The Zealous Christian Taking Heaven by Holy Violence, Sermon 4
MATTHEW 11. 12.
And from the dayes of John the Baptiſt untill now, the Kingdom of heaven ſuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Sermons Preacht at Lawrence Jury, April 29, 16 19 SER…N IIII.4 AN heady violence is more eager at firſt then at the latter end. This difference the Philoſopher puts between naturall and violent motions, that naturall motions are ſlow at the beginning, but ſwifter when they come neereſt their journeys end; as a falling ſtone moves very ſlow when it firſt begins to fall, but faſter when it comes neerer its center. On the contrary, violent motions are ſwifter in the beginning, ſlower in the concluſion. As an arrow ſhot out of a bow moves exceeding ſwiftly at the firſt, but afterwards flags and growes remiſſe, … at laſt the motion of it ceaſe. An heady violence is like the violent motion, ſwift at firſt, ſlow afterward: But contrarily an holy violence is like a naturall motion, that acts vvith more vigour in the end then in the beginning. This vvas the commendation of the Church of Thyatir… That her laſt workes were more then her firſt Revel. 2. 19.
5 Heady violence vvill be diſcouraged in religion by ſmall difficulties. Such vvas the violence of that man forementioned, that was earneſt to come to Chriſt, but when Chriſt told him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have neſts, but the ſon of man hath not where to lay his head, Matth. 8. 20 his zeal was abated. But an holy violence Math. 20is quickened, not abated by oppoſition. Joh 32. 19. Behold, my belly is as wine which Joh 32. 9.hath no vent, it is ready to burſt like new bottles.
6 An heady violence is led more by example then rule; like that violence of the people of Epheſus for Diana, Act. …9. Acts …Some cried one thing, and ſome another, and the moſt part knew not wherefore they were come together. Such was the violence of the Scribes and I ha… ſees, John … 48, 49 Then anſwered him the … you alſo deceived? Have any of … the Phariſees believed on him? But this people who know not the law, are curſed. But an holy violence is led by Scripture-rule, not by popular example. The word was the rule that guided Joſhua to that reſolution, That he and his houſe would ſerve the Lord.
7 One that hath this heady violence is moſt buſied with controverſials and circumſtantials in religion. Thus Saul was violent againſt the eating of the blood of the ſacrifices, yet made no conſcience of ſhedding the blood of fourſcore and five of the Prieſts of the Lord: But an holy violence makes a man converſant in the practicals of Chriſtianity, Tit. 2. 14. The people Titus 2. 14.of God are a people zealous of good workes. There was leſſe of the power of religion in thoſe times wherein the Schoolmen moſt flouriſhed, and the heat of mens ſpirits was ſpent in curious and frivolous ſpeculations; while they that ſhould have inſtructed the people turn'd diſputants, the poor multitude became Atheiſts. It was an heady violence betwixt the Eaſtern and Weſtern Churches touching the time of the obſervation of Eaſter, when many other truths of God that lay a bleeding were neglected, and they did not contend earneſtly for many of the doctrines of faith that was once delivered to the Saints. So many men among us ſpend all their time about notions and diſputes, and this hath proved a very canker to eat out the power of godlineſſe. In the City of Megara there was a great contention between two men which of them ſhould ſtand in the ſhadow of an aſſe upon a Sun-ſhine day. Such was the violence of Paul before his converſion, Gal. 1. 14. He was exceedingly zealous for the traditions Gal. 1. 14of his fathers.
8 An heady violence is an uneven violence, there is no uniformity in it; it is a violence againſt ſome ſins, not all; it is for ſome duties, not others; to act ſome graces, but not all. Such was the violence of Jehu. He was very hot and violent againſt the Prieſts and worſhip of Baal, 2 Kings 10. 28. Jehu deſtroyed Baal out of Iſrael: But 2 Kings 10. 28. Verſe 31,Jehu departed not from the ſins of Jeroboam, which made Iſrael to ſin, verſe 31. Such was the violence of Saul for ſacrifice, but not for obedience. But now an holy violence is uniform, it carries a man out againſt every ſin, for every duty, it makes a man to walk in all the commandements of God.
9 This heady violence will make a man diſturbe humane ſocieties and civil government, anticipate authority: But an holy violence, though violent towards God yet is quiet and peaceable towards men; though he purſue heaven with violence, yet he lives in the earth with meekneſſe and quietneſſe. 2 Pet. 2. 10. Thoſe ancient hereticks were 2 Pet. 2. 10.ſuch as did deſpiſe government, preſumptuous, ſelf-willed, and were not afraid to ſpeak evill of dignities. But the wiſdome that is from above, is firſt pure, then peaceable, gentle, eaſie to be intreated, &c. I am. 3. 17.James 3. 17.
10 Heady violence is accompanied with ſtoutneſſe of heart both towards God and men, it proceeds from a naturall raſhneſſe: But holy violence is accompanied with humiliation, Revel. 3. 19. The Church of Laodicea Revel. 3. 19.is commanded to be zealous and repent. Their zeal for God muſt be joyned with the breaking of their own hearts. So the zeal of the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 7. 11. was accompanied with a godly ſorrow, 2 Cor. 7. 11.with fear, with indignation againſt themſelves, with revenge. And thus much ſhall ſuffice for the fourth particular, and laſt branch of the uſe of inſtruction; namely, the difference between heady and holy violence. And ſo much for the third uſe.
The fourth uſe is for caution, and that in four particulars. 1 Take heed of pleading Uſe 4. For caution in 4 th…n….for, or being contented with a moderation in matters of religion. Moderation in religion is accounted a vertue in theſe times, whereas Jeſus Chriſt would have ſpued us out of his mouth. If Jeſus Chriſt commend an holy violence in the matters of religion, what becomes of this moderation? Indeed for men to be moderate in things that are lawfull is good. It is the advice of the Apoſtle, Phil. 4. 5. Let your moderation be known Phil. 4. 5.unto all men; the Lord is at hand: that is, let your moderation be in the love and deſire of things lawfull and indifferent, of things in this world; be moderate in thoſe things, that they may not hinder you in your courſe towards heaven, but not in any caſe to be moderate in religion; and that I ſhall make appear in theſe four particulars.
1 Moderate eſtates do not content you in the world. Men riſe up early, and go to bed late, and eat the bread of carefulneſſe, and are eager and indefatigable in their purſuits of the world? If you get not ſo much this year, you will indeavour to get more the next year; no man hath moderation after the things of this world, no man is contented with that eſtate they are in, but labours to improve it. Like the Chaldeans, of whom it is ſpoken, Habak. 2. 5. He inlargeth Habak. 2 5.his deſire as heſt, and is as death, and cannot be ſatisfied But gathereth unto him, all nations, and heapeth unto him all people. And is it reaſon that you that are ſo immoderate in the purſuit and deſire of the things of this world, ſhould be moderate in the things of heaven?
2 You have been very immoderate in your deſires after your luſts before your converſion, and therefore in all reaſon you ſhould not now be moderate in your deſires after God and the things of God. How many times have you bin as it were ſick till you have you accompliſht your ends in a ſinful courſe, and will you not now be ſick of love after Chriſt, and after heavenly things? Haſt thou not burnt in luſt, and will you now be key-cold in religion?
3 God doth expreſſe as great, yea more diſlike of lukewarmneſſe in religion, as if a man were of no religion. Famous is that inſtance of Laodicea, Revel. 3. 15, 16. I would thou were either cold or hot. So then becauſe thou art lukewarm, & neither cold nor hot, I will ſp…e thee out of my mouth. Not that God would have men to continue in, or return to Paganiſme or Judaiſme, both of which his ſoul abhors; but onelyonly becauſe he doth exceedingly diſtaſte lukewarmneſſe in the prefeſſion of Chriſtianity.
4 In a falſe religion men have ſhewed much zeal and forwardneſſe, Iſa. 46. 6. I hey Iſa. 46. 6. 1 Kings 18. 28.laviſh gold out of the bag, and weigh ſilver in the balance, & hire a Goldſmith, and he maketh it a god, they fall down, yea they worſhip, &c. The people were ſo violent in an Idolatrous religion, that they did ſpare no coſt nor pains to accompliſh it. So thoſe falſe Prophets, thoſe prophets and worſhippers of foreign notes to guſh out … and plentrull.Baal, 1 King. 18. 28. They cried aloud, and cut themſelves after their manner with knives and lancers till the blood guſhed out upon them. So Paul when he was a Jew and adverſary to Chriſtianity; beyond meaſure he perſecuted the Church of God, and waſted it, Gal. 1. 13. Gal. 1. 13Jerem. 32. 35. Thoſe ſuperſtitious Jews built Jer. 32. 35.the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the ſon of Hinnom, to cauſe their ſons and their daughters to paſſe through the fire unto Moloch, which I commanded them not. So zealous and ſervent were they in their Idolatrous worſhip and ſervice, that they would cauſe their children to be burnt as a ſacrifice to their falſe god. So likewiſe among us the Papiſts are zealous and eager for their worſhip, witneſſe their whippings and ſcourgings and faſtings and other penances. If men be thus zealous in falſe wayes, how ſervent ſhould we be in a true? But ſo much for the firſt branch of the Caution.
Caution 2 2 Take heed you do not think you ſhall ever go to heaven without this holy zeal and violence. It was onelyonly the violent in John Baptiſts dayes that took heaven. You can never go to heaven except you ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait gate. You muſt ſtrive till you ſweat, you muſt ſtrive with all your might, and all will be little enough. Take heed therefore you do not think it an eaſie thing to go to heaven. But withall take this, though you cannot go to heaven without this holy violence, you ſhall never go to heaven for it. James 1. 25. Whoſoever Jam. 1. 25.looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetfull hearer of the Word, but a doer alſo, this man ſhall be bleſſed in his deed. So that you ſee a man ſhall not go to heaven for his doing, though he cannot go to heaven without it.
Caut. 3 3 When you ſee the ſervants of God zealous and violent in the wayes of God, take heed you do not judge of this as the world doth, that you do not judge it a vain and needleſſe thing, or that you do not judge it folly and madneſſe. When Paul was thus violent for the propagation of the Goſpel, when he came before Feſtus, Feſtus told him, that much learning had made him mad: But Paul ſaid, I am not mad, but ſpeak forth the words of truth and ſobernes.
Caut. 4 4 Take heed thou doeſt not abate thy …al in the matters of religion, becauſe it may be thou meeteſt with much reproach and many ſcandals from the men of the world for the ſake of religion. David was more eager in his dancing before the Ark, notwithſtanding the ſcoffings of his wife. … ſcandals and reproaches and troubles will make thee abate thy zeal for God, hou wilt never be able to hold out to the end. I will never believe that man will indure a rack for his religion, that cannot bear a reproach. He that cannot indure a frown for it will never indure fire and faggot; if thou canſt not indure a taunt or jeer for thy profeſſion of religion, much leſſe wilt thou endure a Gibbet. And ſo much for the uſe of Caution.
Uſe. 5 The next uſe is this: This Doctrine may ſtirre up in us an holy lamentation: If it For lamentation for the apoſtaſie of our times. We fall ſhort of primitive Chriſtians in three regards.vvere ſo, that in the dayes of John the Baptiſt men were ſo holily violent after Jeſus Chriſt and his Ordinances; then how ſhould we lament and bewail our times, when we conſider hovv defective men are novv adayes, and hovv much vve fall ſhort of thoſe converts at the firſt plantation of the Goſpel?
We fall ſhort of them. 1 In regard of 1 In love.their love and union. It was obſerved that the primitive Chriſtians were ſo full of love and affection to one another, that they could be acquainted together as well in half an hour as in half a year. In thoſe times they were ſo converſant in that duty of love, that St. Paul ſaith, They needed not that he ſhould write to them concerning love, 1 Theſſ. 4. 9. In thoſe dayes they were of one accord. The very Heathens took notice of 1 Theſ. 4. 9.it, and ſaid: Behold, how the Chriſtians love one another. But we are fallen into thoſe times wherein the love of men grows cold; we, upon whom the ends of the world are come, bite, and teare, and devour one another.
2 We come ſhort of them in the contempt 2 In contempt of the world.of the world. You know hovv much thoſe Chriſtians, Hebr. 11. lived above the vvorld: They confeſſed that they were but ſtrangers and pilgrims upon earth, verſe 13. They vvere not ſatisfied vvith the vvorld, but ſought after a better Countrey. They came and laid their wealth at the Apoſtles feet to do with it whatſoever he pleaſed. For cloathing they vvere contented with ſheeps skins and goats skins; and inſtead of our ſtately houſes they vvere ſatisfied vvith dens and caves of the earth.
3. We fall ſhort of the primitive Chriſtians herein alſo, that they vvere taken off from that form of religion vvherein they vvere born and bred up, and received a nevv form of religion. Whereas they might have objected, all our fathers vvere bred up in the law of Moſes, and ſhall vve take upon us a nevv vvay, a nevv religion? But they did not contend about it, they forſook the rudiments of Moſes, and imbraced this nevv vvay and doctrine, vvhichwhich as they thought vvas never taught before. But vve are more addicted to cuſtomes then Scriptures, vve chuſe rather to follovv vvhat hath been, then to conſider vvhat ſhould be. Many have much reaſoning and contention for the old forme of religion. Many are ſo ſetled in their old formes and wayes, wherein they were born and bred, that they will not indure or ſeek for a better form and way. Heylin in his Geography reports of the King of Morocco, that he told the Engliſh Embaſſadour in King Johns time, that he had lately read Pauls Epiſtles, which he liked ſo well, that were he to chuſe his religion, he would imbrace Chriſtianity; but every one ought to die in the faith wherein he was born: So it is with many among us, they are perſwaded they ought, and reſolved they will live and die in thoſe cuſtomes and wayes wherein they were born; they will not deny themſelves in theſe triviall things for the exaltation of Chriſt; and herein alſo we fall ſhort of the primitive Chriſtians. And thus much for the laſt uſe. And ſo I have diſpatched the firſt and main Doctrine, I hat in the times of the firſt promulgation of the Goſpel greater ſucceſſe did attend the Miniſtery, and multitudes did come in with more holy violence after the ordinances then ever did before.