could not but express his Zeal for God at Athens when he had none to back him Acts 17. Come see my Zeal for the Lord says Jehu a Kings 10.16 An Hypocrite is not well pleased if he have not some to take notice of his Zeal some that will applaud him for it His Zeal in a good cause is soon cooled if he have not some about him such as would encourage and help to blow it up Whereas true Zeal will burn still when there are none about it but such as endeavour to blow it out As Lot's Soul was vexed from day to day in Sodom with their unlawful deeds 2 Pet. 2.8 If a Zealous Christian hath his lot cast in a wicked prophane Place or Family even there will his Zeal be breaking forth True Zeal will not be smothered or put out with the coldness and deadness of others about it but rather useth to be more excited and intended As Fire burns hottest in cold frosty Weather 5. True Zeal is not Partial but would appear for all that wherein God's Honour and Interest lieth It is as Extensive as sincere and sound Obedience It is Quantitas intensiva obedientiae according to Dr. Ames Thus to be Zealous of good works in the whole kind of them ready to promote any good Work earnestly desirous to abound in every good Work would shew our Zeal to be right But a partial Zeal as a partial Obedience is not right As partial heats in the Body are no signs of good Health To be Zealous for works of Charity but no friends of Holiness and true Piety Or to seem forward for pious Exercises but to be careless of other Moral Duties To be negligent in the duties of our particular Callings and Relations cannot be right True Zeal in a Magistrate will make him active for God as a Magistrate as Nehemiah was True Zeal in a Minister will make him diligent in the work of his Ministry Like Apollos who being fervent in Spirit spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord Acts 18.25 True Zeal in the Master of a Family will make him Industrious in his Place To instruct his Houshold in the Way of the Lord and to engage them in God's Service after Abraham's example Yea one that is truly Zealous of good Works will act uniformly Not be hot in Prayer Hearing Conference and Cold and Heartless as to other Duties 6. True Zeal sets against all Sin as it is discovered This will cause ones Blood to rise against Sin So a Man will be ready to reprove and shew his dislike of Sin as he has opportunity So he will endeavour in his Place according to his Power to oppose Sin to prevent suppress it True Zeal will make a Man an enemy to Sin wheresoever he sees it wheresoever he meets with it To appear very forward to condemn the faults of an Enemy of such as bear no good will to us and to bear with Sin in our Friends in such as are nearly related to us this is not right True Zeal would make one like Levi in God's Cause Who said unto his Father and to his Mother I have not seen him neither did he acknowledg his Brethren nor knew his own Children Deut. 33.9 As Asa would not bear with Idolatry in his own Mother 2 Chron. 15.16 In the trial of your Love observe its working at a distance as this will better appear in its workings towards those that are farthest off in its being extended to Strangers Enemies than in its workings towards Friends and Relations that are near you But in the trial of your Zeal on the contrary especially observe how it worketh near hand To condemn Sin in others but to indulge and spare our own Sins is not right Some are so Zealous against others Offences De Adventu Dom. Ser. 4. as Bernard says that they might seem to hunger and thirst after Righteousness if they had the same judgment also of their own Sins But now a weight and a weight as he alludes is an abomination to the Lord. True Zeal would least endure Sin in its own Territories As Fire has most power on what is next it Zeal where it is in truth will be firing out ones own Corruptions Like an Hearth of fire among Wood and like a Torch of fire in a Sheaf As the Psalmist says My Zeal hath consumed me Psal 119.139 So Zeal will be consuming ones Lusts Are we salted with this Fire according to the expression Mark 9.49 A truly Zealous Christian has the greatest indignation against his own Sins and is most forward to take revenge on himself and them 2 Cor. 7.11 And he would not spare one of his Sins Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel yet this shewed his Zeal was not right that he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam he was still for the Golden Calves 2 Kings 10.28 29. A resolved indulgence and allowance of any known Sin and true Zeal are inconsistent 7. A right and regular Zeal is most vehement in the greatest Matters As Fire the grosser the substance that it takes hold Ignis in materia densiori acriùs urit and feeds upon the hotter it burns True Zeal is more for plain and necessary Duties than for any disputable point or matter of Controversie So likewise it riseth against Sin according to the quality and aggravations thereof What one noteth to have always been the Hypocrites guise Dr. Downam on Psal 15. p. 33. is the genius of false Zeal scil To neglect the greater Duties and to affect the observation of the less to prefer Circumstances before the Substance and Ceremonies before the works either of Piety or Charity to place the height of their Religion either in observing or urging Ceremonies or contrariwise in inveighing against them Observe it to be more Zealous for or against a Ceremony than for the weightiest and most substantial Duties or than against great and foul Enormities to be more Zealous about some disputable Point and Opinion wherein sound Christians may have different apprehensions than for main matters of Faith and Godliness matters essential to true Christianity wherein all that are Christians indeed must agree both as to Belief and Practice is no good sign You would not take him for a wise and careful Builder that laid the greatest weight on the weakest part of the Wall So it must be indiscreet Zeal or worse than indiscreet which is more for unnecessary Opinions than for the most substantial Duties and fundamental Truths Is that true Zeal for God Or rather is it not a selfish Zeal which is for ones own Opinions neglecting those things which make most for the Honour of God and wherein the main interest of Religion lieth Though many warm themselves at these Sparks many comfort themselves that they are Zealous in their way for their own Parties and Opinions yet in the end they may lie down in sorrow for it But some will say Would you not have us Zealous for
11. True Zeal is for expedition in God's Service As Phinehas Ignis est maxime actuosus maximè mobilis who was zealous for God could not sit still when he saw God so greatly Dishonoured Psal 106. Then stood up Phinehas and executed Judgment Then stood up Phinehas The word may import his readiness and forwardness to appear for God against Sin as occasion was then offered So Nehemiah testified against the Merchants that had lodged but once or twice without Jerusalem under the Wall on the Sabbath threatning to clap them up If they did so again he would lay hands on them Neh. 13.20 21. So David Psal 101.8 I will early destroy all the wicked Though it may point at the usual time of sitting in Judgment in the morning yet withal it may import that he would not be delatory in the work Thus Zeal will set Men early on work for God will make Men quick and speedy in giving check to Sin as they have power and opportunity to put a stop to it as soon as they can Sinful sluggish demurs delays put-offs are contrary to the nature of true Zeal So a listlesness to Duty is no sign of Zeal It is cold that benummeth So it is a sign of the want of Zeal a sign of extream coldness when we cannot find our hands to turn them to any good work when we are like the slothful Prov. 19.24 that hides his hand in his bosom 12. True Zeal makes souls as forward unto so free and lively in God's service What a Man does zealously he does very heartily To be zealous of good Works is not barely to do some good Works but it further implieth earnestness alacrity and fervency of spirit in the doing of Good Works To pray with Zeal is more than saying a Prayer it is no less than to be fervent in Prayer to pray earnestly To be zealous in works of Charity is not meerly to give to such that stand in need but to give willingly and freely Like those of Macedonia 2 Cor. 8.3 that were willing of themselves That needed no spurring on What the Apostle sayes of Love 1 Cor. 13.4 It is kind bountiful this may well be said of Zeal which is the fervour of Love Zeal is bountiful at least in will and desire Cold has a condensing and contracting quality but heat rarifies and extends So Zeal in the Heart enlarges it A zealous Christian would not serve God at an ordinary rate he desires to abound in the work of the Lord. The flame will be mounting upwards A zealous spirit is a raised spirit raised in God's Service But a cold dead heart is still bearing downward We read of Jehoshaphat that his heart was lifted up in the wayes of the Lord 2 Chron. 17.6 So one of a zealous spirit never thinks he does enough for God He will desire still to serve him more and to serve him better 13. True Zeal gives courage in the Cause of God filleth the Soul full of resolution for God And indeed that may be the meaning of Jehoshaphat's heart being lifted up in the wayes of the Lord. A zealous Spirit is a magnanimous Spirit An holy Zeal is indeed Cos fortitudinis the Whetstone of Valour As Esther's Zeal for God and his People put courage into her though she might naturally be timorous as is common to her Sex What an heroick resolution was there Esth 4.16 I will go in unto the King and if I perish I perish If we have no Spirit no Courage to appear for God his Truth and Wayes sure we have no Zeal forthem Indeed of all things Sinners are most offended at holy Zeal They that have nothing to say against Christian Meekness or Charitableness and some other Graces yet can ill endure the heat of Godly Zeal O it is scorching and tormenting to them Here they are ready to cry out Fire fire as one says This oft puts them into a great combustion Yet true Zeal will break thorow opposition Many Waters cannot quench Love neither can the Floods drown it The like may be said of Zeal It is not quenched or cooled but oft more intended and increased when others would discourage it 14. True Zeal that is a cause of such courage and resolution for God that giveth confidence and boldness before Men yet is joyned with Humility and Holy Fear and Trembling before God One gracious disposition is not contrary to another And true Zeal is not blown up with high thoughts of ones self but with high thoughts of God The Dread and Reverence of the most High of an infinitely Glorious and Holy Majesty promotes true Zeal for God helpeth to set an edge upon it and steeleth the Soul with an holy boldness hardeneth it against a base carnal fear of Man Mr. Vines But it is not right when as one says Zeal that should eat us up is eaten up of Pride 15. Right regular Zeal will more dispose and fit us for our Work and Duty not take off from Duty or transport into Sin That is not Zeal but distempered Passion it is not from Grace but from the workings of Corruption when we are discomposed and unhinged 16. If we have true Zeal for God it will be a joy to us to see any zealous and active for God As on the other hand it will be our great grief to see Men generally cold indifferent lukewarm in Religion To see others regardless of God and of the interest of true Religion will move our displeasure and indignation But it will not offend us to see any acted with regular Zeal for God Indeed the Apostle did and would rejoyce that Christ was Preached though some preached Christ out of envy Phil. 1.15 18. How much more would he have rejoyced to have seen as good proof and evidence of their pure Love and Zeal as he saw of their Envy carrying them out in the work If we are truly zealous for God we shall be taken with those whom we see or hear to be zealous for him our hearts will be towards such yea knit to them as Jonathans was to David And we shall bless God for such As Deborah Judg. 5.9 My heart is towards the Governours of Israel that offered themselves willingly among the People Bless the Lord. She desired that the Lord might be praised that put such a spirit into them If others out-shine us here yet if we have true Zeal for God we shall be so far from envying them that the more zealous any are the more we shall honour and be taken with them 17. If we are truly zealous we have an holy emulation a desire to follow yea if it might be to outstrip those that excel in vertue As the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 14.12 Forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts seek that ye may excel As the Corinthians Zeal and forwardness provoked very many 2 Cor 9.2 We should not envy such as have got the start of us and yet should in a good
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word here used is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cumulata alta cognitio a knowing thorowly a deep apprehension of the Truth Many have the Truth lying loose on their Minds have only fleeting wavering apprehensions of it Whereas it is deeply impressed on the Minds of Believers And though they may not have so much notional Knowledg as others have yet they have not a bare Knowledg but are come to an acknowledgment of the Truth not a meer verbal but a real hearty acknowledgment at least of all Truth absolutely necessary to Salvation And as the Anointing hath taught them they shall abide in it 1 Joh. 2.27 Now are we come to know the certainty of those things wherein we have been instructed Do we see Spiritual things to be as great realities as are in the World Or are we still halting between two opinions and but almost perswaded of the Truth of Christianity Are our Minds hovering and in suspence thinking these things may be true or they may be false Though a Man be able to discourse Learnedly and Orthodoxly of the evil of Sin and a Sinners Misery without Christ of Christ and his Benefits and the way to be interested in him of the Day of Judgment Heaven and Hell that there is a place and state of everlasting Happiness prepared for the Righteous and there is a place and state of endless Misery for all that are finally impenitent and Unbelievers if yet he has come to no certain conclusion with himself about these matters he durst not venture all he hath in the World upon the Truth of these things surely it is but opinion that such a one taketh up withal it deserveth not the name of Knowledg 5. Sound Spiritual Knowledg is powerfully affecting By this we are not only resolved in our Judgments but resolved in our choice A good understanding will chuse the better part is for cleaving to that which is good So Wisdom and Spiritual Vnderstanding are joyned here And the wisdom of the Prudent is to understand his way Prov. 14.8 Spiritual Knowledg will teach one to approve things that are excellent Phil. 1.9 10. A meer Notional Speculative Knowledg is of no effect it leaveth the Will undetermined And let a Man know never so much in Religion if it be meerly speculatively not practically it is in effect as if he knew nothing Deut. 32.28 They are a Nation void of Counsel neither is there any understanding in them Hence the Scripture calleth all wicked Men Fools So Christ calleth the Pharisees Blind though many of them were knowing Their Knowledg being without effect it was as if they had none And can there be any greater Blindness or Folly in the World than for Men to prefer Worldly Pleasures Riches Honours before an Interest in Christ and the Favour of God and the Fruition of him to prefer Fading Lying Vanities before endless Joys enduring Substance and a never-fading Crown of Glory to chuse Sin Hell and Everlasting Destruction before Righteousness Holiness and Eternal Happiness If this be not sottish Folly tell me what is As there is a form of Godliness without the Power 2 Tim. 3.5 So there is a form of Knowledg Rom. 2.20 without the Power Notional Knowledg is weak indeed but Spiritual Knowledg that is powerful As they said Act. 4.20 We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard So we cannot but be affected with the great things God makes known to us by his Word and Spirit †Est enim Sapiens cui quaeque res saepiunt prout sunt Bern. If we are come to a Spiritual discerning of things then certainly we see an excellency in Christ so as to desire and prize an Interest in him above all things in the World we see the evil of Sin so as to dread and hate and resolve against it so as to forsake and flee from it we see a Beauty in Holiness so as really to fall in love with it and in good earnest to follow after it Isa 51.7 Hearken unto me ye that know Righteousness the People in whose Heart is my Law Vera cognitio non est imaginativa sed conjuncta cum serio affectu Sound Knowledg resteth not in the Head but in the Heart Wisdom resteth in the Heart of him that hath Vnderstanding Prov. 14.33 As we read of Wisdom entring into the Heart Prov. 2.10 When Wisdom entreth into thine Heart And so 6. Spiritual Knowledg is renewing Col. 3.10 And have put on the new Man which is renewed in Knowledg It is Non modo Lux sed sanitas quaedam integritas Animae It is not a Light in the Mind but the soundness of the Mind It is not only directing but rectifying not barely enforming but reforming and transforming It is true that Knowledg which is not Saving may make a great change in the lives of some As we read of some Apostates that had escaped the pollutions of the World through the Knowledg of Christ 2 Pet. 2.20 But Spiritual Knowledg that which is an effect of special Illumination is an Introduction to Spiritual Renovation to an inward thorow change It not only brings Conviction but is attended with Conversion There is a turning from Iniquity with this understanding of the Truth Dan. 9.13 And a coming in to Christ Joh. 6.45 Every Man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me So the Spirit guideth those to whom he is given not only to the Truth but into Truth into all necessary Truth Joh. 16.13 An Emphatical Expression Tò docere terminatur in intellectu Sed ducere c. pertinet ad voluntatem affectum The Truth spiritually apprehended makes a Spiritual Impression on the Soul The Heart is new cast into the form and Mould of Divine Truth Rom. 6.17 Thus Sound Knowledg makes sound Spiritual Knowledg maketh a Spiritual Man As the Fear of the Lord i. e. the Word that teacheth his Fear is clean Psal 19.9 It is so not only formalitèr but effectivè pure in it self and a cause of Purity Spiritual Knowledg will make a Man spiritually minded And this is a grand difference betwixt Notional and Spiritual Knowledg The former doth something enlighten but not sanctify but the latter is also Sanctifying Joh. 17.17 Sanctify them through thy Truth Certainly that Knowledg of the Truth is not Saving which is not Sanctifying Nor is our Knowledg sanctified if we are not sanctifyed by it 7. Spiritual Knowledg is humbling Sound Knowledg does not puff up so as other Knowledg does 1 Cor. 8.1 2. If any Man seemeth to himself to know any thing i. e. is lifted up with proud and high conceits of himself in regard of his Knowledg he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know We cannot think it to be the Apostles meaning here to commend Scepticism or a doubting of every thing in Religion or to commend a fained Modesty or denying the Knowledg God hath given us
perswasion that their Sins were pardoned for Christ's sake Which is a quite different thing from Faith as I have before shewed And yet Alas how many poor Souls that are still under the same mistake Many that complain they cannot believe when their meaning is they cannot but fear that they are not such unto whom God hath promised the benefits of Remission and Salvation And yet if they be asked Do you not believe the truth of whatsoever God hath spoken or promised And are you not willing to have Christ as he is offered to sanctify as well as justify you to rule as well as redeem and save you And do you not believe both his Power and Willingness to save all that heartily accept of him on his own terms and that Salvation can be no other way obtained And therefore notwithstanding all your doubts and fears about the sincerity of your acceptance of him yet do you not resolve to cast your selves on him and do you not look to him alone for Salvation This they could not deny without bearing false Witness against themselves Now this is Faith though all that have it cannot see it in themselves and therefore many true Believers doubt whether they are pardoned and shall be saved In Faith there is a believing application of Christ and the Promises As those Believers spoken of Heb. 11.13 were perswaded of the Promises and embraced them They did not only assent to them as true but embraced them as good not only as good in themselves but as good and proper for them they clave to them Indeed the holy Angels assent to the truth of the Gospel fully and are marvellously taken with admire and delight in the glorious Mysteries of Divine Grace therein contained but it is not their duty and concern to apply these things to themselves But Believers apply these things as most nearly concerning them Though there be not always a sensible application of Christ and the Promise with Faith which one calleth an Axiomatical Application so as to say and conclude that Christ is mine and the Promise or promised benefits are mine yet there is a real application a willing acceptance of Christ and resolved adherence recumbency and dependance on him And yet I grant that this Affiance and Recumbency on Christ though it is certainly in the habit and in Truth where Souls truly accept of Christ on his own terms it is but weak yea sadly clouded with doubts and fears in many true Believers As Cruciger on his Death-Bed Invoco te quanquam languidâ imbecillâ fide sed fide tamen c. When a Soul hath let go its hold elsewhere to take hold on Christ yet many times it takes hold on him but with a trembling hand That it is with a Believer as with the four Lepers 2 King 7.3 4. Why sit we here till we dye Let us go to the Syrians if they save us we shall live As with Esther Chap. 4.16 I will go to the King If I perish I perish As with the poor Prodigal Luk. 15.18 I will arise and go to my Father Though he knew not whether his Father would look on him and bid him welcome when he came As one says There is a Faith that is called a coming to Christ Vines is a motion a strugling to the Rock as well as a Faith resting and setling upon him Nec qui Serpentis aenei aspectu sanabantur pariter erant perspicaces P. Molin They that were cured with looking up to the Brazen Serpent were not all alike quick-sighted Aliud est luctarifiduciam cum dubitatione Chamier Panstrat tom 3. l. 13. c. 8. §. 11. p. 416. aliud nullam esse fiduciam True Faith may be with many doubtings And when one doubteth not of the truth of God's Word and Promises but only whether he be such an one to whom the promised benefits belong this is not the Sin of unbelief And commonly the doubtings of Believers are of this sort viz. not a distrust of God but a mistrusting themselves a suspition of themselves a jealousy of their own hearts that they are not right Surely most Believers are troubled with doubtings of this kind And indeed they have great cause to doubt of the truth of their Faith that as they say never doubted of their Salvation in all their Lives Yet further to lay down a few notes whereby you may judg of your Affiance and trust in Christ whether it be sound or no. 1. A Sound Affiance in Christ is not without a self-distrust and self-despair Haec vera hominis fiducia à se deficientis innitentis Domino suo Bern. Have we received the Sentence of Death in our selves not to trust in our selves Do we let go all broken Reeds and forsake all false props are we taken off our own bottoms that we put no confidence in the Flesh Indeed Sinners are not so well inclined towards Christ as to come to him before a sense of their necessity drive them They come not till they see they have none else to go unto that all other refuge fails them And so long as any are for establishing their own Righteousness they are it's true like Paul while he was a Pharisee as the Pharisees were Men that trusted in themselves that they were Righteous Luk. 18.9 but contrary to Paul after he was a Convert a Christian who then would be found in Christ not having his own Righteousness c. Phil. 3.9 In Hab. 2.4 A Soul that is lifted up is opposed to one that lives by Faith And I remember One observes a more direct opposition betwixt self and Christ than betwixt Sin and Christ for says he Sin does accidentally drive us unto Christ but Self does altogether draw us from Christ It is indeed a fatal mistake for Men to ascribe and attribute that to their own works or to any thing in themselves which is proper to God's Grace or to Christ's Righteousness Satisfaction and Merits If ever we be saved we must see our selves lost and undone in our selves and that we cannot be saved but by Grace in and through Jesus Christ that there is Salvation in no other It is true most certain and unquestionable that without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 So we cannot be saved without an inherent Righteousness yet we are not saved for it This is a necessary qualification unto not the procuring cause of Salvation It was the carnal Jews overthrow as we see Rom. 10.3 that they set up their own Righteousness confronting God's free Grace and Christ's Merits Mr. A. Disc of the two Covenants p. 124 125 126. gives a threefold account why it might be called their own Righteousness in opposition to the Righteousness of God 1. Because they sought the pardon of their Sins by that only which was their own their own Sacrifices 2. Because they did not think Regeneration or
worldly comforts Would an interest in God with us weigh down all the World This is a surer evidence of true love to God if the settled bent and inclination of our Souls be towards him than any sudden transports and flashes of affection or passionate workings or ravishments that come and go and leave not the Soul in such a frame Well lay up this Note and try and judg of your selves by it So much as the Will is inclined towards God and the Heart set upon him above all things in the World so much there is of the Grace of Love so far a Soul loveth God in sincerity 5. If we love God indeed than we cannot be satisfied without an interest in God and we cannot but earnestly desire to have our interest in him cleared to us I do not say we must know our special propriety in him that he is our God before we can truly love him No but a true love to God is that which must evidence God's especial love to us and our special interest in God By being such as love God we may know we are in special relation to him of the number of those who are the Called according to his purpose Rom. 8.28 But if we love him indeed we shall long to come to a sense of his love and to see our special interest in him As the Psalmist Psal 119.58 I intreated thy favour thy face with my whole heart Lord one good look one smile from thee A little in the World with God's favour would give us more content than the whole World without it As the Spouse says Cant. 6.3 I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine So if God hath our love we shall be restless till we can say that he is ours till we can call him our own As they that are in love cannot injoy themselves unless they may obtain their Beloved As they say Love would be paid in its own coin If we love God we cannot be content unless we may be in his Eyes as them who find favour So we shall desire rather to enjoy the light of his Countenance than the greatest affluence of worldly comforts as Psal 4.6 7. But are not most of us of another mind How many that are more intent upon the World to get Estates here than to get an interest in God How many who if they may have the World smiling on them never regard though they are under God's frowns How many that seek the favour and friendship of Men more than the favour of God Doubtless such have not the love of God in them 6. If we have the love of God in us then we shall greatly desire and delight in his presence and mourn take on sadly in his absence Psal 42.1 2. As the Hart panteth after the Water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God Psal 101.2 O when wilt thou come unto me If we love God we shall long for his gracious visits It will be our delight to draw nigh to God in holy Duties in his Ordinances and especially when we can find the Lord drawing nigh to our Souls as we are joyed at the coming of a special friend And as intimate friends are not content to be long asunder we shall not be satisfied without God's presence As Moses said Exod. 33.15 If thy presence go not with me carry us not hence He would have chosen to be in a Wilderness with God's presence rather than to enjoy a Canaan without it so if we have the love of God in us we shall rather desire to be in affliction and have his presence with us than to enjoy great worldly prosperity without him So we shall account this one of the saddest afflictions if the Lord withdraws and estrangeth himself from us as the Psalmist Psal 30.7 Thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled We know not how to bear his frowns In such a case we shall have many sad and serious self-reflections often asking our Souls What is the matter what have we done that the Lord takes unkindly that has set him at such a distance We shall not rest till we have found out the cause and removed it till this sad breach be made up and we restored to our communion with God If indeed our hearts be with him we can no longer enjoy our selves than we enjoy him A soul that loves God cannot but say It is not good Lord for me to be alone counting it an Heaven upon Earth to enjoy him but an Hell to live without him in the World As the Needle touch'd with the Loadstone will be turning to such a point the Heart being touch'd with the love of God will be moving and inclining towards him it cannot rest but in the enjoyment of him as Psal 63.8 My soul followeth hard after thee Such a soul is in a trembling posture and is fainting for him when the Lord carrieth more strange when he hides his face Psal 84.2 My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God my soul even fainteth This is Love's sickness Are we thus sick of Love as the Spouse was Cant. 5.8 There is a lamenting love as well as a delighting love As the Child crieth for its Mother As we are grieved at the loss or long absence of a dear friend Absence is the Lover's night God's absence makes the darkest and faddest night to the souls of his People My soul fainteth for the Courts of the Lord because there he was wont to have fights of God Psal 63.2 there he was wont to enjoy sweet communion with him And my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God He would send his hearty and carnest cries after him So if we love God we shall seek him still though he be a God that sometimes hideth himself Isa 45.15 Thus the Spouse shewed how her heart went after her Beloved whenshe sought him in the streets of the City sought him in the broad ways Cant. 3.2 went about up and down seeking him and could not rest till she had found him As they shewed how they were taken with their Idols Jer. 8.2 Whom they have loved and whom they have served and after whom they have walked and whom they have sought By love the Soul is knit to the Lord and cleaveth to him Deut. 11.12 and it must needs go fore with such a soul to be parted to be separated from him Nothing in the World can be more grievous to it 7. If we have the love of God in us while we are our selves are in our right frame and act like our selves we are breathing after and longing for the full enjoyment of God in Glory We desire and are glad of his presence with us here yet are not satisfied therewith but set a longing after Heaven where our love to God shall be perfect our communion with him more immediate and our joy in him full so if we love God how
the Truth and in the Cause of God Answer 1. It concerns you to be well assured that it is God's Truth you are Zealous for How many that take their own private conceits for Divine Truths 2. All Truths are not of equal importance And though the least Truth may not be denied or opposed yet lesser Truths may be silenced and concealed when a Zealous contending for them would be to the wrong and prejudice of far greater and more necessary Matters That is not to defend but to betray the Interest of God and his Truth when Men care not perdere substantiam propter accidentia to lose the substance of Religion for Accidents and Circumstances And that is Erratick Zeal and Mischievous like Fire out of its place when Men are so hot and earnest in contending about lesser Points that they themselves neglect and do what in them lieth to hinder others minding the main of Religion Zeal like Fire in its proper place is of great use and benefit But out of its place very dangerous and destructive And remember Sirs that true Zeal for God is most for those Truths and Duties wherein the great interest of Religion lieth And is most against such things whereby God is most dishonoured the Gospel obstructed Religion most wronged discredited c. 8. Right Zeal is joyned with Christian Moderation is for Christian Concord One of a truly zealous Spirit is also of an healing closing Spirit is of a publick Spirit Right Zeal is more for the common interest of Religion than for private Opinions It is no Firebrand no Incendiary in the Church It is moved at what it sees amiss it is for Reformation but will not hurry Men upon disorderly actings in their passionate sense of Disorders It is against extreams on both Hands Passionate Transports and rash heady Courses are not the effects of an holy but of a bitter Zeal Right Zeal keepeth within due compass It is for Edification not for Destruction It is for Peace and Unity It is for Sodering and Cementing not for Separating such as should Joyn. As Fire though it separate Heterogenials congregates Homogenials Yea it will melt divers Metals into one Lump True Zeal is not for perverse Disputings tending to Strife but for godly Edifying in Faith It is not for kindling Dissentions or causing Offences and Divisions amongst Christians but is moved with great Grief at the sight of such things As the Apostle Who is offended and I burn not It is for maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace And they that are more zealous to maintain some By-opinions than to maintain Union and Communion with their Fellow-Christians are quite besides the Mark. The Churches Peace and Edifying one another in Love are far greater Matters than any unnecessary Opinions which too many too zealously contend for Yea Vnnecessary is too good a word for some of them I should have said unsound Opinions O that the Guilty here would seriously consider whether it would not be more for the Honour of God the Credit and Interest of the Gospel and the securing of true Religion amongst us to joyn with their Fellow-Christians so far as they can to hold together to their mutual help strengthening and encouragement than to be so hot for their Opinions which if they were true yet are far remote from the Foundation and so far from being necessary to Salvation that not one of hundreds that are saved and now in Heaven was ever of their Way and Opinion here To be so rigid in their Way to carry as if all were unfit and unworthy for them to hold Christian Communion with that come not over to such Opinions of theirs alas this is Wild-fire not true Spiritual Zeal And verily I cannot think of any thing that will probably more harden and encourage Papists at this Day than the sad Rents and Dissentions amongst Protestants As he said Is not the hand of Joab in all this So it is probable enough the Heads of Jesuites have been in this Divide impera They know a Kingdom divided against it self is not likely to stand long and hope to raise themselves on our Ruines 9. That is right Zeal when we are more moved with Indignities offered unto God than with any Injuries done to our selves When we are more zealous in God's Cause than in our own We find Numb 12.1 2. Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses yet he seemed not at all concerned for himself We find not any reply that he made He was meek in his own cause Whereas upon sight of the Peoples Impiety their Idolatry in the Cause of God he was presently all on a flame His anger waxed hot Exod. 32.19 To be mild in our own cause but zealous in God's is a sign that we are indeed zealous for God As it is a sign of the contrary when we are remiss as can be unmoved unless when our own Interest is wrapt together with God's Interest As most Parents and Masters can bear it well enough though Children fail never so grosly in respect of the Duty that they owe to God though Servants plainly neglect and contemn God's Service They can bear with their Impiety with their taking God's Name in vain with the prophaning of his Day c. And yet many times they are all Fire and Tow if such do but fail in point of good Manners to them if they be not very observant of them and their commands Now it is true the least Irreverence towards Parents and so negligence in Servants are Sins against God But if upon that account you are most moved and displeased then you will be displeased at other Sins as well and more displeased at greater Sins than you are at these You will be zealous for God when Self is not so much concerned 10. Right Zeal for God is joyned with real Love and true compassion towards Men towards Sinners Thus while we hate their Sins we should yet love and heartily wish well to their Persons While we cannot bear with them that are evil in that which is evil yet we should be glad to do them good and glad indeed if by any means we might be helping to make them better As great Enemies as the Jews were to the Gospel and to the Apostle Paul yet he could not but pity them and his hearts desire and prayer to God was for them that they might be saved Rom. 10.1 Zeal against Sinners hath anger and grief in it not hatred As in the Apostle 2 Cor. 12.21 True Zeal desires their Conversion rather than Confusion And would rejoyce more in their Reformation than in their Ruine Our Saviour checked the furious Zeal of the Disciples when they would fain have been calling down Fire from Heaven to consume those poor Creatures that would not receive him Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of Luke 9.54 55. They were too hasty at that time a spirit of Revenge was stirring in them which was not Elias's spirit