who cried great is Diana of Ephesus but meant her little siluer shrines It cannot bee denied but many such there were who helped to pull downe the Abbies not out of any hatred to those vncleane cages but to reare their owne houses out of the ruines and spoyled copes to make cushions Iudas complained of superfluity but grieued it fell besides his bagge many temporalities tithes and glebes vnlawful because they are loth to forgo them If Iezabel proclaime a Fast let Naboth looke to his vineyard If the Vsurer and tradesman frequent sermons let the buyer and borrower looke to themselues It is too common a thing to make zeale a lure and state to drawe customers a bait of fraud a net to entrap with malicious Doegs to make it a stalking horse for reuenge against the Priest thereby to discharge their gall at Ministers and other Christians for the omission and cōmission of such things as them selues care not for with the Strumpet in the Prouerbs to wipe their mouthes and frequent the Sacrifices that they may be free frō suspicion All these euills haue I seene vnder the sunne-shine of the Gospell but by how much zeale is more glorious then common profession by so much is dissembled feruency more detestable then vsuall hypocrisie yea no better then diuelish villany double iniquity such painted wals and whited sepulchers the Lord will breake downe Let all Timothies and Nathanaels learne to discry them and discard them The cure of this was deeply forelaid by Christ I counsell thee to buy gold tryed in the fire all is not gold that glistereth an image of faith breeds but a shew of zeale many seemed to trust in Christ but Christ would not trust them but such faith as will abide the fire brings forth zeale that will abide the touchstone The second is erronious or blinde zeale not according to knowledge Rom. 10. I beare many deuout Papists witnesse though I feare the learnedst of them be selfe condemned that they haue this zeale perswading themselues they doe God best seruice when they please the diuell most in their will-worship The same witnesse I beare many Separatists though I feare most of them be sicke of selfe conceit ednesse new fanglenesse and desire of mastership who would not suspect such zeale which condemnes all reformed Churches and refuseth communion with such as they themselues confesse to bee Christians and consequently such as haue communion with Christ. It would grieue a man indeede to see zeale misplaced like metall in a blind horse to see men take such paines and yet fall into the pit This made Paul to wish himselfe Anathema for the sake of such and yet the multitude and common people often thus Is it possible but these men haue the right But alas how should it be otherwise when a blinde company will follow a blinde sect-master This being one property of blinde zeale a fond admiration and apish imitation of some person for some excellency they see in him which so dazles their eyes that they cannot discerne their errours and infirmīties which they oftner inherit then their virtues as appeares in the Lutherans the Iewes that would sacrifice their children to Molech in imitation of Abraham In these the diuell becomes an Angel of light and plaieth that Dragon Reuel 12. pouring out floudes of persecution against the Church causing deuour men and women to raise tragedies breath out thretnings and persecute without measure then these the diuell hath no better souldiers but when their scales fall from their eyes and they come into Gods tents God hath none like vnto them The cure of this diuinely is forelaid by Christ also to buy eye-saule of him Angels haue eyes as well as wings to guide their flight when the shippe is vnder saile and hath the freshest way it hath most neede to looke to the sterage keepe the watch haue an eye to the Compasse and land marks The third kinde is turbulent zeale called by Iames bitter zeale a kinde of wild-fire transporting men beyond all bounds and compasse of moderation proceeding sometimes of a weakenesse of nature in men that haue no stay of their passion like to Clockes whose springs are broken and Cities whose walls are down Zeale is a good seruant but an ill master metall is dangerous in a head-strong horse And so the Poets which were the Heathens Prophets shadowed out the cure of this in Mineruas golden bridle where with she menaged her winged Pegasus There is too much of this bitter zeale of this Hierapicra in all our books of controuersies but especially there hath been too much in our domesticall warres some sons of Bichri haue blowen the trumpet of contention trumpets of anger the Churches of God should haue no such custome Oh that our Churches vnderstood that saying In quarrels of this nature Paul spends his zeale not in partaking but in parting the tray beating downe the weapons on both sides Who art thou that iudgest who art thou that condemnest thy brother as if he should say The matters are not Tanti wee haue made the diuell too much sport already who threw in these bones to set vs together by the eares whilst he lets-in the common Enemie vpon vs. Charity Charity is the builder of Churches Strife about trifles hath wasted many famous ones and placed the temples of Mahomet where the golden candlesticke was wont to stand We pittie the former ages contending about leauened and vnleauened bread keeping of Easter fasting on Sundayes c. The future ages will do the like for vs. Oh that the Lord would put into the hearts both of the gouernours and parties to these quarells once to make an end of these Midianitish warres that wee might ioyntly poure out the vials of our zeale vpon the throne of the beast Thus haue you heard the errors and counterfeits of zeale through whose sides and vpon the backe of which diuerse of the malicious world vse to beat those whom it hates because their workes are better then their owne iniuriously concluding that all Zealots are alike Thus I haue heard our Marchants complain that the set vp blewes haue made strangers loath the rich oaded blewes onely in request this is an old sophisme Trew iudgement would teach vs to conclude that the best drugs haue their adulterates the most current coynes their slippes and that virtue which so many hypocrites put on to grace themselues withall is surely some rare and excellent iewell The third part The true Zealote whose feruency is in the spirit not in shew in substance not in circumstance for God not himselfe guided by the word not with humors tempered with charity not with bitternesse such a mans praise is of God though not of men such a mans worth cannot bee set forth with the tongues of men and Angels Oh that I had so much zeale as to steep it in it owne liquor to set it forth in it owne colours that the Lord would touch my
sense Oh say they but some discretion would doe well It is true but take withall Caluins caueat to Melanchton That he affect not so the name of a moderate man and listen to such Syrens songs till he lose his zeale I haue obserued that which the world miscalls discretion to eate vppe zeale as that which they call policy doth wisdome As Ioab stabbed Abner vnder a colour of friendshippe Antichrist vndermineth Christ by pretending to be his vicar The feare of ouerdoing makes most come too short of the two extremities wee should most feare lukewarmenesse rather let your milk boyle ouer then be raw From glauering they fall to scoffing yong Saints will proue but old Diuels these hot-spurs will soone runne themselues out of breath But we say such were neuer right bred such as prooue falling starres neuer were ought but meteors the other neuer loose light or motion spirituall motions may be violent and perpetuall When none of these wil take they fal to right downe rayling these Puritans these singular fellowes c. vnfit for all honest company I hope the states Puritan and the common Puritan bee two creatures For with that staffe the multitude beates all that are better then selues and le ts fly at all that haue any shew of goodnes But with that which most call Puritanisme I desire to worship God For singularity Christ calls for it and presseth vrgeth it What singular thing doe you or what odde thing doe you Shall Gods peculiar people doe nothing peculiar The world thinks it strange wee runne not with them into excesses and do not as most doe that we might escape derisino Iudge you which of these men shall please I beleeue none shall euer please Christ till they appeare odde strange and precise men to the common sort and yet neede not bee ouer iust neither Let them that haue tender eares stop them against the charmes of the world and scornes of Michol vnles they were wiser let him that hath a right eare heare what Christ saith to the Churches Be zealous The fourth part Yea but by what means shall a Christian attaine this fire and maintaine it when he hath gotten it Say not in thine heart What Prometheus shall ascend into heauen and fetch it thence thou maist fetch it thence by thine owne prayer as did Elias and the Apostles men of infirmities as well as thy selfe pray continually and instantly the Lord that breathed first thy soule into thee will also breath on thy soule I speake not of miraculous which was but a type but of ordinary inspiration Prayer and zeale are as water and yce mutually producing each other when it is once comne downe vpon thine altar though no water can quench it yet must it bee preserued fresh by ordinary fuell especially the Priests lippes must keepe it aliue Sermons are bellowes ordained for this purpose The word read is of diuine vse but doth not with that motion stirre these coales Experience sheweth the best oration will not so moue as the meanest Orator The fift part But heere me thinke I heare the luke-warme worldling of our times fume and chafe and aske what needs all this adoe for zeale as if all Gods people were not zealous enough Such as thinke they are or can bee zealous enough neede no other conuiction to bee poore blinde naked wretched and pittifull Laodiceans Fire is euer climing and aspiring higher zeale is euer ayming at that which is before carried towards perfection thinking meanely of that which is past and already attained condemning his vnprofitable seruice as Caluin in his last Wil this rule tries full conceited Christians What would you haue vs doe we professe keepe our Church hear Sermons as Christians ought to doe Affectionate friendship and seruice is not onely for publicke shewe and pompe vpon festiuall dayes in Chambers of Presence but for domesticall ordinary and priuate vse to such holy-day and Church retainers God may well say let vs haue some of this zeale at home and apart All affections are most passionate without a witnes Such as whose families closets fields beds walks doe testifie of their worship as well as temples synagogues are right seruitors God much respects their deuotions and they haue strong proofe of the power of godlines Wee would you should knowe that wee are such as haue prayer saide or read in our families houshoulds or or else wee say some to our selues at our lying downe and vprising and more then that say you what you will wee holde more then needs First knowe that zeale knowes no such vnmannerly courses as to slubber ouer a few prayers whiles you are dressing and vndressing your selues as most doe halfe a sleepe halfe awake know further that such as holde onely a certaine stint of daily duties as malt horses their pase or mille horses their round out of custome or forme are farre from that metall which is euer putting forward growing frō strength to strength and instant in duties in season out of season and this sayes hard to lazie Christians May not we go too farre on the right hand It is true but liberality baulkes and feares couetousnesse and niggardize more a great deale then prodigality so does zeale lukewarmenes and coldnes more then too much heat and forwardnesse the defect is more opposit and dangerous to some virtues then the excesse Why are not some thinke you too straight laced that dare not vse their Christian liberty in some recreations sweare by small oathes or lend money for reasonable vse hath not God left many things indifferent wherein some shew themselues more nice then wise Zeale will cut off the right hand if it cause to offend much more to pare the nailes and superfluities it consumes the strongest dearest corruptions much more will it singe off such haire and drosse as these If ought be praise worthy it embraceth such things if any be doubtfull carying shew of euill of ill report it dares not meddle with them it feares that some of these are as indifferent as fornication was among the heathen There are but few such no not of the better sort as you speake of Graunt there bee any and zealous emulation culleth the highest examples Such as meane to excell in any Art trauell to finde out the rarest workemen purchase the choycest copies hee that hath true zeale will striue to purge himselfe as Christ is pure Will you haue vs runne before our neighbours or liue without example or company Cowards and crauens stand and looke who goes first souldiers of courage will cast lots for the onset and fore-ranke for desperate seruices and single combats Iades will not go without the way be led So wee may soone come to trouble and danger enough What danger can there bee of an honest peaceable religious forwardnesse The slug or snaile puts out the tender horne to feele for
mooue the affections as well as inform the iudgement there is a doctrinall as som tearm it a Doctorly kind of preaching which is admired of some that vnderstand it not of others that could be content with the Masse againe because it was gentle and had no teeth in it And such Sermons I haue sometimes heard for matter void of exception but so deliuered as if one were acting a Part or saying a lesson by heart It hath called to minde a song which sometimes I haue met withall excellently composed full of sweete ayre surely and truely sung but with flat and dead voyces without spirit which hath marred the musicke Of such a Sermon and preacher the countrey mans verdit did well that said this man may be a great scholar but hee wants beetle and wedges to heaw our knotted timber withall our greene wood will not burn vnless it be better blowen you shall sometimes see an excellent horse of shape and colour hauing many of those marks Du Bartas describes in Cains supposed horse which yet wanting metall hath beene of little worth and lesse vse If there were no other preachers then these which hold themselues the onely profound and learned preachers I muse what should become of conuersion of soules which they that couet must come with the spirit of Elias to turne the hearts of the fathers to their children I may in trueth and I hope with modestie speake with the Preacher that in obseruing I haue obserued and haue found that diuerse great Clarkes haue had but little fruit of their ministery but hardly any truely zealous man of God though of lesser gifts but haue had much comfort of their labours in their owne and bordering parishes being in this likened by Gregory to the yron on the Smiths anvile sparkling round about And if for this any bordering neighbours whose cold labours work not the like successe shall accuse them of some kind I know not what of policie in bewitching the people they may well reply Behold our zealous affections are our charmes and zeale all our witchcraft as Latimer well answered one that accused the people of partiality for not affecting him that preached one of his printed sermons that he had indeed his Stick but wanted his Rosen meaning his zealous manner of preaching and liuing without which last all the former will doe but little good if a good ensample of life accompany not their doctrine as lightening doth thunder For there are some I speake it with sorrow of heart that seem to haue fire in their preaching but cary water in their life being notoriously proud couetous or debauched stained with odious vices Let vs heare the summe of all Doo we loue Christ more then ordinary would wee giue proofe of our trebble loue to him Let vs then feede his flocke with a trebble zeale expressed in our prayer preaching and liuing Let vs make it appear to the consciences of all that the top of our ambition is Gods glory and that we preferre the winning of soules to the winning of the world This title of Angels why may it not also be extended to Magistrates as well as that higher stile of Gods Sure I am that the scarlet robe of zeale would exceeding well become them Iethro maketh it their prime and essentiall character God and Moses their onely and sole in the charge and commission to Iehoshua so oft repeated Onely be of good courage And if Dauid were now to repen his Psalme I thinke hee might alter the forme of his counsell and say Be zealous yee Rulers and Iudges of the world and not wise and politicke or rather vnder the tearmes of wisdome he cōprehends indeed the zeal we call for the most now adayes being Gallioes wise onely for the matters of the common wealth not hauing a sparke of that spirit which was in Phineas Daniel and Nehemias c. for the Lord of hosts or to his lawes and commandements as if God had made Magistrates keepers onely of the second table gouernours of men and not of Christians guardians onely of ciuill societies and not of his Church and shepheards also of his flocke Are Idolatries blasphemies profaning of Sabaoths no sins Why then either haue not the lawes force and strength enough in them as somtime we are answered when we cōplain or why are they not executed for the suppressing of these raigning sins are not all they punished with death in the Scriptures as well as breaches of the second table Blood I leaue to the malignant Church and admire clemency in rulers as much as any but yet I know the profane dissolutenesse of the times requires a three stringed whip of seuerity to purge our Augean stable of the foule abuses whipt often with pennes and tongues but spared by them that beare the sword a man may say of many gouernours altogether in vaine for matters of religion Are not kings of the earth charged to rēder double to the bloudy strumpet of Rome Why then doth the hurtfull pittie of our times imbolden and increase their numbers Laodicea it selfe I doubt not for matters of mine and thine had as their name imports good ciuill iustice and iusticers but what was God the nearer for it doth hee not threaten for all that to spue them out of his mouth shall hee not curse those that doe his work negligently fearfully partially Our times complaine of two speciall canker-worms of iustice which eate vp zeale in Magistrates The first is couetousnesse which makes men of place to transgresse for a morsell of bread the zeale of their owne houses consumes the zeale of Gods house The building of great houses keeping of great houses matching with great houses raising and leauing of great houses behinde them makes them so rauenous that they deuoure so much as choakes all their zeale which would teach them to shake their laps of bribes and scorn to accept gifts though men would augment them for the peruerting of iudgement The other is cowardise and fearfulnes which how vnfit and base a quality did Nehemiah thinke it for a man of his place no better then shynesse in a fore-horse whose eyes men fense on both sides that they may lead the way and goe without starting vnto which zeale is answerable in Magistrates causing them onely to see him that is inuisible without casting a squint eye at men to sing to God onely of iudgement and mercy without runing their songs to mans eare to walke in the perfect way without turning either to the right or left hand for fear or fauour Oh that there were such an heart in our leaders how easily would our people follow what a spring-tide of zeale should wee haue if the Sunne and Moone would cast out a benigne aspect vpon them Doth it not flourish in all those shires and townes where the word and sword doe iointly cherish it In others which are the greatest number how doth it languish and wane away and hang downe the head where is