Christ the Perfect Pattern of a Christians Practice, Sermon 11
Mary Wolnoth, July the 8th. 1649. foreign.
Mark 3. 5.
Joh. 2. 17. The zeale of thy houſe hath eaten me up.
foreign.
VVE have a prophecy of the Meſſiah by Malachi, the laſt of the Prophets, that the Meſſenger of the Covenant ſhould come to his Temple, and ſit as a refiner and purifier of Silver, to purifie the Sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord, an offering in righteouſneſſe, Mal. 3. 1, 2, 3. And in this Chapter we have the accompliſhment of this prophecy. Jeſus Chriſt, as was foretold, beginning his propheticall office, comes to purge his Temple of thoſe corruptions, which through the ignorance and profaneneſſe of the people, and the covetouſneſſe of the Prieſts and Scribes had been introduced and continued in that place.
In the Chapter we have two great miracles.
(1) The turning of water into wine at a marriage-feaſt in Cana of Galile, ver. 1. ad 12.
(2) The reforming and purging out of the abuſes of the Temple, ver. 12. ad finem. It is Jerome in Math. 21. 12.the opinion of Jerome, that this was (all circumſtances conſidered) one of the greateſt miracles which Chriſt wrought.
Multi arbitrantur maxima eſſe ſignorum quod Lazarus ſuſcitatus eſt, quòd caecus ex utero lumen accepit, quòd transfiguratus in monte gloriam oſtendit triumphantis: mihi autem inter omnia ſigna quae fecit Dominus, hoc videtur eſſe mirabilius, quòd unus homo, & illo tempore contemptibilis, & in tantum vilis ut poſtea crucifigeretur, Scribis & Phariſaeis contra ſe ſaevientibus & videntibus lucra ſua deſtrui, potuerit ad unius flagelli verbera tantam eijcere multitudinem, menſaſque avertere, & confringere cathedras, & talia facere quae infinitus non feciſſet exercitus.
There were at that time a very great multitude of people come from all parts to obſerve the Paſſeover. The Scribes, Prieſts, and Phariſees were ſufficiently enraged againſt Chriſt, and the Tower called Arx Antonia, wherein were the Souldiers of the Temple, was neere at hand; and yet that no man ſhould dare to oppoſe Chriſt in this act; that one man under tempt and ſcorne, not with ſword and armes, but with a whip made of ſmall cords, which they who brought Sheep and Oxen, had laid there for their uſe, ſhould drive ſo many out of the Temple, and not one of the Merchants or people, ſo much as ſpeake a word in oppoſition, this is miraculous, and more then prodigious
In this miracle we have theſe two things.
1. The miracle it ſelfe: in which,
(1) The time when. A little before the Jewiſh paſſeover, ver. 13.
(2) The place where: the Temple. Not that part of it, into which the Prieſts onelyonly entred, but the Atrium, or outward Court, in which the people prayed, were taught, and offered ſacrifices, ver. 14.
(3) The occaſon of this miracle, this is ver. 14. The original of this cuſtome, is from that which is written, Deut. 14. 24. The Jewes were at this time ſcattered throughout almoſt all Nations, now that they might not at their repairing to Jeruſalem for worſhip, be conſtrained to run up and downe to provide ſacrifices, it was agreed by the Prieſts and Scribes, &c. that thoſe things which were neceſſary for ſacrifice, ſhould be ſold about the Temple—.This was their pretence, but that which really cauſed this, was the covetuouſneſſe of the Prieſts, who made great gaine by theſe merchandizings.
(4) The manner of it, ver. 15.
(5) The reaſon rendred, ver. 16. make not my Fathers houſe, &c. The Temple was a ſhadow and type of thoſe things, the lively Image whereof is in Chriſt; therefore it was to be applyed onelyonly to ſpirituall uſes, for this reaſon our Saviour denyes it to be lawfull to convert it to ſuch a common uſe as a Market place.
(2) The effect or conſequence of this miracle.
1. The effect it wrought upon the Diſciples, ver. 17. Not that they preſently remembred this; but afterwards when they had been better inſtructed, then God brought this Scripture to their minds, as the reaſon of this act of Chriſt; with which they were ſatisfied.
2. The effect it wrought upon the Jewes: this is twofold.
(1) Some quarreld with him, ver. 28, 19, 20, &c.
(2) Others did ſeemingly profeſſe faith and ſubjection to him, ver. 23, 24, 25. upon this and other miracles; whom Chriſt did not truſt. The Text is the effect which this great Heroick act of Chriſt wrought on his Diſciples. They remembred, &c. This Scripture is Pſal. 69. 9. where David writing of himſelfe as a Type of Chriſt hath theſe words, The zeale, &c.
I ſhall handle them diſtinctly, as ſpoken of Chriſt.
In them we have two things.
(1) An excellent vertue or grace of Chriſt, 1. Grace in the Habitethe zeale of thy houſe.
(2) The operativeneſſe of this grace, hath eaten me up, the activity of it.Grace in exerciſe.
Zeale, foreign. If we conſider the word, it comes from a verbe that ſignifies to boyle foreign, 1. Wh…t▪ zeal is.it ſignifies the hiſſing noyſe of water when it boyles. If we conſider the Nature of the thing, we find it uſed both in a good ſenſe, and in a bad ſenſe. There is a zeale which is a fruit of the Spirit. And there is alſo a zeale which is a fruit of the fleſh, Gal. 5. 20. The fruits of the 2 Cor. 7. 11. foreignfleſh are manifest, which are theſe, Adulteries, &c. Emulations, foreign. When it is uſed in a bad ſenſe it ſignifies,
(1) Envy. Acts 5. 17. foreign, and Acts 7. 9. the Patriarchs moved with envy foreign, Jam. 3. 14. If ye have bitter envying and ſtrife in your hearts, glory not, foreign. vid. Bezam in textum de zelo diſtinguentem
(2) For miſguided blind zeale, Phil. 3. 9. concerning zeale, perſecuting the Church, foreign, Gal. 1. 14. being more exceedingly zealous of the Traditions of my Fathers, foreign.
(3) For contentiouſneſs of ſpirit, Jam. 3. 16. where strife and envying is, there is confuſion foreign.
(4) For pretended jealouſie and affection towards another, Gal. 4. 17. They zealouſly affect you, but not well, foreign.
When it is uſed in a good ſenſe, it ſignifieth,
(1) Godly jealouſie, 2 Cor. 11. 2. I am jealous over you with a godly jealouſie, foreign.
(2) For a good Emulation, when we deſire to be followers, and imitators of others, in that which is good, Gal. 4. 18. Tis good to be ze… lous alwayes in a good matter, foreign, 1 Cor. 12. 31. Covet earneſtly t…e beſt gifts, foreign.
(3) For the violent fervor of all the affection towards others, whom we love, Gal. 4. 13. I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, foreign. And ſo tis uſed here in the Text, foreign. Some of the Schoo…men there are, who only place this in the affection of love; others make it to be a mixture of love and anger: but its clear, that it hath place in every other affection, as well as theſe, and the heighth and intention of every affection, is called zeal. The heighth of anger is the zeal of anger: the heighth of pitty, is the zeal of pitty, and the heighth of love, is the zeal of love, &c. Of thy houſe. This is the Object of Chriſt's 2. What Gods Houſe is.zeal, the houſe of God, which by a Synechdoche, doth comprehend the whole worſhip and ſervice of God, appointed to be obſerved in the Temple. All matters of Religion and Worſhip. Hath eaten me up, foreign. This 3. What to devour, is.ſhewes the fervor and heat of Chriſts zeal, it was not any ordinary heat, but an extraordinary and violent, which put forth it ſelf by ſuch an heroical Act as this was; Chriſt was even as if he had had fire in his bowels, he could not refrain himſelf. The Leſſon which we may learn, is this,
The Lord Jeſus Christ, was exceeding zealous Doct.againſt all manner of Corruptions and defilements in Religion, & in the worſhip of God. He had in his breaſt a very hot zeal for his Fathers houſe, and all the Ordinances and Services thereof. As it was propheſied of him, that he ſhould come as a Refiner to his Temple, and ſhould be very hot for the worſhip of God; ſo was his carriage from his taking upon him the publick Miniſtry, to the day of his Death and crucifying.
There are three things, wherein Chriſt manifeſted foreign, proved 3. wayes.his zeal this way. (1) He did very zealouſly aſſert the purity of Religion and Gods worſhip, in his publick Miniſtry, and zealouſly defend it againſt the corrupters of it. In the 5th 6th and 7th Chapters of Matth. in that excellent Sermon upon the Mount, we ſhall finde many Inſtructions given by our Saviour, both concerning matters of Doctrine, and concerning matters of worſhip, as Chap. 5. verſ. 21. ad finem, and Chapter 6. concerning prayer, faſting: vid. Chap. 6. v. 5. ad 16. concerning prayer: and v. 16. ad 19. concerning the right manner of faſting. And Mat. 15. v. 1. ad 21, Chriſt preacheth againſt their Traditions, which they had brought into the Church. And Matth. 19. 3. ad 10. preacheth againſt the Doctrine of Divorce, which they had introduced. And Chap. 22. v. 23. he cleares the Doctrine of the Reſurrection againſt the ſadduces. And he that reads ſeriouſly the Evangeliſts, will finde, that there was no corruption, either in Doctrine, or worſhip, but Chriſt boldly, and zealouſly refuted it in his Miniſtry.
(2) As he had zeal to reprove, ſo he had zeal to reform the corruptions which he had reproved. We read of two ſolemn Reformations of things amiſſe, in the worſhip of God, which Chriſt made with his own hands. One we have in the Text. Another we read of Mat. 21. 12, 13. They are two ſeveral ſtories. This is John was done in his entrance, upon his Prophetical and Kingly Office, as appeares John 2. 11. That in Matth. was towards the end of his life. In this of John, Chriſt drave only the ſellers out; but in that of Matth. he proceeded farther, and caſt out both them that ſold, and them that bought. Here in John, our Saviour ſpeaks only of the deceit of their Merchandize; but there in Mat. he ſpeaks of a Den. of Theeves. Firſt, he rebukes them mildly, then afterwards more ſeverely, ſo that twice Chriſt took this work into his own hand.
(3) His zeal for the worſhip of God, will appear by his care in the inſtitution of Goſpel-worſhip, when he had aboliſhed the Jewiſh, vid. Mat. 28. 19. 20. and Mat. 26. 26, 27. And Acts 1. 3. thoſe 40. dayes which he ſpent in the World, after his Reſurrection, were paſſed in giving them order about worſhip, and other matters of the Church. He gave them punctual Directions for every piece of worſhip, and bindes up their hands, that they ſhould exactly keep to the Rule Mat. 28. 20.
The Reaſons hereof, are theſe.
(1) The work of reforming corruptions in the foreign.Church, did appertain to Christ, by vertue of his Offices. As the Prophet and King of his Church, it lay upon him to remove all the Rubbiſh which was in the worſhip of God. Jeſus Chriſt was the great Reformer, and the great viſitor of the Church, ſent from Heaven for this purpoſe. John Baptist, the immediate forerunner of Chriſt, deſcribes the manner of his comming, Mat. 3. 13. whoſe Fan is in his hand, and he will thorowly purge his floore, &c. He could not have been a faithful King, if his ſoul had not been ſtirred within him, at the beholding of ſuch corruptions. All the Prophets which foretold of him, ſpeak of that glory which he ſhould bring to the Church, Hag. 2. 7. vid. Zech. 6. 12, 13. and Mal. 3. init.
(2) This proceeded from that love, and dutiful Reſpect he bore to his Father. There is nothing, by which God is more diſhonoured, then by corruptions in worſhip. The Name of God is in his worſhip; and the ſoyling of Gods worſhip, is the defiling of his Name. Now Gods honour was very dear to Chriſt; therefore his zeal burned within him, to ſee ſuch abuſe done to his Father. This is that which is in the verſe before the Text, verſ. 16. Make not my Fathers Houſe, an houſe of Merchandize. The Temple was the Houſe of God, the place of his reſt, the place where he had ſet his Name, &c. It was the Court of God upon Earth, &c. Therefore was our Saviour ſo offended, to ſee it polluted.
(3) From that love and affection he bore to Religion, and to the worſhip of God. Jeſus Chriſt ſaw a great Beauty in the holy Inſtitutions of God in the Church. The Ordinances of God were glorious in his ſight: therefore was he ſo zealous againſt the corruptions which were in them. Vid. Mat. 7. 6. Holy things, Pearles: thoſe words, teſtifie what our Saviour thought of the Inſtitutions of God. They were Pearles in his ſight, they were holy things in his eſteem, and the corruptions of men, would ſoyl theſe Pearles, would prophane theſe holy things, &c.
(4) From that love he bore to the ſouls of this People.
1. Some amongſt them, who loved the worſhip of God, were without queſtion, much grieved to behold ſuch defilements. And for their ſake, did our Saviour now act ſo vigorouſly, vid. Zeph. 3. 18. Its ſpoken there, of the …educing of the Captivity. God would do it for their ſakes, who were grieved for the ſolemn Aſſembly, &c. Now its not to be imagined, but many were grieved, eſpecially after Chriſt, had the firſt time acted about it, Ergo.
2. All of them had loſſe by it. This muſt needs cauſe an Intermiſſion of thoſe things which were to be performed in this place. Both publick Inſtruction, and publick ſacrifices were to be performed in this place, &c. They had not then liberty to ſacrifice elſewhere, as we have now, &c.
1. Ʋſe. This is good newes for us, and a ground of conſolation, to all the Sons and Daughters of the Church, that are ſo in truth; That the corruptions which are now in the Church, ſhall at laſt be purged out, and reformed. It is now many years, ſince we engaged our ſelves in a work of Reformation: where the work hath ſtuck, and ſtill ſticks, the God of Heaven knowes very well; for he can ſee clearly, through all the masks which the Sons of men ſhall put upon their faces, who have hindered the ſweeping out of corrupt and noyſom Doctrines, and who have impeded the removal of falſe Worſhips, and ſetling the true. And the Lord Jeſus hath not loſt one ſpark of his zeal, by aſcending into Heaven. And beſides,
1. It belongs as much to him now, as it did while he was on Earth: he hath not laid aſide any of thoſe Offices which he had, when he was upon Earth. He is ſtill Prophet, and he is ſtill King. He cannot be depoſed, nor dethroned from his Regency and Kingſhip over the Church, Pſal. 110. per totum. What charge he had on Earth, he hath ſtill in Heaven.
2. His love to his Father, is not any thing abated: his affections are ſtill, within him, burning and boyling.
3. Nor is his love to the worſhip of God, and Religion cooled: the worſhip of God, and the truth of Religion, is ſtill as precious to him, as ever it was on Earth.
(4) Nor are his bowels ſtraitned in the leaſt meaſure, towards his Servants on Earth. He is ſtill as ſenſible of their mournings for the corruption of worſhip, and the defilement of Ordinances, as ever he was. And he is as careful of their edification, as when he was on Earth.
The Reaſons of his former zeal continue, and therefore his zeal alſo continueth.
And beſides all this, he hath given us many promiſes, which he will never break, that his worſhip in the Goſpel Church, ſhall be eſtabliſhed in purity, vid. Eſa. 9. 7. Eſa. 54, 11, 12. which refers to the Goſpel-Church, Rev. 21. per totum. Moſt underſtand it of a Reformation of the Church in this World.
Therefore lift up your heads, O ye mournful Sons of Zion to whom the preſent corruptions in the Church are a burden, Chriſt will at laſt free you from this burthen.
And let it not ſeem the leſſe poſſible, or feiſible, becauſe of the ſmall power that is viſible on the Churches part, or for the great viſible power that oppoſeth it. Chriſts whip of Cords is ſtrong enough againſt all the power of Creatures. If he do but take up his whip, he will ſoon put to flight all oppoſers.
2d Ʋſe. How unlike to Jeſus Chriſt, are the greateſt part of Chriſtians in our dayes? we may take up ſad complaints againſt ſundry ſorts of perſons.
(1) There are ſome like Gallio, that care for no ſuch things, as the worſhip of God. They are Act. 18. 17.indifferent, whether they have Religion amongſt them or no: if they have the worſhip of God, they can be content, and if the Tabernacle of God be removed, they can bear it without grief, it doth not much trouble their ſpirits, though all the Synagogues of God in the Land be burnt up. So they may enjoy their civil liberties, have free Trading, ſecure their Eſtates, raiſe their Families, fill their Treaſuries with the good things of this life, they are not much ſolicitous for the concernments of Religion, or the worſhip of God. They will not much diſpute againſt Religion; neither will they contend for it with any great life: the preſence of Religion is no great burden to them, and the want of it is no great loſſe. They will not repine, if they have the Ark, and they will not be greatly offended if they have it not; if the Ordinances of God be in the Temple, tis well; and if the buyers and ſellers there be, tis not much amiſſe. They ſtand in aequilibrio, as to theſe matters: if Religion dwell in their Coaſts, they will not thruſt it out of doors, and if it be removing, they will not lament after it, nor beg its continuance. They are affected with theſe matters, as ſome men are with their ordinary friends; if they will ſtay with them, they will not bid them be gone; and if they have a minde to depart, they will not deſire their ſtay, &c.
They are concerning Religion of that minde, which Paul commands, believing Husbands to be of, towards their unbelieving Wives, 1 Cor. 7. 13. 15. If ſhe be pleaſed to dwell with him, let him not put her away; but if ſhe will depart, let her depart: ſo they ſay, and ſo they act concerning Religion, and the Ordinances of God.
I have a few things to ſay to ſuch. They are not like the Gaderenes, Matth. 8. 34. Nor are they like the two Diſciples, Luk. 24. 29.
1. Certainly, they are not acted by the Spirit of Jeſus Chriſt: his was a fiery Spirit, but theirs is a cold Spirit; he had life, they are dead.
2. God hath threatned, that he will ſpue ſuch luke-warm Chriſtians out of his mouth, Rev. 3. 15, 16. They are juſt between Heaven and Hell. They are like Ephraim, Hoſ. 7. 8. Halfbaked. The Prophet Elijah, chides ſuch halters as theſe, 1 Reg. 18. 21.
3. The Ordinances of God, are not very like to do much good upon the Spirits of ſuch Chriſtians, The Kingdom of Heaven ſuffers violence, and the violent take it by force, Mat. 11. 12. Heaven muſt be ſtormed, or never entred.
(2) Others there are, who are zealous againſt the worſhip of God, and againſt Religion. Some are very zealous for ſuperſtition: the Traditions of their Fathers. Unſawful and unwarranted Ceremonies, and ſinful Inventions of men in the worſhip of God: ſuch was Demetrius, and his Aſſociates, Acts 19. 24. He was as hot for the golden ſhrines for Diana as if they had been the golden Plates of the Temple. Great is Diana of the Epheſians. Such were thoſe old Idolaters, with whom the Prophet Jeremiah, had to do, Jer. 44. 16, 17. We will do as we have done, We and our Fathers, to burn incenſe to the Queen of Heaven. They are grieved to ſee any endeavour to purge the waters of the Sanctuary from defilements.
Others are zealous for errors in Doctrine. They would have an unlimited Toleration of all opinions, and all kindes of worſhip in the Church of God. The Woman Jezebel ſhall have liberty to vent her falſehoods, as well as the Prophets of God to preach their Truths. Antichriſt ſhall have his Throne as well as Chriſt. Altars ſhall be ſet up to the unknown God, as well as to the true God: the Miniſters of Satan, ſhall keep as free Markets as the Miniſters of Chriſt: the envious man ſhall have Fieldroom to ſcatter his Tares, as well as the Seedſmen of the Goſpel their wheat. And if any of the Miniſters of Chriſt, out of zeal to Gods glory, endeavour to whip out theſe abuſes out of the Temple, they are looked upon as firebrands, Incendiaries, by them who are the true Incendiaries. They are reputed worſe then Theeves, becauſe they diſturb this Den of Theeves, from neſting in the Temple of God. They are looked upon as abominable, becauſe they would ſweep out theſe abominations, They are thought unworthy to have a liberty in the Kingdom, becauſe they will not proclaim a liberty to all theſe falſe wayes in the Church, the Kingdom of Chriſt.
This zeal is certainly none of that which was in Chriſt. It is Diabolical zeal, like the unruly Tongue, ſet on fire of Hell, James 3. 6.
Jeſus Chriſt whipt the buyers and ſellers out of the Temple; and theſe laſh ſuch as would whip them out. Jeſus Chriſt was ſore diſpleaſed with the Angel of Thyatira, for ſuffering ſuch corruptions, Rev. 2. 20. and they are diſpleaſed with the Angels of the Churches, becauſe they will not tolerate ſuch corruptions. Jeſus Chriſt would not have any bid God ſpeed to ſuch, 2 Epiſt. John 10: and they would have ſuch embraced and encouraged. Jeſus Chriſt ſaith, the mouthes of ſuch as teach falſe Doctrines, muſt be ſtopped, Tit. 1. 11. And they are ready to ſtop the mouthes of ſuch as would have theſe diſturbed. Jeſus Chriſt layes a Command upon Miniſters and Magiſtrates, to apprehend theſe Foxes; but they lay ſnares for ſuch as would have them apprehended, vid. Cant. 2. 15. Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes, &c.
Anſw. By Foxes, there, we are to underſtand Hereticks and falſe Prophets, as Ezech. 13. 4. they are Foxes for their ſubtilty, therefore the Apoſtle calls them deceitful workers, tranſforming themſe…ves into the Apoſtles of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 11. 23. Now Chriſt would have theſe taken and rooted out. The Church is to take them by cenſuring, confuting, and caſting them out of the Church: and the godly Magiſtrate is to take them by penal lawes, civil puniſhments, &c. vid. Deut. 13. 6, 7, 8, 9. which is again Zech. 13. 3. applyed to Goſpel-times. And that Law was given by Jeſus Chriſt, the Mr. Cotton, Bloody Tenet waſhed, &c. p. 66. 67.Angel of Gods preſence, whom God promiſed to ſend with his People, Exod. 33. 2, 3. And that Angel was Chriſt, whom they tempted in the Wilderneſs, 1 Cor. 10. 9. Therefore Jeſus Chriſt appointed the civil Sword for a Remedy in ſuch a caſe, and hath not repealed it in the Goſpel. And accordingly, the good Kings of Judah exerciſed this power, Aſa, Joaſh, Joſiah, and are commended for ſo doing. Nor are only the greater and the worſer ſort of Foxes to be taken; but even the little Foxes, the leſſer ſort of errors, falſe Teachers, which alſo do much ſpoyl in the Church. And yet theſe men would have the Foxes nouriſhed. Thoſe gins of penal Lawes, which zealous Magiſtrates have made to take theſe Foxes, muſt now be repealed, that they may devoure uncontrolably.
And yet theſe men have the impudence, as to repute themſelves the chief Patrons, if not the only friends of Religion, and are diſpleaſed with thoſe, who account them otherwiſe. But wiſdom is justified of her Children. If they be the friends of Religion, Religion hath no enemies in the World.
Is he a friend to his Patient, who knowing him to be full of mortal Diſeaſes, will ſuffer no effectual meanes to be uſed, which may remove them? then are theſe men friends to Religion.
Is he a Friend to his Garden, who plucks up the hedge, and proclaims liberty to all kinde of wilde Beaſts, to come and tread down the flowers? then are the Patrons of Toleration, friends to Religion.
Is he a Friend to a Gariſon City, who would have all the watch Towers demoliſhed, all the Works ſlighted, all Guards removed, and proclaim Licenſe for all enemies to come in, and plunder, and deſtroy at their pleaſure? Then are they friends to Religion, who contend for this univerſal Toleration.
If theſe be the Guardians of Religion, Religion is not like to be long lived under their protection. God grant Religion better Protectors. How ſoon will our Church be overflow…n, if liberty be granted to all Hereticks, and ſeducers, to ſpread their pernicious Doctrines? if all manner of Religions be let in, true Religion, at leaſt the power of it, will ſoon be deſtroyed. All you who have any Intereſt in the Bridegroom of the Church awaken him by your prayers, that he would ſcourge ſuch defilers out of his Temple; who for ſinful reſpects, and private advantage, would permit all cheats and deceivers, to put off and vent their abominable falſhoods in the Church of Chriſt: how ſoon would a City be infected, if all rotten, unwholſom meats ſhould be freely ſold in an open Market. This is the way to make a whole Church ſick, not to make a ſick Church whole. God hath told us of a better cure to recover a ſick Church, Jer. 33. 6. Peace and truth, not diſſenſion and error, is the way to recover a languiſhing Church, a dying Nation. And that which doth moſt highly aggravate this wickedneſs, is this. That its endeavoured by a People, who have ſolemnly promiſed, to ſettle purity of truth, and purity and unity of worſhip, and to aboliſh all falſe wayes of worſhip, and all things contrary to ſound Doctrine.
3d Ʋſe. Exhortation, 1 John 2. 6. Let us be zealous for the Houſe of God, as Chriſt was zealous for the Doctrine, zealous for the worſhip of Gods Houſe. In this uſe, I ſhall,
1. Give Motives.
2. Some Rules.
3. Meanes.
Motive 1. 'Tis that which is commanded every Chriſtian, vid. Jude 3. Contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints, foreign, the word notes a holy heat, eagerneſs and violence, Rev. 3. 19. Be zealous therefore and repent.
Motive 2. The Saints of God, who are renowned in Scripture, they have been zealous in theſe matters. The fire of God hath ſparkled out of their mouthes: we may ſee their hands, feet, hearts, lips, red hot with zeal for the houſe of their God. Nehemiah, how zealous was he againſt the corruptions of Gods Courts, he could not endure any filthineſs there: when he underſtood that Eliaſ…ib the Prieſt had given to Tobiah his Kinſman, one of the Chambers of the Temple, for his private uſe, where the things for Gods worſhip were wont to be laid; ſee how his Spirit works againſt that corruption, Neh. 13. 8, 9. He caſt forth his Houſholdſtuffe out of the Chamber and commanded the Chambers to be cleanſed, and brought again the Veſſels of the Houſe of God with the meatoffering, and the Frankincenſe. And when he underſtood, that the Levites and Prieſts, who did the ſervice of Gods Houſe, had been defrauded of their portions, deſigned for that work, ſee how zealouſly he contended with the Rulers, and ſo reforms that corruption, vid. verſ. 10, 11, 12, 13. When he ſaw the Sabbaths of the Lord prophaned, ſee how he beſtirs himſelf, verſ. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Elijah alſo was a man of zeal, for Gods Houſe, vid. 1 Reg. 19. 10. 14. He hath reference to that zealous act of his, upon the Prophets of Baal, Cap. 18. 40. David, Pſal. 69. 9. The Apoſtle Paul, Acts 17. 16. His Spirit was ſtirred within him, when he ſaw them wholly given to Idolatry, Moſes, how was his Spirit ſet on fire, when he ſaw the Idol-Calf ſet up, and worſhipped, Exo. 32. 20, 21, 22. And generally, all the Prophets and Apoſtles. So the primitive Martyrs and Confeſſors, &c. All theſe ſhould be as ſparks, to ſet our hearts on fire: and thoſe holy mourners in Ezekiels time, Cap. 9. 4. they had a zeal for Gods worſhip, vid. Cap. 8. ſee what thoſe abominations were. Corruptions in the Houſe of God, defilements in Worſhip. Vid. Luc. 6. 15. Simon the Zelot.They had a jealouſie againſt the Image of jealouſie, ſet up in the Houſe of God.
Theſe are written for our learning and imitation.
Motive 3. Conſider what a long and hot Summer we have enjoyed, of the Ordinances of God. The Goſpel of God hath been preached amongſt us, for almoſt 100. yeares, ſince the firſt Reformation. And are we ſtill cold and careleſs? This ſhould put ſome life into us. We have had many burning Tapers, who have waſted themſelves, to heat us, &c.
Motive 4. Conſider how likely we are to loſe the Worſhip and Ordinances, and the Truth, if our zeal do not keep them with us. Never was there more heat againſt the Truth and Worſhip of God, then now there is. Some are zealouſly undermining the very Foundation of Gods Houſe, endevoring to take away all that which hath a tendency to ſupport Religion, laying ſnares for Miniſtry, removing all that which ſhould maintain Miniſtry and Worſhip, that ſo the Levites may flee every one to his field, ſetting up the loweſt of Gen. 47. 22.the People to be Preachers in the Church, opening a door to Idolatry, by endeavouring to take away all puniſhments from Papiſts, and Idolaters, &c.
This is enough to turn Ice into flames, to make the coldeſt heart to burn violently with zeal, for God. This was that which made Elijah ſo zealous; he looked upon the Worſhip of God, as being in danger to be loſt, 1 Reg. 19. 10. They have forſaken thy Covenant, throwen down thy Altars, ſlain thy Servants with the Sword, and I only am left, &c. The glorie of the Lord ſeems to be removing from the Cherubims, to the Threſhold of the Temple; and if we be not now more then ordinarilie zealous, Religion will be gone.
Motive 5. Conſider how zealous all People are for their falſe Worſhips. Papiſts, what heat is there in them for their Idols? The Worſhippers of Baal, how zealous were they, 1 Reg. 18. 28. The Epheſians for their Diana, what extraordinarie zeal? when they perceived, that by Pauls preaching againſt gods made with hands, was like to overthrow their Religion; they cryed for the ſpace of two Iudg. 6. 28, 29, 30.houres together, Great is Diana of the Epheſians, Acts 19. 34.
Motive 6. If you will be zealous for the Houſe of God, God will be zealous for your houſes, vid. 2 Sam. 6. 10, 11. Obed Edom, he had a zeal for the Ark, when others were afraid of it, God bleſſes him, vid. Hag. 2. 18, 19. If you will be dead and cold for the matters of God, God will be cold for your civil concernments.
Motive 7. Its one of the beſt wayes, to take off, and abate the heat of enemies, againſt the Houſe of God. The colder you are, the more hot will they be; and the more zealous you are, the more cold will they be in promoting their deſignes.
2. Rules for zeal.
(1) Your Zeal muſt be univerſal, and that
1. In reſpect of things, you muſt be zealous for everie part of Gods Houſe; for all and everie part of Truth, againſt all and everie kind of corruption in Worſhip: ſome are zealous againſt Schiſme and Hereſie; but they have no great Zeal againſt ſuperſtition, and humane inventions; others have a Zeal againſt Superſtition, but they have not againſt Hereſie, &c. This is not right heat, vid. Pſal. 119. 104. Joſiah his Zeal was againſt everie Corruption, 2 Reg. 23. 4. ad 20. God commands him, verſ. 25. Such was the Zeal of Chriſt alſo. He leaves nothing behinde, Sacraments, Preaching, Prayer.
2. In reſpect of perſons, he that hath a right zeal for Truth, will oppoſe all; is contrarie to Truth, in one perſon, as well as in another; in great, as well as in ſmall, &c. in a Friend, as well as in an Enemie. Zeal is like God in this, there is no reſpect of perſons with it. Whoſoever defiles the Houſe of God, let his Profeſſion, his Power, be what it will, Zeal will oppoſe him. Zeal doth not hate error in a Prelate, and love it in another, &c. Chriſt will throw down the Tables of the Money-changers, whoſoever they be that fit there, &c.
3. In reſpect of times. True Zeal for Gods Houſe, hath no winter, it burns in one Age, as well as in another. Manie men were verie zealous againſt corruption in Worſhip and Doctrine, in the raign of Prelacie, which now are cold againſt the ſame, or worſe corruptions in the raign of Hereſie. Theſe were never truly zealous for Gods Houſe. Corruption of Truth and Worſhip, is as bad one year as another, &c.
(2) Zeal muſt be joyned with prudence and knowledge, Rom. 10. 2. God hath given to man an underſtanding, as well as affection. Zeal without Diſcretion, is raſhneſs, like mettle in a blinde Horſe, or a ſharp edged Sword, in a mad mans hand. Thoſe 4. Beaſts, Rev. 4. 8. which repreſent the Churches of the Goſpel, they had 6. Wings, and they were full of Eyes: a Chriſtian muſt have Eyes, as well as Wings, Knowledge as well as Zeal. Zeal with Knowledge, ſaith one, is like an Unicorns Horn, in the hand of an Artiſt, verie precious; but Zeal without Knowledge, is as the Unicorns Horn, in the Beaſts Head, verie dangerous. Zeal without Knowledge, is like Pegaſus without a Bridle, or like an Offering, without an Eye, which God accepts not. Lev. 22. 22. Mal. 1. 8. Its like Phaeton in his Fathers Chariot, may burn himſelf, and the World too.
(3) Zeal for Gods Houſe, muſt be confined within the Compaſſe of our Calling. The Miniſter in his place, the Magiſtrate in his, the private perſon in his place. 'Tis a good gloſſe which Calvin hath on this Text. All muſt imitate Chriſt, all muſt as much as in them lyeth, preſerve the Temple of God from defilement; yet everie man muſt take heed, that he go not beyond his bounds. Non omnibus protinus licet flagellum arripere, ut vitia manu corrigamus, ne que enim eadem nobis potest as data est, nec idem injunctum munus. Zeal out of its place, is like fire in the Thatch. Private Chriſtians, they muſt expreſs their zeal by Prayer, Teares, Diſpute, complaining to the Church, to the Magiſtrates, where they are, if they be ſuch as care for Religion. He that ſhould, being a private perſon, do as Phinehas did, and pretend zeal, would be a murtherer; or as Chriſt here did, would be ſeditious, &c.
(4) Our zeal for Gods Houſe, muſt be for the glorie of God; not either to get our ſelves a name, or to oppoſe men, or to pleaſe others, &c. but meerly diſcharge of duty, reſpect to Gods Honour. This was the ground of our Saviours zeal, make not my Fathers Houſe, &c. Jehu loſt all his zeal, for want of a right end, vid. 2 Reg. 10. He did verie much, and he calls it zeal for God, verſ. 16. but the truth is, it was meerly for his own houſe; and therefore God threatens, Hoſ. 1. 4. to avenge the blood of Jezreel, upon the Houſe of Jehu, &c. look well to this.
(5) It muſt be put out againſt private corruptions in your own caſe.
3. Meanes to get zeal for Gods Houſe.
(1) Conſider often the worth and excellency of Gods Houſe, Truth, Worſhip, they are glorious things, beauties of holineſs, Pſal. 110. 3. the glorie of God: the glorie is departed from Iſrael, &c. 1 Sam. 4. latter end: the Tabernacle of God with men, &c.
(2) Beg much of the Spirit of God, that ſpirit of fire; the fire of the Altar came down from Heaven, ſo doth the fire of zeal; get much of that fiery Baptiſme of the Holy Ghoſt, &c. vid. Acts 2. 3.
(3) Be much in the Company of zealous perſons, he that kiſſeth the lips of the Servants of God, who are zealous, will get heat from them.
(4) Take heed of too much carnal policie. This will make you but cold and dead, for the Worſhip of God. He whoſe zeal is extreme hot, for outward things will be extreme cold, at leaſt luke-warm, for the Worſhip of God, a little Earth caſt on a hot fire, puts it out.