The Worlds Resurrection, Section 4 – Section 5
How he maketh request vntounto God speaking against Israell.
And in the 1. of Kings 19.10. he saith that he hath beene iealous for the Lord of Hosts (all tending to one purpose) from which place I obserue and gather. That the Pastors & Preachers of Gods word especially must be enfired and inflamed with an holy zeale of Gods glory, & with a holy indignation against sin and idolatry, then principally when with Elias & others, they see most grieuous transgressions of the people, when they see Baals Priests, viz. Iesuites and Seminaries, Popish Emisaries to be had in request and high reputation; and themselues and the true Prophets and ministers of the Lord reuiled and reiected, yea wringed and wronged, yea killed and slaughtered, when they see Christ to bee vilified and Antichrist to be deified, and when they see the Gospell troden vnderfoot & impiety & superstition aduanced. Examples hereof wee hauehave in Moses who seeing the Golden Calfe that the Israelites had made,Exo. 32. v. 19. and the dauncing about it, waxed wroth, cast the tables out of his hands, brake them in peeces before the Mountaine, burned the calfe in fire, ground it to powlder, strawed it vponupon the water, and made the Children of Israell drinke of it.
Num. 25. v. 7.In Phaenehas the sonne of Eleazar, who arose vp from the midst of the Congregation, tooke a speare in his hand and with it thrust thorow Zimri the sonne of Sal… and Cozbi, the daughter of Zur the Midianitish woman, and so the plague ceased from the children of Israell.
In Zacharias the sonne of Ichoiada, the Priest, who obseruing the people after Ichoiodah his death, to fall away to idolatrie, in zeale reproued them, for transgressing Gods commandements: hee told them, that they should not prosper, but that as they had forsaken the Lord, so he had forsaken them: and herevpon they at King▪ Ioash his tyrrannicall command stoned him to death. In Iohn the Baptists, for his bold reprehension of the Pharasies and Saduces, and for reprouing of Herod for his incest, and many other sinnes. In Peter against Ananias and Saphira his wife Act. 5.3. In Steuen in telling the Iewes they were stif-necked and that they like their fathers alwaies resisted the holy Ghost, Act 7. vc. 16that they had not kept the law, but that they were the betraiers and murderers of the iust. In Paul, whose spirit was stirred vp in him, Act. 17. v. 16whē he saw the citty of Athens subiect to idolatrie. And in himselfe and Barnabas, who when the people with their Priest would hauehave done sacrifice to them, in zeale rent their owne clothes and rebuked the people. In Dauid as the tipe, and most eminently in Christ the truth and perfection, all of whom were consumed with the zeale of Gods house. Psal. 69.19. Math. 21.12. Ioh. 2, 15.
Reason. The reason hereof is, because they are Gods watchmen and forewarne the people, they are Gods trumpetters to tell the people of their sinnes, and the spirituall leaders, guides and directers of the multitude.
1 Vse. This doctrine serueth for reproofe of some Ministers of our time who either are remisse and negligent, and seeking their owne ease, neuer oppose themselues by doctrine and example, against the errors and sinnes of their flockes, but rather applaude them or (at least) in conniuence take notice of nothing; and if the shew any zeale it is rather for their own Diana and advantage, then for Gods true religion and glory.
2 Vse. It is a great comfort for all true and sound hearted Ministers, who in an aduized and discreete zeale within the compasse of their callings, both by preaching, example and authority shew their dislike, and opposition against superstitions and enormous sinnes and abuses, beeing assured that what contumelies and indignities they vndergoe for Gods honour,1 Sam. 2.30 God will accordingly consider of them and censure their aduersaries, he will honour them that honor him and despise them that despise him.
They hauehave killed thy Prophets and digged downe thine Alters.
From these two members ioyntly considered,Doctr. ariseth this instruction. That it is the plot and practise of Apostataes and Idolaters in their hatred & rage against God, to labour, to blot all remembrance of God, and not to suffer the Ambassadors and Messengers of God to remaine aliue. Psal. 79.1 & 2. Psal. 8.13. Apoc. 12.2. & 13.16. & 17. Apoc. 18.24.
Reas. The reason in regard of the holy monuments of Gods seruice is, because they are profaine and wicked and regard them not; and as for the good ministers of God, they like the King of Aram against Ahab (though indeed a most wicked King▪) fight against none (in comparison) but against them, for they seeme stumbling blockes and hubbes in their way who by their ministerie and zealous example vexe them. Apoc. 11. ver. 10.
1. Vse. Let vsus be thankefull vntounto God for the long continued vse and ministery of his blessed Gospell, and that neither Prelates nor Pastors nor Preachers are not giuen into the hands of our blood-thristy & woluish aduersaries
2. Vse. Secondly let the ministers prepare and resolue them-selues not onelyonly to suffer rebuke and losse for Gods cause, but also to die for it, (if they be therevnto called) for God will highly reward them, and they shall not bee loosers but gainers by it, and not damnified, but euerlastingly glorified.
3. Vse. Seeing the good pastors and ministers of Gods word are so much maligned & assaulted by Satan and his instruments, let all the people of God pray for their constancy, patience, successe of their ministery, for their deliuery and preseruation; and then (no doubt) the ministers shall speede and prosper the better, and the comfort of their perseruation shall redound to the people.