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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The Holy
+Fire of Zeale, by Samuel Ward
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The Holy Fire of Zeale
+       In a Sermon Preached at a Generall Visitation at Ipswich
+
+Author: Samuel Ward
+
+Release Date: August 3, 2005 [EBook #16423]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A COAL FROM THE ALTAR, TO ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jordan Dohms and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
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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: Theo 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: Zeloson], _Be Zealous._
+
+
+
+
+
+_A Coale from the Altar._
+
+
+Revel. 3.19. [Greek: Zeloson]: _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: zo],
+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:
+pseudozelos], _counterfet Zeale, false fire_. [Greek: tuphlos zelos]
+_blinde Zeale, smoakie fire, or fooles fire, ignis fatuus_. [Greek:
+pikros zelos], _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: kakozelia].]
+
+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?
+
+From God turne thine eyes unto man: set before thee the pillar, and
+clowde of fiery examples, that have led us the way into Canaan. Hee is
+but a dull lade that will not follow: The stories of the Scriptures, the
+lives of the Fathers, the acts and monuments of the Church, have a
+speciall vertue for this effect. The very pictures of the fires, and
+Martyrs, cannot but warme thee. If thou canst meete with any living
+examples, follow them, as they follow Christ, frequent their company:
+even _Saul_ amongst the Prophets, will prophesie. No bangling hawke,
+but with a high flyer will mend her pitch: the poorest good companion,
+will doe thee some good; when _Silas_ came, _Paul_ burnt in the spirit:
+a lesser sticke may fire a billet; If thou findest none, let the
+coldnesse of the times heat thee, as frosts doe the fire; Let every
+indignation make thee zealous, as the dunstery of the Monkes, made
+_Erasmus_ studious: one way to bee rich in times of dearth, is to
+engrosse a rare commodity, such as zeale is: now, if ever, _they have
+destroyed thy Law_; It is now high time to be zealous.
+
+Consider and emulate the children of this generation, to see how eager
+every _Demas_ is for worldly promotion. How did that worthy Bishop
+disdaine to see an harlot, more curiously to adorne her body unto sinne
+and death, then hee could his soule unto life everlasting. It angred
+_Demosthenes_ to see a Smith earlier at his anvile, then he was at his
+deske.
+
+When thou hast thus heat thy selfe, take heede of catching colde
+againe, as many have done, and brought their zeale to deaths doore.
+
+[Sidenote: Zeales extinguishers.]
+
+This fire may goe out divers wayes: first by subtraction of fewell; if a
+man forbeare his accustomed meales, will not his naturall heat decay?
+The _Levites_ that kept Gods watch in the Temple, were charged
+expressely, morning & evening, if not oftner, to looke to the lights and
+the fire. Hee that shall forget (at the least) with the _Curfeau-bell_
+in the evening to rake uppe his zeale by prayer, and with the day-bell
+in the morning to stirre up & kindle the same, if not oftner with
+_Daniel_; I cannot conceive how hee can possibly keepe fire in his
+heart. Will God blesse such, as bid him not so much as good-morrow and
+good-even?
+
+Hee that shall despise or neglect prophesie, must hee not needes quench
+the spirit? have I not marked glorious professors, who for some farme
+sake, or other commodities, have flitted from Jerusalem to Jericho;
+where the situation was good, but the waters nought; and their zeale
+hath perished, because vision hath failed?
+
+Such as reade the Bible by fits upon rainy dayes, not eating the booke
+with _John_, but tasting onely with the tippe of the tongue: Such as
+meditate by snatches, never chewing the cud and digesting their meat,
+they may happily get a smackering, for discourse and table-talke; but
+not enough to keepe soule & life together, much lesse for strength and
+vigour. Such as forsake the best fellowship, and wax strange to holy
+assemblies, (as now the manner of many is) how can they but take colde?
+Can one coale alone keepe it selfe glowing?
+
+Though it goe not out for want of matter, yet may it bee put out by
+sundry accidents; when it is newly kindled, it may be put out with
+scoffes and reproaches, if _Peter_ take not heede, and fence himselfe
+well against them; but if once throughly growne, such breath will but
+spred and encrease it.
+
+It is possible fire may bee oppressed with too much wood, and heat
+suffocated with too much nourishment: over-much prayer, reading, and
+study, may bee a wearinesse both to flesh and spirit: but it so rarely
+happeneth, that I neede not mention it; and yet the soule hath its
+satiety. There be some such perchance over-nice men in this sense also,
+who have not learned that God will have them mercifull to themselves: It
+is often smoothered for want of vent and exercise. Let such as use not
+and expresse not their zeale, bragge of their good hearts; surely they
+have none such, or not like to have them such. If _Nicodemus_ had not
+buried Christ by day, we might have feared his zeale had gone out, for
+all his comming by night.
+
+Yet this is not so ordinary, as to extinguish it by the quench-coale of
+sinne; grosse sinne every man knowes will waste the conscience, and make
+shipwracke of zeale: but I say, the least known evill unrepented of, is
+as a theefe in the candle, or an obstruction in the liver. I feare,
+_David_ served God but reasonably, till hee published his repentance;
+hee that steales his meat, though poverty tempt him, yet giveth thankes
+but coldly: zeale and sinne, will soone expell the one or the other out
+of their subject; Can you imagine in the same roofe, God and Beliall,
+the Arke and Dagon? Lastly, and most commonly, forraine heat will
+extract the inward, and adventicious heat consume the naturall.
+
+The Sunne will put out the fire; and so will the love of the world, the
+love of the Father, they cannot stand together in intense degrees, one
+cannot serve both these matters with such affection as both would have.
+Seldome seest thou a man make haste to bee rich, and thrive in religion.
+Christs message to _John_ holds true; The poore are most forward in
+receiving and following the Gospell: as thou lovest thy zeale, beware of
+resolving to bee rich, lest gain proove thy godlinesse; take heede of
+ambitious aspiring, lest Courts and great places, proove ill aires for
+zeale, whither it is as easie to go zealous, as to returne wise:
+_Peter_ whiles hee warmed his hands, cooled his heart; Not that
+greatnesse and zeale cannot agree; but for that our weaknes many times
+severs them. If thou beest willing to die poore in estate, thou mayest
+the more easily live rich in grace. _Smyrna_, the poorest of the seven
+Candle-stickes, hath the richest price upon it.
+
+The diligent practise of these courses will make easie the practise of
+this counsell, _Be zealous, &c_.
+
+
+_The fift part._
+
+[Sidenote: 1 Object.]
+
+But heere mee thinke I heare the lukewarme worldling of our times, fume
+& chafe, and aske what needs all this adoe for zeale, as if all Gods
+people were not zealous enough.
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+Such as thinke they are, or can bee zealous enough, neede no other
+conviction to bee poore, blinde, naked, wretched and pittifull
+_Laodiceans_: Fire is ever climbing and aspiring higher; zeale is ever
+aiming at that which is before; carried towards perfection; thinking
+meanely of that which is past, and already attained, condemning his
+unprofitable service, as _Calvin_ his last Will: this rule tries full
+conceited Christians.
+
+[Sidenote: 2 Object.]
+
+What would you have us doe? wee professe, keepe our Church, heare
+Sermons, as Christians ought to doe.
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+Affectionate friendship and service is not onely for publique shew and
+pomp, upon festivall dayes, in Chambers of Presence; but for
+domesticall, ordinary, and private use; to such holy-day and Church
+retainers, God may well say, Let us have some of this zeale at home and
+apart.
+
+All affections are most passionate, without a witnesse. Such as whose
+families, closets, fields, beds, walkes, doe testifie of their worship,
+as well as temples & Synagogues, are right servitors: God much respects
+their devotions; and they have strong proofe of the power of godlinesse.
+
+[Sidenote: 3 Object.]
+
+Wee would you should know, that wee are such as have prayer sayd or read
+in our families and housholds; or else we say some to our selves at our
+lying downe, and uprising and more then that, say you what you will, wee
+holde more then needs.
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+First, know that zeale knowes no such unmannerly courses, as to slubber
+over a few prayers, whiles you are dressing and undressing your selves,
+as most doe, halfe asleepe, halfe awake; know further, that such as hold
+onely a certaine stint of daily duties, as malt-horses their pace, or
+mill-horses their round, out of custome or forme, are far from that
+mettle which is ever putting forward, growing from strength to strength,
+and instant in duties, in season, out of season: and this sayes hard to
+lazy Christians.
+
+[Sidenote: 4 Object.]
+
+May not wee goe too far on the right hand?
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+It is true: but liberality baulkes, and feares covetousnesse and
+niggardize, more a great deale then prodigallity; so does zeale
+lukewarmnes and coldnesse, more then too much heate and forwardnesse;
+the defect is more opposite and dangerous to some vertues, then the
+excesse.
+
+[Sidenote: 5 Object.]
+
+Why? are not some thinke you, too straight laced, that dare not use
+their Christian liberty in some recreations? sware by small oathes, or
+lend money for reasonable use? hath not God left many things
+indifferent, wherein some shew themselves more nice then wise?
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+Zeale will cut of the right hand, if it cause to offend; much more to
+pare the nayles and superfluities: it consumes the strongest, dearest
+corruptions; much more will it singe off such haire and drosse as these:
+If ought be praise worthy, it imbraceth such things; if any be
+doubtfull, carrying shew of evill, of ill reporte, it dares not meddle
+with them; it feares that some of these are as indifferent, as
+fornication was among the heathen.
+
+[Sidenote: 6 Object.]
+
+There are but few such, no not of the better sort, as you speake of.
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+Graunt there bee any, and zealous emulation culleth the highest
+examples. Such as meane to excell in any Art, travell to find out the
+rarest workemen, purchase the choysest Copies; hee that hath true zeale,
+will strive to purge himselfe, as Christ is pure.
+
+[Sidenote: 7 Object.]
+
+Will you have us runne before our neighbours, or live without example or
+company?
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+Cowards and cravens, stand and look who goes first: souldiers of courage
+will cast lots for the onset and fore-rank, for desperat services, and
+single combats. Lades will not go without the way be led.
+
+[Sidenote: 8 Object.]
+
+So we may soone come to trouble, and danger enough.
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+What daunger can there bee, of an honest, peaceable, religious
+forwardnesse?
+
+The slug or snaile, puts out the tender horne to feele for lets in the
+way, and puls them in where there is no cause; so doe the fearfull that
+shall be without: but zeale either findes no dangers, or makes them
+none; it neither feares to doe well, or to reproove ill doers, let who
+so will be displeased.
+
+Some indeed care not whome they offend, they are so harsh and fiery,
+they can beare with nothing.
+
+[Sidenote: 9 Object.]
+
+Will true Christianity allow us to beare with any sinne?
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+Can tinne, or hot iron choose but hisse againe, if cold water be cast on
+it? can a righteous soul choose but vexe it selfe at open evill? Such
+Ostriches as can digest oathes, prophane and filthie speeches, shew what
+mettle they have for the Lord of hosts; who yet will be ready enough to
+offer the challenge, or stab, for the least disgrace to themselves, or
+their mistresse: _Phineas_ had rather, if it were lawfull, fight in Gods
+quarrels then his owne.
+
+[Sidenote: 10 Object.]
+
+All are not by nature of so hot dispositions, or so fiery-spirited, as
+others.
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+If there bee such a dull flegmaticke creature as hath no life nor
+spirite in any thing hee goes about, or whome nothing will moove; hee
+may plead complexion, and yet grace is above nature: but the best way
+is; See every man compare his devotion in matters of God, with his
+spirits and mettle 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.
+
+[Sidenote: 11 Object.]
+
+Well, our harts may bee as good as the best though we cannot shew it.
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+Fire cannot be long smothered, it will either finde a vent, or goe out;
+zeale will either finde word, or deede, to expresse it selfe withall.
+
+[Sidenote: 12 Object.]
+
+All have not the gift of utterance.
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+Violent affections have made the dumbe to finde a tongue; If it be lowe
+water the mille may stand; but aboundance of heart will set the wheeles
+on going What earnest discourses will unlearned Mariners make of their
+voiages? Huntsmen of their game, &c.
+
+[Sidenote: 13 Object.]
+
+All have not ability and meanes: many have great charges.
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+Love and zeale are munificent, make money their servant, not their
+master: wheresoever the heart is enlarged, the hand cannot bee
+straightned; where the bowells are open, the purse is not shut. _Herod_
+for his pleasure, cares not for halfe his kingdome; what will not some
+Gentle-men give for hawks and hounds? not onely the poore woman that
+spent the rich oyntment on Christ, the widow that gave all her
+substance, the converts that solde all, and threw all at the feet of the
+Apostles, but even the bounty of the superstitious Papists shall rise in
+judgement against such as professe a religion, wil give it good words &
+countenance; but bee at no cost with it, and know a cheaper way to save
+charge withall.
+
+[Sidenote: 14 Object.]
+
+All have not so much leisure to spend, so much time and study, about
+matters of religion, they have somewhat else to doe.
+
+[Sidenote: Answer.]
+
+There are indeede many vanities, which distract and divide 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 evening; that bestowes not
+idly, as much time as a Sermon or two would take upp in the weeke? The
+soule I confesse hath his satiety, as well as the body; but why should
+we sit on thornes, more at a Sermon then at a Play; thinke the Saboths
+longer then holi-daies; but for want of zeale? If thou beest not a vaine
+and willing deceiver of thy selfe, and others; deale honestly & plainly
+with thy soule, try thy selfe by these few rules; and if thou judgest
+thy selfe to come short of them, amend and _be Zealous_.
+
+
+_The sixt part._
+
+Which little round fire-ball comming to hand, as _Davids_ small stone,
+by ordinary lot, knowing the insufficiency of mine owne; I pray that God
+with his arme would scatter it farre and wide into those wilde parts of
+the world without the pale of Christendome, which lie so frozen and
+benummed in their Paganisme, that they feele not the coldnesse of their
+religions; as also in those regions that being within the Tropickes of
+the Church, have just so much, and so little heat, as to thinke they
+have enough, and neede no more: Cheefly mine affections burne within mee
+for the good of mine owne Nation, for which I would I had but so much
+zeale as truely to wish my selfe _Anathema_, upon condition it had heat
+sutable to the light. For I must beare it record, it hath knowledge, I
+would I could say, according to zeale. But the spirit, knowing that
+which is spoken to all to bee in effect as spoken to none, directs mee
+what I should speake to Churches, to speake to particular Angels. Now
+the principall in our Church, under that Archangell of the covenant, I
+most willingly acknowledge to bee my Lord the King, as an Angell of
+light. And why not that very Angell, who by his writing hath begunne to
+powre out the fift viall upon the throne of the beast, darkned his
+Kingdome, caused them to gnaw their tongues for greefe, and blaspheme
+for the smart of their wounds; though as yet they will not repent of
+their errours? The Lord annoynt him more and more with this oyle above
+all the Princes of the earth, that from his head, it may runne downe
+upon our skirts; make him shine in zeale above all other starres, to the
+warming & enlightning of this whole Horizon; set him up as a standard
+for his people; cloath him with zeale, as with a cloake, to recompence
+the fury of the adversaries, that he may strike the Aramites, not three
+but five times till they be consumed; that he may put the Ammonites
+under the yron sawes, harrowes, axes, which have provoked him as much,
+as ever they did _David_, 2. Sam. 12. But yet as in the time of the old
+Testament the custody of the fire and light was the charge of the
+Priest; so here I observe Christ to lay it upon his Ministers,
+interpreting his rule by his practise, _Tell the church, Tell the Angell
+of the Church_; honouring that despised office, with that stately stile;
+intimating the union betwene People and Minister, that they should bee
+as one: what is spoken to the one, is spoken to the other; not as some,
+that ever make Clergy and Layty two members, in division and opposition;
+neither yet as some spirites that lay all level, but implying a
+property, especially in grace and zeale in the Ministers, whom the
+Preacher calls the master of the assemblies; that they should exceede as
+farre the people, as Angels doe men, and that he will reckon with them
+for the religion of the people, because colde Priests make bolde
+sinners; zealous _Jehoiada_ may mak _Jehoash_ the King zealous, so long
+as hee lives with him. Wee therefore men and brethren, or rather men
+and Angels, upon whom it lies to keepe life and heat in the devotion of
+the world, to consume the drosse of vices and heresies, that have fallen
+into the sinke of our times; wee that are to make ready our people for
+the second comming of Christ, is the spirit of _Ely_ thinke wee
+sufficient for us? What manner of persons ought we to bee, burning in
+spirit, fervent in prayer, thundring in preaching, shining in life and
+conversation? Why is it then my brethren (oh let my plainest rebukes bee
+the fruits and signes of my best love to mine owne Tribe; let them not
+bee as breakings of the head, but as precious balme to those whose
+honour with the people, I preferre to my life) why is it that some of us
+pray so rarely and so coldly in private (the evills of our times will
+not out but by frequent fasting and fervent prayer) in publique so
+briefly, so perfunctorily, and feebly, that wee scarce have any
+witnesses of what wee say? Why are there yet remaining any Mutes
+amongst us? Why are ther any tounges that dare speake against often or
+zealous preaching? Doth not _Paul_ adjure us before him that shall judge
+the elect Angels, that we preach instantly, in season, and out of
+season? Reade wee the commentaries of that text, or let the practise of
+Ancients expound it; and tell mee if ever old or new interpreted that
+charge, of bare reading, of quarterly, or monethly, yea, or of once on
+the Sabbath preaching onely, as if that were fully sufficient, without
+endeavoring or desiring any more. If alwaies often preaching bee
+prating, what meant the practise I say, not onely of _Calvin_, and
+_Beza_ but of _Chrysostome_, _Basil_, _Ambrose_ with other of the
+Fathers, preaching every day in the weeke, some of them twise in the
+weeke, none of them so seldome, as such would bear the world in hand.
+What meant sundry ancient Councells, (the eleventh of _Tolet_ in Spaine)
+yea even of Trent it selfe, to excite the torpor of the Bishoppes of
+their times, as their Canons speake, enjoyning frequent preaching,
+calling for more then almost any man is able to performe?
+
+But heere I may turne reprooving into rejoycing, that preaching is
+growne in any better fashion and grace with our times, by royall and
+reverend, both examples and countenance: only I wish that every
+_Archippus_ may fulfill his Ministery, be instant and constant in
+preaching. _Salomon_ the older, and wiser hee grew, the more hee taught
+the people, sharpened his goads, and fastned his nails; whereas many
+amongst us are so wise in their youth, as to affect the foolishnes of
+preaching; but in their dotage, Ease slayes the foole; when the doore is
+oyled, it leaves creaking; they must then fall to make much of
+themselves, till contrary with the Prophet they cry out, My fatnesse, my
+fatnesse, my belly, my belly; so favouring their lungs, that they will
+bee sure never to die of _Davids_ consumption of zeale; let such preach,
+say they, that want livings: and if for shame they preach at all, it
+must bee rarely and easily, for breaking of their winde (my meaning is
+not to tax such, whom God disinables by weaknesse of body; or such as
+recompence their rarity with industry, as _Perkins_, &c.) and yet
+forsooth these thinke they may justly challenge, and weare the double
+honor of countenance and maintenance; I marvell with what right, or with
+what face, so long as there remaineth expresse Canon of Scripture,
+bequeathing it to those, that toyle in word and doctrine. Neither will
+zeale set us on worke onely to preach, or to preach often to avoyd the
+infamy of bare readers; but it will teach us to preach painefully, and
+that in the evidence and demonstration, not so much of art, or nature,
+as of the spirit and grace; regarding onely, that the people know Christ
+and him crucified; not caring whether they know what wee have read, how
+many quotations our memory will carry levell, how roundly wee can utter
+our minde in new minted words, in like sounding, idle, vaine, and
+offensive _Paranomasies_; I blush to fall into the least touch of that
+kinde: yet at once to shew and reproove that childish folly, It is a
+vaine of vaine preaching, turning sound preaching into a sound of
+preaching, tickling mens eares, like a tinckling cymball, feeding them,
+[Greek: hedusmati kai ouk edesmasi], spoyling the plaine song, with
+descant and division: what is this but to shew our owne levitie and want
+of true Art; indeede affecting such a dancing, piperly and effeminate
+eloquence (as _Tully, Demosthenes_, or any Masculine Oratour would
+scorne) in steade of that divine powerfull deliverie, which becommeth
+him, that speakes the Oracles of God. If ever wee meane to doe any good,
+wee must exhort and reproove, with all vehemency and authority; lifting
+upp our voyce as a trumpet, as the sonnes of thunder; pearcing their
+eares, witnessing, striving and contending, according to our gift
+whatsoever it bee, to manifest our affections, that wee may worke upon
+the people; which all the Art in the world will not teach us to doe:
+onely zeale at the heart will naturally produce it, without straining or
+affecting. If God require the heart as well as the head; why should wee
+not labour to moove the affections, as well as enforme the judgement;
+There is a doctrinall, and as some tearme it, a Doctorly kinde of
+preaching, which is admired of some that understand it not; of others
+that could be content with the Masse againe, because it was gentle, and
+had no teeth in it. And such Sermons I have sometimes heard, for matter
+voyd of exception, but so delivered, as if one were acting a part, or
+saying a lesson by heart. It hath called to minde a song which sometimes
+I have met withall, excellently composed, full of sweet ayre, surely and
+truely sung; but with flat and dead voyces without spirit, which hath
+marred the musique: Of such a Sermon and Preacher, the Countreymans
+verdict did well, that said, this man may bee a great scholler, but hee
+wants beetle and wedges to heaw our knotted timber withall, our greene
+wood will not burn unlesse it be better blown; you shall sometimes see
+an excellent horse of shape and colour, having many of those markes _Du
+Bartes_ describes in _Caines_ supposed horse; which yet wanting mettle
+hath beene of little worth, and lesse use. If there were no other
+Preachers then these, which hold themselves the onely profound and
+learned Preachers, I muse what should become of conversion of soules,
+which they that covet; must come with the spirit of _Elias_, to turne
+the hearts of the fathers to their children, I may in truth, and I hope
+with modesty speake with the Preacher, that in observing I have
+observed, and have found, that divers great Clarkes have had but little
+fruit of their ministery; but hardly any truely zealous man of God
+(though of lesser gifts) but have had much comfort of their labours, in
+their owne and bordering parishes, being in this likened by _Gregorie_,
+to the yron on the Smiths anvile sparkling round about. And if for this
+any bordering neighbours, whose cold labours worke not the like
+successe, shall accuse them of some kinde (I know not what) of policie
+in bewitching the people; they may well reply, Behold our zealous
+affections are our charmes, and zeale all our witchcraft, as _Latimer_
+well answered one that accused the people of partiality, for not
+affecting him that preached one of his printed Sermons, that hee had
+indeede his Sticke, but wanted his Rosen; meaning his zealous manner of
+preaching and living, without which last, all the former will doe but
+little good, if a good ensample of life accompany not their doctrine, as
+lightning doth thunder. For there are some (I speake with sorrow of
+heart) that seeme to have fire in their preaching, but carry water in
+their life; being notoriously proud, covetous, or debauched, stained
+with odious vices. Let us heare the summ of all. Doe wee love Christ
+more then ordinary? would wee give proofe of our trebble love to him?
+Let us then feede his flocke with a trebble zeale, expressed in our
+prayer, preaching and living: Let us make it appeare to the consciences
+of all, that the top of our ambition is Gods glory: and that wee preferr
+the winning of soules, to the winning of the world.
+
+This title of Angels why may it not also be extended to Magistrates, as
+well as that higher stile, of Gods; Sure I am, that the scarlet robe of
+zeale would exceeding well become them. _Jethro_ maketh it their prime
+and essentiall character; God and _Moses_, their onely and sole, in the
+charge and commission to _Jehoshuah_ so oft repeated; _Onely be of good
+courage_. And if _David_ were now to re-pen his Psalme; I thinke hee
+might alter the forme of his counsell, and say, _Bee zealous yee Rulers
+and Judges of the world_, and not wise and politique: or rather under
+the tearmes of wisdome, hee comprehends indeede the zeale wee call for,
+the most now adayes being _Gallio's_, wise onely for the matters of the
+Commonwealth; not having a sparke of that spirit which was in _Phineas,
+Daniel_, and _Nehemias_, &c. for the Lord of hosts, or to his Lawes and
+Commandements; as if God had made Magistrates keepers onely of the
+second Table, governours of men, and not of Christians; guardians onely
+of civill societies, and not of his Church, and shepheards also of his
+flocke. Are Idolatries, blasphemies, prophaning of Saboths, no sinns?
+Why then either have not the lawes force and strength enough in them (as
+sometime wee are answered when wee complaine) or why are they not
+executed for the suppressing of these raging sins? are not all they
+punished with death in the Scriptures, as well as breaches of the second
+table? Blood I leave to the malignant Church, and admire clemency in
+Rulers, as much as any; but yet I know the prophane dissolutenesse of
+the times, requires a three stringed whipp of severity to purge our
+_Augean_ stable of the soule abuses, whipt often with penns and
+tongues, but spared by them that beare the sword (a man may say of many
+Governours) altogether in vaine for matters of religion. Are not kings
+of the earth charg'd to render double to the bloody strumpet of Rome?
+Why then doth the hurtfull pitty of our times imbolden and increase
+their numbers? _Laodicea_ it selfe, I doubt not, for matters of mine and
+thine, had (as their name imports) good civill justice and justicers;
+but what was God the neerer for it? doth hee not threaten for all that
+to spue them out of his mouth? shall hee not curse those that doe his
+worke negligently, fearfully & partially? Our times complaine of two
+speciall canker wormes of justice, which eat up zeale in Magistrates.
+The first is _Covetousnesse_, which makes men of place to transgresse
+for a morsell of bread; the zeale of their owne houses consumes the
+zeale of Gods house: The building of great houses, keeping of great
+houses, and matching with great houses, raising and leaving of great
+houses behinde them, makes them so ravenous, that they devoure so much,
+as choakes all their zeale; which would teach them to shake their laps
+of bribes, and scorne to accept gifts, though men would augment them for
+the perverting of judgement. The other is _Cowardice_ and _Fearfulnes_:
+which how unfit, and base a quality did _Nehemiah_ thinke it for a man
+of his place? no better then shynesse in a fore-horse, whose eyes men
+fence on both sides, that they may lead the way, and goe without
+starting; unto which, zeale is answerable in Magistrates, causing them
+onely to see him that is invisible, without casting a squint eye at men;
+to sing to God onely of judgement and mercy, without tuning their songs
+to mans eare; to walke in the perfect way, without turning, either to
+the right or left hand for feare of favour. Oh that there were such an
+heart in our leaders; how easily would our people follow! what a spring
+tide of zeale should wee have, if the Sunne and Moone would cast out a
+benigne aspect upon them! Doth it not flourish in all those shires and
+townes, where the Word and Sword doe joyntly cherish it? In others which
+are the greatest number, how doth it languish and wane away, and hang
+downe the head? where is it in diverse places of the land to bee seene?
+I had almost sayd in my haste and heat, there is none that hath zeale,
+no not one, there is no courage for the truth; but that I remember that
+_Eliah_ was checked for over-shooting himselfe in his too short and
+quicke computation. I hope the Lord hath his fifties amongst us, though
+but thinn sowne in comparison of the swarmes of professed Recusants, and
+Church-Papists, of prophane Atheists, key-cold worldlings, and lukewarme
+professors. The bodies of our many severall Congregations, yea even of
+the better sort, whereunto have they beene likened by our separated
+adversaries; but unto the Prophet _Hosea_ his cake, halfe baked upon the
+hearth, having one side, that is, the one side to the world-ward, in
+publique service, scorched a little and browned over; but the inside to
+God-ward, in private, and family-duties, no better then dough; many of
+them making indeede some shew, as the out-landish fruits that are
+plashed upon our walls, but wanting heat never come to maturity. If wee
+should make good their resemblances, how then should wee please the
+stomacke of God? who hath indeede brooked and borne us a long time, I
+doubt but wamblingly. How neare were wee going in 88. and in the powder
+treason? Doe we thinke he will ever digest us, 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
+just serve the time, satisfie Law, or stand with reputation of
+neighbours? beyond which, if any step a little forward, do not the rest
+hunt upon 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 uprore, as when the
+bells ring awke every man brings his bucket, to the quenching of this
+fire? If hell bee in an Ale-house, who cryes out of it? & as for our
+Sundayes Church-service, which is all that God gets at our hands; how
+perfunctorily, and fashionably is it slubbered over; how are his Saboths
+made the voyder and dung-hill for all refuse businesse, divided betweene
+the Church and the Ale-house, the May-pole commonly beguiling the
+Pulpit? What man would not spue to see God thus worshipped? This want of
+devotion makes the foule mouthed Papists to spet at us: this want of
+reformation, makes the queasie-stomacked Brownists cast themselves out
+of the Church; and shall God alwayes suffer the land to beare us? 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 hee shake off the dust
+of his feet against us, and turne to some other nation more worthy, let
+us open the doore, that hee may come in and sup with us; if hee love us,
+hee will purge us, and scoure us, by one chastizement or other: if hee
+have no pleasure in us, hee cannot but unburthen his stomacke of us; If
+all the land besides should turne the deafe eare, yet let mee entreat
+and charge you of my flock to heare his voyce, & be zealous. Since my
+comming amongst you, I have handled some bookes of the olde Testament,
+the Epistles to the Romanes, to the Hebrewes, of Saint _James_, _Peter_
+and _John_, out of them taught the doctrine of the Law, of Faith, Love
+and good Workes: now in the choyce of this Epistle of Christ to
+_Laodicea_, my desire was to boyle up the former to their just temper:
+in which worke I can willingly bee content to spend my strength, and
+dayes, if God see it fit. I cannot be a better sacrifice then to God,
+and for you, if I waste my selfe, so you may have light & heat; what
+else is the end of my life? God hath given you a name, your zeale is
+gone abroad, & I hope you have many names among you; the Lord encrease
+their number and zeale. If but one of us this day, shall open this
+doore of his heart with _Jehoshuah_, let others chuse, I and my house
+will serve the Lord more zealously then heeretofore; neither I nor hee
+shall have lost our labours. A lively picture casts the eye upon every
+one that comes neere it: such is the word with whom, and with which we
+have to do; Let him that is now colde, grow colder & colder; but let him
+that hath an eare, heare what hath beene sayd to the Churches; and be
+zealous and amend.
+
+The Lord give us not onely understanding, but zeale in all things: he
+baptize us with fire: hee breath on us, and inspire into us the spirit
+of life & power, &c. So shall wee runn the wayes of his commandements.
+
+
+FINIS.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The
+Holy Fire of Zeale, by Samuel Ward
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