perfunctory manner contenting our selves with the bare Opus operatum the doing of the work but have an eye to the manner of performance that there be a spiritual vigour in it that we come to these Ordinances with an eager appetite As new born babes desiring the sincere milk of the Word 1 Pet. 2.2 hungring and thirsting after Jesus Christ the eating of his flesh the drinking of his blood And so hearing attentively and receiving thankfully And such also let our works of Charitie be In duties of Charity Having a zeal for our brethren as St. Paul saith his Corinthians had for him 2 Cor. 7.7 They had a fervent mind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a zeal towards him earnestly wishing his welfare Thus be we affected toward our Brethren See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently saith St. Peter 1 Pet. 1.22 And again Cap. 4. v. 8. Above all things have fervent Charitie among your selves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Intense Charity so as earnestly to desire the good each of other And out of that affection taking all opportunities for the doing of good unto them Shewing mercy with cheerfulnesse as the Apostle requires it Rom. 12.8 So doing good as seeking to be Rich in good works being ready to distribute willing to communicate as he there willeth Rich men 1 Tim. 6.18 Thus put fire to every Sacrifice joyn zeal to every duty Only in the last place to draw towards a Conclusion see that this fire be right fire Caution See that our zeal be right zeal Not strange fire this zeal right zeal Where have an eye to two things 1. See that this fire be not strange fire Such is that fire said to be wherewith the sons of Aaron Nadab Abihu sacrificed Lev. 10.1 They offered strange fire before the Lord which he commanded them not Strange fire not that fire which at first coming down from heaven was proper for the Temple-service but Common Culinarie fire Take we heed that our fire our zeal be not such common fire a carnal zeal such as is to be found among too many who would it may be seem to be zealous But whence is it Out of some by and sinister Not carnal zeal some carnal respects as of Credit or Profit c But see that it be heavenly fire zeal from God and zeal for God wrought by his Spirit and seeking his Glory Thus see we that it be right zeal sincere not Hypocritical Not hypocritical zeal A great deal of such zeal there is to be found in the world Such was Jehu's zeal who meeting with Jehonadab Come saith he and see my zeal for the Lord 2 King 10.16 when as in truth it was rather for himself than for the Lord his heart whatever he pretended not being right in what he did which if it had been he would not having destroyed Baal have suffered the Calves at Dan and Bethel to stand still which the 29th v. there informs us that he did And such was the zeal of the Scribes and Pharisees as I have shewn you Take we heed that our zeal be not such but such as the Apostle requires our faith and love should be 1 Tim. 1.5 Rom. 12.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sincere unfeigned without dissimulation Which if it be not what do we but mock God whilest we seem to be zealous for him but are not A thing which let all of us beware of Is it good that he should search you out saith Job to his friends or as some man mocketh another do ye so mock God Job 13.9 This God will do sooner or later he will search men out discover them to be such as they are And therefore take heed of mocking him who will not cannot be mocked Be not deceived God is not mocked saith the Apostle Gal. 6.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 However men may think to mock him yet he is not cannot be mocked deluded deceived Neither will he suffer himself so to be but will take vengeance upon them that attempt it Now what greater working of God can there be than to pretend a zeal for him and not to be so in truth This take we heed of See that our zeal be a right zeal sincere unfeigned not Hypocritical Much less Diabolical Not Diabolical zeal Such is that zeal which St. James speakes of Jam. 3.14 calling it a Bitter Zeal so the Original hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bitter envying Of this kind of zeal I fear there is yet too much to be found in this Nation Among those who seem to be zealous for God there is too much bitter zeal Bitter zeal which sheweth it self in bitter invectives against those who are not every wayes of their mind and judgment whom they are ready with all eagerness to pursue as enemies Such zeal let Christians beware of Let all bitterness and wrath and anger c. be put away from you saith the Apostle Eph. 4.31 And elsewhere we are warned to beware lest any root of bitterness spring up amongst us Heb. 12.15 Among which this Bitter zeal may well be reckoned as one But whilest we are zealous for God be we meek and gentle towards our Brethren Such is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the wisdome from above heavenly wisdome as St. James tells us it is first pure then peaceable gentle Christians to be meek and gentle towards their Brethren c. Jam. 3.17 And this wisdome seek we after that we may be such A Lesson which our Apostle requires our Evangelist Titus to press upon his Auditors in the Chapter following Tit. 3.2 Where having in the former verse minded them of being Ready to every good work he subjoynes To speak evil of no man to be no brawlers but gentle shewing all meekness unto all men Not that all persons are to be treated and dealt with after the same manner All not to be treated alike Paul who there giveth that charge to others yet himself being to deal with the obstinate Jewes who opposed his Doctrine and blasphemed He shook his raiment saith the Text and said unto them Your blood be upon your own heads I am clean from henceforth I will go to the Gentiles so turning his back upon them Acts 18.6 And before having to deal with Elimas the Sorcerer who withstood him in the course of his Ministery seeking to seduce the Deputie whom he had converted to the faith Paul being filled with the holy Ghost saith the Text set his eyes upon him and said O full of all subtilty and all mischief thou child of the Devil thou enemy of all righteousness wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord Acts 13.9 10. Thus as the Ministers of God so others having to deal with obstinate sinners or dangerous seducers now they both may and ought to shew their zeal for God in treating them in measure according to their demerits But not so with others whose errors and miscarriages
meeting with him saluting him in that scornful manner as we find it there v. 20. How glorious was the King of Israel to day who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants as one of the vain fellows shamefully uncovereth himself But what saith David this That we may read in the verses following v. 21 22. It was before the Lord saith he which chose me before thy Father and before all his house c. Therefore will I play before the Lord and I will yet be more vile than this So far was this from quenching or cooling his zeal that it inflames it so far from taking him off from such demonstrations of his affection to his God that it heightens his resolution that way And of like use let the reproaches and scorns which wicked men cast upon the wayes of God and those that walk conscionably in them be unto us every one as a blast to blow up this fire 3. This fire to be kept in Which being thus kindled and blown up then let our next care be to keep it in This was the Charge which God committed to his Priests under the Law concerning the fire upon the Altar That they should look to it to keep it in by day and by night so as it should never go out but be continually burning as we have the Law for it Lev. 6.12 13. And such care let all the Lords people have of this heavenly fire this holy zeal for their God Being once kindled in their hearts let them be careful to keep it in See that it do not die and go out As knowing it that they shall have occasion every day to make use of it Upon this account was that fire upon the Altar to be looked to in that manner Reason 2. Being of daily use in regard of the dayly use which they had of it in offering of Sacrifices And upon the like account let all the Lords people have a care to keep in this sacred fire in their hearts in as much as they shall have a daily use of it Use of it in all the services which they do to God or Man All which they are to do with a holy zeal and fervour And 2ly if it be not looked to Reason 1. Subject to die it is ready to go out So the Spirit tells the Church of Sardis concerning her graces Rev. 3.2 Strengthen the things which remain which are ready to die So is it with Graces themselves and so is it much more with zeal which is as I said not so much any distinct grace as the intension and heightning of other graces Now this Christians are subject to lose Though the fire be not quite put out yet the flame may Though believers shall never fall from grace it self totally and finally yet from the degree they may So was it with languishing Ephesus against whom the Son of Man the Lord Jesus bringeth that Action Rev. 2.4 Neverthelesse I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love Though not her Love yet her first love her zeal was gone This is a fire which if not looked to will quickly go out especially having so many Quench-coals as it meeteth with in and from the world which should make Christians looking upon this as heavenly fire as that upon the Altar was fire which came down from Heaven to be the more carefull of it Quest How kept in Quest What then shall we do for the keeping of it in A needful Question in these declining Apostatizing times wherein how many may we see every where sick of Ephesus's disease having lost their first love Times too like those which our Saviour foretold of Mat. 24.12 Because iniquitie shall abound saith he the love of many shall wax cold Love to God and love to man shall grow cold not shewing it self as before in offices of Piety and Charity A truth which we see too sad an experience of everywhere So as this Question as it is useful at all times so needful at this Ans The Metaphor followed Ans In Answer hereunto I shall still follow the Metaphor which the word in the Text leadeth me to which as I have shewn you is taken from fire Now for the keeping in of fire there are three things principally useful and needful viz. the Stirring of it Blowing of it Feeding of it And every of these let us in a spiritual sense practice as to our zeal 1. Stirring up this fire Dir. 1. This fire to be stirred up That is the advice which Paul giveth to Timothy concerning his Ministerial gift 2 Tim. 1.6 I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Metaphor taken from fire which being ready to go out is revived by stirring it up And this do we concerning those graces which we have received stir them up And as all other so specially our love whereof as I said zeal is the flame the Intension of it Stir we up this Grace Which do we as by other means so specially by working those aforesaid considerations upon our hearts touching the love of God and Iesus Christ to us manifested in giving himself for us Which was Love in the height of it Zeal love beyond all our Comprehensions So God loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son John 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So so as cannot be parallell'd nor yet expressed Often call we to mind this Love this Zeal of God and Jesus Christ for us This will be of singular efficacie in stirring up the like intense affection in us towards them again The love of Christ constraineth us 2 Cor. 6.14 2. Stirring up the fire blow it Dir. 2. This fire must be blown by Prayer Which is done by Prayer Prayer is as the Bellows for the blowing of this fire which Christians upon that account are every day to make use of Pray without ceasing 1 Thes 5.17 Begging from God not only Grace to do his will but Zeal in doing it This course took Baals Priests when they would have fire to consume their sacrifice They cryed unto their God for it They called on the name of Baal from morning to evening saying O Baal hear us 1 King 18.26 What they did in an impious way to their deaf and dumb Idol do we the like in a Religious way to the true and living God as Elias there did v. 37 38. Being every day to offer up the sacrifice of some good works or other unto him beg we from him this heavenly fire that he would inflame our hearts with affections suitable to the services which we are to do Dir. 3. This fire to be fed 3. And then in the third place Feed this fire This course took the Priests for the keeping in of the fire upon the Altar they fed it with wood every morning as we find them ordered to do Lev. 6.12 And
did his God Rom. 1.9 doing his will from the heart as he exhorteth servants to do Eph. 6.6 And doing his work Seeking his honour seek his honour and glory Which do you also upon the same account as being his Peculiar people bought by him for such an end that you might be to the praise of his glory as the Apostle hath it Eph. 1.12 and that in a peculiar way To this end it was that he made all things and will make them all serve to this end in a general way See that you whom he hath made his Peculiar people do this in a peculiar way Live you to the glory of him who hath Redeemed bought you Ye are bought with a price saith the Apostle Wherefore glorifie God in your Body and in your Spirit for they are Gods 1 Cor. 6.1 Thus do you seek the glory of this your Redeemer making this your chief design Being willing upon this account to do or suffer any thing for Iesus Christ Of this mind was the blessed Apostle who tells his Philippians cap. 1.20 that this was his Confidence that whatever happened unto him yet Christ saith he shall be magnified in my Body whether it be by life or death And this let every of us seek after that the name of our Lord Iesus Christ may be glorified in us and by us as the same Apostle prayeth for his Thessalonians 2 Thess 1.12 which whilest we endeavour doubt not but as it there followeth we shall be glorified in him and with him Having thus as his peculiar people endeavoured to glorifie him upon earth he will hereafter own us as his peculiar people glorifying us with himself in heaven When the rest of the world as Goats shall be set upon his left hand as slighted not regarded by htm then will he own us for his sheep setting us on his right hand honouring us before God Angels and men saying unto us as there we have it Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Mat. 25.34 When wicked and ungodly men all profane persons and hypocrites who have onely a shew of Religion shall be cast forth as Chaff and burned with fire unquenchable then shall we as Wheat be gathered into the Garner as Iohn the Baptist describeth the different conditions of Believers and others Luke 3.17 Then will the Lord Christ make it known to all the world what esteem he hath of his Saints that he accounteth them his Segullah his peculiar Treasure his Iewels which he will do by sending his Angels to gather them together from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other as we have it Mat. 24.31 where-ever their bodies lie scattered and so laying them up as his Iewels in the Cabinet of Eternity his Kingdom of Glory Many other uses might be yet made of this Vse 4. Christians to make Christ their peculiar Treasure Hath Christ taken us for his Peculiar people esteeming highly of us above others who have deserved as well or better than we have done Why then in answer hereunto let us set the like Peculiar Affection upon him taking him for our peculiar Treasure prizing and esteeming him above all accounting all but losse and dung that we may win Christ and be found in him as the Apostle saith of himself that he did Phil. 3.8 9. And making such account of him Vse 5. Highly esteeming of the Saints next to him make the like account of his Saints Taking heed of offending them which who so doth even the least of them he may hear Christ telling him that it were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea Mat. 18.6 Take heed of wronging injuring them by word or deed knowing how dear and precious they are unto Iesus Christ even as the Apple of his eye So we find them called Zach. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of his eye What is done unto them either for or against them Christ taketh it as done unto himself In as much as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me Mat. 25.40 45. They are Christs Peculiar people his choise favourites therefore offend them not wrong them not nor yet slight them Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones Mat. 18.10 But let them be precious in our eyes look upon them as the Iewels of the world highly esteeming of all those in whom we see aliquid Christi any thing of Christ The more of Christ the more precious they are And therefore highly account of such looking upon them as the truly excellent ones delighting in them being ready to do all offices of love unto them Thus was holy David affected as he sets it forth Psal 16.3 My goodnesse O Lord exeendeth not unto thee but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight And let the like affection be in every of us which express we in the like way looking upon the Saints as the Excellent ones delight we in their society and let our goodness extend unto them communicating of our goods unto them suitable to their Necessity and our Ability Which who so doth he shall have Christ himself for his Insurer Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water onely in the name of a disciple do the least office of love to him for Christs sake verily I say unto you he shall not lose his reward Mat. 10. last Thus let the same mind be in us which was and is in Iesus Christ as the Apostle presseth it upon his Philippians c. 2. v. 5. Those whom he hath given himself for and purified to be a peculiar people unto himself let them also be a peculiar people unto us But I passe on to that which remaines the last clause in the Text. Wherein we have the Qualification and Temper of this people whom Christ thus appropriateth being his Peculiar people they are also a People zealous of good works Zealous of good works A Clause fitly added and annexed to the former Adjicit hanc partem Apostulus ut insinuet ità demùm nos fore populum acceptabileus peculiarem Christo si bonorum operum studiosi fuerimus Estius Comment in Text. Veruntamen sicut per gratiam Redemptionis ipse nos facit populum peculiarem ità facit sectatores bonorum operum Ibid. Not to intimate unto us what Estius would have that in this way and by this meanes men become acceptable unto Christ and his Peculiar people by being forward in good works No they are not any works of ours that can ingratiate us bring us into grace and favour with him they being the fruits of his grace in us So much the same Author there upon second better thoughts cannot but acknowledge
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is good to be zealously affected saith the Apostle there Gal. 4.18 To be zealous in good works is a good thing Good 1. In as much as it is acceptable to God 1. Acceptable to God That is Pauls Argument which he maketh use of to bring Christians upon their knees to pray for Magistrates supreme and subordinate For Kings and all that are in authoritie For saith he this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2.3 And so is such a zealous performance of duties it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 good acceptable in the sight of God So was Phinehas's zeal whereby he made an atonement for the people and procured to himself and his the Covenant of an everlasting Priesthood as the Lord tells Moses Numb 25.11 12 13. Phinehas hath turned my wrath away from the Children of Israel while he was zealous for my sake among them Wherefore say Behold I give unto him my Covenant of peace And he shall have it and his seed after him even the Covenant of an everlasting Priesthood because he was zealous for his God c. Nothing more acceptable unto God than zeal for him Which he hath such a regard unto that for the sake thereof he oft times overlooks many infirmities in his people So was it in that act of Moses of which we read Exod. 32.19 When being transported with a holy zeal for God and his glorie he cast the Tables of the Law which God had newly written with his own finger out of his hands and brake them An Act however by some excused and defended as being done by a divine Instinct and so rather out of deliberation than Passion to signifie the Breach of Covenant betwixt God and his people whom they had so highly provoked by their Idolatrie yet it is more probably looked upon as unadvisedly done His spirit being exasperated by what he saw tending so highly to the dishonour of his God as thereupon he spakes unadvisedlie with his lips which the Psalmist saith he did Psal 106.33 so he also did unadvisedly with his hands But in as much as it was a holy zeal for the glory of God that thus transported him we do not any where find that God was angry with him for it So well pleased is God with such a Zeal in his people a holy zeal a religious zeal zeal for his glory that where that is he overlooketh any imperfections and faylings in their performances And secondly as it is acceptable to God so profitable to a mans self being very advantagious to a Christian in the course of his obedience 1. Fitting him for good works 1. Fitting him for it preparing him to every good work Of such use is Natural heat in the Body it maketh fit for motion and Action which otherwise being cold it is indisposed to and unfit for And of like use is this Spiritual heat a holy fervour in the Soul it fitteth and prepareth it for well doing the doing of what ever service to God or Man 2. And secondly preparing a man for it it putteth him upon it 2. Putting him upon them causeth him not to delay but to make haste to take every opportunity that is offered for the doing of good Even as fire being in a flame now it layeth hold of whatever combustible matter commeth near it So doth Zeal which is nothing but Love in a flame it readily taketh hold of all opportunities of doing good works making men not sloathfull but diligent in the work and service which they have to do Thus it is said of Apollos Act. 18.25 that being fervent in spirit he spake taught diligently the things of the Lord. Tuhs where there is this zeal in the heart it will set the head and hands on work making men as I said not sloathfull but diligent in the service of their God So much the Apostle insinuates in the Text Rom. 12.11 where he conjoines those Precepts Not sloathfull in businesses fervent in spirit serving the Lord. 3. Carrying him through them 3. And thirdly thus putting a man upon good works it will carrie him thorow them not withstanding what ever difficulties he may meet with in his way So is it with the Traveller having as we say a good will in his way now he goeth through thick and thin through all wayes and weathers And even so is it with a Christian that is zealous in the service of God this carrieth him through whatever opposition or discouragements he may meet with Such effect it had in and upon the blessed Apostle S. Paul who notwithstanding he took notice what rubs lay in his way how that Bonds and Affliction did abide him wait for him as the Holy Ghost witnessed in every City as himself telleth the Elders at Miletum Acts 20.23 Yet saith he none of these things move me neither count I my life dear to my self that I might finish my course with joy and the Ministerie which I have received of the Lord v. 24. Being zealous for his Lord and Master Christ that carrieth him through the service which he had to do for him maugre all opposition And so will it do the Christian in whose heart it lodgeth Thus is this zeal a good thing acceptable to God and profitable to a mans self preparing him to good works putting him upon them and carrying him through them And not only good but Necessary Reas 2. Zeal necessary without which good works cannot be done well so done as that they may be acceptable to God As it was before and under the Law the Sacrifices could not be offered without fire And therefore Abraham being to offer his son he carrieth fire with him He took the fire in his hand and went Gen. 22.6 And to this end was it that the sacred fire which first came down from heaven was continually kept in upon the Altar that they might alwayes have it at hand to offer their sacrifices with upon all occasions Even of such use is zeal to the Christian who must himself be salted with fire So our Saviour expresseth it Mar. 9.49 Every one shall be salted with fire have his heart seasoned with the fire of divine love and zeal without which he cannot offer up a sacrifice unto God It was the fire which made the smoke of the Incense-offering to asscend up unto heaven And so it is the zeal of the person in doing good works that maketh them come up before God As the Angel telleth Cornelius Acts 10.4 Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God How so why he was zealous of those good works A devout man and one that feared God with all his house giving much alms to the people and praying to God alwaies as the second verse there describeth him He was a true Zelot And being so his services were accepted To proceed no further in the Doctrinal part You see that it is so and why
their design so to be Lukewarm in their Religion Lukewarmness in some a politick design As for zeal it is a temper which their policy approves not of No a middle temper is the best neither hot nor cold But herein how are they mistaken Of all tempers Christ liketh it worst So he tells the Laodicean Church there Rev. 3.15 16. I would thou wert either cold or hot So then because thou art lukewarm c. I will spew thee out of my mouth Meats and drinks which are luke-warm are most offensive and displeasing to the stomach apt to provoke vomit And such are all Newters and Politick Time-servers unto Jesus Christ loathsome and detestable such as sooner or later he will cast out with loathing and detestation Here is a second sort Lukewarm Christians Besides these a third sort there are who are zealous I but of what Not of good works 3. Some zealous but not of good works What then Why either 1. Of things Indifferent which they superstitiously doting upon make necessary 1. Of things indifferent shewing more zeal for humane inventions than for any part of the instituted worship and service of God Such was the zeal of the Pharisees who found fault with the Disciples of Christ and quarrel with him their Master about it because they did not observe their Traditions Why do thy Disciples transgresse the Tradition of the Elders say they For they wash not their hands when they eat bread Matth. 1.2 Thus were they very zealous for those ceremonious observances which being in themselves indifferent they putting a Religion in them made necessary preferring them before divine Institutions and Commands So our Saviour there chargeth it upon the v. 6. Thus have ye made the Commandements of God of none effect by your Traditions And such was Pauls zeal before his Conversion as himself acknowledgeth it Gal. 1.14 I was then saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more exceedingly zealous of the Traditions of my Fathers And such a zeal may we see at this day among those great Zelots of the Roman Church who are transcendently more exceedingly zealous than others But whereof is it Why of the Traditions of their Fathers humane Inventions Rites Ceremonies such as have no warrant from the Word And would to God there were not too much of this zeal to be found amongst some Protestants at this day even amongst our selves who are still so much addicted to old Customes and Rites and Ceremonies as that their zeal to them maketh them overlook the substance of Religion and to neglect as I said some of the Ordinances of God Being zealous for Humane they neglect Divine Institutions 2. Of evil works 2. Others there are worse than these who are zealous about things in themselves evil Such are persons openly wicked who are zealous Actors of sin committing it with greediness Such were some of the Gentiles whom the Apostle describeth Eph. 4.19 Being past feeling they have given themselves over unto lasciviousnesse to work all uncleannesse with greedinesse Would to God there were not some such to be found among Christians amongst us Riotous Intemperate Luxurious persons such as Run to all excess of Riot as St. Peter hath it 1. Pet. 4.4 And such zeal shall we find amongst Idolaters Those of old whom we read of among whom some thought nothing too dear for their Idols not sparing some of them to sacrifice their Children unto them So did the worshippers of Molech or Baal of whom the Prophet Jeremie speaketh Jer. 19.5 They have built also the high-places of Baal to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal And such are the prime Zelots of the Church of Rome at this day such as are zealous for their Idolatry and Superstition as Invocating of Saints Worshipping of Images Adoring the Sacrament c. 3. Another sort there are who are zealous against good works 3. Against good works speaking evill of them and persecuting those that do them Such was Pauls zeal before his Conversion as himself acknowledgeth it Phil. 3.6 Concerning zeal persecuting the Church Such zeal our Saviour tels his Disciples they should make account to meet with from those who liked not their way John 16.2 They shall put you out of the Synagogues Yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service And such zeal may we find among Papists at this day who care not what cruelties they exercise upon the true Professors of Gods Religion And would to God there were not some of this zeal to be found among our selves in such as are zealous against the wayes of God and those that walk in them not sparing to revile the Ministers of God for doing their duty and to rail upon his servants for being so forward so zealous as they are of good works Thus their zeal is against zeal which they look upon as no better than folly and madness in those who express it in the course of their lives and conversations by being more forward and zealous than others Now to close up this Branch of the Application as for all these let them here take notice that being such we cannot reckon them in the number of this peculiar people whom Christ hath Redeemed and Purified to this end that they should be zealous and zealous of good works Vse 2. Exh. Be zealous Which let all of us in the second place be exhorted and excited to That we may approve and evidence our selves to be of this blessed number such as belong unto Jesus Christ be we zealous zealous for God in doing his will Be zealous saith the Spirit to the Laodicean Church And such let us be 1. Motives and means for the kindling of this fire For the kindling of which fire in our hearts do but consider in the first place how zealous God hath been and is for us for his people Thus saith the Lord of hosts I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousie Zach. 1.14 1. Consider Gods zeal for us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kinnethi saith the Original zelatus sum I have been zealous for them with a great zeal Such is Gods affection towards his Church and people like that of a most affectionate husband towards his beloved wife whom he cannot endure to see wronged Such is Gods zeal for his people Which as it induceth him to make so to perform and make good his promises unto them This it was that moved him to give his Son Christ for them to send him into the world to do what he hath done and shall do for them To us a child is born to us a son is given saith the Prophet Esay speaking of Christ Isa 9.6 And what moved God to do this Why The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this so the Reason is rendred in the verse following Thus hath God been zealous for us great reason then that we should be zealous for him
2. And again consider how zealous Iesus Christ hath been for us 2. The zeal of Jesus Christ in giving himself What affection he hath shewn to us in doing what the Text mindeth us of giving himself for us and that to the Death even that accursed death treading the winepresse of his Fathers wrath for our sakes What zeal did he herein shew for us How earnest was his desire of effecting the work of our Redemption This is that which he telleth his Disciples Luke 12.50 I have a Baptism to be Baptized with saith he and how am I straitned till it be accomplished A Baptism meaning his Death and Passion whereby he was consecrated to be the Saviour of the world And concerning this he saith he was straitned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 earnestly desiring the accomplishment thereof that so the work of mans Redemption which he made his grand design might be effected A work which he was very zealous of And hereupon it was that he was so far from declining of that bitter Cup as Peter would have had him to do that he even maketh haste as it were to drink it going into the Garden where he knew the High Priests officers would come to apprehend him and there going forth to meet them offering himself unto them not accepting of any attempt for his rescue as I shewed you in opening the first Branch of the Text how Christ gave himself for us Such was his zeal for us that he thought not his dearest blood too dear for us And oh how zealous then should we be for him Was he so zealous in suffering for us how zealous should we be in doing for him Let these Considerations serve as well they may for the kindling of this fire 2. Considerations useful for the blowing up of this fire Which being in this way kindled let our next work be to inflame and blow it up In which way among other make use of these Considerations 1. The zeal of Angels in serving their God 1. Look upon the blessed Angels considering how zealous they are in serving their God and us So much we are put in mind of by that name which is given to some of them who are called Seraphim So we find them Isa 6.2 where the Prophet describing the Majesty of God represented to him in a Vision as sitting upon his Throne with a guard of Angels about him he saith About it stood the Seraphims or rather Seraphim as the plural termination in the Hebrew requires it should be Seraphim a word coming from Saraph which signifieth to burn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ussit form whence they were so called as to import their singular splendor so also their fervency of love to God and zeal in his service Who maketh his Angels Spirits his Ministers a flaming fire Psa 146. Such are those glorious Spirits Whence it is that in the verse there following they are said to have each of them six wings two whereof were to fly withall as also the Cherubins in the Temple had 1 King 6.27 intimating their promptness to and swiftness in executing the will of their God doing whatsoever he putteth them upon Doing his commandements hearkning to the voice of his word as the Psalmist describeth those heavenly Spirits Psalm 103.20 And as they are zealous in doing service to their God so to his people In serving his people Being Ministring Spirits unto them sent forth to Minister unto them who shall be heirs of Salvation as the Apostle sets forth their office Heb. 1. last how intent are they about this work Take heed saith our Saviour that ye despise not one of these little ones the meanest of Gods servants For I say unto you that in Heaven their Angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven Mat. 18.10 waiting for Gods command to be imployed for the meanest of his servants And are they so zealous in his service Why then should not they who hope to be like unto them another day which our Saviour tells us all true believers in the Resurrection shall be Matth. 22.30 strive to be herein like unto them 2. And as Angels so the Saints of God 2. The zeal of Gods Saints upon earth how zealous do we find many of them to have been How zealous for their God So was Moses and Phineas and Elias and David of whom I spake before And such was Iohn the Baptist A burning and a shining light John 5.35 burning in his zeal for God and shining in his doctrine and life before men And of the like spirit was Paul who when the Disciples understanding what troubles he was like to meet with at Ierusalem disswaded him from going up thither tells them I am ready not to be bound only but to die at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus Acts 21.13 And how zealous for their Brethren So was Moses who rather than Israels sin should not be forgiven them wisheth that God would blot his name out of his book of life Exod. 32.32 In like manner St. Paul being transported with the like affectionate zeal for his Countreymen the Iewes I could wish saith he that my self were accursed from Christ for my brethrens sake my kinsmen according to the flesh Rom. 9.3 And like zeal we find in other of the servants of God As in Mart. Luther who being disswaded by his friends from adventuring his person at the Council at Wormes took up that Heroick resolution that though there were as many Devils there as tiles to cover the houses yet would he in the name of the Lord Iesus present himself there And the like we read of Mr. Calvin how that bewailing the sad differences amongst the Churches in his time he professed Ne decem quidem maria that it was not the sailing over of ten Seas that would grieve him so he might but obtain an uniform draught of Religion Now setting these and the like Presidents and Examples before us let them be as so many provocatives unto us Such effect had the forwardness and liberality of the Corinthians in their charitable Contributions this their zeal provoked very many as the Apostle tells them 2 Cor. 9.2 And of such use let the zeal of Gods servants be unto us serving to blow up this heavenly zeal in our hearts 3. And such use make we of that zeal which we see betwixt Men upon Civil interests 3. Zeal betwixt men upon civil interests Thus when railing Shimei reviled and cursed the Lords Anointed King David in that base and unworthy manner that he did Abishai hearing it he could not endure it but presently he tenders his service to his Master for the revenging of his quarrel by taking off the head of the dead dog as he calls him as we have the story 2 Sam. 16.9 And like instances we meet with many of such as having espoused the interest of some other have been so zealous in the
maintaining of it as that they have not spared to expose themselves to the greatest of hazards Sir Henry Slingsby Dr. Hewet beheaded on Tower-Hill June 8. 1658. even to the losing of their lives in the service Of which kind this week last past furnisheth us with two sad examples in this Nation Now shall men be so zealous for men and shall not Christians be as zealous for their God Who as he is able to protect and bear them out in whatever they do for him so he will not be wanting in recompencing of them Neither of which men are sure of from whomsoever else they engage and undertake for 4. And like use make we of the zeal which we see or hear of in evil workers as viz. 1. In Satan who ceaseth not to compass the earth as himself declares it Iob 1.7 The Question being put to him by God Satan whence comest thou he presently returns Answer which he doth once and again Cap. 2.2 From compassing the earth to and fro or as our new Translation hath it from going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it Such is his zeal to do mischief that he is continually ranging to and fro seeking opportunities and advantages Like a roaring Lion walking about seeking whom he may devour as St. Peter expresseth it 1 Pet. 5.8 So greedy is he of his prey zealous to do mischief 2. And the like zeal we may see in his Instruments 2. His Instruments Seducers With what zeal do they serve this their Lord and Master False Teachers subtle seducers how zealous are they in propagating and spreading of their pernicious errors They compass sea and land to make proselytes as our Saviour sayes of the Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 23.15 And thus Saint Paul speaking of false Teachers which opposed him and his Doctrine he tells his Galathians that they zealously affected them Gal. 4.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they were very zealous in seeking to gain them and bring them over to their way And as Seducers so Persecutors Persecutor◠How zealous shall we find them in persecuting the truth and the sincere professors of it Concerning zeal persecuting the Church saith Paul of himself before his conversion in that Text forecited Phil. 3.6 A Persecutor he then was and that a zealous one Breathing out threatnings and slaughters against the Disciples of the Lord as it is said of him Acts 9 1. So vehement was the heat of his inraged heart against Christ and his followers that he discovered it both in his words by his menacing and threatning language and also in his actions taking upon him the office of an Apparitor and procuring a Commission from the High Priests that if he found any of that way professed Christians whether they were Men or Women he might bring thē bound to Ierusalem as it there followeth in the next verse v. 2. So zealous then was he against Christ and against all that professed the name of Christ And what he was then against them the like were others afterwards against him some combining and banding themselves against him So we read of those Iewes Act. 23.12 They banded together and bound themselves under a curse saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul Such was their zeal against the way which he then held forth And may we not see the like among those of the Romish Religion who spare not to prosecute whoever they are that dissent from them with fire and faggot Witnesse the Marian Persecution in this Nation in the last Age which spared neither Sex nor Age. So zealous are the Devils Instruments in serving of him in doing of his work 3. His servants false worshippers 3. And like Zeal shall we find in his Servants Idolaters and false worshippers how zealous shall we find them in their way So were the Ephesians for their Diana whom we may hear crying out for two houres together Great is Diana of the Ephesians Acts 19.34 And so are the Papists at this day for their Superstitious and Idolatrous worship And so are profane persons Profane Persons who willingly make themselves slaves to their lusts serving divers lusts and pleasures as the Apostle hath it in the Chapter after the Text Tit. 3.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Addicti Mancipati Addicted Mancipated inslaved to them which they are in a spontaneous and voluntary way selling themselves to work evil as it is said of Ahab 1 King 21.20 giving over themselves to the committing of sin and that with greedinesse as the Apostle speaketh of the Gentiles Eph. 4.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with an unsatiable desire or as it were striving how they may do most evil Thus are wicked men in doing of wicked works they are zealous resolved in their way so bent upon their will in it that nothing shall take them off or turn them aside Ye are of your father the Devil and the lusts of your father ye will do saith our Saviour to those malicious Iewes Iohn 8.44 Being of the like temper and disposition with the Devil and resembling him as the Child doth the Father his lusts they would do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quicquid collibitum est as Grotius explaines it whatever he pleased So forward are wicked and ungodly men in serving of sin and Satan in doing of wicked works which they do in a zealous way Their feet run to evil as the Wiseman saith of them Prov. 1.16 And are all these so zealous in evil works O then how zealous should we be in good works What shall the servants of Satan be more zealous in serving their Master than we in serving ours Let all these serve as Incentives to our zeal to stir and blow up this heavenly fire in our souls 4. And whilest we make this use of their zeal 4. The zeal of wicked men against zeal in for evil works make we the like also of their zeal against good works and against the Actors of them Wicked men they cannot endure those that are zealous of good works they are a mote in their eye they are ready to speak evil of them to revile them and upbraid them with this their zeal But let this be so far from quenching or yet cooling hereof that let it rather be an Incentive to it Like as the wind is to the fire or water to the Smiths forge which make it burn and flame so much the more such use make we of the scornes and obloquies which men of the world cast upon the zealous profession and practice of Godliness Let this make us so much the more zealous Such use did David make of that jeer which scoffing Michal put upon him for his zeal which he shewed in bringing the Ark of God into its place when she saw him dancing before the Lord with all his might which the Text tells us he did 2 Sam. 6.14 This she maketh a jeer of upon her next
like course take we for the keeping in of this holy fire in our hearts By the Fewel of divine Meditation Three useful Considerations Feed it every morning every day and that by the fewel of Divine Meditation frequently meditating as upon what hath been already propounded so also upon these two or three other Considerations 1. Whose work it is that we do Even the work of the Great God Such are all good works 1. Good works are Gods work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The works of God Joh. 6.28 His works because commanded by him and done for him Which being duely considered it cannot but quicken the soul up to this service wherein we serve so great so good a Master This we do in whatever the work be if a good work Servants in serving their Masters they serve the Lord as I shewed you And so do Christians in whatever duties as of Pietie which immediately respect God so of Charitie He that hath pitie upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord Prov. 19.17 So God taketh what is done for his sake as done unto himself In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me Math. 25.40 2. And being thus his work consider how acceptable it is to him Acceptable to him So Paul tells his Philippians concerning their charitable contribution which he had received from them Phil. 4.18 where he calleth it an odour of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God And so is it with all other good works being good they are acceptable Thence is it that the Apostle puts these two together 1 Tim. 2.3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour speaking of praying for Governors Now this is a thing which Christians in their whole course should still have an eye at Proving what is acceptable to the Lord Eph. 5.10 And knowing it so to be this should make them forward and zealous in doing it To do good communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased saith the Apostle Heb. 13.16 3. And being so acceptable to him he will not forget it Shall be rewarded by him God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed unto his Name in what ye have ministred to the Saints and do Minister saith the Apostle to the Hebrews Heb. 6.10 So unrighteous are men oft-times what service is done unto them they forget it But so is not God Whatever service is done unto him or to others in his name and for his sake it shall not be lost The assurance whereof should make Christians more forward in his work Finally my brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord so Paul closeth up that Chapter 1 Cor. 15. last Oft-times as to men men labour in vain I have laboured in vain and spent my strength for nought saith Isai Isa 49.4 But not so as to God who hath promised that if it be but a cup of cold water yet being given in his name it shall not lose its reward Mat. 10. last A consideration which cannot but be of special force to make men zealous of good works This is that which men generally have in their eye in going about any work What they shall get by it what profit there is in it Now of all things there is nothing so profitable as Godlinesse Of which the Apostle tells us it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 profitable for all things 1 Tim. 4.8 So false groundlesse is that imputation which those Hypocrites cast upon the service of God of whom the Prophet Malachy speaketh Mal. 3.14 Ye have said it is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his Ordinance What profit in this service Nay what profit is there in all other things besides it As for the service which men do unto this world how unprofitable What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the Sun saith the Preacher Eccl. 1.3 3.9 Whatever he thereby gets at the grave it leaveth him But so do not good works they follow the doers of them Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them Rev. 14.13 follow them to Heaven where they shall receive the reward of them Thus do men by doing of good works lay up in store for themselves a good foundation for the time to come so as they may lay hold on eternal life as the Apostle hath it 1 Tim. 6.19 Not that Christians may so build upon their good works as Papists do expecting to receive eternal life by way of merit for them this is a rotten foundation but yet they may make these a ground or argument of their hope which they have of eternal life in regard of the gracious promise which God hath made to those that practice them who thus sowing to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting as the Apostle hath it Gal. 6.8 This is their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Recompence of reward which they may assuredly expect after they have done their work And this let all the Lords people continually have in their eye as Moses is said to have had Heb. 11.26 setting it before them This will be as fewel to this fire useful for the continuing and keeping in of this holy fervour in the soul Which being thus kept in now in the next place as occasion is let us make use of it So did the Priests of their holy fire which when ever they were to sacrifice or offer Incense they took from the Altar The like do we in all the services which we do to or for God in every good work that we do make use of this fire make use of our zeal Cold services yield but cold comfort and shall find but cold acceptance Cold prayers bespeak their own denial Qui frigidè rogat And cold Charity must expect but a cold reward And therefore whatever service we do do it in a zealous way with inward fervour of soul Being fervent in Spirit serving the Lord as the Apostle puts them together Rom. 12.11 In Duties of Piety Thus perform we duties of Piety Thus Pray bringing fire in our Censers without which the smoke of our Incense will never ascend up to Heaven The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much saith St. James Jam. 5.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not a faint languid prayer made in a formal and perfunctory way which is no other but lip-labour but a devout a zealous prayer Such let our prayers be Remember still to put fire under the Incense And so in our hearing and receiving of the Sacrament see that we perform not these duties in a formal and
Doctrinal and Practical may be looked upon as Infirmities For such though we are not to comply with them by giving allowance to ought that is evil in them Paul giveth not place no not for an hour to those that brought false doctrines into the Churches as he tells his Galathians Gal. 2.5 And finding Peter complying too much with the Jewes in the observation of their then antiquated Ceremonies he there saith he withstood him to the face v. 11. which he did not only seemingly in outward shew and appearance as Jerom and some of the Greek Fathers there look upon it so construing the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but as Augustine determines it against Jerom betwixt whom there was a hot contest about it he did it in earnest for which the Text also is exprest noting that Peter was to be blamed Thus Christians are not to close and comply with others though brethren in that which is evil yet looking upon them as sinning not out of wilfulnesse but weaknesse now they are to deal gently with them so moderating their zeal that it may appear to be of the right kinde a true Christian zeal true heavenly fire not strange fire Nor yet in the third place Wild-fire Such may we call that zeal which wanteth either Knowledge or Discretion 1. Knowledge Such was that zeal which Paul took notice of in many of the Jewes I bear them record saith he that they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge Rom. 10.2 They had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a zeal of God for God being earnest in doing service to him I but this their zeal it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not according to knowledge they were not acquainted with the mind and will of God what he would have them to do They were ignorant of his righteousnesse as the next verse hath it of his way for the justifying of sinners viz. by faith in Christ through the imputation of his Righteousness his Active and Passive obedience unto them And hereupon it was that they went about as it there followeth to establish their own righteousness they were zealous about their Legal observances as hoping thereby to be justified before God And so as he goeth on submitted not themselves to the righteousnesse of God not putting themselves upon that way which God had laid out for the justifying of sinners which is by and through faith in Christ And such is the zeal of many they bear a good affection unto God and seem it may be to be very zealous for him but alas their zeal is not according to knowledge no other but a Blind zeal Such was the zeal of the Pharisees of whom our Saviour giveth that character to his Disciples Mat. 15.14 They be blind leaders of the blind Being though great Zelots yet ignorant of what the mind and will of God was And such Zelots may we meet with many in the Church of Rome at this day Very zealous they are in their devotions very devout in the worship and service of God yet withall grossely ignorant not knowing what it is that they do much less what God requires that they should do Only yielding up themselves to their Blinde guides their Priests as the Jewes did to the Pharisees to be led by them doing what they will have them to do And would to God there were none of this kind of zeal Blinde zeal to be found among our selves Whence is it that some are so observant of Dayes and Times as they are and others of some other formal observances which find no warrant in and from the word Surely the best construction that can be made of it is that which the Apostle made of the like in the Jewes They have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge A zeal they have but it is but blind zeal Such zeal be we aware of Before we be zealous about any matter be we sure that it is a good matter that it is according to the mind and will of God that so we may do what we do out of faith as I have before pressed it 2. And Secondly with this Knowledge joyn Discretion Such is true Christian zeal wise as well as warm Two things there were required in every Sacrifice under the Law Fire and Salt So much we may take notice of from that forecited Text Mark 9.49 Every one shall be salted with fire and every Sacrifice shall be salted with salt Fire and Salt were of common use in all their Sacrifices Two fitting Emblemes the one of Zeal the other of Discretion as they are not amiss by some looked upon Both which must concur in those spiritual sacrifices which Christians offer to their God Fire and Salt Zeal and Discretion Not the one severed from the other Not Discretion without Zeal which the worlds Politicians are commonly guilty of who in the service of God affect Discretion but care not for Zeal Nay they look upon these two as inconsistent things which cannot stand together Where Men become zealous now they think they pass the bounds of Discretion Nor yet Zeal without Discretion which serveth as a Bridle to a fiery metalled Horse for the guiding and ordering it directing how and where and when this zeal is to be exercised and put forth Which is not to be alike in all Cases A Wise Man puts not all his strength to what ever he goeth about to lift but proportions it according to the Weight of it And so ought Christians to do by their Zeal Zeal to be proportioned to occasions which in in greater matters ought to be greater in less lesser This fire as one saith of it writing upon the Text Taylor in Tit. it ought to be alwaies kept burning in the Soul as that fire did upon the Altar but in the use it must be proportioned according to the occasion Even as we keep fire on our hearths all the day long but inlarge or lessen it according to the uses which we have of it Even so are Christians to deal with their Zeal Being truly zealous for God carrying this fire in their hearts they are to proportion it to the uses they have of it Where some great good or evil is presented to them somewhat which tendeth much either to the honour or dishonour of God now they are to stir up this fire heighten their Zeal Herein imitating Elias who when he saw what horrid profanations there were among the people in forsaking the Covenant of their God throwing down his Altars and slaying his Prophets Now as himself declares it he was very Jealous or Zealous for the Lord his God 1 Kings 19.10.14 As also our blessed Saviour who when he saw his Fathers house made a den of Thieves the Temple so profaned as it was turned to an Exchange Now the Lamb turneth Lyon he taketh up the Whip in his hand driveth the Chapmen all out before him John 2.17 Thus in matters of great importance where the Glory of God or
the good of his Church is much concerned now blow up this fire stir vp this Zeal In causâ Dei meminem patientem esse oportet For Men to be patient in Gods cause where his honour lyeth at the stake it is no other than an irreligious stupidity But now in small and minutial matters here bound and bridle our Zeal A Wise Man will not call for a sword to kill a Fly or a Beetle to break an Egg. Zeal must be proportioned to the occasion Thus a Wise Man ordereth and manageth his Civil Affairs as the Psalmist hath it Psalm 112.5 A good Man will guide his affairs with discretion And so let Christians order their spiritual affairs proportioning their Zeal as Men do their fire not putting so much under a Pipkin as under a Caldron And thus moderating it as to the degree so also order it as to Time and Place and other Circumstances Specially having a regard allwaies to keep within the compass of our Calling This was that which made Peters Zeal Zeal to be ordered according to circumstances Not to exceed a mans Calling which he shewed for his Master in attempting his rescue to be inordinate and so justly reproveable in that he being a private person no waies authorized should draw his sword and make an assault upon the Officers as he did This indeed he did out of a zealous affection to his Master but yet this his Zeal being inordinate his Master instead of approving and commending of what he had done giveth him a check for it as we have the story Matthew 26.52 And such is the Zeal of those who ever they are that transgress the bounds and limits of their callings Be the Action it self never so good and their Intentions in doing it never so upright yet having no warrant from God mediate or immediate for which they do it cannot be approveable but reproveable Such had Phineas's Zeal for which we find him so highly commended Numbers 25.11 13. been had not he a Warrant from God which questionlesse he had for what he did His doing execution in that manner upon those Offenders slaying them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the very act of their wickednesse which he had no authority to do being a Priest and not a Civil Magistrate had not he had an extraordinary call here into it had been no better than Murder And therefore let not this or the like instances which we meet with be driven into president by any who have not the like Warrant See we that our fire be kept within our Chimny that our Zeal be bounded within the verge and compasse of our calling Thus see that this fire be neither strange fire nor wild-fire that our Zeal be right for the kinde of it A Zeal of God and then rightly guided and ordered in the exercise of it as by Knowledge so by Discretion Which being now know we what was before said that there is nothing more acceptable to God or profitable to our selves And thus have I now at length through a gracious conduct passed through this portion of Scripture wherein I confess my self and you have been detained longer than I made account of when I first entered upon it But so as I hope neither of us shall have cause to repent this our staying where we have found such free and liberal entertainment there being so many precious and important truths here held forth unto us as I do not well know where in one verse throughout the Scriptures to meet with more Now that God who hath given this seed to the Sower vouchsafe to water it in the furrows of your hearts with the dew of heaven the efficacious influence of his Grace and Spirit that so what hath been sowen in weaknesse may rise in power bringing forth in every of you those blessed fruits the fruits of Holinesse and Righteousness which may be by Iesus Christ to the praise and glory of God To the great God and our Saviour Iesus Christ who hath given himself for us to Redeem us from all iniquity c. be praise honour and glory now and for ever Amen FINIS THREE LINKS OF A GOLDEN CHAIN OR Three of the Principal Causes of Mans Salvation Viz. God giving his Elect unto Christ their Coming unto him his Receiving of them Doctrinally Opened AND Practically Applied As it was lately delivered unto the Church of God at Great Yarmouth By JOHN BRINSLEY Minister of the Gospel there Luk. 14.17 Come for all things are now ready London Printed by S. Griffin for Richard Tomlins and are to be sold at the Sign of the Bible in Pye-Corner 1659. To all that call upon the name of Jesus Christ in the Town of Great Yarmouth Dearly beloved of the Lord THis Text being by an unknown hand put into mine with an earnest request that I would in publick handle the latter part of it I not knowing what providence there might be in this Motion nor yet where to pitch upon a more useful Subject undertook the whole Verse which having passed through in the audience of some of you I do now present to the view of you all Whereunto I have been induced as for the furtherance of your faith by pressing and directing that greatest of Christian duties your coming unto Jesus Christ so for the confirming and establishing of you in the truth against some of those Errors of the Times which having unhappily prevailed in some other places begin also to creep in amongst you I mean those of the Universalists and Free-willers as they are vulgarly called Against these as I have heretofore and that through Grace not without some successe done against some other I have here having a just occasion for it from the Text born witnesse And to this I shall desire you to hearken that so you may not be carried away with this wind of Doctrine So I presume to call that Doctrine which is so much cried up at this day by some and those not a few who understand it not the Doctrine of Universal Redemption A Doctrine at the first hearing very plausible to vulgar apprehensions none more whilest it pretendeth to elevate to lift up and magnifie the Grace of God and Merit of Christ by such a boundlesse enlarging of them But upon stricter examen it will be found guilty of what it is here charged with of Elevating this Grace Quì statuunt Christum non magis pro iis qui salvantur quà m pro iis qui pereunt mortuum esse quanquà m videntur extendere meritum Christi reipsâ tamen id adeò imminuunt ut omnino nihil ipsi relinquunt quod meritus sit Joh. Cocceins de Foedere Cap. 90. Sec. 163. and this Merit in another sense derogating from them and extenuating of them Vpon which besides many other just grounds let me perswade you to be wary how you hearken to it or give entertainment to those that bring it Is it not enough for you or any other what is
too frequent but wherever it is found most unnatural a shame to Heathens much more to Christians who looking upon their children as given them of God are not to cast them out not to leave them as the Ostrich doth her eggs in the sand forgetting that the foot may crush them or that the wild beast may break them as the careless nature of that creature is described Iob 39.14 15. but to take care of them for their education and subsistance providing for them necessaries and conveniences specially if they be such as come unto them in the way of submissive obedience What to be done to those that are disobedient Obj. But what if they cast off their Parents Ans Why yet both Nature and Religion obligeth the Parent not wholly to cast off them but to look after them as David did after his Absolom seeking their return to them Which if they shall find then are they to receive them So did the Father of the Prodigal of whom the Parable tells us When he was afar off his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him Luk. 15.20 Such affections should there be in natural Parents to their children Being given to them by God and coming to them they are not to cast them out Yet one word more Christians in all things to comply with the will of their heavenly Father and that for all Christians who have here also a pattern for their imitation teaching them in all things to comply with the will of their heavenly Father This let them do in regard of their outward temporal estates Being confidently assured of what our Saviour here saith that All that their Father giveth them shall come unto them things shall come to pass according to his all-disposing providence Resting contented with what he giveth them let them quietly and contentedly submit thereunto Only serving that providence in the use of lawful meanes let them accept what he giveth them reacheth forth to them resting contented with their Fathers portion Not greedily scraping and gathering they care not in what way by what meanes so laying hold upon that which God never gave them A point which Musculus writing upon this Text applyeth in a particular way to the Kings and Princes of the earth Applyed in special to the Rulers of the world Et utinam Principes nostri dictum hoc Christi usurparent ac verâ fide quisque ipsorum diceret Omne quod dat mihi Pater ad me veniet ut modus esset bellorumistorum quibus inter se dilatandis regnorum suorum pomaeriis tumultuantur orbem coedibus replent Musc Com. in Text. for whom he wisheth that they would all make use of these words saying with themselves what their Saviour here doth that All that their Father giveth them shall come unto them And thereupon rest contented with what they have putting up the sword into the sheath not seeking the enlargement of their Territories and Dominions as too often they do whereby they set the world on fire filling it with confusion and blood In general to all Christians And what he saith to them in special let me say unto all Christians in general wishing that every of them would make the like use of these words each one saying within himself Whatever my Father giveth me shall come unto me What portion my Father allotteth me I shall have and so rest contented therewith be it more or less This Doctrine how abused by covetous persons Cavendum verò ne animus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 avaritiae suae ac 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praetextum ex hoc loco colligat dicens Quicquid ad me venerit non ejicio foras Musc ibid. And making such use of the former part of this Text let them take heed of abusing the latter which covetous persons as Musculus notes upon it will be ready to do who hearing that all that the Father giveth them shall come to them they thereupon resolve to get what they can but to part with as little as they may No that which cometh unto them they will in no wise cast out This was Nabals resolution when Davids messengers came to him for some relief for their Master in his straits what saith he Shall I then take my bread and my water and my flesh which I have killed for my shearers and give it unto men whom I know not whence they be 1 Sam. 25.11 Such Nabals there are too many every where whose resolution is Men not to cast out their estates by wasting of them Christianus certe dona Dei non temere abjiciet ut etiam hîc dicere queat Quicquid ad me venerit non ejicio fords Idem ibid. Interea tamen illa ex fide ergà Deum in usus necessarios tà m proximi quà m suos dispensabit contentusque illis â—rit qualia qualia sint Idem Christians to be contented with and thankful for their Fathers portion though not answerable to their desires whatever God giveth them not to cast it out in such a way True indeed as the same Author further noteth there is such a use which may lawfully and warrantably be made of these words viz. that those to whom God giveth estates they are not to cast them out by prodigal and luxurious spending and squandring of them but in a provident way to preserve them yet in the mean time what God calleth for either for pious or charitable uses let them not be unwilling to part with So was Abraham with his son whom God had given to him yet he was not unwilling to give him to him again In like manner are Christians to deal with their estates where God calleth for them they are not to withold them so resting contented with and thankful for their fathers portion Yea though happily it be not every wayes answerable to what they could desire It was a weakness in Abraham who in the want of one blessing a Son seemed to slight all other mercies When the Lord by way of encouragement said unto him Fear not Abram I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward he presently and passionately replies Lord God what wilt thou give me seeing I go childless Gen. 15.1 2. Let there not be the like murmuring or repining thought in any of the Lords people In the want of some one desired mercy let them not cast out all others by a slighting and undervaluing of what they have received What they have let them know it is that which their Father hath given them and so looking upon it as their fathers portion let them receive it contentedly thankfully Christians to comply with Gods will in their afflictions and sufferings And what they do as to mercies let them do the like also as to Crosses and Chastisements taking notice that whatever their Afflictions be they are no other than what their Father hath given them layed out for them let them quietly submit to them Herein also hath their blessed Lord and Saviour set them a pattern who however he deprecated that bitter cup which he saw coming towards him praying again and again that it might passe from him yet still he resolves his will into the will of his Father Neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt Math. 26.39 And again v. 42. O my Father if this Cup may not passe away from me thy will be done And afterwards when Peter drew his sword for his rescue he taketh him off declaring what his own resolution was The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Joh. 18.11 And herein let him be a pattern for us every of us Looking upon every Cup of affliction which is put into our hands as the Cup which our Father hath given to us let us not cast it out nor refuse to drink it Not seeking by any indirect and unlawful wayes and meanes to shut out or shake off whatever trials the Lord shall be pleased to exercise us with but quietly and contentedly submit to his dispensations both in regard of the kind and measure and continuance not choosing our own rod but in all submitting to the will of our heavenly Father Thus suffering in an obediential way as our blessed Saviour did now may we comfortably expect the like issue that he had even a gracious supportation under it and a happy deliverance out of it FINIS