,a ,,coal ,,from ,,the ,,altar1 ,,to ,,kindle ,,the holy fire of ,zeale4 ,in a ,sermon preached at a generall ,visitation at ,ipswich4 ,by ,,sam ,,ward ,bach4 of ,divinity4 ,the third ,edition1 corrected and much amended4 ,greek3 ,the kai humin ,,london1 ,printed by ,e4,g4 for ,joyce ,macham1 widow2 and are to bee sold in ,pauls ,church yard1 at the signe of ,time1 #afbh ,to my reverend ,friend ,mr4 ,,samuel ,,ward4 ,sir1 your ,sermon which ,i copied partly from your mouth1 and partly from your notes1 ,i have adventured into the light2 encouraged by the approbation1 and earnest entreaty of such1 whose judgements you reverence1 and whose love you embrace3 who also have made bolde heere and there to varie some things1 not of any great consequence1 if ,i can judge4 ,i was loth to smoother such fire in my brest2 but to vent it1 to enflame others4 ,if you shall blame me1 ,i know others will thanke mee4 ,what ,i have done1 is out of ,zeale to ,god and his ,church4 ,your affectionate friend1 ,ambrose ,wood4 ,revel4 #c4 #ai4 ,be zealous4 ,sidenote3 ,mat4 #bd4 #ab4 ,sidenote3 #a ,kin4 #a4 #a4 ,this watch-word of ,christ1 if it be not now a word in season1 ,i know not when ever it was1 or will bee3 ,would he now vouchsafe to bestow a letter upon his ,church heere on earth2 should hee need to alter the tenour of this8 which being the last1 to the last of the seaven ,churches1 why may it not 7saith an ,ancient1 upon this text7 typifie the estate of the last ,age of his ,churches8 the coldnesse whereof himselfe hath expressely foretolde4 ,and if ,god should now send through he earth such surveying ,angels as ,zacharie mentions1 chapter #a4 ,could they returne any other observation of their travailes then theirs2 ,the whole world lies in lukewarmnesse8 which makes mee often in my thoughts proportion these ends of time1 to the like period of ,davids age1 when no cloathes were enough to keepe heare in him4 ,faith ,i grant is a more radicall1 vitall1 and necessary grace2 but yet not so wholly out of grace with the times1 as poore ,zeale2 which yet if by any meanes it might once againe be reduced into favour and practice1 before ,time sets1 and bee no more2 ,i doubt not but ,christ would also yet once againe in this evening of the world1 come and ,sup with us2 ,a favour including all other in it4 ,sidenote3 #b ,my desire especially is1 that this our ,iland might take it to it selfe1 as well as if it had by name beene directed to it2 what would it hurt us to make an especiall benefit and use of it8 ,some of our owne1 have so applyed it2 7whether out of their judgements1 or affections1 ,i say not47 ,learned ,fulk marvels if it were not by a ,propheticall spirit penned for us3 others more resolutely have made it a singular type of purpose for us4 ,their warrant ,i know not2 especially if it bee true which all travellers tell you1 ,that they finde more zeale at home then abroad4 ,we are ,i grant in sundry respects equall to ,laodicea3 ,even the very names thereof1 as well the first and oldest in regard of the blessings of ,god1 ,greek3 ,dios polis ,gods ,darling1 as the later in regard of good ,lawes and ,civility1 ,laodicea1 ,how well doe they become us8 ,as rich as they1 and that in the very same commodity of woolls2 ,abounding as they with many learned ,zenoes bountifull ,hieroes2 ,parallel in all regards2 ,i would ,i could say lukewarmnesse excepted4 ,but ,i must bee a faithfull and true witnesse1 and yet this is all ,i have to say2 ,it was1 as ,i conceive1 ,laodicea's complexion and not her constitution1 her practice not her orders1 personall lukewarmnesse not legall1 which ,christ strikes at4 ,that fault ,i finde in my text1 the same ,i finde in our common ,christians1 whose spirituall condition1 and state is too like the externall situation of our ,country1 between the ,torrid1 and the ,frigid ,zones2 neither hot nor colde3 and so like ,laodicea1 that if wee take not warning1 or warming1 we may1 ,i feare1 in time come to be spued out of ,gods mouth4 ,sidenote3 #c ,for this present assembly of ,ministers1 could all the choice and time in the world have better fitted mee then mine ordinarie ,lot8 ,if fire bee set upon the ,beacons1 will not the whole ,countrey soone be warned and enlightned8 ,sidenote3 #d ,for my selfe also1 mee thinkes it will better beseeme my yeeres to heat1 then to teach my ,ancients2 to enkindle their affections1 then to enforme their judgements4 ,and whereas ,paul bids ,titus preach zeale with all authoritie2 though in mine owne name ,i crave your patience1 and audience1 yet in his name that is the first of the creatures1 and ,amen1 ,i counsell him that hath an eare1 to heare what the ,spirit saith to the ,churches2 ,greek3 ,zlson1 ,be ,zealous4 ,a ,coale from the ,altar4 ,revel4 #c4ai4 ,greek3 ,zlson3 ,be ,zealous4 ,zeale hath been little practized1 lesse studied3 this heavenly fire hath ever beene a stranger upon earth4 ,few in all ages that have felt the heat of it1 fewer that have knowne the nature of it4 ,a description will rake it out of the embers of obscurity3 and it may be that many when they shall know it better1 will better affect it4 #b4 ,zeale hath many counterfets and allies4 ,there are many strange fires which having sought to carry away the credit of it1 have brought in an ill name upon it3 from these it would bee distinguished4 #c4 ,zeale is every where spoken against it hath many enemies and few friends3 the world can no more abide it1 then beasts can the elementary fire1 the rebukes of many have falne upon it1 the ,divell weaves cunning lies to bring downe the honour of it4 ,oh that wee could raise and maintaine it1 by setting forth the deserved praise of it2 and challenge it from the false imputations of such as hate it without a cause4 #d4 ,zeale hath in this our earthly molde1 little fuell1 much quench-coale1 is hardly fired1 soone cooled4 ,a good ,christian therefore would bee glad to know the ,incentives and preservatives of it1 which might enkindle it1 enflame it1 feed it1 and revive it when it is going out4 #e4 ,zeale in the worlds opinion1 is as common as fire on every mans hearth1 no mans heart without zeale1 if every man might be his owne judge2 ,if most might be heard there is too much of it2 but the contrary will appear if the right markes bee taken1 and the true rules of triall and conviction bee observed1 and the heart thereby examined4 #f4 ,zeale generally handled will break as lightning in the aire1 and seize upon no subject3 ,application must set it on mens harts1 and exhortation warme this old and colde age of the world1 chiefly this temperate climate of our nation4 ,first ,part4 ,it was sayd of olde1 that zeale was an ,intension of love3 of late1 that it is a compound of love and anger1 or indignation4 ,the ,ancients aimed right1 and shot neere1 if not somwhat with the shortest4 ,the moderne well discovered the use and exercise of more affections1 then love1 within the fathome and compasse of zeale2 but in helping that default1 went themselves somewhat wide1 and came not close to the marke3 which ,i ascribe not to any defect of eye-sight in those sharpe sighted ,eagles2 but onely to the want of fixed contemplation4 ,and to speake truth1 ,i have oft wondered why poore ,zeale1 a vertue so high in ,gods books1 could never be so much beholding to mens writings as to obtain a just treatise1 which hath beene the lot of many particular vertues of inferiour worth2 a plaine signe of too much under-value and neglect4 ,hee that shall stedfastly view it1 shall finde it not to bee a degree or intension of love1 or any single affection 7as the ,schooles rather confined then defined zeale7 neither yet any mixt affection 7as the later1 rather compounded then comprehended the nature of it7 but an hot temper1 higher degree or intension of them all4 ,as varnish is no one color1 but that which gives glosse lustre to all2 ,so the opposites of zeale1 key-coldnes and lukewarmnesse1 which by the ,law of contraries must bee of the same nature1 are no affections1 but severall tempers of them all4 ,sidenote3 ,acts #bf4 #g4 ,paul warrants this description where hee speakes of the twelve ,tribes4 ,they served ,god with intension or vehemency4 ,the roote shewes the nature of the branch4 ,zeale comes of ,greek3 z1 a word framed of the very sound and hissing noise1 which hot coales or burning iron make when they meete with their contrary4 ,in plaine ,english1 zeale is nothing but heate3 from whence it is1 that zealous men are oft in ,scripture sayd to burne in the spirit4 ,greek3 zeontes pneumati4 ,hee that doth moderately or remisly affect any thing1 may be stiled ,philemon1 a lover2 he that earnestly or extreamely1 ,zelotes1 a zelot2 who to all the objects of his affections1 is excessively and passionately disposed1 his love is ever fervent1 his desires eager1 his delights ravishing1 his hopes longing1 his hatred deadly1 his anger fierce1 his greefe deep1 his feare terrible4 ,the ,hebrewes expresse these ,intensions by doubling the word4 ,this being the nature of zeale in generall1 ,christian zeale of which wee desire onely to speake1 differs from carnall and worldly1 chiefly in the causes and objects4 ,it is a spirituall heate wrought in the heart of man by the holy ,ghost1 improoving the good affections of love1 joy1 hope1 c4 for the best service and furtherance of ,gods glory1 with all the appurtenances thereof1 his word1 his house1 his ,saints and salvation of soules3 using the contrarie of hatred1 anger1 greefe1 c as so many mastives to flie upon the throat of ,gods enemies1 the ,divell1 his ,angels1 sinne1 the world with the lusts thereof4 ,by the vertue wherof a ,zealot may runne through all his affections1 and with ,david1 breath zeale out of every pipe1 after this manner for a taste2 ,sidenote3 ,psalme ,love4 ,how doe ,i love thy ,law 7,o ,lord7 more then the hony or the hony-combe1 more then thousands of silver and gold6 ,sidenote3 ,hatred4 ,thine enemies ,i hate with a perfect hatred4 ,sidenote3 ,joy4 ,thy testimonies are my delight3 ,i rejoyce more in them1 then they that finde great spoyles1 more then in my appoynted food4 ,sidenote3 ,grief4 ,mine eyes gush out rivers of teares4 ,oh that my head were a fountain of teares1 because they destroy thy ,law4 ,sidenote3 ,hope4 ,mine eyes are dimme with wayting3 how doe ,i long for thy salvation8 ,sidenote3 ,feare4 ,thy judgements are terrible1 ,i tremble and quake1 etc4 ,look what pitch of affection the naturall man bestowes upon his dearest darling1 what unsatiable thirst the covetous worldling upon his ,mammon1 the ambitious upon his honour1 the voluptuous upon his pleasure2 the same the ,christian striveth in equall1 yea1 7if possible7 farre exceeding tearmes to convert and conferre upon ,god and his worship4 ,in briefe1 to open a little crevise of further light1 and to give a little glimpse of heat3 ,zeale is to the soule1 that which the spirits are to the bodie2 wine to the spirits1 putting vigour and agility into them4 ,whence comes that elegant ,antithesis in the ,scripture4 ,bee not drunke with wine wherein is excesse1 but be filled with the ,spirit4 ,sidenote3 ,ser4 #da4 in ,can4 #di4 ,sidenote3 ,acts #b4 ,christ is sayd to lead his ,spouse into the wine-cellar3 which ,simily ,bernard delighting oft to repeat1 in two or three ,sermons interprets of a speciall measure of zeale inspired into his ,church4 ,thus 7saith hee7 ,christ led his ,disciples into the wine cellar on the day of ,pentecost2 and filled them1 and the house with such zeale as they came forth like ,giants refreshed with wine1 and seemed to the people as men drunke with new wine4 ,sidenote3 ,heb4 #a4 #g4 ,it is to the soule1 as wings to the foule3 this also is a ,scripture embleme to picture the ,angels with wings1 as in the hangings of the ,temple1 and in the visions of the revelation1 in token of their ardent and zealous execution of ,gods will3 whence also they have their name ,seraphim2 hee maketh his ministers a flame of fire4 ,to this fire and these wings1 which we in the ,lords prayer desire to imitate1 there is nothing in us answerable but our zeale2 as wheeles to the charriot3 which makes us not goe1 but runne the wayes of ,gods ,commandements1 and so runne that we may obtaine4 ,as sailes to the ship1 and winde to the sailes1 to which alludes the phrase so frequent in ,scripture1 ,plerophorie4 ,as courage to the souldier1 mettle to the horse1 dust to the ground1 which makes it bring forth much fruit1 yea an hundredfold3 vivacity to all creatures4 ,to conclude this1 this is that celestiall fire which was shadowed out unto us by that poore element in comparison1 and beggarly rudiment1 the fire 7,i meane7 of such necessary use in the law1 which rather then it should be wanting1 the ,lord caused it to descend from heaven1 that it might cause the ,sacrifices to ascend thither againe1 as a sweet incense unto the ,lord1 without which no burnt offering was acceptable4 ,the ,second ,part4 ,but now1 as then1 there are certaine false fires1 abhominable to ,god1 odious to men1 dangerous to the ,nadabs and ,abihues that meddle with them1 bringing thereby coales upon their owne heads1 ill favor upon all their services2 not onely so1 but that which is worse1 an ill report and surmize even on those that offer the right fire1 serve the ,lord in spirit and truth3 yet for their sakes is the name of zeale blasphemed all the day long4 ,against these1 as then1 so now severe caveats and cleere distinctions must bee laid1 lest such as have not their senses exercised to put a difference1 mistake poysonfull weedes for wholesome hearbes1 to their owne destruction2 and for the sake of the one1 revile the other to the wrong of ,god and his ,saints4 ,it fares not otherwise with the soule then with the body3 besides the native radicall heat1 the principall instrument of life1 there are aguish and distempered heats1 the causes of sicknesse and death4 ,to discerne of those1 requires some skill and judgement3 yet a good ,empirick1 a ,christian of experience will give a shrewd ghesse at them1 the easier the better if he marke these following signes and symptomes1 common to all the kinds of false zeale1 here also following4 ,sidenote3 #a ,ostentation4 ,first1 they are deeply sicke of the pharisaicall humor1 they love to be seene of men1 and say with ,jehu1 ,come and see how zealous ,i am for the ,lord of hosts3 they proclaime their almes with a trumpet1 paint their good deedes upon ,church windowes1 engrave their legacies upon tombes1 have their acts upon record3 ,thus1 ,comets blaze more then fixed ,starres4 ,aguish heats breede flushings1 are more seen in the face1 then natural warmth at the heart4 ,schollers count hiding of ,art the best ,art3 the godly man studies by all meanes how to conceale the one hand from the other1 in doing well2 hiding of zeale is the best zeale4 ,secondly1 of ,ahabs disease exceeding in externall humiliation1 affected gestures1 passionate sighes1 lowdnesse of voyce1 odde attires such like3 ,these know how to rend the garment1 hang the head with the bulrush1 to whip and launce their skinnes with ,baals ,priests2 and yet strangers to a wounded spirit3 not but that true and hearty zeale doth lift up the eyes1 knocke the breast1 dance before the ,arke4 ,therefore this character may deceive the unwarie2 ,let ,ely take heede of judging ,hanna's ,spirit rashly by the mooving of her lips3 yet hypocrites so usually straine nature and without a cause exceed1 and that in publique1 and upon the stage1 that for the most part1 their actions and affections are palpable3 as ,jesuites1 ,cappuchins1 c4 yea in many histrionicall ,protestants3 ,horse-coursers jades will bound1 curvet and shew more tricks1 then a horse well mettled for the rode or cart4 ,sidenote3 #c ,complementall4 ,thirdly1 you may know them by their diligence and curiositie in lighter matters joyned with omission and neglect of greater1 wise in circumstance1 and carelesse in substance1 tithing mint1 straining at gnats1 c4 ,in all cheape and easie duties1 prodigall3 niggardly slothfull in the waighty things of the ,law3 these have at command good words1 countenance1 yea teares from their eyes1 sooner then a farthing from their purse1 having this worlds goods1 and see their brother want2 these sticke up feathers for the carcasse1 beguiling the simple1 couzening the world1 but cheefly themselves4 ,sidenote3 #d ,pragmaticall4 ,sidenote3 #e ,censorious4 ,sidenote3 #f ,cruell4 ,fourthly1 these fires cannot keepe themselves within their owne hearths1 these spirits cannot keepe themselves within their owne circles4 ,true zeale loves to keepe home1 studieth to bee quiet in other mens ,dioces3 false zeale loves to be gadding1 is eagle-ey'd abroad and mole-ey'd at home3 ,insteed of burning bright and shining cleere2 like brinish lights1 they sparkle spet at others1 or like ill couched fire-workes let fly on all sides3 onely out of their wisdome they know how to spare ,agag and the great ones1 and bee sure they anger not their great ,masters1 and meddle with their matches3 whereas it is the property of fire that comes from above1 to spare the yeelding sheath1 and melt the resisting mettall1 to passe by the lower roofes1 and strike the towred pinacle1 as ,nathan1 ,david2 ,elias1 ,ahab2 ,john1 ,herod2 ,jonas1 ,ninivie2 c4 ,note also in all their proceeding with others1 in steede of wholesome severity 7which rightly zealous men never come unto but by compulsion1 and not without compassion of the offender1 weeping with ,moses and ,samuel over the people1 beeing sory with the ,emperour1 that they know how to write sentences of condemnation7 ,these delight in cruelty1 the brand of the ,malignant ,church2 feede their eyes with ,massacres1 as the ,queene-mother4 ,no diet so pleasing to these ravening wolves1 as the warme blood of the sheepe4 ,these are they that cry fire and fagot1 away with them1 not worthy to live1 their very mercies are cruelty3 especially in their owne cause1 they heat the fornace seaven times hotter then in ,gods4 ,sidenote3 #g ,variable and inconstant4 ,lastly1 these ,meteors and ,vapours have no constant light1 or continued heat 7as the fixed starres ever like themselves7 but have onely their aguish fits1 lunatick moods2 sometimes in adversity they are good under the rod1 as ,pharaoh1 againe in prosperity like the fat kine of ,bashan1 ingratefull and forgetfull3 sometimes in prosperity when the sunne of peace shineth on them1 the favourable influence of great ones1 they shoot foorth their blade with the corne on the house top1 running with the streame1 sayling with the winde2 sometimes their zeale depends upon the life of ,jehoiada2 sometimes on the company of the ,prophets3 commonly in the beginning they blaze like straw-fire1 but in the end goe out in smoake and smother2 whereas in their entrance into profession1 they galloped into shewes1 and made some girds at hand1 they tire1 give in1 and end in the flesh1 whereas all naturall motions are swiftest toward their end4 ,sidenote3 ,be not over just hath #g4 expositions heere #b4 or #c4 more hereafter4 ,the vestall fires were perpetuall1 and the fire of the ,altar never went out4 ,spices and wefts of these evills may bee found in the sincerest ,christians3 but they suffer not these dead flies to lie and putrefie in the precious boxes of true zeale2 of all these the ,preachers caveat may be construed1 ,be not over just1 though it may also admit other interpretations1 as after shall appeare4 ,these are the speciall notes and symptomes of strange fires3 the kinds also are many1 and might be distributed into many heads2 but ,i will reduce them into three1 which are known by their names4 ,greek3 pseudozlos1 counterfet ,zeale1 false fire4 ,greek3 tuphlos zlos blinde ,zeale1 smoakie fire1 or fooles fire1 ignis fatuus4 ,greek3 pikros zlos1 turbulent ,zeale1 wilde fire4 ,the first1 wanting truth and sincerity1 propounds sinister ends4 ,the second1 knowledge and discretion1 takes wrong wayes4 ,the third1 love and humility1 exceeds measure4 ,the first abounds amongst subtile crafty professours1 and is to be abhorred and detected4 ,the second among simple devout1 is to be pitied and directed4 ,the third amongst passionate and affectionate1 and is to bee moderated and corrected4 ,the first is the meere vizor of zeale1 looking asquint one way and tending another2 pretending ,god and his glory1 intending some private and sinister end2 first1 either of honour and promotion1 as ,jehu1 who marched furiously1 and his word was the ,lord of hosts1 but his project was the kingdome4 ,secondly1 at filthy lucre3 as ,demetrius and his followers1 who cried great is ,diana of ,ephesus2 but meant her little silver shrines4 ,it cannot bee denied1 but many such there were1 who helped to pull downe the ,abbyes2 not out of any hatred to those uncleane cages1 but to reare their owne houses out of the ruines1 and spoyled copes to make cushions4 ,judas complained of superfluity1 but greeved it fell besides his bag3 many hold temporalities tithes and glebes1 unlawfull1 because they are loth to forgo them3 ,if ,jezebel proclaime a ,fast1 let ,naboth looke to his vine-yard2 ,if the ,usurer ,trades-man frequent ,sermons1 let the buyer borrower look to themselves4 ,it is too common a thing to make zeale a lure stale1 to draw customers2 a bait of fraud1 a net to entrap2 with malicious ,doegs1 to make it a stalking horse for revenge against the ,priest1 thereby to discharge their gall at ,ministers and other ,christians1 for the omission and commission of such things1 as themselves care not for2 with the ,strumpet in the ,proverbs1 to wipe their mouthes1 and frequent the ,sacrifices1 that they may be free from suspicion4 ,all these evils1 have ,i seene under the sunne-shine of the ,gospell3 but by how much1 zeale is more glorious then common profession1 by so much is dissembled fervency more detestable then usuall hypocrisie2 yea1 no better then divellish villany double iniquity3 such painted walles and whited sepulchers1 the ,lord will breake downe4 ,let all ,timothies ,nathanaels learne to descry them1 and discard them3 ,the cure of this was deepely forelayd by ,christ2 ,i counsell thee to buy gold tried in the fire3 all is not gold that glistereth1 an image of faith breeds but a shew of zeale2 many seemed to trust in ,christ1 but ,christ would not trust them3 but such faith as will abide the fire1 brings foorth zeale that will abide the touch-stone4 ,sidenote3 ,greek3 kakozlia4 ,the second is erroneous or blinde zeale1 not according to knowledge1 ,rom4 #aj4 ,i beare many devout ,papists witnesse 7though ,i feare the learnedst of them be selfe-condemned7 that they have this zeale1 perswading themselves they doe ,god best service1 when they please the ,divell most in their will-worship4 ,the same witnesse ,i beare many ,seperatists2 though ,i feare most of them be sicke of selfe-conceitednesse1 newfanglenesse1 and desire of mastership3 for who would not suspect such zeale1 which condemnes all reformed ,churches1 and refuseth communion with such as they themselves confesse to bee ,christians1 and consequentely such as have communion with ,christ8 ,it would greeve a man indeede1 to see zeale misplaced1 like mettle in a blinde horse2 to see men take such paines1 and yet fall into the pit4 ,this made ,paul to wish himselfe ,anathema1 for the sake of such2 and yet the multitude and common people1 reason thus2 ,is it possible but these men have the right8 ,but alas1 how should it bee otherwise1 when a blinde company will follow a blinde sect-master2 ,this being one property of blinde zeale1 a fond admiration and apish imitation of some person1 for some excellency they see in him1 which so dazles their eyes1 that they cannot discerne their errours and infirmities1 which they oftner inherit then their vertues2 as appeares in the ,lutherans and the ,jewes1 that would sacrifice their children to ,molech1 in imitation of ,abraham3 ,in these the ,divell becomes an ,angell of light1 and playeth that ,dragon1 ,revel4 #ab4 powring out flouds of persecution against the ,church1 causing devout men and women1 to raise tragedies1 breath out threatnings1 and persecute without measure2 then these the ,divell hath no better soldiers3 but when their scales fall from their eyes1 and they come into ,gods tents2 ,god hath none like unto them4 ,the cure of this divinely is forelayd by ,christ also1 to buy eye-salve of him2 ,angells have eyes as well as wings to guide their flight3 when the ship is under saile1 and hath the freshest way2 it hath most neede to looke to the sterage1 keep the watch1 have an eye to the ,compasse and land-marks4 ,the third kinde is turbulent zeale1 called by ,james bitter zeale1 a kinde of wilde-fire transporting men beyond all bounds and compasse of moderation2 proceeding sometime of a weaknesse of nature in men1 that have no stay of their passion1 like to ,clockes whose springs are broken1 and ,cities whose walls are down4 ,zeale is a good servant1 but an ill master3 mettle is dangerous in a head-strong horse4 ,and so the ,poets 7which were the ,heathens ,prophets7 shadowed out the cure of this1 in ,minerva's golden bridle1 wherewith she menaged her winged ,pegasus4 ,there is too much of this bitter zeale1 of this ,hierapicra in all our bookes of controversies3 but especially there hath been too much in our domesticall warrs2 some sonns of ,bichri have blowen the trumpet of contention1 trumpets of anger2 the ,churches of ,god should have no such custome3 ,oh that our ,churches understood that saying4 ,sidenote3 ,rom4 #ad4 #aj4 ,in quarrells of this nature ,paul spends his zeale1 not in partaking but in parting the fray1 beating downe the weapons on both sides3 ,who art thou that judgest8 who art thou that condemnest thy brother8 as if hee should say1 ,the matters are not ,tanti1 wee have made the ,divell too much sport already2 who threw in these bones to set us together by the eares1 whilst hee lets in the common ,enemy upon us4 ,charitie1 ,charitie1 is the builder of ,churches3 ,strife about trifles1 hath wasted many famous ones1 and placed the temples of ,mahomet1 where the golden candle-sticke was wont to stand4 ,wee pitty the former ages1 contending about leavened and unleavened bread1 keeping of ,easter1 fasting on ,sundayes1 c4 ,the future ages1 will do the like for us4 ,oh that the ,lord would put into the hearts both of the governours parties to these quarrells1 once to make an end of these ,midianitish warrs2 that wee might joyntly powre out the vialls of our zeale upon the throne of the beast4 ,thus have you heard the errors and counterfets of zeale1 through whose sides1 and upon the backe of which1 divers of the malicious world use to beat those whom it hates1 because their workes are better then their owne2 injuriously concluding1 that all ,zelots are alike4 ,thus ,i have heard our ,marchants complaine1 that the set up blewes have made strangers loath the rich oaded blewes1 onely in request2 this is an olde sophisme4 ,true judgement would teach us to conclude1 that the best druggs have their adulterates2 the most current coins their slipps2 and that vertue which so many hypocrites put on1 to grace themselves withall2 is surely some rare and excellent jewell4 ,the third part4 ,the true ,zelot1 whose fervency is in the spirit1 not in shew2 in substance not in circumstance2 for ,god1 not himselfe2 guided by the word1 not with humours2 tempered with charity1 not with bitternesse3 such a mans praise is of ,god though not of men3 such a mans worth cannot bee set foorth with the tongues of men and ,angells4 ,sidenote3 ,arguments of commendation4 ,oh that ,i had so much zeale1 as to steep it in it owne liquour2 to set it forth in it owne colours1 that the ,lord would touch my tongue with a coale from his ,altar1 that ,i might regaine the decayed credit of it1 with the sons of men4 ,sidenote3 #a4 ,from ,god's excellency whom zeale only becomes unworthily placed elsewhere4 ,it is good to bee zealous in a good things3 and is it not best1 in the best8 or is there any better then ,god1 or the kingdome of heaven8 ,is it comely what ever we do1 to do it with all our might8 onely uncomely when wee serve ,god8 ,is meane and mediocrity1 in all excellent ,arts excluded1 and onely to be admitted in religion8 ,were it not better to forbeare ,poetry or ,painting1 then to rime or dawbe8 and were it not better to bee of no religion1 then to be colde or lukewarme in any8 ,is it good to be earnest for a friend1 cold for the ,lord of hosts8 ,for whom doest thou reserve the top of thy affections8 for thy gold8 for thy ,herodias1 c4 ,o yee adulterers and adultresses1 can yee offer ,god a baser indignity8 ,what ayleth the world8 ,is it afrayd thinke we1 that ,god can have too much love2 who in regard of his owne infinite beauty1 the beames he vouchsafeth to cast upon us1 deserves the best1 yea all1 and a thousand times more then all8 ,ought not all the springs and brookes of our affection1 to runne into this ,maine8 may not hee justly disdaine1 that the least ,riveret should bee drained another way8 that any thing in the world should bee respected before him1 equalled with him1 or loved out of him1 of whom1 for whom1 and through whom are all things8 ,who1 or what can bee sufficient for him our ,maker and ,saviour8 ,in other objects feare excesse3 here no extasie is high enough4 ,sidenote3 #b4 ,from his spirituall nature4 ,consider and reason thus with thy selfe 7,o man7 canst thou brooke a sluggard in thy worke1 if thou bee of any spirit thy selfe8 is not a slothfull messenger as vinegar to thy teeth1 and as smoake to thine eyes8 ,hast thou any sharpnesse of wit1 is not dulnesse tedious unto thee8 ,and shall hee that is all spirit 7for whom the ,angels are slow and colde enough7 take pleasure in thy drowzie and heavie service8 ,doe men choose the forwardest ,deere in the heard1 and the liveliest ,colt in the drove8 and is the backwardest man fittest for ,god8 ,is not all his delight in the quickest and cheerefullest givers and servitors8 ,even to ,judas he saith1 ,that thou doest1 doe quickely2 so odious is dulnesse unto him3 what else mooved him to ordaine1 that the necke of the consecrated ,asse should bee broken1 rather then offered up in sacrifice2 doth ,god hate the ,asse8 ,or is it not for the sake of the quality of the creature2 which hath ever among the ,heathens beene an ,hieroglyphick of heavinesse and tardity8 ,sidenote3 #c4 ,effects of zeale4 ,revel4 #ab4 ,sidenote3 ,opus operatum4 ,thirdly1 this zeale is so gracious a favorite with ,god1 that it graces with him all the rest of his graces4 ,prayer if it bee fervent1 prevaileth much3 the zealous witnesses had power to shut and open heaven3 by this1 ,israel wrastled with ,god1 overcame1 and was called a ,prince with ,god3 this strengthned the heart of ,moses 7as ,aaron and ,hur supported his hands7 till the ,lord sayd1 ,let me alone3 this made ,cornelius his prayer to come into heaven2 whither our colde sutes can no more ascend1 then vapours from the ,still1 unlesse there bee fire under it3 ,repentance1 a needefull and primary grace1 which the ,baptist so urged3 but then wee must bee zealous and repent 7as my text joynes them7 or else no repentance pleaseth ,god2 nor are there fruits worthy repentance4 ,almes and good deeds are sacrifices pleasing to ,god2 but without zeale1 the widowes mites are no better then the rest2 ,it is the cheerefull loose1 that doubleth the gift4 ,generally1 as some mans marke and name1 furthereth the sale of his commodity2 so zeale inhanceth all the graces of ,god4 ,it pittieth me for ,laodicea that lost so much cost2 had as many vertues1 did as many duties as other ,churches3 but for want of this1 ,christ could not sup with them4 ,furnish a table with the principallest fare1 and daintiest dishes that may be had2 let them be rosted boyled to the halves1 or stand on the table till they bee lukewarme2 what will the guests say8 ,all that we can doe is but the deede done1 unlesse zeale conferre grace4 ,sidenote3 #d4 ,baptismus ,flaminis ,fluminis4 ,fourthly1 zeale is the richest evidence of faith1 and the cleerest demonstration of the ,spirit3 ,the ,baptisme of water1 is but a cold proofe of a mans ,christendome2 being common to all commers3 but if any bee baptized with fire1 the same is sealed up to the day of ,redemption4 ,if any shall say1 friend1 what doest thou professe a religion without it2 how can hee choose but bee strucke dumb8 ,can wee suppose worme-wood without bitternesse1 a man without reason8 then may wee imagine a religion1 and a ,christian1 without spirit and zeale4 ,the ,jesuite saith1 ,i am zealous2 the ,separatist1 ,i am zealous2 their plea is more probable1 then the lukewarme worldlings1 that serve ,god without life4 ,if the colour bee pale and wan1 and the motion insensible1 the party is dead or in a swoune2 if good and swift1 wee make no question4 ,the zealous ,christian is never to seeke for a proofe of his salvation3 what makes one ,christian differ from another in grace1 as starrs doe in glory2 but zeale8 ,all beleevers have a like precious faith3 ,all true ,christians have all graces in their seedes2 but the degrees of them are no way better discerned then by zeale3 ,men of place distinguish themselves1 by glistering pearles3 ,a ,christian of degrees shines above other in zeale4 ,comparisons ,i know are odious to the world1 that faine would have all alike3 but the righteous is better then his neighbour3 ,all ,christians are the excellent of the earth1 the ,zelot surmounteth them all1 as ,saul the people by the head and shoulders2 hee is ever striving to excell and exceeds others and himselfe4 ,one of these is worth a thousand others1 one doth the worke of many3 which made him speake of ,elisha in the plurall number1 ,the horsemen and ,charriots of ,israel2 besides his owne worke1 hee winns and procures others1 makes ,proselytes4 ,it is the nature of fire to multiply1 one coale kindles another3 his worke so shines1 that others come in and glorifie ,god2 marvelling and enquiring what such forwardnesse should meane1 concluding with ,nebuchadnezzar1 ,surely the servants of the most high ,god4 ,these are good ,factors and ,agents1 doing ,god as good service1 as ,boutesewes doe the ,divell1 and ,jesuites the ,pope1 sparing no cost1 nor labour2 and what they cannot doe themselves1 they doe by their friends1 ,who is on my side1 who8 c4 ,as for lets and impediments1 they over-looke and over-leape them1 as fire passeth from one house to another2 neither is there any standing for any ,gods enemies before them3 they make havock of their owne and others corruptions4 ,if you will rightly conceive of ,peters zeale in converting confounding1 you must imagine 7saith ,chrysostome7 a man made all of fire walking in stubble4 ,all difficulties are but whetstones of their fortitude4 ,the sluggard saith1 ,there is a ,lyon in the way2 tell ,samson ,david so1 they will the rather goe out to meet them4 ,tell ,nehemiah of ,samballat1 hee answereth1 ,shall such a man as ,i feare8 ,tell ,caleb there are ,anakims1 and hee will say1 ,let us goe upp at once1 c4 ,let ,agabus put off his girdle and binde ,paul1 let him be told in every ,city1 that bonds await him1 hee is not onely ready for bonds1 but for death2 tell ,jubentius1 hee must lay downe his life1 he is as willing as to lay off his clothes3 tell ,luther of enemies in ,wormes1 hee will goe if all the tiles of the houses were ,divells4 ,the horse neighs at the trumpet2 the ,leviathan laughs at the speare4 ,they that meane to take the ,kingdome of ,god by violence1 provide themselves to goe through fire and water1 carry their lives in their hands1 embrace faggots2 they say to father and mother1 ,i know you not3 to carnall ,counsellers and friendly enemies1 ,get you behinde mee ,sathan4 ,zeale is as strong as death1 hot as the coales of ,juniper2 flouds of many waters cannot quench it4 ,agar1 ,pro4 #cj4 speakes of foure things1 stately in their kinde2 ,i will make bold to add a fift1 comprehending and excelling them all namely the zealous ,christian1 strong and bold as the ,lyon2 not turning his head for any2 as swift as the grey-hound in the waies of ,gods commandements2 in the race to heaven1 as nimble as the ,goat climbing the steepe and craggy mountaines of pietie and vertue2 ,a victorious ,king1 overcoming the world and his lusts3 ,salomon in all his royalty1 is not cloathed like one of these in his fiery ,charriot4 ,to cut off the infinite praises of zeale1 let us heare what honourable testimonies and glorious rewards1 it pleaseth ,god to conferre upon it2 ,davids ruddy complexion and his skill in musique1 made him amiable in the eyes of men3 but the zeale of his heart1 stiled him a man after ,gods owne heart2 and the sweet ,singer of ,israel4 ,abraham1 that could finde in his heart to sacrifice his ,isaack1 was called the friend of ,god4 ,the same vertue denominated ,jacob a ,prince with ,god4 ,elisha1 ,the ,charriots and horse-men4 ,paul1 ,a chosen vessell1 c4 ,sidenote3 ,revel4 #ab4 ,sidenote3 ,revel4 #g4 #c4 ,ezek4 #i4 ,exod4 #ab4 ,neither doth ,god put them off1 with names and empty favours1 but upon these he bestowes his graces3 ,david dedicateth his ,psalmes to him that excelled3 ,god in dispensing of favours1 observeth the same rule1 to him that overcommeth will ,i give1 c1 ,to him that hath1 shall bee given4 ,husbandmen cast their seede uppon the fertilest ground1 which returnes it with the greatest interest3 ,god gives most talents to those that improove them in the best banke4 ,joseph shall have a party coloured coat1 of all kindes of graces and blessings3 ,and because he knowes this will purchase them hatred and envy1 hee takes them into speciall tuition2 if any will hurt his zealous witnesses1 there goeth out a fire out of their mouthes1 to devoure their enemies4 ,a man were better anger all the witches in the world then one of these4 ,if ,god bring any common judgements1 he sets his seale and ,thau on their fore-heads1 sprinkles their posts2 snatcheth ,lot out of the fire 7who burneth in zeale1 as ,sodome in lust7 as men doe their plate whiles they let the baser stuffe burne4 ,in fine1 hee taketh ,enoch and ,eliah in triumphant ,charriots up to heaven1 and after their labours and toyles1 setteth them in speciall ,thrones1 to rest in glory2 ,the ,apostles in their twelve1 the rest in their order1 according to their zeale4 ,and though hee may well reckon the best of these1 unprofitable servants2 yet such congruity 7not of merits1 but of favour7 it pleaseth him to observe in crowning his graces1 that the most zealous heere1 are the most glorious there4 ,who would not now wonder1 how ever this royall vertue should have lost it grace with the world2 how ever any should admit a low thought of it8 ,but what8 ,shall all the indignity which hell can cast upon it1 make it vile in our eyes8 or rather1 shall wee not reason from the opposition1 as ,tertullian did of ,nero3 ,that religion which ,nero so persecutes1 must needs be excellent4 ,sidenote3 #a ,object4 ,zeale is madd1 and makes men mad4 ,sidenote3 ,acts #bf4 #bd #a ,cor4 ,if zeale were not some admirable good1 the ,divell and ,world would not so hate it2 ,yet lest silence should bee thought to baulke some unanswerable reasons1 let us see how they labour to be madd with reason3 ,let ,festus bee the ,speaker for the rest1 for hee speakes what all the rest thinke2 you know his madd objection1 and ,pauls sober answer in that place1 and the like1 #b ,cor4 #e4ac4 whether hee bee madd or sober1 it is for ,god and you4 ,this text bids us bee zealous and repent2 the word signifies be wise againe1 or returne to your wits4 ,the prodigall is sayd to come to himselfe1 when he was first heat with this fire4 ,wee may well answer the world as old men doe young3 ,you thinke us ,christians to bee madd that follow heaven so eagerly2 but we know you to bee madd1 that run a-madding so after vanity4 ,sidenote3 ,acts4 #b4 ,sidenote3 ,acts4 #g4 ,a ,christian indeed is never right1 till he seeme to the world to be beside himselfe2 ,christs owne kindred were afrayd of him4 ,the ,apostles are sayd to be full of new wine2 besides1 with these the world is madd3 they runn with ,stephan like madd men2 ,nichodemus and such as he1 never offends them4 ,sidenote3 #b ,object4 ,sidenote3 ,a makebate4 ,sidenote3 ,tenterden steeple4 ,you know also what ,ahab laid to the charge of ,eliah2 with the ,apologie hee made for himselfe4 ,this is a stale imputation in ages4 ,haman accused ,mordechay and the ,jewes of it4 ,the ,apostles are sayd to bee troubles of the whole earth4 ,in the ,primitive ,church all mutinies and contentions were layd to the ,martyrs4 ,true it is1 where zeale is1 there is opposition1 and so consequently troubles3 ,christ sets this fire on earth1 not as an author1 but by accident3 ,the theefe is the authour of the fray1 though the true man strike never so many blowes3 but the ,ahabs of the world1 trouble ,israel2 then1 complaine of ,eliah3 ,the ,papists will blow upp the ,state1 then father it upon the ,puritans4 ,it is not for any wise man1 to beleeve the tythe of the tales and slanders1 which flie abroad of the zealous3 ,lewd men would fain strike at all goodnes through their sides4 ,sidenote3 #c ,object4 ,proud4 ,you may remember also ,eliabs uncharitable censure of ,david1 ,i know the pride of thine heart4 ,so doe all worldlings measure others by their owne length2 if they see any forwardnesse in the peaceablest spirit1 they ascribe it either to vaine-glory1 or covetousnesse2 the onely springs that set their wheeles on going3 but of this the knower of the hearts must judge betweene us4 ,sidenote3 #d ,object4 ,they keep no meane4 ,when slaundering will not serve1 then fall they to glavering1 cunningly glancing at zeale1 whiles they commend the golden meane wherein vertue consists4 ,but ,christians1 take heede none spoyle you through such ,philosophy2 or rather ,sopistry3 for true ,philosophy will tell you that the meane wherein vertue is placed1 is the middle betwixt two kindes1 and not degrees3 ,and it is but meane vertue that loves the meane in their sense4 ,sidenote3 #e ,object4 ,undiscreet4 ,oh say they1 but some discretion would doe well2 ,it is true1 but take withall ,calvins caveat to ,melancthon3 ,that he affect not so the name of a moderate man1 and listen to such ,syrens songs1 till he lose his zeale4 ,i have observed1 that which the world miscalls discretion1 to eat upp zeale1 as that which they call policy1 doth wisdome4 ,as ,joab stabbed ,abner under a colour of friendship3 ,antichrist undermineth ,christ1 by pretending to be his ,vicar4 ,the feare of overdoing makes most come too short2 of the two extreamities1 wee should most feare lukewarmnesse3 rather let your milke boyle over then be raw4 ,from glavering1 they fall to scoffing2 yong ,saints1 will prove but olde ,divels2 these hot-spurrs will soone runne themselves out of breath4 ,but wee say1 such were never right bred2 such as proove falling starres1 never were ought but meteors2 the other never lose light or motion3 spirituall motions may be violent and perpetuall4 ,when none of these will take1 they fal to right downe rayling2 these ,puritans1 these singular fellowes1 c4 unfit for all honest company4 ,i hope the states ,puritan1 and the common ,puritan bee two creatures4 ,for with that staffe the multitude beats all that are better then themselves1 lets fly at all that have any shew of goodnes4 ,but with that which most call ,puritanisme1 ,i desire to worship ,god4 ,for singularity1 ,christs calls for it1 and presseth urgeth it2 ,what singular thing doe you1 or what odde thing doe you8 ,shall ,gods peculiar people1 doe nothing peculiar8 ,the world thinkes it strange1 wee runne not with them into excesses1 and doe not as most doe1 that wee might escape derision3 ,judge you which of these men shall please3 ,i beleeve none shall ever please ,christ1 till they appeare odde1 strange and precise men1 to the common sort2 and yet neede not bee over just neither ,let them that have tender eares stop them against the charmes of the world1 and scornes of ,michol1 unlesse they were wiser3 ,let him that hath a right eare1 heare what ,christ saith to the ,churches1 ,be zealous4 ,the fourth part4 ,sidenote3 ,incentives4 ,yea1 but by what meanes shall a ,christian attaine this fire1 and maintaine it when he hath gotten it4 ,say not in thine heart1 ,what ,prometheus shall ascend into heaven and fetch it thence2 thou mayest fetch it thence by thine owne prayer3 as did ,elias and the ,apostles1 men of infirmities as well as thy selfe2 pray continually1 and instantly3 the ,lord that breathed first thy soule into thee1 will also breath on thy soule3 ,i speake not of miraculous 7which was but a type7 but of ordinarie inspiration4 ,prayer and zeale are as water and ice3 mutually producing each other2 when it is once come downe upon thine altar2 though no water can quench it1 yet must it bee preserved fresh1 by ordinarie fuell2 especially the ,priests lipps must keepe it alive4 ,sermons are bellowes ordained for this purpose4 ,the word read is of divine use1 but doth not with that motion stirre these coales4 ,experience sheweth1 the best oration will not so much moove as the meanest ,orator4 ,after the sparkles once by these meanes kindled1 cherish and feede them by reading the word3 ,let it dwell richly in thine heart1 excite thy dulnesse by spirituall ,hymnes4 ,love-songs enflame not lust1 more1 then the ,song of ,songs doth zeale3 ,reade or sing the #aai4 ,psalme2 and if thou beest not zealous1 every verse will checke thee in thy throat3 ,meditation is another helpe1 approoved by ,isaacks and ,davids practice3 ,an ,art lately so taught1 as ,i shall neede onely to poynt at the choyce theames1 suiting and furthering this argument4 ,i need not goe far to fetch this fire3 ,i may strike it out of every word of this ,epistle to ,laodicea4 ,behold the ,lord ,god1 especially thy ,lord ,christ in his glorious titles and ,majesty2 for so hee beginnes his visions to ,john2 and his ,epistles to the ,churches1 exciting their dull hearts4 ,by such apparitions did hee set on fire the heart of ,moses in the burning bush2 and enflamed ,stephan1 his first ,martyr3 answerable and proportionable to which1 are our serious contemplations4 ,behold him as one that seeth thee1 and knoweth thy workes2 the rouzing preface of all these ,letters4 ,casars eye made his souldiers prodigall of their blood4 ,the ,atheist thinks ,god takes as much notice of him and his prayers1 as hee doth of the humming of ,flyes and ,bees2 and therefore1 no marvell if his service bee formall and fashionable4 ,the faithfull ,christian by faiths prospective sees him at home1 and heares him saying1 ,well done thou good servant2 which maketh him to worke out his heart4 ,behold him as the beginning of creatures1 especially of the new creature4 ,oh6 what love hath hee shewed thee in thy redemption8 out of what misery1 into what happinesse1 by what a price1 to what end2 but that thou shouldest bee zealous of good workes8 ,behold him as the faithfull witnesse1 that witnessed himselfe for thee a good witnesse1 and heere faithfully counsels thee to follow his patterne4 ,behold him as a speedie and royall rewarder of his followers4 ,take thy selfe into paradise1 represent to thy selfe thy crowne1 thy throne1 thy white robes2 looke not on the things that are seene1 but on the farre most excellent wait of glory2 looke upon these1 and faint if thou canst4 ,behold also hee is a consuming fire1 a zealous ,god1 hating lukewarmnesse not onely destroying ,sodome with fire and brimstone1 and providing ,tophet for his enemies2 but awaking also his drowzie servants1 by judgements 7as ,absolon ,joab by firing his corne7 his ,israelites by fiery serpents3 whom hee loveth1 hee chasteneth1 and keepeth them in the fornace of fiery trialls1 till they come to their right temper4 ,hee standeth and knocketh3 if nothing will arouze us1 a time will come1 when heaven and earth shall burne with fire1 and ,christ shall come in flaming fire1 to render vengeance with fire unquenchable4 ,wee therefore that know the terrour of that day1 ,what manner of persons ought we to bee8 ,from ,god turne thine eyes unto man3 set before thee the pillar1 and clowde of fiery examples1 that have led us the way into ,canaan4 ,hee is but a dull lade that will not follow3 ,the stories of the ,scriptures1 the lives of the ,fathers1 the acts and monuments of the ,church1 have a speciall vertue for this effect4 ,the very pictures of the fires1 and ,martyrs1 cannot but warme thee4 ,if thou canst meete with any living examples1 follow them1 as they follow ,christ1 frequent their company3 even ,saul amongst the ,prophets1 will prophesie4 ,no bangling hawke1 but with a high flyer will mend her pitch3 the poorest good companion1 will doe thee some good2 when ,silas came1 ,paul burnt in the spirit3 a lesser sticke may fire a billet2 ,if thou findest none1 let the coldnesse of the times heat thee1 as frosts doe the fire2 ,let every indignation make thee zealous1 as the dunstery of the ,monkes1 made ,erasmus studious3 one way to bee rich in times of dearth1 is to engrosse a rare commodity1 such as zeale is3 now1 if ever1 they have destroyed thy ,law2 ,it is now high time to be zealous4 ,consider and emulate the children of this generation1 to see how eager every ,demas is for worldly promotion4 ,how did that worthy ,bishop disdaine to see an harlot1 more curiously to adorne her body unto sinne and death1 then hee could his soule unto life everlasting4 ,it angred ,demosthenes to see a ,smith earlier at his anvile1 then he was at his deske4 ,when thou hast thus heat thy selfe1 take heede of catching colde againe1 as many have done1 and brought their zeale to deaths doore4 ,sidenote3 ,zeales extinguishers4 ,this fire may goe out divers wayes3 first by subtraction of fewell2 if a man forbeare his accustomed meales1 will not his naturall heat decay8 ,the ,levites that kept ,gods watch in the ,temple1 were charged expressely1 morning evening1 if not oftner1 to looke to the lights and the fire4 ,hee that shall forget 7at the least7 with the ,curfeau-bell in the evening to rake uppe his zeale by prayer1 and with the day-bell in the morning to stirre up kindle the same1 if not oftner with ,daniel2 ,i cannot conceive how hee can possibly keepe fire in his heart4 ,will ,god blesse such1 as bid him not so much as good-morrow and good-even8 ,hee that shall despise or neglect prophesie1 must hee not needes quench the spirit8 have ,i not marked glorious professors1 who for some farme sake1 or other commodities1 have flitted from ,jerusalem to ,jericho2 where the situation was good1 but the waters nought2 and their zeale hath perished1 because vision hath failed8 ,such as reade the ,bible by fits upon rainy dayes1 not eating the booke with ,john1 but tasting onely with the tippe of the tongue3 ,such as meditate by snatches1 never chewing the cud and digesting their meat1 they may happily get a smackering1 for discourse and table-talke2 but not enough to keepe soule life together1 much lesse for strength and vigour4 ,such as forsake the best fellowship1 and wax strange to holy assemblies1 7as now the manner of many is7 how can they but take colde8 ,can one coale alone keepe it selfe glowing8 ,though it goe not out for want of matter1 yet may it bee put out by sundry accidents2 when it is newly kindled1 it may be put out with scoffes and reproaches1 if ,peter take not heede1 and fence himselfe well against them2 but if once throughly growne1 such breath will but spred and encrease it4 ,it is possible fire may bee oppressed with too much wood1 and heat suffocated with too much nourishment3 over-much prayer1 reading1 and study1 may bee a wearinesse both to flesh and spirit3 but it so rarely happeneth1 that ,i neede not mention it2 and yet the soule hath its satiety4 ,there be some such perchance over-nice men in this sense also1 who have not learned that ,god will have them mercifull to themselves3 ,it is often smoothered for want of vent and exercise4 ,let such as use not and expresse not their zeale1 bragge of their good hearts2 surely they have none such1 or not like to have them such4 ,if ,nicodemus had not buried ,christ by day1 we might have feared his zeale had gone out1 for all his comming by night4 ,yet this is not so ordinary1 as to extinguish it by the quench-coale of sinne2 grosse sinne every man knowes will waste the conscience1 and make shipwracke of zeale3 but ,i say1 the least known evill unrepented of1 is as a theefe in the candle1 or an obstruction in the liver4 ,i feare1 ,david served ,god but reasonably1 till hee published his repentance2 hee that steales his meat1 though poverty tempt him1 yet giveth thankes but coldly3 zeale and sinne1 will soone expell the one or the other out of their subject2 ,can you imagine in the same roofe1 ,god and ,beliall1 the ,arke and ,dagon8 ,lastly1 and most commonly1 forraine heat will extract the inward1 and adventicious heat consume the naturall4 ,the ,sunne will put out the fire2 and so will the love of the world1 the love of the ,father1 they cannot stand together in intense degrees1 one cannot serve both these matters with such affection as both would have4 ,seldome seest thou a man make haste to bee rich1 and thrive in religion4 ,christs message to ,john holds true2 ,the poore are most forward in receiving and following the ,gospell3 as thou lovest thy zeale1 beware of resolving to bee rich1 lest gain proove thy godlinesse2 take heede of ambitious aspiring1 lest ,courts and great places1 proove ill aires for zeale1 whither it is as easie to go zealous1 as to returne wise3 ,peter whiles hee warmed his hands1 cooled his heart2 ,not that greatnesse and zeale cannot agree2 but for that our weaknes many times severs them4 ,if thou beest willing to die poore in estate1 thou mayest the more easily live rich in grace4 ,smyrna1 the poorest of the seven ,candle-stickes1 hath the richest price upon it4 ,the diligent practise of these courses will make easie the practise of this counsell1 ,be zealous1 c4 ,the fift part4 ,sidenote3 #a ,object4 ,but heere mee thinke ,i heare the lukewarme worldling of our times1 fume chafe1 and aske what needs all this adoe for zeale1 as if all ,gods people were not zealous enough4 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,such as thinke they are1 or can bee zealous enough1 neede no other conviction to bee poore1 blinde1 naked1 wretched and pittifull ,laodiceans3 ,fire is ever climbing and aspiring higher2 zeale is ever aiming at that which is before2 carried towards perfection2 thinking meanely of that which is past1 and already attained1 condemning his unprofitable service1 as ,calvin his last ,will3 this rule tries full conceited ,christians4 ,sidenote3 #b ,object4 ,what would you have us doe8 wee professe1 keepe our ,church1 heare ,sermons1 as ,christians ought to doe4 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,affectionate friendship and service is not onely for publique shew and pomp1 upon festivall dayes1 in ,chambers of ,presence2 but for domesticall1 ordinary1 and private use2 to such holy-day and ,church retainers1 ,god may well say1 ,let us have some of this zeale at home and apart4 ,all affections are most passionate1 without a witnesse4 ,such as whose families1 closets1 fields1 beds1 walkes1 doe testifie of their worship1 as well as temples ,synagogues1 are right servitors3 ,god much respects their devotions2 and they have strong proofe of the power of godlinesse4 ,sidenote3 #c ,object4 ,wee would you should know1 that wee are such as have prayer sayd or read in our families and housholds2 or else we say some to our selves at our lying downe1 and uprising and more then that1 say you what you will1 wee holde more then needs4 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,first1 know that zeale knowes no such unmannerly courses1 as to slubber over a few prayers1 whiles you are dressing and undressing your selves1 as most doe1 halfe asleepe1 halfe awake2 know further1 that such as hold onely a certaine stint of daily duties1 as malt-horses their pace1 or mill-horses their round1 out of custome or forme1 are far from that mettle which is ever putting forward1 growing from strength to strength1 and instant in duties1 in season1 out of season3 and this sayes hard to lazy ,christians4 ,sidenote3 #d ,object4 ,may not wee goe too far on the right hand8 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,it is true3 but liberality baulkes1 and feares covetousnesse and niggardize1 more a great deale then prodigallity2 so does zeale lukewarmnes and coldnesse1 more then too much heate and forwardnesse2 the defect is more opposite and dangerous to some vertues1 then the excesse4 ,sidenote3 #e ,object4 ,why8 are not some thinke you1 too straight laced1 that dare not use their ,christian liberty in some recreations8 sware by small oathes1 or lend money for reasonable use8 hath not ,god left many things indifferent1 wherein some shew themselves more nice then wise8 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,zeale will cut of the right hand1 if it cause to offend2 much more to pare the nayles and superfluities3 it consumes the strongest1 dearest corruptions2 much more will it singe off such haire and drosse as these3 ,if ought be praise worthy1 it imbraceth such things2 if any be doubtfull1 carrying shew of evill1 of ill reporte1 it dares not meddle with them2 it feares that some of these are as indifferent1 as fornication was among the heathen4 ,sidenote3 #f ,object4 ,there are but few such1 no not of the better sort1 as you speake of4 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,graunt there bee any1 and zealous emulation culleth the highest examples4 ,such as meane to excell in any ,art1 travell to find out the rarest workemen1 purchase the choysest ,copies2 hee that hath true zeale1 will strive to purge himselfe1 as ,christ is pure4 ,sidenote3 #g ,object4 ,will you have us runne before our neighbours1 or live without example or company8 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,cowards and cravens1 stand and look who goes first3 souldiers of courage will cast lots for the onset and fore-rank1 for desperat services1 and single combats4 ,lades will not go without the way be led4 ,sidenote3 #h ,object4 ,so we may soone come to trouble1 and danger enough4 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,what daunger can there bee1 of an honest1 peaceable1 religious forwardnesse8 ,the slug or snaile1 puts out the tender horne to feele for lets in the way1 and puls them in where there is no cause2 so doe the fearfull that shall be without3 but zeale either findes no dangers1 or makes them none2 it neither feares to doe well1 or to reproove ill doers1 let who so will be displeased4 ,some indeed care not whome they offend1 they are so harsh and fiery1 they can beare with nothing4 ,sidenote3 #i ,object4 ,will true ,christianity allow us to beare with any sinne8 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,can tinne1 or hot iron choose but hisse againe1 if cold water be cast on it8 can a righteous soul choose but vexe it selfe at open evill8 ,such ,ostriches as can digest oathes1 prophane and filthie speeches1 shew what mettle they have for the ,lord of hosts2 who yet will be ready enough to offer the challenge1 or stab1 for the least disgrace to themselves1 or their mistresse3 ,phineas had rather1 if it were lawfull1 fight in ,gods quarrels then his owne4 ,sidenote3 #aj ,object4 ,all are not by nature of so hot dispositions1 or so fiery-spirited1 as others4 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,if there bee such a dull flegmaticke creature as hath no life nor spirite in any thing hee goes about1 or whome nothing will moove2 hee may plead complexion1 and yet grace is above nature3 but the best way is2 ,see every man compare his devotion in matters of ,god1 with his spirits and mettle in other affayres1 wherein his element or delight lies2 if the one equall not the other1 the fault is not in nature3 the oldest man hath memory enough for his gold1 and the coldest constitution heate enough where it likes4 ,sidenote3 #aa ,object4 ,well1 our harts may bee as good as the best though we cannot shew it4 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,fire cannot be long smothered1 it will either finde a vent1 or goe out2 zeale will either finde word1 or deede1 to expresse it selfe withall4 ,sidenote3 #ab ,object4 ,all have not the gift of utterance4 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,violent affections have made the dumbe to finde a tongue2 ,if it be lowe water the mille may stand2 but aboundance of heart will set the wheeles on going ,what earnest discourses will unlearned ,mariners make of their voiages8 ,huntsmen of their game1 c4 ,sidenote3 #ac ,object4 ,all have not ability and meanes3 many have great charges4 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,love and zeale are munificent1 make money their servant1 not their master3 wheresoever the heart is enlarged1 the hand cannot bee straightned2 where the bowells are open1 the purse is not shut4 ,herod for his pleasure1 cares not for halfe his kingdome2 what will not some ,gentle-men give for hawks and hounds8 not onely the poore woman that spent the rich oyntment on ,christ1 the widow that gave all her substance1 the converts that solde all1 and threw all at the feet of the ,apostles1 but even the bounty of the superstitious ,papists shall rise in judgement against such as professe a religion1 wil give it good words countenance2 but bee at no cost with it1 and know a cheaper way to save charge withall4 ,sidenote3 #ad ,object4 ,all have not so much leisure to spend1 so much time and study1 about matters of religion1 they have somewhat else to doe4 ,sidenote3 ,answer4 ,there are indeede many vanities1 which distract and divide the minde of worldlings2 but zeale counts one thing needefull1 to which it makes all other veile and stand by4 ,is there any so good an husband of his time1 that will not steale some houre for his pleasure2 that cannot spare his ,god and his soule halfe an houre1 morning and evening2 that bestowes not idly1 as much time as a ,sermon or two would take upp in the weeke8 ,the soule ,i confesse hath his satiety1 as well as the body2 but why should we sit on thornes1 more at a ,sermon then at a ,play2 thinke the ,saboths longer then holi-daies2 but for want of zeale8 ,if thou beest not a vaine and willing deceiver of thy selfe1 and others2 deale honestly plainly with thy soule1 try thy selfe by these few rules2 and if thou judgest thy selfe to come short of them1 amend and be ,zealous4 ,the sixt part4 ,which little round fire-ball comming to hand1 as ,davids small stone1 by ordinary lot1 knowing the insufficiency of mine owne2 ,i pray that ,god with his arme would scatter it farre and wide into those wilde parts of the world without the pale of ,christendome1 which lie so frozen and benummed in their ,paganisme1 that they feele not the coldnesse of their religions2 as also in those regions that being within the ,tropickes of the ,church1 have just so much1 and so little heat1 as to thinke they have enough1 and neede no more3 ,cheefly mine affections burne within mee for the good of mine owne ,nation1 for which ,i would ,i had but so much zeale as truely to wish my selfe ,anathema1 upon condition it had heat sutable to the light4 ,for ,i must beare it record1 it hath knowledge1 ,i would ,i could say1 according to zeale4 ,but the spirit1 knowing that which is spoken to all to bee in effect as spoken to none1 directs mee what ,i should speake to ,churches1 to speake to particular ,angels4 ,now the principall in our ,church1 under that ,archangell of the covenant1 ,i most willingly acknowledge to bee my ,lord the ,king1 as an ,angell of light4 ,and why not that very ,angell1 who by his writing hath begunne to powre out the fift viall upon the throne of the beast1 darkned his ,kingdome1 caused them to gnaw their tongues for greefe1 and blaspheme for the smart of their wounds2 though as yet they will not repent of their errours8 ,the ,lord annoynt him more and more with this oyle above all the ,princes of the earth1 that from his head1 it may runne downe upon our skirts2 make him shine in zeale above all other starres1 to the warming enlightning of this whole ,horizon2 set him up as a standard for his people2 cloath him with zeale1 as with a cloake1 to recompence the fury of the adversaries1 that he may strike the ,aramites1 not three but five times till they be consumed2 that he may put the ,ammonites under the yron sawes1 harrowes1 axes1 which have provoked him as much1 as ever they did ,david1 #b4 ,sam4 #ab4 ,but yet as in the time of the old ,testament the custody of the fire and light was the charge of the ,priest2 so here ,i observe ,christ to lay it upon his ,ministers1 interpreting his rule by his practise1 ,tell the church1 ,tell the ,angell of the ,church2 honouring that despised office1 with that stately stile2 intimating the union betwene ,people and ,minister1 that they should bee as one3 what is spoken to the one1 is spoken to the other2 not as some1 that ever make ,clergy and ,layty two members1 in division and opposition2 neither yet as some spirites that lay all level1 but implying a property1 especially in grace and zeale in the ,ministers1 whom the ,preacher calls the master of the assemblies2 that they should exceede as farre the people1 as ,angels doe men1 and that he will reckon with them for the religion of the people1 because colde ,priests make bolde sinners2 zealous ,jehoiada may mak ,jehoash the ,king zealous1 so long as hee lives with him4 ,wee therefore men and brethren1 or rather men and ,angels1 upon whom it lies to keepe life and heat in the devotion of the world1 to consume the drosse of vices and heresies1 that have fallen into the sinke of our times2 wee that are to make ready our people for the second comming of ,christ1 is the spirit of ,ely thinke wee sufficient for us8 ,what manner of persons ought we to bee1 burning in spirit1 fervent in prayer1 thundring in preaching1 shining in life and conversation8 ,why is it then my brethren 7oh let my plainest rebukes bee the fruits and signes of my best love to mine owne ,tribe2 let them not bee as breakings of the head1 but as precious balme to those whose honour with the people1 ,i preferre to my life7 why is it that some of us pray so rarely and so coldly in private 7the evills of our times will not out but by frequent fasting and fervent prayer7 in publique so briefly1 so perfunctorily1 and feebly1 that wee scarce have any witnesses of what wee say8 ,why are there yet remaining any ,mutes amongst us8 ,why are ther any tounges that dare speake against often or zealous preaching8 ,doth not ,paul adjure us before him that shall judge the elect ,angels1 that we preach instantly1 in season1 and out of season8 ,reade wee the commentaries of that text1 or let the practise of ,ancients expound it2 and tell mee if ever old or new interpreted that charge1 of bare reading1 of quarterly1 or monethly1 yea1 or of once on the ,sabbath preaching onely1 as if that were fully sufficient1 without endeavoring or desiring any more4 ,if alwaies often preaching bee prating1 what meant the practise ,i say1 not onely of ,calvin1 and ,beza but of ,chrysostome1 ,basil1 ,ambrose with other of the ,fathers1 preaching every day in the weeke1 some of them twise in the weeke1 none of them so seldome1 as such would bear the world in hand4 ,what meant sundry ancient ,councells1 7the eleventh of ,tolet in ,spaine7 yea even of ,trent it selfe1 to excite the torpor of the ,bishoppes of their times1 as their ,canons speake1 enjoyning frequent preaching1 calling for more then almost any man is able to performe8 ,but heere ,i may turne reprooving into rejoycing1 that preaching is growne in any better fashion and grace with our times1 by royall and reverend1 both examples and countenance3 only ,i wish that every ,archippus may fulfill his ,ministery1 be instant and constant in preaching4 ,salomon the older1 and wiser hee grew1 the more hee taught the people1 sharpened his goads1 and fastned his nails2 whereas many amongst us are so wise in their youth1 as to affect the foolishnes of preaching2 but in their dotage1 ,ease slayes the foole2 when the doore is oyled1 it leaves creaking2 they must then fall to make much of themselves1 till contrary with the ,prophet they cry out1 ,my fatnesse1 my fatnesse1 my belly1 my belly2 so favouring their lungs1 that they will bee sure never to die of ,davids consumption of zeale2 let such preach1 say they1 that want livings3 and if for shame they preach at all1 it must bee rarely and easily1 for breaking of their winde 7my meaning is not to tax such1 whom ,god disinables by weaknesse of body2 or such as recompence their rarity with industry1 as ,perkins1 c47 and yet forsooth these thinke they may justly challenge1 and weare the double honor of countenance and maintenance2 ,i marvell with what right1 or with what face1 so long as there remaineth expresse ,canon of ,scripture1 bequeathing it to those1 that toyle in word and doctrine4 ,neither will zeale set us on worke onely to preach1 or to preach often to avoyd the infamy of bare readers2 but it will teach us to preach painefully1 and that in the evidence and demonstration1 not so much of art1 or nature1 as of the spirit and grace2 regarding onely1 that the people know ,christ and him crucified2 not caring whether they know what wee have read1 how many quotations our memory will carry levell1 how roundly wee can utter our minde in new minted words1 in like sounding1 idle1 vaine1 and offensive ,paranomasies2 ,i blush to fall into the least touch of that kinde3 yet at once to shew and reproove that childish folly1 ,it is a vaine of vaine preaching1 turning sound preaching into a sound of preaching1 tickling mens eares1 like a tinckling cymball1 feeding them1 ,greek3 hdusmati kai ouk edesmasi1 spoyling the plaine song1 with descant and division3 what is this but to shew our owne levitie and want of true ,art2 indeede affecting such a dancing1 piperly and effeminate eloquence 7as ,tully1 ,demosthenes1 or any ,masculine ,oratour would scorne7 in steade of that divine powerfull deliverie1 which becommeth him1 that speakes the ,oracles of ,god4 ,if ever wee meane to doe any good1 wee must exhort and reproove1 with all vehemency and authority2 lifting upp our voyce as a trumpet1 as the sonnes of thunder2 pearcing their eares1 witnessing1 striving and contending1 according to our gift whatsoever it bee1 to manifest our affections1 that wee may worke upon the people2 which all the ,art in the world will not teach us to doe3 onely zeale at the heart will naturally produce it1 without straining or affecting4 ,if ,god require the heart as well as the head2 why should wee not labour to moove the affections1 as well as enforme the judgement2 ,there is a doctrinall1 and as some tearme it1 a ,doctorly kinde of preaching1 which is admired of some that understand it not2 of others that could be content with the ,masse againe1 because it was gentle1 and had no teeth in it4 ,and such ,sermons ,i have sometimes heard1 for matter voyd of exception1 but so delivered1 as if one were acting a part1 or saying a lesson by heart4 ,it hath called to minde a song which sometimes ,i have met withall1 excellently composed1 full of sweet ayre1 surely and truely sung2 but with flat and dead voyces without spirit1 which hath marred the musique3 ,of such a ,sermon and ,preacher1 the ,countreymans verdict did well1 that said1 this man may bee a great scholler1 but hee wants beetle and wedges to heaw our knotted timber withall1 our greene wood will not burn unlesse it be better blown2 you shall sometimes see an excellent horse of shape and colour1 having many of those markes ,du ,bartes describes in ,caines supposed horse2 which yet wanting mettle hath beene of little worth1 and lesse use4 ,if there were no other ,preachers then these1 which hold themselves the onely profound and learned ,preachers1 ,i muse what should become of conversion of soules1 which they that covet2 must come with the spirit of ,elias1 to turne the hearts of the fathers to their children1 ,i may in truth1 and ,i hope with modesty speake with the ,preacher1 that in observing ,i have observed1 and have found1 that divers great ,clarkes have had but little fruit of their ministery2 but hardly any truely zealous man of ,god 7though of lesser gifts7 but have had much comfort of their labours1 in their owne and bordering parishes1 being in this likened by ,gregorie1 to the yron on the ,smiths anvile sparkling round about4 ,and if for this any bordering neighbours1 whose cold labours worke not the like successe1 shall accuse them of some kinde 7,i know not what7 of policie in bewitching the people2 they may well reply1 ,behold our zealous affections are our charmes1 and zeale all our witchcraft1 as ,latimer well answered one that accused the people of partiality1 for not affecting him that preached one of his printed ,sermons1 that hee had indeede his ,sticke1 but wanted his ,rosen2 meaning his zealous manner of preaching and living1 without which last1 all the former will doe but little good1 if a good ensample of life accompany not their doctrine1 as lightning doth thunder4 ,for there are some 7,i speake with sorrow of heart7 that seeme to have fire in their preaching1 but carry water in their life2 being notoriously proud1 covetous1 or debauched1 stained with odious vices4 ,let us heare the summ of all4 ,doe wee love ,christ more then ordinary8 would wee give proofe of our trebble love to him8 ,let us then feede his flocke with a trebble zeale1 expressed in our prayer1 preaching and living3 ,let us make it appeare to the consciences of all1 that the top of our ambition is ,gods glory3 and that wee preferr the winning of soules1 to the winning of the world4 ,this title of ,angels why may it not also be extended to ,magistrates1 as well as that higher stile1 of ,gods2 ,sure ,i am1 that the scarlet robe of zeale would exceeding well become them4 ,jethro maketh it their prime and essentiall character2 ,god and ,moses1 their onely and sole1 in the charge and commission to ,jehoshuah so oft repeated2 ,onely be of good courage4 ,and if ,david were now to re-pen his ,psalme2 ,i thinke hee might alter the forme of his counsell1 and say1 ,bee zealous yee ,rulers and ,judges of the world1 and not wise and politique3 or rather under the tearmes of wisdome1 hee comprehends indeede the zeale wee call for1 the most now adayes being ,gallio's1 wise onely for the matters of the ,commonwealth2 not having a sparke of that spirit which was in ,phineas1 ,daniel1 and ,nehemias1 c4 for the ,lord of hosts1 or to his ,lawes and ,commandements2 as if ,god had made ,magistrates keepers onely of the second ,table1 governours of men1 and not of ,christians2 guardians onely of civill societies1 and not of his ,church1 and shepheards also of his flocke4 ,are ,idolatries1 blasphemies1 prophaning of ,saboths1 no sinns8 ,why then either have not the lawes force and strength enough in them 7as sometime wee are answered when wee complaine7 or why are they not executed for the suppressing of these raging sins8 are not all they punished with death in the ,scriptures1 as well as breaches of the second table8 ,blood ,i leave to the malignant ,church1 and admire clemency in ,rulers1 as much as any2 but yet ,i know the prophane dissolutenesse of the times1 requires a three stringed whipp of severity to purge our ,augean stable of the soule abuses1 whipt often with penns and tongues1 but spared by them that beare the sword 7a man may say of many ,governours7 altogether in vaine for matters of religion4 ,are not kings of the earth charg'd to render double to the bloody strumpet of ,rome8 ,why then doth the hurtfull pitty of our times imbolden and increase their numbers8 ,laodicea it selfe1 ,i doubt not1 for matters of mine and thine1 had 7as their name imports7 good civill justice and justicers2 but what was ,god the neerer for it8 doth hee not threaten for all that to spue them out of his mouth8 shall hee not curse those that doe his worke negligently1 fearfully partially8 ,our times complaine of two speciall canker wormes of justice1 which eat up zeale in ,magistrates4 ,the first is ,covetousnesse1 which makes men of place to transgresse for a morsell of bread2 the zeale of their owne houses consumes the zeale of ,gods house3 ,the building of great houses1 keeping of great houses1 and matching with great houses1 raising and leaving of great houses behinde them1 makes them so ravenous1 that they devoure so much1 as choakes all their zeale2 which would teach them to shake their laps of bribes1 and scorne to accept gifts1 though men would augment them for the perverting of judgement4 ,the other is ,cowardice and ,fearfulnes3 which how unfit1 and base a quality did ,nehemiah thinke it for a man of his place8 no better then shynesse in a fore-horse1 whose eyes men fence on both sides1 that they may lead the way1 and goe without starting2 unto which1 zeale is answerable in ,magistrates1 causing them onely to see him that is invisible1 without casting a squint eye at men2 to sing to ,god onely of judgement and mercy1 without tuning their songs to mans eare2 to walke in the perfect way1 without turning1 either to the right or left hand for feare of favour4 ,oh that there were such an heart in our leaders2 how easily would our people follow6 what a spring tide of zeale should wee have1 if the ,sunne and ,moone would cast out a benigne aspect upon them6 ,doth it not flourish in all those shires and townes1 where the ,word and ,sword doe joyntly cherish it8 ,in others which are the greatest number1 how doth it languish and wane away1 and hang downe the head8 where is it in diverse places of the land to bee seene8 ,i had almost sayd in my haste and heat1 there is none that hath zeale1 no not one1 there is no courage for the truth2 but that ,i remember that ,eliah was checked for over-shooting himselfe in his too short and quicke computation4 ,i hope the ,lord hath his fifties amongst us1 though but thinn sowne in comparison of the swarmes of professed ,recusants1 and ,church-,papists1 of prophane ,atheists1 key-cold worldlings1 and lukewarme professors4 ,the bodies of our many severall ,congregations1 yea even of the better sort1 whereunto have they beene likened by our separated adversaries2 but unto the ,prophet ,hosea his cake1 halfe baked upon the hearth1 having one side1 that is1 the one side to the world-ward1 in publique service1 scorched a little and browned over2 but the inside to ,god-ward1 in private1 and family-duties1 no better then dough2 many of them making indeede some shew1 as the out-landish fruits that are plashed upon our walls1 but wanting heat never come to maturity4 ,if wee should make good their resemblances1 how then should wee please the stomacke of ,god8 who hath indeede brooked and borne us a long time1 ,i doubt but wamblingly4 ,how neare were wee going in #hh4 and in the powder treason8 ,doe we thinke he will ever digest us1 in the temper wee are in8 which 7to confesse the truth of the fashionable ,christian7 what is it but a state of neutrality1 indifferency1 or such a mediocrity1 as will just serve the time1 satisfie ,law1 or stand with reputation of neighbours8 beyond which1 if any step a little forward1 do not the rest hunt upon the stop8 ,if there hap to breake out a sparkle of zeale in any one house in a parish2 is not the whole towne in an uprore1 as when the bells ring awke every man brings his bucket1 to the quenching of this fire8 ,if hell bee in an ,ale-house1 who cryes out of it8 as for our ,sundayes ,church-service1 which is all that ,god gets at our hands2 how perfunctorily1 and fashionably is it slubbered over2 how are his ,saboths made the voyder and dung-hill for all refuse businesse1 divided betweene the ,church and the ,ale-house1 the ,may-pole commonly beguiling the ,pulpit8 ,what man would not spue to see ,god thus worshipped8 ,this want of devotion makes the foule mouthed ,papists to spet at us3 this want of reformation1 makes the queasie-stomacked ,brownists cast themselves out of the ,church2 and shall ,god alwayes suffer the land to beare us8 ,but behold1 he stands at the door knocks1 by treasons1 by plagues1 by the hammer of dearths1 discontents1 fires1 inundations1 especially by the word2 his locks are wet with waiting4 ,oh before hee shake off the dust of his feet against us1 and turne to some other nation more worthy1 let us open the doore1 that hee may come in and sup with us2 if hee love us1 hee will purge us1 and scoure us1 by one chastizement or other3 if hee have no pleasure in us1 hee cannot but unburthen his stomacke of us2 ,if all the land besides should turne the deafe eare1 yet let mee entreat and charge you of my flock to heare his voyce1 be zealous4 ,since my comming amongst you1 ,i have handled some bookes of the olde ,testament1 the ,epistles to the ,romanes1 to the ,hebrewes1 of ,saint ,james1 ,peter and ,john1 out of them taught the doctrine of the ,law1 of ,faith1 ,love and good ,workes3 now in the choyce of this ,epistle of ,christ to ,laodicea1 my desire was to boyle up the former to their just temper3 in which worke ,i can willingly bee content to spend my strength1 and dayes1 if ,god see it fit4 ,i cannot be a better sacrifice then to ,god1 and for you1 if ,i waste my selfe1 so you may have light heat2 what else is the end of my life8 ,god hath given you a name1 your zeale is gone abroad1 ,i hope you have many names among you2 the ,lord encrease their number and zeale4 ,if but one of us this day1 shall open this doore of his heart with ,jehoshuah1 let others chuse1 ,i and my house will serve the ,lord more zealously then heeretofore2 neither ,i nor hee shall have lost our labours4 ,a lively picture casts the eye upon every one that comes neere it3 such is the word with whom1 and with which we have to do2 ,let him that is now colde1 grow colder colder2 but let him that hath an eare1 heare what hath beene sayd to the ,churches2 and be zealous and amend4 ,the ,lord give us not onely understanding1 but zeale in all things3 he baptize us with fire3 hee breath on us1 and inspire into us the spirit of life power1 c4 ,so shall wee runn the wayes of his commandements4 ,,finis4