The Saints Zeal Against Sinful Altars, To the reader – Table of contents
TO THE Reader.
Courteous Reader,
THou hast here a Sermon ſome monetths ſince preached at the command of ſome in authority in the Church, on a day of Humiliation for the ſpreading Errors, Hereſies and Sciſmes of our place and times. It was then by ſome ſincere worſhippers at Gods Altar, deſired to be made more publike; but was by the Author denied, and adjudged to remaine in ſilence; yet revived importunity hath reverſed that ſentence, and preſented it to thy view and cenſure; if thou haſt, as doth become the ſons of Zion beene obſervant of what hath paſt in our Engliſh Iſrael, thou canſt not but have ſeene Church againſt Church, Miniſtery againe Miniſtery, Baptiſme againſt Baptiſme, Faſt againſt Fast, and Thanſgiving againſt Thankſgiving; ſome worſhipping God one way, …thers in a way direct contrary. Certaine it is, both cannot be the way of the Lord, one muſt be humane invention, will-worſ…ip, an Altar againſt Gods Altar, and ſ… the object of zealous reſiſtance; receive then this ſmall Tract, as that which may by the grace of God be in ſome meaſure uſeful to diſcover the ſinful Altar, and direct thy duty towards it.
Two things I deſire to premiſe to thee at the entrie of the work: The firſt is an anſwer to an objection, of which in the preaching of the Sermon I had not time to take notice; neither have ſince, as I might have done, inſerted it; but think convenient to note to thee in this place, It is this:
If God will be worſhipped at one only Altar, how came it to paſſe that the Patriarchs and holy men of God did worſhip at various and diſtinct Altars?
To this I anſwer.
Firſt, theſe various and diſtinct Altars were uſed before God had pitched his Tabernacle and the viſible Arke of his preſence, and fixed his Name and people in a ſetled station: ſuch were the Altars of Abraham and the Patriarchs in their pilgrimage and travels: but when God had ſetled Iſrael, we read not of any ordinarily built or uſed. Hence when David was baniſhed from Jeruſalem, w… read of his panting thirſtie deſire of returne for the Sanctuary ſake, but not of his rearing any Altar elſewhere. It was his ſad affliction to want worſhip at Gods Altar; is would have beene his ſinne to ſet up an Altar in a ſtrange place.
Secondly, The Altars that at any time were erected, were able to plead extraordinary and immediate command from God on extraordinary and emergent occaſions: of this nature was Abrahams Altar in mount Moriah, and Gideons Altar called Jehovah Shalom, Judges 6.24. and Davids Altar in the threſhing-floore of Araunah the Jebuſite, 2 Sam. 24.25. Extraordinary precepts cannot be ordinary proofs.
Thirdly, Theſe were temporarie and tranſient, paſſed away as ſoone as they had ſerved the ſpecial occaſion for which they were erected; ſo that God had but one permanent abiding Altar at which he was conſtantly worſhipped.
Laſtly, Though theſe Altars were various and diſtinct in matter, yet they were one for object and forme of Divine ſervice; and if God diſpence with the matter by an immediate command, it will be no warrant ordinarily to ſet up different matter of divine worſhip.
The ſecond thing I would premiſe, is, by way of admonition; when thou reſiſteſt ſinful Altars, keepe ranke and order: ſtep not out of thy place and calling: invade not the Miniſters Chaire, with authority to reprove, and excommunicate: nor yet the Magiſtrates Throne, to draw the ſword of vengeance, and drive a preſent precipitate warre againſt brethren. In thy place obſerve the ſin, mourne under it, admoniſh brethren of it, wait with patience and in peace to ſee what the Princes and Prieſts of Iſrael will do againſt it: It is true in the text under conſideration, all Iſrael were up in armes with ſword in hand, and purpoſe in heart to reſiſt the ſinne; but obſerve Joſhuah and Phinehas, the Princes and Prieſts of the Lord ſummon to it, and lead them in it: Iſrael might never ſtirre to warre till ſummoned by the ſounding alarms of theNum 10. ſilver trumpets: they roſe not to warre againſt the Altars of Baal, when Solomon was addicted to a ſinful Toleration. If God give Magiſtrates up to a ſinful indulgence of falſe Altars, it is thy duty to ſit in peace, and by ſecret mournings to reſiſt the ſinne: thy irregular inſurrection will be the ſinne of thy ſoul, and ſhame of thy profeſſion. Courteous Reader, let me therefore charge thee to performe the practices of piety with a ſpirit of peace, and to keep thy owne compaſſe in expreſſion of thy zeale to Gods Altar. I will hold thee no longer, but to let thee know, that if any ſhall charge this Sermon with violence and bitterneſſe, it is nothing but what is expected; and therefore was endeavoured to be declined as farre as was conſiſtent with Miniſterial plainneſſe and zeale; and the charge being groundleſſe, will not be regarded by the Author, who hath taken it up for a lamentation, that our dayes denominate zeale violence, and lukewarmneſſe moderation, contending for connivence at, and indulgence of poſitive ſinne, and endeavouring to extend Toleration of all religions ſo farre, that Schiſmes, Errors, and Hereſies may not only be exempted from the Magiſtrates ſword and Churches Cenſures, but even Miniſterial reproof and private Chriſtians complaint. So commending thee to the conſideration of thy duty hereby declared; and both it and thee to the grace of a jealous God; I ſubſcribe my ſelf
Thine to ſerve thee at Gods ſincere and ſingle Altar, Z. C.
Errata.
PAge 6 line 1 woid read would, p 16 l 7 for defecton defection, p 47 l 25 for Congregration r Congregation, p 49 l 20 for conſent r conſent, p 50 l 4 r not ſe p 71 l 5 r as if, p 79 l 14 for Aretius r Aceſius, p 80 l 5 for ſot is r it, p 105 l 13 their of r of their p 111 l 21 concernig r concerning, p 120 l 10 word r wordie, p 112 l 4 immoderatly r immediately p 138 l 11 unifermity r uniformity p 150 l ult, ſet r let.
The INDEX. The Saints zeal againſt ſinful Altars, in which you have this Doctrine.
THe building Altars beſides the Altar of Gods is a ſinne to be ſeaſonably ſeen unto by ſincere worſhippers at Gods Altar. Page 9
This is illuſtrated by ſhewing,
1. The ſignification of the word Altar. p. 10, to p. 20
2. Several wayes of building Altars beſides Gods Altar; as
Materially. Page 20
Objectively. Page 23
Formally. Page 24
3. Severall duties of ſincere worſhippers.
1. Seeing the ſinne Page 31
2. Senſibly affecting themſelves with it. Page 32
3. Seaſonable caution and counſel. Page 33
4. Speedy removal of temptation. Page 34
5. Zealous reſistance. Page 36
The Doctrine is proved by ſhewing the ſinfulneſſe of the ſin in reſpect of the grounds of it.
1. Shameful novelty. Page 41
2. Swelling pride. Page 46
3. Self-advancement and advantage. Page 52
Sinful acts of it.
1. Receding from the Lord. Page 59
2. Renddring mans will the rule of divine worſhip. Page 63
3. Rebellion againſt God and the Church. Page 69
Sad effects of it.
1. Rending from the Church. Page 73
2. Running God upon ſtraits. Page 79
3. Rendering Gods worſhip vile. Page 86
4. Reviving the Lords fury. Page 88
Aggravating properties.
Singularity of the ſubjects. Page 91
Sin agninſt ſtanding counſel. Page 92
Shuts Gods eares. Page 93
The Doctrine is applied by way of examination, in which you have the Characters of ſinful Altars by the concomitants of it.
1. Doctrines diſſonant to truth. Page 100
2. Publike aſtrological predictions. Page 103
3. Separation from the Church. Page 117
4. Enmity to ſuch as miniſter at Gods Altar. Page 121
5. Diſpenſation of divine worſhip without due call. Page 126
6. Doleful conteſts for univerſal Toleration. Page 129
Enquiry whether as ſincere worſhippers, we have done our duty for Gods Altar. Page 132
Humiliation provoked by conſidering:
1. We ſin under ſtrokes of Gods fury. Page 136
2. Ʋnder a ſolemne Covenant. Page 138
3. It will ſubject us to ſevere judgements. Page 140
4. It is a ſymptome of Gods departure. Page 141
The ſecond Uſe of the Point is exhortation to ſuch as ſeeme to build Altars.
To admit enquiry, and to give to brethren a chearful account of their actions. Page 143
To ſuch as have forſaken Gods Altar, to returne to it againe. Page 147
To ſuch as yet worſhip at Gods Altar.
To ſtick to it, to stand up for it againſt all oppoſition. Page 150