mean ones have Christs Word dwell richly in them as many worthies of the Lord wandred in sheep skins and goat skins men here afflicted and destitute 6 Conspiring to hinder reformation of the house of the Lord If any good be undertaken for religion for holinesse pure worship or Christs government in his house with what opposition is it contraried Men are as of old full of wrath indignation and mockery as Sanballat and others conspired against Ierusalem to hinder the building of the wall and the stopping of the breaches Nehem. 4. v. 1 2 3 7 8. These men are zealously affected but not well as Gal. 4. 17. And shall be ashamed for their envy at the people Isay 26.11 Who are not ashamed of zeale for traditions ceremonies superstitions unnecessary burdensome which have proved of no use to edifie the Church but as nets snares and bands to intangle and cumber the children of God in their fathers house and service Paul was once zealous exceedingly for the traditions of his fathers Gal. 1. 14. How many have placed the beauty of holinesse and the glory of religion in things devised by men which can be no meane to sanctifie the worshippers How forward have many beene to contribute their best assistance unto forbidden vanity as they to idolatry The children gather wood the fathers kindle the fire and the women knead their dough to make cakes to the Queene of heaven and to powre out drink-offerings unto other gods Ier. 7. 18. Encouraging their fellowes in and to idolatry as those of old animated one another They helped every one his neighbour and every one said to his brother Be of good courage so the Carpenter encouraged the Gold-smith and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote with the anvill Thus superstitions have beene set up Isay 41. 67. Some with their tongues loud in Pulpits some with their pens allowed in Presses others with their commands forcible in their Courts and not a few forward and obsequious have set to their hand and all for superstitious vanities Few places be so happy as to be without some zealots in these things under well-liked names of decency and order to win credit to vile inventions Whereas in religion we must inquire who how good and great he is that requireth it and appoints it not as the divell turnes it into what and of what quality and how great and decent the thing injoyned is that we may know what to say when God examines our service Who required this at your hand Isa. 1. 12. Receive the words of exhortation all that be thorowly religious to be truly zealous Rest not in knowledge and good principles but be heated with good affection as well as taught With good light have good fire have grace with your knowledge and zeale with religion witty heads and zealous hearts as we are commanded Be zealous Revel. 3. 19. 1 The persons to be zealous 2 The properties of this zeale 3 The meanes for this zeale 4 The motives to this zeale 1 The persons to be zealous the word is spoken to a mixt assembly and is fit for all I would have none here sent away without fire 1 People must be zealous 2 Preachers 3 Magistrates 1 The people are to feed zeale Zeale is good among them It is good to be zealously affected Gal. 4. 18. 1 In taking the kingdome of heaven by violence as Israel tooke Canaan by a holy violence offered to the dulnesse of heart and by withstanding spirituall sloth removing all impediments in the way crowding in as in a great concourse pressing in and unto meanes of grace in their day as a matter of life The kingdome of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Duty requires it necessity urgeth it it is for a kingdome neglect it not Matth. 11. 12. 2 In serving the Lord doing his work with fervency that the hearts of men should burne within them not be cold or luke-warme but fervent in spirit in spirit serving the Lord having a holy fire kindled on the hearth in the heart Rom. 12. 11. 3 In loving the house of God minding meanes of grace and performing holy duties with spirituall affection delighted in God and united to God in whose house we finde such satisfaction and contentment as Davids zeale was Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth his longings were after it to dwell in it Psal. 26. 8. 4 In exciting others with all earnestnesse and importunity to seek the Lord Call on your friends kinsmen neighbours call thy husband thy child thy servant be enlarged in desire after men to seeke and serve the Lord be not unnaturall uncivill to minde goodnesse alone but be spirituall have bowels of compassion to thy brother to thy friend that thou lovest as thy owne soule that they may have communion with God and comfort in the Lord and accesse to the Lord as well as thy selfe as it is in the Prophet The inhabitants of one city shall go to another saying Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts I will go also Zechar. 8. 21. 5 In grieving for mens neglect of Gods Law and the dishonour that is done to God by disobedience I beheld the transgressors and was grieved because they keep not thy word Psal. 119. 158. Rivers of waters run downe mine eyes because they keep not thy lawes My zeale hath even consumed me because mine enemies have forgotten thy words saith the Psalmist Psal. 119. ver. 139. Thus Lot a just and an honest man was vexed passively by sinners and actively voluntarily for sinners Just Let was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked for that righteous man dwelling among them of Sodome and Gomorrha in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soule from day to day with their unlawfull deeds 2 Pet. 2. 7 8. 6 In distributing cheerfully to it for the maintenance of the service of God that God may be honoured with mens substance as they for the tabernacle they came every one whose heart stirred him up and every one whom his spirit made willing and they brought the Lords offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation and for all his service Exod. 35. 21. they were so forward in erecting it till an order was made for their restraint so the people by Moses command were restrained for the stuffe they had was sufficient and too much for it Exod. 36. 6 7. Ministring too to the necessities of the Saints as Christs members in which the Corinthians were forward and of exemplary zeale 2 Corinth 9. 1 2. the Apostle commended their zeale which provoked very many Preachers be to be zealous not luke-warme not cold but as men touched with a live coale from the altar that the word of life die not in their mouthes albeit Zeale and the power of the Ministery is not in words nor a loud voice Thus
presence by our luke-warmnesse and such communion for lack of zeale Rev. 3. 20. In regard of the Church 1 The wall of the vineyard is downe the hedge is full of gaps any beast or Boare may get in it is eaten up it is troden downe it is laid wast in many places over-spread with woods it wants rain hath clouds without raine the hedge corporall helpe without good Lawes good Magistrates the wall a spirituall defence inward as godly Ministers true discipline clouds without raine over it Ministers which make a faire shew and yet are wels without water only barren without goodnesse in their Ministery no refreshing to the vineyard Isa. 5. 56. doth it not pertain to you Men sought out among men to make up the hedge and to stand in the gap it is fallen into the hands of ill husbandmen they have made it desolate the Churches strength is small it is brought very low to it which is afflicted pitie should be shewed from its friends that Zion may be raised off the ground out of dust 2 It is very corrupt in many things in persons vitious the wicked walk on every side and the vilest men are exalted promoted In doctrines how many speake strange things perverse things contrary to the doctrine of Christ In discipline how many eat the sinnes of the people and grow fat by the vertues of the people that Gods house is for such merchandise in corrupt courts made a den of theeves Matth. 21. 12 13. In the worship of God men in most places have set up calves as once in Moses absence Israel did Exod. 32. 4. and all while men slept and wanted zeale while you see these things Let your anger with Moses waxe hot vers. 19. downe with all calves burne them in the fire grinde them to powder to be utterly abolished vers. 20. 3 It is the house of God David saith thy house It is the spouse of Christ maried to Christ for ever Whose bowels yern not to see Christs spouse in the dust O for Zion sake the Zion of the holy one of Israel hold not your peace David tels us his love to Ierusalem because of the house of the Lord our God Psa. 122. 9. what you do for his house you do for him to him It is storied as a worthy act of a religious heart in Terentius a captaine under the Emperour Valens who having done some speciall service for which the Emperour thought him worthy of a recompence and being thereupon willed by him to demand what he would presented this petition That the true Christians might have the liberty of a Church by themselves wherein to worship God apart from the Arrians whose heresie had then spread it self exceedingly The Emperor reading his supplication was much displeased tare it in peeces and threw it away Terentius modestly gathered up the pieces again professing to him that if he could not be heard in Gods cause he would make no suit for his own profit Show you your sincere and faithfull respect to the good and prosperous estate of Gods Church above all personall concernments be not put off with worldly profits peace and civill rights and liberties you have more transcendent matters the good of soules the liberty of consciences the meanes of grace the worship of God the kingdome of Christ the house of the Lord about this let your zeale have a most vehement flame In regard of men many things may kindle zeal Good mens examples they be all zealous of good works Tit. 2. 14. and may you be cold pious men all pray for it as if it were a time of mercy for Zion they take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof Psal. 102. 13 14. and shall it not come into your mindes the martyrs of renowned zeale loved not their lives for the truth of Gods word which they did so affect Revel. 12. 11. and may not mens hearts now be fired for it Moses was a meeke man in his owne case but no Sheep in Gods cause he was angry and very hot against wicked doers Exod. 32. 19. shall men now bee pleased with the wicked Nehemiah was sad for it Nehem. 2. 3. Why should not my countenance be sad he fasted wept prayed 1. 4. shall men now not lay it to heart Phineas was zealous for God for his good in the matter of Zimri and Cozbi Numb. 25. 11. and is it a time to be lukewarme when there be many Zimries and Cozbies Paul was jealous for the Church 2 Cor. 11. 2. Shall these be the dayes to bring forth carelesse ones Godly men to remember Zion wept for its sad condition Psal. 137. 1. wee should as they never be comforted but with its comforts and welfare If I forget thee ô Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning if I doe not remember thee let my tongue cleave to the roofe of my mouth if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chiefe joy verse 5 6. Bad men are great Zelots 1. To make many Proselytes to promote Antichrists power how doe they consult plot practise yea compasse sea and land to make one Proselyte Mat. 23. 15. Can they thus imploy their hearts heads and hands for that kingdome a kingdome of darknesse and who shall not will not be quickned for Christs Kingdome and his house 2. To bring downe the house of God perverting the Scriptures corrupting the worship of God suspending the servants of Christ ensnaring the Saints of God Who say of the name of Christ Down to it downe to it even to the ground but of the Church of Christ Down with it downe with it even to the ground old Edoms race Psal. 137. 7. Shall the lewd be thus against it and shall not any man that hath any spirit within him be moved for Zion is their worke better is their lord better is their wages better your worke your cause your conscience may more hearten you Mens conditions minded would quicken zeale The present condition of many under mens burdens impositions oppressions feares shares on every side as Moses went out to his brethren and looked on their burdens and spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew his zeale was kindled to endevor his brethrens liberty Exod. 2. 11 12. You have heard our cryes seene our burdens know our sorrowes you need not goe out to know this the other day you were interest in this the City cryes to you the Country complaines the Preachers be pleading before you the people praying to you as a way of mercy help help help us our consciences our peoples consciences be heavied be endangered ô passe not by us ô let it not be as nothing to you that the blessing of them that are ready to perish may come upon you deliver the poore that crieth and him that hath none to help that you may make our sad hearts sing for joy Vnder Satans power many are you would bee clad with zeale to consider as it deserves your
deepest thoughts how poore people who for their outward being live under a gracious Prince are for their soules in spirituall vassalage under the Prince of darknesse Ephes. 6. 12. the ruler of the darknesse of this world how many perish in darknesse as a blinde people served by a blinking guide where the people perish for lack of knowledge Hosea 4. 6. O how many places and people in this famous Island are yet in the shadow of death who are not under the joyfull sound of Gods word who yet feele no want of the Word of life feare no misery ô their security unlesse God by his providence send it to them they complaine not to you ô doe not I beseech you exspect that of them it is out of their blindnesse deadnesse and as it is in all such men a naturall carelesnesse in them ô that I might in all humility commend their Petition to you this day ô let this come into your minde put on zeale and they shall be relieved It is a death to have the glory depart where it hath beene 1 Sam. 4. 22. With what thoughts can ye take up their case where the glory never was The future condition of our posterity should at this kindle zeale in men ô let us not leave children after us to inherit our follies lies and vanities let your zeale in reforming the house of God according to the word of God prevent their repenting of our corruptioÌ„s wil it be a credit to this present age to have the next generation come to God with grieved hearts and to cleare themselves of our abominations say surely Our Fathers inherited lies vanities and things wherein there is no profit Jer. 16. 19. Surely Reformation will be for the present should be put it not off for after times to doe it doe your utmost that no Canaanite may be left no leaven uncast out or cursed no superstitions be left to posterity but the word of God as an heritage for ever In regard of particular choice men who feare the Lord and heare his word this day to inflame your zeale minde Your place and calling speakes to you Is it not of God that you are sent hither Is it not for Zion that you are imployed here Had you not your Countries Counties hearts voices hands to doe worthily in Zion minde what Mordecai said to Queene Esther 4. 14. Who knows whether thou art come to the kingdome for such a time as this May not I with little change say Who knows whether ye be come to the Parliament for such a time as this We hope for such a time as this when was there such a time for such a thing as this when was there such a cause such a call calleth for zeale Your peace and prosperity is in the welfare of Gods house you have a share in that ship in the peace thereof shall you have peace it is said of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love it Psal. 122. 6. will not the beauty of the assemblies a godly Ministery a pure Discipline a spirituall worship bring in unto you much peace and comfort but if truth be suppressed godlinesse oppressed the Ministery corrupt the worship of God polluted what will become of yourselves your soules your families No peace if you stir not this day you and yours may perish for it Esther 4. 14. Your honour is in marching valiantly on for Gods house Barucks slownesse made the journey that he tooke not to be for his honour Iudg. 4. 8 9. what honour will this comming to Parliament be to a man that spake nothing or did nothing for those poore people the children of God who gave their voices in hope of help in the Church in Religion how can yee looke upon them in your returne into your Countries when you have made their eyes to faile their hearts to bleed their condition in spirituall things as heavy helpless but what love wil be to you honor put upon you when you behave your selves worthily as saviours come up on Mount Zion Your happinesse shall bee great in pleading thoroughly for Zion and against Babylon as it is prophesied O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us Psal. 137. 8. happy in your selves happy in your families happy in your credit happy in your Country happy in your soules happy in your bodies Wherefore that I may not be farther tedious to anies patience let Zion come into our minds and as Ioab animated Abishai 2 Sam. 10. 12. be of good courage and let us play the men for our people and for the City of our God and the Lord doe that which seemeth him good so strengthen your hands for this good work Nehem. 2. 18. take heed what ye doe for it is for the house of the Lord 2 Chron. 19. 6. Let the feare of the Lord be upon you v. 7. Deale couragiously and the Lord shall be with the good v. 11. FINIS Die Iovis 20. Maii 1641. At a Committee of the Commons House of Parliament for licencing of Books It is ordered that this Sermon of M. WILSONS be published in Print Sir Edward Dering Knight and Baronet Bern. Ep. 91. Salvian praef. in lib. de Gubern * in your first speech in Parliament when I was pursued by a Puâ—sevant from the Archbishop of Cant. for not reading the prayer against Scots c. z Ps. 119. 139. 1. Thess. 3. 13. Communis est Psalmus {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Davidis {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Christi {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Ecclesiae Iun. Paral. in loc. Zelus est affectus mixtus ex amore dolore Zelus est impetus mentis erga gloriam Dei cultum divinum {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ab {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} comedit consumpsit Doctrine Zeale consists 1 In removing vvhat is prejudiciall to Gods glory 1 Persons vicious ministers or members 2 Doctrines erroneous and unsound {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} praete doctrinam Trem interpr 3 Worship corrupt and idolatrous An Idolater 1 Materiall is the artificer 2 Formall he that worships the idoll {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 1 In the substance of worship 2 In the circumstance of worship 2 In promoting Gods glory 1 In persons 1 Ministers qualified 2 Members sanctified 2 In doctrines Constantia in doctrina seu in veritate hic est balthcus ille Zanch. in loc. 3 In worship 1 In the substance three things instanced in 2 In the circumstance Inform 1 Zeale is commendable 2 Zeale is not onely in and for things civill Christs care was not to be great in this vvorld but for the truth his fathers house will and glory Lukewarmnesse is irreligious 1639 1640. 4 Viciousnesse of mens spirits 1 Who blame zeale miscalling it 2 Who are zealous against Gods house six ways {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 3 Who are zealous for traditions 2 Exhort 1 People to be zealous in six things 2 Preachers to be zealous in fourâ— things {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 3 Magistrates to be zealous in three things {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Accendit se Trem. 2 The properties of zeale 6. 3 Meanes to be zealous 1 Avoid foure things {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 4 Motives to zeale 1 In regard of God foure motives 2 In regard of the Church three motives 1 Minde foure things 3 In regard of men three motives 1 Good men zealous 2 Bad men Zelots in two things 3 Mens conditions 1 Vnder burdens 2 Vnder Satan 2 The future condition of men 4 In regard of speciall men 4. Motives 1 Their place 2 Their peace 3 Their honour 4 Their happinesse
and therefore be left unread It was not so of old when Moses had in every city them that preach him being read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day Acts 15. Vers. 21. 3 Prayer in the Holy Ghost as the Church is charged to pray Iude Vers. 20. customary formes of prayer removed would cause an unworthy unable and dumbe Ministerie to fall to the earth and continued bring most of men to rest in the iniquity of the last and perillous times a powerlesse forme of godlinesse to be shunned 2 Tim. 3.1 5. Christ who commends prayer according to the will of God condemneth vaine repetition in prayer Matth. 6. 7. Gods house is a house of prayer but not for chopping and changing Mat. 21. 12 13. Men for the Ministerie should be as studious in praying as preaching and give themselves to prayer and to the Ministery of the Word they had not the heart of them who rest in a prayer given to them Acts Chap. 6. Vers. 4. II. In the circumstance and externall form Let all things be done decently and in order not intending the inventing of any new thing but the performing of what Christ instituted in a manner come by and consentaneous to the dignity of holy ordinances of the Lord 1 Corinth 14. 40. And that is in that generall rule that all be done for time place and persons as is most to edification Verse 26. Thus the man thorowly religious will bee truly zealous for the Church of God in promoting in it persons materials for it Ministers qualified members sanctified doctrines true and wholesome worshippe pure and spirituall which beleeved as truth will helpe us both by Information and Exhortation I Zeale in and for true religion is a praise-worthy thing Was David zealous it may then become a royall spirit Was Christ our Saviour zealous it may become an heroicall spirit Albeit zeale is out of grace with most men who sit still and love to be at quiet rest yet it is no disgrace to any generous spirit that is regenerate to have the zeale of Gods house to eat him up It is a slander to call it folly Was not zealous David wiser than his teachers than his enemies than the aged Luke-warme men call it fury Gods Spirit names it a live-coale that hath a most vehement flame Why beares zeale the imputation of indiscretion rashnesse puritanisme or headinesse Was it Davids rashnesse It was fervency in religion Was Christ indiscreet The wisedome of his Father Festus called Paul mad with a lowd voice Acts 26. 24. when he spake but words of truth and sobernesse verse 25. Christs kinsmen thought he was beside himselfe Mar. 3. 21. Was the judgement of such solid men any disparagement to our Saviours zeal Nay it is a commendation to root out evill from and to establish good in the house of God is a good thing Gal. 4. 18. All a mans care who is religious indeed is not to be for civill affaires immunities and societies things in their order and measure to be minded David was zealous for Gods house for Zion as well as Ierusalem for religion as well as righteousnesse Mens spirits must be more stirred in them for the Church of Christ his house than their owne houses As many mens industry and activenesse is for great buildings great matches great house-keeping and their owne famous names their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever and their dwelling places to all generations Psal. 49. 11. but while they run every man to his owne house the house of God lieth wast Hag. 1. 9. A pious mans greatest care is that whatever become of him and his liberty credit or creature-comforts vile persons that speake villany may have their mouthes stopped the vaine and prophane persons that pollute the ordinances may be censured the doctrines of divels may be condemned the worship idolatrous and corrupt may be no more in the house of the Lord but be removed and cast out that Pastors after Gods owne heart may be established to feed the Lords flock that they that feare the Lord may dwell in his house that the truth of doctrine may be continued and confirmed among us that the purity of discipline a sacred way of promoting the Gospell without which all Christs Kingdome and Gospell is not received very necessary to the condition of the Church may be introduced that the instituted worship of God may be continued in his Church in a holy and spirituall manner without worthlesse and witlesse innovations and wicked inventions of men of corrupt mindes destitute of the truth that a man may say as David The zeale of thy house hath eaten me up thus those victorious martyrs were willing to lay down as not loving their lives for the word the truth which they held and beleeved Rev. 12. 11. 3 Men thorowly religious being truly zealous we learne It is irreligious to be luke-warme neuters time-servers indifferent men for all companies and religions middle-men betweene truth and errour betweene Christ and Antichrist between holinesse and profanenesse untrue in religion without love or zeale to God as was the luke-warme Angell of Laodicea Mixt worship is under a commination God will stretch out his hand upon them that sweare by the Lord and that sweare by Malcham Zeph. 1. 5. God abhorres mixtures now as much as then It is a defilement to sow a vineyard with divers seeds doctrines of Christ and traditions of men Saints and beleevers not mixt with scandalous infidels and idolaters Deut. 22. 9. But the pure worship kept from superstitions Men may not be linsey-woolsey professors not plow with an Oxe and an Asse those in the Lords plow must not be mixed of the clean and unclean labourers and loyterers of the servants of Christ and Antichrist Verse 10 11. Men may not be key-cold Gallioes in religion a deputy that would not meddle in such matters and cared for none of those things Acts 18. 12 17. This indifferency brings great judgements if men repent not it unchurches a people a Church by it may prove no Church it removes the candlestick and sets Mahomet where the candlestick stood Rev. 2. 5. Yea God abhorres lukewarmenesse as most loathsome he will spue them out of his mouth as Laodicea as the Historians testifie was swallowed up in an earth-quake we were near going in 88. neare a blow by the Powder-treason and how nigh was our trouble these two last yeares and Gods hand lift up as if there were with us but a sport as once Abners men and Ioabs to play Scots and English Ely his remisnesse in dealing with his sonnes an impure paire of Priests ruined his house 1 Sam. 2. Vers. 23 29 31. God is not pleased with neuters neither shall the luke-warme dwell in his presence In that a man thorowly religious is truly zealous for Gods Church Learne the viciousnesse of mens spirits and the naughtinesse of diverse sorts 1 Who blame zeale