containing all necessarie rules of Faith d Zelus cum in bono accipitur est quidam feruor animi quo mens relicto humano timore pro defensione veritatis accenditur Alcuinus The office of zeale about this is to preserue the honour thereof vntainted from all blemishes of error staines of heresie indignities of Tyrants and Atheists striuing for the faith of the e Phil. 1.27 Gospell Holding fast f T it 1.9 the faithfull word not quarrelling to separation for euery difference in opinion touching points not fundamentall and vndecided In which case no man must be iudged for his doubting g Rom. 14.1 See the marginall note of our last Translators nor may any doubting man iudge others who h Ibid. ver 3 doubt not The fire of zeale must blaze highest in maintenance of capitall truths i Iude ver 3. Earnestly contending for the faith once deliuered vnto the Saints Wise men will defend that part of a Citie most which may occasion most dammage by suffering a breach And zeale will then especially be as one of the Cherubins with a flaming sword to keepe safe the word of Life when the chiefest mysteries are corrupted or questioned Saint Paul when the honour of his Gospell lay at the stake seemeth vnable to expresse the heate he was in marke his vehemency though we saith he or an Angell from heauen should preach any other Gospell vnto you k Gal. 1.8 then that which we haue preached vnto you let him be accursed A heauie doome most vehemently denounced And yet not satisfying himselfe in shewing so much zeale as he was able to expresse by one single pronouncing this dreadfull anathematisme he doubles his speech as if the fornace of his heart were now heated with zeale seauen times hotter then it was wont l Ibid. ver 9. As we said before so say I now againe if any man preach vnto you another Gospell then that ye haue receiued let him be accursed Thus in cases of like consequence must we be affected But to be all on fire in defence of questionable truths which if they were yeelded vnto vs could adde nothing to that stocke of graces which accompanie saluation is a thing ill beseeming those diuine flames of holy zeale To what profit are those hot disputes and sharpe contentions about the place assigned for that maze of horror vnto vngodly men the Oecumenicall Assise the Equalitie of glorie the Hierarchie of Angels and many more He that putteth himselfe vpon the office of a Superuisor and Controuler of other mens opinions touching points of this nature may breed vaine ianglings but will edifie but a little These things are of the nature of sauce rather then meate dish them out as curiously as Art can deuise and when all is done they nourish not Marke such as are zealous of spirituall gifts if they seeke not to excell to the vse of edifying you shall be sure to finde them excelling in vanitie And more quarrels arise by one such conceited Doctor then many wise men with all their wisedome shall be able to take vp This is that bloudie knife that cutteth asunder the very sinewes of Christian loue This causeth Professors of the same faith to leade huge armies of sectaries like Pigmies and Cranes one against another so wasting their zeale in defence of trifles that they haue none left to make a wall of fire about points of more moment With what heart can we ioyne against a common enemie when euery little difference is prosecuted with such heate as if it were vnlawfull or at least dangerous to vnite our forces for feare of fiering one anothers tents by encamping together He that can be so hote with his brother for a trifle would certainly exceed the proportion of any cause with an enemie destroying more by intemperance then he is able to build by his zeale Witnesse the bickerings betweene some Lutherans Caluinists as they are by some nick-named which haue giuen RELIGION since the last reformation thereof a greater blow then all the thunderbolts of Rome set together Is it not Nuts to our Romish neighbours to see men belch out such bitter raylings and to put out such tart volumes one against another touching the manner of Christ discension into hell the libertie of the Sabbath the power of Witches the possibilitie of Demoniacall possessions the seate of faith the superioritie of preaching reading and praying In all which and many more the diuisions of Reuben are great thoughts of heart Is it now a time to be diuided among our selues when all our forces vnited are little enough to withstand the common aduersarie Oh when will our eyes be opened to see our hearts be mollified to bewaile the breaches of the enemy vpon vs by such vnbrotherly childish contentions among our selues Ere while wee could see nothing in S. Paul but fire when the foundation of the Gospell began to shake by the vndermining of seducers But in an inferiour point which was but as a Pinacle not of so much necessitie as beautie to set out the Pile he layeth his hand off the bellowes and puts out the fire For being consulted touching Virginitie m 1. Cor. 7. and hauing no particular direction therein from the Lord he sparingly and mildly set downe his iudgement and that by way of friendly aduise onely not of command from the Lord. And as if this were not enough to manifest his moderation he will by no means peremptorily determine the question but giueth euery man libertie therein that is of another mind n Ibid. ver 36 to do what he will These two presidents of the Apostle may suffice to declare what temper our zeale must ascend vnto in defence of the Word Maintaine we must with all our might the Principles of faith But of inferiour doubtful truths we may onely gently discourse what seemes most probable not violently hold them to dissention o 2. Tim. 2.23 c. Schisme no though the grounds of such our opinions seeme neuer so solide Herein it is as honourable to yeeld as to conquer since euerie man must follow the things which p Rom. 14.19 make for peace and wherewith one may edifie another 2. The worship of God 2. Another particular which zeale must fortifie is that Worship of God which the Word prescribeth The second Commandement which interdicts Idolatrie and false worship doth as firmely enioyne zeale for preseruation of that true worship which the Lord doth appoint Therfore the Apostle ioynes Zeale and Worship together requiring that worshippers be zealous q Rom. 12.11 in spirit seruing or worshipping the Lord. It is then a good and comely thing to be zealously affected towards and for the worship of God For this our Lord was so zealous that the zeale of the very house of God did euen euen eate him vp by the house no doubt vnderstanding and meaning Synecdochically the whole Worship r Quis comeditur
first and second Rules pag. 441. third Rule pag. 444. fourth Rule Ibid. fifth Rule pag. 450. Discretions Rules touching the Circumstance of Time 3. The Circumstance of Time pag. 459. 1. Rule hereabout pag. 460. the second Rule 462. wherein a man may somewhat yeelde to the times and yet not be a Temporizer pag. 467. How farre euill men may in some cases be tollerated pag. 469. some indiscretion to bee pardoned to some men pag. 478. CHAP. VIII Of Compassion the last thing with which Zeale must be qualified page 479. False Compassion page 482. Three sorts of Compassion page 485. The fruitlesnesse of Zeale without Compassion page 490. THE FIRE of the SANCTVARIE Vncouered OR A TRACT OF ZEALE CHAP. I. EXCELLENT and Admirable is the Nature Vse of the holy Fire of Zeale No acceptable Sacrifice can be offered without it a Nullum omnipotenti Deo est tale Sacrificium quale est Zelus animaruâ— Greg. hom 12. in Ezek. no oblation it selfe so pleasing to God yet no one Grace so much in disgrace what by ignorance of and emnity against this arch enimy to sin b Irae sua stimulum iustitiae ZeluÌ„ putant cuÌ„ vitium virtus putatur culpa sine metu cumulatur Greg de past cura lib. 3. cap. 1. admâ—n 17. Some take the heate which their fiery disposition blowes vp to be Zeale for Religion and let vice once bee thought a virtue What a mountaine of euils will soone be cast vp without feare of ill-doing Others truly zealous are often at a losse when they set vpon the chace which prophane men espying thinke that warrant enough to pull downe the whole Fabricke of Zeale because indiscreete Zeale hath sparkled two farre And laying themselues in ballance with such zealots suppose that of the two themselues though the worst be the wisest men Thus is the pretious fire of Zeale blasphemed because mistaken And when more then now How few Ieremies feele that fire in their bones c Ier. 20.9 which will not be kept in How many ready to cut in whole riuers vpon that little sparke which is in those few How few Dauids that are eaten d Psal 69.9 vp with the zeale of Gods house How many zealous to e Psal 83.12 take to themselues the houses of God in possession and eate them vp The generall coldnesse of these last and therfore worst daies benuÌ„ming our spirits reqâ—ires a fire to warme them And the malice of the world puts a danger vpon Zeale vnlesse we haue wisedome so to guide this fire as to auoid the Snares which malice will set before vs and endeauour to hunt vs into The more disgrace to be zealous the more need to shew zeale accompanied with discretion to rule this heauenly flame Fire-workes proue dangerous to the vnskilfull Better quench that fire which is already kindled then to kindle that which we cannot gouerne It cannot then but bee a needfull and gratefull worke to shew the Nature and Qualities of a Fire so vsefull that he can be no good Christian who is without it so vnknowne that hardly the best know the properties of it and how to vse it How little hath beene written on this Theame a more able and exquisite Lynceus hath made report and powred out a zealous complaint against the great iniustice offered to zeale for that no man hath done her the right of a iust Treatise This I thinke is one maine cause that makes the world so strange to her and her to the world The Antients f Amb. in Psal 119. Greg Naz in LaudeÌ„ Heronis alibi August tract 10. in Iohn nec nâ—â— in Psal 69. Chrisost hom 62. ad Sopul Greg. Mag. Hom. 12. in Ezek. Bern. Ser. 23 24. 49. super Cant. alibi who taught it rather by Practise then Pen spent more lines in the praise then in the description of it After them the Schoole-men their translators either spake lesse or lesse to the purpose For by that time a thing nick-named Discretion had rak't out this fire Hee now was the onely man that could chop Diuinitie into smallest shreds and driue it nearest together placing Religion rather in Contemplation then Action No maruaile therefore if Zeale got no more rome in their Voluminous Writings and that as if she had deserued no better then Iezabel there is scarce so much left her as the skull and the feete and the palmes of her hands to know her by Long after the rode of Zeale had been vntrauelled and the High way growne ouer with the Mosse of Key-coldnesse New Zelographers arose who like Caleb Ioshua in coasting of Canaan began to trauell and discouer that Region anew setting vp way-markes and encouraging others to go vp and possesse it Of which first discouery I hope it will offend no good man to say that it deserues more honour then the latter more elaborate Descriptions of Others who taking direction from those first Spyes haue made the paths more plaine and the way more direct Those first Searchers of late time gaue a good ghesse at the Nature and Bounds of Zeale but drew it not in so large a Map as could bee wished Their meditations and labours in this kind are herein like the Obseruations of seuerall Trauellers into Forraine Countries some obseruing one thing and some another but none all that deserues to be noted It will not then bee amisse out of the seuerall Trauells of Others and mine owne Suruey to compile a Compleate Treatise of Zeale In persuite of which proiect my cheefe aime is to set forth to life the Nature the Obiects the Grounds the Ends and the Qualification of this Sanctuary Fire CHAP. II. Of the Nature of Zeale This Chapter hath 3. Sections THE first thing to bee knowne is the Nature of Zeale To attaine this wee must first search out the precize signification of the word then the seuerall acceptations of it as by vse of speech it is applied and thirdly ariue at some Definition of it Sect. 1. Sect. 1. Of the signification of the word Zeale The word it selfe is Greeke which is therefore retained in the best later Languages because the most Learned could neuer finde another word fully to expresse it as he a Ioan. Driedo de Râ—gul dogm S. Script lib. 3. tract 2. Cap. 1. Augustinus autem quibusdam in locu Suidaâ— alij vtriusque linguae periti qui non habentes latinum vocabulum quo vim verbi Zeli sufficienter explicarent c. inquit ille that hath done best in explication thereof hath obserued Zeale b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ferueo bullio Eustathius annotat vero per onomatopaeian esse factum hoc verbum à sono literae is a branch of that Roote say Gramarians which signifieth a hyssing noise made by burning hot mettle cast into water Zeale then in strict acception of the word is a fiery hissing heat fighting
sometimes to be so zealous in Holy Dauid by this Rule was a sound Zealot indeed Hee often burned in spirit when he suppressed the flame from the view of man God onely discerned the vent hee gaue it I was dumbe with silence I held my peace euen from good and my sorrow was stirred My heart was hot within me while I was musing the fire burned Then spake I with my tongue Lord make mee to know mine end c. His heart was first on fire before the flame was in his tongue and when hee opened the tunnel it did after the nature of fire ascend and shewed it selfe first vnto God This Zeale of his did not make him fiery onely in a point or two for he saith of himselfe e Psal 119 128. I esteeme all thy precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate euery false way On the other side we may see the Zeale of the Pharises discouered for counterfeit They tooke great paines to set out a glorious outside and a painted face of Profession but within were no better then painted Sepulchers or the Sumpters of f See Speeds Chron. Cardinal Wolsey If you looke vpon their outward carriage it is with as much austerity and rigour as may be Behold their very pots and platters Math. 23. you shall see them bright without but looke not within least the filthinesse annoy you they being filled to the brim with extortion excesse Outwardly they appeare righteous vnto men but within they are full of hypocrisie and iniquity To this must bee added that euen in their outward Actions their Zeale is not vniuersall They are more carefull for Mint and Annis and Cummin then for the weightier matters of the Law iudgement mercy and faith For these haultings our Sauiour brands them with the Hypocrites marke ouer and ouer three times together Hypocrites in graine If then a Minister set himself in great heat against some sins and not against all The Triall If he presse many duties on his flock and performe few or none himselfe denounce terrors with a thundring tone but not comfort the broken spirit inueigh against Conformers on the one side or Puritans on the other and yet liue like an Atheist let his pretence bee what it will his End is not Gods glory for then his Zeale would be Vniuersall I do not say that he should at the same time do all things at once There is a time to launce and cut as well as to bind vp and heale All Texts afford not al points al sorts of applicatioÌ„ All Anditories require them not But I speake this onely to this end that a constaÌ„t zealous temper must bee shewed in performance of euery particular duty throughout so oft as opportunity and occasion are offered and that as well in life as in Preaching or any other Ministeriall Seruice If he be not thus proportionable in all he is not truly zealous in any So for a Magistrate to be very sharpe against some outrages committed by meane and contemptible persons but letting alone such as offend as highly in other kinds perhaps in the same kinds too if they be persons of Qualitie or otherwise can make him by friends To bee hot against strangers but cold enough in punishing such as are vnder his owne roofe to seeme zealous for God and the King onely to prosecute with more violence such as they beare a secret grudge vnto to boast of impartialitie and yet giue no countenance to Religious men but rather for this very cause that they labour to liue strictly in the sense of the Apostle g Ephe. 5.15 although they bee euery way conformable to the Lawes of God the Church and Common-wealth to haue a preiudicate opinion of them and a secret heart-burning against them this is not zeale but furious passion blazing onely that way which the wind driues it and flaming as the base affectation of windie popularitie which God abhorreth shall happen to blow it vp Iehu was so sicke of this disease that he was not ashamed to be his owne Herald to proclaime it vnder the name of zeale fathering his bastard furie vpon zeale for the h 2. King 10.16 Lord when none but the base ambition of his owne false heart begat it He must needs call Iehonadab to witnesse his zeale when Gods Spirit discouered it to be but an hypocriticall ladder to ascend the Throne Could that be zeale to grub vp Ahabs stocke by the roots for his sinne against God that could yet suffer those monuments of Idolatry in Dan and Bethel to remaine as quiet as much esteemed as much adored as euer before in Ahabs life and that by Iehu himselfe How is it that the Lord complaines Iehu tooke no heed to walke in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart i Ibid. ver 31 c Here is euidence enough to proue his zeale to be counterfeit and to giue all men notice how little the Lord cares for such flashes of lightning in stead of a solid fire of heauenly zeale Such also who being in inferiour offices take occasion then to crie quit with some that heretofore did offend them and present a few poore snakes letâ—ing more escape vnobserued that deserue punishment more cannot so bleare the eyes of the world as to be taken for zealous They will be discouered by the most blincking drunkards to be malitious reuengers of their owne priuate passions and that it is not conscience of an Oath but other respects that make them so busie Finally by this all ciuill Professors and formall hypocrâ—tes may find themselues empty of zeale for Gods glorie in the best actions they performe What shall the zealous fastings k Isai 58.3.4 and sacrifices l Cap. 66.3 of hollow hearted Christians who want zeale to kindle them gaine at Gods hand but reproofe and loathing That is not zeale that brings men to Church on the Lords day and yet suffereth them to liue like Diuels all the weeke after that will make a man pray in the Church or in his familie in the morning and yet neuer put him in mind to any purpose of God all the day after vnlesse to blaspheme his terrible Name that will make men seeme deuout in the duties of the first Table and yet suffer them to be very deceitfull couetous and corrupt in their dealings with men that will carrie them with violence against an oath but not against iugling and lying for their owne aduantage 2. Rule zeale is moued by sinne not by priuate iniuries or profits 2. True zeale is set on worke by the consideration of sinne against God and not by iniuries or profits of our owne Zealous Lot doubtles suffered much and long vnder the vncleane vnnaturall barbarous Sodomites Yet we heare of no fretting or impatience at their vnneighborly dealing Nay when he was in perill of his life they readie to offer violence vnto him and to pull his house
coldly but with sharpnesse and seueritie reproouing such as flatter themselues in their owne deuices not obscurely and in riddles but so plainly as all may vnderstand as Oecolompadius noteth vpon this place Pauls charge to Titus is in effect no lesse when hee biddeth him rebuke with all l Tit. 2.15 authoritie It behoues a Minister to do his dutie not sluggishly and remisly or with any feare but to teach and thunder out reproofes freely when need requireth saith m Theod. in hunc loc Oportet eum no ignauè ac remissè nec cum vlla timiditate hoc facere sed cum libertate docere increpare vbi opus est Theodoret. There are some sins quoth n Chrysost hom 5. in Tit. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysostome which must be expressed euen with a kinde of commanding authoritie The Adulterer the Fornicator the couetous Mammonist must thus bee handled Nor doth the Apostle say simply rebuke with authoritie but with all authority to shew that he would haue Titus to exercise authority ouer these with libertie and freedome To Precepts of this kind we may adde a cloud of witnesses The time would faile me to tell of Phinehas Eliah Michaiah Nehemiah Ieremiah and all the seruants of God of old of whose seruice in this kinde done vpon rebellious sinners himselfe saith * Hos 6.5 I haue hewen them by the Prophets I haue slaine them by the words of my mouth What boldnesse our Lord himself vsed towards the Pharisies and others when need required the holy Euangelists plentifully shew How oft did hee rebuke the Pharisies to their heads charging them with dunsticall blindnesse deepe and cursed hypocrisie denouncing many woes against them calling them hypocrites a generation of Vipers children of hell and of the Diuell Zealous Paule was neuer more mad in persecuting the Church from Christ then after his conuersion hee was bold and fierce in a godly māner against all that would seeke to turne men frō Christ Obserue his carriage towards Elimas the Sorcerer labouring to turne Sergius Paulus Deputie of Paphos from the o Acts 13. faith The Text noteth of Paul that he was filled with the holy Ghost Verse 9. meaning with zeale euen as a vessell filled with strong liquor till it be readie to burst againe that he set his eyes vpon him with so much fiercenesse as if hee meant to run through him And then after this lightning he addeth that terrible thunder Verse 10. O full of all subtiltie and mischiefe thou child of the diuell thou enemie of all righteousnesse wilt thou not ceasse to peruert the right wayes of the Lord Nor was he thus full of the Spirit of the Lord and of iudgement to declare vnto cursed Elimas his transgressions onely but euen to reproue Peter himselfe withstanding him to the face and blaming him before a great multitude of Peters owne Disciples when hee saw and found that he walked not vprightly according to the truth of the p Gal. 2.10 Baronius withstands Paul as stifly as Paul doth Peter and dares maintaine that Peter was not to bee blamed Annal tom 1. Anno Chri. 51 num 39. And in his Index to that Tome it is said of Peter Ab omni culpa redditur immunu in contentione quam habuit cum Paulo Meaning in that discourse in the place before cited Gospell Indeed I confesse that S. Paul did cunningly watch his time to do it when none of the Colledge of Cardinals could be by to resist him But yet for all this it was well for Paul that he died before Baronius liued or else the Cardinall would haue schooled him and taught him better manners although it should haue bene with putting the lie vpon the holy Ghost himselfe for being so bold with their god Peter It was the resolution of an Heathen Diuine q Seneca Audebo peccanti mala sua ostendere vitia eius si non excidero inhibebe I will be so bold to tell an offender his faults if I lop not his vices I will yet inhihite them And shall this bee thought too much for a Christian and a Diuine too to attempt If thou loue the Lord Iesus with all thine heart saith deuout S. Bernard r Sup. Cant. Ser. 44 Etenim si amas Dominum Iesum toto corde nunquid si videris eius iniurias contemptumque ferre vllatenus aequo animo poteru◠c. canst thou possibly beare the iniuries and contempts put vpon him with any patience wilt thou not rather as one rapt with the spirit of reuenge heate and like a mightie man that shouteth by reason of wine bestirre thy selfe and say with Dauid Psal 119.139 My zeale hath consumed me because mine enemies haue forgotten thy word Good Dauid if he espied any that were enemies to God hee would neuer make daintie vpon any politique respects to proclaime himselfe an enemie to them Do not I saith he hate them ô Lord that hate thee Psal 139. and am not I grieued with those that rise vp against thee Yea I hate them with a perfect hatred I count them mine enemies As if hee should say saith ſ Hom. 9. in Ezek. Pensa quantum te diligo qui tuorum hostiū contra me excitare inimicitias non pertimesco c. Gregorie Consider ô Lord how much I loue thee that am not afraid for thy sake to stirre vp all the emnitie of thine enemies against my selfe by hating them for hating thee And is it now the part of a foole to do the like If we more seriously think on this dutie Who or what should hinder any seruant of God from such a boldnesse Good men they will not dislike but praise him for it Wicked men themselues loue to see the whip cling close to other mens backs and can applaud oft times that boldnesse which draweth bloud at euery stroake so themselues bee not touched This conuinceth the world that boldnesse of it selfe is good and would be relished of all if some were not too bad It is onely mens badnesse that maketh boldnesse bad Corrupt stomacks turne the best meate into ill humours The Cooke cannot helpe this but the Physitian As for such as without cause take offence hereat why should they be feared What for their power of hurting Nay God will protect his seruants till they haue done their worke from all the fat bulls of Basan be their necks neuer so strong their rage and furie neuer so great Witnesse his protection of Eliah from Iezabel of Christ and the Apostles from the bloudie Pharisies and so of all his seruants till his counsell was fulfilled and their taske performed Till then there is no way to let in enemies vpon a man but by his owne cowardise If he stand it out he is safe if he yeeld he perisheth That of the Lord to t Ier. 1. Ieremie is a pregnant proofe of this seeming Paradox When the Lord sent
in our selues pull moates out of other mens eyes and neuer complaine of beames in our owne take liberty from others and giue it to our selues q Gal. 2.4 force others to circumcision whiles we breake the Law r Gal. 6.13 be in a rage at that man that eateth our sheepe but neuer take offence at the sheepe that eates vp the man Depopulators executing Lawes against sheep stealers let vs blush to say wee ayme at Gods Glory be we neuer so hot against other mens sinnes If the Apostle espy such fire breaking out hee will soone suppresse it with that cold water Thou that teachest another teachest thou not thy selfe Thou that preachest a man should not steale dost thou steale Thou that saiest a man should not commit adultery dost thou commit adultery Å¿ Rom. 2.21 22. Thou that abhorrest Idols dost thou commit Sacriledge Canst thou lash another mans back and not thinke to be lashed thy self when thou layest thy back open vnto him and puttest a whip in his hand Either bee sure to bee more righteous then Iudah or else forbeare to sit in iudgement on Tamar least shee though bad enough be the better of the two thine owne conscience drag thee to the Barre lift her to the Bench and thou proue the Felon she the Iudge 7. True Zeale is constant 7. Rule Zeale is constant No estate persons places or time can either put it out or abate it True Zeale will not onely shew it self in a zealous beginning either to preach or professe the Gospell while Ministers want Liuings and the People somewhat that a zealous profession may bring them in but also when they are at the topp of preferment and the greatest glut of outward prosperity Looke vpon Dauid and you shall finde him no lesse zealous with the Crowne on his head then when God humbled and kept him low by the Persecution of Saul no lesse frequent and feruent in religious duties at Court then any where else Good old Samuel as free from Bribes and neglect of duty when hee was Primate of all Israel as when he was but an inferiour Minister at Ierusalem Behold Daniel a Fauorite in an Idolaters Court when al the Grandees of Babilon had vowed and plotted his ruine for obseruing the Law of his God yet euen then and there when Daniel knew that the writing was signed which would cost him his life he went into his house and his windowes being open in his chamber towards Ierusalem he kneeled vpon his knees three times a day and prayed t Dan. 6.10 and gauâ— thankes before God as hee did afore time Yea true Zeale the higher it is listed the more it will flame the brighter it shines and the further it will be discerned No fire is seene so farre as that of the Beacon If then wee can be religigious Triall and zealous when wee are young or poore and thinke Zeale a cumber when we are growne wealthy and great if we can be good only during the life and gouerment of some Iehoiadah Kindle a great fire when a Minister commeth and put it out in whole or in part so soone as hee is gone reproue a swearer when hee that abhorres it is present sweare like Deuills our selues when he is away If a cramm'd belly will allay our heate for God and like those cursed Priests wee can cry Peace so long as men giue vs whereon to gnawe u Mic. 3.5 And if some preferment can stop our mouthes and we can be content to bee silent out of Pollicy to keepe that and hope to get more If we can tune our fidles to the Base of the Time and iust like Fidlers who are said to haue Psalmes for Puritans obscene Songs for Good fellowes resolue to play nothing but what the company call for Bee Protestants in the Morning and Papists at Euen-Songe If wee carry this candle in a darke Lanthorne so as with the turne of a hand it may bee quite shut in if any approach to whom wee would not bee knowne by our light or are loath to be obserued to haue any such about vs All this is but horrible Parasiticall basenesse that holds a candle to the Time no fire to kindle a Sacrifice for God The fire of the Sanctuary neuer went out that therfore which the most haue in their Censers is no better then that of Nadab and Abihu who offering strange fire before the Lord by a fire that went out from the Lord x Leuit. 10.1 2. were deuoured Sect. 2. Sect. 2. Shewing the subordinate end of Zeale Reformation Thus farre the Principall end of Zeale the aduancement of Gods Glory and the Rules to try if our Leuell bee right I come now to point at the other which is subordinate the Reformation of what is amisse To be on fire at disorder is a commendable temper if our aime be as right as our passion is strong It is not our heate but our end that commendeth the Action When the God of Israel and his Worship were forsaken and the flames of Idolatry horribly breaking out in all parts of the Church some bringing fire some fewell others laying it on and all the rest repairing thither to warme themselues at it vnlesse some that could not Go for halting betweene two opinions whether God or Baal were the better y 1 King 18 Eliah then bestirred himselfe and bestowed the fire balls of Zeale vpon such as had been Principall Actors in this disorder But that which iustified his action was his end the remouing of Idolatry and re-establishing the truth and true worship of God This appeares by his owne words vnto God himselfe I haue beene very iealous for the Lord God of Hosts for the children of Israel haue forsaken thy couenant throwne downe thine Alters z 1 Kin. 19.10 and slaine thy Prophets with the sword When Nehemiah saw the Iewes that had taken wiues of Ashdod Ammon and Moab and their children speake halfe in the speech of Ashdod and could not speake in the Iewes Language but according to the Language of each people A hodg-potch of both he contended with them and cursed them and smote certaine of them and pluckt of their haire and made them sweare by God saying yee shall not giue your daughters to their sonnes a Neh. 13.23 24 25. nor take their daughters for your sonnes or your selues A strong and strange heate yet no other then Seraphicall for Zeale was his Line a lawfull calling his circumference and reformation his Center Paul was not afraid sometimes to vse the dreadful Axe of Excommunication to cut off scandalous sinners from the Visible body of Christ for a time but hee neuer durst medle with that edge-toole but for Reformation Writing to the Church of Corinth he coniured them in the name of the Lord Iesus to deliuer vnto Satan the Incestuous Malefactor Hee meant by a solemne Excommunication publikely denounced in the face of the whole
Congregation But to what end for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may bee saued in the day of the b 1 Cor. 5.5 Lord Iesus Thus also hee handled Hymeneus and Alexander that they might learne c 1 Tim. 1.20 not to blaspheme To Parents also the Wisdome of God saith d Prou. correct thy sonne while there is hope Therefore hee must doe it in hope of his childes amendment not onely for preuenting his own greife or shame but Gods dishonor and his childs destruction And if this be his aime Let not his soule spare for his crying Magistrates then both may and must punish Parents and Masters chastise delinquents vnder their Charge And a zealous punishment of sinne so hee that vndertakes it thirst not after reueng but profitable correction c Ansel in Mat. 18. Non cupidus vindiâ—tae sed correctionis fraternae Alex. Hales par 3. q. 59. m. 5. ar 3. Bonus magis cupitinimicum corrigi quam puniri is not onely a needfull but a pious yea a mercifull worke of him to whom that Power is committed of God When discipline sleepes sinne playes Rex f Aust de verb. domini Ser. 15. Si seueritas disciplinae dormiat repressa disciplina saeuit impunita iniquitia What can bee more mercifull in a Chyrurgian then to Launce a tumorous soare or to search a festered wound to the bottome He angers the wound to cure the man who would otherwise perish by sparing his g Quid tam â—ium quam nâ—dicus fereÌ„s ferramentuÌ„ plorat secan dâ—s secatur Plâ—rat vrenâ—us vitur Non eâ—t illa crudâ—litas absit vt sâ—tutia 〈◊〉 dicatuâ— Saeuit in vuâ—â—â—s vt hâ—mo sâ—nâ—tur quâ—a si vulnâ—â— palâ—â—tur homo â—eâ—ditur Jdem ibid. wound But if they shall abuse their Authority onely to shew their Masterhood to vent their frantique passions and and to reuenge themselues not ayming at the reformation of such as they punish this is not Zeale but tyranny and oppression which God will neuer put vp at their hands but owe them a shame for it and at one time or other early or late will be sure to pay them home in their owne coyne God hath often in all Ages sold his People into the hands of cruel Tyrants whom hee hath vsed as rodds in his hand to scourge them Yet when these Executioners haue vndertaken to doe execution vpon them aymeing at their owne Ends he hath euer plagued the Tormentors with greater Wrath. Israel had few Neighbours whose hands at one time or other were not heauy vpon them but marke the Conclusion and we shall euer finde the rod cast into the fire Ashur had a large Commission to make hauocke of Iudah The Prophet Isaiah sets out to life the Power which God gaue the Assirian ouer his people his abuse of that power and the wofull Catastrophe of that h Isay 10.5.6 abuse O Assirian the rod of mine anger and the staffe in their hand is mine indignation I will send him against an hypocriticall nation and against the people of my wrath will I giue him a charge to take the spoile and the prey and to tread them down like the mire in the streets Here is a Commission as firme as might be which no doubt he would bee carefull to execute to the vtmost But obserue his ayme Howbeit he meaneth not so neither doth his heart thinke so that is he meaneth not to goe against Gods People in Gods strength but his owne nor to Gods end which was to refine them from the drosse of their sinne but it is in his heart onely to destroy and to cut off Nations not i Ver. 7. a few to make himselfe the Catholick King and the onely Monarch of the World But behold the euent wherefore it shall come to passe that wheÌ„ the Lord hath performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Ierusalem hee will punish the fruite of the stout heart of the King of Assiria k Ver. 12. and the glory of his high Lookes c. The Lord taketh reuenge vpon the reuenger and destroyes the destroyer And so let all the Churches enemies perish O Lord. Yea which is more remarkable consider the hand of God vpon furious Iehu How fierce hee was against the house of wicked Ahab his master wee know How God had a purpose to cut off euery branch of Ahabs house and to roote him out as an enemie wee cannot be ignorant that he meant to do all this by the sword of Iehu whom he had annointed for this very purpose the Scripture l 2. Chron. 22 7. 2. Kin 9.7 declares After he had done it the Lord commends and rewards him for it to the fourth generation though Iehu were otherwise a most wicked man Because thou hast done well and executed that which was right in mine eyes and hast done vnto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart thy children of the fourth generation shall sit vpon the throne of m 2. Kin. 10.30 Israel Would any man imagine there were any flaw in this peece and that Iehu or any of his should euer heare ill for this act yet lo aboue sixtie yeares after euen in the dayes of Ieroboam his great Grand-child and the last but one of his race that swayed the Scepter God calleth Iehu to the barre indites him of murther and vowes to auenge vpon Iehues house the bloud of n Hos 1.4 Iezreel that is as Expositors interpret that very stocke of Ahab which God had put in his hand to plucke vp by the rootes and that very house which hee was to sweepe with the besome of destruction Why was this but because Iehu though hee did Gods worke yet he did it with a bloudie and ambitious mind not desiring or seeking either Ahabs repentance or the reformation of the people who were as grosse Idolaters vnder Iehu as euer they were vnder Ahab When he had the kingdome his worke was at an end saue onely that hee changed Iezabels Baal for Ieroboams o 2. Kin. 10.28.29 Calues Thus doth God turne the point of his sword in the Magistrates hand into his owne bowels when he directeth it against others not for God but for himselfe And as the case stands thus with Magistrates so in proportion with Parents and Masters they may chastise but not for their pleasure as fathers of the flesh vse to p Heb. 12.9 do and therfore shall pay deare for their Nabal-like q 1. Sam 25.16 cariage but they must do it as God doth it to them for the profit of those they r Ibid. ver 10 correct And that their corrections may proue Å¿ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 instructions they must lay aside all thoughts of reuenge and furious passion doing it in zeale for God as performing his worke not their t Alex. Hales p. 3 q. 59. m. 5. ar 3. Aliud est dimittere