away her whoredomes out of her sight and her adulteries from betweene her brests Hos. 2. 2. In the substance of worship it is false and corrupt by mingling mens traditions and inventions with Christs commands and institutions which is a vaine worship In vaine do they worship me teaching for doctrine the commandements of men Matth. 15. 9. To frustrate Gods law and put it by by this meanes For laying aside the commandement of God ye hold the tradition of men as the washing of pots and cups and many other such like things ye do Mat. 7. 8. Full well ye reject the commandement of God that yee may keepe your owne tradition Verse 9. It is thus when men by constitutions make their inventions as thresholds without which you cannot enter into a house into the Church to any office or ordinance or as posts which uphold a house without which the Church will fall and go down They have defiled my holy name saith the Lord in their setting of their thresholds by my thresholds and their posts by my posts Ezek. 43. 8. In the externall forme and circumstance many superstitions be to be cast out injunctions not of God not good after the doctrines and commandements of men Col. 2. 22. to which a Christian redeemed by Christ hath no reason to be subject if ye bee 〈◊〉 with Christ from the rudiments of the world Why as though living in the world are yee subject to ordinances Coloss. 2. vers. 20. Many additions gestures now standing now kneeling are not necessary but cumbersome not to be tolerated any more than diminutions or mutations and alterations in Gods worship Whatsoever I command you observe to do it thou shalt not adde thereto nor diminish from it deuteronom. Chap. 12. Vers. 32. Gods Word is perfect to teach us what to know and what to doe and lackes not a jot nor a tittle Matth. Chap. 5. Vers. 18. The least commands to an iota or a tittle are to be religiously observed and the least additions by the same reason are to be rejected Mat. Chap. 5. Vers. 19. Away with all imagery which provokes God to be gone from his Sanctuary Let every image of jealousie be scene as an abomination and cast out as a provocation Ezek. Chap. 8. Vers. 5 6. That as wee justly abhorre the Romish harlet let us not weare her favour but deface and detest all her trumpery as the Lords Prophet told the people of the Lord Ye shall defile the covering of thy graven images of silver and the ornaments of thy molten images of gold thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth thou shalt say unto it Get thee hence Isa. Chap. 30. Vers. 22. Thus the thorowly religious is to be truly zealous in Gods Church to remove purge out and oppose vicious persons erroneous doctrines superstitious worship 2 Zealous in promoting Gods glory with intension of affection and fervency in all good services for the house of the Lord to establish all in it aright This was in an eminent manner and measure in Nehemiah whom the zeale of Gods house did eat upon Remember me O my God concerning this and wipe not out my good deeds or kindnesses that I have done for the house of my God and for the offices thereof Nehem. 13. 14. In persons who are to be in the house of God Ministers to be countenanced and continued to labour in word and doctrine to stand and minister before the Lord When good Hezekiah beheld how the fathers before him had shut up the doores of the porch he opened the doores of the house of the Lord they had put out the lamps he brought in the Priests that religion might be restored heare him telling his purpose of heart Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel that his fierce wrath may turne away from us 2 Chron. 29. 10. He animateth the Priests my sonnes be not now negligent for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him to serve him and that you should minister unto him and burne incense Verse 10. These must be sent have a good call How shall they preach except they be sent Rom. 10. 15. Well qualified persons apt to teach the Word of God with prudence and utterance 1 Tim. 3. 2. Able well furnished with necessary abilities to instruct others 2 Tim. 2. 2. Vertuous in conversation shewing themselves patternes of good workes Titus 2. 7. Lovers of good men sober just holy temperate 1. 8. Members to be men sanctisied to performe duties and to partake of what is holy Men should be sanctified and that sufficiently for they could not keep the Passeover because they had not sanctified themselves sufficiently 2 Chron. 30. 3. Men upon whom is writ Holinesse to the Lord Zechar. 14. 20. But the Ganaanite is to be no more in the house of the Lord Verse 21. Without shall bee the uncircumcised and the uncleane God is in the assembly of his Saints Psal. 89. 7. God promiseth to dwell in Zion his holy mountaine then shall Ierusalem be holy and there shall no stranger passe through her any more Ioel 3. 17. It is sure men that are to be members are to professe holinesse and it is as true they should be as they professe Saints be calling 1 Cor. 1. 2. Gods way is called a way of holinesse the uncleane shall not passe over it Isay 35. 8. In doctrines zeale contends for truth and strives for the faith of the Gospell Iude v. 3. It was needfull to exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints Pauls care was that the truth of the Gospell might abide with the Church Gal. 2. 5. and would not give place to them the false brethron Verse 4. no not for an houre It is truth is the ornament of mans speech and profession Truth beautifieth mens dealings and is not truth the glory of religion It is a girdle Ephes. 6. 14. In worship The zeale of Elias is as needfull as not able who was jealous for the Lord of hosts to behold what was done in Israel 1 King 19. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was in the worship nor peace to the worshippers of God I. In the substance and inward forme that all Gods worship be in spirituall meanes and true manner with all purity They that worship God must worship him in spirit and truth Iohn 4. 24. 1 Preaching the Word of life and salvation It is the way of Gods good pleasure to save men albeit wittals call it foolishnesse 1 Corinth 1. 21. It is Christs institution established by his commission Goe ye into all the world and preach the Gospell to every creature Marke Chap. 16. Verse 15. 2 Reading the Scriptures not omitting them for Apocryphals Is not that order with some disgrace to Gods Spirit which excepts certaine Bookes and Chapters which bee least edifying and might best be spared
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
was Isaiah touched by the Seraphim Isay 6. 6 7. Thus Ieremy found the Word of the Lord as a fire not to be kept in Ier. 20. 9. 1 In preaching the word of God constantly without looking backe and diligently without wearinesse and sloth out of love to the Church to be as bellowes to stirre up the fire in others to promote grace in them to warme a cold and thaw a frozen people This is Apollos his praise who being fervent in the spirit he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord Act. 18. 25. 2 In praying for the Church for Gods blessing on their people that they may be setled in the truth and confirmed in the will of God Preachers are to lift up a prayer for the Church by the helpe of Gods spirit King Hezekiah sent to the Prophet Isaiah Not to read out a prayer but to lift up a prayer for the remnant that is left 2 King 19. 4. This zeale in praying is not in being as a boy bound up in a booke nor as a child tied to a forme Paul gives record to the Minister of Colosse that he had a great zeale labouring or striving fervently for the Colossians in prayer this zeale in prayer is Epaphras his praise Col. 4. 12 13. 3 In hating evill with indignation a blessed passion against corruption 1 In doctrine to abhorre lies falsities vanities this was in the Ephesian Angel who could not beare with them which are evill which upon triall were found not Apostles but Apostates deceivers liers Rev. 2. 2. 2 In Worship our spirit should rise against all idolatries superstitions vaine inventions that no man may defile the temple of God Thus Paul his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry Acts 17. 16. 3 In practice draw out the sword of Gods spirit against all iniquity discover how God doth dislike all lewdnesse in any of their hearers Albeit men be great and bold sinners tell them what is not lawfull for them by a divine law Learne of the Baptist who would venture the liberty of his person rather than neglect the freedome of his Ministery and the delivering of the law of liberty freely and indifferently removing sin in all estates He would rather lose his head than hold his tongue before hypocriticall Herod Mat. 14. 4. 4 In suffering for the Church to confirme it in the truth Herein was Pauls zeale who saith If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith I joy and rejoyce with you all Phil. 2. 17. Preachers are to let liberties and lives goe for the good of the Church I am ready saith the Apostle not to be bound onely but also to die for the name of the Lord Jesus Acts 21. 13. Yea wee should not onely undergoe the crosse abide the prison but sometimes desire the deferring of our glory for the furtherance of the Church in grace as it is evident in that great strait Paul was in to depart and be with Christ was better for him to live and abide in the flesh was better for them Phil. 1. 23 24. Magistrates Gods Ministers the Ministers of State be ye zealous Feed you this holy fire as Davids zeal eat him up so let zeal of Gods house begin to eat upon you The helpfull friends of afflicted Zion 1 In casting out the filth in Gods house take away the wicked that it may not be a den of theeves stir up your spirits against them that are as the Cretians were alway liers evil beasts slow bellies Let Priests be held as pestilent let Iesuites be as Iebusites reckon false Apostles as withered Apostates Mind ye with all heedfulnesse that of our Saviour Every plant which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up Mat. 15. 13. Christ intends not topping or lopping of such trees he dislikes the root It is not any cutting or cropping wil be the cure it is the plucking up he intends when your wisdome discovers to you out of Gods Word by divine light What God your father and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ planted not up with that as ill weeds by the root should you shave them with a razor they would grow againe O think it not enough to clip their wings when Christ is against the being of such a body Let your zeale be kindled in your brests against them who have lift up their face against Gods law and by this made themselves contemptible and base before all the people against idolaters that by their fals have caused many to stumble Gird on your sword against cursed swearers prophane Sabbath-breakers the impure persons and those belly-gods drunkards and other of that infamous nature that are a sin and a shame among us Let David be your patterne in your work for the Church I will early destroy all the wicked of the land that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord Psal. 101. 8. where he intended diligence constancy and impartiality Let your hearts be incouraged as that princely spirit of Iehoshaphat His heart was lift up in the ways of the Lord and he took away the high places and groves out of Iudah 2 Chro. 17. 6. Be ye baptized with our Saviours spirit when you meet with doctrines not after godlinesse and worship not after God Say by authority take these things hence 10. 2. 16. 2 In building God a house that the Lord God may dwell among us in zeal prepare him an habitation Exo. 15. 2. Baruch the sonne of Zabbai is renowned who repaired the wall of Ierusalem earnestly he was set on fire yea he fired himselfe burst out into heat as angry with himselfe and others so slothfull in the Lords work Nehem. 3. 20. Be ye of an high spirit bold in promoting the things of Gods house that all your best abilities and deepest projects may be with all stirring of heart subservient to Gods Church and subordinate to his glory Let the love of Christ be so warme in your hearts that whatsoever you perceive is wanting in the ministery in our assemblies in doctrine in discipline or any part of the worship of your God it may be repaired according to the law of the Lord and the counsell of the most High who will save Zion and hath his instruments his sanctified ones that ye may be called the repairers of the breach the restorers of the paths to dwell in Isa. 58. 12. 3 In defending the innocent countenancing well-doers you are for the praise of them that do well disgrace your flatterers and their slanderers plead ye the cause of Ieremy charged with revolt the cause of Paul accused of great and grievous things which cannot bee proved remember ye Christs case when he in his is called seditious Men run under your protection who had no comforter You are the shields of the earth let the cause of the poore come before you and let the needy that hath no
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
DAVIDS ZEALE FOR ZION A SERMON Preached before sundry of the Honourable House of Commons At St. Margarets at Westminster April 4. By THO: WILSON Preacher of the Word at Otham in KENT LONDON Printed for Iohn Bartlet and are to be sold at the Gilt Cup near S. Austins Gate in Pauls Church-yard 1641. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Sir EDWARD DERING of Sarendon-Dering in the County of Kent Knight and Baronet SIR IT is Bernards saying Nemo esse bonus plusquà m oporter potest There is not a man alive can be better then he should be and it is without doubt he is not good who would not be better Ubi incipis nolle fieri melior ibi etiam desinis esse bonus adding they be professedly the children of the luke-warm who say We will be no better then our Fathers Nolumus esse meliores quà m patres nostri whereas men are in Religion not to be stinted by any Antiquity but what is divine from God the Ancient of dayes The children of light be proficients they reach forward their spark comes to be a coale their coale a most vehement flame God hath kindled in your breast an ardent love to the house of God your zeale provokes many your zeale makes many a glad heart your zeale honours God who hath put honour upon you For them that honour him he will honour Your present employment in the honourable House of Commons in Parliament cals for zeale It is a fire 1. Active to set all on work the hand the tongue the head the heart 2. Quick speedy it is an utter enemy of delayes in its work 3. Vehement it bestoweth the top of affection and strength of intentions on what it loves 4. Aspiring it is the highest element mounts up nearer heaven nearer the Lord Anciently they who published Books were wont to honor Personages with the patronage of that which they found them to be lovers or professors of To whom then may this present word of zeale which once you heard with patience be Dedicated more properly then unto you Whose abilities in conjunction with zeale graced with magnanimity and modesty render you amiable to all that know you and honourable in mindes that heare of you I humbly pray your acceptance of this my memorizing your zeale for Zion You reade not here swelling words of vanity my study was to be not plausible but profitable Nos autem qui rerum magis quà m verborum amatores utilia potius quà m plausibilia sectamur This I present you withall to deliver my selfe from suspition and imputation of an unthankfull minde towards you who countenanced me with a * mention too honourable for me when I was in contempt who testifie my respect to you much honoured of good men for well-doing Others zeale would have consumed me but that your zeale z consumed you for I have seen God in you yet I have a greater bond of deeper acknowledgement of your zeale then your many favours to me-ward amount unto which is the faithful discharge of that place the Country hath most worthily put upon you and intrusted you withall wherein your forwardnesse for the good of the Church the welfare whereof is above my chiefe joy hath been to my comfort hath warmed many a heart and hath occasioned thanksgiving by many unto God The fruit of true wisdome is credit and confidence Eccl. 8. 1. A mans wisdome makes his face to shine and the boldnesse of his face shall be changed as faultlesse and fearlesse Adorn your personall sufficiencies with the true fear of God a wise mans treasure a zealous forwardnesse for Gods glory goodnes and good causes whereby your publique imployment may be blessed Keep good conscience the dearest jewell your heart can have in it Hold a constant countermotion to the course of the world minde the life of grace as that which farre excels all ornaments of nature art or policy that it animates and ennobles them What you doe for God doe it by his Word all Laws are to be rectified by Gods Law men must set their Watch by the Dyall and the Dyall by the Sun This way the more you labour the more rest will you finde Thus with my unfained prayers to the God of all grace That he may establish your heart unblamable in holinesse and guiding you by his counsell may after receive you to glory Otham in Kent Your Worships Petitioner to the Throne of Grace THO: WILSON DAVIDS ZEALE FOR ZION A SERMON Preached at WESTMINSTER Aprill 4. 1641. PSAL. LXIX IX The zeale of thy house hath eaten me up THis Booke of Praises and spirituall Songs was penned by diverse men This is evident by the various arguments in it It is the breviary of the Bible the anatomie of conscience the art of prayer This Psalme inspired of God was writ by Davids royall pen who was both the father and figure of Christ It is not purely proper to either Christ or David but common both to David and Christ with his Church To David typically to Christ truly to the Church prophetically The Psalme containeth A Petition A Reason I. A Petition most humbly requesting God 1 By supplication to be delivered from manifold troubles called waters Save mee O God Vers. 1. 2. By imprecation with purenesse of spirit against persecutors Let their table become a snare c. Verse 22. II. A reason of his request mentioned in many verses One ground of it was the nature of his cause his cause was good he suffered for his love to God For The Zeale of thy house hath eaten me up Verse 9. The zeale Zeale comes {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to be fervent as hot as fire it is not any single affection but the earnestnesse and increase of all the affections liking or disliking as love and hatred griefe and joy desires delights feares and anger boyled to the highest degree and to the hottest temper and intention 1 It is set against evill as sin and sinners with all that which opposeth Gods will and glory with kindled anger and indignation 2 It is carried towards goods as Gods Word and Glory Name and Worship and not our owne ends with all eagernesse Of thy house Gods house not his owne house or his own name and honour he was moved not so much with his owne injuries and contumelies more private as with that which was more publike 1 He had indignation for the Church corrupted the worship of God polluted his law violated and the things of God unworthily handled 2 He had a studious care and ardent love to have the true religion taught and professed the right worship of God established and preserved holy and pure from superstition errour and corruption in worship and worshippers that they may be Saints and not profane Me may be meant properly and simply both of David and Christ Eaten up Consumed or devoured as the fire fully burnt up the fat of some sacrifices
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