a publick spirit as publick as is their sedition in some sort delivered my own soul and they shall not perish without warning and that repeated with as much vehemency as are their Divisions God in mercy give a Blessing And so may they see yet again how I do set before them fire and water and will they chuse the water alas the waters of Separation are waters of bitterness Massah and Meribah be their name and Marah is their tast they are themselves as it were baptized strife and contention and so noisome loathsome and every way unsavory is their rellish But the Fire is from the Lord in the Sanctuary it is a Refiners fire and a coal from the Altar that so all iniquity may be done away Blessing and a Curse and will they chuse the curse it is Anathema Maranatha A curse untill Christ come against all those who love not the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Communion of his Saints But this the Blessing when the Spirit shall say come and the Bride shall say come and the Church shall say come and every one that has set heart to seek the Lord the Lord God of his Fathers shall also come that so God may translate his Church which is here terribly Militant as an Army with banners in good order and in due aray unto Trophies and Triumphs in that glory which shall be everlasting And so look they once more and behold and chuse they whether they will Life and Death and will they chuse Death Death which shall never have an end the reward of those who do wilfully reject the means and the passage unto Life Oh! that at length they would believe schism and separation to be a damning Sin that they would not place the worship of God in the ways and amidst the sons of perdition I 'le leave a Text or two for them to urge upon themselves and can there be plainer words than these Rom. 13.2 They that resist that power which is the Ordinance of God or which is all one that Power which commands Obedience unto Gods Ordinance shall receive unto themselves Damnation 2 Pet. 3.1 3. False Prophets and false Teachers bring upon themselves swift Destruction whose judgment of a long time lingreth not and their Damnation slumbereth not Epist of St. Jude v. 13. These are wandring stars not keeping within their proper and appointed Orbs in order to a regular and an equal revolution Vnto whom is reserved the Blackness of Darkness for ever But after all this Life and Peace to those that seek and keep peace in the fear and love of God and of those that are set over them To conclude Let us be perswaded as we are men and Christians to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace considering that God is terrible in his judgments against the Rebellious and Sacrilegious he is wonderful in his providence for the defence of those that wait and call upon him his wrath is dreadful unto Death his loving kindness is surpassing and in his favour is Life The Assembling together of his Saints is Venerable and Awful God is honoured in the midst whilst due Reverence is paid to those that are round about him considering all these things what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness we should be no longer faithless but believing may we the more and the rather be added to the Church as Believers in the Lord and may this number increase to Multitudes of every age and of every Sex both Men and Women our Churches Prayer shall with little alteration be the close of all We Pray thee O Lord Help thy Servants whom thou hast redâ—emed with thy most Precious Blood Make them to be numbred with thy Saints here in a holy Communion and hereafter in glory everlasting To which God of his infinite Mercy bring us all to whom be ascribed Honour Praise and Adoration to Father Son and Holy Ghost One God and three Persons and that of all Ages in the Church by Christ Jesus world without end Amen Lord Mercifully receive the Prayers of thy Church that all troubles and errors being quenched it may serve thee in quietness and grant us peace in our days Amen A BAD AND A Good Zeal DESCRIBED and LIMITED Gal. 4.17 18. 17. They zealously affect you but not well yea they would exclude you that you might affect them or us 18. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing and not only when I am present with you IT was even in our Saviours time the Hypocritical Devotion of the Pharisees and is at this day the Pharisaical Hypocrisie both of the Conclave and the Consistory to compass Sea and Land to make one Proselyte and when he is gained they make him two-fold more the child of Hell then themselves so that the last estate of the poor man is worse than his beginning But as for us Woe unto us unless that our Religion do exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees their industry was both commendable and imitable if we could abstract their Labour of Love as they call it from the malice of their intention we may hear them both while they sit in the Chair of Moses but not when their design is to tumble Moses out of his Chair not when they rebell against Moses the Servant of the Lord and vex Aaron the Saint of God their long Prayers were not amiss no though they were in the Markets and the corners of every street when they made their great solemn and pompous Processions that they might be seen of men and so give an example of Devotion unto the World but we must beware of them when we find that upon this pretence they devour Widdows Houses when they commit a rapine upon the portion of the Widdow and of the Fatherless their long Robes were no such hainous crime nor their Phylacteries upon their Garments in which are supposed to have been written in Capital Letters the Ten Commandements of God to put the People in mind of their Duty but this was their fault when they proposed the Law as a Precept of obedience unto others and most shamefully and wickedly broke it in every Precept themselves in a word it is an Evangelical Precept the command of Christ himself with which Holy Church begins and exhorts to her offertory That we let our Light shine before men even the Light of our Profession in the publick attestations of our Religion we may be both burning and shining Lights but we must be careful that there be the oyl of good works to feed the flame lest men rejoyce in our Light only for a season and because they cannot behold a pious and a holy conversation directed by the fear of God therefore they do not glorifie our Father which is in Heaven we are to be watchful then that we try the hot Spirits of zeal that are abroad inthe world whether they be
of God or no whether the fire that works in them and sparkles from them descend from Heaven and is a flame of Love or be fetched from Hell and is a world of iniquity both may be though in different respects to consume our Sacrifices by their works you shall know them see and observe therefore with our Apostle in this Text are they not more solicitous to make a prey upon your Persons then to manifest their own and so improve your graces thus they zealously affect you but not well are they not more desirous for a separation then to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace This is all out of love unto themselves that you might have their Persons in admiration and they get the advantage yea they would exclude you that is by a roaring Bull and a thundering Excommunication or they would exclude us by sequestration had they Power by cunning seduction withdrawing themselves though they are both invited and intreated to Communicate no Anathema is pronounced against them only they excommunicate themselves and they lead the simple and ignorant into Houses both Adversaries agree in this in that they would have the World to follow after them and thereout get no small profit to themselves they do thus exclude that the people might affect them And may not the Watch-men of Israel now stand upon their Guard and be as industrious in their business to know both what of the night and what of the day when there lye to such potent enemies at the catch seeking night and day whom they may devour whom they may snatch out of the fold and lead like Sheep unto the slaughter surely it is good for them alwayes to be zealously affected in so good a thing as is the converting of those who have erred from the Truth to restore the wandring sinners from the errour of their wayes and so to save the Souls that are committed to their charge from Death and to prevent in others a multitude of sins yea and to the People also this caution may not be unfitly given that they be stedfast to that Faith which is delivered to them that should their chief Apostle because of his care of the other Churches or of the Church in general have occasion to with-draw from them I meane such a one as an Apostle not those that are left behind to be Teachers in every City for unless they abide upon their charge the enemy will take advantage of their absence as well as of their sleeping to sow his Tares should he be away upon the discharge of his duty in another place such a One who has a Rod in his hand where-with to restrain them a certain power and jurisdiction over them nay not a Rod only but a Sword also when he can call in the saecular Arm to his assistance to execute wrath upon them when such an Apostle as this is absent the People must be careful that they follow the directions of their Spiritual Guides which are set over them as knowing that it is good for them likewise to be zealously affected in so good a thing as is holding fast to the Doctrine and Discipline of Faith and godliness which from the Church they have received keeping to a form of found and wholesome words which in the Church they have used and this their zeal and stedfastness they are to make manifest not only when such a one as St. Paul their chief Apostle is present with them and all because of the Churches enemies on every side as if the Apostle directed his Epistle to us who it seems are bewitched as sadly as were his Galatians from obeying the Truth delivered to us There are false Brethren and false Accusers such as zealously affect you but not well yea they would exclude you or us that you might affect them But it is good to be zealously affected alwayes in a good thing and the rather because I am absent from you It is good to be zealously affected alwaies in a good thing These words were the first occasion of pitching my thoughts upon this Subject Observing the variety of heats that are in the World about Religion certainly some distinction difference must be admitted that whilst there be such strivings and contendings about the way of Godliness surely as all cannot be imagined to tread the un-erring Path so neither must we be so sottish as to imagine that every one is out of the way By considering these words as they do relate unto the Galatians in their Circumstances at the time of the writing of this Epistle we may I hope make a clew of thread to extricate our selves out of the like Labyrinths that notwithstanding the various pretensions that are made to Truth and Piety we be not as children tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine That then which was first in my thoughts I found upon a second search to be the summe of the whole Text and therefore was forced to take in both verses It is good to be zealously affected c. The words are brought in with a Conjunction exceptive or discretive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But it is good to be zealous and so they do refer as they are something discriminated or distinguished from the fore-going verse in which the Apostle gives the Galatians an account of what might be the temper of their Seducers supposed to be the impure Gnosticks who did so early disturb the peace of the Church by obtruding upon the Disciples Judaizing Observances though they themselves were not Circumcised neither did they alwayes walk as did the Jews but out of a pretence they were zealous for the way of their Fathers laying heavy burdens upon the People which they would not touch themselves no not with one of their fingers This was such an Hypocrysie that Chap. 11.14 St. Peter seemed more out of prudence than Piety to comply with it and St. Paul was so zealous that he withstood him to the face for he was to be blamed and Barnabas also being of too easie and facile a temper a Son of Consolation was not a little to his own grief carried away with this Dissimulation But whatever rules of prudence some who at that time were set over the affairs of the Church might walk by thinking thereby that they did consult the Publick Peace and so kept all quiet no Peace saith our stout Apostle St. Paul with the wicked for hence an occasion was given that the way of God was evil spoke of and those who keep themselves up close to the rules of their Duty could not avoid the unkind surmises and hard speeches of the People whilst in the mean time the cunning Adversary took this opportunity upon the hopes of an Accommodation to work out his own designes upon those who were of a more easie perswasion and therefore they were zealous and industrious to gain more and more to their party to get ground because of some concessions or rather
they fall foul one upon another cutting themselves with Knives and Lances till the blood gush out upon them these are the heats of Brethren in iniquity a friendship turned to the worst of hatred till amongst them many times blood touch blood whereas that zeal which conerns it self for God and for his Glory is the peaceable fruit of Righteousness it is a coal brought by the Ministration of Cherubims and Seraphins those Spirits that are a flame of Fire with which both mouth and lips being touched all sin is purged away and the zeal because Permanent and Constant is therefore Good Good a word that speaks all perfection as much as finite Beings are capable of it is what the B. Apostle recommends to the Galatians in the Text after he had given them an account in the verse preceding of the Temper of their Seducers a description of their wicked Zeal to pervert them from the Faith he would not have the Galatians in the last to abate any thing of their Christian Fervours for God and for his Truth It is God that answereth by fire in them against their opposers and Gainsayers and therefore let him be God this fire let it be preserved alive yea though St. Paul be absent from them For it is good to be zealously affected alwaies in a good thing and not only when I who have authority and a jurisdiction over you am present with you but out of love to the thing it self when in my care of the other Churches I have occasion to withdraw and to be absent from you In the words which are the commendation of a Pious and a holy Zeal we have these two Parts as I have before mentioned 1. Approbatio ipsa The Approbation it self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is good to be zealous 2ly Ratio Approbandi The reason of this Approbation which is Three-fold First Ab Objecto From the Object of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it must be in a good thing Secondly Ab Habitu From the Habit which must be as unlimited as the Object is universally good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it must be always Thirdly Ab Occasione From the Occasion of expressing it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not only when I your Apostle am present with you First The scope of the Text being such a Zeal commended to us as is it self a Moderation that is a Medium between luke-warm indifference and hot-headed Phrenzey in the general it is laid down as the Foundation of all That it is good to be Zealous Zeal is many times the Product of a true Repentance 2 Cor. 7.11 In that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what Zeal certainly then it is not alwayes it self to be repented of nay it was the Command of him who sat in the midst of the Seven Golden Candlesticks whose eyes were as a flame of Fire and his feet like unto fine Brass as if they burned in a furnace unto the Church of Laodicea that Church which was neither hot nor cold Rev. 3.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be thou zealous and Repent Zeal is like the Element to which it is often compared a good Servant though a bad Master a Good Servant when in subjection to in subordination with that obedience which we are to pay unto our God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When we are fervent in Spirit serving the Lord but a Bad Master when it rules not only in us but over us transporting us so much that we forget either our Duty to God or our Charity to our Brother As bad as some may esteem of Zeal who care not to put themselves to over-much trouble for God and for his service who consult their own ease and quiet so much that they are not sollicitous what becomes of the outward Professions the publick attestations of Holiness and Piety who are for doing their own business but nothing else let the World go how it will they are not concerned so they may be permitted a lazy retiredness and unusefull privacy yet zeal is Good when it walks abroad to be seen of men when it is not a candle under a bushel but on the house top or set upon a hill the holy hill of Sion that all the Passengers may behold it and be directed by it it is transcendently Good and that in the three common acceptions of Goodness jucundum honestum utile it is a pleasant Good it is honest and of good report it is every way profitable First Zeal is Good that is it is bonum jucundum it is a pleasant good though it be the exerting of our passions there is great complacency and satisfaction in it whilst we are musing the Fire burns and we have no rest till at last we speak with our tongues the result of it is great peace to a mans Conscience when at any time he supposes that he has disburdened his Soul in the cause of God it is a comfortable reflection upon a spiritual and a holy magnanimity when a man is satisfied with himself that he is not afraid or ashamed to speak and write his mind and to act according to an honest Principle maugre all opposition and discouragement when it is rightly qualified it is an excellent pre-requisite disposing a man to be a resolute Confessour or a joyful Martyr it fits a man to suffer with great joy and gladness the spoiling of his goods the loss of his life any thing rather then make shipwrack of his faith and of a good Conscience It is not requisite therefore that a true zealot should be an ill-natured person one that is contented with any thing rather then his present state and condition of life it is not like the peevishness of Jobs wife upbraiding its self with its own integrity as if we had served our God for nought and washed our hands in innocency to no purpose therefore upon every little and light affliction we must presently curse God and die neither is it like the fretting and fuming of Jonas displeased because God is gratious because the sentence of judgment against the evil works of the sons of men is not executed speedily therefore Jonas thinks that he does well to be angry even unto death No there are the comforts of life in the heats of a holy zeal and that life is the light of God Nay further yet This Supererogating grace I want a name for it it is somthing more then Love the surplusage of it not by it self a distinct vertue for once therefore allow me the expression I say this Supererogating grace is not onely a pleasant good that is warmth and refreshment Peace that passeth all understanding to the pious soul where it is seated but it is likewise comfort and encouragement unto others how many have taken fire at such heats as these to see a Martyr die with courage and resolution was the great inducement for others chearfully to embrace the same flames the Phoenix providing
care not much to be contained within the limits of their Duty the Boundaries that are set them for a holy life in an exact obedience to government both sacred and civil however that zeal which is not only for but according unto Godliness is no enemy unto Charity it beareth all things and it believeth all things till it find it self to be miserably deceived and then zeal being provoked to shew it self is honest still just and upright in the sight of God and Man it rejoyceth not in iniquity but persisteth in the truth exhibiting it self chiefly in vertuous and holy Actions spending it self upon the ingenuous arts and contrivances of love that so it may be Profitable unto all which is the Third Thing In which Zeal manifests its self as Good it is Bonum Vtile a most profitable good it is profitable for example and imitation like the Holy Scriptures the Rule by which it acts it is profitable for correction and reproof and for instruction in righteousness who will ever take that man for his pattern who is unconstant to himself he is shrewdly to be suspected for a double-minded man who is unstable in his ways But he that sets himself against all opposition to persevere in the way of truth who hath made his face like a flint in the Prophets phrase neither will he be ashamed one that will not give himself the least ease or relaxation from the performance of that which he has learnt to be his Duty one that has no Latitude as to those things in which both Law and Conscience do oblige him such a one is a successful example of courage and constancy unto others that they do not fall away from their own stedfastness whilst Daniel prayes in Babylon with his window open to Jerusalem notwithstanding the danger he was in for so doing though the Children of the Captivity were in a strange Land yet having so good a president they could not but think of the songs of Sion Some are like the Fish Polipus of the colour of the Rock unto which they cleave and because so they are in the common Proverb neither good fish nor flesh they tell us that we must comply with present circumstances it is disputable whether God does and it 's certain Man does not know future contingencies and whatsoever they be by a fatal necessity we must yield to them the God of Nature does not command that we should make our lives a snare to our selves a prudential un-vexatious obedience is all that he requires and this is to be perfect as our Father which is in Heaven is perfect This indeed were good Divinity were a Politician the Dr. of the Chair but how it will consist with the plain and simple Dictates of Christianity we want a Machiavel or his soul by an unheard of Metempsychosis actuating a Leviathan one who resolves all anorality either into positive Laws or into present local though contingent circumstances to determine the controversie But a resolved generous Soul is not of so temporary a Spirit his zeal is profitable unto others because good in it self every way and at all times good good because it is pleasant even the peace of God unto the pious soul and good because it is honest it thinks no evil but rejoyceth in the truth and good because it is a steddy example of holiness of purity and constancy unto others without being puffed up in prosperity terrified in adversity It remains therefore that this Apostolical Approbation have both an honorable mention and an hearty entertainment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is good to be zealous And so I proceed to the Second part of the Text Ratio Approbandi The Reason of this Approbation and that First Taken from the Object 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It must be in a good thing In qualifying and distinguishing the Passions by their Objects some are good when their Objects are bad such is anger and hatred which are only then good when they are vented against Sin Be ye angry and sin not some are Bad when their Objects are but semingly good such is Love and Desire for it is possible and we find it often by sad experience that we do affect that which is in it self really evil only because it presents it self to us sub specie Boni jucundi under the specious pretence of a pleasurable Good But after all this zeal is a kind of more mixed Passion in reference to its Object take it for envy when it is bad when the Object is Good it is like the unhappy Locusts that cannot endure to see a green Leaf on the Trees take it for imitation or emulation only when the Object is Good is that Good also bonum est ut invideamini in bonis rebus semper Vars. Syr. It is Good either that you should be envied at by others or that you should have some kind strivings amongst your selves concerning things that are Good there is a pious kind of envy a holy zeal and emulation when we do strive and provoke one another in love unto Good Works To be a little more close and particular Zeal is good in relation unto a good Object upon these three accounts 1. Because it is there directed by a good rule the Word of God 2ly Managed upon a good Matter which bears a due proportion to that Rule 3ly Guided by a good intention not being over-byassed or over-ballanced by any sinister and by-respects A word or two of each of these First Zeal is good in relation to the Object if it be directed by a good Rule the Word of God The truly pious Zealiot in all his heats and ardors for the cause of God is to be very careful lest he should in any wise transgress that Rule of Righteousness which is prescribed to him as the revealed Will of that Master to whom he serves though Jehu drove furiously yet he was not to be blamed when he had this fixed resolution That there should fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the Lord which the Lord had spoken There is a thing which is called a sure Word of Prophecy to which we shall do well that we take heed in meekness and in fear that we do not in the least prevent the impulse of the Holy Ghost within us moving us to do that which is contrary to the dictates of the Spirit either speaking in his Word ruling in the sanctions and determinations of the Church They then who talk big words of an illumination or a Light within them and yet regard not the Law of God which should be a Light unto their feet and a Lanthern unto their paths whilst they offer up strange fire to the Lord they and their Sacrifices are abhorred and God seems thus to speak to them in the Language of his Prophet Isaiah 50.11 All you that kindle a fire that compass your selves about with sparks walk you in the light of your fire and in the sparks which you
have kindled this shall you have of my hand you shall lie down in sorrow Would we examine and try our own or the spirits of others whether they be of God or no the Word of the Lord is sharp and piercing it divides betwixt the marrow and the bones it searcheth out the depths and secrets of the heart That fire cannot be a flame of holy incense to consume the Sacrifice and to render it acceptable which has no regard to the Holy Oracle of God Here that zeal is reproveable which spends it self either in decrying the sacred Scriptures as useless or in preverting the Scriptures making them of private interpretation to speak what they never intended such who wrest them to their own destruction First They that decry the Scriptures as useless since we are now not to be directed by a line or by precept but we are all to be taught of God of this sort are they who think themselves above Ordinances waiting only for some secret instincts some impetuous raptures to carry them they know not whither to do they know not what such who have laid aside the first Principles of Godliness they are not to be dealt with you shall never argue them into a better temper so long as this melancholy dumpish humour doth transport them they have this still for a refuge that they are not free to hear or to answer you But as for our selves that we be not led away by the errour of these wicked men it may be urged and I cannot urge it too often the Articles of our Creed into which we were baptized that as in our Profession we do believe the Holy Ghost to be the Lord and giver of Life and so a spirit of illumination unto the Sons of Men so we do believe that he the same Spirit spake by the Prophets He the same Spirit does assist in the Communion of Saints and therefore we are not to neglect the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is Secondly As for that other sort who have made themselves the only perpetual Dictators in Religion whose humour is the only Light they have for the interpretation of the Scripture who make the Scripture to be of a private interpretation speaking what it never intended who have against the continued practices of Christianity in all ages found out a new clew of thread to extricate themselves and others out of some Labyrinths of controversie of their own devising and do thus betray the simple and ignorant into not onely foolish but dangerous errors these men act as if they had forgot those Scriptures which they pretend for to interpret those that tell us that the Spirits of the Prophets must be subject to the Prophets especially when they are met together in a holy Communion They who would take heed to a sure word of Prophesie must know this first of all 2 Pet. 1.20 That no Prophesies of Scripture are of private interpretation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of a mans conceited enthusiastical and sudden explication 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 St. Mar. 4.34 It was the onely prerogative of Christ himself when he was alone for to interpret but as to us the word of Prophesie is not thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the will of man we must take in along with us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Analogy of our Common Faith and the sacred authority of the Catholick Church as knowing that whatsoever seemed good unto the Holy Ghost as it is revealed in the word seemed good likewise to the same Spirit as it is explained by the Church and proposed to those who will receive the truth in the love of it to be matter for their Faith wherefore the Scripture hath said I mean St. Paul in whose writings there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some things hard to be understood which the Pride and Tyranny of the Church of Rome on the one hand and the unstable peevishness of our Classical Brethren from their Consistory on the other have wrested two contrary ways yet between them both the word of God abideth sure to wit that Scripture which refers us to an Interpreter for all the rest 1 Tim. 3.15 The Church of the Living God in all things necessary to salvation as the words following do imply is the onely pillar and ground of truth and then he adds the fundamental articles of our Christian faith without controversie great is the mystery of Godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels c. That zeal then is truly commendable just holy and good which is a Zeal according to the Scriptures a contention for the Faith of God in them revealed as they are by the Church delivered to the Saints which whilst it doth coufess the Holy Ghost to rule in the hearts of all Believers does not too hastily pass over the two next Articles of our Christian Faith in which we also do believe a Holy Catholick Church and in the Vnity of that Church do joyn with the Communion of Saints such a Zeal as this is good that is guided by a good rule by the word of God as it is proposed and said open by the Church to be a perfect Canon an exact prescription to tell us what ought to be our Faith and to guide us in our manners in all holy Conversation and Godliness Secondly Zeal is good in Relation to the Object of it if it be managed upon a good matter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon a good thing which bears its due proportion to that rule This is that which St. Paul tells us is the result of the Grace of God bringing salvation and appearing unto all Tit. 2.14 In that our Saviour gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works The people are then peculiar and the zeal is singular when by the blood of Christ we are cleansed from all iniquity so that our works are good Having once submitted our selves to the obedience of Faith and publickly owned it in the Unity of the Church every man has so far a Judgment of private Discretion and possibly not in many cases besides as to examine his own Actions by that Rule of Righteousness which he hath received and the rectitude of which he must not in the least dispute Saul forgot himself and God also when in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah he slew the Gibeonites 2 Sam. 21.2 These Gibeonites though but hewers of wood and drawers of water in the sanctuary were to be preserved because of the Oath of God Joshuah 9.3 17. They who were for exterpating root and branch amongst us though they had formerly given up their names to God and to his Church in their Promissory Subscriptions that they would conform to and not endeavour the alteration of the Religion established and yet after all this in their zeal unto the people did lift up
their people for without a little Dissimulation their could be neither Living nor Livelinood But certainly God has no need of such mens Hypocrisie to Manifest his Glory nor the Church of their Dissimulation to preserve its peace He that is a Friend to all Religions or to all perswasions in Religion so far that according to the circumstances of his life he can ingage in or defend any of them is in truth of no Religion at all he is ready to Apostatize with Julian and should there arise an eleventh Persecution against Christianity he is never like to be either a Resolute Confessour for the truth he has own'd or a Faithful Martyr for the Faith into which he was baptized but this will be his sad Conversion quite contrary to the blessed alteration which was in St. Paul Is not this he that preached Christ but now he destroys all those who call upon that name delivering them up to bonds and imprisonment even to death it self God grant that we may never know such times as will put these men to their tryal and he preserve and continue his Church in Unity and Uniformity amongst us that it never stand in need of them to be Champions for its Faith or Discipline But whither such an eager industrious sollicitude of being indifferent of appearing all things to all men wresting St. Pauls practice as bad as they have done his writings out of a desire not to gain Proselytes but credit and profit to themselves I say whether such a zealous studious luke-warmness in things sacred and holy is not in the direct consequence of it a pre-requisite disposing a man to turn Jew Turk Pagan Infidel any thing does not in the formal notion of it promote Atheisme both in practice and speculation I leave this to the Disputers of this World to the curious speculative heads of our times seriously and soberly to consider But as for us let us be careful of a Temporary Faith of a Religion ours in the profession of it only because suited to the Climate we live in and the air we breath in to the popular breath we daily suck to the soil of the Countrey to the humours of Multitude Let us be stedfast in our holy Profession persevere in the way of Godliness as knowing that Pure Religion is to keep our selves unspotted from the World it is Heaven-born God on high is Worshiped and man upon Earth is saved in the celebration of it this being our Assurance that we are accepted and a comfortable satisfaction to us that our zeal is rightly qualified when in the integrity of our hearts and the uprightness of our soul it is as permanent as it is passionate it is the same continued flame bright and pure to the last bending it self one way tending upwards though it be fire it is not seated beneath the concave of the Moon I mean spent upon sublunary changing perishing Designes but it is cherished by influenced upon and clothed with the Sun of Righteousness and the reward of its Constancy shall be Everlasting Felicity for him who is thus piously zealous unto Death there is laid up a Crown of Life And so I pass to the 2. Reason of this Apostolical approbation and that Taken from the habit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It must be alwayes And here as in the Application of the first Discourse was mentioned we must be careful that we distinguish the habit of zeal from the constitution of the Body whether it be not the overflowing of the Gall rather than the result of Grace from the heart True indeed being called unto Grace and Holiness whatsoever were our passions before they are Crucified now with Christ in mortification and with him they are risen again and sanctified unto his service and so our zeal may at the same time be in some sort the natural temper of our Bodies and the pious frame of our Minds but then in other circumstances of life our zeal for Charity must alwayes take place of Passion neither must the Sun at any time set somnum nec rixa facit nor are the shadows of the night to be spread over our wrath So then be our Constitution what it will if in the personal occurrences of our lives our Moderation be known unto all men our zeal for God and Religion because perpetually the same is therefore Good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it must be Alwaies Thunder does root up Foundations the effects of it are as dreadful as the noise is terrible but then the Lightning which doth accompany it is momentany it is but a sudden flash and we see it again no more There is a Madzeal or a Phrenzy rather like Thunder it pretends that it will clear the air when it makes the earth to tremble nothing but Desolation and overturning where-ever the Bolt lights it makes havock of all before it be it never so pleasant or desireable but the Lightning transcient the promising overtures are but some sudden glances which have more of terror and amazement than of comfort and refreshment we see them indeed or hear of them no sooner are they seen or heard but no where are they to be found whereas a Holy zeal is like the Sun breaking through a cloud though intercepted with the mists and foggs of errour and seduction yet it will make its way and spread the day where e're it comes it ariseth in its strength and in its beauty and rejoyceth to run its course it s going forth is from Heaven and its Circuit to the end of it again and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof such a thing is a pious zeal like unto the Ordinances of Heaven abiding the same for ever day after day tells the World its Piety and night after night in a satisfactory contemplation upon its own constancy sheweth unto the Devout Soul that such a zeal thus fixed and unalterable is according unto Godliness True zeal is not like Herods Devotion who sometimes heard John Baptist gladly and for his sake when the humour took him did many things that were good it is not like Agrippa's half Perswasion and yet not perswaded to be a Christian very near and so the farther from the Kingdom of Heaven it is not like Felix his pannick fit of trembling while he hears St. Paul reasoning of Temperance of Righteousness and of Judgment to come soon shaked off in a colder Dismission go thy way for this time when I have a more convenient season I will send for thee it is not a sudden motion an ecstatical rapture an impetus that may cast Saul himself amongst the Prophets it is not a hot burning fit which comes and goes as some unhealthy humours ferment more or less in the Body or wild fancys work disturbedly and confusedly in the brain such a zeal as this which is not constant to it self is not unlike to Sauls evil Spirit when the Lord was departed from him it wants Davids Harp the sweet Singer of Israel the
Musick of the Sanctuary and the Songs of Sion to lay it nay and as the fit may take him the Javelin may be cast at David himself because of his Musick though a watchful eye and a speedy flight may prevent the danger whilst the hole out of the Wall is indication sufficient of the madness of the thrower This is the unaccountable Phrenzy of some whose zeal for they know not what would knock a mans brains out only for a wen in his fore-head who drive furiously like Iehu not at all considering what they trample upon or Desolations they leave behind them and then when it is too late they bethink themselves and look backwards they tell us they never thought it would have come to this they confess that they have done a great deal more then ever they intended and at length after all this mischief they will now sit down and be quiet never thinking of asking God forgiveness or giveing the Church satisfaction for the Schisms they have made now they are in the other extream as indifferent as before they were violent luke-warm indeed the heat if any is spent the wrong way But on the contrary that zeal which is Good is with Reverence be it spoke like unto Jesus the Author of its Faith it is the same Yesterday to day and for ever the same yesterday when it was cherished and countenanced in prosperity and the same yesterday too when it was threatned and frowned upon in adversity the same to day being restored to honour and to favour and the same to day too should it be laid aside as useless or troublesome whilst Schism and Rebellion is to be cajoled if not rewarded the same for ever owning the Axiome to be true though the deduction somewhat hard and disingenuous that They who have already been approved in Affliction and Tribulation so manifesting their Piety to God their Allegiance to their Prince and their Devotion to the Church act by one and the same Principle still and this Principle will keep them honest must therefore the constant performance of their Duty be the only reward of their zeal and that zeal is yet again the same for ever ready to incounter all manner of difficulties as if it had never been disobliged such a zeal is good which is thus permanent it is like the fire upon the Altar a constant flame of love before it s kept alive whilst hid in the Embers of its own loyalty and fidelity under it breaks forth to its wonted brightness and lustre after Captivity though it consumes the Zealot yet it changes not and after all that has been said the word in the Text is emphatical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is Always one and the same and though sometime reflecting upon it self with comfort it may innocently and justly have an eye to the recompence of reward whether temporal or eternal yet it is not an eye service as before Men it is a holy zeal out of singleness of heart as pleasing God which is the Third and Last Reason of this Apostollical approbation taken from the occasion of expressing it not only when I your Apostle am present with you That zeal which is Good though its habit be as constant as is the Object of it universally good it is alway the same temper and frame of mind yet withal it is discreet as well as vehement it will then chiefly take occasion to shew it self when there is most need of it when the Spiritual Apostle or Pastor is out of the way 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not only out of fear because of my Authority and jurisdiction when I am present but out of love to the thing it self should I be absent from you This is that which our chief Apostle as having the care over all the Churches the great Doctor of the Gentiles did give in charge in most of his Epistles to the several Churches which he had planted That they should be careful to manifest unto all the World that they had received the Truth of the Gospel in the love of it in that their stedfastness to the Faith be one and the same though he should not be locally present with them shaking the Rod of his jurisdiction over them thus were the Churches Centures to be managed at Corinth upon the incestuous person 1 Cor. 53. I verily as absent in body but present in spirit have judged already as though I were present concerning him that hath so done this deed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when you are gathered together and my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one to Satan and to the same Corinthians who took it for granted that the Apostle had a coercive power over them he gives them their option that according to their Behaviour during his absence so should his Presence with them be 1 Cor. 4.21 What will ye it is in your own power to make me welcome at my coming shall I come unto you with a Rod that is in the severity of Discipline over you or in the spirit of Meekness in the affability and courteousness of conversation with you and what was wanting in the Corinthians this same Apostle commends as praise worthy in his Colossians Chap. 11.5 Though I be absent in the flesh yet I am with you in the spirit joying and beholding your Order and the stedfastness of your Faith in Christ It was the same Caution which he gave to the Philippians Chap. 1.27 Let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ that whether I come and see you or else be absent I may hear of your affairs that ye stand fast in one spirit striving together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is contending with eagerness and zeal for the faith of the Gospel and to these Philippians also with this caution he gives them witness bearing Testimony for them that they had been constant thereby to incourage their future perseverance Chap. 2.12 Wherefore my beloved as ye have alwayes obeyed not in my presence only but now much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and trembling By all which it is evident that that zeal is to be suspected for Hypocrysie which is only suited to time place and person which is then exerted when such persons are present who either have a power over or an influence upon us but these being withdrawn immediately we grow as cold and as indifferent as ever the Ruler having turned his back the Servant presently alters the Copy of his Countenance It was an Heathens advice that we should imagine our selves in the presence of Socrates or some other rigid exemplar of vertue which may be a restraint upon us that we do not at any time transgress the Rule of our duty but that Philosopher came nearer the Dictates of Christianity who gave us this in Counsel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pythag. Aur. Carm. That above all things we have a Reverence for our selves
alone that we do not at any time commit the least action at the performance of which as thoughts may trouble us our hearts misgive us and consciences may presently fly in our faces that we do not that in our most close private retirement which we may be afraid or ashamed to own should we be made a spectacle to Angels and to Men It is not he that commendeth himself in the sight of men that is approved but whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10.18 However then we may and ought in some doutful things which are not much material for us to inquire into resign up our judgments to our Superiours in the Church yet we must be careful that we do not give up our zeal to the inspection of those that are set over us in this we must study to approve our selves in the sight of God and not of Man Here They are to be reproved who can suite themselves to as many ways of worship as they have Masters in Religion like slavish Minions altogether at other mens beck they serve as it were an apprentiship in their Devotion onely before men not in singleness of heart as in the sight of God who trieth the reins and searcheth out the Deep of the heart These are they who urge the spirit of meekness in an Apostle to be a sufficient plea for them in their luke-warmness and because some whose business it is to Govern do walk by certain rules of prudence of which they are the best and only Judges let them look to it for none but they shall answer for it if the wisdom of the Serpent devour the innocency of the Dove if their Policy get the start of their Piety therefore every one who is in sworn subjection must take liberty to deviate from an established Rule and yet these very men take it ill to be esteemed but half faced professours of Conformity no when there is need of it or the Audience requires it persons so and so qualified being in presence to countenance it they can be as hearty and as zealous for an exact solemnity as the best of us and who dares mistrust them for other then most genuine and dutiful Sons of the Church Such as these who are thus carried away with a Dissimulation they are to be withstood to the very face for indeed they are to be blamed however men may be deceived by them yet let them know that God is not to be mocked They may insinuate themselves into favour and into power for a while as being fit instruments for any Design Men who can venture upon any thing to please those whom they call Patrons and Benefactors Vivant in senatum veniant let them live and injoy their reward here whilst the Man whose principle is integrity this the root of the matter to be found in him awaits for his in another world it is the Lord our God who seeth in secret and without great repentance shall reward the Hypocrite of which none so bad as the Dissembler in Gods services with shame and everlasting contempt Nay these pitiful thread-bare policies a man may see thorow into the Mystery of iniquity they are like Cobwebs though in the Palaces of Princes on a sudden swept away whereas the honest and the upright heart which in all the Occurencies of Life looks upon God as its guide has a regard to him as its Judge and from him expects an eternal reward this is that principle at the bottom which will carry a man thorow all extremity and keep his head above water though the billowes roar about him Do we not even in this life many times see Confusion sit upon the face of base servile Spirits the Devil owes them a shame and e're they go hence many times he pays them part of their wages But behold the perfect man and mark the upright the beginning the continuance to be sure the end of that man is peace To Conclude Let your your zeal as well as your Moderation be known unto all men and the same argument to inforce both The Lord is at hand all things are naked and bare before the eyes of that God with whom we have to do he is at hand near us within us and round about us there is no hiding from his presence who understandeth all our thoughts long before they are Cease we from man whose breath is in his nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of why should our concerns for the eternal Gospel or the Administration of it be subordinate to the interests of a temporary momentany service as if God were either unwilling or unable to be a Rewarder of those who diligently seek him no the Promise of God to Abraham is still a sure word of Prophesie to all those that are the Children of faithful Abraham Gen. 17.1 I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect fear not I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward As for all tergeversating transgressors the end of them is that they shall perish together the ungodly shall be rooted out at the last But Psal 97.11 there is sprung up a Light for the Righteous and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted Behold then yet once again the Perfect man and mark the upright Or as our Church in her Liturgy renders that versicle Psal 37.38 Keep innocency and do the thing which is right that shall bring a man peace at the last Let us keep innocency maugre men and Devils let us walk uprightly in our integrity and let us do the thing which is right be sure that our emulations and strivings be for a good thing this shall bring a man peace at the last Peace at the last even the last end of our life when we shall find heaviness in our flesh upon our death-bed an undisturbed and a quiet Conscience when we shall lay our selves down in peace to sleep our last with this comfortable reflection that we have done nothing to contribute to the troubles of our Israel and Peace at the last which shall last for ever bringing us unto Jesus who is the Author of that Faith which though fighting in a state militant we have kept the Finisher of that Hope which in a tempestuous sea has been a sure Anchor-hold even the Anchor of our Hope fixed in Heaven and the Prince of that Peace which as a reward of our valour in the Fight at our Triumph we shall injoy that Peace which passeth all understanding and is full of Glory Whilst in the mean time our Pious and Holy Zeal for Good which cannot but be good being in the way of Godliness shall be like Elijah's Chariot that I may conclude with the same instance with which I begun a Chariot of flame to carry us from a troublesome evil world to our Mansions of Rest and Peace where we shall no longer need to be so eagerly sollicitous for God and for his Glory but throughout the days of eternity our Love