fare the better for them every day why is the heap of chaff kept from burning but because there 's some wheat mixt with it but if once the wheat were out the chaff should soon be set on fire When once the number of Gods Elect is accomplisht the world shall not stand a moment 'T is just with God to take them from us for our abusing them we cast dirt and God casts dust on them many great men are fallen of late in this our English Israel nigh an hundred godly Ministers are taken from us within the space of three years past many of them young and eminent for Piety so that we this day are weakned both in Church and State Ioseph is not and Simeon is not and Benjamin is not all these things are against us This is and should be a Lamentation to us Now since there is such aboundance of false fire and fein'd zeal in the world we had the more need to try our own Some are mislead by a blind zeal Rom. 20.2 Others by an indiscreet zeal Matth. 26.51 Luke 9.52 53 54. Iohn 8. ult Others by an hyrocritical zeal they pretend Religion but they intend their own inriching So Demetrius pretended the preservation of Religion when indeed he intended his own silver Trade Acts 19 24. 1. True zeal is known by the Rise and Original of it 1. If it be wrought in our hearts by the Spirit of God we are not born zealous for God his Truth and People but by nature are full of enmity to all these Acts 9.1 Phil. 36. Paul in his natural state persecutes the Church out of a blind zeal many mistake the fire of their own flints and the fire of Hell for this celestial fire But the Author of all true zeal and Heavenly fire is the holy Spirit of God which is oft called fire Acts 2.3 4. Matth. 3.11 because like fire it inlightens and heats our cold and frozen hearts Luke 24.32 A man that hath fire in his bosom will quickly be sensible of it Prov. 6.27 28. 2. T is operative like fire daily burning up our lusts purging out our dross and working out our scumme 'T is the true purgatory fire which all beleevers pass through Isay 4.4 2. It springs from knowledge as David first beleeved and then spake so the zealous man first knows Gods Will and then is zealous in the prosecution of it Blind zeal is rather fury and madness rashness and rudeness then zeal 'T is celeris cursus extra viam It 's like mettle in a blind Horse which carries the Rider into many dangers Like a Ship without a Pilot which runs it self on many Rocks and Sands Like wild-fire in a Fools hand or the Devil in the Demoniack which cast him sometimes into the fire and anon into the water The Jews had a zeal after Legal Rites and Ceremonies but 't was a blind zeal that But spoiled all Rom. 10.2 as without knowledg the mind is not good so neither is the man nor his zeal Prov. 19.2 as blind obedience is no obedience so blind zeal is not zeal Such is the zeal of Papists and Sectaries 3. It springs from a Love to Christ this constrains us to do and suffer for Christ. 2 Cor. 5.14 As Christ loved us and spent himself for us so the sense of this love being shed abroad in our hearts will make us to spend our selves for him This fire of Gods love to us will make us contemn all other fire 4. When it springs from a Love and Compassion to our Brethren when all our admonishions and reproofs come from a spirit of love and tenderness and are mixt with meekness and mourning this is true zeal Thus Samuel 1.16 tells Saul plainely and sharply of his sin yet mourns for his person Lot reproves the Sodomites for their wickedness yet calls them Brethren Gen. 19.7 Christ was angry at the sin yet mourned for the sinners Mark 3.5 So doth Paul 2 Cor. 12.22 Hot and moist is the best temper both in nature and grace When men rave and rage and are full of bitterness then Satan casts out Satan and they do more hurt then good These hate the sinner and not the sin when the good man is merciful to the sinner but cruel and unmerciful to the sin 2. True zeal is known by its End viz. Gods glory It can be content to decrease so Gods honor may increase Iohn 3.30 As true zeal comes from God so 't is for God and his glory and not for self The hypocrite may seem very zealous but 't is for his own ends like the Shecaâ—ites that would be cirumcised that they might get cattle Gen. 34.33 Iehu did an act that for the matter was good but his selfish Vain-glorious ends marred all and made it murder Hosea 1.4 3. By the properties and effects of it which are five 1. It increaseth by opposition Like Fountain-water 't is hottest in the coldest weather As water cast on lime by an Antiperistasis burnes more fiercely The more the wicked oppose Gods Law the more David loves it Psal. 119.126 If Michol mock David for dancing before the Ark he 'l resolve to be yet more vile 2 Sam. 6.22 True zeal over-looks and over-leaps all lets and impediments difficulties are but whet-stones to fortitude Heroick spirits know not what discouragements mean Many waters of opposition cannot quench this ardent love but intend it rather Cant. 8.6 7. As we see in Iacob Gen. 32.24 25 26. and the Woman of Canaan Tell Caleb there are Anakims and he 'l say le ts go up couragiously against them Numb 13.30 Tell Paul of bonds why he fears not death Hypocrites make a great shew till they meet with oppositions and then like snailes they pull in their horns 2. It will make us abound in duty if there be the fire of zeal within there will be a flame of a holy Conversation without love especially zealous love is bountiful it thinks it can never do enough for God he 's glad he hath any thing of worth to lose for him and resolves with the Martyr if he had as many lives to lose as he hath haires on his head and as much blood to venture as there is water in the Sea it should all go for Christ. They are ready to act to their power yea and beyond their power 2 Cor. 8.3 Zeal is a very high and intensive heat of all the affections it makes us burn in our love to God in our desires after him our joy in him our fear to offend him our indignation against all that speak or do any thing against him or his Psal. 139.21 Ier. 13.9 10. 'T is not so much any one Affection as the intensive Degree of all when they are all improved to the utmost for the furtherance of Gods glory and the good of his People A zealous man is a man of mettle and spirit he 's all life and activity 'T
and resolute we dis-hearten them in their attempts and dismay that great Belzebub the Prince of these Flies Let therefore this salt season all our services Christ calls for such Worshipps Matth. 22.37 38 39. Christianity is a work of activity we must ask seek knock strive wrastle run and work out our salvation with the greatest accuratness care and diligence Philip. 2.12 We must not rest content with the beginnings of grace but we must work it up and increase with the increasings of God Colos. 2.19 We must be filled with the Spirit and with the fire of zeal we must have fiery-heads and fiery-hearts fiery words and fiery works that what in us lyeth we may set the whole world on fire with the love of Christ. If we be to hear the Word we should be swift to hear and gladly embrace the opportunity flying as the clouds and flocking as the Doves to their windows When we come to the Sacrament we must earnestly desire it as Christ did Luke 22.15 With a desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you i. I have earnestly and heartily desired it Hezekiah kept the Passover with joy 2 Chron. 30. If we be called to Covenant with God we must do it with joy and with all our hearts as Asa and the people did 2 Chron. 15.12 15. If we be to Pray it must be fervent operative energetical praying Iames 5.16 We must strive in our prayers Rom. 15.30 and stir up our selves that we may lay hold on God Cant. 3.4 Isai. 27.5 and 647. That 's the way to have peace with him When we see a man angry those that are friends lay hold on him to prevent a danger so when we see God angry with his People we should compass God about like an Army one lay hold on him and another lay hold on him till he be pacified with his people But then we must be holy men else if a Rebel or Traitor should come to the Princes Chamber and lay hold on him it would be accounted Treason before we come to reason with God we must wash our selves and then come and welcome Isai. 1.16 17 18. We must get a spiritual induration and holy impudency let God do what he will with us let him oppose delay deny us yet we will not let him go till he bless us As Pharaoh had a cursed Induration and a plerophory of hardness so that no plagues could work on him so we should get a blessed induration and fulness of assurance resolving though God should crush and kill us yet that we will trust in him Iob 13.15 And when we find our spirits flat then cry because thou canst not cry and be in an agony because thou canst not be agonized Formality in duty is the bane of duty and Religion There 's little difference between a careless performance of duties and a total omission of them since men loose both wayes Let us then rouse up our selves remembring that the more zealous any are here the more glorious they shall be hereafter Let us all in our several callings be active for God Let Magistrates and Rulers rule for him as Nehemiah did Let them not bear the sword in vain nor tolerate such things as are intolerable There 's no Precept or President in the whole Book of God for any Toleration of one Error much less of all but promises that God will give us one heart and one way If Magistrates suffer Gods Name to be despised he 'l make them to be despised 1 Sam. 2.30 Ahab lost his life for not punishing blasphemous Benhadad with death 1 Kings 20.42 I Plead not for Cruelty but Iustice as Magistrates must be clement and merciful when occasion requires so they must be just sharp against incorrigible incurable offenders If Abishai out of love to David would have slain Shimâ—i who reviled him saying Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the King let me goe to take off his head 2 Sam. 16.9 and shall the Magistrate be silent when the King of Kings is blasphemed and reviled to his face if men will still bear with such yet God will not Objection If we punish them we shall loose a partie Answer Such a partie as I now speak against are better lost then found They cannot long prosper with them who ever hath them But by punishing such we shall make God our friend who hath promised to defend those that defend his Truth We have a notable instance in the City of Geneva which from the beginning of the Reformation to this day have punished Sectaries and Hereticks and yet God hath kept them safe and sound Many create to themselves needless fears 2. Governours of Families should be zealous against sin in all their Relations hate it in father mother wife children Asa punisheth his own mother for her idolatry 2 Chronicles 15.16 The Lord taketh notice what every man doth in his Family he observes who prayes who reads who supresseth sin in his Family who acts for him and who for themselves Mal. 3.16 Our zeal is the best thing we have and therefore to be given to God who is the best of beings But yet there is nothing that the world so much opposeth as zeal the Devil and his Agents can bear with any man save the zealous man The Hypocrite Formalist Civilian Temporizer c. All pass through the world with praise 'T is onely these Zelots that oppose the sins of the time which are counted the troublers of the places where they come though they be never so peaceable To discourage men from this course the world hath raised many Cavils 1. Objection I am but one and what good will my zeal doe Answer One zealous man may yea and hath done much good to a whole Land One Phinees by executing Justice turned away Gods wrath from all Israel Numbers 25.6 7 11. One faithful Hushai by his Counsel spoyled Achitophels policy 1 Samuel 17.14 One poor man saved a Citie Eccles. 9.15 and the Prayers of One righteous man availeth much Iames 5.16 When Gods judgements were falling on Ierusalem he sought but for a man that he might spare it Ieremiah 5.2 A carnal man dares not stir without company especially the company of great ones they enquire whether any of the Rulers and learned Pharisees have gone that way Iohn 7.47 Jades will not go unless some lead them the way and Cowards stand still to see who will go first but a gracious soul is content to fit alone Lam. 3.28 and go alone in the way to Heaven 1 Kings 19.10 He stayes not for company but if the cause be good rather then it shall fall he will endeavour to uphold it himself Hester will venture all for Gods people and if she must perish she will perish in this cause Let nothing discourage you if God have called thee to a good work and none will joyne with thee in it yet remember he that called thee alone will bless
terminis for the out-works of Religion but for the Fundamentals and for the whole possession We must contend with Papists about our Justification with Arminians about our Election with Antimonians for the Law with Socinians for the Gospel and with the Antiscripturists for all 2. The Lord commends this in his servants he hath recorded the zeal of Moses Phinees Paul Apollos c. to their everlasting prayse they are the Apple of his Eye which is Oculus Oculi the glory of the Eye Zach. 2.8 They are his jewels he counts himself honoured and adorned by such and therefore he calls them his glory Isay 4.5 These glorifie God on earth and therefore we will glorifie them with himself Iohn 15.8 and 17.4.5 God hath more glory from his little zealous flock then from all the world besides Hence he so much glories in him Iob 2 3. Acts 13.22 3. He Rewards it where ever he finds it Phinees for his zealous execution of Justice was blest both he and his posterity Numb 15.11 12 13. Levi for his zeal in vindicating Gods Honour was exalted to the Priesthood Exod. 32.29 Deut. 33.8 9 10. Zabulum and Napthali that ventured their lives in Gods cause Iudge 5.18 God remembers the kindness and rewards it many years after in sending Christ to preach the Gospel first to them Matth. 4.13.14 yea so greatly is the Lord delighted with zeal that Iehu his Hypocritical zeal went not unrewarded 2 King 10.30 4. It graceth all our graces and is the Honour of our honours All Grace without this is nothing Dead Knowledge Faith Repentance are of no esteem with God dead Prayer is not Prayer As under the Law no sacrifice was acceptable without fire so no duty now is acceptable without the fire of zeal 5. Christ hath paid best for our zeal The fair price that he paid to Redeem us the same precious blood he gave to purchase us to himselfe a zealous and peculiar people Titus 2.14 If any have paid dearer for it or can shew better Title to it let him take it 6. Our zeal doth denominate us that we are that we are zealous for 'T is true we may love the creature but it must be with a subordinate inferior love but our zeal which is the cream of our affections must be given only to God 'T is a glory which he will not suffer to be given to another 7. Our zeal may provoke others the Corinthians zeal provoked many 2 Cor. 9.12 When the Love-sick Church began to commend Christ Cant. 5. ult This is my friend and this is my Beloved in the very next Chapter 6.1 Others begin to inquire Where is thy Beloved that we may seeke him with thee 8. Such help to save a Land from ruine One zealous Moses kept off judgement from Israel Psalm 106.23 One zealous Phinees stayes the Plague One zealous innocent man may save an Iland Iob 22. ult 9. This makes a man to excel we are all by Nature of one blood 't is Holy zeal that makes the difference This makes the Righteous to excel his Neighbour Prov. 12.26 both in life and death one of these Pearles surpasseth ten thousand peebles as one living creature excels a thousand dead ones These are called lively stones 1 Pet. 2.5 1. They are stones in respect of stability and solidness they stir not from their principles but are an everlasting foundation Prov. 10.25 2. Lively because of their Zeale and Activity they are prompt and ready for every good work 2 Timothy 2.21 Their spirits are raised to the highest excellencies and so are capable of the highe stactings They live the life of God Ephesians 4.18 or a godly life because it is from God as the Author it is according to God as the pattern and it tends to God as the end Others may do well but the zealous man excels them all Hence he 's called in Scripture not Adam a common man but Ish quasi Esh a man of fire heat and courage a man of spirit life activity a man of men an excellent man fitted to honour God and rule others 10. You will have no cause to repent of this zeal yea if the saints in Heaven were capable of sorrow they would grieve for nothing so much as that they had not done more for God in their generation How many have repented of their superstitious carnal zeal as Cardinal Woolsy sometimes did Had I served God as diligently as I have done the King he would not have given me over in my gray hairs but this is my just reward for serving men before God 11 There is an absolute necessity of it in respect of the many enemies that oppose us So soon as ever a man begins to look towards Heaven he must look for Giants and sons of Anak to oppose him We have the Devil above us with all his methods Eph. 6.11 depths Rev. 2.24 Devices 2 Cor. 2.11 The world about us with all its baits and snares and an evil heart within us ready to betray us into the hands of our enemies So that unless we be resolute violent men we shall never get Heaven Matth. 11.12 't is not the lazy somnolent Christian but the active and the violent that take Heaven by force 12. All thy gifts and parts without zeal to improve them become useless A Stag or Hart that hath great strength and horns yet doth little with them for want of courage As a bird without wings a body without a soul and salt without savor so is a man without zeal like Ieremiahs rotten girdle that was good for nothing Ier. 13.7 Zeal is to the soul that which spirits are to the body and wine to the Spirits it puts activity and quickning in us 'T is as wheels to the Chariot which make us run the wayes of Gods Commandments as courage to a souldier as mettle to the horse and as manure to the ground which makes it abound in fruitfulness Now that you may get and keep this Gace we must shun those Quenchâ—coals which extinguish this holy fire in us 1. The first is the retaining of any one bosome beloved sin be it Pride Idleness Formality Covetousness either thy zeal must destroy thy sin or thy sin will destroy thy zeal Zealous affections are the wings of the soul but sin like bird-lime intangles them that they cannot fly Heaven-ward They are the feet of the soul but sin like fetters hindereth us from runing They are the fire of the soul but sin like water quencheth this fire We must resolve therefore against all sin if ever we would have the Spirit of zeal to dwell in us 2. Take heed of the inordinate love of the world These thornes will choak our zeal and this outward heat extracts and consumes our inward Cast earth upon fire and you put it out Demas and Iudas the love of the world drew them off we must get our affections loosened from the world and use it as though we used it not Use
scriptures vilify Prayer and all Ordinances never give Thanks at their meales Rayle on Magistrates and Ministers dishonour their Parents out-run their wives neglect their families being full of Lying Rayling Idlenesâ— and all unrighteousnesse If these be Saints who are Scythyans These sin not through weakness but through wilfulness not through Passion or precipitation but deliberately electively resolutely they tell the Magistrate to his face that they will seal their high and horrid blasphemies with their blood 't is time such corrupt blood were let out of the body they devise mischiefe and set themselves in a way that is not good Psal. 36.4 as the liberall man deviseth liberall things and by them is establisht Isay 32.8 so the wicked man deviseth wicked things and by them is ruined V. 7. Though favour be shewed to the wicked yet are they so wedded to their sin that they will not learn Righteousness Isay 26.16 'T is the height of misery when men have sinned so long that they have brought themselves into a necessity of sinning These are not only in a dangerous but in a damnable condition what Solomon saith of the Harlots guests is true of them they are in the depths of hell Prov. 9. ult all such for present are far from salvation such as frequent the Ordinances and live soberly though they be not yet alive yet they sit in the winds way and there 's more hope of them as Christ said of the discreet Scribe thou art not far from the Kingdom of Heaven Mark 12.34 Now if a man may live civilly soberly religiously confess his sinnes Fast Pray frequent Ordinances give Almes and reform many things and yet come short of Heaven where then shall the wicked and ungodly appear who come short of those that come short of Heaven 2. Let us shake off this foul murthering sin and awaken our selves that we may awaken God if ever there were a time to cry aloud 't is now when the Lord seems to be asleep the work of Reformation seems to go backward children are come to the birth and there wants strength to bring forth By our Prayer let us play the Midwife and help the Man-child of Reformation into the world let us give the Lord no rest till he make Ierusalem the praise of the world Isay 62.1 See how the Church expostulates the case with God and by an holy violence doubles and trebles her suit the better to awaken God Isay 51.9 10. Awake O Arme of the Lord awake awake and put on strength God by his judgements hath made many gaps in the Nation let us humble our selves and lye in the gap and make up the breach when the Sea hath made a breach so long as the breach continues the water overflowes the land but the way to stop it is not to murmur or quarrell one with another but we must fall every one to his work and so make up the breach Remember our time is short our work is great and our wages unspeakable we serve a Master who will not let any man serve him for nought He 'l reward every man according to his works such as sow liberally shall reap liberally and the more active we have been for God the greater our reward shall be Let us not then give Satan occasion to insult and say Lord my slaves and servants are more active for me then thine are for thee mine can spend their Time their Estates and their Lives for me and in my service but thine grudge at every thing they do or suffer for thee Let us by our selfe-denying lives confute this slander let the zeale for Gods honour consume us and all that we have And if ever there were a time to rowse up our selves out of our formality 't is now when sin is grown so impudent and insolent 1. Let us sweep before our own dores and stirre up our selves against our own personall sinnes against that Atheisme Hypocrisy and Formality that sticks so close unto us Let 's know the Plague of our own hearts and arm against the sins of our complexion constitution vocations So did David Psal. 18.23 2. Let 's stirre up our selves against the sins of the age we live in The Apostasies Heresies Blasphemies that we daily hear of should be as a sword in our bones we should be deeply affected with them and shew our dislike of them Neh. 13.11.17 Ier. 13.17 Ezek. 9.4 Rev. 2.2 We must out of an holy singularity witnesse against the sinfull courses of the world Rom. 12.2 we must do more then others Matth. 5.47 the way of the righteous is on high above the reach of carnall men Prov. 15.24 and therefore when we Pray it should not be pro forma but with life and quickening Hence David prayes Psal. 80.18 quicken us O Lord that we may call upon thy Name We should stirre up our affections in this duty fire not stirred dyes but stirred gives heat 2 Tim. 1.7 there 's no stirring in formality and so no heat Hence Christ baptizeth all his not only with water but with fire Matth. 3.11 which makes them full of activity and zeale 2. Take heed of Formality in Hearing attend as for your lives with Life Faith Obedience come to these lively Oracles with lively affections Acts 7.38 be transformed into the Image of the word Rom. 6.17 act the Graces of the spirit in Hearing when you hear of Judgements tremble of the Promise believe of the Commandements obey 3. In observing the Lords-day we must not barely do the duties of it in a flat and formall way but we must make them our delight Isay 58.13 we should rejoyce that we have such a day wherein to glorifie God and to meditate on his word and works we should esteem it as an Honourable day it 's one thing to keep a Sabbath another to keep it as an high day a day of honour laying aside all worldly thoughts words and works as too base and meane for so high a day 4. In works of Mercy we should not barely shew mercy but Love mercy Micah 6.8 God loves a chearfull giver Wee should be glad of an opportunity to expresse our Love and Thankfullnesse to God We should think nothing too good for God who hath thought nothing too dear for us Bring costly services put him not off with light aud slight duties which cost you nothing David would not offer to the Lord of that which cost him nothing 2 Sam. 24.24 The fat and best must be given to him Levit. 3.9 Numb 13.12 Learn of worldly men see how active they be in Seed-time and Harvest for a little temporall gain consider how active and stirring the devill is to do mischiefe Iob 1. 1 Pet 5.8 and if Heathens have been so resolute to walk in the name of their Dung-hill-Gods Micah 45. we should much more resolve to walke in the name of our God for ever who is a better Master hath better work and better wages 2.
and frequent them 2. We begin to cry down Sabbaths and make every day alike they observe Gods Sabbaths and make Leagues for the strict observing of them We meet to wrangle they meet to pray and instruct each other in the things which they have heard 3. We begin to contemn prayer and think our selves above it they set up Prayer in their families and are earnest in it 4. We grow weary of the Lord and begin to deny him in his Attributes these begin to fear know and acknowledge him 5. We fall away to loose Opinions and loose Practises we are barren under all the meanes of grace dry under all the droppings of the Sanctuary and therefore the Lord may justly take away his Gospel and give it to a people that shall yeeld him better obedience then we have done God hath forsaken better Churches then England The Jewes that were sometimes his peculiar people and adorned with many rich Priviledges are now for their unbelief a dispersed despised accursed people The seven Churches of Asia once so famous are now a wildernesse God hath no need of us he can call them his people which were not his people and them beloved which were not beloved Hos. 2.23 God cannot want a people if he please to call he can raise up out of dead stones and wild Americans children to himself Oh that the poor naked Indians might quicken our backwardnesse and their fruitfulnesse rowse us out of our unfruitfulnesse and their zeale and power of Religion shame us out of our formality As Christ said to Peter Luke 7.44 Seest thou this woman Simon dost thou observe how bountifull and active she hath been for me compare her zeal and love to me with thine and learn to be ashamed As the Lord set Israel to Schoole to learn of the Oxe the Asse the Stork the Ant So he may set us to learne zeale of Indians Many are like dead Wether-cocks they turn and turn and turn again but they never crow against sin nor be active for God Eâ—salice non è quercu orti They are bending Willowes not rooted Oakes The living fish swimmes against the streame 't is the dead fish that goeth down Rest not then content with a form sit not down content with gifts and parts as most do but covet that more excellent way of Holinesse Humility and the power of godlinesse 1 Cor. 12.31 Lastly Prize all Gods Ordinances and walk in the power of them He that despiseth them shall never thrive in Grace if you take away this spirituall fuell the fire of zeale will soon decay Ordinances are services though not Saviours Meanes though not Mediatours to be used but not Idolized we must not cast them away but cast them down at Christs feet as the 24. Elders did their crownes Revel 4.10 God will be found in his own way and though he hath promised us grace yet he hath said we shall seek it before we have it Ezek. 36.37 as Baths have their warmth from the Mineralls which they run through so the soul by Ordinances draweth a spirituall taste and sweetness from them We should therefore shew our love to them by promoting them with our Riches Prov. 3.9 and coming with the first to them Luke 1.21 Prov. 8.17.33 Ezek. 47.10 Acts 10.33 Hereby we shall bring glory to God in all his Attributes We shall continue and increase our communion with God The repetition of the Act will intend the Habit as fire by blowing burns the brighter Object We live not now under the Law but under the Gospel and so are above Ordinances and Duties which are poor low legall dispensations and breed a spirit of bondage in men and therefore ought to be abolisht as appeares Heb. 3.11 1 John 2.27 Rev. 21.22 See these Texts answered in my Sal Terrae cap. 3. Answ. Ordinances do not vanish in Gospel-times but must endure to the end of the world the end of the world 1. The Ministery must endure so long as the world endures Matth. 28. ult Ephes. 4.11 12 13. See my Sal terrae cap 3. 2. Baptisme is of the same continuance Matth. 28.19 20. 3 The Lords Supper must endure till Christs second coming 1 Cor. 11 26. and if there shall be Ordinances in the most glorious times of the Church to come even when the Jews shall be called and the spirit powred out in an abundant measure Isay 2.2 3. 66. Zach. 14. then much more have we need of them And though they be outward Forms yet they are not empty Forms but efficacious to the salvation of believers Rom. 1.16 1. Let such prophane Atheists consider that Ordinances are Formes which Christ hath instituted they are divine Formes and when you reject them you reject Christ himself 2. They are Forms which are the purchase of the Death Resurrection and Ascension of Christ therefore when you reject them you reject the purchase 3. They are such Forms as are made by Christ the Conduict of all grace Christ and the grace of Christ are ordinarily conveighed by these Forms They are golden pipes to conveigh grace and blessed and admirable Instruments in the hand of God for the good of our soules 4. Having begun in the spirit will ye end in the flesh was there not a time and was it not your best time when you durst not omit Prayer Meditation Self-examination c. was it not your best time when you practised Self-denial Mortification and all holy duties and will you now turn Libertines and Apostates and so make your latter end worse then your beginning may not the Lord expostulate with you as he did sometime with Israel Ier. 2.5.31 What iniquity have your Fathers found in me that they are gone after vanity have I been a barren wilderness or a land of darknesse to you So what evill did you ever find in God or his Ordinances that ye thus grow weary of them speak now before the Lord what evill did ye ever find in Praying Preaching Sacraments that ye thus reject and contemn them Time was when ye frequented them found joy and sweetnesse in them if you have lost your taste the fault is in your selves and not in the Ordinances you are grown cold dead formall worldly Prophane c. and now instead of falling out with your sins you fall out with Gods Ordinances instead of casting off your iniquities you cast off duties For such I shall onely say Remember from whence you are fallen repent and do your first wâ—rks Rev. 2.5 Use Ordinances and improve them but rest not in a naked formall performance of them beseech the Lord to make you profit by them Isay 48.17 18. In Heaven we shall enjoy God immediately without the use of Ordinances there is and indeed there needs no Temple there Rev. 21.22 but whilst we are on earth we must serve providence in the use of meanes and he that despiseth them despiseth his own salvation both Temporal and Eternal For Ordinances see Mr. Lawrence for
said of one that preacht before him of death this man saith he preacheth of death as if 't were at my back So Ministers should preach so powerfully of judgement as if 't were at mens backs ready to arrest them This Christ himself expresly commands us to preach unto the people Acts 10.42 As they should desire to hear of that day that so they might be kept in a continual preparedness for it so we should delight to be setting it forth in its lively colours for the comfort of the godly and for the converting if it may be of others for if this will not work nothing will if the terror of this day will not awaken thee thy case is dreadful and desperate The hearing of this day made a Felix to tremble and if thou be not past grace it will make thee to tremble When Solomon would fright young men from their sinful pleasures he tels them of a stinging But. Eccles. 11.9 but remember that for all these things he will bring thee to judgement If our heart be not harder then the Adamant the remembrance of this day will quicken us to amendment And this is the reason why Gods servants in all ages have been so careful to mind people of this day Enoch of old prophesied of it Iude 14.13 so did Moses Deut. 32. and David Psal. 96. ult and Solomon Eccles. 11.9 and Daniel 7.13 14. and Ioel 3. and Malachy 3. and 4. and Christ Matth. 24. and 25. and Paul Rom. 14.10 1 Cor. 4.3 4. and Iude 6. and Iohn Rev. 1.7 and 20.12 So that this is no such Legal Doctrine as some Illegal and Lawless Atheists do imagine for Christ Paul Peter Iohn c. that were Evangelical Preachers oft treated of it yea before ever the Law was publisht by Moses this Doctrine was preacht presently after the fall by Enoch Jude 14. 3. It must quicken Iudges and these in authority to execute righteous judgement remembring that they judge not for men but for the Lord whose Vice-gerents they are and to whom they must shortly give an account He judgeth among the Gods by discerning whether their judgement be right or not 2 Chron. 19.5 6 8. He is with them in the judgement though Iehoshaphat could not ride circuit with them yet God did he is with them not onely by way of assistance and protection but also by way of observation he takes notice of every sentence that passeth and will bring it again to judgement for one special end of that great day is judicare non judicata malè judicata To punish those sinners which have escaped unpunisht here and to rectifie the unrighteous judgments of the world Let there be no partiality bribery oppressing of the fatherless and the widow but hear both sides patiently fully indifferently so acting and so judging as remembring that you your selves must ere long be judged See more in M. Clerks Mirrour cap. 74.75 M. Gataker Ser. on Psalm 82.6 7. p. 71 c. M. Henry Smiths Ser. on Psalm 82.6 p. 336. M. Sam Wards Ser. on Exod. 18.21 p. 395. M. Strong 31. Ser. p. 389. and 623. Let every one watch and prepare for this day let the thoughts of it sleep with us and wake with us rise with us and rest with us and be familiar with us think you hear that voyce sounding in your ears Come give an account of your Stewardship for thou must be no longer Steward Put not the remembrance of that day farre from your souls least you draw neer to the seat of iniquity Amos 6.3 Most certain 't is that the day of the Lord will come but when we know not 2 Pet. 3.10 Hence he 's said to come as a thief in the night 1 Thes. 5.2 1. Secretly suddenly terribly and unexpectedly blessed therefore is he that teacheth Mark 13.35 36 37. Rev. 16.15 We should shun those sins which breed security as drunkenness gluttony and. the cares of the world Matth. 24.38 39 42. Luk 21.34 God hath hid this day from us that we might be prepared every day Let 's get the Oyl of grace in our Lamps that we may be ready when ever the Bridegroom shall come Be much in works of piety and mercy get your souls cloathed with Christ and his righteousness which onely can shelter you from wrath to come and make you stand with comfort and comfidence in that day Let 's realize that day to our selves if we were sure the day of judgment should be the next week what a strange alteration would it make in the world how would men sleight these worldly things as fine houses fine apparels fine fare c. which now they doat on Then they would fast and pray weep and repent Why this day may be the day of thy particular judgement and therefore whilst 't is to day we should do these things Now let 's deny our selves follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes part with all for Christ take him on his own Termes and give him no rest till he have assured thee by his Spirit that thy sins are forgiven thee and then you may bid that day welcome and rejoyce in the thoughts of it 1 Iohn 2.28 Walk exactly and sincerely before God now live soberly righteously religiously do all as for Eternity Xeuxies being asked why he was so curious in his painting answered Quia Aeternitati pingo 't is for Eternity said he So should we be exact in our walking and working in our doing and suffering remembring 't is for eternity None can dwell with that devouring fire but he that walketh uprightly Isai. 33.14 15 16. To such as faithfully discharge the duties of their callings this will be a day of blessing Luke 12.43 and of comfort Isai. 38.3 2 Cor. 1.12 1 Iohn 3.21 We should therefore get and keep a good conscience which will be a feast to us especially at that day Acts 23.1 and 24.16 Whilst 't is called to day then let us return and cause others to return and so fly from the wrath to come preventing it by judging our selves and setting up a Judicatory in our souls examining arraigning inditing and condemning ourselves for our sins and then will Christ acquit us if we humble our selves he will exalt us if we remember our sins he will forget them if we take an holy revenge on ourselves we shall prevent his vengeance The serious remembrance of this day hath a great influence on our lives and therefore 't is good to possess our minds with the truth of it and our hearts with the terrour of it that it come not upon us unawares If this Principle were truly beleeved oh what holiness humility fear Rev. 14.7 Patience in suffering Iames 5.8 Constancy in well-doing 2 Pet. 3.11.14 and contempt of the world and weanedness from these low things which must then be consumed with fire 2 Pet. 3.10 11. Would it work in us At his Appearance and his Kingdom Hence Note That the second coming of Christ will
onely in Reference to the Gospell The expresse words of our Commission are Goe Preach the Gospel to every Creature i. to every Rational Creature of what Nation Language Sex or Condition soever make a tender of Christ to them all Hence we are called Ministers of the Gospel because it is our Primary worke to publish Christ and his Benefits to the World The Gospel inlightens enlivens us it purifieth pacifieth the soul light is a desirable thing this is a light to them that sit in darknesse Esay 9.2 'T is the Horn of Salvation Luke 1.69 The Scepter of Christ Kingdome Psalm 44.7 The Kingdome of Christ because it sheweth us the way thither By it we receive the Spirit Galathians 3.2 Hence the Preaching of the Gospell is called the Ministery of the Spirit 2 Corinthians 3.5 by which the Spirit is conveighed into our souls 'T is the greatest Honour any Nation can have to be the Seat of the Gospel As the Arke was the Glory of Israel so is this of Gods People It ennobles and raiseth mens spirits and enables them to doe more then others Matthew 5.47 We dishonour the Gospel when we suffer Heathens by their Moral low Education to excell us who have the Gospel which is mighty to raise us to supernatural Operations Hence the Apostle blames the Corinthians because they walked like Natural men 1 Corinthians 3.3 We are Redeemed from the Earth Revlations 4.3 and therefore must not live like men of the Earth but must walke up to our Principles and Priviledges leading lives sutable to the Gospel Philippians 1.27 Let us highly prize it and receive it with all readinesse As Rachel cried for Children Give me Children or I die so say you Give me Christ or I die A man may want liberty and yet be happy as Ioseph He may want Peace and yet be happy as David Want Children and yet be happy as Iob. But he that wanteth the Gospel which should discover Christ to him wanteth every thing that is good A Throne without the Gospel is but the Devils Dungeon Wealth without the Gospel is but Fuel for Hell and Honour without Christ is but meere dishonour and a Cypher Let us then intreat the Lord to discover to us the deep Mysteries of it Ephesians 1.17 18. They are above Natures reach 2 Corinthians 2.9 and 1.2.14 Nil dat quod non habet The Vegitative Creature cannot doe the Acts of the Sensitive nor the Sensitive of the Rational nor the Rational of the Spiritual and believeing Christian Hence more Errours have risen about the Gospel then about the Law because the Principles of the Law are written in mens Natures Heathens have made Lawes against Drunkennesse Whoredome Theft c. But the Gospel is Supernatural Hence Arians Arminians Socinians and Papists have erred exceedingly concerning it 4. Observation Ministers must be Instant and Vrgent Active and Zealous in the discharge of their Dutie Many tentations from profits and pleasures from ease and quietnesse will assail us on the one hand and many discouragements from an ungrateful malignant world on the other hand so that if we be not instant and earnest we shall never breake through them but shall be ready to look back yea and to leave Gods Plough in the open field Men are dead in sin and therefore we had need to Cry aloud and lift up our voyces like Trumpets that we may help to raise them Isay 58.2 Cry it is not Say or Read a Sermon but Cry it and that aloud with fervour and affection that the dead may hear and live 2. Be impartial spare not for fear or favour but be they high or low rich or poore shew them their sins 3. Lift up thy voyce like a Trumpet i. set to all thy strength and rouse up others the speech is borrowed from souldiers in battle where if any be faint-hearted or drowsie yet the sound of the Trumpet quickens them to the battle 4. Shew my people their transgressions viz. plainly and particularly cause them to know their own abominations Thus it is good to be earnest and zealously affected in a good thing Gal. 4.18 We cannot be zealous in a better cause for it is Gods cause the Churches cause and the cause not of bodies but of souls their Eternal happinesse depends upon it This made Apâ—llos so fervent and diligent in teaching the things of God Acts 18.25 and Isay and Christ to labour and spend their strength Isay 49.4 lazinesse is naught in any calling but most odious in a Minister who is called to the highest and hardest work in the world This will require the whole man and therefore we should give up our selves wholly to it Acts 6.4 1 Timothy 4.15 for who is sufficient for this alone 2 Cor. 2.16 There is no grace that more graceth a Minister then zeal for God and his Worship hence Christ sent not fleshly but fiery tongues on his Disciples that thâ—y might inflame the hearts of their hearers Acts 2.3 The Angels that publish the Everlasting Gospel to the world doe not creep or walke but speedily fly upon that service Revelations 14.6 We must be Seraphims with â—ix wings which are most ready to doe what ever God shall command us Isay 6.2 we must be burning and shining lights Iohn 5.35 So was Elijha Isay Ieremy Iohn Bâ—ptist they were all men of fire who helpt to â—haw the frozen and cold hearts of their hearers Such a one was Luther what ever he spake or writ was operative on mens hearts what an intense and high degree of zeal was in our Saviour Iohn 2.17 his zeal for Gods House and the purity of his Worship was so vehement that like fire which eats up and devours that whereon it lights it even eat him up it even consumed his very moysture and exhausted him and made him unmindful of himself He neither regarded life nor limbe but exposed all to hazard in defence of Gods honour against a pack of malicious covetous Scribes and Pharisees Zeal in an Holy Sense consumeth the Flesh and eateth the bones Ierem. 20.9 many waste and consume themselves some in drunkennesse some in whoreing some in moyling for the world woe to such as dye of these unholy and unhappy Consumptions but when the zeal for Gods Glory consumes us happy those that dye of such holy consumptions Thus to loose our lives is to save them and to wast them is the way to preserve and renew them no man ever yet lost by spending himselfe for God And though we cannot be zealous as Christ was by way of Equality yet by way of Conformity and similitude we must in our Degree labour to resemble him Christ will owne none for his peculiar people but such as are zealous of good works Titus 2.14 The dull Asse is no sacrifice for the Living God Exodus 13.13 and the lingring Snail is reckoned amongst uncleane creatures Leviticus 11.30 Grace is no sleepy
is the very formalis ratio the quintescence of zeal to be intense and increased to the utmost 'T is not every degree of Affection for a formalist may have some cold Vellieties and Luke-warm desires and a carnal man may have some joy and fear But zeal is another thing 't is a boiling over again with extremity of heat 'T is sacra ebullitio a holy heat and rising of the heart against sin It makes a man fervent or seething hot against sin Rom. 12.11 Water may be hot in some measure and yet not seeth seething hot is the highest degree of heat But the Hypocrite is affraid of being too zealous and active for God whereas we can never be too zealous in that we know to be good in it self and good for us to do We cannot exceed in our love to God nor in our obedience to him No vertue in its formal reason can be too much intended a man cannot be nimis liberalis tho he may be nimius in largitione Keep the horse under the bridle and in the right way and keep the stream within its banks let it run in a right channel and then the stronger the better 3. It will make us sharp and severe against our own sins but pittiful and compassionate to others As charity so zeal begins at home no man can speak so sharply against him as he doth against himself though others may excuse him yet he 'l not excuse himself 2 Sam. 24.10 But the Hypocrite he 's parcus sibi severus aliis High and harsh in his censures of others but indulgent to himself Matth. 7.4 the worst men are usually the greatest censurers Acts 28.4 4. It makes a man more zealous in great matters then in lesser In great causes he sheweth great zeal and in lesser causes lesser zeal He calls not for a Sword to kill a Flea nor for an Axe to crack an Egge He well knows that the same fire is not requisite for the roasting of an Egge as is for the roasting of an Ox. But the Hypocrite he 's magnus in minimis he 's fiery in small matters and cold in weighty ones With Saul he kills the lean but spares the fat And with the Pharises he Tythes Mint and Cummin but neglects obedience in the great things of the Law Matth. 23.23 5. He 's more zealous in Gods cause then in his own Moses how meek and quiet in his own cause Numb 12.3 Yet how hot in Gods Exod. 32.9.19.27 Hezekiah mourns more for Senacherib's blasphemy then for the Sword that was drawn against himself 2 Kings 19.3 4.16 David when himself was persecuted became as a deaf man but when Gods Law is transgressed his zeal consumes him and rivers of tears run down his eyes Christ himself in his own sufferings was as a Sheep before the Shearer dumb but when Gods house is profaned he doth not onely by words but blows drive them out with an holy violence Nehemiah how silent when himself was reproached but when Gods Sabbaths are profaned he contends even with Nobles about it Ioshua 7.8 is more tender over Gods Name then his own he doth not say what shall our names estates and lives do but what wilt thou do for thy own name The Church of Ephesus could bear any suffering but not sin Rev. 2.2 But the hypocrite is hot in his own case and key-cold in Gods let any wrong him or rob him he 's all on a flame but let Gods Name Sabbaths Servants be wronged he cares for no such things 4. True zeal may be known by it's concomitants and companions which are 4.1 'T is ever attended with wisedom and discretion 'T is not a rash ungrounded zeal but a wise sober well-grounded fervour As a good dish may be spoiled in the dressing so a good reproof for want of observing due circumstances of persons time and place may loose it's due operation Hence Solomon commends a word that 's spoken Beophman super rotis suis running on the wheels of all due circumstances Psal. 25.11 Fire on the hearth is good but fire in the top of the house is dangerous Love allows us to be warm and plain but not scalding hot in our reproofs A well-ordred zeal will teach a Nathan to catch a David in a parable Caut. Yet must we beware least under pretence of discretion we destroy zeal of which see more in the Objections 2. It keeps the bounds of its calling It dares do nothing without a call from God Simeon and Levi were good men and the cause was good but the prosecution of it was ill for they assumed the Magistrates power without a call Gen. 3.4 Excessive heat or excessive cold is poysen 3. He loves to see and to make others zealous It 's the nature of fire to multiply one livingâ—coal kindles another zealous Abraham will not keep his goodness to himself but he 'l communicate it to his family So Moses Numb 11.29 and Paul Acts 26.29 4. 'T is of a growing nature we must grow in zeal as well as in other graces A grain of mustard seed though it be little yet 't is lively Fire on the Altar might not be suffered to go out Levit. 6.13 As natural strength so this is increased by exercise To him that hath true zeal shall be given more Lastly this must quicken us all to an holy zeal and emulation in well-doing Most men seek to excell their Neighbours in riches fine houses fine fare but who labours to excel in vertue The living God delights not in dead hearts dead spirits become not his servants cold wishes and faint desires please not him we must be active and stirring if we desire that God should be with us for our God is not the God of the dead but of the living Who should be zealous and active for God if we be not as Nehemiah said in another case Neh. 6.11 Should such a one as I fly I that am under such special promises special protection special providences should I dishonour my profession and in a fearful manner fly so should such as we be cold and dead who live upon the bread of life and drink the water of life who have lively Oracles and lively Ordinances and all meanes to make us lively Let us therefore do what we do with all our might as David did when he danced before the Ark. 2 Sam. 6.14 Let us oppose sin with all our might Preach Pray and praise God with all our might Iudge 5.12 Psal. 103.23 Rom. 12.11 We should burn and boyl up in our spirits in duty By this meanes we shall prevent aboundance of dangerous temptations which seise on Luke-warm professors When Honey is cold every Fly and Wasp robs us of it but when 't is boyling and scalding hot they dare not come neer it When men are cold and indifferent in Religion every Sectary and Seducer which are the Devils Flies and Emissaries makes a prey of us but when we are hot
it we may as the Traveller doth his Staffe but love it inordinately we may not unlesse we will renounce the Love of God 1 Iohn 2.15 Our love cannot stand in intense degrees to two such contrary Masters 3. Evil company is a great extinguisher of this Holy Fire scarce any thing more Hence zealous David commands evil company to depart Psalm 119.115 We must therefore be very choyce of our company for it hath great operation upon us either to good or evil As iron sharpens iron and one edged tool helps to sharpen another so God hath ordained the society of men to quicken men Conference and communication of experiences hath incredible profit in all Sciences Hence the Saints that lived in dead times did by conference excite and quicken each other in the wayes of God Mal. 3.16 17 4. Formality in Religion is a great enemy to zeal When men rest in a bare performance of duties without any power of godlyness this is the bane of Religion when ever we come to duties we should stir up the graces of Gods Spirit in us 2 Timothy 1.7 If fire be not blown and stirred up it will decay and goe out We must also dayly be adding fuel to it for where there is no fuel the fire goeth out Proverbs 26.20 Pray much men of much Prayer have been men of much zeal as we see in David Daniel Paul Bradford Frequent the Preaching of the Word Accede ad hunc ignem there is a hidden Vertue in this Ordinance to kindle this fire in our breasts which maketh the Devil so busie in drawing men to separation for he well knowes by long experience that if he can but get men out of Gods way they will soon decay in grace the body may assoon live without food as the soul can live without this bread of Life If any would see more let him peruse D. Corn. Burgess Treatise of Zeal Master Henry Hall's Sermon on Matthew 11.12 and Master Loves 4. Sermon on Matthew 11.12 Master Fenner on the Affections Sermon the ninth tenth eleventh Hildersham on Iohn 4.32 Lect. 56. Doctor Sibbs Beams of Light Sermon on Matthew 11.12 Master Ash his Sermon of Zeal 5. Observe Ministers must take all occasions to preach the Word They must preach on the Lords Day and on the week day in publick and private at home and abroad In prosperity and adversity In War and Peace In Prisons and Palaces We must not be Strawberry-Preachers as Bishop Latimer calleth them which come but once a year and are quickly gone again Not long since the Church was troubled with Canon-Preachers who preached according to the Canon once a moneth or once a day insteed of these we have State-Preachers who preach such stuffe for quality as may please the State and so much for quantity as will bring in their Angmentations no Catechizing of the flock no preaching on the week day unless Angels or Nobles call them No baptizing of Infants no fitting of the flocke for the Lords Supper but all lies at random and in confusion surely such Halving-Preachers should have half-pay Doth not he that commands us to Preach command us to Baptize also and to dispense the Lords Supper often Surely this is either not Scripture or els some of us do not doe our duty Let us therefore either do our duty or else cast off our Ministery and give place to such as will As the woman said to the King either do me justice and act as a King or else put off the Title so either let us do the whole work of our Ministery or put off the Name For nomen inane crimen immane Let us preach in season and out of season so did our Saviour he took all occasions to preach sometimes he preached in the Synagogues anon in a Mountain Matth. 5.1 sometimes in a ship Luke 5.3 and anon in a desert Luke 4.42 when the heart is willing it will find out opportunites of doing good So Paul preacheth in Synagogues in Houses by a Rivers side Act. 16.13 in prison Philem. 9. and on other occasions We are Gods Husbandmen and in the morning we must sowe our seed and in the Evening not be idle for some may prosper when we consider the great price that was paid for souls Acts 20.28 it must quicken us to redeeme all opportunities to gain them to Christ. Love is active but lazy persons have a thousand excuses either their bodies are unable the place unfit the company inconvenient c. Many Lions ly in the way of the sluggard but willing minds know no difficulties 6. Observe We are exceeding backward to the best things and have need of many admonitions and exhortations in season and out of season to quicken us in Gods work It 's much adoe to make us begin and when we have begun we are ready to look back on every discouragement Were there in us that Tractableness and teachableness which ought to be how easily might Ministers lead us in good paths 'T is prophesied of Gospel times that so meek and teachable men shall be that even a child with Scripture reason shall lead them Isay 11.6 A wicked man though you bring an hundred plain Scriptures yet he will not be convinced but a gracious soul if he have but a little hint from Scripture that what he holds or doth is displeasing to God he presently casts it off We should therefore lament the sad depravation of our Natures that have need of so much quickning to the best things Many wonder why we are so fervent and frequent in reproofs why our necessitie requires it and God in this Text injoynes it Many love us whilest we comfort them but when we come to cutting reproving and launcing their soares then they look upon us as enemies See more before on 2 Timothy 3.16 7. Observe Application must be joyned to Doctrine The Foundation and the building must go together for a foundation without a building argues the folly of him that laid it and a building without a Foundation will soon fall 'T is not sufficient that by sound Doctrine we inform the judgement but by Application we must work it on the Affections This is the very life of Preaching Doctrine is the whole loaf as 't were but Application is the dividing the word aright and distributing thereof to every one according to their several conditions For these very ends and uses God hath given us his word 2 Tim. 3.16 VERS 3 4. For the time will come that they will not endure sound Doctrine but after their owne Lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers haveing itching eares 4. And they shall turne away their Eares from the Truth and shall be turned to Fables IN these words we have an Apostolical Prophesie of the petulancy and peril of the last times when men will grow weary of sound Doctrine and fall to the embracing of fabulous and vain opinions insteed of truth The words are to be considered Relatively as depending on