helper dwell safe by you You are governours for the protection of well-doers 1 Pet. 2. 14. Let it be free for men whose heart is to their work the work of the Lord in preaching praying and in all the offices of the house of the Lord to serve the Lord in the liberty of Christ without feare or snare Say of all such as Cyrus The God of heaven be with them Ezra 1. 3. that they may without hindrance pray for the life of the King and his sonnes and those be cut off that trouble them as was Darius his decree that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven and pray for the life of the King and his sonnes Also I make a decree that whosoever shall alter this word let timber be pulled downe from his house and being set up let him be hanged thereon and let his house be made a dunghill for this and the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Ierusalem Ezra 6. 10 11 12. The properties of this zeale shewing in part the manner and nature of it 1 It is personall David saith My zeale hath eaten up me a man should be himself a good instance for zeal not thinking it enough others to work and he be idle others to study stand up and speake and he to sleepe sit still and say nothing for the house of God Let a man be exemplary in himselfe in his family his children his servants his followers that as they say of love they may say of zeale your zeale begins at home Let there be admonition and instruction in the words of the Lord let there be discipline and orderly walking This was Davids zeale heare him I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes I hate the work of them that turn aside it shall not cleave to me a froward heart shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person Psal. 101. 3. 4. Let every man be a burnt offering unto the Lord let zeale eat up all corrupt affections in us consume our sinnes and inflame our hearts toward him Rom. 12. 1. 2 It is celestiall it is fire from heaven it is not from the earth it is divine from Gods Spirit not from angered nature or hellish metall set on fire of hell but it is a supernaturall work to have such raised affection and fervent mind for the house of the Lord it is the Holy Ghost baptizeth with this fire Mat. 3. 11. Mens persons and actions will not relish till they be salted with the fire of heavenly doctrine Every one shall be salted with fire Mar. 9. 49. 3 It is regular guided by rule zeale is bold but not blind it is not rash or indiscreet but wisely discerning things that differ There is great odds betweene sinnes and sinnes sinners and sinners one errour and another one time and another Zeale graceth knowledge and knowledge guideth zeale men fervent in spirit had need be prudent and wise in heart It is Gods Word is zeales rule according unto that cast out every evill in the temple and by that make every pin for thetabernacle Thus Moses was admonished Heb. 8. 5. This Iudah missed Rom. 10. 2. 4 It is impartiall a zeale that layeth aside all partiall affection or respect of persons great or small King or people kinsman or countrey-man it will doe right to all without doing a friend a pleasure or a foe a spite Asa did a little to his mother but very lamely he removed her from being Queene because she had made an idoll in a grove 2 Chron. 15. 16. He did not as was covenanted that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death whether small or great whether man or woman v. 13. Minde how Levi impartiall in zeale recovered his honour is renowned and hath a blessing on him who said unto his father and to his mother I have not seene him neither did he acknowledge his brethren nor knew his own children for they have observed thy word and kept thy covenant Deut. 33. 9. 5 It is superlative in power it overcomes great discouragements as Calebs spirit not afraid of Gyants the children of Anak he fully followed the Lord laboured to still the tumultuous and stay the faint-hearted people for he had another spirit with him Num. 14. 24. Moses was a man whose mind was elevated in the Church-cause above honour he refused it Heb. 11. 24. above pleasure which he chose not v. 25. above riches and treasures which he esteemed not v. 26. above favours or feares of mortall man he saw the invisible God v. 27. It is resolute in holy undertakings walks in wayes of good conscience with lion-like courage it spares no Agag as Saul did but hewes him in peeces as Samuel did 1 Sam. 15. 33. It will not be over-powered with wealth worship learning or greatnesse jealousie is cruell as the grave the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drowne it if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would utterly be contemned neither waters of adversity and feare of punishment nor favours of the world and hopes of preferment can stop zeales mouth it cannot be quenched it will not be bribed Cant. 8. 6 7. 6 It is constant zeal is a fire should never go out but from a sparke increaseth to a most vehement flame it forgetteth those things which are behind and reacheth forth unto those things which are before it presseth forward is not declining You that began well spake well wrought well draw not back grow not weary decay not in zeale as it is good to be righteous still and holy still so it is good to be alwayes zealous till the sons of Levi be purified and the ungodly be no more till errors be abandoned or buried and superstitions abolished till truth be established Christs government erected til all the work about the house of the Lord be finished in every speech in every project in every dayes work let zeale be in you Gal. 4. 18. The meanes for this Zeal to maintaine this heavenly sire so necessary in all the services of the Sanctuary Avoid as quench-coales 1 Vanity of speculation shun vaine janglings and contentions which edifie not in faith and obedience Paul would have men charged before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit but to the subverting of the hearers 2 Tim. 2. 14. and to avoid foolish and unlearned questions v. 23. It is ill spent time and zeale that is spent this way These evaporations hinder the inward zeale and warmth of heart in the truth after godlinesse 2 Vaine companions to be familiar with cold or luke-warm men chils men Vaine society decayed the love of Manna it was the
as their peace-offerings it was wholly the Lords so the zeale of Gods house burnt up David he was fully for it The words shew a pious mans study He is zealous 1 In the object and matter of it Gods house 2 In the effect and nature of it it eats him up A man thorowly religious is truly zealous for Gods Church Witnesse David a figure of Christ and Christ the Sonne of David of whom it is written and the Disciples remembred it was written The zeale of thy house hath eaten mee up Iohn 2. 17. Zealous in removing according as God hath called and enabled every man in purging out and opposing with depth of detestation what is corrupt and contrary to Gods will and prejudiciall to his glory revenging his dishonour Thus Iesus found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheepe and doves and the changers of money sitting and when he had made a scourge of small cords he drove them all out of the temple and the sheepe and the oxen and powred out the changers money and overthrew the tables and said unto them that sold doves Take these things hence make not my fathers house an house of merchandise Iohn 2. 14 15 16. A most heroicall act of Christ beholding the Temple most corrupt Verse 14. Hee swept the house Verse 15. moved with the great care and zeale of his fathers house Verse 16. Persons to bee removed as enemies to Christ men of false callings not warranted of God pretending divine right which cannot bee demonstrated out of his Word Men to be dealt withall as polluted priests these sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogie but they were not found therfore were they as polluted put from the priesthood Ezra 2. 62. Let them bee dealt withall as God would have it For the wickednesse of their doings I will drive them out of my house Hosea 9. 15. Idolatrous priests were no more to minister in the Priests office Men that once prosessed themselves for God who fell to idols and by their example and counsell caused others to fall to sinne should beare their shame their sinne but never come neare God in their office any more as it is recorded in the Prophet because they the Levites gone away farre from God ministred unto them before their idols and as stumbling-blockes caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity therefore have I lift up my hand against them saith the Lord God and they shall beare their iniquity and they shall not come neare unto mee to doe the office of a Priest unto me nor come neere unto any of my holy things in the most holy place but they shall beare their shame and their abominations which they have committed Ezekiel 44. 12 13. After this manner did renowned Nehemiah cleansed the chambers and chased out the wicked corrupters who relates it thus I understood of the evill that Eliashib did for Tobiah in preparing him a chamber in the Courts of the house of God Nehemiah 13. 7. And it grieved me sore therefore I cast forth all the houshold-stuffe of Tobiah out of the chamber Verse 8. Then I commanded and they cleansed the chambers Verse 9. And one of the sonnes of Iojada the sonne of Eliashib the High Priest was sonne in law to Sanballat the Horonite therefore I chased him from mee Verse 28. It is to be provided that holy things may be kept from profanation Give not that which is holy unto dogs neither cast ye your pearles before swine lest they trample them under feet and turne againe and rent you Matth. 7. 6. Aime at conformity with that new Ierusalem on earth into which there shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie Revel. 21. 27. Men are to be without that be not fit for a congregation of the Lords people but the blemish of our Church For without are dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie Vers. 22. Doctrines to be opposed unsound and corrupt doctrines be hatefull and to be hated This was good in languishing Ephesus she hated poysonfull doctrines Christ saith This thou hast thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans which I also hate Revel. 2. 6. Thou hast tried them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them liers in regard of their errors and false doctrine Vers. 2. Doctrines that oppose Gods free grace as if it were no grace Rom. 11. 6. which exalt mans free-will as if God did not worke the will Phil. 2. 13. which teach the apostasie of Saints Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. and others like vented and printed are not to be permitted Thyatira was checked for such a permission Christ will have no such toleration I saith hee have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that woman Iezabel which calleth her selfe a prophetesse to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols Revel. 2. 20. Christians are to avoid what is contrary to or besides the doctrine of Christ as very offensive and the cause of divisions and offences The Doctor of the Gentiles told the Romans how to marke them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them Rom. 16. 17. Worship to be purged out What is false superstitious idolatrous spirituall adulteries adoration of creatures Altars worshipping wood images and names the images of things invocation of Saints praying about and for the dead and all other appearances and practices of evill Gods jealousie is against image-making or any likenesse to adore bow to or serve Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likenesse of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth thou shalt not bow downe thy selfe to them nor serve them for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me Exod. 20. 45. Where is forbid To make an image for religious worship To worship it In all idolatry the divell is worshipped The things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to divels and not to God 1 Cor. 10. 20. Should not all fellowship with divels be detested and renounced I would not that ye should have fellowship with divels To worship before a thing with reference to a thing is to worship that thing To worship before me Luk. 4. 7. is to worship me Matth. 4. 9. The children are to plead with their mother to put away her idolatries and it is no more than duty to do it Plead with your mother plead she onely is faulty for she is not my wife neither am I her husband Let her therefore put
mixt multitude in Israel which was not of Israel who fell a lusting that brought Israel to lament after the Egyptians flesh Cucumbers Melons Leeks Onions and Garlicke but Manna was looked on as course fare Numb. 11. 4 5 6. Who can be zealous for truth and familiar with the erroneous for pure worship and yet go hand in hand with the superstitious What got Peter in the high Priests hall More inward cold and cowardlinesse than outward warmth by the fire because where iniquity doth abound love of many will waxe cold Mat. 24. 12. 3 Spirituall satiety when men have fulnesse all is well with them poore preaching seldome preaching no preaching contents them Superstitions and inventions of men go downe with them as comely and decent things that when some cry for the Word of God and the wayes and lawes of Christ unknown to them they wonder what they lacke what they would have what they meane darknesse and error be not distinct with them from light and truth this conceipt of all being well brought Laodicea to be luke-warm Thou sayest I have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art poore Rev. 3. 17. 4 Carnall policy feares carnall and sinfull sloth in men hinders their activenesse when men have it in their hands to cast out all evill in the house of the Lord and remove wickednesse from the city of our God that the Canaanite shall no more dwell there then policy overcomes piety and sloth decayes mens might as in Israel it came to passe when Israel was strong that they put the Canaanites to tribute and did not utterly drive them out Iud. 1. v. 28. which brought them under the oppressions of Iabin King of Canaan twenty yeeres Iudg. 4. 2 3. Wherefore whosoever desires to be truly zealous shun vaine speculations and vaine companions beware of spirituall satiety and carnall policy the enemies of zeale II. Provide and minde what zeale needs to keep in this holy fire in the coldest times provide for your firing 1 Gods Spirit works this warmth of affection in the heart By this Spirit Christ comes to be refiners fire where he makes any zealous he gives them his Spirit which baptizeth with fire of pious affection nature doth not bring it forth it is from above by the Holy Ghost is this fire Mat. 3. 11. 2 The Word of God lively taught is a fire to heat mens hearts Ier. 23. 29. Is not my word a fire It is fire in the mouth of Gods messengers Men that need heat must mind this to preserve and increase zeale Great care must be had to enjoy Preachers whose lips are touched with a coale taken from Gods Altar Isa. 6. 67. They who preach the Word of God remissely and coldly as they be cold they leave their hearers cold cold preaching makes cold people Men under such luke-warmnesse in Preachers are daily more cold and come to be hardened by a spirituall frost and zeale perisheth and where vision faileth the people are made naked cold lame and benummed Pro. 29. 18. 3 Zealous company is a live coale to set others on fire one will warme another I onely take in the Preachers phrase If two lie together then they have heat but how can one be warme alone Eccl. 4. 11. When some want fire they fetch then a coale at their neighbours Godly men provoke on another to love and good works Heb. 10. 24. and doe sharpen one another Iron sharpeneth iron so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend Pro. 27. 17. 4 Prayer to God whose Spirit is fire powre out your hearts to the God of heaven for this zeale as Iabez 1 Chro. 4. 10. O that thou wouldest blesse me indeed and inlarge my coast and God granted him his request Put up one petition for zeale for this fire to be kindled on thy haith in thee that the bredth of thy spirit may not be straitned by any coldnes or freezing the duty is quench not the spirit 1 Thes. 5. 19. the mean is pray without ceasing vers. 17. The motives to zeal to excite men to be zealous In regard of God 1 God commands it he requires it we may not deny it he will have it under paine of disobedience to the highest Majesty we may not neglect it his command is the argument of conscience Be zealous Rev. 3. 19. should ye not obey him will ye reject his Word It is God it is God cals on you for zeal for his house it is he saith the mind according to my mind must be as I command zealous 2 God is zealous a jealous God against spirituall fornication 1 in generall all sin a going a whoring from him 2 in speciall idolatry superstition this is hatefull to him Exod. 20. 5. I am a jealous God he will not spare in the day of vengeance when the time of recompence is come he regards not broken wedlock Which my covenant they continued not in and I regarded them not saith the Lord Heb. 8. 9. Your Zeal in taking away defacing every whorish thing every provocation may prevent Gods jealousie that it burn not like fire that none can quench it weigh it in your hearts and the Lord stirre your spirits within you that we may find such a fruit of your zeale that we feel not his fury 3 God ardently loves Zion his Church and the welfare of it Thus saith the Lord of hosts I was jealous for Zion with great jealousie and I was jealous for her with great fury Zech. 8. 2. When you heare God is zealous may not you be zealous Will not you be zealous God is with you in this work of Zion he is ingaged for his sons throne and will establish it he hath set the government upon his shoulder he hath promised all shal be ordered with justice and judgement and his zeale will performe it Isay 9 67. are you to minde and mend the Ministery he is with you Are you zealous for the truth of the Gospell so is he Are you fervent that God may be worshipped according to his own heart he is more abundant May it not embolden any man when it may be truly said to him in his way in his work for Zion The Lord is with thee thou valiant man Go on in your might that you may save our Israel and build up Zion 4 God promiseth most familiar communion with the zealous which should perswade to this zeale he who stomacks the luke-warme loves the zealous and saith he will come in to him and sup with him and he with Christ Christ suppes with us in cheering and delighting himselfe with his owne graces and gifts of his Spirit bestowed on us as one that eats sweet and pleasant meat We sup with Christ when we communicate in all the cates and spirituall delicates of Christ as they that sup together partake in bodily food Would you meet with Christ in his ordinances or be welcomed by him in his house Be zealous lose not such a
presence by our luke-warmnesse and such communion for lack of zeale Rev. 3. 20. In regard of the Church 1 The wall of the vineyard is downe the hedge is full of gaps any beast or Boare may get in it is eaten up it is troden downe it is laid wast in many places over-spread with woods it wants rain hath clouds without raine the hedge corporall helpe without good Lawes good Magistrates the wall a spirituall defence inward as godly Ministers true discipline clouds without raine over it Ministers which make a faire shew and yet are wels without water only barren without goodnesse in their Ministery no refreshing to the vineyard Isa. 5. 56. doth it not pertain to you Men sought out among men to make up the hedge and to stand in the gap it is fallen into the hands of ill husbandmen they have made it desolate the Churches strength is small it is brought very low to it which is afflicted pitie should be shewed from its friends that Zion may be raised off the ground out of dust 2 It is very corrupt in many things in persons vitious the wicked walk on every side and the vilest men are exalted promoted In doctrines how many speake strange things perverse things contrary to the doctrine of Christ In discipline how many eat the sinnes of the people and grow fat by the vertues of the people that Gods house is for such merchandise in corrupt courts made a den of theeves Matth. 21. 12 13. In the worship of God men in most places have set up calves as once in Moses absence Israel did Exod. 32. 4. and all while men slept and wanted zeale while you see these things Let your anger with Moses waxe hot vers. 19. downe with all calves burne them in the fire grinde them to powder to be utterly abolished vers. 20. 3 It is the house of God David saith thy house It is the spouse of Christ maried to Christ for ever Whose bowels yern not to see Christs spouse in the dust O for Zion sake the Zion of the holy one of Israel hold not your peace David tels us his love to Ierusalem because of the house of the Lord our God Psa. 122. 9. what you do for his house you do for him to him It is storied as a worthy act of a religious heart in Terentius a captaine under the Emperour Valens who having done some speciall service for which the Emperour thought him worthy of a recompence and being thereupon willed by him to demand what he would presented this petition That the true Christians might have the liberty of a Church by themselves wherein to worship God apart from the Arrians whose heresie had then spread it self exceedingly The Emperor reading his supplication was much displeased tare it in peeces and threw it away Terentius modestly gathered up the pieces again professing to him that if he could not be heard in Gods cause he would make no suit for his own profit Show you your sincere and faithfull respect to the good and prosperous estate of Gods Church above all personall concernments be not put off with worldly profits peace and civill rights and liberties you have more transcendent matters the good of soules the liberty of consciences the meanes of grace the worship of God the kingdome of Christ the house of the Lord about this let your zeale have a most vehement flame In regard of men many things may kindle zeal Good mens examples they be all zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. and may you be cold pious men all pray for it as if it were a time of mercy for Zion they take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof Psal. 102. 13 14. and shall it not come into your mindes the martyrs of renowned zeale loved not their lives for the truth of Gods word which they did so affect Revel. 12. 11. and may not mens hearts now be fired for it Moses was a meeke man in his owne case but no Sheep in Gods cause he was angry and very hot against wicked doers Exod. 32. 19. shall men now bee pleased with the wicked Nehemiah was sad for it Nehem. 2. 3. Why should not my countenance be sad he fasted wept prayed 1. 4. shall men now not lay it to heart Phineas was zealous for God for his good in the matter of Zimri and Cozbi Numb. 25. 11. and is it a time to be lukewarme when there be many Zimries and Cozbies Paul was jealous for the Church 2 Cor. 11. 2. Shall these be the dayes to bring forth carelesse ones Godly men to remember Zion wept for its sad condition Psal. 137. 1. wee should as they never be comforted but with its comforts and welfare If I forget thee ô Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning if I doe not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chiefe joy verse 5 6. Bad men are great Zelots 1. To make many Proselytes to promote Antichrists power how doe they consult plot practise yea compasse sea and land to make one Proselyte Mat. 23. 15. Can they thus imploy their hearts heads and hands for that kingdome a kingdome of darknesse and who shall not will not be quickned for Christs Kingdome and his house 2. To bring downe the house of God perverting the Scriptures corrupting the worship of God suspending the servants of Christ ensnaring the Saints of God Who say of the name of Christ Down to it downe to it even to the ground but of the Church of Christ Down with it downe with it even to the ground old Edoms race Psal. 137. 7. Shall the lewd be thus against it and shall not any man that hath any spirit within him be moved for Zion is their worke better is their lord better is their wages better your worke your cause your conscience may more hearten you Mens conditions minded would quicken zeale The present condition of many under mens burdens impositions oppressions feares shares on every side as Moses went out to his brethren and looked on their burdens and spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew his zeale was kindled to endevor his brethrens liberty Exod. 2. 11 12. You have heard our cryes seene our burdens know our sorrowes you need not goe out to know this the other day you were interest in this the City cryes to you the Country complaines the Preachers be pleading before you the people praying to you as a way of mercy help help help us our consciences our peoples consciences be heavied be endangered ô passe not by us ô let it not be as nothing to you that the blessing of them that are ready to perish may come upon you deliver the poore that crieth and him that hath none to help that you may make our sad hearts sing for joy Vnder Satans power many are you would bee clad with zeale to consider as it deserves your
and therefore be left unread It was not so of old when Moses had in every city them that preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Acts 15. Vers. 21. 3 Prayer in the Holy Ghost as the Church is charged to pray Iude Vers. 20. customary formes of prayer removed would cause an unworthy unable and dumbe Ministerie to fall to the earth and continued bring most of men to rest in the iniquity of the last and perillous times a powerlesse forme of godlinesse to be shunned 2 Tim. 3.1 5. Christ who commends prayer according to the will of God condemneth vaine repetition in prayer Matth. 6. 7. Gods house is a house of prayer but not for chopping and changing Mat. 21. 12 13. Men for the Ministerie should be as studious in praying as preaching and give themselves to prayer and to the Ministery of the Word they had not the heart of them who rest in a prayer given to them Acts Chap. 6. Vers. 4. II. In the circumstance and externall form Let all things be done decently and in order not intending the inventing of any new thing but the performing of what Christ instituted in a manner come by and consentaneous to the dignity of holy ordinances of the Lord 1 Corinth 14. 40. And that is in that generall rule that all be done for time place and persons as is most to edification Verse 26. Thus the man thorowly religious will bee truly zealous for the Church of God in promoting in it persons materials for it Ministers qualified members sanctified doctrines true and wholesome worshippe pure and spirituall which beleeved as truth will helpe us both by Information and Exhortation I Zeale in and for true religion is a praise-worthy thing Was David zealous it may then become a royall spirit Was Christ our Saviour zealous it may become an heroicall spirit Albeit zeale is out of grace with most men who sit still and love to be at quiet rest yet it is no disgrace to any generous spirit that is regenerate to have the zeale of Gods house to eat him up It is a slander to call it folly Was not zealous David wiser than his teachers than his enemies than the aged Luke-warme men call it fury Gods Spirit names it a live-coale that hath a most vehement flame Why beares zeale the imputation of indiscretion rashnesse puritanisme or headinesse Was it Davids rashnesse It was fervency in religion Was Christ indiscreet The wisedome of his Father Festus called Paul mad with a lowd voice Acts 26. 24. when he spake but words of truth and sobernesse verse 25. Christs kinsmen thought he was beside himselfe Mar. 3. 21. Was the judgement of such solid men any disparagement to our Saviours zeal Nay it is a commendation to root out evill from and to establish good in the house of God is a good thing Gal. 4. 18. All a mans care who is religious indeed is not to be for civill affaires immunities and societies things in their order and measure to be minded David was zealous for Gods house for Zion as well as Ierusalem for religion as well as righteousnesse Mens spirits must be more stirred in them for the Church of Christ his house than their owne houses As many mens industry and activenesse is for great buildings great matches great house-keeping and their owne famous names their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever and their dwelling places to all generations Psal. 49. 11. but while they run every man to his owne house the house of God lieth wast Hag. 1. 9. A pious mans greatest care is that whatever become of him and his liberty credit or creature-comforts vile persons that speake villany may have their mouthes stopped the vaine and prophane persons that pollute the ordinances may be censured the doctrines of divels may be condemned the worship idolatrous and corrupt may be no more in the house of the Lord but be removed and cast out that Pastors after Gods owne heart may be established to feed the Lords flock that they that feare the Lord may dwell in his house that the truth of doctrine may be continued and confirmed among us that the purity of discipline a sacred way of promoting the Gospell without which all Christs Kingdome and Gospell is not received very necessary to the condition of the Church may be introduced that the instituted worship of God may be continued in his Church in a holy and spirituall manner without worthlesse and witlesse innovations and wicked inventions of men of corrupt mindes destitute of the truth that a man may say as David The zeale of thy house hath eaten me up thus those victorious martyrs were willing to lay down as not loving their lives for the word the truth which they held and beleeved Rev. 12. 11. 3 Men thorowly religious being truly zealous we learne It is irreligious to be luke-warme neuters time-servers indifferent men for all companies and religions middle-men betweene truth and errour betweene Christ and Antichrist between holinesse and profanenesse untrue in religion without love or zeale to God as was the luke-warme Angell of Laodicea Mixt worship is under a commination God will stretch out his hand upon them that sweare by the Lord and that sweare by Malcham Zeph. 1. 5. God abhorres mixtures now as much as then It is a defilement to sow a vineyard with divers seeds doctrines of Christ and traditions of men Saints and beleevers not mixt with scandalous infidels and idolaters Deut. 22. 9. But the pure worship kept from superstitions Men may not be linsey-woolsey professors not plow with an Oxe and an Asse those in the Lords plow must not be mixed of the clean and unclean labourers and loyterers of the servants of Christ and Antichrist Verse 10 11. Men may not be key-cold Gallioes in religion a deputy that would not meddle in such matters and cared for none of those things Acts 18. 12 17. This indifferency brings great judgements if men repent not it unchurches a people a Church by it may prove no Church it removes the candlestick and sets Mahomet where the candlestick stood Rev. 2. 5. Yea God abhorres lukewarmenesse as most loathsome he will spue them out of his mouth as Laodicea as the Historians testifie was swallowed up in an earth-quake we were near going in 88. neare a blow by the Powder-treason and how nigh was our trouble these two last yeares and Gods hand lift up as if there were with us but a sport as once Abners men and Ioabs to play Scots and English Ely his remisnesse in dealing with his sonnes an impure paire of Priests ruined his house 1 Sam. 2. Vers. 23 29 31. God is not pleased with neuters neither shall the luke-warme dwell in his presence In that a man thorowly religious is truly zealous for Gods Church Learne the viciousnesse of mens spirits and the naughtinesse of diverse sorts 1 Who blame zeale
mean ones have Christs Word dwell richly in them as many worthies of the Lord wandred in sheep skins and goat skins men here afflicted and destitute 6 Conspiring to hinder reformation of the house of the Lord If any good be undertaken for religion for holinesse pure worship or Christs government in his house with what opposition is it contraried Men are as of old full of wrath indignation and mockery as Sanballat and others conspired against Ierusalem to hinder the building of the wall and the stopping of the breaches Nehem. 4. v. 1 2 3 7 8. These men are zealously affected but not well as Gal. 4. 17. And shall be ashamed for their envy at the people Isay 26.11 Who are not ashamed of zeale for traditions ceremonies superstitions unnecessary burdensome which have proved of no use to edifie the Church but as nets snares and bands to intangle and cumber the children of God in their fathers house and service Paul was once zealous exceedingly for the traditions of his fathers Gal. 1. 14. How many have placed the beauty of holinesse and the glory of religion in things devised by men which can be no meane to sanctifie the worshippers How forward have many beene to contribute their best assistance unto forbidden vanity as they to idolatry The children gather wood the fathers kindle the fire and the women knead their dough to make cakes to the Queene of heaven and to powre out drink-offerings unto other gods Ier. 7. 18. Encouraging their fellowes in and to idolatry as those of old animated one another They helped every one his neighbour and every one said to his brother Be of good courage so the Carpenter encouraged the Gold-smith and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote with the anvill Thus superstitions have beene set up Isay 41. 67. Some with their tongues loud in Pulpits some with their pens allowed in Presses others with their commands forcible in their Courts and not a few forward and obsequious have set to their hand and all for superstitious vanities Few places be so happy as to be without some zealots in these things under well-liked names of decency and order to win credit to vile inventions Whereas in religion we must inquire who how good and great he is that requireth it and appoints it not as the divell turnes it into what and of what quality and how great and decent the thing injoyned is that we may know what to say when God examines our service Who required this at your hand Isa. 1. 12. Receive the words of exhortation all that be thorowly religious to be truly zealous Rest not in knowledge and good principles but be heated with good affection as well as taught With good light have good fire have grace with your knowledge and zeale with religion witty heads and zealous hearts as we are commanded Be zealous Revel. 3. 19. 1 The persons to be zealous 2 The properties of this zeale 3 The meanes for this zeale 4 The motives to this zeale 1 The persons to be zealous the word is spoken to a mixt assembly and is fit for all I would have none here sent away without fire 1 People must be zealous 2 Preachers 3 Magistrates 1 The people are to feed zeale Zeale is good among them It is good to be zealously affected Gal. 4. 18. 1 In taking the kingdome of heaven by violence as Israel tooke Canaan by a holy violence offered to the dulnesse of heart and by withstanding spirituall sloth removing all impediments in the way crowding in as in a great concourse pressing in and unto meanes of grace in their day as a matter of life The kingdome of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Duty requires it necessity urgeth it it is for a kingdome neglect it not Matth. 11. 12. 2 In serving the Lord doing his work with fervency that the hearts of men should burne within them not be cold or luke-warme but fervent in spirit in spirit serving the Lord having a holy fire kindled on the hearth in the heart Rom. 12. 11. 3 In loving the house of God minding meanes of grace and performing holy duties with spirituall affection delighted in God and united to God in whose house we finde such satisfaction and contentment as Davids zeale was Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth his longings were after it to dwell in it Psal. 26. 8. 4 In exciting others with all earnestnesse and importunity to seek the Lord Call on your friends kinsmen neighbours call thy husband thy child thy servant be enlarged in desire after men to seeke and serve the Lord be not unnaturall uncivill to minde goodnesse alone but be spirituall have bowels of compassion to thy brother to thy friend that thou lovest as thy owne soule that they may have communion with God and comfort in the Lord and accesse to the Lord as well as thy selfe as it is in the Prophet The inhabitants of one city shall go to another saying Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts I will go also Zechar. 8. 21. 5 In grieving for mens neglect of Gods Law and the dishonour that is done to God by disobedience I beheld the transgressors and was grieved because they keep not thy word Psal. 119. 158. Rivers of waters run downe mine eyes because they keep not thy lawes My zeale hath even consumed me because mine enemies have forgotten thy words saith the Psalmist Psal. 119. ver. 139. Thus Lot a just and an honest man was vexed passively by sinners and actively voluntarily for sinners Just Let was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked for that righteous man dwelling among them of Sodome and Gomorrha in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their unlawfull deeds 2 Pet. 2. 7 8. 6 In distributing cheerfully to it for the maintenance of the service of God that God may be honoured with mens substance as they for the tabernacle they came every one whose heart stirred him up and every one whom his spirit made willing and they brought the Lords offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation and for all his service Exod. 35. 21. they were so forward in erecting it till an order was made for their restraint so the people by Moses command were restrained for the stuffe they had was sufficient and too much for it Exod. 36. 6 7. Ministring too to the necessities of the Saints as Christs members in which the Corinthians were forward and of exemplary zeale 2 Corinth 9. 1 2. the Apostle commended their zeale which provoked very many Preachers be to be zealous not luke-warme not cold but as men touched with a live coale from the altar that the word of life die not in their mouthes albeit Zeale and the power of the Ministery is not in words nor a loud voice Thus