Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	jehu_n	zeal_n	zealous_a	117	3	9.9748	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A50480	En oligo christianos, the almost Christian discovered, or, The false-professor tried and cast being the substance of seven sermons, first preached at Sepulchres, London, 1661, and now at the inportunity of friends made publick / by Matthew Meade.	Mead, Matthew, 1630?-1699.	1662 (1662)	Wing M1546; ESTC R9895	121,691	343

Harlots in all their sin and uncleanness Because resting in a false work a partial change we neglect to seek after a true and saving change There is nothing more common then to mistake our state and by overweaning thoughts misjudge our condition and so perish in our own delusions Mat. 7.26 The World is full of these foolish Builders that lay the foundation of their hopes of eternal salvation upon the sand Now my brethren would you not mistake the way to Heaven and perish in a delusion would you not be found fools at last for none are such fools as the spiritual fool who is a fool in the great business of salvation Would you not be fools for your souls and for eternity Oh then labour after and pray for a through work of conversion beg of God that he would make a saving change in your souls that you may be altogether Christians all other changes below this saving change this heart-change make us but almost Christians 11. A man may be very zealous in the matters of Religion and yet be but almost a Christian Jehu did not onely serve God and do what he commanded him but was very zealous in his service 2 Kings 10.16 come with me and see my zeal for the Lord of Hosts and yet in all this Jehu was a very Hypocrite Joash was a great reformer in Jehojadahs time it is said he did that which was right in the eys of the Lord 2 Chron. 29.2 all the days of Jehojada the Preist but when Jehojadah dyed Joash his zeal for God dyed with him and he becomes a very wretch v. 17 18. Mat. 11.12 Object But the Apostle makes zeal to be a note of sound Christianity Gal. 4.18 It is good to be zealously affected in a good thing nay it seems to be the non-such qualification for obtaining eternal life the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Sol. It is true there is a zeal which is good and which renders the soul highly acceptable to God a zeal that never misses of Heaven and Salvation Now this is a zeal which is a celestial fire the true temper and heat of all the affections to God and Christ qui non zelat non amat It is a zeal wrought and kindled in the soul by the spirit of God who first works it and then sets it on work It is a zeal that hath the Word of God for its guide directing it in working both in regard of its object and end manner and measure It is a zeal that checks sin and forwards the Heavenly life Joh. 2.17 It is a zeal that makes the glory of God its cheif end which swallows up all by-ends The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up Lev. 10.1 But now all zeal is not this kind of zeal there is a false zeal as well as a true every grace hath its counterfeit as there is fire which is true Heavenly fire on the Altar so there is strange fire Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire upon Gods Altar There are several kinds of zeal none of which are true and sound but false and counterfeit I le instance in eight particulars Bernard Mat. 17.15 First There is a blind zeal a zeal without knowledge Rom. 10.2 They have a zeal saith the Apostle but not according to knowledge now as knowledge without zeal is fruitless so zeal without knowledge is dangerous it is like Wild-fire in the hand of a fool or like the Devil in the man possessed that threw him sometimes into the fire sometimes into the water zelus absque scientia quo vehementius irruit eo graivus corruit The eye is the light of the body and the understanding is the light of the soul now as the body without the light of the eye cannot go without stumbling ●o the soul without the light of the mind cannot act without erring Acts 22.3 4. Zeal without knowledge is like an ignis fatuus in a dark night that leads a Traveller out of his way into the Bogs and Mire This was the zeal of Paul while he was a Pharise I was zealous towards God as ye all are this day and I persecuted this way unto the death And so Asts 26.9 I verily thought with my self I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth So Philip. 3.6 concerning zeal persecuting the Church Such a zeal was that in John 16.2 They shall put you out of the Synagogue silence you you shall not be suffered to Preach yea the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he doth God service This is great zeal but yet it is a blind zeal and that God abhors Secondly There is a partial zeal in one thing fire hot in another key cold zealous in this thing and yet careless in another many are first-Table Christians zealous in the duties of the first Table and yet neglect the second thus the Pharises were zealous in there corban Mat. 23.23 Lyra hath these very words filius per professionem factam in religione excusatur a subveniendo par niïbus and yet unnatural to their Parents suffering them to starve and perish Others are second Table Christians zealous in the duties of the second Table but neglect the first more for Righteousness among men then for holiness towards God But now he whose religion ends with the first Table or begins with the second he is a foolin his profession for he is but almost a Christian The woman that was for the dividing the child was not the true Mother and he that is for dividing the Commands is not a true beleiver 2 Kings 10.16 comp with 29. v Jehu was zealous against Ahabs house but not so against Jeroboams calves many are zealous against sins of opinion that yet use no zeal against the sins of their conversation Now as we know that the sweat of the whole body is a sign of health but the sweat of some one part onely shews a distemper Io. Fernel de febr●bus ● 4. c. 19 and therefore Physitians do reckon such a heat to be symptomatical So where zeal reaches to every command of God alike that is a sign of a sound constitution of soul but where it is partial where a man is hot in one part and cold in another that is Symptomatical of some inward Spiritual distemper Thirdly There is a misplaced zeal fixed upon unsuitable and disproportionable Objects Many are very zealous in trifling things that are not worth it and trifle in the things that most require it like the Pharisees that were diligent Tithers of mint annise cumin but neglected the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the weightier matters of the Law judgement mercy and faith Mat. 23.23 They had no zeal for these though very hot for the other many are more zealous for a ceremony then for the substance of Religion more zealous for bowing at the

Dom. Ser. 1● 2. They take their Lamps that is they made a profession of Christ 3. They had some kind of Oyl in their Lamps as appears v. 8. they had some convictions and some faith though not the faith of Gods elect to keep their profession alive to keep the Lamp burning 4. They went their profession was not an idle profession they did perform duties frequent ordinances and do many things commanded they made a progress they went v. 1. 5. They went forth they went and out went they left many behind them this speaks out their separation from the World 6. They went with the wise Virgins they joyned themselves to those who had joyned themselves to the Lord and were the Companions of them that were the Companions of Christ Cant. 1.7 7. They go forth to meet the Bridegroom this speaks out their owning and seeking after Christ 8. When they heard the cry of the bridegroom comming they arose v. 7. and trimmed their Lamps they profess Christ more highly hoping now to go in with the Bridegroom 9. They sought for true grace now don't we say the desires of grace are grace and so they are if true and timely if sound and seasonable Why lo here a desire of grace in these Virgins give us of your Oyl It was a desire of true grace but it was not a true desire of grace it was not true because not timely v. 8. unsound as being unseasonable it was too late Their folly was in not taking Oyl when they took their lamps their time of seeking grace was when they came to Christ it was too late to seek it when Christ came to them They should have sought for that when they took up their profession it was too late to seek it at the coming of the Bridegroom And therefore they were shut out v. 10. and though they cry for entrance Lord v. 11. Lord open to us yet the Lord Christ tells them v. 12. I know you not You see how far these Virgins go in a profession of Jesus Christ and how long they continue in it even till the Bridegroom came they go to the very doors of Heaven and there like the Sodomites perish with their hands upon the very thresholds of glory They were almost Christians and yet but almost Almost saved and yet perish You that are professors of the Gospel of Christ stand and tremble if they that have gone beyond us fall short of Heaven what shall become of us that fall short of them If they that are Virgins that profess Christ that have some faith in their profession such as it is that have some fruit in their faith that outstrip others that seek Christ that improve their profession and suit themselves to their profession nay that seek grace if such as these be but almost Christians Lord what then are we If these two witnesses be not sufficient to prove the truth and confirm the credit of the proposition Take a third and that shall be from the Old Testament Isa 58.2 see what God saith of that people he gives them a very high Character for a choice people one would think They seek me daily they delight to know my way as a Nation that did Righteousness and forsook not the Ordinance of their God they ask of me the Ordinances of Justice they take delight in approaching to God See how far these went if God had not said they were rotten and unsound we should have took them for the Hee Goats before the Flock Ier. 50.8 and ranked them among the worthies pray observe 1. They seek God Now this is the proper Character of a true Saint to seek God True Saints are called seekers of God Psal 24.6 This is the generation of them that seek him that seek thy face O Jacob or O God of Jacob. Lo here a generation of them that seek God and are not these the Saints of God Nay farther 2. They seek him dayly here 's diligence backed with continuance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 day by day that is every day from day to day They did not seek him by fits and girds nor in a time of trouble and affliction onely as many do Ionah 7.5 Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them Isa 26.16 Many when God visits them then they visit him but not till then when God poureth out his afflictions then they pour out their supplications This is Seamens devotion when the storms have brought them to their wits end then they cry to the Lord in their trouble Psal 107.27 28. many never cry to God till they are at their wits end they never come to God for help so long as they can help themselves But now these here whom God speaks of are more zealous in their devotion the others make a vertue of necessity but these seem to make conscience of duty for saith God they seek me dayly Sure this is one would think a note of sincerity Iob. 27.10 Job saith of the Hypocrite will he always call upon God surely no but now this people call upon God always they seek him dayly certainly these are no Hypocrites 3. Saith God They delight to know my ways sure this frees them from the suspicion of Hypocrisie for Job 21.14 they say unto God depart from us we desire not the knowledg of thy ways 4. They are as a Nation that did Righteousness not onely as a Nation that spake Righteousness or knew Righteousness or professed Righteousness but as a Nation that did Righteousness that practised nothing but what was just and right They appeared to the judgment of the World as good as the best 5. They forsook not the Ordinances of their God they seem true to their Principles constant to their profession better then many among us that cast off duties and forsake the Ordinances of God but these hold out in their profession they forsook not the Ordinances of God 6. They ask of me saith God the Ordinances of Justice they will not make their own wils the rule of right and wrong but the Law and will of God and therefore in all their dealings with men they desire to be guided and counselled by God They ask of me the Ordinances of justice Iob. 27.0 7. They take delight in approaching to God sure this can't be the guise of a Hypocrite will he delight himself in the Almighty saith Job no he will not Deliciae l●umanigeneris Though God is the cheif delight of man having everything in him to render him lovely as was said of Titus Vespasian yet the Hypocrite will not delight in God Hypocrita neque drum neque divina habet in del ciii Till the affections are made spiritual there is no affection to things that are spiritual God is a spiritual good and therefore Hypocrites can't delight in God But these are a people that delight in approaching to God

name of Jesus then for conformity to the life of Jesus more zealous for a holy vestment then for a holy life more zealous for the inventions of men then for the institutions of Christ This is a superstitious zeal Heathens will rise up in judgment against such men Deus non superstitione coli vale sed pietate said Cicero and usually found in men unconverted whom grace never was wrought in When was it that Paul was so exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his Fathers as he saith Gal. 1.14 but only when he was in his wretched and unconverted state as you may see in the next verses But when it pleased God to call me by his grace Gal. 1 15 16. then I conferred not with flesh and blood Paul had another kind of zeal then acted by other kind of Principles Cer. 34.14 15. comp with v. 25 26 27 28 29. Fourthly There is a selfish zeal that hath a mans own ends for its motive Jehu was very zealous but it was not so much for God as for the Kingdom not so much in obedience to the command as in design to step into the Throne and therefore God threatens to punish him for that very thing he commands him to do Hos 1.4 I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu Because he shed that blood to gratifie his lust not to obey God So Simeon and Levi pretend great zeal for Circumcision seem very zealous for the honour of Gods Ordinance when in truth their zeal was for covetousness and revenge upon the Shechemites It is storyed of Dr. Aylmer that in his young days he was very high against the pride and covetousness of the Bishops and in a book of his he thus speaks to them come off you Bishops away with your superfluities yeild up your thousands be content with a little 1 Cor. 13.11 But afterwards when he himself came to be Bishop of London then his profits and preferment had eat up his zeal and he would confess to his friends that he had been of another strain in his youth abusing those words of Paul when I was a Child I spake as a Child I understood as a child I thought as a Child Fifthly There is an outside zeal such was that of the Scribes and Pharises they would not eat with unwashed hands but yet would live in unseen sins they would wash the cup often but the heart seldom paint the outside but neglect the inside Ne appetat quisquam ultra videri quam est ut possit ustra esse quam videtur Greg. Jehu was a mighty out-side reformer 2 Kings 10.16 but he reformed nothing within for he had a base heart under all v. 31. Jehu took no heed towalk in the Law of the Lord with all his heart Though his fleece was fair his liver was rotten Our Lord Christ observes of the Pharises they pray to be seen of men and fast so that they may appear to men to fast Matth. 6.5 16. Pro. 7.11 Sixthly There is a fortasick zeal that runs out upon others like the candle in the Lanthorn that sends all the heat out at top or as the lewd Woman Salomon mentions whose feet abide not in her own house Many are hot and high against the sins of others and yet cannot see the same in themselves like the Lamiae that put on their spectacles when they went abroad but pulled them off within doors It is easie to see fault in others and as hard to see then in our selves Jehu was zealous against Baal and his Priests because that was Ahabs sin but not against the Calves of Bethel because that was his own sin Teeum babita This zeal is the true Character of an Hypocrite his own Garden is over-run with Weeds while he is busie in looking over his Neighbours Pale Seaventhly There is a sinful zeal all the former may be called sinful from some defect but this I call sinful in a more special notion because against the life and cheif of Religion it is a zeal against zeal that flies not at profaness but at the very power of godliness not at error but at truth and is most hot against the most spiritual and important truths of the times Whence else are the sufferings of men for the truth but from this spirit of zeal against the truth Iam. 1.19 Rev. 12.12 This may be called a devillish zeal for as there is the faith of Devils so there is the zeal of Devils therefore his rage is great because he knows his time is short 1 Sam. 15.3 Eighthly There is a Scriptureless zeal that is not butted and bounded by the Word but by some base and low end such was Sauls zeal when God bids him destroy Amalek and spare neither man nor beast then contrary to Gods command he spare the best of the Sheep and Oxen under pretence of zeal for Gods Sacrifice 2 Sam. 21.2 Another time when he had no such command then he slaies the Gibeonites in his zeal to the Children of Israel and Judah Many a mans zeal is greatest then and there when and where he hath the least warrant from God It is worth the while to observe how zealous men are for Ceremonies and pompousness in the worship of God when as there is not one word in all the Scripture for them I will tell you and the Scripture adjusts me in it that it is one of the surest signs of an Antichrristian spirit to be zealous for unwritten and ungrounded traditions in the Worship of God The true spirit of zeal is bounded by Scripture for it is for God and the concernments of his glory God hath no glory from that zeal that hath no Scripture warrant Now then if the zeal of a man in the things of God may be onely a blind zeal or a partial zeal or a misplaced zeal or a selfish zeal or an out-side zeal or a forensick zeal or a sinful zeal or a Scriptureless zeal then it is evident that a man may be very zealous in the matters of Religion and yet be but almost a Christian 12. A-man may be much in Prayer he may pray often and pray much and yet be but almost a Christian so did the Pharises whom yet our Lord Christ rejects for Hypocrites Mat. 23.14 Object But is not a praying frame an argument of a sincere heart are not the Saints of God called The generation of them that seek the face of God Psal 24.6 Sol. A man is not therefore a Christian because he is much in prayer I grant That those prayers that are from the workings and sighings of Gods Spirit in us From a sincere heart lifted to God From sense of our own emptiness and Gods infinite fulness That are suited to Gods will the great rule of prayer That are for spiritual things more then temporal That are accompanied with faith and dependance Such prayers speak a man altogether a Christian But