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A91897 Christ the perfect pattern, of a Christian's practice, being the substance of severall sermons, about the Imitation of Christ. / Preached by the reverend and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Ralph Robinson, late minister of Mary Wolnoth London. Published by Sim. Ash, Wil. Taylor, Sam. Clarke. Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655. 1658 (1658) Wing R1709; Thomason E1818_1; ESTC R209810 135,574 295

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false Teachers which also do much spoyl in the Church And yet these men would have the Foxes nourished Those gins of penal Lawes which zealous Magistrates have made to take these Foxes must now be repealed that they may devoure uncontrolably And yet these men have the impudence as to repute themselves the chief Patrons if not the only friends of Religion and are displeased with those who account them otherwise But wisdom is justified of her Children If they be the friends of Religion Religion hath no enemies in the World Is he a friend to his Patient who knowing him to be full of mortal Diseases will suffer no effectual meanes to be used which may remove them then are these men friends to Religion Is he a Friend to his Garden who plucks up the hedge and proclaims liberty to all kinde of wilde Beasts to come and tread down the flowers then are the Patrons of Toleration friends to Religion Is he a Friend to a Garison City who would have all the watch Towers demolished all the Works slighted all Guards removed and proclaim License for all enemies to come in and plunder and destroy at their pleasure Then are they friends to Religion who contend for this universal Toleration If these be the Guardians of Religion Religion is not like to be long lived under their protection God grant Religion better Protectors How soon will our Church be overflow●n if liberty be granted to all Hereticks and seducers to spread their pernicious Doctrines if all manner of Religions be let in true Religion at least the power of it will soon be destroyed All you who have any Interest in the Bridegroom of the Church awaken him by your prayers that he would scourge such defilers out of his Temple who for sinful respects and private advantage would permit all cheats and deceivers to put off and vent their abominable falshoods in the Church of Christ how soon would a City be infected if all rotten unwholsom meats should be freely sold in an open Market This is the way to make a whole Church sick not to make a sick Church whole God hath told us of a better cure to recover a sick Church Jer. 33. 6. Peace and truth not dissension and error is the way to recover a languishing Church a dying Nation And that which doth most highly aggravate this wickedness is this That it s endeavoured by a People who have solemnly promised to settle purity of truth and purity and unity of worship and to abolish all false wayes of worship and all things contrary to sound Doctrine 3d Vse Exhortation 1 John 2. 6. Let us be zealous for the House of God as Christ was zealous for the Doctrine zealous for the worship of Gods House In this use I shall 1. Give Motives 2. Some Rules 3. Meanes Motive 1. 'T is that which is commanded every Christian vid. Jude 3. Contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word notes a holy heat eagerness and violence Rev. 3. 19. Be zealous therefore and repent Motive 2. The Saints of God who are renowned in Scripture they have been zealous in these matters The fire of God hath sparkled out of their mouthes we may see their hands feet hearts lips red hot with zeal for the house of their God Nehemiah how zealous was he against the corruptions of Gods Courts he could not endure any filthiness there when he understood that Elias●ib the Priest had given to Tobiah his Kinsman one of the Chambers of the Temple for his private use where the things for Gods worship were wont to be laid see how his Spirit works against that corruption Neh. 13. 8 9. He cast forth his Houshold-stuffe out of the Chamber and commanded the Chambers to be cleansed and brought again the Vessels of the House of God with the meat-offering and the Frankincense And when he understood that the Levites and Priests who did the service of Gods House had been defrauded of their portions designed for that work see how zealously he contended with the Rulers and so reforms that corruption vid. vers 10 11 12 13. When he saw the Sabbaths of the Lord prophaned see how he bestirs himself vers 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. Elijah also was a man of zeal for Gods House vid. 1 Reg. 19. 10. 14. He hath reference to that zealous act of his upon the Prophets of Baal Cap. 18. 40. David Psal 69. 9. The Apostle Paul Acts 17. 16. His Spirit was stirred within him when he saw them wholly given to Idolatry Moses how was his Spirit set on fire when he saw the Idol-Calf set up and worshipped Exo. 32. 20 21 22. And generally all the Prophets and Apostles So the primitive Martyrs and Confessors c. All these should be as sparks to set our hearts on fire and those holy mourners in Ezekiels time Cap. 9. 4. they had a zeal for Gods worship vid. Cap. 8. see what those abominations were Corruptions in the House of God defilements in Worship Vid. Luc. 6. 15. Simon the Zelot They had a jealousie against the Image of jealousie set up in the House of God These are written for our learning and imitation Motive 3. Consider what a long and hot Summer we have enjoyed of the Ordinances of God The Gospel of God hath been preached amongst us for almost 100. yeares since the first Reformation And are we still cold and careless This should put some life into us We have had many burning Tapers who have wasted themselves to heat us c. Motive 4. Consider how likely we are to lose the Worship and Ordinances and the Truth if our zeal do not keep them with us Never was there more heat against the Truth and Worship of God then now there is Some are zealously undermining the very Foundation of Gods House endevoring to take away all that which hath a tendency to support Religion laying snares for Ministry removing all that which should maintain Ministry and Worship that so the Levites may flee every one to his field setting up the lowest of Gen. 47. 22. the People to be Preachers in the Church opening a door to Idolatry by endeavouring to take away all punishments from Papists and Idolaters c. This is enough to turn Ice into flames to make the coldest heart to burn violently with zeal for God This was that which made Elijah so zealous he looked upon the Worship of God as being in danger to be lost 1 Reg. 19. 10. They have forsaken thy Covenant throwen down thy Altars slain thy Servants with the Sword and I only am left c. The glorie of the Lord seems to be removing from the Cherubims to the Threshold of the Temple and if we be not now more then ordinarilie zealous Religion will be gone Motive 5. Consider how zealous all People are for their false Worships Papists what heat is there in them for their Idols The Worshippers of
14. 3 The occason of this miracle this is ver 14. The original of this custome is from that which is written Deut. 14. 24. The Jewes were at this time scattered throughout almost all Nations now that they might not at their repairing to Jerusalem for worship be constrained to run up and downe to provide sacrifices it was agreed by the Priests and Scribes c. that those things which were necessary for sacrifice should be sold about the Temple This was their pretence but that which really caused this was the covetuousnesse of the Priests who made great gaine by these merchandizings 4 The manner of it ver 15. 5 The reason rendred ver 16. make not my Fathers house c. The Temple was a shadow and type of those things the lively Image whereof is in Christ therefore it was to be applyed onely to spirituall uses for this reason our Saviour denyes it to be lawfull to convert it to such a common use as a Market place 2 The effect or consequence of this miracle 1. The effect it wrought upon the Disciples ver 17. Not that they presently remembred this but afterwards when they had been better instructed then God brought this Scripture to their minds as the reason of this act of Christ with which they were satisfied 2. The effect it wrought upon the Jewes this is twofold 1 Some quarreld with him ver 28 19 20 c. 2 Others did seemingly professe faith and subjection to him ver 23 24 25. upon this and other miracles whom Christ did not trust The Text is the effect which this great Heroick act of Christ wrought on his Disciples They remembred c. This Scripture is Psal 69. 9. where David writing of himselfe as a Type of Christ hath these words The zeale c. I shall handle them distinctly as spoken of Christ In them we have two things 1 An excellent vertue or grace of Christ 1. Grace in the Habite the zeale of thy house 2 The operativenesse of this grace hath eaten me up the activity of it Grace in exercise Zeale 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If we consider the word it comes from a verbe that signifies to boyle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Wh●t zeal is it signifies the hissing noyse of water when it boyles If we consider the Nature of the thing we find it used both in a good sense and in a bad sense There is a zeale which is a fruit of the Spirit And there is also a zeale which is a fruit of the flesh Gal. 5. 20. The fruits of the 2 Cor. 7. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 flesh are manifest which are these Adulteries c. Emulations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When it is used in a bad sense it signifies 1 Envy Acts 5. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Acts 7. 9. the Patriarchs moved with envy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jam. 3. 14. If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts glory not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid. Bezam in textum de zelo distinguentem 2 For misguided blind zeale Phil. 3. 9. concerning zeale persecuting the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 1. 14. being more exceedingly zealous of the Traditions of my Fathers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 For contentiousness of spirit Jam. 3. 16. where strife and envying is there is confusion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4 For pretended jealousie and affection towards another Gal. 4. 17. They zealously affect you but not well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When it is used in a good sense it signifieth 1 Godly jealousie 2 Cor. 11. 2. I am jealous over you with a godly jealousie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 For a good Emulation when we desire to be followers and imitators of others in that which is good Gal. 4. 18. T is good to be ze●lous alwayes in a good matter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 12. 31. Covet earnestly t●e best gifts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 For the violent fervor of all the affection towards others whom we love Gal. 4. 13. I bear him record that he hath a great zeal for you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And so t is used here in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some of the Schoo●men there are who only place this in the affection of love others make it to be a mixture of love and anger but its clear that it hath place in every other affection as well as these and the heighth and intention of every affection is called zeal The heighth of anger is the zeal of anger the heighth of pitty is the zeal of pitty and the heighth of love is the zeal of love c. Of thy house This is the Object of Christ's 2. What Gods House is zeal the house of God which by a Synechdoche doth comprehend the whole worship and service of God appointed to be observed in the Temple All matters of Religion and Worship Hath eaten me up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This 3. What to devour is shewes the fervor and heat of Christs zeal it was not any ordinary heat but an extraordinary and violent which put forth it self by such an heroical Act as this was Christ was even as if he had had fire in his bowels he could not refrain himself The Lesson which we may learn is this The Lord Jesus Christ was exceeding zealous Doct. against all manner of Corruptions and defilements in Religion in the worship of God He had in his breast a very hot zeal for his Fathers house and all the Ordinances and Services thereof As it was prophesied of him that he should come as a Refiner to his Temple and should be very hot for the worship of God so was his carriage from his taking upon him the publick Ministry to the day of his Death and crucifying There are three things wherein Christ manifested 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proved 3. wayes his zeal this way 1 He did very zealously assert the purity of Religion and Gods worship in his publick Ministry and zealously defend it against the corrupters of it In the 5th 6th and 7th Chapters of Matth. in that excellent Sermon upon the Mount we shall finde many Instructions given by our Saviour both concerning matters of Doctrine and concerning matters of worship as Chap. 5. vers 21. ad finem and Chapter 6. concerning prayer fasting vid. Chap. 6. v. 5. ad 16. concerning prayer and v. 16. ad 19. concerning the right manner of fasting And Mat. 15. v. 1. ad 21 Christ preacheth against their Traditions which they had brought into the Church And Matth. 19. 3. ad 10. preacheth against the Doctrine of Divorce which they had introduced And Chap. 22. v. 23. he cleares the Doctrine of the Resurrection against the sadduces And he that reads seriously the Evangelists will finde that there was no corruption either in Doctrine or worship but Christ boldly and zealously refuted it in his Ministry 2 As he had zeal
our dayes because brotherly love and charity are so Icy-cold 3 Often read over and think upon that golden Rule of our Saviour whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them Mat. 7. 12. It s a very equitable and a very comprehensive Rule The remembring and observing of this one Rule would sufficiently help us to discharge all the Duties of the 2d Table if there were no more said of them There 's not a man upon Earth but would have his concernments cared for by others he would have himself and his affaires taken into thought by others how unreasonable and unjust is it then that any man should only seek and act for himself when as he would have no other to do so 4 Consider often of the Union and Conjunction there is between thee and others There is Vinculum Gratiae between Believers and believers They are members of one mystical body There is Commune vinculum Natura between man and man They are one Communi humanitate There is Vinculum Nationis Cognationis Amicitiae we shall finde ties enough upon us to take in the care of more then our selves yea to leave out the care of none if one member of the body seek it self only the rest will soon wither and come to nothing You know the fable of the Hands and other members which would take no care of the Belly they thought the belly was given to pleasure c. The hands would not procure any more sustenance c. the issue was Both the belly and the rest of the members were sodainly wasted c. vid. 1 Cor. 12. 26. The like may be said for the members of political societies c. 5 Often think of the meaness of self what a low unworthy and mean end he propounds who confines his care thoughts c. only within the narrow compasse of Self Noble Spirits aym at high ends Now the more that are concerned in your actings the more noble your actings are Ronum quo communius e● melius And I may say further he seeks himself most profitably who doth not seek himself solely but lodgeth with others Every mans self every mans interest lyes truly and properly more in Community then in Unity more in the general then it doth in his particular good Self is a shadow a nothing 6 Often consider of that of the Apostle the Ministration of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall 1 Cor. 12. 7. God hath given nothing to any man for himself alone neither parts graces comforts c. others have a share in them vid. 2 Cor. 1. 4. it may be applied to all things received as well as comforts c. And as no man should please himself so especially those who are in places of publick trust Magistrates they are for publick good Rom. 13. 4. They are Fountains Pilots Stars c. Self-seeking in a Magistrate is the transgressing of his main end which is to be for others They are to stitch up the breaches of the Common-wealth nor to share it in parts amongst themselves What was said to Shebna should be minded by such Esa 22. 15 16. c. Wise Citizens would chuse such into no publick employment 7 Seek your selves spiritually that you may be taken off from sinful self-seeking Did but men seek pardon of sin seek to make their Calling and Election sure seek salvation as they should c. They would have no time nor no heart to seek such poor things as self is I shall conclude all with this one Consideration That its just that God should leave such to themselves who seek only themselves vid. Ezech. 22. 16. Thou shalt take thine Inheritance in thy self in the sight of the Heathen 'T is a threatning as vers 14 15. sheweth Self will do a man more mischief then all the Devils in Hell Eripe me à meipso should be our prayer vid. Prov. 14. 14. To be given up to self is worse than to be given up to Satan To do what is right in our own heart To walk after the sight of our own eyes how sinful is it Mary Wolnoth July the 8th 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 3. 5. Joh. 2. 17. The zeale of thy house hath eaten me up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 VVE have a prophecy of the Messiah by Malachi the last of the Prophets that the Messenger of the Covenant should come to his Temple and sit as a refiner and purifier of Silver to purifie the Sons of Levi that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousnesse Mal. 3. 1 2 3. And in this Chapter we have the accomplishment of this prophecy Jesus Christ as was foretold beginning his propheticall office comes to purge his Temple of those corruptions which through the ignorance and profanenesse of the people and the covetousnesse of the Priests and Scribes had been introduced and continued in that place In the Chapter we have two great miracles 1 The turning of water into wine at a marriage-feast in Cana of Galile ver 1. ad 12. 2 The reforming and purging out of the abuses of the Temple ver 12. ad finem It is Jerome in Math. 21. 12. the opinion of Jerome that this was all circumstances considered one of the greatest miracles which Christ wrought Multi arbitrantur maxima esse signorum quod Lazarus suscitatus est quòd caecus ex utero lumen accepit quòd transfiguratus in monte gloriam ostendit triumphantis mihi autem inter omnia signa quae fecit Dominus hoc videtur esse mirabilius quòd unus homo illo tempore contemptibilis in tantum vilis ut postea crucifigeretur Scribis Pharisaeis contra se saevientibus videntibus lucra sua destrui potuerit ad unius flagelli verbera tantam eijcere multitudinem mensasque avertere confringere cathedras talia facere quae infinitus non fecisset exercitus There were at that time a very great multitude of people come from all parts to observe the Passeover The Scribes Priests and Pharisees were sufficiently enraged against Christ and the Tower called Arx Antonia wherein were the Souldiers of the Temple was neere at hand and yet that no man should dare to oppose Christ in this act that one man under tempt and scorne not with sword and armes but with a whip made of small cords which they who brought Sheep and Oxen had laid there for their use should drive so many out of the Temple and not one of the Merchants or people so much as speake a word in opposition this is miraculous and more then prodigious In this miracle we have these two things 1. The miracle it selfe in which 1 The time when A little before the Jewish passeover ver 13. 2 The place where the Temple Not that part of it into which the Priests onely entred but the Atrium or outward Court in which the people prayed were taught and offered sacrifices ver
Baal how zealous were they 1 Reg. 18. 28. The Ephesians for their Diana what extraordinarie zeal when they perceived that by Pauls preaching against gods made with hands was like to overthrow their Religion they cryed for the space of two Iudg. 6. 28 29 30. houres together Great is Diana of the Ephesians Acts 19. 34. Motive 6. If you will be zealous for the House of God God will be zealous for your houses vid. 2 Sam. 6. 10 11. Obed Edom he had a zeal for the Ark when others were afraid of it God blesses him vid. Hag. 2. 18 19. If you will be dead and cold for the matters of God God will be cold for your civil concernments Motive 7. It s one of the best wayes to take off and abate the heat of enemies against the House of God The colder you are the more hot will they be and the more zealous you are the more cold will they be in promoting their designes 2. Rules for zeal 1 Your Zeal must be universal and that 1. In respect of things you must be zealous for everie part of Gods House for all and everie part of Truth against all and everie kind of corruption in Worship some are zealous against Schisme and Heresie but they have no great Zeal against superstition and humane inventions others have a Zeal against Superstition but they have not against Heresie c. This is not right heat vid. Psal 119. 104. Josiah his Zeal was against everie Corruption 2 Reg. 23. 4. ad 20. God commands him vers 25. Such was the Zeal of Christ also He leaves nothing behinde Sacraments Preaching Prayer 2. In respect of persons he that hath a right zeal for Truth will oppose all is contrarie to Truth in one person as well as in another in great as well as in small c. in a Friend as well as in an Enemie Zeal is like God in this there is no respect of persons with it Whosoever defiles the House of God let his Profession his Power be what it will Zeal will oppose him Zeal doth not hate error in a Prelate and love it in another c. Christ will throw down the Tables of the Money-changers whosoever they be that fit there c. 3. In respect of times True Zeal for Gods House hath no winter it burns in one Age as well as in another Manie men were verie zealous against corruption in Worship and Doctrine in the raign of Prelacie which now are cold against the same or worse corruptions in the raign of Heresie These were never truly zealous for Gods House Corruption of Truth and Worship is as bad one year as another c. 2 Zeal must be joyned with prudence and knowledge Rom. 10. 2. God hath given to man an understanding as well as affection Zeal without Discretion is rashness like mettle in a blinde Horse or a sharp edged Sword in a mad mans hand Those 4. Beasts Rev. 4. 8. which represent the Churches of the Gospel they had 6. Wings and they were full of Eyes a Christian must have Eyes as well as Wings Knowledge as well as Zeal Zeal with Knowledge saith one is like an Unicorns Horn in the hand of an Artist verie precious but Zeal without Knowledge is as the Unicorns Horn in the Beasts Head verie dangerous Zeal without Knowledge is like Pegasus without a Bridle or like an Offering without an Eye which God accepts not Lev. 22. 22. Mal. 1. 8. It s like Phaeton in his Fathers Chariot may burn himself and the World too 3 Zeal for Gods House must be confined within the Compasse of our Calling The Minister in his place the Magistrate in his the private person in his place 'T is a good glosse which Calvin hath on this Text. All must imitate Christ all must as much as in them lyeth preserve the Temple of God from defilement yet everie man must take heed that he go not beyond his bounds Non omnibus protinus licet flagellum arripere ut vitia manu corrigamus neque enim eadem nobis potest as data est nec idem injunctum munus Zeal out of its place is like fire in the Thatch Private Christians they must express their zeal by Prayer Teares Dispute complaining to the Church to the Magistrates where they are if they be such as care for Religion He that should being a private person do as Phinehas did and pretend zeal would be a murtherer or as Christ here did would be seditious c. 4 Our zeal for Gods House must be for the glorie of God not either to get our selves a name or to oppose men or to please others c. but meerly discharge of duty respect to Gods Honour This was the ground of our Saviours zeal make not my Fathers House c. Jehu lost all his zeal for want of a right end vid. 2 Reg. 10. He did verie much and he calls it zeal for God vers 16. but the truth is it was meerly for his own house and therefore God threatens Hos 1. 4. to avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the House of Jehu c. look well to this 5 It must be put out against private corruptions in your own case 3. Meanes to get zeal for Gods House 1 Consider often the worth and excellency of Gods House Truth Worship they are glorious things beauties of holiness Psal 110. 3. the glorie of God the glorie is departed from Israel c. 1 Sam. 4. latter end the Tabernacle of God with men c. 2 Beg much of the Spirit of God that spirit of fire the fire of the Altar came down from Heaven so doth the fire of zeal get much of that fiery Baptisme of the Holy Ghost c. vid. Acts 2. 3. 3 Be much in the Company of zealous persons he that kisseth the lips of the Servants of God who are zealous will get heat from them 4 Take heed of too much carnal policie This will make you but cold and dead for the Worship of God He whose zeal is extreme hot for outward things will be extreme cold at least luke-warm for the Worship of God a little Earth cast on a hot fire puts it out Mary Wol●oth Septemb. 30th 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 19. 47. And He taught daily in the Temple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THere are five principal Passages or Stories recorded of Jesus Christ in this Chapter which is the best division can be made of it viz. 1 The story of the Conversion of one Zacheus a Publican a little man but a very great sinner this we have from the first verse to the 11th He came out of curiosity to gaze upon Christs person having heard the fame of his works and he did not only behold his Person but was converted by his Power we may note from his conversion 1. It s good to be in the way in which Christ travels Zach●us being in Christs way was apprehended by Christs power and made partaker of