once and improving the miseries of the times by dilatory proceedings dead pay false musters betraying of advantages and letting opportunities of action slip with other stratagems and feates of pollicy very depths of Sathan profound as hell which I have not wit enough to reach If there be any such Judas's masked devills here let me informe them If their bosome intelligencer their Consciences I meane be asleepe perhaps it may arouse them a little that thunderbolt Esay 29.15 Wo unto them that dig deepe and seeke to hide their Counsell from the Lord and their workes are in the darke and they say who seeeth and who knoweth us and let them take that along with them too Esay 30.33 There is a Tophet prepared of old its deepe and large the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a streame of brimstone kindles it and let me tell them yet further If this fiery gulfe be not for such I do not know whether it can challenge any guests 5. There be others zealous in Religion but not enough they have like the Laodiccan Angell and Church some heate which makes them luke-warme but they are not violent their dram of zeale is tempered with so many ounces of discretion that the operation of it can scarce be discerned they are Orthodox in opinion not much exorbitant in conversation owne the great cause of the Kingdom set their faces towards heaven are not against Reformation but then they must not be over-driven you must not put them out of their owne pace they like not a Jehu's March It s good to be zealous but not too much say any what they will doe what they can their affected moderation will never suffer them to exceede the middle temper of that wise Statesman in Tiberius his Court who to be sure would not strike a stroke against the streame nor engage himselfe so far in any cause as might tend to his prejudice how-ever the world went he would be sure to save one Such is the polititian and wordly wise-man he will move no stone though never so needfull to be removed if he suspect that there lyes a Scorpion under it or if he apprehend the least feare that any part of the wall will fall upon himselfe well fare yet the Roman Consul that incomparable patriot who in his private and retired condition when he was removed from the Helme of the Common-wealth imployed all his force and strength to keep off those waves from the great vessell of the State which had well-nigh drowned the cock-boat of his owne private Fortunes 6. There be others zealous and violent for a while but they hold not out to the end The Philosopher sayes No violent thing lasts long It s true in Divinity as well as in Nature If the violent motion proceede from some externall artificiall cause and not from a rooted stirring principle within when that which is the cause is removed the motion arising from it ceaseth If our violent stirrings and heates of zeale be not from the right fountaine of heate the heart tract of time and other occurrances will be calm them by degrees and wear them out the stony ground set forward and put on with great animosity at the first but when difficulties and unlooked for dangers when a storme of persecution arose then they plucked in the tender horne their zeale cooled their courage abated their resolutions fell like leaves in Autumne In the beginning of this Parliament when the Lord tolled us on with fresh mercies and allured us into the wildernesse as the Prophet speakes that there he might give us the valley of Achor for a doore of hope when every day we were pasti miraculis as Cyprian speakes feasted with miracles in ordinary the Lord setting himselfe on purpose to ingage us firmely in his worke by divers rare and astonishing providences that all bridges might be cut off and that we might never thinke to retire backe againe At that time many that were not sound at the heart-roote joyned with us and who more resolute then they but when the wheele of Providence seemed to turne and many sad clouds began to gather and threaten a storme now they tacked about and set their sailes backe they were willing to follow us out of Egypt when they had seene the wonders and miracles of God at our departure thence but when they came into the wildernesse and met with Scorpions and fiery Serpents and great afflictions then their hearts fainted and they fell on murmuring as the unbeleeving Jewes and that mixed multitude did Numb. 11.4 A man might as well never own the cause of God as afterwards desert it whatsoever a man hath done and suffered for Religion and there be many that have done and suffered much It s al lost and forgotten when once he begins to looke backe Ezek. 18.24 Judas and Demas and Hymaeneus and Alexander the Copper-smith with other such flinchers what were they the better for all their hopefull beginnings when afterwards they declined their zeale-being all spent their violence tyred and all their alacrity lost It s not good beginnings but perseverance in Religion that takes this glorious prize and wins the garland Be faithfull unto the death and I will give thee a Crown of life Revel. 2.10 7. I may not passe over another sort without a gentle touch such I meane as are unfeinedly cordiall in the cause of God and zealous for it yet do not a little hurt to themselves and others and the Cause it selfe too through their indescreete and unwary managing of it they desire nothing more then this That Christ might raigne and weild the Scepter of his Kingdom according to his own hearts content in all the parts of the Land they are active in endeavours for Reformation and this deserves just praise but they step out of their bounds sometimes exceede the limits of their speciall calling in which the Will of God is they should containe themselves How happy were it for us if all would keepe within their proper spheare and wherein so ever they are called therein to abide with God 1 Cor. 7.24 But there be some that do {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} overstretch themselves beyond their line and Compasse 2 Cor. 10.14 They reach and straine after a perfect Reformation of the Church and that is well but they run before the Parliament and do anticipate the worke taking it out of those able and faithfull hands unto which God hath committed it and that deserves just censure That have a great zeale of God Oh that it were a little more according to knowledge We have all entred into the bonds of a Religious Conant with God in which among other things we have vowed our utmost endeavours to reforme Religion Worship Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and withall to draw the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest
uniformity and to labour the extirpation of heresies sects and schismes which how we can make good if every one take liberty to reare up a modell and platforme according to his owne principles without respect unto publique Authority I cannot see How can it be avoyded but there will be divisions in the worke when those that should carry it on act severall wayes without any regard to one another I wish such would consider that zeale in Religion though it be exceeding good and necessary yet it needes a sober guide much wisedome is requisite to prescribe when and where and how far and in what manner and order to proceede in carrying on a worke of so great consequence as a publique Church-Reformation is Zeale except it be ordered aright in conflicting with corruptions and abuses whether reall or pretended useth the razor sometimes with such eagernesse that Religion it selfe is thereby endangered and through hatred of tares the good corne in the field of God is pluckt up That which Isocrates said of strength is as true of zeale that if it be tempered with sound wisedome and a right Judgement it doth much good but without such a mixture it doth much mischiefe to our selves and others like Granadoes and other fire Workes which if they be not well looked to and discreetly ordered when they break do more hurt to those that cast them then to the enemy no man can be ignorant of the ill effects of an indiscreet and ill governed zeale which like unto a fire when it burnes out of compasse sets all the house and towne in a combustion It may perhaps justly be doubted whether a too slack moderation or an over-violent zeale be worse seeing the one does no good and the other does much hurt discretion without zeale is slow paced and zeale without discretion heady take therefore St. Bernards counsell let zeale spur on discretion and discretion reine zeale joyne them both together and the conjunction will be lovely I would not willingly drop one word to quench one sparke of any true Heaven-bred zeale my errand is as our Saviours was rather to kindle this fire Luke 12.49 which every Sacrifice must be salted with Marke 9.4 Let us all labour to blow up and to keepe alive this Sacred fire upon the Altar of our hearts that it may inflame our devotion towards God kindle our love towards men and burne out all our owne corruptions let it never coole with age nor abate with opposition nor be quenched with any floods of persecution whatsoever 1. As the Apostle said of patience so may I of zeale we have all neede of it especially Reformers 1. Because of the glory of God which we ought to have a tender resentment of more then of our owne lives or whatsoever is deare or precious unto us in this world Our Saviour resented the injuries and reproaches offered unto God as done unto himselfe Rom. 15.2 Because of the honour and happinesse of the Church which we ought to prefer before all our owne Interests Psal. 137.6 I have read of Ambrose that he was so zealous for the Church that he wished any storme might light upon himselfe rather then the State of it should be endangered Reverend Calvin would be content to saile over ten Seas for an uniforme draught of Religion amongst the Evangelicall Churches Moses and Paul were so transcendent in this kinde of zeale that they would have redeemed the Churches losses with their owne damnation 3 Because of the great difficulties and obstructions which we must make account to encounter with If you set your faces towards Sion the Jebusites hold it which you must remove with an Host of Idolls to boote even the blind and the lame the abhorring of Davids soule or else you shall never take the Fort 2 Sam. 5 6 7. If you will endeavour with Elias to put down the Priests of Baal Jezabel will send you a message of defiance threatning to make the Land too hot for us There are many Lyons that lye in our way it s onely a zealous violence that can Sampson-like get victory over them and honey out of them If we declare our for heaven all the faction and power of hell will be up in Armes against us Therefore we have neede of much violence 2. This will stand us in much stead 1. It will make us bold and daring it will put us upon the uttermost adventures Love and zeale will if neede be run upon the Cannons mouth dare through deaths gauntlet Cant. 8.7 Esther knew not whether she should prevaile yet she would venture though to the apparent hazarding of her Crowne and life Est 4.16 Zeale and love blush at the Name of difficulty 2. It will quicken you up to mighty endeavours a bow full bent will violently deliver the Arrow and carry it home to the marke with full strength a peece full charged will go off with great force A zealous Christian is like a ship saith Clemens carried on with full sayles towards heaven 3. It will make you constant and steady That 's no heaven-borne violence which tract of time or opposition weares out True zeal is like the Philosophers {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a sparkling firy stone no floods can quench it 4. It will make us prevalent and successefull in our endeavours if any thing in the world can Love is a pleasing Tyrant saith Chrysostome the power of it is above all power it raignes over all impediments in heaven and earth prevailing both with God and man as Jacob did This zeale then being so necessary and usefull labour we to get our hearts stored with it and see that it be of the right stampe sincere and upright ayming onely at the right end Gods glory and the Churches good Let there be no sonnes of Zebedee among us to project for themselves places of honour at the right hand or the left when Christ comes into his Kingdome away with all private designes preserve we our intentions single and sincere and we shall prosper the better 2. Let our zeale flame out upon all occasions let nothing smother the operation of it Aristotle writes of the bathes in the Pythecusian Islands that they are fiery hot yet send out no flame I cannot commend such a zeale which is smothered and pent up in the heart and gets no vent hath no externall operation a treasure concealed and an hidden vertue are both alike When that prophane King had burnt the Roll the Prophet wrote it over againe with an addition of many other like words Jer. 36.32 The more Gods Worship Ordinances Servants are opposed the more will true-hearted Zealots appeare for them to assist and vindicate them They write of a fish that hath a sword but no heart but I hope better things of you 3. Let your zeale be guided by the right Rule which is the Word of God In al your consultations and
darknesse and shadow of death Oh the bright star of Jacobâ— the rising and Orient lustre of it to such as love darkenesse better then light it is of an Ominous and dismall presage it portends their kingdome will come downe their mis-giving hearts are afraid of the scorching Influence of it as the devills were of Christs comming lest it should torment them before the time Mat. 8.29 And now is it possible trow ye that such sonnes of Belial to whom the presence of Christ in his Ordinances and Worship is the greatest burthen and torment and as it were an hell upon earth Is it possible that such should ever expect or conceive the least hope of reigning with him for ever in heaven Oh yes they pretend for heaven as much and as loud as any others and they are for Religion too even for the true Reformed Protestant Profession and they are zealous yea violent for it and that is the reason you must beleeve them why they have drawne their swords and taken up Armes It s for no other end doubtlesse but to defend the true Protestant profession with his Majesties just Prerogative and Crown-rights which the Parliament with the faction of Brownists and Anabaptists that adhere to it endeavour to destroy It s a true saying that of the Romane Orator * There is nothing so horrid no cause so desperate which may not be palliated and covered over with glorious and glittering pretences As Herod would have the wisemen bring him word when they had found Christ for he meant to come and worship the babe when his intent was to slay it But as Tertullian wittily told the Gentiles when they contended so fiercely for the worship of Jupiter That whatsoever they pretended Caesar was their chiefe God and that they worshipped him with more devotion then Jupiter The like may I say of these Herodians or Court-zealots call them what you will and let them pretend what they list for God they are Caesars by whole-sale in Religion affection conscience soule and body and all Caesars they measure Religion by the length of the Scepter being resolved to beleeve the worst of Popery and to practise the worst of Tyranny even to the destruction of the three Kingdomes if Caesar do but please to declare the one to be the True Reformed Protestant Profession and the other The due Rights and Priviledges of Parliament much like the Boutefew that Tully speakes of C. Blos Cumanus I think it was that would to shew his affection to his friend do whatsoever he should bid him though it were to set fire on the Capitoll 2 Not all out so desperate though bad enough is another sort of neutralizing temporizers that are just of Gallios temper for matter of Religion not caring a jot whether the Arke or Dagon be set up whether Christ or Antichrist prevaile the true Religion or Popery both or neither to them is a matter of indifferency and not so much as the turning of an hand they passe not at all for such things onely they have the discretion to set their sayles as the wind blowes and to wheele about as they see occasion that they may be of the prevayling side much like the man in Macrobius who during the times of civill war betwixt Antony and Augustus Caesar had with much Art and diligence taught his two crowes their severall notes the one to say Ave Imperator Antoni the other Ave Imperator Augustâ— that so when the warres should be over and the controversie determined whether party soever prevayled he might be sure to have a bird for the Conquerour If there chance to be any such within these walls I wish they would sadly and ripely consider that speech of our Saviour He that is not with me is against me Mat. 12.30 and that grave expression of a great Prelate This cause of God is of that Nature that if a man do not appeare in it and gather with Christ he scattereth from him there being no middle condition possible in which a man can close or side with any other than the devill who joynes not with Christ 3. Such as value their wealth ease credit reputation above Christ and his Kingdome to come to Church now and then to heare the Word performe some cheape outward duties which may looke like a forme of godlinesse none will blame them for this It were disgracefull to be Atheists unprofitable to be Papists or recusants thus far they go and its faire too but to be at any expence for Christ to purchase his kingdom with any prejudice to themselves in their credit or estates he must pardon them for that they love a Religion contrary to Davids disposition which will cost them nothing these have taken the Covenant many of them onely to save charges for they spare not to professe that they will trust God with their soules though they perjure rather then the Parliament with their Estates They will lash out more in furnishing a banket or some unnecessary entertainment spend more in one cast at Bowles or Dice then ever they can be gotten to part with all their life long for the glory of God the upholding of his cause and Gospell and the preservation of an 100000. Christians in the three Kingdomes the men of this world they are violent for their Mammon Give them the fatnesse of the earth Take the dew of heaven who will A right brood of old Gadarens who can be content to have a whole Legion of Devils roost in the Kingdome and nestle in their own hearts as in strong holds rather than they will be at so much cost as the losse of their hoggs to purchase the dispossession of them 4. There be others that seeme violent in matters of Religion none more forward in appearance then they but they are not sincere and cordiall As it is with them that are sicke of a Fever while the face and outward parts burne the heart quakes and shivereth with cold so it is with these pretenders their countenance Jehu like is full of flushing heate in their face and outward carriage you may see their zeale for the Lord but if you could put but your hands within their brests you should finde their hearts Nabal-like as cold as a stone It s no new devise but an old trick of hypocriticall spirits to seeme devout onely for their owne ends to drive their own designes under a colour of being zealous for God Ignatius observed there were some of this stamp in his time who made a trade and an occupation of Christ to get wealth by him shuffling in Religon to deale themselves a thriving game in the world I know not whether it be true but the Vox Populi the Common opinion and voyce of the people is That in Country City Armies I hope not in the Parliament there are and have beene too many who in publike places of Imployment at the publike charge drive their private designes enjoying both at