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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 SAM WARD Bach. of Divinity.
_The third Edition, corrected and much amended._
[Greek: Theô kai humin]
_LONDON_,
Printed by _E.G._ for _Joyce Macham_, widow; and are to bee sold in
Pauls Church yard, at the signe of _Time_, 1628
To my reverend Friend Mr. SAMUEL WARD.
_Sir, your Sermon which I copied partly from your mouth, and partly from
your notes, I have adventured into the light; encouraged by the
approbation, and earnest entreaty of such, whose judgements you
reverence, and whose love you embrace: who also have made bolde heere
and there to varie some things, not of any great consequence, if I can
judge. I was loth to smoother such fire in my brest; but to vent it, to
enflame others. If you shall blame me, I know others will thanke mee.
What I have done, is out of Zeale to God and his Church._
Your affectionate friend,
_Ambrose Wood._
Revel. 3. 19. _Be zealous._
[Sidenote: Mat. 24. 12.]
[Sidenote: 1 Kin. 1. 1.]
This watch-word of Christ, if it be not now a word in season, I know not
when ever it was, or will bee: Would he now vouchsafe to bestow a letter
upon his Church heere on earth; should hee need to alter the tenour of
this? which being the last, to the last of the seaven Churches, why may
it not (saith an Ancient, upon this text) typifie the estate of the last
Age of his Churches? the coldnesse whereof himselfe hath expressely
foretolde. And if God should now send through he earth such surveying
Angels as _Zacharie_ mentions, chapter 1. Could they returne any other
observation of their travailes then theirs; _The whole world lies in
lukewarmnesse?_ which makes mee often in my thoughts proportion these
ends of time, to the like period of _Davids_ age, when no cloathes were
enough to keepe heare in him. _Faith_ I grant is a more radicall,
vitall, and necessary grace; but yet not so wholly out of _grace_ with
the times, as poore _Zeale_; which yet if by any meanes it might once
againe be reduced into favour and practice, before Time sets, and bee no
more; I doubt not but Christ would also yet once againe in this evening
of the world, come and _Sup_ with us; A favour including all other in
it.
[Sidenote: 2]
My desire especially is, that this our Iland might take it to it selfe,
as well as if it had by name beene directed to it; what would it hurt us
to make an especiall benefit and use of it? Some of our owne, have so
applyed it; (whether out of their judgements, or affections, I say not.)
Learned _Fulk_ marvels if it were not by a Propheticall spirit penned
for us: others more resolutely have made it a singular type of purpose
for us. Their warrant I know not; especially if it bee true which all
travellers tell you, _That they finde more zeale at home then abroad._
We are I grant in sundry respects equall to _Laodicea_: Even the very
names thereof, as well the first and oldest in regard of the blessings
of God, [Greek: Dios polis] Gods Darling, as the later in regard of good
Lawes and Civility, _Laodicea_, How well doe they become us? As rich as
they, and that in the very same commodity of woolls; _Abounding as they_
with many learned _Zenoes_ & bountifull _Hieroes_; _Parallel_ in all
regards; I would I could say lukewarmnesse excepted. But I must bee a
faithfull and true witnesse, and yet this is all I have to say; It was,
as I conceive, _Laodicea's_ complexion and not her constitution, her
practice not her orders, personall lukewarmnesse not legall, which
Christ strikes at. That fault I finde in my text, the same I finde in
our common Christians, whose spirituall condition, and state is too
like the externall situation of our Country, between the Torrid, and the
Frigid Zones; neither hot nor colde: and so like _Laodicea_, that if wee
take not warning, or warming, we may, I feare, in time come to be spued
out of Gods mouth.
[Sidenote: 3]
For this present assembly of Ministers, could all the choice and time in
the world have better fitted mee then mine ordinarie Lot? If fire bee
set upon the Beacons, will not the whole Countrey soone be warned and
enlightned?
[Sidenote: 4]
For my selfe also, mee thinkes it will better beseeme my yeeres to heat,
then to teach my Ancients; to enkindle their affections, then to enforme
their judgements. And whereas _Paul_ bids _Titus_ preach zeale with all
authoritie; though in mine owne name I crave your patience, and
audience, yet in his name that is the first of the creatures, and
_Amen_, I counsell him that hath an eare, to heare what the Spirit saith
to the Churches;
[Greek: Zêlôson], _Be Zealous._
_A Coale from the Altar._
Revel. 3.19. [Greek: Zêlôson]: _Be Zealous._
Zeale hath been little practized, lesse studied: this heavenly fire hath
ever beene a stranger upon earth. Few in all ages that have felt the
heat of it, fewer that have knowne the nature of it. A description will
rake it out of the embers of obscurity: and it may be that many when
they shall know it better, will better affect it.
2. Zeale hath many counterfets and allies. There are many strange fires
which having sought to carry away the credit of it, have brought in an
ill name upon it: from these it would bee distinguished.
3. Zeale is every where spoken against it hath many enemies and few
friends: the world can no more abide it, then beasts can the elementary
fire, the rebukes of many have falne upon it, the Divell weaves cunning
lies to bring downe the honour of it. Oh that wee could raise and
maintaine it, by setting forth the deserved praise of it; and challenge
it from the false imputations of such as hate it without a cause.
4. Zeale hath in this our earthly molde, little fuell, much quench-coale,
is hardly fired, soone cooled. A good Christian therefore would bee glad
to know the Incentives and preservatives of it, which might enkindle it,
enflame it, feed it, and revive it when it is going out.
5. Zeale in the worlds opinion, is as common as fire on every mans
hearth, no mans heart without zeale, if every man might be his owne
judge; If most might be heard there is too much of it; but the contrary
will appear if the right markes bee taken, and the true rules of triall
and conviction bee observed, and the heart thereby examined.
6. Zeale generally handled will break as lightning in the aire, and seize
upon no subject: Application must set it on mens harts, and exhortation
warme this old and colde age of the world, chiefly this temperate
climate of our nation.
_First Part_.
It was sayd of olde, that zeale was an _Intension of love_: of late,
that it is a compound of _love and anger, or indignation_.
The Ancients aimed right, and shot neere, if not somwhat with the
shortest. The moderne well discovered the use and exercise of more
affections, then love, within the fathome and compasse of zeale; but in
helping that default, went themselves somewhat wide, and came not close
to the marke: which I ascribe not to any defect of eye-sight in those
sharpe sighted Eagles; but onely to the want of fixed contemplation. And
to speake truth, I have oft wondered why poore _Zeale_, a vertue so high
in Gods books, could never be so much beholding to mens writings as to
obtain a just treatise, which hath beene the lot of many particular
vertues of inferiour worth; a plaine signe of too much under-value and
neglect.
Hee that shall stedfastly view it, shall finde it not to bee a degree or
intension of love, or any single affection (as the _Schooles_ rather
confined then defined zeale) neither yet any mixt affection (as the
later, rather compounded then comprehended the nature of it) but an _hot
temper, higher degree or intension of them all_. As varnish is no one
color, but that which gives glosse & lustre to all; So the opposites of
zeale, key-coldnes and lukewarmnesse, which by the Law of contraries
must bee of the same nature, are no affections, but severall tempers of
them all.
[Sidenote: Acts 26. 7.]
_Paul_ warrants this description where hee speakes of the twelve Tribes.
_They served God with intension or vehemency_.
The roote shewes the nature of the branch. Zeale comes of [Greek: zô],
a word framed of the very sound and hissing noise, which hot coales or
burning iron make when they meete with their contrary. In plaine
English, zeale is nothing but heate: from whence it is, that zealous men
are oft in Scripture sayd to burne in the spirit. [Greek: zeontes
pneumati].
Hee that doth moderately or remisly affect any thing, may be stiled
_Philemon_, a lover; he that earnestly or extreamely, _Zelotes_, a
zelot; who to all the objects of his affections, is excessively and
passionately disposed, his love is ever fervent, his desires eager, his
delights ravishing, his hopes longing, his hatred deadly, his anger
fierce, his greefe deep, his feare terrible. The Hebrewes expresse these
Intensions by doubling the word. This being the nature of zeale in
generall, Christian zeale of which wee desire onely to speake, differs
from carnall and worldly, chiefly in the causes and objects.
It is a spirituall heate wrought in the heart of man by the holy Ghost,
improoving the good affections of love, joy, hope, &c. for the best
service and furtherance of Gods glory, with all the appurtenances
thereof, his word, his house, his Saints and salvation of soules: using
the contrarie of hatred, anger, greefe, &c as so many mastives to flie
upon the throat of Gods enemies, the Divell, his Angels, sinne, the
world with the lusts thereof. By the vertue wherof a _Zealot_ may runne
through all his affections, and with _David_, breath zeale out of every
pipe, after this manner for a taste;
[Sidenote: Psalme Love.]
_How doe I love thy Law (O Lord) more then the hony or the hony-combe,
more then thousands of silver and gold!_
[Sidenote: Hatred.]
_Thine enemies I hate with a perfect hatred._
[Sidenote: Joy.]
_Thy testimonies are my delight: I rejoyce more in them, then they that
finde great spoyles, more then in my appoynted food._
[Sidenote: Grief.]
_Mine eyes gush out rivers of teares. Oh that my head were a fountain of
teares, because they destroy thy Law._
[Sidenote: Hope.]
_Mine eyes are dimme with wayting: how doe I long for thy salvation?_
[Sidenote: Feare.]
_Thy judgements are terrible, I tremble and quake, etc._
Look what pitch of affection the naturall man bestowes upon his dearest
darling, what unsatiable thirst the covetous worldling upon his Mammon,
the ambitious upon his honour, the voluptuous upon his pleasure; the
same the Christian striveth in equall, yea, (if possible) farre
exceeding tearmes to convert and conferre upon God and his worship.
In briefe, to open a little crevise of further light, and to give a
little glimpse of heat: Zeale is to the soule, that which the spirits
are to the bodie; wine to the spirits, putting vigour and agility into
them. Whence comes that elegant Antithesis in the Scripture. _Bee not
drunke with wine wherein is excesse, but be filled with the Spirit._
[Sidenote: Ser. 41. in Can. 49.]
[Sidenote: Acts 2.]
Christ is sayd to lead his Spouse into the wine-cellar: which Simily
_Bernard_ delighting oft to repeat, in two or three Sermons interprets
of a speciall measure of zeale inspired into his Church. Thus (saith
hee) Christ led his Disciples into the wine cellar on the day of
Pentecost; and filled them, and the house with such zeale as they came
forth like Giants refreshed with wine, and seemed to the people as men
drunke with new wine.
[Sidenote: Heb. 1. 7.]
It is to the soule, as wings to the foule: this also is a Scripture
embleme to picture the Angels with wings, as in the hangings of the
Temple, and in the visions of the revelation, in token of their ardent
and zealous execution of Gods will: whence also they have their name
_Seraphim_; hee maketh his ministers a flame of fire.
To this fire and these wings, which we in the Lords prayer desire to
imitate, there is nothing in us answerable but our zeale; as wheeles to
the charriot: which makes us not goe, but runne the wayes of Gods
Commandements, and so runne that we may obtaine. As sailes to the ship,
and winde to the sailes, to which alludes the phrase so frequent in
Scripture, _Plerophorie_.
As courage to the souldier, mettle to the horse, dust to the ground,
which makes it bring forth much fruit, yea an hundredfold: vivacity to
all creatures. To conclude this, this is that celestiall fire which was
shadowed out unto us by that poore element in comparison, and beggarly
rudiment, the fire (I meane) of such necessary use in the law, which
rather then it should be wanting, the Lord caused it to descend from
heaven, that it might cause the Sacrifices to ascend thither againe, as
a sweet incense unto the Lord, without which no burnt offering was
acceptable.
_The Second Part._
But now, as then, there are certaine false fires, abhominable to God,
odious to men, dangerous to the _Nadabs_ and _Abihues_ that meddle with
them, bringing thereby coales upon their owne heads, & ill favor upon
all their services; & not onely so, but that which is worse, an ill
report and surmize even on those that offer the right fire, & serve the
Lord in spirit and truth: yet for their sakes is the name of zeale
blasphemed all the day long.
Against these, as then, so now severe caveats and cleere distinctions
must bee laid, lest such as have not their senses exercised to put a
difference, mistake poysonfull weedes for wholesome hearbes, to their
owne destruction; and for the sake of the one, revile the other to the
wrong of God and his Saints.
It fares not otherwise with the soule then with the body: besides the
native & radicall heat, the principall instrument of life, there are
aguish and distempered heats, the causes of sicknesse and death.
To discerne of those, requires some skill and judgement: yet a good
Empirick, a Christian of experience will give a shrewd ghesse at them,
the easier & the better if he marke these following signes and
symptomes, common to all the kinds of false zeale, here also following.
[Sidenote: 1 Ostentation.]
First, they are deeply sicke of the pharisaicall humor, they love to be
seene of men, and say with _Jehu, Come and see how zealous I am for the
Lord of hosts_: they proclaime their almes with a trumpet, paint their
good deedes upon Church windowes, engrave their legacies upon tombes,
have their acts upon record: Thus, Comets blaze more then fixed Starres.
Aguish heats breede flushings, & are more seen in the face, then natural
warmth at the heart. Schollers count hiding of Art the best Art: the
godly man studies by all meanes how to conceale the one hand from the
other, in doing well; hiding of zeale is the best zeale.
Secondly, of _Ahabs_ disease exceeding in externall humiliation,
affected gestures, passionate sighes, lowdnesse of voyce, odde attires &
such like: These know how to rend the garment, hang the head with the
bulrush, to whip and launce their skinnes with _Baals_ Priests; and yet
strangers to a wounded spirit: not but that true and hearty zeale doth
lift up the eyes, knocke the breast, dance before the Arke. Therefore
this character may deceive the unwarie; Let _Ely_ take heede of judging
_Hanna's_ Spirit rashly by the mooving of her lips: yet hypocrites so
usually straine nature and without a cause exceed, and that in publique,
and upon the stage, that for the most part, their actions and affections
are palpable: as _Jesuites, Cappuchins_, &c. yea in many histrionicall
Protestants: Horse-coursers jades will bound, curvet and shew more
tricks, then a horse well mettled for the rode or cart.
[Sidenote: 3 Complementall.]
Thirdly, you may know them by their diligence and curiositie in lighter
matters joyned with omission and neglect of greater, wise in
circumstance, and carelesse in substance, tithing mint, straining at
gnats, &c. In all cheape and easie duties, prodigall: niggardly &
slothfull in the waighty things of the Law: these have at command good
words, countenance, yea teares from their eyes, sooner then a farthing
from their purse, having this worlds goods, and see their brother want;
these sticke up feathers for the carcasse, beguiling the simple,
couzening the world, but cheefly themselves.
[Sidenote: 4 Pragmaticall.]
[Sidenote: 5 Censorious.]
[Sidenote: 6 Cruell.]
Fourthly, these fires cannot keepe themselves within their owne hearths,
these spirits cannot keepe themselves within their owne circles. True
zeale loves to keepe home, studieth to bee quiet in other mens Dioces:
false zeale loves to be gadding, is eagle-ey'd abroad and mole-ey'd at
home: Insteed of burning bright and shining cleere; like brinish lights,
they sparkle & spet at others, or like ill couched fire-workes let fly
on all sides: onely out of their wisdome they know how to spare _Agag_
and the great ones, and bee sure they anger not their great Masters, and
meddle with their matches: whereas it is the property of fire that comes
from above, to spare the yeelding sheath, and melt the resisting
mettall, to passe by the lower roofes, and strike the towred pinacle, as
_Nathan, David; Elias, Ahab; John, Herod; Jonas, Ninivie; &c._ Note
also in all their proceeding with others, in steede of wholesome
severity (which rightly zealous men never come unto but by compulsion,
and not without compassion of the offender, weeping with _Moses_ and
_Samuel_ over the people, beeing sory with the Emperour, that they know
how to write sentences of condemnation) These delight in cruelty, the
brand of the Malignant Church; feede their eyes with Massacres, as the
Queene-mother. No diet so pleasing to these ravening wolves, as the
warme blood of the sheepe. These are they that cry fire and fagot, away
with them, not worthy to live, their very mercies are cruelty:
especially in their owne cause, they heat the fornace seaven times
hotter then in Gods.
[Sidenote: 7 Variable and inconstant.]
Lastly, these Meteors and Vapours have no constant light, or continued
heat (as the fixed starres ever like themselves) but have onely their
aguish fits, & lunatick moods; sometimes in adversity they are good
under the rod, as _Pharaoh_, againe in prosperity like the fat kine of
_Bashan_, ingratefull and forgetfull: sometimes in prosperity when the
sunne of peace shineth on them, & the favourable influence of great
ones, they shoot foorth their blade with the corne on the house top,
running with the streame, & sayling with the winde; sometimes their
zeale depends upon the life of _Jehoiada_; sometimes on the company of
the Prophets: commonly in the beginning they blaze like straw-fire, but
in the end goe out in smoake and smother; whereas in their entrance into
profession, they galloped into shewes, and made some girds at hand, they
tire, give in, and end in the flesh, whereas all naturall motions are
swiftest toward their end.
[Sidenote: Be not over just hath 7. expositions heere 2. or 3. more
hereafter.]
The vestall fires were perpetuall, and the fire of the Altar never went
out. Spices and wefts of these evills may bee found in the sincerest
Christians: but they suffer not these dead flies to lie and putrefie in
the precious boxes of true zeale; of all these the Preachers caveat may
be construed, _Be not over just_, though it may also admit other
interpretations, as after shall appeare.
These are the speciall notes and symptomes of strange fires: the kinds
also are many, and might be distributed into many heads; but I will
reduce them into three, which are known by their names. [Greek:
pseudozêlos], _counterfet Zeale, false fire_. [Greek: tuphlos zêlos]
_blinde Zeale, smoakie fire, or fooles fire, ignis fatuus_. [Greek:
pikros zêlos], _turbulent Zeale, wilde fire_.
The first, wanting truth and sincerity, propounds sinister ends.
The second, knowledge and discretion, takes wrong wayes.
The third, love and humility, exceeds measure.
The first abounds amongst subtile & crafty professours, and is to be
abhorred and detected.
The second among simple & devout, is to be pitied and directed.
The third amongst passionate and affectionate, and is to bee moderated
and corrected.
The first is the meere vizor of zeale, looking asquint one way and
tending another; pretending God and his glory, intending some private
and sinister end; first, either of honour and promotion, as _Jehu_, who
marched furiously, and his word was the Lord of hosts, but his project
was the kingdome.
Secondly, at filthy lucre: as _Demetrius_ and his followers, who cried
great is _Diana_ of Ephesus; but meant her little silver shrines. It
cannot bee denied, but many such there were, who helped to pull downe
the Abbyes; not out of any hatred to those uncleane cages, but to reare
their owne houses out of the ruines, and spoyled copes to make cushions.
_Judas_ complained of superfluity, but greeved it fell besides his bag:
many hold temporalities tithes and glebes, unlawfull, because they are
loth to forgo them: If _Jezebel_ proclaime a Fast, let _Naboth_ looke to
his vine-yard; If the Usurer & Trades-man frequent Sermons, let the
buyer & borrower look to themselves. It is too common a thing to make
zeale a lure & stale, to draw customers; a bait of fraud, a net to
entrap; with malicious _Doegs_, to make it a stalking horse for revenge
against the Priest, thereby to discharge their gall at Ministers and
other Christians, for the omission and commission of such things, as
themselves care not for; with the _Strumpet_ in the Proverbs, to wipe
their mouthes, and frequent the Sacrifices, that they may be free from
suspicion.
All these evils, have I seene under the sunne-shine of the Gospell: but
by how much, zeale is more glorious then common profession, by so much
is dissembled fervency more detestable then usuall hypocrisie; yea, no
better then divellish villany & double iniquity: such painted walles and
whited sepulchers, the Lord will breake downe. Let all _Timothies_ &
_Nathanaels_ learne to descry them, and discard them: The cure of this
was deepely forelayd by Christ; _I counsell thee to buy gold tried in
the fire_: all is not gold that glistereth, an image of faith breeds but
a shew of zeale; many seemed to trust in Christ, but Christ would not
trust them: but such faith as will abide the fire, brings foorth zeale
that will abide the touch-stone.
[Sidenote: [Greek: kakozêlia].]
The second is erroneous or blinde zeale, not according to knowledge,
Rom. 10. I beare many devout Papists witnesse (though I feare the
learnedst of them be selfe-condemned) that they have this zeale,
perswading themselves they doe God best service, when they please
the Divell most in their will-worship. The same witnesse I
beare many _Seperatists_; though I feare most of them be sicke of
selfe-conceitednesse, newfanglenesse, and desire of mastership: for who
would not suspect such zeale, which condemnes all reformed Churches,
and refuseth communion with such as they themselves confesse to bee
Christians, and consequentely such as have communion with Christ? It
would greeve a man indeede, to see zeale misplaced, like mettle in a
blinde horse; to see men take such paines, and yet fall into the pit.
This made _Paul_ to wish himselfe _Anathema_, for the sake of such; and
yet the multitude and common people, reason thus; Is it possible but
these men have the right? But alas, how should it bee otherwise, when a
blinde company will follow a blinde sect-master; This being one property
of blinde zeale, a fond admiration and apish imitation of some person,
for some excellency they see in him, which so dazles their eyes, that
they cannot discerne their errours and infirmities, which they oftner
inherit then their vertues; as appeares in the _Lutherans_ and the
Jewes, that would sacrifice their children to _Molech_, in imitation of
_Abraham_: In these the Divell becomes an Angell of light, and playeth
that Dragon, Revel. 12. powring out flouds of persecution against the
Church, causing devout men and women, to raise tragedies, breath out
threatnings, and persecute without measure; then these the Divell hath
no better soldiers: but when their scales fall from their eyes, and they
come into Gods tents; God hath none like unto them. The cure of this
divinely is forelayd by Christ also, to buy eye-salve of him; Angells
have eyes as well as wings to guide their flight: when the ship is under
saile, and hath the freshest way; it hath most neede to looke to the
sterage, keep the watch, have an eye to the Compasse and land-marks.
The third kinde is turbulent zeale, called by _James_ bitter zeale, a
kinde of wilde-fire transporting men beyond all bounds and compasse of
moderation; proceeding sometime of a weaknesse of nature in men, that
have no stay of their passion, like to Clockes whose springs are broken,
and Cities whose walls are down. Zeale is a good servant, but an ill
master: mettle is dangerous in a head-strong horse. And so the Poets
(which were the Heathens Prophets) shadowed out the cure of this, in
_Minerva's_ golden bridle, wherewith she menaged her winged _Pegasus_.
There is too much of this bitter zeale, of this _Hierapicra_ in all our
bookes of controversies: but especially there hath been too much in our
domesticall warrs; some sonns of _Bichri_ have blowen the trumpet of
contention, trumpets of anger; the Churches of God should have no such
custome: Oh that our Churches understood that saying.
[Sidenote: Rom. 14. 10.]
In quarrells of this nature _Paul_ spends his zeale, not in partaking
but in parting the fray, beating downe the weapons on both sides: Who
art thou that judgest? who art thou that condemnest thy brother? as if
hee should say, The matters are not _Tanti_, wee have made the Divell
too much sport already; who threw in these bones to set us together by
the eares, whilst hee lets in the common Enemy upon us. _Charitie,
Charitie_, is the builder of Churches: Strife about trifles, hath wasted
many famous ones, and placed the temples of _Mahomet_, where the golden
candle-sticke was wont to stand. Wee pitty the former ages, contending
about leavened and unleavened bread, keeping of Easter, fasting on
Sundayes, &c. The future ages, will do the like for us. Oh that the
Lord would put into the hearts both of the governours & parties to these
quarrells, once to make an end of these Midianitish warrs; that wee
might joyntly powre out the vialls of our zeale upon the throne of the
beast.
Thus have you heard the errors and counterfets of zeale, through whose
sides, and upon the backe of which, divers of the malicious world use to
beat those whom it hates, because their workes are better then their
owne; injuriously concluding, that all Zelots are alike. Thus I have
heard our Marchants complaine, that the set up blewes have made
strangers loath the rich oaded blewes, onely in request; this is an olde
sophisme. True judgement would teach us to conclude, that the best
druggs have their adulterates; the most current coins their slipps; and
that vertue which so many hypocrites put on, to grace themselves
withall; is surely some rare and excellent jewell.
_The third part._
The true Zelot, whose fervency is in the spirit, not in shew; in
substance not in circumstance; for God, not himselfe; guided by the
word, not with humours; tempered with charity, not with bitternesse:
such a mans praise is of God though not of men: such a mans worth cannot
bee set foorth with the tongues of men and Angells.
[Sidenote: Arguments of commendation.]
Oh that I had so much zeale, as to steep it in it owne liquour; to set
it forth in it owne colours, that the Lord would touch my tongue with a
coale from his Altar, that I might regaine the decayed credit of it,
with the sons of men.
[Sidenote: 1. From God's excellency whom zeale only becomes unworthily
placed elsewhere.]
It is good to bee zealous in a good things: and is it not best, in the
best? or is there any better then God, or the kingdome of heaven? Is it
comely what ever we do, to do it with all our might? onely uncomely when
wee serve God? Is meane and mediocrity, in all excellent Arts excluded,
and onely to be admitted in religion? Were it not better to forbeare
_Poetry_ or _Painting_, then to rime or dawbe? and were it not better to
bee of no religion, then to be colde or lukewarme in any? Is it good to
be earnest for a friend, & cold for the Lord of hosts? For whom doest
thou reserve the top of thy affections? for thy gold? for thy
_Herodias_, &c. O yee adulterers and adultresses, can yee offer God a
baser indignity? What ayleth the world? Is it afrayd thinke we, that God
can have too much love; who in regard of his owne infinite beauty, & the
beames he vouchsafeth to cast upon us, deserves the best, yea all, and a
thousand times more then all? Ought not all the springs and brookes of
our affection, to runne into this Maine? may not hee justly disdaine,
that the least Riveret should bee drained another way? that any thing in
the world should bee respected before him, equalled with him, or loved
out of him, of whom, for whom, and through whom are all things? Who, or
what can bee sufficient for him our Maker and Saviour? In other objects
feare excesse: here no extasie is high enough.
[Sidenote: 2. From his spirituall nature.]
Consider and reason thus with thy selfe (O man) canst thou brooke a
sluggard in thy worke, if thou bee of any spirit thy selfe? is not a
slothfull messenger as vinegar to thy teeth, and as smoake to thine
eyes? Hast thou any sharpnesse of wit, is not dulnesse tedious unto
thee? And shall hee that is all spirit (for whom the Angels are slow and
colde enough) take pleasure in thy drowzie and heavie service? Doe men
choose the forwardest Deere in the heard, and the liveliest Colt in the
drove? and is the backwardest man fittest for God? Is not all his
delight in the quickest and cheerefullest givers and servitors? Even to
_Judas_ he saith, That thou doest, doe quickely; so odious is dulnesse
unto him: what else mooved him to ordaine, that the necke of the
consecrated Asse should bee broken, rather then offered up in sacrifice;
doth God hate the Asse? Or is it not for the sake of the quality of the
creature; which hath ever among the Heathens beene an _Hieroglyphick_ of
heavinesse and tardity?
[Sidenote: 3. Effects of zeale. Revel. 12.]
[Sidenote: Opus operatum.]
Thirdly, this zeale is so gracious a favorite with God, that it graces
with him all the rest of his graces. Prayer if it bee fervent,
prevaileth much: the zealous witnesses had power to shut and open
heaven: by this, _Israel_ wrastled with God, overcame, and was called a
Prince with God: this strengthned the heart of _Moses_ (as _Aaron_ and
_Hur_ supported his hands) till the Lord sayd, Let me alone: this made
_Cornelius_ his prayer to come into heaven; whither our colde sutes can
no more ascend, then vapours from the Still, unlesse there bee fire
under it: Repentance, a needefull and primary grace, which the Baptist
so urged: but then wee must bee zealous and repent (as my text joynes
them) or else no repentance pleaseth God; nor are there fruits worthy
repentance. Almes and good deeds are sacrifices pleasing to God; but
without zeale, the widowes mites are no better then the rest; It is the
cheerefull loose, that doubleth the gift. Generally, as some mans marke
and name, furthereth the sale of his commodity; so zeale inhanceth all
the graces of God. It pittieth me for _Laodicea_ that lost so much cost;
had as many vertues, did as many duties as other Churches: but for want
of this, Christ could not sup with them. Furnish a table with the
principallest fare, and daintiest dishes that may be had; let them be
rosted & boyled to the halves, or stand on the table till they bee
lukewarme; what will the guests say? All that we can doe is but the
deede done, unlesse zeale conferre grace.
[Sidenote: 4. Baptismus Flaminis & Fluminis.]
Fourthly, zeale is the richest evidence of faith, and the cleerest
demonstration of the Spirit: The Baptisme of water, is but a cold proofe
of a mans Christendome; being common to all commers: but if any bee
baptized with fire, the same is sealed up to the day of Redemption. If
any shall say, friend, what doest thou professe a religion without it;
how can hee choose but bee strucke dumb? Can wee suppose worme-wood
without bitternesse, a man without reason? then may wee imagine a
religion, and a Christian, without spirit and zeale.
The Jesuite saith, I am zealous; the Separatist, I am zealous; their
plea is more probable, then the lukewarme worldlings, that serve God
without life. If the colour bee pale and wan, and the motion insensible,
the party is dead or in a swoune; if good and swift, wee make no
question. The zealous Christian is never to seeke for a proofe of his
salvation: what makes one Christian differ from another in grace, as
starrs doe in glory; but zeale? All beleevers have a like precious
faith: All true Christians have all graces in their seedes; but the
degrees of them are no way better discerned then by zeale: Men of place
distinguish themselves, by glistering pearles: A Christian of degrees
shines above other in zeale. Comparisons I know are odious to the world,
that faine would have all alike: but the righteous is better then his
neighbour: All Christians are the excellent of the earth, the Zelot
surmounteth them all, as _Saul_ the people by the head and shoulders;
hee is ever striving to excell and exceeds others and himselfe.
One of these is worth a thousand others, one doth the worke of many:
which made him speake of _Elisha_ in the plurall number, _The horsemen
and Charriots of Israel_; besides his owne worke, hee winns and procures
others, makes Proselytes. It is the nature of fire to multiply, one
coale kindles another: his worke so shines, that others come in and
glorifie God; marvelling and enquiring what such forwardnesse should
meane, concluding with _Nebuchadnezzar, Surely the servants of the most
high God._
These are good Factors and Agents, doing God as good service, as
Boutesewes doe the Divell, and Jesuites the Pope, sparing no cost, nor
labour; and what they cannot doe themselves, they doe by their friends,
_Who is on my side, who? &c._
As for lets and impediments, they over-looke and over-leape them, as
fire passeth from one house to another; neither is there any standing
for any Gods enemies before them: they make havock of their owne and
others corruptions. If you will rightly conceive of _Peters_ zeale in
converting & confounding, you must imagine (saith _Chrysostome_) a man
made all of fire walking in stubble. All difficulties are but whetstones
of their fortitude. The sluggard saith, _There is a Lyon in the way_;
tell _Samson_ & _David_ so, they will the rather goe out to meet them.
Tell _Nehemiah of Samballat_, hee answereth, _Shall such a man as I
feare?_ Tell _Caleb_ there are _Anakims_, and hee will say, _Let us goe
upp at once, &c_. Let _Agabus_ put off his girdle and binde _Paul_, let
him be told in every City, that bonds await him, hee is not onely ready
for bonds, but for death; tell _Jubentius_, hee must lay downe his life,
he is as willing as to lay off his clothes: tell _Luther_ of enemies in
_Wormes_, hee will goe if all the tiles of the houses were Divells. The
horse neighs at the trumpet; the Leviathan laughs at the speare. They
that meane to take the Kingdome of God by violence, provide themselves
to goe through fire and water, carry their lives in their hands,
embrace faggots; they say to father and mother, _I know you not_: to
carnall Counsellers and friendly enemies, _Get you behinde mee Sathan._
Zeale is as strong as death, hot as the coales of Juniper; flouds of
many waters cannot quench it. _Agar_, Pro. 30. speakes of foure things,
stately in their kinde; I will make bold to add a fift, comprehending
and excelling them all namely the zealous Christian, strong and bold as
the Lyon; not turning his head for any; as swift as the grey-hound in
the waies of Gods commandements; in the race to heaven, as nimble as the
Goat climbing the steepe and craggy mountaines of pietie and vertue; A
victorious King, overcoming the world and his lusts: _Salomon_ in all
his royalty, is not cloathed like one of these in his fiery Charriot.
To cut off the infinite praises of zeale, let us heare what honourable
testimonies and glorious rewards, it pleaseth God to conferre upon it;
_Davids_ ruddy complexion and his skill in musique, made him amiable in
the eyes of men: but the zeale of his heart, stiled him a man after Gods
owne heart; and the sweet Singer of Israel. _Abraham_, that could finde
in his heart to sacrifice his _Isaack_, was called the friend of God.
The same vertue denominated _Jacob_ a Prince with God. _Elisha_, The
Charriots and horse-men. _Paul_, A chosen vessell, &c.
[Sidenote: Revel. 12.]
[Sidenote: Revel. 7. 3. Ezek. 9. Exod. 12.]
Neither doth God put them off, with names and empty favours, but upon
these he bestowes his graces: _David_ dedicateth his Psalmes to him that
excelled: God in dispensing of favours, observeth the same rule, to him
that overcommeth will I give, &c, To him that hath, shall bee given.
Husbandmen cast their seede uppon the fertilest ground, which returnes
it with the greatest interest: God gives most talents to those that
improove them in the best banke. _Joseph_ shall have a party coloured
coat, of all kindes of graces and blessings: And because he knowes this
will purchase them hatred and envy, hee takes them into speciall
tuition; if any will hurt his zealous witnesses, there goeth out a fire
out of their mouthes, to devoure their enemies. A man were better anger
all the witches in the world then one of these. If God bring any common
judgements, he sets his seale and _Thau_ on their fore-heads, &
sprinkles their posts; snatcheth _Lot_ out of the fire (who burneth in
zeale, as _Sodome_ in lust) as men doe their plate whiles they let the
baser stuffe burne. In fine, hee taketh _Enoch_ and _Eliah_ in
triumphant Charriots up to heaven, and after their labours and toyles,
setteth them in speciall Thrones, to rest in glory; The Apostles in
their twelve, the rest in their order, according to their zeale. And
though hee may well reckon the best of these, unprofitable servants;
yet such congruity (not of merits, but of favour) it pleaseth him to
observe in crowning his graces, that the most zealous heere, are the
most glorious there.
Who would not now wonder, how ever this royall vertue should have lost
it grace with the world; how ever any should admit a low thought of it?
But what? Shall all the indignity which hell can cast upon it, make it
vile in our eyes? or rather, shall wee not reason from the opposition,
as _Tertullian_ did of _Nero:_ That religion which _Nero_ so persecutes,
must needs be excellent.
[Sidenote: 1 Object. Zeale is madd, and makes men mad.]
[Sidenote: Acts 26. 24 1 Cor.]
If zeale were not some admirable good, the Divell and World would not so
hate it; Yet lest silence should bee thought to baulke some unanswerable
reasons, let us see how they labour to be madd with reason: Let _Festus_
bee the Speaker for the rest, for hee speakes what all the rest thinke;
you know his madd objection, and _Pauls_ sober answer in that place, and
the like, 2 Cor. 5.13. whether hee bee madd or sober, it is for God and
you.
This text bids us bee zealous and repent; the word signifies be wise
againe, or returne to your wits. The prodigall is sayd to come to
himselfe, when he was first heat with this fire. Wee may well answer the
world as old men doe young: You thinke us Christians to bee madd that
follow heaven so eagerly; but we know you to bee madd, that run
a-madding so after vanity.
[Sidenote: Acts. 2.]
[Sidenote: Acts. 7.]
A Christian indeed is never right, till he seeme to the world to be
beside himselfe; Christs owne kindred were afrayd of him. The Apostles
are sayd to be full of new wine; besides, with these the world is madd:
they runn with _Stephan_ like madd men; _Nichodemus_ and such as he,
never offends them.
[Sidenote: 2 Object.]
[Sidenote: A makebate.]
[Sidenote: Tenterden steeple.]
You know also what _Ahab_ laid to the charge of _Eliah_; with the
Apologie hee made for himselfe. This is a stale imputation in ages.
_Haman_ accused _Mordechay_ and the Jewes of it. The Apostles are sayd
to bee troubles of the whole earth. In the Primitive Church all mutinies
and contentions were layd to the Martyrs. True it is, where zeale is,
there is opposition, and so consequently troubles: Christ sets this fire
on earth, not as an author, but by accident: The theefe is the authour
of the fray, though the true man strike never so many blowes: but the
_Ahabs_ of the world, trouble Israel; then, complaine of _Eliah:_ The
Papists will blow upp the State, then father it upon the Puritans. It is
not for any wise man, to beleeve the tythe of the tales and slanders,
which flie abroad of the zealous: Lewd men would fain strike at all
goodnes through their sides.
[Sidenote: 3 Object. Proud.]
You may remember also _Eliabs_ uncharitable censure of _David_, I know
the pride of thine heart. So doe all worldlings measure others by their
owne length; if they see any forwardnesse in the peaceablest spirit,
they ascribe it either to vaine-glory, or covetousnesse; the onely
springs that set their wheeles on going: but of this the knower of the
hearts must judge betweene us.
[Sidenote: 4 Object. They keep no meane.]
When slaundering will not serve, then fall they to glavering, cunningly
glancing at zeale, whiles they commend the golden meane wherein vertue
consists. But Christians, take heede none spoyle you through such
Philosophy; or rather Sopistry: for true Philosophy will tell you that
the meane wherein vertue is placed, is the middle betwixt two kindes,
and not degrees: And it is but meane vertue that loves the meane in
their sense.
[Sidenote: 5 Object. Undiscreet.]
Oh say they, but some discretion would doe well; It is true, but take
withall _Calvins_ caveat to _Melancthon_: That he affect not so the name
of a moderate man, and listen to such Syrens songs, till he lose his
zeale.
I have observed, that which the world miscalls discretion, to eat upp
zeale, as that which they call policy, doth wisdome. As _Joab_ stabbed
_Abner_ under a colour of friendship: Antichrist undermineth Christ, by
pretending to be his Vicar. The feare of overdoing makes most come too
short; of the two extreamities, wee should most feare lukewarmnesse:
rather let your milke boyle over then be raw.
From glavering, they fall to scoffing; yong Saints, will prove but olde
Divels; these hot-spurrs will soone runne themselves out of breath. But
wee say, such were never right bred; such as proove falling starres,
never were ought but meteors; the other never lose light or motion:
spirituall motions may be violent and perpetuall.
When none of these will take, they fal to right downe rayling; these
Puritans, these singular fellowes, &c. unfit for all honest company. I
hope the states Puritan, and the common Puritan bee two creatures. For
with that staffe the multitude beats all that are better then
themselves, & lets fly at all that have any shew of goodnes. But with
that which most call Puritanisme, I desire to worship God. For
singularity, Christs calls for it, and presseth & urgeth it; What
singular thing doe you, or what odde thing doe you? Shall Gods peculiar
people, doe nothing peculiar? The world thinkes it strange, wee runne
not with them into excesses, and doe not as most doe, that wee might
escape derision: Judge you which of these men shall please: I beleeve
none shall ever please Christ, till they appeare odde, strange and
precise men, to the common sort; and yet neede not bee over just neither
Let them that have tender eares stop them against the charmes of the
world, and scornes of _Michol_, unlesse they were wiser: Let him that
hath a right eare, heare what Christ saith to the Churches, _Be
zealous_.
_The fourth part._
[Sidenote: Incentives.]
Yea, but by what meanes shall a Christian attaine this fire, and
maintaine it when he hath gotten it.
Say not in thine heart, What _Prometheus_ shall ascend into heaven and
fetch it thence; thou mayest fetch it thence by thine owne prayer: as
did _Elias_ and the Apostles, men of infirmities as well as thy selfe;
pray continually, and instantly: the Lord that breathed first thy soule
into thee, will also breath on thy soule: I speake not of miraculous
(which was but a type) but of ordinarie inspiration. Prayer and zeale
are as water and ice: mutually producing each other; when it is once
come downe upon thine altar; though no water can quench it, yet must it
bee preserved fresh, by ordinarie fuell; especially the Priests lipps
must keepe it alive.
Sermons are bellowes ordained for this purpose. The word read is of
divine use, but doth not with that motion stirre these coales.
Experience sheweth, the best oration will not so much moove as the
meanest Orator.
After the sparkles once by these meanes kindled, cherish and feede them
by reading the word: Let it dwell richly in thine heart, excite thy
dulnesse by spirituall Hymnes. Love-songs enflame not lust, more, then
the Song of Songs doth zeale: Reade or sing the 119. Psalme; and if thou
beest not zealous, every verse will checke thee in thy throat:
Meditation is another helpe, approoved by _Isaacks_ and _Davids_
practice: An Art lately so taught, as I shall neede onely to poynt at
the choyce theames, suiting and furthering this argument. I need not goe
far to fetch this fire: I may strike it out of every word of this
Epistle to _Laodicea_. Behold the Lord God, especially thy Lord Christ
in his glorious titles and Majesty; for so hee beginnes his visions to
_John_; 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 Martyr: answerable and
proportionable to which, are our serious contemplations. Behold him as
one that seeth thee, and knoweth thy workes; the rouzing preface of all
these Letters. _Casars_ eye made his souldiers prodigall of their blood.
The Atheist thinks God takes as much notice of him and his prayers, as
hee doth of the humming of Flyes and Bees; and therefore, no marvell if
his service bee formall and fashionable. The faithfull Christian by
faiths prospective sees him at home, and heares him saying, Well done
thou good servant; which maketh him to worke out his heart. Behold him
as the beginning of creatures, especially of the new creature. Oh! what
love 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
bee zealous of good workes? Behold him as the faithfull witnesse, that
witnessed himselfe for thee a good witnesse, and heere faithfully
counsels thee to follow his patterne. Behold him as a speedie 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 wait of glory;
looke upon these, and faint if thou canst. Behold also hee is a
consuming fire, a zealous God, hating lukewarmnesse not onely destroying
_Sodome_ with fire and brimstone, and providing _Tophet_ for his
enemies; but awaking also his drowzie servants, by judgements (as
_Absolon Joab_ by firing his corne) his Israelites by fiery serpents:
whom hee loveth, hee chasteneth, and keepeth them in the fornace of
fiery trialls, till they come to their right temper. Hee standeth and
knocketh: if nothing will arouze us, a time will come, when heaven and
earth shall burne with fire, and Christ shall come in flaming fire, to
render vengeance with fire unquenchable. Wee therefore that know the
terrour of that day, What manner of persons ought we to bee?