes one against another touching the manner of Christ discension into hell the libertie of the Sabbath the power of Witches the possibilitie of Demoniacall possessions the seate of faith the superioritie of preaching reading and praying In all which and many more the diuisions of Reuben are great thoughts of heart Is it now a time to be diuided among our selues when all our forces vnited are little enough to withstand the common aduersarie Oh when will our eyes be opened to see our hearts be mollified to bewaile the breaches of the enemy vpon vs by such vnbrotherly childish contentions among our selues Ere while wee could see nothing in S. Paul but fire when the foundation of the Gospell began to shake by the vndermining of seducers But in an inferiour point which was but as a Pinacle not of so much necessitie as beautie to set out the Pile he layeth his hand off the bellowes and puts out the fire For being consulted touching Virginitie m 1. Cor. 7. and hauing no particular direction therein from the Lord he sparingly and mildly set downe his iudgement and that by way of friendly aduise onely not of command from the Lord. And as if this were not enough to manifest his moderation he will by no means peremptorily determine the question but giueth euery man libertie therein that is of another mind n Ibid. ver 36 to do what he will These two presidents of the Apostle may suffice to declare what temper our zeale must ascend vnto in defence of the Word Maintaine we must with all our might the Principles of faith But of inferiour doubtful truths we may onely gently discourse what seemes most probable not violently hold them to dissention o 2. Tim. 2.23 c. Schisme no though the grounds of such our opinions seeme neuer so solide Herein it is as honourable to yeeld as to conquer since euerie man must follow the things which p Rom. 14.19 make for peace and wherewith one may edifie another 2. The worship of God 2. Another particular which zeale must fortifie is that Worship of God which the Word prescribeth The second Commandement which interdicts Idolatrie and false worship doth as firmely enioyne zeale for preseruation of that true worship which the Lord doth appoint Therfore the Apostle ioynes Zeale and Worship together requiring that worshippers be zealous q Rom. 12.11 in spirit seruing or worshipping the Lord. It is then a good and comely thing to be zealously affected towards and for the worship of God For this our Lord was so zealous that the zeale of the very house of God did euen euen eate him vp by the house no doubt vnderstanding and meaning Synecdochically the whole Worship r Quis comeditur
And yet alas How often is it vnawares maintained by such as would bee thought our greatest zealots Many of them being in Argument brought to a Non-plus for their last reply and strongest refuge they flie to this and I know this to be the iudgement of able sound worthy Reuerend Diuines and therefore all the world shall neuer driue me from it while I liue Which is no better then the last Argument of Scaligers foole who thinkes by a wager to maintaine that which by reason he cannot Is not this to set men vp in the Infallible Chaire and to create Popes at home while we defie them abroade yea to hold the faith of our Lord Iesus Christ as we affect and respect the Persons wee choose to follow therein The Apostles rule is to follow men as they follow Christ When they step out of his paths let vs if we can reduce them if wee cannot doe this let them wander without vs. It is more gainefull and safe to trauell alone in the high way of Christ then by following the best company out of the common Rode to be set fast in a slough Sect. 2. Sect. 2. Shewing what Zeale must oppose One Taske of Zeale hath been shewed wherein it must be a Defendant the other followeth wherein it must be an Opponent Zeale must neuer fly on the throate of any thing but what is certainly euill Whiles it is but suspected Zeale must be countermanded from discharging against it least shame sound a retraite to our furious marching and disgrace retort that bullet which was too hastily shot into the Aduerse Campe. The Israelites beyond Iordan thought there had beene great cause of a zealous quarrell at the Alter f Iosh 22.11 12. erected by the Tribes of Reuben Gad and part of Manasseh on this side the Riuer But when better information declared it to be built onely for a Memorial vnto Posterity of their samenesse of bloud and Religion with those within Canaan they saw cause to iustifie what before they condemned g Ibid. ver 31 32. and to blame themselues for blaming their Brethren Saul was a zealous persecutor of Dauid as of a dangerous Traytor to his Crowne h 1 Sam. 20.31 But which of the two was more righteous i Chap. 24.17 Sauls after-confession declared The Iewes wanted no heate against the Doctrine of our Sauiour and the rest of the Apostles But whosoeuer shall reade those stories may from them for euer take warning not to set against that which onely their owne frowardnesse fancies or humors haue made odious to them no sound euidence being found among the sacred Records to condemne it The beleeuing Iewes of the Circâ—mcision thought Peter k Act. 11.2 3 a prophane offender for going to the Gentiles and sharpely rebuked him for it Yet was not as they imagined for after his defence l Ver. 18. they glorified God for that which before with great heat they condemned The like violence haue I knowne in Some against some things in our Church which better vnderstood they admired Yea I am perswaded that ignorance of the originall causes and true vse of diuers things amongst vs doth breed a loâ—thing of that which deserues good acceptance Some stomakes loath vnknowne meats which if they tooke downe would do them no hurt yet out of a peeuish humor chuse rather to cast away their meate then their ignorance of it Many inueigh against Partiality that are themselues the greatest Partialists to their owne Gamaliels It becomes euery sober Christian to doubt rather of the iudgement of few especially of his own then of a Whole Church It is more easy to quarrell then to finde cause to contradict then to disproue Where silly ignorance wilfull preiudice and affected partiality sit as Triumuirate Officers to iudge of the soundnesse lawfulnesse and conueniency of what they do not or will not or cannot vnderstand it will be easy for them to affirme that any thing maintained by others though sound lawfull and fit doth hit againe Scripture It is then our safest course to Submit to euery ordinance of man for the Lords sake m 1. Pet. 2 so farre as they disanull not the Ordinances of God Nor may we take vp an opinion vpon trust from any man liuing against euen humane Ordinances nor go about to oppose them till our owne vnderstandings discrie in them some contrariety to the written word Our libertie must not bee confined to the close prison of another mans n 1. Cor. 10.29 conscience nor his to ours Let vs not therefore iudge one another any more but iudge this rather that no man put a stumbling blocke or an occasion to fall into his brothers o Rom. 14.13 way Cast not scruples into mens minds touching the vnlawfulnesse of that which for the most part such as be most violent and bitter against are least able to infringe On the other side such as to feed other mens humours wil turne Ithacius Who mightily bending himselfe by all meanes against the Heresie of Priscilian the hatred of which one euill was all the vertue he had became so wise in the end that euery man carefull of vertuous conuersation studious of Scripture and giuen to any abstinence in diet was set downe in his Calender of suspected Priscillianists for whom it should be expedient to approue their soundnesse of faith by a more licentious and loose behauiour p M.R. Hooker ex Sulpit. seâ—â— such I say are but base clawbacks that so their owne turnes be serued care not whom they wrong by false accusations nor how much they abuse them whom they flatter by misinformations And here an Item to such as it concerneth to punish the sinnes of the people I speake not now of the lawes constitutions themselues but onely to preuent corruption in such to whom the execution of them is committed by superior Gouernors if they shal for gaine or other respect make the vnwitting or vnwilling omissioÌ„ of an inferior duty to be as bad as a breach of any substantiall part of Gods worship some small indiscretion and weakenesse either of iudgement or conscience with odious whoredome reeling gogle-eyed drunkennes and blasphemous swearing c. winking at these prosecuting the other with extreamest rigour this is vp downe to act a Pharisies part Wo to such q Mat 23.23 tything of Mint Annise and Cumen when the weightiest matters of the Law mercie iudgement and faith are omitted q Mat 23.23 They are but r Ver. 24. Blind guides who straine at gnats and swallow Camels Nor is it onely Pettie-larcenie but euen a capitall crime against zeale it selfe to driue it at the head of things not simply euill or to make vse of the sharpest edge of seuere iustice to hew downe lesser faults whilest greater sinnes be rather stroaked then so much as stricken with her scabberd This brings vp an euil report vpoÌ„ the best zeale and among such as are not
The iniquity of the other made him to shed teares ouer his owne frailty And his owne frailty made him condole his brothers iniquity This affection is of great vse it cannot but wound an ingenious minde and make him ashamed to see another mourne ouer his sin though happily before hee did not bewaile it himselfe Much better is a sweete and brotherly compassion then a sowre and sterne affection of a passionate minde saith c Gilb. sup Cant ser 32. Metior est dâ—â— is fraterna câ—mpassio quam indignantis animi durus immitis affectus Gilbert in his continuation of Bernard vpon Salomons Song Compassion shewes that a man knowes himselfe he that shewes no compassion makes no acknowledgement of his owne sinfull condition but proudly carries himselfe as if sinne and he had neuer beene acquainted where as in truth none commonly is more intimate with that strumpet then himselfe And yet with all let men beware of false compassion There are as some say in the the Sea fishes of so many different shapes as may paralel for outward resemblance all the beasts vpon earth Sure I am there are in the hearts of hypocrites so many counterfeit graces as may match in shew all that are true in the Godly Among other they haue some of them a counterfeit of true Compassion whereby they seeme to condole with others and to extenuate their faults to any that speake of them not out of loue to their brethren whom they seeme to bewaile but out of deere affection to the like sinnes in themselues which hereby they would palliate and defend from blowes When a man falls into discourse of such or such a mans faults and begins to aggrauate them perhaps with a minde bad enough these coÌ„passionate selfe-louers will be ready to say Oh Sir be not too rash and cruell it was but a fruite of humane weaknesse the best may offend and it is not good to iudge too hardly we are all men you shew little compassion c. whereas all this fluttering and crying of the crafty Lap-wing is but to draw you from her owne nest He hath a hellish brood of the same kinde and that you may fauour him and his sin he will stoutly pleade his fellow offendors cause without a Fee Doe you not thinke that if the iudge should bee as pitifull to the theefe at the Barre as another would bee that is guilty of the same offence the Countrey would soone swarme with theeues like Bees in summer and the Hangman might go practise vpon himselfe if hee should stand in neede of vsing his Trade This therfore is of al other the most cunning defence of a mans owne iniquity which while it goes masked vnder the name of Compassion to others doubles his own transgressions Compassion is like to Ieremies figgs whereof some were good and some naught both sorts excelled d Ier. 24.3 the good figgs very good and the euill very euill that they could not bee eaten they were so euill Compassion saith e Hugo de sc vict erud Theol. Libello de 4. volunt in Christo Triplex compassionis modus est Alia ex natura alia ex virtute c. Hugo is of three sorts the one is from Vice the other from Nature and the third from Grace The first is when a man is touched with an euill greefe because he is touched in that wherewith he was formerly held by the bonds of an vnlawfull loue The second is that whereby a man out of naturall piety which is all one with naturall affection to superiors condoleth the miseries of such as are neere him when hee seeth nature afflicted and oppressed with euills beyond the bounds of humane strength and contrary to naturall piety The third is that whereby for Gods sake we sympathize with others in their greefes when wee see righteousnesse oppressed innocency suffer The first of these he pronounceth culpable the second vnblameable and the third commendable He might well haue added that compassioÌ„ which comes from grace extends it selfe to the falls of our brethren into sinne who ought to be restored with bowels of compassion yearning vpon them and forcing vs to giue them the best helpe we can to set them againe on their feet This is more then a common loue it is indeed the Quintessence of it which makes our very hearts to drop at the sinnes of our brethren as marble with raine though it lie in the dry Compassion makes a man to put his brothers soule into his owne body and his owne soule into his brother as f Greg. mor. cap 26. Afflicti in se animum sumit vt prius in se dolentis passionem trauiserat nunc contra dolorem illius ministerium concurrat Gregory speakes in another case and to make it his owne case and so to deale with his brother as with himselfe which if he doe hee will not exceede nor yet omit any thing to recouer the other He that bestowes teares of compassion vpon his neighbour giues him somewhat of himself as well as of his goodnesse and it is impossible that he who hath this should bee wanting in any thing to his power for his neighbours good Then doe we shew compassion indeed when we bewaile his fall as if we had fallen our selues and seeke to wash away his sinne if it were possible by our owne teares This if wee doe though we doe much for him yet more for our selues He that hath such a tender heart for the offences of others shall finde it more tender more ready to mourne when himselfe offendeth Compassion therefore must declare it selfe whensoeuer wee declare our Zeale for God g Hugo de S. Vict. in Ioel. 2 Zelus est feruor animi ad coÌ„passionem natura pronus c. Hugo saith well that Zeale is such a heate as is prone to compassion of nature The Lord when he sharply reprooued and iustly disinherited Adam did yet make him h Gen. 3.21 a coate of skinnes to couer his nakednesse which sin made shamefull When Christ denounced woes vnto Ierusalem hee i Luk 19 41. wept ouer it When Samuel in Zeale departed from Saul and saw him no more all the daies of his life yet he mourned k 1 Sam. 15. for him Saint Paul calls for meeknesse to such as by sudden temptation are ouertaken with a l Gal. 6.1 fault Saint Iude requires vs of some to haue compassion making a m Iude 20. difference And Saint Paul pronouncing a curse on inordinate walkers he did it n Phil. 3 18. weeping The ground of Compassion is loue which being expressed will temper the sharpnes of reproofe and make it more medicinable Reprehension of it selfe is hardly tollerable vnlesse mixed with friendly intreaties euen as the launcing of a wound though it be necessary yet will not be endured by the Patient vnlesse all meanes to mitigate the paine be applyed to o Chrisost in 2 Tim. 4.2 hom 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him VVhatsoeuer a man doth with a heart rent in peeces by Passion is rather an effect of violence seeking reuenge then a fruite of charity studying reformation He that can reioyce and be glad and take pleasure to torture his brother by turning his finger in his wounds is a cruell tyrant no true Zealot It is impossible that any soule needing instruction should receiue any benefit if hee bee taught in a brawling and a chiding tone although the lesson bee neuer so needfull let him apply himselfe to learne with all his might yet hee will carry away nothing but greefe and sorrow as Chrisostome p Chrisost in 2 Tim. 2.24 hom 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speakes Howbeit he speaketh this of such as he supposeth to be ingenious and tractable not of obstinate stiff-necked bulls that will not be tamed but by the fiercest Mastiues and vpon whom mildnes will worke no other effect but scorne and contempt of him that is so milde This obserued a man may take all liberty hee can in reproouing as occasion is offered and his calling admitteth And when this course is takeÌ„ such as are reproued must not with Plutarcks Parasite thinke to iest or laugh out any thing that is pressed on them they must not grow angry without a cause or neglect amendment when neede requireth See Caluin vpon Iob 31.1 Serm. 123. Then shall we finde by experience the truth and benefit of that heauenly Prouerbe q Prou. 25.12 As an earering of Gold and as an ornament of fine gold so is a wise reproouer on obedient eares It is good to be zealously affected alwaies in a good thing Gal. 4.18 FINIS Errata PAge 9. reade a sono literae ζ. p. 15. for state read seate p. 21. line 1. for or r. â—f line 4. r. commended it p 59. l. 1. r. yet it was p. 63. l. 17. r. equalize some small p. 27â— l. 19. blot out it is like that p. 309. l. 4 5. blot out and enioyned p. 321. l. 5. r. tongues p. 355. l. 19. r as bad as out p. 361. l. 3. for and r. addes p 395 for Inne r. in p. 430 dele Quere p. 438 for inuitation r. imitation p. 447. for mitted r committed p. 470. l. 19. for doth r. doe p. 480. for shore r. store