and resolute we dis-hearten them in their attempts and dismay that great Belzebub the Prince of these Flies Let therefore this salt season all our services Christ calls for such Worshipps Matth. 22.37 38 39. Christianity is a work of activity we must ask seek knock strive wrastle run and work out our salvation with the greatest accuratness care and diligence Philip. 2.12 We must not rest content with the beginnings of grace but we must work it up and increase with the increasings of God Colos. 2.19 We must be filled with the Spirit and with the fire of zeal we must have fiery-heads and fiery-hearts fiery words and fiery works that what in us lyeth we may set the whole world on fire with the love of Christ. If we be to hear the Word we should be swift to hear and gladly embrace the opportunity flying as the clouds and flocking as the Doves to their windows When we come to the Sacrament we must earnestly desire it as Christ did Luke 22.15 With a desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you i. I have earnestly and heartily desired it Hezekiah kept the Passover with joy 2 Chron. 30. If we be called to Covenant with God we must do it with joy and with all our hearts as Asa and the people did 2 Chron. 15.12 15. If we be to Pray it must be fervent operative energetical praying Iames 5.16 We must strive in our prayers Rom. 15.30 and stir up our selves that we may lay hold on God Cant. 3.4 Isai. 27.5 and 647. That 's the way to have peace with him When we see a man angry those that are friends lay hold on him to prevent a danger so when we see God angry with his People we should compass God about like an Army one lay hold on him and another lay hold on him till he be pacified with his people But then we must be holy men else if a Rebel or Traitor should come to the Princes Chamber and lay hold on him it would be accounted Treason before we come to reason with God we must wash our selves and then come and welcome Isai. 1.16 17 18. We must get a spiritual induration and holy impudency let God do what he will with us let him oppose delay deny us yet we will not let him go till he bless us As Pharaoh had a cursed Induration and a plerophory of hardness so that no plagues could work on him so we should get a blessed induration and fulness of assurance resolving though God should crush and kill us yet that we will trust in him Iob 13.15 And when we find our spirits flat then cry because thou canst not cry and be in an agony because thou canst not be agonized Formality in duty is the bane of duty and Religion There 's little difference between a careless performance of duties and a total omission of them since men loose both wayes Let us then rouse up our selves remembring that the more zealous any are here the more glorious they shall be hereafter Let us all in our several callings be active for God Let Magistrates and Rulers rule for him as Nehemiah did Let them not bear the sword in vain nor tolerate such things as are intolerable There 's no Precept or President in the whole Book of God for any Toleration of one Error much less of all but promises that God will give us one heart and one way If Magistrates suffer Gods Name to be despised he 'l make them to be despised 1 Sam. 2.30 Ahab lost his life for not punishing blasphemous Benhadad with death 1 Kings 20.42 I Plead not for Cruelty but Iustice as Magistrates must be clement and merciful when occasion requires so they must be just sharp against incorrigible incurable offenders If Abishai out of love to David would have slain Shimâ—i who reviled him saying Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the King let me goe to take off his head 2 Sam. 16.9 and shall the Magistrate be silent when the King of Kings is blasphemed and reviled to his face if men will still bear with such yet God will not Objection If we punish them we shall loose a partie Answer Such a partie as I now speak against are better lost then found They cannot long prosper with them who ever hath them But by punishing such we shall make God our friend who hath promised to defend those that defend his Truth We have a notable instance in the City of Geneva which from the beginning of the Reformation to this day have punished Sectaries and Hereticks and yet God hath kept them safe and sound Many create to themselves needless fears 2. Governours of Families should be zealous against sin in all their Relations hate it in father mother wife children Asa punisheth his own mother for her idolatry 2 Chronicles 15.16 The Lord taketh notice what every man doth in his Family he observes who prayes who reads who supresseth sin in his Family who acts for him and who for themselves Mal. 3.16 Our zeal is the best thing we have and therefore to be given to God who is the best of beings But yet there is nothing that the world so much opposeth as zeal the Devil and his Agents can bear with any man save the zealous man The Hypocrite Formalist Civilian Temporizer c. All pass through the world with praise 'T is onely these Zelots that oppose the sins of the time which are counted the troublers of the places where they come though they be never so peaceable To discourage men from this course the world hath raised many Cavils 1. Objection I am but one and what good will my zeal doe Answer One zealous man may yea and hath done much good to a whole Land One Phinees by executing Justice turned away Gods wrath from all Israel Numbers 25.6 7 11. One faithful Hushai by his Counsel spoyled Achitophels policy 1 Samuel 17.14 One poor man saved a Citie Eccles. 9.15 and the Prayers of One righteous man availeth much Iames 5.16 When Gods judgements were falling on Ierusalem he sought but for a man that he might spare it Ieremiah 5.2 A carnal man dares not stir without company especially the company of great ones they enquire whether any of the Rulers and learned Pharisees have gone that way Iohn 7.47 Jades will not go unless some lead them the way and Cowards stand still to see who will go first but a gracious soul is content to fit alone Lam. 3.28 and go alone in the way to Heaven 1 Kings 19.10 He stayes not for company but if the cause be good rather then it shall fall he will endeavour to uphold it himself Hester will venture all for Gods people and if she must perish she will perish in this cause Let nothing discourage you if God have called thee to a good work and none will joyne with thee in it yet remember he that called thee alone will bless
terminis for the out-works of Religion but for the Fundamentals and for the whole possession We must contend with Papists about our Justification with Arminians about our Election with Antimonians for the Law with Socinians for the Gospel and with the Antiscripturists for all 2. The Lord commends this in his servants he hath recorded the zeal of Moses Phinees Paul Apollos c. to their everlasting prayse they are the Apple of his Eye which is Oculus Oculi the glory of the Eye Zach. 2.8 They are his jewels he counts himself honoured and adorned by such and therefore he calls them his glory Isay 4.5 These glorifie God on earth and therefore we will glorifie them with himself Iohn 15.8 and 17.4.5 God hath more glory from his little zealous flock then from all the world besides Hence he so much glories in him Iob 2 3. Acts 13.22 3. He Rewards it where ever he finds it Phinees for his zealous execution of Justice was blest both he and his posterity Numb 15.11 12 13. Levi for his zeal in vindicating Gods Honour was exalted to the Priesthood Exod. 32.29 Deut. 33.8 9 10. Zabulum and Napthali that ventured their lives in Gods cause Iudge 5.18 God remembers the kindness and rewards it many years after in sending Christ to preach the Gospel first to them Matth. 4.13.14 yea so greatly is the Lord delighted with zeal that Iehu his Hypocritical zeal went not unrewarded 2 King 10.30 4. It graceth all our graces and is the Honour of our honours All Grace without this is nothing Dead Knowledge Faith Repentance are of no esteem with God dead Prayer is not Prayer As under the Law no sacrifice was acceptable without fire so no duty now is acceptable without the fire of zeal 5. Christ hath paid best for our zeal The fair price that he paid to Redeem us the same precious blood he gave to purchase us to himselfe a zealous and peculiar people Titus 2.14 If any have paid dearer for it or can shew better Title to it let him take it 6. Our zeal doth denominate us that we are that we are zealous for 'T is true we may love the creature but it must be with a subordinate inferior love but our zeal which is the cream of our affections must be given only to God 'T is a glory which he will not suffer to be given to another 7. Our zeal may provoke others the Corinthians zeal provoked many 2 Cor. 9.12 When the Love-sick Church began to commend Christ Cant. 5. ult This is my friend and this is my Beloved in the very next Chapter 6.1 Others begin to inquire Where is thy Beloved that we may seeke him with thee 8. Such help to save a Land from ruine One zealous Moses kept off judgement from Israel Psalm 106.23 One zealous Phinees stayes the Plague One zealous innocent man may save an Iland Iob 22. ult 9. This makes a man to excel we are all by Nature of one blood 't is Holy zeal that makes the difference This makes the Righteous to excel his Neighbour Prov. 12.26 both in life and death one of these Pearles surpasseth ten thousand peebles as one living creature excels a thousand dead ones These are called lively stones 1 Pet. 2.5 1. They are stones in respect of stability and solidness they stir not from their principles but are an everlasting foundation Prov. 10.25 2. Lively because of their Zeale and Activity they are prompt and ready for every good work 2 Timothy 2.21 Their spirits are raised to the highest excellencies and so are capable of the highe stactings They live the life of God Ephesians 4.18 or a godly life because it is from God as the Author it is according to God as the pattern and it tends to God as the end Others may do well but the zealous man excels them all Hence he 's called in Scripture not Adam a common man but Ish quasi Esh a man of fire heat and courage a man of spirit life activity a man of men an excellent man fitted to honour God and rule others 10. You will have no cause to repent of this zeal yea if the saints in Heaven were capable of sorrow they would grieve for nothing so much as that they had not done more for God in their generation How many have repented of their superstitious carnal zeal as Cardinal Woolsy sometimes did Had I served God as diligently as I have done the King he would not have given me over in my gray hairs but this is my just reward for serving men before God 11 There is an absolute necessity of it in respect of the many enemies that oppose us So soon as ever a man begins to look towards Heaven he must look for Giants and sons of Anak to oppose him We have the Devil above us with all his methods Eph. 6.11 depths Rev. 2.24 Devices 2 Cor. 2.11 The world about us with all its baits and snares and an evil heart within us ready to betray us into the hands of our enemies So that unless we be resolute violent men we shall never get Heaven Matth. 11.12 't is not the lazy somnolent Christian but the active and the violent that take Heaven by force 12. All thy gifts and parts without zeal to improve them become useless A Stag or Hart that hath great strength and horns yet doth little with them for want of courage As a bird without wings a body without a soul and salt without savor so is a man without zeal like Ieremiahs rotten girdle that was good for nothing Ier. 13.7 Zeal is to the soul that which spirits are to the body and wine to the Spirits it puts activity and quickning in us 'T is as wheels to the Chariot which make us run the wayes of Gods Commandments as courage to a souldier as mettle to the horse and as manure to the ground which makes it abound in fruitfulness Now that you may get and keep this Gace we must shun those Quenchâ—coals which extinguish this holy fire in us 1. The first is the retaining of any one bosome beloved sin be it Pride Idleness Formality Covetousness either thy zeal must destroy thy sin or thy sin will destroy thy zeal Zealous affections are the wings of the soul but sin like bird-lime intangles them that they cannot fly Heaven-ward They are the feet of the soul but sin like fetters hindereth us from runing They are the fire of the soul but sin like water quencheth this fire We must resolve therefore against all sin if ever we would have the Spirit of zeal to dwell in us 2. Take heed of the inordinate love of the world These thornes will choak our zeal and this outward heat extracts and consumes our inward Cast earth upon fire and you put it out Demas and Iudas the love of the world drew them off we must get our affections loosened from the world and use it as though we used it not Use
under it and useth all means to overcome it and yet cannot shake off this Thorne in the flesh this may be thy crosse it shall never be thy Curse Suppose a man be sayling on the Sea his intention is for such a Haven but there comes a violent gust and carries him into his enemies coast against his will so the godly resolve to keep Gods Commandements Psal. 119.106 and pray against sin Psal. 19.13 yet through the violence of Temptations are oft overcome against their wills Now 't is one thing to sell a mans self to do wickednesse and another thing to be sold. Ahab sold himself but Paul was sold against his will Rom. 7. The Virgin that resisted and cryed out was innocent Though she were ravisht Deut. 22.25.27 Quae non placent non nocent The sins that do not please us hurt us not The godly and the wicked both sin as Pearls and Peebles both fall into the dirt yet the one is a Pearle still and the other a Peeble Two men may fall into one and the same sin yet there 's great difference in the manner though for the matter they may be the same 3. Even sins of infirmity are displeasing to a gracious soul. As a man that hath a blemish is ashamed of it so he 's made more humble and watchfull by it Psal. 73.22 But to plead for an infirmity is more then an infirmity 4. He that sins through infirmity is soon recovered and easily reclaimed he 's like a light that is newly put out which is quickly blowen in againe Let Nathan but once reprove David and he 's presently on his knees Let Christ but look on Peter and he weeps bitterly They are truly wise and so a reproof works more on them then a hundred stripes doth on a fool Prov. 17.10 A sheep may fall into a puddle but a swine loves to lye wallowing there If therefore no admonitions nor reproofes can win thee or work upon thee it 's a sign thy sins are Enormities and not Infirmities sins of Wilfulnesse and not of Weaknesse Object I see so much sin in my selfe that I dare not perform duties for fear of increasing sin Answ. Infirmities are no warrant for us to neglect duties 't is a greater sin wholly to omit a duty then to fail in the performance of it for in the one our disobedience is Totall we fail both in matter and manner in the other 't is but partiall 2. Neither do they pray formaly and for fashion who see their infirmities in Prayer and are grieved for them when in humility we like our services worst they may please God best Nehemiah 13.22 desires to be spared when he had done excellent service The sense of our imperfections doth more please God then our imperfections displease him If thy heart be unprepared he hath promised to prepare it Psal. 10.17 and if you be subject to Passions and Infirmities so wâ—s Elias yet God heard his prayer Iames 5.17 Obedience is most pleasing to God when there is nothing but a bare command to quicken us Blessed is he that beleeves saith Christ Iohn 20.29 and hath not seen so blessed is he that obeyes simply out of a respect to Gods command though he can see no benefit at present by it 3. Christ by his Mediation and Intercession perfumes all our services though weak and imperfect in themselves and makes them acceptable to his Father Ephes. 1.6 Rev. 8.3 where God findes the mind to be willing and the heart sincere there he accepts affecting for effecting willing for working desires for deeds purposes for performances pence for pounds and mites for millions a little that the Righteous hath in a spirituall sense is better then the seeming riches of self-conceited Pharises A little spring is better then a great Pond In all duties God ponders the spirit and if that be right all 's right Prov. 16.2 2 Cor. 8.12 as we see in Asa David Iob and those that came to the Passeover 2 Chron. 30.15 This is Evangelicall perfection Legall perfection and Righteousnesse God doth expect from Christ he onely requires faith and sincerity in us and then though Satan doe accuse us for our imperfections yet we may put him over to Christ our husband who ever lives to make intercession for us Vxori lis non intenditur the wife cannot be sued so long as her husband lives All that he hath is hers 1 Cor. 3.22 Vxor coruscat radiis mariti Helps against Formality 1. Go unto God who is a quickening spirit and beseech him to quicken thy dead heart So did David of Psal. 119. God can make dry bones to live Ezek. 37.4 c. and raise Lazarus out his grave when he stinks again He that at first raised thee out of thy Deadnesse can much more raise thee out of thy dulnesse All men and means are but dead things unlesse he put vertue in them Beseech therefore the Lord to abide with you for as Martha said to Christ Lord if thou hadst been here my Brother had not died so may we say Lord if thou hadst been here my soul had not been thus dead and disordered nor should I drive on so heavily When the Sun went down Abraham fell asleep Gen. 15.12 and when the Son of Righteousnesse withdrawes his powerfull presence 't is night with us and we grow heavie but whilest we have Gods Spirit to assist us our souls are full of Spirit and Life Christs yoke then is easie and 't is meat and drink to us to be doing Gods will 'T is the policy of Satan when he cannot hinder us from Duties then to make us formall and lazie in Duties or else he layes clogges on us to make duties irksome and unpleasing to us and so to bring us out of love with them and thus he hath prevailed with too many in our dayes Let us therefore spread our case before the Lord and beseech him who is life it selfe to put life into our dead and frozen hearts that they may live unto his praise and that we may love his wayes and then nothing will offend us 2. Act and use your Graces this is the way to increase and quicken them bring good motions into resolutions and actions blow till the spark become a flame This stirring is Painfull but Gainfull drowsy dead formall professors lose all when the active stirring Christian goes forth like the Sun in its strength To him that hath it shall be given exercise your faith daily vita fidei vera vita be much in meditation and self-examination whetted knives are both bright and sharp 't is the diligent hand which makes rich in spirituals as well as Temporalls Proverbs 10.4 3. Delight in quickening company get acquaintance with humble holy active â—en and shun the company of dead formall earthly minded men we must stand up from the Dead before Christ will give us Life Ephes. 4.14 There 's a quickning vertue in the society of Gods people As
Matthew 3.3 He proclaimed the coming of Christ into the World Thus Paul was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Herald to publish the Gospel Be instant The Word signifieth to stand over it stand close to it or to stand much upon it To be instant in Preaching implies a standing to it with diligence and earnestnesse hence Tindal renders it Be fervent in Preaching We must rouse up our selves to the work we shall meet with many dangers difficulties discouragements we must expect many Temptations from within and from without us from profits pleasure ease so that if we be not Instant and Urgent in the work offering a kind of holy Violence to our selves we shall fail in the duty and though for the present we see no fruit of our labours yet must we not give over but be instant and unwearied in the work of the Lord and even compell men to come in to Christ Luke 14.33 In season out of season Q. D. Preach the Word on all occasions take all Opportunities be active in the duty he that will be a Bishop must be apt to teach 1 Timothy 3.3 1. We must Preach in season i. on the Lords Day that is the ordinary time set apart by God himself for this duety This season Christ and his Apostles usually observed Marke 6.1 Luke 4.16 Acts 2.46 and 13.14 and 20.7 2. There are times and seasons when the Word may be most acceptable and most profitable to the hearers as when Gods hand lies heavy upon a people and they are broken with some great affliction then is a time to speak a word in season then they will hear our words for they are sweet Psalm 141.6 2. Out of Season Not that the Word is ever out of season in it self for it is the Bread of Life all other meats have their times and seasons but Bread is the Staffe of Nature and is never out of season There is no season unseasonable for so seasonable for so necessary a duty in the Opinion of a Natural man and in the eye of carnal reason it seems sometimes to be out of season as when it is preached on the week day when Pastor and people have profits and pleasures and worldly imployments to draw them off Now a Sermon seems like snow in Harvest to such earthly souls it is out of season with them yet even these seasons which the world judgeth unseasonable must a Minister redeem for preaching Thus Christ himself did not onely preach on the Sabbath day but on the week dayes also Luke 8.1 and 19.47 We must not to favour our selves preach once a moneth or once a day but we must be diligent labourers in the Lords Vineyard if we expect our penny So that there is no contradiction in these commands both may and must be done by a faithful Minister who must Preach in season when God gives the opportunity and the people desire it Nehem. 8.1 Acts 13.42 and out of season when peoples hearts are so distracted with worldly cares that they have no desire after it Now if Ministers must preach the Word in season and out of season then People must hear the Word and be instant in season and out of season Preaching and Hearing are Relatives if there lye a Necessity on us to Preach by the same Rule there lieth a Necessity on you to hear you must redeem time from your worldly affairs to attend on this Ordinance not onely on the Lords day but even on the week day It will not repent you when you come into your Kingdome The comfort and peace which you will gain by a right attendance on this Ordinance will abundantly recompence all worldly losses you shall incur by it Let thy bodily affairs wait on thy Spiritual and the lesser give place to the greater we have a notable instance for this in the men of Bethshemesh who were busie at their Harvest till the Arke came and then for joy they lay by all and goe to offer Sacrifice 1 Sam. 6.13 14 15. Question But would you have us cast off our callings and doe nothing but follow Sermons Answer By no means for he that commands us to be swift to heare Iames 1.19 commands us also to be diligent in our callings yet whetting is no letting the oyling of the wheels doth not hinder the going of of the Clock An houre spent in hearing a Sermon is no hinderance to our particular calling We can spend two or three houres in Visiting our friends and think it no impediment to our Temporal imployments So that in Cities and Towns especially where people may meet conveniently in respect of cohabitation it will be their wisedome to improve these opportunities for their spiritual advantage as they did Acts 13.42 who desired the Apostles to preach in the space between that and the next Sabbath on the week day saith Diodat Reprove Rebuke Exhort Having spoken before of Preaching in General now he comes to the particular branches of it whereof the first is to reprove such as are erroneous in Judgement by Scripture demonstrations to confute and confound them and put them to silence Titus 1.9 2. Rebuke and chide such as are exorbitant in their manners and corrupt in their lives others may doe it ex Charitate Leviticus 19.17 Ministers ex Officio with all authority Titus 2.25 1 Timothy 5.20 Isay 58.1 Many call it Rayling when it is onely Rebuking by this means some may be reclaimed others restrained and the wicked left without excuse 3. Exhort such as run well to persevere Comfort the dejected quicken the slothful the words of the wise are as goads to rouse men out of their dulness Eccles. 12.11 people then must suffer the word of Exhortation to work on their Affections without quarrelling or fretting against it Hebrewes 13.22 q. d. Reprove all errours rebuke all sins and exhort to all Duties yet still with the spirit of Love and meeknesse that we may convert and not exasperate them so that the Apostle here repeateth and presseth again these Ministerial Dueties before mentioned 2 Tim. 3.16 With all Long-suffering Here is the manner how all these must be done viz. with a great deal of Patience and lenity least we become dispondent because we see not the present fruit and success of our rebukes and exhortations Our reproofes never work kindly unless people see that they come from a patient and a loving mind We must doe all in Love and in the spirit of meeknesse mourning for their folly and endeavouring their restauration We must doe nothing proudly superciliously or Tyrannically but do all with a Paternal affection without malice wrath bitternesse If a man have broke his bones or lost his sight we do not use to revile him or rage against him but we pitty him we pray for him we bemoan his condition A little Patience will not serve a Ministers turn who hath to doe with all sorts of persons he must get a
fare the better for them every day why is the heap of chaff kept from burning but because there 's some wheat mixt with it but if once the wheat were out the chaff should soon be set on fire When once the number of Gods Elect is accomplisht the world shall not stand a moment 'T is just with God to take them from us for our abusing them we cast dirt and God casts dust on them many great men are fallen of late in this our English Israel nigh an hundred godly Ministers are taken from us within the space of three years past many of them young and eminent for Piety so that we this day are weakned both in Church and State Ioseph is not and Simeon is not and Benjamin is not all these things are against us This is and should be a Lamentation to us Now since there is such aboundance of false fire and fein'd zeal in the world we had the more need to try our own Some are mislead by a blind zeal Rom. 20.2 Others by an indiscreet zeal Matth. 26.51 Luke 9.52 53 54. Iohn 8. ult Others by an hyrocritical zeal they pretend Religion but they intend their own inriching So Demetrius pretended the preservation of Religion when indeed he intended his own silver Trade Acts 19 24. 1. True zeal is known by the Rise and Original of it 1. If it be wrought in our hearts by the Spirit of God we are not born zealous for God his Truth and People but by nature are full of enmity to all these Acts 9.1 Phil. 36. Paul in his natural state persecutes the Church out of a blind zeal many mistake the fire of their own flints and the fire of Hell for this celestial fire But the Author of all true zeal and Heavenly fire is the holy Spirit of God which is oft called fire Acts 2.3 4. Matth. 3.11 because like fire it inlightens and heats our cold and frozen hearts Luke 24.32 A man that hath fire in his bosom will quickly be sensible of it Prov. 6.27 28. 2. T is operative like fire daily burning up our lusts purging out our dross and working out our scumme 'T is the true purgatory fire which all beleevers pass through Isay 4.4 2. It springs from knowledge as David first beleeved and then spake so the zealous man first knows Gods Will and then is zealous in the prosecution of it Blind zeal is rather fury and madness rashness and rudeness then zeal 'T is celeris cursus extra viam It 's like mettle in a blind Horse which carries the Rider into many dangers Like a Ship without a Pilot which runs it self on many Rocks and Sands Like wild-fire in a Fools hand or the Devil in the Demoniack which cast him sometimes into the fire and anon into the water The Jews had a zeal after Legal Rites and Ceremonies but 't was a blind zeal that But spoiled all Rom. 10.2 as without knowledg the mind is not good so neither is the man nor his zeal Prov. 19.2 as blind obedience is no obedience so blind zeal is not zeal Such is the zeal of Papists and Sectaries 3. It springs from a Love to Christ this constrains us to do and suffer for Christ. 2 Cor. 5.14 As Christ loved us and spent himself for us so the sense of this love being shed abroad in our hearts will make us to spend our selves for him This fire of Gods love to us will make us contemn all other fire 4. When it springs from a Love and Compassion to our Brethren when all our admonishions and reproofs come from a spirit of love and tenderness and are mixt with meekness and mourning this is true zeal Thus Samuel 1.16 tells Saul plainely and sharply of his sin yet mourns for his person Lot reproves the Sodomites for their wickedness yet calls them Brethren Gen. 19.7 Christ was angry at the sin yet mourned for the sinners Mark 3.5 So doth Paul 2 Cor. 12.22 Hot and moist is the best temper both in nature and grace When men rave and rage and are full of bitterness then Satan casts out Satan and they do more hurt then good These hate the sinner and not the sin when the good man is merciful to the sinner but cruel and unmerciful to the sin 2. True zeal is known by its End viz. Gods glory It can be content to decrease so Gods honor may increase Iohn 3.30 As true zeal comes from God so 't is for God and his glory and not for self The hypocrite may seem very zealous but 't is for his own ends like the Shecaâ—ites that would be cirumcised that they might get cattle Gen. 34.33 Iehu did an act that for the matter was good but his selfish Vain-glorious ends marred all and made it murder Hosea 1.4 3. By the properties and effects of it which are five 1. It increaseth by opposition Like Fountain-water 't is hottest in the coldest weather As water cast on lime by an Antiperistasis burnes more fiercely The more the wicked oppose Gods Law the more David loves it Psal. 119.126 If Michol mock David for dancing before the Ark he 'l resolve to be yet more vile 2 Sam. 6.22 True zeal over-looks and over-leaps all lets and impediments difficulties are but whet-stones to fortitude Heroick spirits know not what discouragements mean Many waters of opposition cannot quench this ardent love but intend it rather Cant. 8.6 7. As we see in Iacob Gen. 32.24 25 26. and the Woman of Canaan Tell Caleb there are Anakims and he 'l say le ts go up couragiously against them Numb 13.30 Tell Paul of bonds why he fears not death Hypocrites make a great shew till they meet with oppositions and then like snailes they pull in their horns 2. It will make us abound in duty if there be the fire of zeal within there will be a flame of a holy Conversation without love especially zealous love is bountiful it thinks it can never do enough for God he 's glad he hath any thing of worth to lose for him and resolves with the Martyr if he had as many lives to lose as he hath haires on his head and as much blood to venture as there is water in the Sea it should all go for Christ. They are ready to act to their power yea and beyond their power 2 Cor. 8.3 Zeal is a very high and intensive heat of all the affections it makes us burn in our love to God in our desires after him our joy in him our fear to offend him our indignation against all that speak or do any thing against him or his Psal. 139.21 Ier. 13.9 10. 'T is not so much any one Affection as the intensive Degree of all when they are all improved to the utmost for the furtherance of Gods glory and the good of his People A zealous man is a man of mettle and spirit he 's all life and activity 'T
it we may as the Traveller doth his Staffe but love it inordinately we may not unlesse we will renounce the Love of God 1 Iohn 2.15 Our love cannot stand in intense degrees to two such contrary Masters 3. Evil company is a great extinguisher of this Holy Fire scarce any thing more Hence zealous David commands evil company to depart Psalm 119.115 We must therefore be very choyce of our company for it hath great operation upon us either to good or evil As iron sharpens iron and one edged tool helps to sharpen another so God hath ordained the society of men to quicken men Conference and communication of experiences hath incredible profit in all Sciences Hence the Saints that lived in dead times did by conference excite and quicken each other in the wayes of God Mal. 3.16 17 4. Formality in Religion is a great enemy to zeal When men rest in a bare performance of duties without any power of godlyness this is the bane of Religion when ever we come to duties we should stir up the graces of Gods Spirit in us 2 Timothy 1.7 If fire be not blown and stirred up it will decay and goe out We must also dayly be adding fuel to it for where there is no fuel the fire goeth out Proverbs 26.20 Pray much men of much Prayer have been men of much zeal as we see in David Daniel Paul Bradford Frequent the Preaching of the Word Accede ad hunc ignem there is a hidden Vertue in this Ordinance to kindle this fire in our breasts which maketh the Devil so busie in drawing men to separation for he well knowes by long experience that if he can but get men out of Gods way they will soon decay in grace the body may assoon live without food as the soul can live without this bread of Life If any would see more let him peruse D. Corn. Burgess Treatise of Zeal Master Henry Hall's Sermon on Matthew 11.12 and Master Loves 4. Sermon on Matthew 11.12 Master Fenner on the Affections Sermon the ninth tenth eleventh Hildersham on Iohn 4.32 Lect. 56. Doctor Sibbs Beams of Light Sermon on Matthew 11.12 Master Ash his Sermon of Zeal 5. Observe Ministers must take all occasions to preach the Word They must preach on the Lords Day and on the week day in publick and private at home and abroad In prosperity and adversity In War and Peace In Prisons and Palaces We must not be Strawberry-Preachers as Bishop Latimer calleth them which come but once a year and are quickly gone again Not long since the Church was troubled with Canon-Preachers who preached according to the Canon once a moneth or once a day insteed of these we have State-Preachers who preach such stuffe for quality as may please the State and so much for quantity as will bring in their Angmentations no Catechizing of the flock no preaching on the week day unless Angels or Nobles call them No baptizing of Infants no fitting of the flocke for the Lords Supper but all lies at random and in confusion surely such Halving-Preachers should have half-pay Doth not he that commands us to Preach command us to Baptize also and to dispense the Lords Supper often Surely this is either not Scripture or els some of us do not doe our duty Let us therefore either do our duty or else cast off our Ministery and give place to such as will As the woman said to the King either do me justice and act as a King or else put off the Title so either let us do the whole work of our Ministery or put off the Name For nomen inane crimen immane Let us preach in season and out of season so did our Saviour he took all occasions to preach sometimes he preached in the Synagogues anon in a Mountain Matth. 5.1 sometimes in a ship Luke 5.3 and anon in a desert Luke 4.42 when the heart is willing it will find out opportunites of doing good So Paul preacheth in Synagogues in Houses by a Rivers side Act. 16.13 in prison Philem. 9. and on other occasions We are Gods Husbandmen and in the morning we must sowe our seed and in the Evening not be idle for some may prosper when we consider the great price that was paid for souls Acts 20.28 it must quicken us to redeeme all opportunities to gain them to Christ. Love is active but lazy persons have a thousand excuses either their bodies are unable the place unfit the company inconvenient c. Many Lions ly in the way of the sluggard but willing minds know no difficulties 6. Observe We are exceeding backward to the best things and have need of many admonitions and exhortations in season and out of season to quicken us in Gods work It 's much adoe to make us begin and when we have begun we are ready to look back on every discouragement Were there in us that Tractableness and teachableness which ought to be how easily might Ministers lead us in good paths 'T is prophesied of Gospel times that so meek and teachable men shall be that even a child with Scripture reason shall lead them Isay 11.6 A wicked man though you bring an hundred plain Scriptures yet he will not be convinced but a gracious soul if he have but a little hint from Scripture that what he holds or doth is displeasing to God he presently casts it off We should therefore lament the sad depravation of our Natures that have need of so much quickning to the best things Many wonder why we are so fervent and frequent in reproofs why our necessitie requires it and God in this Text injoynes it Many love us whilest we comfort them but when we come to cutting reproving and launcing their soares then they look upon us as enemies See more before on 2 Timothy 3.16 7. Observe Application must be joyned to Doctrine The Foundation and the building must go together for a foundation without a building argues the folly of him that laid it and a building without a Foundation will soon fall 'T is not sufficient that by sound Doctrine we inform the judgement but by Application we must work it on the Affections This is the very life of Preaching Doctrine is the whole loaf as 't were but Application is the dividing the word aright and distributing thereof to every one according to their several conditions For these very ends and uses God hath given us his word 2 Tim. 3.16 VERS 3 4. For the time will come that they will not endure sound Doctrine but after their owne Lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers haveing itching eares 4. And they shall turne away their Eares from the Truth and shall be turned to Fables IN these words we have an Apostolical Prophesie of the petulancy and peril of the last times when men will grow weary of sound Doctrine and fall to the embracing of fabulous and vain opinions insteed of truth The words are to be considered Relatively as depending on
those that are cloathed in scarlet are tainted with this duâ—ghil disease the Oaks of Bashan and the Cedars of Lebanon are become as so many Reeds shaken with every blast of strange Doctrine and every Nâ—vel opinion is ready to transport them from the Truth to Fables 'T was Iohn Baptists glory and 't will be ours to be no such Reeds Matth. 11.7 An Itch of Popularity and applause they long to be in Print when they have been in travel with their New-notions they are even sick till they be publisht to the world They love to have it said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this is he that is in Print against Infant-Baptism against Magistracy against Ministery against the Trinity c. It 's pitty but some were better physickt for this Itch. Others have an Itch to be in the Pulpit and must in all hast be Teachers of others before they have learned themselves These would have some salt throwen on their Itch. 5. An itch after smooth pleasing preaching These itching ears love flattering Prâ—â—chers Isai. 30.20 They love to be clawed They have Musical-ears the Prophet's eloquence may delight them as some pleasing song but his wholesom direction they will not follow Ezek. 33.31 32. Plain-preaching is too harsh for their dainty ears they cannot endure to have those courses contradicted which they have pitcht upon and to which they have addicted themselves Neither can they endure to hear any one man long they must have an heap of Teachers They love to hear high-flowen-notions that they may discourse above the rate of their neighbours their curious Palats disrelish common food Priviledges when preacht please them but positive duties distast them These are high in their Notions but low in their practicals like children that have the Rickets grow in the head wither in the feet 6. An Itch of disputing We have many that love to question everything but they beleeve nothing They desire rather to dispute well then to live well This is the scab blemish of our age This Itch of Disputing hath almost destroyed all the Power of Godliness When men fall to wrangling they deal but truth as I have read many Suitors did by a Virgin one would have her another would have her tell at last they had pulled her all to pieces Luthers prayer therefore shall be mine From frivolous fruitless controversies good Lord deliver us Whilst men spend their strength and time about mint and cummin the weighty matters of the Law lye unregarded Better want a disputative-knowledge then that savory sanctifying affective-knowledge which will enable to die for the Truth though we cannot dispute for it 'T is holiness and obedience not disputing and wrangling which is the way to happiness 'T is well observed by one that disputations in Religion are sometimes necessary but alwayes dangerous drawing the best spirits into the head from the heart and leaving it either empty of all or too full of fleshly zeal and passion if extraordinary care be not taken still to supply and fill it anew with pious affections towards God and loving towards men 7. A quarreling contradicting itch which like a tetter the more it is rubbed the more it spreads it self They have critical ears they come to arraign the Minister at the Bar of their own judgment to judge that word by which they must be judged These come not to practice the Sermon but to quarrel with the Preacher Salamander like they love to live in the fire of contention God loves not saith Luther such Curists and Quaerists i. Such as are alwayes to their Cur why is it thus and thus and their Vtrums whether it be so and so We must believe and obey but not reason with God about his Commands there must be a quiet resignation of our wills to Gods Will. Thologia nostra est Pythagorica God hath said it and that 's sufficient to quiet a gracious soul. Fides est quietativa non disputativa Faith quietly and readily obeyes it doth not dispute Gods Command A beleever is not quarreling when he should be doing his duty It 's a good sign we are sincere when we do all things without murmuring and quarreling Philip. 2.14 15. We should therefore cast off all wranglings about toyes and trifles about niceties and novelties about things whereof we can neither have proof nor profit The cure of this Itch is 1. To acquiesce in the pure Word of God without any hunting after Novelties and Curiosities Love the Law and then ye will neither forget nor forsake it to follow Fables The root of Apostasy is want of affection to the Word when men serve not God with gladness of heart in the aboundance of spiritual mercies but grow weary of truth loath this Heavenly Mannah then 't is just with God to give them up to strong delusions to believe lyes Iob 12.16 Ezek. 24.4 9. 2 Thes. 2.11 When men will not be servants to Truth 't is just with God that they should be slaves to sin and error and when they will not serve God in the enjoyment of Ordinances they should serve their lusts in the want of them Amos 8.11 2. Take heed 1. Whom ye hear 2. How ye hear 1. Take heed whom and what you hear Faith comes not by hearing every Self-called-speaker but by hearing sent Teachers Rom. 10.14 15. Such as have Itching-ears love to hear all men many times grow out of love with all so that they can endure to hear none long If the Devil but can set the Itch upon thee of hearing New-teachers he 'l soon draw thee to believe lyes and fables His great design is to undermine the Ministery and steal peoples hearts from them if the Wolves but can get the Sheep from the Shepheards they will soon devour them If then you love your souls love your faithful Pastors and stick to them 2. Take heed how you hear as all the senses must be guarded so must this set a Watch-man on it and take heed how see to the manner as well as to the matter of your hearing Luke 8.18 The ear is an honourable part 't is sensus disciplinae the sense which conveighs instruction into the soul. For delight 't is an excellent sense therefore the ears are called the daughters of Musick Eccles. 12.4 By it Faith which is the Grace of graces is conveyed into the soul. Rom. 10.17 Faith comes by hearing and not by seeing Labour then for an intelligent obedient circumcised mortified ears which is a choice mercy Matth. 13.16 23. Rom. 2.29 To this end we must hear the Word 1. Preparedly 2. Attentively 3. Intentively 4. Retentively 5. Understandingly 6. Discreetly 7. Beleevingly 8. Reverentially 9. Affectionally with Love Desire Joy 10. Obedientially 1. There must be preparation before we hear and that not onely habitual but an actual washing of our hearts and hands before we come to Gods Altar Psal. 26.9 Ezra 7.10 Iob 11.13 14. Eccles. 5.7
is the very formalis ratio the quintescence of zeal to be intense and increased to the utmost 'T is not every degree of Affection for a formalist may have some cold Vellieties and Luke-warm desires and a carnal man may have some joy and fear But zeal is another thing 't is a boiling over again with extremity of heat 'T is sacra ebullitio a holy heat and rising of the heart against sin It makes a man fervent or seething hot against sin Rom. 12.11 Water may be hot in some measure and yet not seeth seething hot is the highest degree of heat But the Hypocrite is affraid of being too zealous and active for God whereas we can never be too zealous in that we know to be good in it self and good for us to do We cannot exceed in our love to God nor in our obedience to him No vertue in its formal reason can be too much intended a man cannot be nimis liberalis tho he may be nimius in largitione Keep the horse under the bridle and in the right way and keep the stream within its banks let it run in a right channel and then the stronger the better 3. It will make us sharp and severe against our own sins but pittiful and compassionate to others As charity so zeal begins at home no man can speak so sharply against him as he doth against himself though others may excuse him yet he 'l not excuse himself 2 Sam. 24.10 But the Hypocrite he 's parcus sibi severus aliis High and harsh in his censures of others but indulgent to himself Matth. 7.4 the worst men are usually the greatest censurers Acts 28.4 4. It makes a man more zealous in great matters then in lesser In great causes he sheweth great zeal and in lesser causes lesser zeal He calls not for a Sword to kill a Flea nor for an Axe to crack an Egge He well knows that the same fire is not requisite for the roasting of an Egge as is for the roasting of an Ox. But the Hypocrite he 's magnus in minimis he 's fiery in small matters and cold in weighty ones With Saul he kills the lean but spares the fat And with the Pharises he Tythes Mint and Cummin but neglects obedience in the great things of the Law Matth. 23.23 5. He 's more zealous in Gods cause then in his own Moses how meek and quiet in his own cause Numb 12.3 Yet how hot in Gods Exod. 32.9.19.27 Hezekiah mourns more for Senacherib's blasphemy then for the Sword that was drawn against himself 2 Kings 19.3 4.16 David when himself was persecuted became as a deaf man but when Gods Law is transgressed his zeal consumes him and rivers of tears run down his eyes Christ himself in his own sufferings was as a Sheep before the Shearer dumb but when Gods house is profaned he doth not onely by words but blows drive them out with an holy violence Nehemiah how silent when himself was reproached but when Gods Sabbaths are profaned he contends even with Nobles about it Ioshua 7.8 is more tender over Gods Name then his own he doth not say what shall our names estates and lives do but what wilt thou do for thy own name The Church of Ephesus could bear any suffering but not sin Rev. 2.2 But the hypocrite is hot in his own case and key-cold in Gods let any wrong him or rob him he 's all on a flame but let Gods Name Sabbaths Servants be wronged he cares for no such things 4. True zeal may be known by it's concomitants and companions which are 4.1 'T is ever attended with wisedom and discretion 'T is not a rash ungrounded zeal but a wise sober well-grounded fervour As a good dish may be spoiled in the dressing so a good reproof for want of observing due circumstances of persons time and place may loose it's due operation Hence Solomon commends a word that 's spoken Beophman super rotis suis running on the wheels of all due circumstances Psal. 25.11 Fire on the hearth is good but fire in the top of the house is dangerous Love allows us to be warm and plain but not scalding hot in our reproofs A well-ordred zeal will teach a Nathan to catch a David in a parable Caut. Yet must we beware least under pretence of discretion we destroy zeal of which see more in the Objections 2. It keeps the bounds of its calling It dares do nothing without a call from God Simeon and Levi were good men and the cause was good but the prosecution of it was ill for they assumed the Magistrates power without a call Gen. 3.4 Excessive heat or excessive cold is poysen 3. He loves to see and to make others zealous It 's the nature of fire to multiply one livingâ—coal kindles another zealous Abraham will not keep his goodness to himself but he 'l communicate it to his family So Moses Numb 11.29 and Paul Acts 26.29 4. 'T is of a growing nature we must grow in zeal as well as in other graces A grain of mustard seed though it be little yet 't is lively Fire on the Altar might not be suffered to go out Levit. 6.13 As natural strength so this is increased by exercise To him that hath true zeal shall be given more Lastly this must quicken us all to an holy zeal and emulation in well-doing Most men seek to excell their Neighbours in riches fine houses fine fare but who labours to excel in vertue The living God delights not in dead hearts dead spirits become not his servants cold wishes and faint desires please not him we must be active and stirring if we desire that God should be with us for our God is not the God of the dead but of the living Who should be zealous and active for God if we be not as Nehemiah said in another case Neh. 6.11 Should such a one as I fly I that am under such special promises special protection special providences should I dishonour my profession and in a fearful manner fly so should such as we be cold and dead who live upon the bread of life and drink the water of life who have lively Oracles and lively Ordinances and all meanes to make us lively Let us therefore do what we do with all our might as David did when he danced before the Ark. 2 Sam. 6.14 Let us oppose sin with all our might Preach Pray and praise God with all our might Iudge 5.12 Psal. 103.23 Rom. 12.11 We should burn and boyl up in our spirits in duty By this meanes we shall prevent aboundance of dangerous temptations which seise on Luke-warm professors When Honey is cold every Fly and Wasp robs us of it but when 't is boyling and scalding hot they dare not come neer it When men are cold and indifferent in Religion every Sectary and Seducer which are the Devils Flies and Emissaries makes a prey of us but when we are hot