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A91897 Christ the perfect pattern, of a Christian's practice, being the substance of severall sermons, about the Imitation of Christ. / Preached by the reverend and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Ralph Robinson, late minister of Mary Wolnoth London. Published by Sim. Ash, Wil. Taylor, Sam. Clarke. Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655. 1658 (1658) Wing R1709; Thomason E1818_1; ESTC R209810 135,574 295

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14. 3 The occason of this miracle this is ver 14. The original of this custome is from that which is written Deut. 14. 24. The Jewes were at this time scattered throughout almost all Nations now that they might not at their repairing to Jerusalem for worship be constrained to run up and downe to provide sacrifices it was agreed by the Priests and Scribes c. that those things which were necessary for sacrifice should be sold about the Temple This was their pretence but that which really caused this was the covetuousnesse of the Priests who made great gaine by these merchandizings 4 The manner of it ver 15. 5 The reason rendred ver 16. make not my Fathers house c. The Temple was a shadow and type of those things the lively Image whereof is in Christ therefore it was to be applyed onely to spirituall uses for this reason our Saviour denyes it to be lawfull to convert it to such a common use as a Market place 2 The effect or consequence of this miracle 1. The effect it wrought upon the Disciples ver 17. Not that they presently remembred this but afterwards when they had been better instructed then God brought this Scripture to their minds as the reason of this act of Christ with which they were satisfied 2. The effect it wrought upon the Jewes this is twofold 1 Some quarreld with him ver 28 19 20 c. 2 Others did seemingly professe faith and subjection to him ver 23 24 25. upon this and other miracles whom Christ did not trust The Text is the effect which this great Heroick act of Christ wrought on his Disciples They remembred c. This Scripture is Psal 69. 9. where David writing of himselfe as a Type of Christ hath these words The zeale c. I shall handle them distinctly as spoken of Christ In them we have two things 1 An excellent vertue or grace of Christ 1. Grace in the Habite the zeale of thy house 2 The operativenesse of this grace hath eaten me up the activity of it Grace in exercise Zeale 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If we consider the word it comes from a verbe that signifies to boyle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Wh●t zeal is it signifies the hissing noyse of water when it boyles If we consider the Nature of the thing we find it used both in a good sense and in a bad sense There is a zeale which is a fruit of the Spirit And there is also a zeale which is a fruit of the flesh Gal. 5. 20. The fruits of the 2 Cor. 7. 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 flesh are manifest which are these Adulteries c. Emulations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When it is used in a bad sense it signifies 1 Envy Acts 5. 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Acts 7. 9. the Patriarchs moved with envy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jam. 3. 14. If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts glory not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid. Bezam in textum de zelo distinguentem 2 For misguided blind zeale Phil. 3. 9. concerning zeale persecuting the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 1. 14. being more exceedingly zealous of the Traditions of my Fathers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 For contentiousness of spirit Jam. 3. 16. where strife and envying is there is confusion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4 For pretended jealousie and affection towards another Gal. 4. 17. They zealously affect you but not well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When it is used in a good sense it signifieth 1 Godly jealousie 2 Cor. 11. 2. I am jealous over you with a godly jealousie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 For a good Emulation when we desire to be followers and imitators of others in that which is good Gal. 4. 18. T is good to be ze●lous alwayes in a good matter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 12. 31. Covet earnestly t●e best gifts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 For the violent fervor of all the affection towards others whom we love Gal. 4. 13. I bear him record that he hath a great zeal for you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And so t is used here in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some of the Schoo●men there are who only place this in the affection of love others make it to be a mixture of love and anger but its clear that it hath place in every other affection as well as these and the heighth and intention of every affection is called zeal The heighth of anger is the zeal of anger the heighth of pitty is the zeal of pitty and the heighth of love is the zeal of love c. Of thy house This is the Object of Christ's 2. What Gods House is zeal the house of God which by a Synechdoche doth comprehend the whole worship and service of God appointed to be observed in the Temple All matters of Religion and Worship Hath eaten me up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This 3. What to devour is shewes the fervor and heat of Christs zeal it was not any ordinary heat but an extraordinary and violent which put forth it self by such an heroical Act as this was Christ was even as if he had had fire in his bowels he could not refrain himself The Lesson which we may learn is this The Lord Jesus Christ was exceeding zealous Doct. against all manner of Corruptions and defilements in Religion in the worship of God He had in his breast a very hot zeal for his Fathers house and all the Ordinances and Services thereof As it was prophesied of him that he should come as a Refiner to his Temple and should be very hot for the worship of God so was his carriage from his taking upon him the publick Ministry to the day of his Death and crucifying There are three things wherein Christ manifested 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proved 3. wayes his zeal this way 1 He did very zealously assert the purity of Religion and Gods worship in his publick Ministry and zealously defend it against the corrupters of it In the 5th 6th and 7th Chapters of Matth. in that excellent Sermon upon the Mount we shall finde many Instructions given by our Saviour both concerning matters of Doctrine and concerning matters of worship as Chap. 5. vers 21. ad finem and Chapter 6. concerning prayer fasting vid. Chap. 6. v. 5. ad 16. concerning prayer and v. 16. ad 19. concerning the right manner of fasting And Mat. 15. v. 1. ad 21 Christ preacheth against their Traditions which they had brought into the Church And Matth. 19. 3. ad 10. preacheth against the Doctrine of Divorce which they had introduced And Chap. 22. v. 23. he cleares the Doctrine of the Resurrection against the sadduces And he that reads seriously the Evangelists will finde that there was no corruption either in Doctrine or worship but Christ boldly and zealously refuted it in his Ministry 2 As he had zeal
Baal how zealous were they 1 Reg. 18. 28. The Ephesians for their Diana what extraordinarie zeal when they perceived that by Pauls preaching against gods made with hands was like to overthrow their Religion they cryed for the space of two Iudg. 6. 28 29 30. houres together Great is Diana of the Ephesians Acts 19. 34. Motive 6. If you will be zealous for the House of God God will be zealous for your houses vid. 2 Sam. 6. 10 11. Obed Edom he had a zeal for the Ark when others were afraid of it God blesses him vid. Hag. 2. 18 19. If you will be dead and cold for the matters of God God will be cold for your civil concernments Motive 7. It s one of the best wayes to take off and abate the heat of enemies against the House of God The colder you are the more hot will they be and the more zealous you are the more cold will they be in promoting their designes 2. Rules for zeal 1 Your Zeal must be universal and that 1. In respect of things you must be zealous for everie part of Gods House for all and everie part of Truth against all and everie kind of corruption in Worship some are zealous against Schisme and Heresie but they have no great Zeal against superstition and humane inventions others have a Zeal against Superstition but they have not against Heresie c. This is not right heat vid. Psal 119. 104. Josiah his Zeal was against everie Corruption 2 Reg. 23. 4. ad 20. God commands him vers 25. Such was the Zeal of Christ also He leaves nothing behinde Sacraments Preaching Prayer 2. In respect of persons he that hath a right zeal for Truth will oppose all is contrarie to Truth in one person as well as in another in great as well as in small c. in a Friend as well as in an Enemie Zeal is like God in this there is no respect of persons with it Whosoever defiles the House of God let his Profession his Power be what it will Zeal will oppose him Zeal doth not hate error in a Prelate and love it in another c. Christ will throw down the Tables of the Money-changers whosoever they be that fit there c. 3. In respect of times True Zeal for Gods House hath no winter it burns in one Age as well as in another Manie men were verie zealous against corruption in Worship and Doctrine in the raign of Prelacie which now are cold against the same or worse corruptions in the raign of Heresie These were never truly zealous for Gods House Corruption of Truth and Worship is as bad one year as another c. 2 Zeal must be joyned with prudence and knowledge Rom. 10. 2. God hath given to man an understanding as well as affection Zeal without Discretion is rashness like mettle in a blinde Horse or a sharp edged Sword in a mad mans hand Those 4. Beasts Rev. 4. 8. which represent the Churches of the Gospel they had 6. Wings and they were full of Eyes a Christian must have Eyes as well as Wings Knowledge as well as Zeal Zeal with Knowledge saith one is like an Unicorns Horn in the hand of an Artist verie precious but Zeal without Knowledge is as the Unicorns Horn in the Beasts Head verie dangerous Zeal without Knowledge is like Pegasus without a Bridle or like an Offering without an Eye which God accepts not Lev. 22. 22. Mal. 1. 8. It s like Phaeton in his Fathers Chariot may burn himself and the World too 3 Zeal for Gods House must be confined within the Compasse of our Calling The Minister in his place the Magistrate in his the private person in his place 'T is a good glosse which Calvin hath on this Text. All must imitate Christ all must as much as in them lyeth preserve the Temple of God from defilement yet everie man must take heed that he go not beyond his bounds Non omnibus protinus licet flagellum arripere ut vitia manu corrigamus neque enim eadem nobis potest as data est nec idem injunctum munus Zeal out of its place is like fire in the Thatch Private Christians they must express their zeal by Prayer Teares Dispute complaining to the Church to the Magistrates where they are if they be such as care for Religion He that should being a private person do as Phinehas did and pretend zeal would be a murtherer or as Christ here did would be seditious c. 4 Our zeal for Gods House must be for the glorie of God not either to get our selves a name or to oppose men or to please others c. but meerly discharge of duty respect to Gods Honour This was the ground of our Saviours zeal make not my Fathers House c. Jehu lost all his zeal for want of a right end vid. 2 Reg. 10. He did verie much and he calls it zeal for God vers 16. but the truth is it was meerly for his own house and therefore God threatens Hos 1. 4. to avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the House of Jehu c. look well to this 5 It must be put out against private corruptions in your own case 3. Meanes to get zeal for Gods House 1 Consider often the worth and excellency of Gods House Truth Worship they are glorious things beauties of holiness Psal 110. 3. the glorie of God the glorie is departed from Israel c. 1 Sam. 4. latter end the Tabernacle of God with men c. 2 Beg much of the Spirit of God that spirit of fire the fire of the Altar came down from Heaven so doth the fire of zeal get much of that fiery Baptisme of the Holy Ghost c. vid. Acts 2. 3. 3 Be much in the Company of zealous persons he that kisseth the lips of the Servants of God who are zealous will get heat from them 4 Take heed of too much carnal policie This will make you but cold and dead for the Worship of God He whose zeal is extreme hot for outward things will be extreme cold at least luke-warm for the Worship of God a little Earth cast on a hot fire puts it out Mary Wol●oth Septemb. 30th 1649. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 19. 47. And He taught daily in the Temple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THere are five principal Passages or Stories recorded of Jesus Christ in this Chapter which is the best division can be made of it viz. 1 The story of the Conversion of one Zacheus a Publican a little man but a very great sinner this we have from the first verse to the 11th He came out of curiosity to gaze upon Christs person having heard the fame of his works and he did not only behold his Person but was converted by his Power we may note from his conversion 1. It s good to be in the way in which Christ travels Zach●us being in Christs way was apprehended by Christs power and made partaker of
from others for their good 5 Men of all Employments when they do meet together will be discoursing about the things which belong to their own Calling and kind of life Your Lawyers will be putting Cases Physitians about Cures c. Statesmen of Politicks c. Yea even wicked men when they come together will be reasoning consulting their wicked projects c. And should not a Christian be discoursing about his Trade 6 There is sometimes a greater liberty of speaking in private then in publique Christians have greater liberty in private then the Minister in the Pulpit 7 You will exercise your own Talents much by this meanes warm your own hearts There is that scattereth yet increaseth he that watereth shall be watered himself 8 By this meanes you may prevent much sinful speaking Grace and Piety hath a majesty in it even amongst wicked men a few who are godly and religious may by speaking of holiness stop the mouth of prophaneness 9 Consider how much hurt you have done in many Companies heretofore perhaps you have deaded many a heart c. 10 How greatly God hath blessed the endeavours of many of his Servants in matters of this nature Our Saviours Discourse in private was the first conversion of that Samaritan Woman c. John 4. and in this place vers 3 2. he sets his Disciples hearts on fire many have found a Reproof in private carried home by God and an Instruction brought to the heart c. The very presence of some good men hath restrained swearers c. and restrained sin Mark 6. 19 20. 11. All those Motives which moved Jesus Christ may be as goads in our sides Was it his work to convert men so should be ours did this argue grace in Christ that he was full of grace so it will argue thou hast grace this will evidence thy affections to the precious and immortal souls of the Brethren When thou hearest a swearer c. thou mayst die before thou see him again or death may snatch him away c. do all the good whilest you may When others get Play-books Newes-books into their hands or Sr. Philip Sidney c. Do you take Moses the Prophets and the Apostles and read them together c. This would recover the decayed power of godliness bring a new spring after a long winter and be very much to the honour of God and Religion The Trade of godliness would be driven on and prophaneness will wither and go down exceedingly The Trade of error is driven by peoples jangling and disputing this course would drive on the Trade of godlinesse You are to have a care of others as well as your selves Thy Brother is thy charge and thou art his charge c. Heb. 10. 24. Others have a share in your gifts c. A Minister in a private Family may do as much good sometime as in the Church It is a sad thing to consider that many a Christian Minister is very familiar with this or the other great man but the family gets no good by their comming c. Elijah did good in that Family where he lay in his sojourning Objection Let none put off this duty with this excuse I shall be but scorned and slighted and hated for my endeavour c. Sol. 1. He that observes the wind shall not sow Eccles 11. 4 5 6. Success belongs not to thee but to God meddle not you with that Duty is thy work every good work hath its difficulties 2. Whether they will hear or whether they forbear thou hast delivered thy soul and they shall be left without excuse Vid. Ezech. 2. 5. 7. Chap. 3. 11. 3. As our Saviour saith to his Disciples in another Case so say I Thy peace shall return into thine own bosom Matth. 10. 13. Vid. Psal 35. 13. 4. If some one get but benefit by thee if God incline but the heart of the meanest in the Company to hearken c. Thy labour is abundantly recompenced c. 5. Though they regard not for the present yet God may perhaps afterward awaken Conscience to remember and regard what thou hast said Prov. 28. 23. He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall finde more favour then he that flattereth with his lips FINIS Mary Wolnoth December the 10th 1648. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 53. 7. He was oppressed he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth c. THis Prophet is well stiled by one of the Ancients the fifth Evangelist because there is so much Gospel in his Writings He that doth exactly consider these Sermons shall finde Jesus Christ in his Person Natures Offices Doctrines Sufferings Glory Benefits Effusion of his Spirit c. almost as clearly described as by those who had been Eye-witnesses of them all This Chapter is the Model and Compendium of the whole Gospel Here we have both the Humiliation and the Exaltation of Christ his low debasement and his high advancement The former is from Vers 1. ad 10. The latter is from vers 10. ad finem In the 〈◊〉 we have two things especially 1 A sad complaint of the Worlds rejection of Christ ver 1. Who hath believed c. or to whom the Arm of the Lord revealed i. e. the Gospel in the preaching of it Rom. 1. 16. Few of those who heart the Gospel do truly receive and embrace it The Arm of God is stretched out to many it s revealed effectually to a very few Many are called few are chosen It was so in the Apostles time in Christs time it will be so in our time It may be a support to the Ministry and Ministers when their labours prove succesless if the Ministry of Christ and his Apostles was fruitless to many why should we be dejected 2 The Reason of this Rejection viz. 1. The meanness of his person and Kingdom outwardly in the first Original of it vers 2. He shall grow up c. 2. His sufferings and afflictions vers 3. c. his Kingdom was but mean and his sufferings were great his crosse was a scandal to many The Exaltation vers 10. ad finem hath many things in it Christs exaltation in his seed v. 10 11. His exaltation in his person v. 12. In the Text we have two things 1. A Description of the great sufferings of Christ in these words Oppressed afflicted brought as a Lamb to the slaughter as a Sheep to the Shearer In voce Pecudis forte allusio est ad legales victimas quo sensu alibi vocatur Agnus Dei John 1. 29. 36. Calvin in Locum 2. His carriage under those sufferings He was dumb he opened not his mouth so he opened not his mouth Expressions of his patience and contentment which is amplified by the resemblance of a sheep Here are two Lessons in the words 1. Doct. The Lord Jesus did suffer very much of men while he was in the flesh 2d Doct. Jesus Christ did with great patience and contentedness bear those sufferings which he lay under
he will soon put to flight all opposers 2d Vse How unlike to Jesus Christ are the greatest part of Christians in our dayes we may take up sad complaints against sundry sorts of persons 1 There are some like Gallio that care for no such things as the worship of God They are Act. 18. 17. indifferent whether they have Religion amongst them or no if they have the worship of God they can be content and if the Tabernacle of God be removed they can bear it without grief it doth not much trouble their spirits though all the Synagogues of God in the Land be burnt up So they may enjoy their civil liberties have free Trading secure their Estates raise their Families fill their Treasuries with the good things of this life they are not much solicitous for the concernments of Religion or the worship of God They will not much dispute against Religion neither will they contend for it with any great life the presence of Religion is no great burden to them and the want of it is no great losse They will not repine if they have the Ark and they will not be greatly offended if they have it not if the Ordinances of God be in the Temple t is well and if the buyers and sellers there be t is not much amisse They stand in aequilibrio as to these matters if Religion dwell in their Coasts they will not thrust it out of doors and if it be removing they will not lament after it nor beg its continuance They are affected with these matters as some men are with their ordinary friends if they will stay with them they will not bid them be gone and if they have a minde to depart they will not desire their stay c. They are concerning Religion of that minde which Paul commands believing Husbands to be of towards their unbelieving Wives 1 Cor. 7. 13. 15. If she be pleased to dwell with him let him not put her away but if she will depart let her depart so they say and so they act concerning Religion and the Ordinances of God I have a few things to say to such They are not like the Gaderenes Matth. 8. 34. Nor are they like the two Disciples Luk. 24. 29. 1. Certainly they are not acted by the Spirit of Jesus Christ his was a fiery Spirit but theirs is a cold Spirit he had life they are dead 2. God hath threatned that he will spue such luke-warm Christians out of his mouth Rev. 3. 15 16. They are just between Heaven and Hell They are like Ephraim Hos 7. 8. Half-baked The Prophet Elijah chides such halters as these 1 Reg. 18. 21. 3. The Ordinances of God are not very like to do much good upon the Spirits of such Christians The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force Mat. 11. 12. Heaven must be stormed or never entred 2 Others there are who are zealous against the worship of God and against Religion Some are very zealous for superstition the Traditions of their Fathers Unsawful and unwarranted Ceremonies and sinful Inventions of men in the worship of God such was Demetrius and his Associates Acts 19. 24. He was as hot for the golden shrines for Diana as if they had been the golden Plates of the Temple Great is Diana of the Ephesians Such were those old Idolaters with whom the Prophet Jeremiah had to do Jer. 44. 16 17. We will do as we have done We and our Fathers to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven They are grieved to see any endeavour to purge the waters of the Sanctuary from defilements Others are zealous for errors in Doctrine They would have an unlimited Toleration of all opinions and all kindes of worship in the Church of God The Woman Jezebel shall have liberty to vent her falsehoods as well as the Prophets of God to preach their Truths Antichrist shall have his Throne as well as Christ Altars shall be set up to the unknown God as well as to the true God the Ministers of Satan shall keep as free Markets as the Ministers of Christ the envious man shall have Field-room to scatter his Tares as well as the Seeds-men of the Gospel their wheat And if any of the Ministers of Christ out of zeal to Gods glory endeavour to whip out these abuses out of the Temple they are looked upon as firebrands Incendiaries by them who are the true Incendiaries They are reputed worse then Theeves because they disturb this Den of Theeves from nesting in the Temple of God They are looked upon as abominable because they would sweep out these abominations They are thought unworthy to have a liberty in the Kingdom because they will not proclaim a liberty to all these false wayes in the Church the Kingdom of Christ This zeal is certainly none of that which was in Christ It is Diabolical zeal like the unruly Tongue set on fire of Hell James 3. 6. Jesus Christ whipt the buyers and sellers out of the Temple and these lash such as would whip them out Jesus Christ was sore displeased with the Angel of Thyatira for suffering such corruptions Rev. 2. 20. and they are displeased with the Angels of the Churches because they will not tolerate such corruptions Jesus Christ would not have any bid God speed to such 2 Epist John 10 and they would have such embraced and encouraged Jesus Christ saith the mouthes of such as teach false Doctrines must be stopped Tit. 1. 11. And they are ready to stop the mouthes of such as would have these disturbed Jesus Christ layes a Command upon Ministers and Magistrates to apprehend these Foxes but they lay snares for such as would have them apprehended vid. Cant. 2. 15. Take us the Foxes the little Foxes c. Answ By Foxes there we are to understand Hereticks and false Prophets as Ezech. 13. 4. they are Foxes for their subtilty therefore the Apostle calls them deceitful workers transforming themse●ves into the Apostles of Christ 2 Cor. 11. 23. Now Christ would have these taken and rooted out The Church is to take them by censuring confuting and casting them out of the Church and the godly Magistrate is to take them by penal lawes civil punishments c. vid. Deut. 13. 6 7 8 9. which is again Zech. 13. 3. applyed to Gospel-times And that Law was given by Jesus Christ the Mr. Cotton Bloody Tenet washed c. p. 66. 67. Angel of Gods presence whom God promised to send with his People Exod. 33. 2 3. And that Angel was Christ whom they tempted in the Wilderness 1 Cor. 10. 9. Therefore Jesus Christ appointed the civil Sword for a Remedy in such a case and hath not repealed it in the Gospel And accordingly the good Kings of Judah exercised this power Asa Joash Josiah and are commended for so doing Nor are only the greater and the worser sort of Foxes to be taken but even the little Foxes the lesser sort of errors