The Fire of the Sanctuary Newly Uncovered, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. The Obiects of Zeale.
HAuing vncouered this Fire by a Definition, my next worke is to diſcouer more largely the ſeuerall ſubordinate Obiects, for whoſe ſakes it burneth.
Zeale hath a double taske: the one of a Defendant, the other, of an Opponent. Accordingly it hath a two-fold Obiect; Good and Euill, maintaining that; oppoſing this. It euer defendeth what is truly Good.This Chapter hath two Sections. It neuer oppoſeth any thing but what is certainly Euill.
Sect. 1.Sect. 1. Of the good things which zeale defendeth. viz. The firſt taske of Zeale is on the behalfe of Good to abet it. What heauenly wiſedome counts worthy, our choyce is an honourable cauſe for Zeale to maintaine. Now what will either Grace or Nature deſire, but good? It is not then for the honour of Zeale to take part with any thing elſe. It is good (yea comely aforeign.) to be zealouſly affected in a good thing alwaies: bGal. 1.18.that is, for that thing which is good: for eueryevery thingcEgo volo vos in omnibus bonis resplendere. Theodor. that is good: not onelyonly that good which reflecteth on our ſelues, but all that any way concerneth the honour of him who is the Author of goodnes. If the louelove of goodneſſe prouoke vsus to Zeale, where euer Zeale findeth goodneſſe in diſtreſſe it becomes her Champion.
But though zeale vndertaketh the protection of eueryevery thing that is good, yet chiefly it patronizeth that which commeth neareſt the chiefeſt good, and wherein the glory of our Higheſt Soueraigne is more deepely intereſſed. Of this nature is his Word, his Worſhip, his Seruants.
1.1. The word of God. One particular Obiect of zeale then is the Sacred word of Truth, containing all neceſſarie rules of Faith.dZelus cum in bono accipitur, eſt quidam feruor animi, quo mens relicto humano timore, pro defenſione veritatis accenditur. Alcuinus The office of zeale about this is, to preſerue the honour thereof vntainted from all blemiſhes of error, ſtaines of hereſie, & indignities of Tyrants and Atheiſts: ſtriuing for the faith of the ePhil. 1.27.Goſpell: Holding faſt fTit 1.9.the faithfull word: not quarrelling to ſeparation for eueryevery difference in opinion touching points not fundamentall, and vndecided. In which caſe no man muſt be iudged for his doubting; gRom. 14.1. See the marginall note of our laſt Tranſlators.nor may any doubting man iudge others whohIbid. ver. 3 doubt not.
The fire of zeale muſt blaze higheſt in maintenance of capitall truths,iIude ver. 3. Earneſtly contending for the faith once deliuered vntounto the Saints. Wiſe men will defend that part of a Citie moſt, which may occaſion moſt dammage by ſuffering a breach. And zeale will then eſpecially be as one of the Cherubins with a flaming ſword to keepe ſafe the word of Life, when the chiefeſt myſteries are corrupted, or queſtioned.
Saint Paul, when the honour of his Goſpell lay at the ſtake, ſeemeth vnable to expreſſe the heate he was in: marke his vehemency; though we, ſaith he, or an Angell from heauen ſhould preach any other Goſpell vntounto you, kGal. 1.8.then that which we hauehave preached vntounto you, let him be accurſed. A heauie doome moſt vehemently denounced. And yet not ſatisfying himſelfe in ſhewing ſo much zeale as he was able to expreſſe by one ſingle pronouncing this dreadfull anathematiſme, he doubles his ſpeech, as if the fornace of his heart were now heated with zeale ſeauen times hotter then it was wont:lIbid. ver. 9. As we ſaid before, ſo ſay I now againe, if any man preach vntounto you another Goſpell, then that ye hauehave receiued, let him be accurſed. Thus in caſes of like conſequence, muſt we be affected.
But to be all on fire in defence of queſtionable truths, which if they were yeelded vntounto vsus, could adde nothing to that ſtocke of graces which accompanie ſaluation, is a thing ill beſeeming thoſe diuine flames of holy zeale. To what profit are thoſe hot diſputes and ſharpe contentions about the place aſſigned for (that maze of horror vntounto vngodly men) the Oecumenicall Aſſiſe; the Equalitie of glorie; the Hierarchie of Angels; and many more?
He that putteth himſelfe vponupon the office of a Superuiſor and Controuler of other mens opinions touching points of this nature, may breed vaine ianglings, but will edifie but a little. Theſe things are of the nature of ſauce rather then meate; diſh them out as curiouſly as Art can deuiſe, and when all is done they nouriſh not. Marke ſuch as are zealous of ſpirituall gifts; if they ſeeke not to excell to the vſe of edifying; you ſhall be ſure to finde them excelling in vanitie. And more quarrels ariſe by one ſuch conceited Doctor, then many wiſe men with all their wiſedome ſhall be able to take vp.
This is that bloudie knife that cutteth aſunder the very ſinewes of Chriſtian louelove. This cauſeth Profeſſors of the ſame faith to leade huge armies of ſectaries like Pigmies and Cranes one againſt another: ſo waſting their zeale in defence of trifles, that they hauehave none left to make a wall of fire about points of more moment.
With what heart can we ioyne againſt a common enemie, when eueryevery little difference is proſecuted with ſuch heate as if it were vnlawfull, or at leaſt dangerous to vnite our forces, for feare of fiering one anothers tents by encamping together? He that can be ſo hote with his brother for a trifle, would certainly exceed the proportion of any cauſe with an enemie, deſtroying more by intemperance then he is able to build by his zeale.
Witneſſe the bickerings betweene ſome Lutherans & Caluiniſts, (as they are by ſome nick-named,) which hauehave giuen RELIGION (ſince the laſt reformation thereof) a greater blow, then all the thunderbolts of Rome ſet together.
Is it not Nuts to our Romiſh neighbours to ſee men belch out ſuch bitter raylings, and to put out ſuch tart volumes one againſt another, touching the manner of Chriſt diſcenſion into hell; the libertie of the Sabbath; the power of Witches; the poſſibilitie of Demoniacall poſſeſſions; the ſeate of faith; the ſuperioritie of preaching, reading, and praying? In all which and many more the diuiſions of Reuben are great thoughts of heart. Is it now a time to be diuided among our ſelues, when all our forces vnited are little enough to withſtand the common aduerſarie? Oh when will our eyes be opened to ſee, & our hearts be mollified to bewaile the breaches of the enemy vponupon vsus, by ſuch vnbrotherly childiſh contentions among our ſelues!
Ere while wee could ſee nothing in S. Paul but fire, when the foundation of the Goſpell began to ſhake by the vndermining of ſeducers. But in an inferiour point, wch was but as a Pinacle, not of ſo much neceſſitie as beautie to ſet out the Pile; he layeth his hand off the bellowes, and puts out the fire.
For being conſulted touching Virginitie; m1. Cor. 7.and hauing no particular direction therein from the Lord, he ſparingly and mildly ſet downe his iudgement, and that by way of friendly aduiſe onelyonly, not of command from the Lord. And as if this were not enough to manifeſt his moderation, he will by no means peremptorily determine the queſtion; but giueth eueryevery man libertie therein, that is of another mind,nIbid. ver. 36 to do what he will.
Theſe two preſidents of the Apoſtle may ſuffice to declare what temper our zeale muſt aſcend vntounto in defence of the Word. Maintaine we muſt with all our might the Principles of faith. But of inferiour doubtful truths, we may onelyonly gently diſcourſe what ſeemes moſt probable; not violently hold them to diſſentiono2. Tim. 2.23. &c. & Schiſme: no, though the grounds of ſuch our opinions ſeeme neuer ſo ſolide. Herein it is as honourable to yeeld as to conquer; ſince euerie man muſt follow the things which pRom. 14.19.make for peace, and wherewith one may edifie another.
2. The worſhip of God.2. Another particular which zeale muſt fortifie, is that Worſhip of God, which the Word preſcribeth. The ſecond Commandement which interdicts Idolatrie and falſe worſhip, doth as firmely enioyne zeale for preſeruation of that true worſhip which the Lord doth appoint. Therfore the Apoſtle ioynes Zeale and Worſhip together: requiring that worſhippers be zealous qRom. 12.11in ſpirit, ſeruing or worſhipping the Lord.
It is then a good and comely thing to be zealouſly affected towards and for the worſhip of God. For this our Lord was ſo zealous that the zeale of the very houſe of God did euen euen eate him vp: by the houſe no doubt vnderſtanding and meaning Synecdochically the whole WorſhiprQuis comeditur Zelo domus dei? qui omnia quae ibi videt peruerſa cupa emendare, &c. Aug. tract. 10. in Iohn. of God there to bee performed, but by prophane imployments polluted. A thing ſo prouoking his ſpirit, that hee could not expreſſe indignation enough in reſcuing the honour of that place from ſuch abuſes.
This action ſo well beſeemed Chriſt himſelfe, that euen by this hee clearely demonſtrated to his Diſciples the ſubſtance of that Type which Dauid once was: they then remembring that it was writtē, the ſIoh. 2.17. ex Pſal. 69.9.zeale of thine houſe hath euen eaten me vp. And what need wee any further precept; any better warrant herein?
Howbeit as in defence of the Word, the rule of worſhip, moſt Zeale muſt bee ſpent for points fundamentall: ſo care muſt be had in maintaining the Worſhip it ſelfe, to fortifie the Subſtantialls moſt.
Such was the flame of Elias Zeale,t1 King. 18.40. that nothing but the bloud of all Baals Prophets could quench it. But marke the obiect of it: It was no ſmalle matter. It was for no leſſe then Gods Couenant, which by their meanes, the children of Iſrael had forſaken: uIbid. ver. 10.for his Alters which they had throwne downe: and for his Prophets which they had ſlaine with with the ſword.
Thus when any Subſtantiall part of Gods Worſhip is corrupted, deteyned, remoued, or endangered; then is a time for Chriſtians to quit themſelues like men in vindicating the ſame.
But here a Caution touching the former example. It is no warrant for our Zeale to breake out ſo farre as his did: it onelyonly ſhewes vsus wherein we muſt be zealous ſo farre as the bounds of our Calling admit. It had not been lawfull for Eliah to put thoſe Idolaters to the ſword, if hee had not been able to pleade his ſpeciall Commiſſion from God, as he did;*Ibid. ver. 36. I hauehave done all theſe things at thy word.
The want of which warrant made Peter liable to reproofe of our Lord, euen when he fought in defence of our Lord, and cut off but an eare of the high Prieſts ſeruant. For this little, Chriſt applied vntounto him that Lawe againſt Murtherers;xMat. 26.52 Ex Gen. 9 6. All they that take the ſword ſhall periſh by the ſword. Not that this little deſerued that iudgement; but to giuegive him notice, whereto his Zeale would make him obnoxious, if hee proceeded to the taking away of any mans life vponupon ſo ſlender a ground.
It is then the duty of Chriſtians, if priuate men, to pray zealouſly; if Miniſters, to preach zealouſly in defence of Gods Worſhip: vſeing no Armes but thoſe of Ambroſe to Auguſtus, Prayers, and Teares. yRogamus Auguſte, non pugnamus: non timemus, ſed rogamus. Hoc Chriſtianos decet, vt & tranquillitas pacis optetur & fidei, veritatisque conſtantia. Amb. Epist. 33. ad Marcellinam And againe, Orat. in Auxentium: coactus repugnare non noui, dolere potero, potero flere, potero gemere: aduerſus arma milites, Goth…s quoque lachrymae meae arma ſunt, &c. aliter nec debeo nec poſſum reſiſtere.Hee that being vnderunder Authority, will rather reſiſt then ſuffer, makes the cauſe ſuffer by his reſiſtance; and ſo in ſteed of ſtanding zealouſly for it, he doth in effect raiſe forces againſt it.
It was not the prohibitions and threats of the Iewiſh Gouernors, that could ſilence Peter, and Iohn, from preaching Ieſus;zAct. 4.18.19, 20. becauſe their Commiſſion from God muſt be executed againſt all iniunctions of Men. But on the other ſide, their Zeale neuer made them reſiſt with hoſtile force, euen in their greateſt affronts. If they were apprehended, they ſuffered with patience and reioycing; if they could, they fled.
Zeale may ſtand with ſuffering and flying; but not with reſiſtance, which is flat Rebellion. And no good cauſe calles Rebellion to aide. Chriſt giues not onelyonly liberty, but precept; when we are perſecuted in one City, to fly into another: not meaning we ſhould be leſſe zealous, but ſpare our ſelues for better times and occaſions.
If it were contrary to Zeale, to fly; Chriſt would neuer hauehave giuenaReu. 12.14 wings of a great Eagle to the woman, that ſhe might flie into the wilderneſſe into her place, from the face of the Serpent. And though our Sauiour makes it the trik of anbIoh. 10.12. hyreling to leaue the ſheepe & flee, when he ſeeth the Wolfe comming: yet that is when the Wolfe comes to worry and deuoure the flock principally; not when many Woules come directly againſt the ſhephard himſelfe, after the beſt ſheepe bee ſlaine or fledd, and the reſt ready to ioyne with the Wolues againſt him.
Then, a Miniſter may, yea muſt flie if he can, when his flock, notwithſtanding his beſt care and diligence, bee either ſo ſcattered that hee cannot draw them together, or ſo ouergrowne with the ſcab of hereſie, that it is impoſſible to cure them, and eueryevery man ready to ſeeke his life to take it away; making the quarrell perſonall againſt the Shephard, rather then generall againſt the ſheepe. In this caſe Eliah fled fromc1 King. 17.3. Ahab, and that by Gods own direction: And after, from Iezabl; when he thought thatd1 King 19.10. hee onelyonly was left alone; though at that time there were ſeauen thouſand that neuer bowed knee vntounto Baal; yet ſo ſcattered, that he knew not where to finde them. So alſo Paul fled from Teſſalonica toeAct 17.13.15. Athens: and from the Gouernor of Damaſcus, deſirous to apprehend him,f2 Cor. 11.32.33. being let downe through a window in a basket by the wall and ſo eſcaped his hands. So did Athanaſius often flie from the Arrians.
Nor is any man debarred this benefit, if the caſe bee alike. Herein, if in any thing, the Prouerbe is true; One paire of heeles is worth too paire of hands: which any man may vſe without diſparagement to his Zeale, or danger to be branded with the opprobrious Marke of an Hireling.
But in matter of Circumſtance or Ceremonies, which are not parts, but onelyonly appurtenances of Worſhip;gNon partes cultus, ſed ad cultum ceremoniae. no neede, no warrant to be ſo hot, as for defence thereof to incurre ſuch perills. In Subſtantiall duties of Worſhip, hee that is not with God in a zealous defence, is againſt him. hLuk. 11.23.And yet in things of leſſe moment, he that is not againſt him, by an open croſſing, is with him, iMark 9.40.by holding the maine.
Zeale therefore muſt not ſpit fire at ſuch as are not foes but friends: nor be at defiance with thoſe who holding the head, doe not putrifie the members.
I thinke no wiſe man doubts that euen in the purer times of the Old Church in Iſrael, corruptions grew in Ceremonies as well as in the ſubſtance of Gods worſhip. And yet, pry into the Scriptures neuer ſo carefully, wee ſhall not finde any of the moſt zealous Saints fall on fire for Ceremonies. Which is worth obſeruation, and the rather becauſe Saint Paule ſaith that, euen in the Churches of the Goſpell there was, then,k1 Cor. 11.16. no ſuch cuſtome.
Now what comfort can any man reape of that Zeale which makes him ſeperate, for not hauing his will followed in Ceremonies; when ſuch Zeale was neuer practiſed or commanded in Scripture?
Liberty is giuen to eueryevery Church to vſe what Ceremonies they will, that agree to the generall rule, and tend to edification and decency. Yet liberty is not leſt to eueryevery one in the Church that hee may ſet vp or pull downe what hee will. This is in the power of the Gouernors onelyonly, who being diſpenſers of the Myſteries of God l1 Cor. 4 1.are beſt able to iudge of conueniencie and decencie.
If eueryevery one in the Church of Creete might ſet vp what they would, Paul might hauehave ſet Titus about ſome other buſineſſe, and not for this verie cauſe hauehave left him there, to ſetmTit. 1 5. in order the things that were wanting.
3. The laſt particular which zeale muſt maintaine, be the Seruants of God. 3. T…e ſeruants of God.He that held himſelfe deſpiſed, when hisnMat. 10.40. Seruants were; intended thereby the defence of them as well as of himſelfe. And it is one part of Eliahs quarrell againſt the Prophets of Baal and their followers, that they had ſlain Gods o1 King. 19.10.Prophets with the Sword.
When wee ſee the Seruants of God reproached, ſcandalized, and oppreſſed, then is a time for zeale to appeare in their defence: and ſuch as by their place and Greatnes are able to giuegive countenance to good men in good cauſes, ſhould then hold it an honorable dutie to ſhew themſelues. Thus did Ionathan for Dauid p1 Sam. 20.32., euen when Saul himſelfe was enraged:qHeſt. 7.3. Heſter for the Iewes, when Haman plotted their Deſtruction: And Nicodemus for Chriſt;rIoh. 7.51. though the Phariſes boyled in malice againſt him.
What Zeale is in that Perſon that can bee content to ſee a good man periſh before his eyes, and vnderunder his noſe, neuer opening his mouth in his defence, for feare of offending ſuch as care not for offending of any; but practiſe the ruines of all that croſſe their humors?
The Lord, to teach men their duty herein, doth ſometimes vouchſafe himſelfe to pleade the cauſe of his ſeruants, as he did in the particular of Moſes, againſt Aaron and Miriam ſNum. 12.4.. A remarkable example, to ſhew how the Lord takes to heart the indignities that are put vponupon his Seruants, eſpecially when they are buſyed in his owne Seruice. He will not allow it euen vntounto Kings to doe them any harme:tPſal. 105.14. but hath reproued, and will reproue kings for their ſakes.
Yea further ſuch as be able to doe no good by ſpeaking for them, muſt yet mourne for their diſtreſſe. It is recorded to the ſhame of Iſrael, that ſuch as were at eaſe, themſelues tooke their fill of voluptuouſneſſe, but did not remember with compaſſionate griefeuAmos. 6.6. the affl…ctions of Ioſeph.
When Ieruſalem was laid waſt, how did zealous*Lamen. Ieremy take on! When Herod had caſt Peter into Priſon, how inceſſant were the faithfull in their prayers,xAct. 12. till he was deliuered!
Obſerue the plagues that come on ſuch men as are neuer touched with the miſeries of Others. They commonly fall vnderunder the ſame iudgement, which others vnpittied, hauehave taſted before. They that would bee at their banquets, not remembring the afflictions of Ioſeph in captiuity, therefore ſhall goe captiue with the firſt that goe captiue, yAmos 6.7.and the banquet of them that ſtretched themſelues, ſhall bee taken away.
On the other ſide, ſuch as in Zeale for Gods Seruants doe but mourne for their afflictions ſhall be ſure to ſhare with them in the comforts of their deliuerance, and to bee kindly inuited by the Lord himſelfe, to their mirth. Reioyce yee with Ieruſalem all yee that louelove her: reioyce for ioy with her, all yee that mourne for her, zIſay. 66.10, 11.that yee may ſuck and be ſatisfied with the breſts of her conſolations.
But yet becauſe the pureſt mettals hauehave ſome droſſe, & the beſt men, ſome imperfections that cannot bee defended; Zeale may not vndertake their defence in all they doe, or hold. Moſes, a man zealous and louing enough, would not maintaine, could not but check his owne brother for making the people naked, by Idols,aExod. 32.25. before their enemies. A thing which if either Zeale, might hauehave paſt ouer, or louelove couered, his meeknes had neuer ſo ſharpely reproued.
The Actions of the cheefeſt Apoſtles are not alwaies warrantable, becauſe done by Apoſtles: for euen they alſo, when they follow not Chriſt, muſt be forſakē. If they do any thing contrary to the rule of the Goſpell,bGal. 2.11. they are to bee blamed; but if they teach men ſo, cGal. 1.8, 9.they muſt be accurſed.
Paul was not to learne his duty of defending good men; nor ignorant of his rule to guide him therein: yet when Peter was at Antioch and had offended, Saint Paul withſtood him, euen to his face. Now, what confuſion?Ibid. Gal. 1.11. what a maze of error had Peters Schollers been caſt into, if they ſhould with heate hauehave vowed the maintaining their Maſters Action, which no doubt they diſclaimeddChriſoſt. in hunc loc. foreign. on Pauls reproofe? neither louelove, nor reuerence, but Iudgement muſt leade our troopes to the aide of Good men.
If ſuch, or ſuch a good man, held for a Scholler, diſlike a Ceremonie, this is to many, ground enough to cōdemn it to the pit of hel, becauſe they are ſtrong in opinion, that ſo worthy a man would neuer find fault without cauſe.
But was not this the Mother of all that miſchiefe now befallen, that once famouseRom. 1.8. Church of Rome; where, the high reſpect and immodeſt admiration which ſome Venerable Paſtors were raiſed vntounto, (either by the dotage or flattery of their people, receiuing all for Goſpel, which proceeded out of their mouthes;) at firſt conceiued, and at length brought forth that prodigious blaſphemy of*Not that I grant this Tenent to bee in being of ancient times: but only that the high reſpect of the B…. of Rome ſo long as they had virtue, drew ſo much reuerence to that Sea, as af…er, the brood of Ieſuites made vſe of it, by wreſti…g ſome ſpeeches of the Fathers, to …et …b…h this poyſon. Albert Pighius Hierar. Eccle. lib. 4. cap. 6, 7 was the firſt Diuine that euer vndertook expreſly and profeſſedly to maintaine the infallibilitie of the Popes iudgement, which he profeſſeth to vndertake, againſt the conſent of all the Diuines and Canoniſts. A thing wherof Paul 4. was aſhamed, and condemned Pighius for it. In Epist. ad Groper Cardinall. Impoſsibility to erre.
A Doctrine abhorred by vsus. And yet, alas! How often is it vnawares maintained by ſuch as would bee thought our greateſt zealots? Many of them being in Argument) brought to a Non-plus; for their laſt reply and ſtrongeſt refuge, they flie to this; and I know this to be the iudgement of able, ſound, worthy, Reuerend Diuines; and therefore, all the world ſhall neuer driue me from it while I liue. Which is no better then the laſt Argument of Scaligers foole, who thinkes, by a wager to maintaine that, which by reaſon he cannot.
Is not this to ſet men vp in the Infallible Chaire; and to create Popes at home, while we defie them abroade; yea, to hold the faith of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, as we affect and reſpect the Perſons wee chooſe to follow therein?
The Apoſtles rule is, to follow men as they follow Chriſt. When they ſtep out of his paths, let vsus (if we can) reduce them, if wee cannot doe this, let them wander without vsus. It is more gainefull and ſafe to trauell alone, in the high way of Chriſt; then by following the beſt company out of the common Rode, to be ſet faſt in a ſlough.
Sect. 2.Sect. 2. Shewing what Zeale muſt oppoſe. One Taske of Zeale hath been ſhewed, wherein it muſt be a Defendant: the other followeth, wherein it muſt be an Opponent.
Zeale muſt neuer fly on the throate of any thing but what is certainly euill. Whiles it is but ſuſpected, Zeale muſt be countermanded from diſcharging againſt it, leaſt ſhame ſound a retraite to our furious marching, and diſgrace retort that bullet which was too haſtily ſhot into the Aduerſe Campe.
The Iſraelites beyond Iordan thought there had beene great cauſe of a zealous quarrell at the Alter fIoſh 22.11, 12.erected by the Tribes of Reuben, Gad, and part of Manaſſeh, on this ſide the Riuer. But when better information declared it to be built onelyonly for a Memorial vntounto Poſterity, of their ſameneſſe of bloud and Religion with thoſe within Canaan; they ſaw cauſe to iuſtifie what before they condemned,gIbid. ver. 31, 32. and to blame themſelues for blaming their Brethren.
Saul was a zealous perſecutor of Dauid as of a dangerous Traytor to his Crowne:h1 Sam. 20.31. But which of the two was more righteous,iChap. 24.17 Sauls after-confeſſion declared.
The Iewes wanted no heate againſt the Doctrine of our Sauiour, and the reſt of the Apoſtles. But whoſoeuer ſhall reade thoſe ſtories, may from them for euer take warning not to ſet againſt that which onelyonly their owne frowardneſſe, fancies, or humors hauehave made odious to them; no ſound euidence being found among the ſacred Records to condemne it.
The beleeuing Iewes of the Circ…mciſion, thought Peter kAct. 11.2, 3a prophane offender for going to the Gentiles, and ſharpely rebuked him for it. Yet was not as they imagined: for after his defence,lVer. 18. they glorified God, for that which before with great heat they condemned.
The like violence hauehave I knowne in Some, againſt ſome things in our Church, which, better vnderſtood, they admired. Yea I am perſwaded that ignorance of the originall cauſes and true vſe of diuers things amongſt vsus, doth breed a lo…thing of that which deſerues good acceptance. Some ſtomakes loath vnknowne meats, which if they tooke downe, would do them no hurt: yet out of a peeuiſh humor, chuſe rather to caſt away their meate, then their ignorance of it.
Many inueigh againſt Partiality, that are themſelues the greateſt Partialiſts to their owne Gamaliels. It becomes eueryevery ſober Chriſtian to doubt rather of the iudgement of few, eſpecially of his own, then of a Whole Church. It is more eaſy to quarrell, then to finde cauſe: to contradict, then to diſproue.
Where ſilly ignorance, wilfull preiudice, and affected partiality ſit as Triumuirate Officers to iudge of the ſoundneſſe, lawfulneſſe, and conueniency of what they do not, or will not, or cannot vnderſtand; it will be eaſy for them to affirme that any thing maintained by others (though ſound, lawfull, and fit,) doth hit againe Scripture.
It is then our ſafeſt courſe to Submit to eueryevery ordinance of man for the Lords ſake m1. Pet. 2, ſo farre as they diſanull not the Ordinances of God. Nor may we take vp an opinion vponupon truſt from any man liuing againſt euen humane Ordinances, nor go about to oppoſe them, till our owne vnderſtandings diſcrie in them ſome contrariety to the written word.
Our libertie muſt not bee confined to the cloſe priſon of another mansn1. Cor. 10.29. conſcience: nor his to ours. Let vsus not therefore iudge one another any more, but iudge this rather, that no man put a ſtumbling blocke, or an occaſion to fall, into his brothers oRom. 14.13.way. Caſt not ſcruples into mens minds touching the vnlawfulneſſe of that, which for the moſt part, ſuch as be moſt violent and bitter againſt, are leaſt able to infringe.
On the other ſide, ſuch, as, to feed other mens humours, wil turne Ithacius, (Who mightily bending himſelfe by all meanes againſt the Hereſie of Priſcilian, the hatred of which one euill, was all the vertue he had, became ſo wiſe in the end, that eueryevery man carefull of vertuous conuerſation, ſtudious of Scripture, and giuen to any abſtinence in diet, was ſet downe in his Calender of ſuſpected Priſcillianiſts; for whom it ſhould be expedient to approue their ſoundneſſe of faith, by a more licentious and looſe behauiour pM.R. Hooker, ex Sulpit. ſe….:) ſuch, I ſay, are but baſe clawbacks, that ſo their owne turnes be ſerued, care not whom they wrong by falſe accuſations, nor how much they abuſe them whom they flatter by miſinformations.
And here an Item to ſuch as it concerneth to puniſh the ſinnes of the people, (I ſpeake not now of the lawes & conſtitutions themſelues; but onelyonly to preuent corruption in ſuch to whom the execution of them is committed by ſuperior Gouernors:) if they ſhal for gaine or other reſpect make the vnwitting or vnwilling omiſſiō of an inferior duty, to be as bad as a breach of any ſubſtantiall part of Gods worſhip; ſome ſmall indiſcretion and weakeneſſe, either of iudgement or conſcience, with odious whoredome, reeling gogle-eyed drunkennes, and blaſphemous ſwearing, &c. winking at theſe, & proſecuting the other with extreameſt rigour: this is vp & downe to act a Phariſies part. Wo to ſuchqMat 23.23 tything of Mint, Anniſe, and Cumen, when the weightieſt matters of the Law, merciemercy, iudgement, and faith are omittedqMat 23.23. They are butrVer. 24. Blind guides, who ſtraine at gnats, and ſwallow Camels.
Nor is it onelyonly Pettielarcenie, but euen a capitall crime againſt zeale it ſelfe, to driue it at the head of things not ſimply euill, or to make vſe of the ſharpeſt edge of ſeuere iuſtice to hew downe leſſer faults, whileſt greater ſinnes be rather ſtroaked, then ſo much as ſtricken with her ſcabberd. This brings vp an euil report vpō the beſt zeale, and among ſuch as are not able or willing to diſcerne of things that differ, takes away all difference betweene a zealous Chriſtian, and a headſtrong headlong Aiax. Some certainly in all places will be found that will be glad to take occaſion to lay on Rutilius for Aemilius his fault.
Let Authoritie conſider how great wrong it were to a common-wealth, to puniſh Felons, and to paſſe by Traitors. The ſcandall is no leſſe to the Gouernment of the Church, to vſe ſeueritie againſt peccadilloes, and make a gaine of more ſcandalous courſes.
Samuel neuer acknowledged Sauls diligence in killing the meaner Amalakites, to ſmell of any coale from the Alter, ſo long as Agag and the beſt of the Prey were ſpared aliue.
It were a foule blot to Iſrael, that Tamar hauing plaid the inceſtuous whore ſhould eſcape the fire; yet moſt vnreaſonable that guiltie Iudah ſhould pronounce that ſentence: for though ſhe deſerued death by the Law of God, yet was ſhe in the conſcience of her Iudge more righteous ſGen. 38.26.then himſelfe; ſo that he muſt needs condemne himſelfe firſt, in condemning of her.
Againe, let ſuch as be zealous ſticklers for Democraticall or Ariſtocraticall diſcipline, conſider how ill the Church can be gouerned by one politie, & the Commonwealth by another. Let them take notice of that woe which ſticketh as cloſe to the ribs of ſuch as call good, euill; and ſweete, ſowre: as of ſuch who call euill, good, and ſowre, ſweete tIſai. 5.20..
The terror whereof ſhould aſſwage the heate they are in, againſt things not yet decided to their liking: and keepe them from that violent pelting at Ceremonies, and crying away with that which themſelues are not able from good grounds to condemne.
It were ridiculous to the world, ſcandalous to the Church, dangerous to a mans owne ſelfe to be obſerued more afraid of a Ceremonie in a Church, then of worldlineſſe, pride, malice, and ſelfe-louelove in his owne bowels.
Poore Vzzah was ſmitten dead but for touching the Arke, when it was not lawfull for any to touch the body of the Arke: and when, if in that caſe of neceſſitie it might be thought a tollerable offence, yet it pertained to others more neare about it to performe that office. And yet men now count it an high peece of zeale to direct their Directors, and like Clockemakers to take the Church all in peeces at their pleaſure.
But what ſhould the ſheepe do with the ſhepheards crooke? what, the foote, in turning the body topſy-turuey, to become the head? and what the common ſouldier, in leading theuGreg Naz. in Orat. de moderatione ſeruand. in diſput. foreign. armie?
It was long ſince the zealous complaint of an holy man, that men could no ſooner get vp their names in the world, and be able readily & confidently to muſter vp a few places of Scripture nothing to the purpoſe, but they thought themſelues ſufficient to encounter Moſes himſelfe, ſetting vponupon him as furiouſly as*Idem ibid. Dathan and Abiram euer did.
Happie were this age, had it none of that temper. To ſuch as theſe, it is in vaine to ſay any thing, therefore directing my ſpeech to them whom moderation hath yet a better hand ouer, I will ſay but this of that ſame ancient Father; their cōtumacie, I beſeech you, let vsus flie from, their madneſſe let vsus abhorre, leſt we periſh with them in the ſame vengeance.
If there be any thing amiſſe, let our zeale ſet vsus to praying, not to rayling, which becomes neither men nor Angels toward the Diuell himſelfe. If the Church be foule, the ſtruglings of priuate perſons will but raiſe the duſt. If any thing be faultie, our Sauiours rule in another caſe will fit inferiors paſſing well; Let him that is without ſinne caſt the firſt ſtone at it. If wee cannot do this, the next way we can poſſibly take to the beſt reformation is by prayers xPſal. 83.and teares yPſal. 119.136..