in good and for good as a thing disgracefull and sinfull The divell and his imps never wanted names to discover and deliver their spite and spirit against zeale alas what hath zeale done 1 It is sedition an enemy to government as inconsistent with royall lawes cries Haman a fit accuser whose word is no slander but an unjust judge in this point Haman said unto King Ahashuerus There is a certaine people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdome and their lawes are diverse from all people neither keepe they the Kings lawes Therefore it is not for the Kings profit to suffer them Esther Chap. 3. Verse 8. Zeale in piety is said to trouble the countrey whereas iniquity and luke-warmnesse ruines all as Ahab sinned and Elias is blamed Well did Elias retort it to him Not I but thou hast troubled Israel 1 King Chap. 18. Vers. 17 18. 2 It is singularity and odnesse but till a man seeme odde to the world he is never right in religion and righteousnesse in piety and sincerity A man must doe more than others {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Mat. 5. 47. It was well for Noah that he was a singular man in a sober and sincere singularity when the flood swept away the world of the ungodly and is it now proved bad to excell in following holinesse and approving things that are excellent Or is it onely the safe way to doe as most do and perish in the broad way and not rather to goe in the narrow way to life which few finde Matth. 7. 13 14. 3 It is heresie to receive and follow the truth of Gods fiery Law and everlasting Gospell in the dayes of Paul they called it heresie to preach the faith to defend the faith to keep the truth is by men of an antichristian spirit called heresie and men that keepe the commands of God and the faith of Jesus condemned as hereticall Acts 24. 14. 4 It is schisme to depart from the unhallowed crooked cursed wayes of unblest men If men for peace of conscience and desire to please and not offend God would make Gods law and not mens lusts their rule and so to walke humbly with God walke not in the wayes of men and save themselves from the untoward generation they are presently accused of pestilent schisme the devils scar-crow to keep men from zeale in religion and forwardnesse in godlinesse Acts 28. 22. Who are zealous against the zealous and the house of God as men set on fire of hell It was once Pauls sinne and misery concerning zeal persecuting the Church Phil. 3. 6. As the serpents mouth hath a flood aspersions reproaches accusations edicts and orders to cast after the woman the Church of Christ Rev. 12. 15. Satan hath still instruments full of fire and fury against the house of the Lord 1 Quenching all Zeale in preaching Christ as the High-priest and his complices filled with zeale and indignation put the blessed Apostles in the common goale for preaching Acts 5. 17 18. being as fraid of it as they are of fire one sparke they thinke would set all in a flame Vers. 24. There be men who put preaching of Christ and teaching of the people among their grievances They were grieved that they taught the people Acts 4. 2. crying out of such as unsufferable as they to Paul Away with such a fellow from the earth it is not fit most able judges that he should live Acts 22. 22. Forbidding men to preach in Christs name and Christs words as the very enemies of mens salvation 1 Thes. 2. 16. they would have us blinde and muzzle our mouthes except they may be soothed and smoothed men must be turned out of their places as hindrances in their way Ministers must turne out of the path Gods way cast up and our way to walke in and may not preach sincere sanctification and mortification but Constitutions and Canons Thus they did to the Prophets before us They say to the Seers see not and to the Prophets prophesie not unto us right things speake unto us smooth things prophesie deceits get you out of the way turne aside out of the path Cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us Isa. 30. 10 11. How many have been made to forsake their allegeance and fealty to Christ our King and break their vowes of obedience to him they gave the Nazarites wine to drinke and commanded the Prophets saying Prophesie not Amos 2. 12. 2 Censuring hearing of Gods Word as the great transgression in people who are to heare it as they would be saved as it is read The next Sabbath day came almost all the city together to heare the Word of God but when the Iewes saw the multitude they were filled with envy Acts 13. 44 45. Men are eaten up with envy at hearers of Sermons who wait on the Word of the Lord albeit men that reject his commands be vexed by God yet they who heare his commands be vexed by men as if they were no ordinary malefactors 3 Crying downe all prayer unlesse given to men and prescribed by a powerlesse prayerlesse Canon and Order which a gracious heart finds empty and heartlesse as once that decree Whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty dayes save of thee O King he shall be cast into the den of Lions Dan. 6. 7. O men greatly in love with prayer An order a godly man had rather lose his life as well as liberty than follow Daniel he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did afore time Dan. 6. 10. Men of Atheisticall spirits have twitted conceived prayer as extemporary and scornfully called it prayer by the spirit 4 Throwing downe the things of God as in elder time was complained of by Elias They have throwne downe thine altars 1 King 19. 10. 1 Rejecting Christs doctrine men cannot away with it the second commandement is cast out by vaine superstitions and the fourth commandement is violated by profane sports of whom it is true the Prophet speaks They have rejected the Word of the Lord Ier. 8. 9. 2 Despising Christs discipline whereby scandals might be prevented or removed that men might set up their own dominion that they may be Lords in the Church over Gods heritage whereas his government is not by any man or men at their pleasure to be taken away diminished or changed they refuse his government saying We will not have this man to raigne over us Luke 19. 14. 5 Disdaining Gods glory by small ones judged silly ones they the chief Priests saw the children crying Hosanna to the sonne of David they were sore displeased though it was according to Scripture and for Gods praise by babes Mat. 21. 15 16. The multitude which then was no multitude acknowledged Christ whom they dishonoured Mat. 21. 9. How many have a flouting spirit when young ones or
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
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