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B02982
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Holy zeal against sin, shewn to be an acceptable and seasonable duty : in a sermon preached at Lyme Regis, in the County of Dorset, Sept. 4th. 1700. At a quarterly lecture appointed for the promoting the Reformation of Manners. / By J. E. Minister of the Gospel.
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J. E.
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1700
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Wing E14B; ESTC R174804
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21,249
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Sin And was it in the Sinner's power as it is in his will Psal 14.1 there should be no God to punish him for his sin Now this being the nature and tendency of Sin who that hath any concern for God's glory who that hath any true zeal for God can chuse but have an abhorrence of it By Sin God's glory is eclipsed and sullied his very being and government are opposed and slighted those persons therefore that are zealous for God must needs have a holy indignation against Sin 3. It imports a diligent endeavour to suppress Sin Activity and Zeal go always together The active Christian and the zealous Christian are never separated Zeal in Scripture is opposed to laziness indifferency lukewarmness Rev. 3.16 20. It is of the nature of Zeal to be fervent and to make persons vigorous and active wherever it is Jehu being zealous was very active in his way And so was Phinehas the Instance of my Text he was very active in suppressing vice and executing â—â—…dgment upon the Sinners And where the is true zeal for God against Sin it will make persons in their respective places to appear against it and endeavour to suppress it This briefly for the first general what it is to be zealous for God and what it imports I come Secondly to prove that it is a duty very pleasing unto God That it is a duty is plain from Scripture Precept and Precedent both lay an obligation on 〈◊〉 to be zealous for God 1. Scripture-Precept Unless we break Godâ—â—… bands asunder and cast away his cords from us and so act like those wicked ones Psal 2.3 we must resolve to comply with this duty because by Precept we are injoyned to be zealous for God against Sin The Scripture requires us to be zealously affected in a good thing Gal. 4.18 And what better thing can a person be imployed in than iâ—… endeavouring to suppress vice whereby God iâ—… dishonoured in the world Without compliant with this duty we cannot answer one great end 〈◊〉 Christ's Redemption who gave himself for us the he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie 〈◊〉 himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tâ—â—… 2.14 It is one end of Christ's Redemption thâ—… we might be zealous of good works and amoâ—â—… good works this of Reformation the reforming of Sinners is none of the least It is a foul blot in Laodicea's character that 〈◊〉 had no heart to restrain evil-doers 'T is mentioned to the praise of the Church of Ephesus thâ—… he could not bear with them that were evil Rev. 2. â—… But as for Laodicea she was lukewarm neither not nor cold very indifferent as to this matter and therefore God threatens to spue her out of his mouth Rev. 3.15 16. and to prevent this judgment calls on her to be zealous and repent v. 19. If therefore God's call his command and injunction have any weight with us it is our duty to shew our selves zealous against sin We are obliged thereto by Precept 2. Scripture-Precedent does oblige to it We are bid to follow the footsteps of the flock Can. 1.8 And to be followers of the Saints wherein they are followers of God Phil. 3.17 Eph. 5.1 Now 't is recorded to the everlasting praise and commendation of the Saints many of them how eminently zealous they were in their days for God against vice This was the commendation of David Jehoshaphat Hezekiah and Josiah Kings of Judah that they set themselves against vice and zealously promoted a Reformation This was that which good Nehemiah took such comfort in when he had been reforming and cleansing the people and manifesting his zeal against the prophanation of the Sabbath said he Remember me O my God concerning this also and spare me according to the greatâ—…ess of thy mercy Neh. 13.15 22. Elijah also pleased his zeal before God 1 Kin. 19.10 14. I have â—…een very jealous or zealous for the Lord God of â—…osts for the children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant c. And to mention no more it was this â—…hat made Phinehas so famous to posterity and â—…ained him the Covenant of an everlasting Priesthood because he was zealous for his God because â—…e appeared boldly for God against sin and executed judgment on those presumptuous sinners â—…imri and Cosbi without having respect to their â—…ality and greatness notwithstanding Zimri was 〈◊〉 Son of a Prince and Cosbi was the Daughter of a chief House in Midian Num. 25.8 14 15. Thus if we look back to the Saints of old wâ—… find many instances recorded in Scripture of pesons zealous for God against vice It is therefoâ—â—… our duty to be so too that we may be like thâ—… people of God in old time That it is a duty very pleasing unto God mâ—… be demonstrated from divers particulars but 〈◊〉 present I shall keep to the instance of my Texâ—… and thence make it appear to be an acceptable â—â—…ty That Phinehas his zeal was very pleasing 〈◊〉 to God will evidently appear from the considerâ—… on of these two particulars both mentioned in 〈◊〉 Text and Context One is God's removing 〈◊〉 Plague from the Israelites thereupon The othâ—â—… his bestowing an everlasting Priesthood on Phinâ—… 1. God's removing the Plague from the Israelâ—â—… upon Phinehas his performing this duty is a plâ—â—… indication how acceptable his zeal was unto Gâ—… The Israelites having greatly corrupted themselâ—… by whoredom and idolatry God sent amoâ—… them a sweeping Plague which took away noâ—… than twenty four thousand Num. 25.9 Times of general debauchery are usually 〈◊〉 forerunners of some sore judgment Whateâ—… pretences men make to Loyalty to the Templâ—… the Lord to the Church and the like yet if thâ—… are debaucht persons they are some of the Nâ—…on's worst enemies These were the persons 〈◊〉 brought wrath upon Israel and caused Godâ—… send the Plague among them Now when God's judgments are abroad in 〈◊〉 earth the Inhabitants thereof should learn Rigâ—…teousness It should be so but what shall we say The wicked will do wickedly still Mercies 〈◊〉 Judgments they are all one to them they wâ—… be reclaimed Thus 't is in our days and 〈◊〉 't was in the days of old An instance whereof 〈◊〉 have in Zimri and Cosbi who notwithstandâ—â—â—… that dreadful judgment God sent on the peâ—… for their great wickedness went on still boldlyâ—… the same debaucht practices not being afraidâ—… commit lewdness in the face of the Sun But â—…nehas on the other hand was no less bold in Gâ—… cause in executing judgment for in a holy zâ—… he went forthwith to them and thrust them bâ—… through Which action of his was so pleasing 〈◊〉 to God that hereupon he stayed the Plague 〈◊〉 And he went to the man of Israel into the tent 〈◊〉 thrust them both through the man of Israel and 〈◊〉 woman through her belly and the plague was stayâ—… And if any should doubt whether 't was on the 〈◊〉 count of Phinehas his zeal that the
Holy Zeal against Sin SHEWN To be an Acceptable And Seasonable Duty IN A SERMON PREACHED At Lyme Regis IN THE County of DORSET Sept. 4th 1700. At a Quarterly Lecture appointed for the promoting the Reformation of Manners By J. E. Minister of the Gospel Gal. 4.8 It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing LONDON Printed by J. H. for the Author 1700. Num. XXV 12 13. part Behold I give unto him my Covenâ—… Peace and he shall have it and his after him even the Covenant of an eâ—…sting Priesthood because he was zeâ—… for his God IT is the observation of wise men that 〈◊〉 Age has some special duty belonging 〈◊〉 For the most part every Age brings with new turn of affairs and hence arise new Dâ—… I shall not go back to the days of old and enâ—… what was the special duty of our Forefathâ—… their time let it suffice to tell you that thâ—… sent duty of this generation and which Gâ—… his Providence calls us to seems to be the Refâ—…tion of Manners You need not be informed that vice is gâ—… rampant that prophaness and immorality â—… overrun our Land that swearing and sabâ—… breaking drunkenness and whoredom dâ—… much abound and walk in our Streets in somâ—…ces at noon-day it is too evident to be unobseâ—… So that we stand in great need of a Reformatioâ—… And we have a very fair opportunity for it â—… command and countenance both of King Parliament We have been told that in general Reforâ—…ons we should wait the Magistrates motionâ—… concurrence I will not dispute that now â—â—…ther it be universally true It is sufficient tâ—… will answer the present case we have thâ—… pream Magistrate's concurrence in this matteâ—â—… â—…he Honourable House of Commons the great â—…esentative body of the Nation have made a â—… pious Address to his Majesty desiring him â—…e out his Royal Proclamation commanding all â—…es Justices of the Peace and other Magistrates â—…t in speedy execution those good Laws that are â—…in force against Prophaness and Immorality 〈◊〉 to give due incouragement to all such as do 〈◊〉 duty therein â—…nd accordingly the King Our Gracious â—…reign whom God long preserve has issued 〈◊〉 his Proclamation wherein he strictly charâ—… all persons Judges Mayors Justices of the â—…e and all other Officers and Ministers both â—…esiastical and Civil and all other his Subjects â—…n it may concern to be very vigilant and strict â—…he discovery and prosecution of all persons who 〈◊〉 be guilty of Excessive drinking Blasphemy 〈◊〉 hane Swearing and Cursing Lewdness Prophaâ—… on of the Lord's day or other dissolute immoral â—…isorderly practices as they will answer it to â—…ighty God and upon pain of the King 's highest â—…easure 〈◊〉 that now we have a loud call in the proâ—…nce of God to apply our selves to this work Reformation Now is a time for the Pious 〈◊〉 Sober for all that are on God's side to shew â—…r Zeal against Vice to shew themselves Zealous â—…heir God â—…hat I might incourage so good a work and 〈◊〉 note the Reformation already begun in many â—…s of this Kingdom I thought it not amiss â—…ropose to your consideration the above Text. â—…ich shews how acceptable to Almighty God 〈◊〉 Zeal of Phinehas was in executing judgment on Zimri and Cosbi two debaucht persons â—… tells him that as a reward of his Zeal he shâ—… have confirm'd to him an everlasting Priesthâ—… Behold I give unto him my Covenant of Peace â—… That you may see the Occasion and Scopâ—… these words I shall give you in brief the hiâ—… of the matter The Israelites being comâ—… their wilderness march to the plains of Mâ—… Balak King of Moab sent to Balaam a 〈◊〉 Soothsayer in those parts to come and curse tâ—… But Balaam being able to do nothing agâ—… Israel with all his Enchantments whilst Israelâ—… faithful unto his God whilst God beheld no iniâ—… in Jacob as Balaam expresseth it Num. 23.21 This wicked Prophet therefore advised Balaâ—… insnare them into Sin well knowing that sin wâ—… provoke the displeasure of the Almighty agâ—… them who was their protection and so wâ—… make them fall an easy prey unto their Enemiâ—… By the way note That nothing tends moâ—â—… rob a people or nation of its strength and glory 〈◊〉 to expose them to contempt and ruine than Sin 〈◊〉 Therefore those that are Zealous in the worâ—… Reformation are some of the Nation 's best frieâ—… It is the Interest of Princes to incourage such 〈◊〉 sons It is some of the best state-policy in 〈◊〉 world to give check to growing Impiety anâ—… encourage the Vertuous For Righteousness exâ—… eth a Nation but Sin is a reproach unto any peâ—… Prov. 20.14 34. This was the Observation Solomon the wisest of Men and the greatesâ—… Kings But this by the bye Balaam that crafty Diviner and Prophet well skill'd in these Politicks And therefore Moses takes notice of it Num. 31.15 16. hâ—… Balak to insnare Israel by their Women And were insnared first to Whoredom and â—…o Idolatry as you read in the two first Verses â—…e Chapter of my Text. Num. 25.1 2. And abode in Shittim and the people begun to commit â—â—…dom with the daughters of Moab And they 〈◊〉 the people unto the Sacrifices of their Gods â—…he people did eat and bowed down to their Gods â—…ow God was so displeased with these abominaâ—…ractices that he sent a destructive plague aâ—…g them which swept away many thousands â—â—…em And he commanded Moses to execute â—â—â—…ent upon the transgressors v. 3 4. Moses having received this commandement 〈◊〉 the Lord gave order to the Judges the â—…nty that were chosen to assist him in the Goâ—…ment to slay every one his men those unâ—…charge as many of them as were guilty v. 5. â—…ow in the interim before this command was â—…n Execution comes one of the Israelites named â—â—…ri and brings unto his Brethren a Midianitish â—â—…han in the sight of Moses and the Congregatiâ—â—… so bold and impudent was he in his sin v. 6. â—â—…ereupon Phinehas in a holy Zeal takes a â—â—…elin in his hand goes to their Tent and thrusts â—…n both through the Man of Israel and the â—â—…man through her belly and so the plague was â—â—…ed v. 7 8. â—…hether Phinehas did this in the person of a â—â—…gistrate and as one of those Judges that were â—â—â—…ered by Moses to slay these transgressors v. 5. 〈◊〉 whether he did as a Private person being moved â—â—…reto by some Speical direction and motion of â—â—…d's spirit and so there was something extraorâ—â—â—…ary in the action It is not material at present to determine For either way it is no warrant fâ—â—… private persons in ordinary cases to take upoâ—… them the Execution of Justice That which at present I would note to you 〈◊〉 Phinehas his zeal and fervour against Sin which 〈◊〉 manifested by that action Which zeal of 〈◊〉 was so pleasing to God that he testified his higâ—… approbation of it not only by