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A14736
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A coal from the altar, to kindle the holy fire of zeale In a sermon preached at a generall visitation at Ipswich. By Samuell Ward, Bach. of Diuinity.
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Ward, Samuel, 1577-1640.; Wood, Ambrose.
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1615
(1615)
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STC 25039; ESTC S103052
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29,222
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94
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it in diuerse places of the land to be seene I had almost said in my haste and heate there is none that hath zeale no not one there is no courage for the trueth but that I remember that Eliah was checked for ouershooting himselfe in his too short and quicke computation I hope the Lorde hath his fifties amongst vs though but thinne sowne in comparison of the swarmes of professed recusants and Church-Papists of profane Atheists key-cold worldlings and luke warme professors The bodies of our many seuerall congregations yea euen of the better sort whereunto haue they beene likened by our separated aduersaries but vnto the Prophet Hosea his cake halfe baked vpon the hearth hauing one side that is the one side to the world-ward in publike seruice scorched a little and browned ouer but the inside to Godward in priuate and family duties no better then dough many of them making indeede some shew as the out-landish fruites that are plashed vpon our walles but wanting heate neuer come to maturitie If wee should make good their resemblances how then should we please the stomacke of God who hath indeede brooked and borne vs a long time I doubt but wamblingly How neare were we going in 88. and in the powder treason Do we thinke he will euer digest vs in the temper wee are in which to confesse the truth of the fashionable Christian what is it but a state of neutrality indifferency or such a mediocrity as will iust serue the time satisfie law or stand with reputation of neighbours beyond which if any step a little forward do not the rest hunt vpon the stop If there hap to breake out a sparkle of zeale in any one house in a parish is not the whole towne in an vprore as when the bells ring awke euery man brings his bucket to the quenching of this fire If hell bee in an alehouse who cries out of it and as for our Sundayes Church seruice which is all that God gets at our hands how perfunctorily and fashionably is it slubbered ouer how are his Sabaoths made the voider and dung-hill for all refuse businesse diuided between the Church and the alehouse the may-pole commonly beguiling the pulpit what man would not spue to see God thus worshipped This want of deuotion makes the foule mouthed Papists to spet at vs this want of reformation makes the queasie stomacked Brownists cast them selues out of our Church and shall God alwaies suffer the land to beare vs But behold he stands at the door knocks by treasons by plagues by the hammer of dearths discontents fires inundations especially by the word his locks are wet with waiting Oh before he shake off the dust of his feete against vs and turne to some other nation more worthie let vs open the doore that he may come in and sup with vs if he loue vs he will purge vs and scourevs by one chastisement or other if hee haue no pleasure in vs he cannot but vnburden his stomacke of vs If all the land besides should turne the deafe eare yet let me intreat and charge you of my flock to heare his voyce be zealous Since my comming amongst you I haue handled some bookes of the olde Testament the Epistles to the Romanes to the Hebrewes of Saint Iames Peter Iohn out of them taught the doctrine of the Law of faith loue good works now in the choyce of this Epistle of Christ to Laodicea my desire was to boile vp the former to their iust temper in which worke I can willingly be content to spend my strength daies if God see it fit I cannot bee a better sacrifice then to God and for you if I waste my selfe so you may haue light and heat what else is the end of my life God hath giuen you a name your zeale is gone abroad and I hope you haue many names among you the Lord increase their number and zeale If but one of vs this day shall open this door of his heart with Iehoshua let others choose I and my house will serue the Lord more zealously then heretofore neither I nor he shall haue lost our labours A liuely picture casts the eye vpon euery one that comes near it such is the word with whom with which we haue to do Let him that is now cold grow colder and colder but let him that hath an eare heare what hath been said to the Churches And bee zealous and amend The Lord giue vs not onely vnderstanding but zeale in all things hee Baptize vs with fire hee breath on vs and inspire into vs the spirit of life and power c. So shall we runne the waies of his commandements FINIS Mat. 24. 12 1 King 1. 1 Act 26. 7 Psalm Loue. Hatred Ioy. Griefe Hope Feare Ser. 41. in Cant. 49 Act. 2 Heb. 1. 7. Oftentatiō Complementall Pragmaticall Censorious Cruell Variable and inconstant Be not ouer iust hath 7. expositions here 2. or 3. more hereafter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 14. 10 Arguments of cōmendation From Gods excellency whom zeale onely becomes vnworthily placed elsewhere From his spirituall nature Effects of zeale Reuel 12 Opus operatū Baptismus Plaminis Pluminis Reuel 12 Reuel 7. 3 Eze. 9. Exod. 12 1 Obiect Zeal is mad and makes men mad Act. 26. 24 1 Cor. Act. 2 Act. 7 2 Obiect A make-bate Tenterden steeple 3 Obiect Proud 4 Obiect They keep no meane 5 Obiect Vndiscreet Incentiues 1 Obiect Answer 2 Obiect Answer 3 Obiect Answer 4 Obiect Answer 5 Obiect Answer 6 Obiect Answer 7. Obiect Answer 8 Obiect Answer 9 Obiect Answer 10 Obiect Answer 11 Obiect Answer 12 Obiect Answer 13 Obiect Answer 14 Obiect Answer Doct. Hall Zeales extinguishers
lets in the way and puls them in when there is no cause so doe the fearfull that shall bee without but zeale either finds no dangers or makes them none it neither feares to doe well or to reproue ill doers let whoso will be displeased Some indeed care not whom they offend they are so harsh and fiery they can beare with nothing Will true christianity allowe vs to beare with any sinne Can tinne or hot iron choose but hisse againe if cold water be cast on it can a righteous soule choose but vex it selfe at open euill Such Ostriches as can digest oathes profane and filthie speeches shew what metall they haue for the Lord of hosts who yet will be ready enough to offer the challenge or stab for the least disgrace to themselues or their mistresse Phineas had rather if it were lawfull fight in Gods quarrells then his owne All are not by nature of so hot dispositions or so fiery-spirited as others If there be such a dull flegmaticke creature as hath no life nor spirit in any thing he goes about or whom nothing will moue hee may plead complexion and yet grace is aboue nature but the best way is See euery man cōpare his deuotion in matters of God with his spirits and metall in other affayres wherein his element or delight lies if the one equall not the other the fault is not in nature the oldest man hath memory enough for his gold and the coldest constitution heate enough where it likes Well our hearts may be as good as the best though we cannot shew it Fire cannot bee long smothered it will either find a vent or goe out zeale will either finde word or deede to expresse it selfe withall All haue not the gift of vtterance Violent affections haue made the dumbe to finde a tongue If it be lowe water the mill may stand but aboundance of heart will set the wheeles on going What earnest discourses will vnlearned mariners make of their voiages huntsmen of their game c. All haue not ability and meanes many haue great charges Loue and zeale are munificent make money their seruant not their master wheresoeuer the heart is enlarged the hand cannot bee straitned where the bowells are open the purse is not shut Herod for his pleasure cares not for halfe his kingdome what will not some gentlemen giue for haukes and hounds not only the poor woman that spent the rich ointment on Christ the widow that gaue all her substance the conuerts that sould all and threw all at the feet of the Apostles but euen the bounty of the superstitious Papists shall rise in iudgement against such as professe a religion wil giue it good words countenance but be at no cost with it and know a cheaper way to saue charge withall Al haue not so much leasure to spend so much time and study about matters of religion they haue somewhat els to doe There are indeede many vanities which distract and diuide the minde of worldlings but zeale counts one thing needefull to which it makes all other veile and stand by Is there any so good an husband of his time that will not steale some houre for his pleasure that cannot spare his God and his soule halfe an houre morning and euening that bestowes not idly as much time as a Sermon or two would take vp in the weeke The soule I confesse hath his satiety as well as the body but why should wee sit on thornes more at a Sermon then at a Play thinke the Sabbaths longer then holidaies but for want of zeale If thou beest not a vaine and willing deceiuer of thy selfe and others deale honestly and plainely with thy soule try thy selfe by these few rules and if thou iudgest thy selfe to come short of them amend and bee zealous After the sparkles once by these meanes kindled cherish and feed them by reading the word Let it dwell richly in thy heart excite thy dulnesse by spirituall Hymnes Loue-songs enflame not lust more then the Song of Songs doth zeale Reade or sing the 119. Psalme and if thou beest not zealous euery verse will checke thee in thy throat Meditation is another helpe approued by Isaacks and Dauids practice An Art lately so taught as I shall neede onely to point at the choise theames suiting and furthering this argument I need not go far to fetch this fire I may strike it out of euery word of this Epistle to Laodicea Behold the Lord God especially thy Lord Christ in his glorious titles and Maiestie for so hee beginnes his visions to Iohn and his Epistles to the Churches exciting their dull hearts By such apparitions did hee set on fire the heart of Moses in the burning bush and enflamed Stephan his first Martyre answerable and proportionable to which are our serious contemplations Behold him as one that seeth thee and knoweth thy works the rowsing preface of all these letters Caesars eye made his souldiers prodigall of their blood The Atheist thinks God takes as much notice of him and his prayers as he doth of the humming of flies and bees and therefore no maruell if his seruice be formall and fashionable The faithfull Christian by faiths prospectiue sees him at home and heares him saying Well done thou good seruant which maketh him to work out his heart Behold him as the beginning of creatures especially of the newe creature Oh! what loue hath hee shewed thee in thy redemption out of what misery into what happinesse by what a price to what end but that thou shouldest be zealous of good workes Behold him as the faithfull witnesse that witnessed himselfe for thee a good witnesse and here faithfully counsels thee to follow his patterne Behold him as a speedy and royall rewarder of his followers Take thy selfe into paradise represent to thy selfe thy crowne thy throne thy white robes looke not on the things that are seene but on the farre most excellent waight of glory look vpon these and faint if thou canst Behold also hee is a consuming fire a zealous God hating lukewarmenesse not onely destroying Sodom with fire and brimstone and prouiding Tophet for his enemies but awaking also his drowzie seruants by iudgements as Absolon Ioah by firing his corne his Israelites by fiery serpents whom hee loueth hee chasteneth and keepeth them in the fornace of fiery tryalls till they come to their right temper Hee standeth and knocketh if nothing will arouze vs a time will come when heauen and earth shall burne with fire and Christ shall come in flaming fire to render vengeance with fire vnquenchable We therefore that know the terrour of that day what maner of persons ought we to be From God turne thine eyes vnto man set before thee the pillar and cloud of fiery examples that haue led vs the way into Canaan Hee is but a dull Iade that will not follow The stories of the scriptures the liues of