LIGHT and Heat are inſeparable Companions in true Religion, without the latter, the former is cold Formality; and without the former, the latter is wild Enthuſiaſm: Tho' the Paſſions be bad Guides, they are notwithſtanding good Servants, and therefore ſhould neither be neglected nor deſtroyed, but excited, and duly regulated in their Tendencies, by Reaſon and Revelation, according to the Nature and Importance of their Objects: This is the Remedy which the Lord Jeſus Chriſt propoſes in the Words of our Text, to the lukewarm Church of Laodicea, to cure her Degeneracy, and remove the Calamities conſequent upon it; which are ſuppoſed by the preceeding Part of the Verſe, from which the Text is an Inference: As many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten; be ZEALOUS therefore and repent. q. d. Seeing the Afflictions I ſend to correct you for, and reclaim you from your Remiſſneſs in Religion, proceed not from Prejudice, but regard to your beſt Good, therefore they ſhould be kindly accepted and faithfully improved, by the exerciſe of Zeal and Penitence; without which they will not be removed in Mercy: Certainly, the Wounds of a Friend, are better than the Kiſſes of an Enemy; if therefore you have any gratitude to God, or regard to your own Intereſt, Be ZEALOUS! Ardent Love is termed ZEAL, (Num. xi. 29. Pſalm lxix. 9.) By this Word, our Lord enjoins a laudable Emulation of Piety and Virtue, and an ardent ſtrong Affection in religious Worſhip: Camero vid. Pol. Synop. in Loc: Zelos, ex Zeo, lian, valde ferveo, Paſor. Be ZEALOUS, ſhake off your Sloth and Lukewarmneſs, and Labour earneſtly in the Uſe of all appointed Means to recover your firſt Love, your former Warmth, Spirit, and Savour; that ſo you may be ſuch burning and ſhining Lights, ſuch ſavory Salt, in a dark and degenerate World, that Men ſeeing your good Works, may glorify your Father which is in Heaven: If the Salt looſes its Savour, our Lord aſſures us, it is good for Nothing, but to be caſt out, and troden under the Feet of Men! (Matth. v. 13.)—And repent: i. e. Candidly confeſs, and ſincerely lament your Coldneſs and Negligence in Time paſt, and reſolve in the Strength of God to do better in Time to come, in Purſuance of which, ſtrive to keep yourſelves in the Love of God, ſtrive to keep alive in your Souls the ſacred Fire of divine Grace, that ye may not be dead while ye live, but live in Love, live to God, and feel you live! let your Spikenard inceſſantly diffuſe to all around you, its aromatic, delightful, and uſeful Fragrance, and your Hearts glow with unremitting▪ pious, and noble Ardors!

THE Subject of our preſent Meditations is ZEAL, which is twofold, viz. bad and good: Of the former Genus or Sort, there are various Kinds or Species, particularly

1. THERE is a natural Zeal and Activity▪ unſanctified, which is the Effect of a ſprightly Temperature of Body; which, tho' it be not poſitively Evil, yet has Nothing ſpiritual or ſaving in it, and ſo is comparatively Bad.

2. AN ignorant Zeal, when Perſons are zealous and they dont know for what or why; and hence it is ſaid of the carnal Jews, that they had a Zeal for God, but not according to Knowledge, for being ignorant of Gods Righteouſneſs, or of the Neceſſity and Sufficiency of the Righteouſneſs of a Mediator, to the Juſtification of a believing Sinner, which is of Gods Appointment; and going about to eſtabliſh their own in Place thereof, they did not ſincerely ſubmit to, or entirely depend upon, the Righteouſneſs of God, (Romans x. 2, 3.) And thus Iſrael that followed after the Law of Righteouſneſs, hath not attained to the Law of Righteouſneſs. Wherefore? Becauſe they ſought it not by Faith, but as it were by the Works of the Law, (Romans ix. 31, 32.) But beſides this Self-righteous Vein, ignorant Zeal is equally liable to 〈◊〉 into the wilds and • reaks of Enthuſiaſm; when Men leave the Guidance of the holy Scriptures, and follow the blind Impulſes of their own Minds, which they reckon ſufficient without them; contrary to the ſacred Oracles, (1 Cor. ii. 14. Rev. iii. 17. Luke xi. 13.) Ignorant Zeal is exceeding Dangerous, like a Sword in the Hand of one that is blind, or mad! Witneſs the Boors Wars in Germany; and many other Inſtances nearer Home.

3. A hypocritical Zeal, when Men affect to appear zealous before others, when they are not ſo in Reality; thus the Phariſees wore broad Phylactery's, made long Prayers, compaſſed Sea and Land to make a Proſelyte, gave Alms in public, built the Tombs of the Prophets, that they might be ſeen of Men, and eſteemed Religious; and yet they perſecuted at the ſame Time, the Prince of Prophets. Thoſe Hypocrites our Lord accoſts in the following Language, Ye Serpents, ye Generation of Vipers, how can ye eſcape the Damnation of Hell, (Matthew xxiii. Chapter.)

4. A proud Zeal, when Men are fervent in any Matter that concerns them, their Opinions, Humors, Honors, Intereſts, Friends, or any Thing that is theirs, and principly becauſe it is theirs: And yet ſuch is the Deceitfulneſs of the human Heart, that ſome are pleaſed with this ſorry Muſhroom Witneſs Jehu, who had the Confidence to aſk good Jonabab, to come and ſee his Zeal. (2 Kings x, 16.)

5. A factious Zeal, when Pride or Covetouſneſs hath engaged Men in a Party, and they think it their Duty, at leaſt their Intereſt, to contend earneſtly for all the Opinions and Cuſtoms of the Sect they have choſen, without examining whether they be right or wrong: In the mean Time ſlighting and rejecting all who are of other Denominations, and Sentiments in leſſer Things; and ſolicitouſly labouring to proſelyte others, rather to a Party than to vital Piety, that they may glory in their Fleſh, and anſwer ſome mean Deſign, (Gal. vi. 13.) As if it was a great Catch to be damned, rather in this, than in that Faction; but bleſſed be God, the Church of Chriſt is not confined to any Party, (John x 16.) Nor does the Kingdom of God conſiſt in Meats and Drinks, but in Peace and Righteouſneſs, and Joy in the holy Ghoſt, (Rom. xiv. 17.) The Apoſtle Paul expreſſed his Abhorrence of promoting Schiſms in the Church of God, by a noble Depreſſion of himſelf on that Occaſion, who then is Paul, and who is Apollos? (1 Cor. iii. 5.) The main Point is to be holy in Heart and Life, ſuch will ſurely get to Heaven, and there their Differences in Sentiment will be comfortably ſettled.

6. A ſuperſtitious Zeal, for ſmall and indifferent Things while greater are neglected, thus the Phariſees were fond of their Waſhings and Traditions, and paid Tithes of Mint, Aniſe, and Cummin, while they omitted the weightier Matters of the Law, Judgment, Mercy, and Faith. They ſtrained at a Gnat, and ſwallowed a Camel, (Matthew xxiii. 24.)

7. AN envious Zeal, againſt thoſe that have the Precedency and croſs their Deſires, contradict their Notions, or cloud their Honor: But if ye have bitter Envying and Strife in your Hearts, glory not, and lie not againſt the Truth: This Wiſdom deſcendeth not from above, but is earthly ſenſual, and deviliſh. (James iii. 14, 15.)

8. A malignant Zeal, againſt the faithful Servants of Chriſt, for their Soundneſs, Holineſs, and Uſefulneſs, and in Proportion thereto: Notwithſtanding all the plauſible Pretexts with which it is artfully covered, (See this ſhocking PARADOX confirmed by divine Teſtimony: Gen. iii. 15. Gal. iv. 29. Luke xii. 51, 52, 53. 1 John iii. 12. 1 Cor. xvi. 9. Rev. xii. 12, 13.)

As ſinful ZEAL is manifold in Kind, ſo it is exceeding hainous and of malignant Influence; it diſhonoreth God by preſuming to affix his ſacred Name to Error in Principle, and Impiety in Practice; it charges upon infinite Purity all the Wickedneſs it commits; it injures the Church of God, as well as civil Society and our own Souls; this made Paul exceeding mad againſt the Diſciples of Chriſt, ſo that he ſhut them up in Priſons and compelled them to blaſpheme! (Acts xxvi. 10, 11.) This breeds Contention, and overſets the Peace and Order of Societies and Families: As pious Zeal is the Fervency of Grace, ſo is ſinful Zeal the Fervency of Sin, it makes Men doubly ſinful, for hereby they are induced to do much Evil in a little Time, and that in the Name of God, whereby they fight againſt him by his own Authority: (Perverted) this blinds Men's Minds, and prejudices their Hearts againſt Conviction; the zealous Sinner juſtifies his Sin, and pleads Scripture and Reaſon in its Defence: Yea, he thinks he is ſerving God, when he is murdering his Servants, and oppoſing the Power and Spirit of Religion, a melancholy Caſe this indeed! Yea, even Zeal for ſmall and circumſtantial Matters, when high in Degree, is of hurtful Tendency, for it deſtroyeth Charity and Peace, and diſparages holy Zeal by Accident, making the profane think that all Zeal is no better than the fooliſh Paſſions of deceived Men; and hence it diſables thoſe that have it to do Good, even when they are zealous for important Truth and Duty, for many will be inclined to think it of the ſame Nature with their eronious Zeal, and ſo diſregard them. Now ſeeing the Caſe of ſinful Zeal is ſo awful and dangerous, it ſhould put us all upon our guard, leſt we be deceived and enſnared by Satan and our own Hearts!

BUT the PIOUS ZEAL enjoined in our Text, is of a very different Kind, and may be thus deſcribed, viz. that it is a devout Fervour or Warmth, wrought in the Affections of a regenerated Perſon by the holy Spirit, in the Uſe of appointed Means, whereby they are carried out to the utmoſt, in promoting the Kingdom of God, from Love to his Majeſty, with an Eye to his Glory, and according to the Directions of his written Word, (Romans xii. 11. James v. 16. 1 Peter i. 22 and 48.)

HERE obſerve, that love to God, is the Principle from which this pious Paſſion proceeds, (2 Cor. v. 14.) His Glory is its End, (1 Cor. x. 31.) His Word is the Rule by which it is regulated, (Gal. vi. 16.) His Spirit its Efficient, (Rom. viii. 9.) And Regeneration its Antecedent, (Coloſſi. iii. 1, 2.) It is not a diſtinct Grace by itſelf, but the Vigor and fervent Operation of every Grace; and has the following Properties, viz.

1. IT is according to Knowledge, (Rom. x. 2.) for Truth and Holineſs, and not for Error and Sin: It is ſuch as a Man can give a Reaſon for, and ſo is a reaſonable Service, (Rom. xii. 1.) Without Knowledge the Mind cannot be good, (Prov. xiii. 2.) The popiſh and enthuſiaſtical Notion therefore, that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion, is as falſe as it is fooliſh and pernicious, a reproach to Chriſtianity, yea, a ſcandal to human Nature!

2. SINCERE and ſimple, for God and his Kingdom, without mean Artifice and ſelfiſh Deſign. (2 Cor. i. 12.) For our rejoicing is this, even the Teſtimony of our Conſcience, that in Simplicity and godly Sincerity, not with fleſhly Wiſdom, but by the Grace of God, we have had our Converſation in the World. For we are not as many, who corrupt Capeluſantes, adulterating it, as Huckſters who for the ſake of Gain, unjuſtly mix Water with the Wine they ſell. Vid. Paſor. Pools Synop. See 2 Corinth. iv. 2. the Word of God, but as of Sincerity, but as of God, in the ſight of God, ſpeak we in Chriſt, (2 Corin. ii. 17.)

3. TEMPERED with Humility and Love, and attended with Meekneſs, Self-denial and Patience: True Zeal makes the Saints humble, Witneſs the Publican and Apoſtle Paul, (Luke xviii. 13. 1 Tim. i. 15. Philip. iii, 8.) But while they think meanly of themſelves, they highly eſteem others, and give them all that Honor that is due to their ſeveral Places and Relations, (Rom. xiii. 7.) And while their Indignation burns againſt the Sins of Men becauſe of the diſhonor done thereby to God; they feel Bowels of Pity towards their Perſons! (Rev. ii. 2. Col. iii. 12.) When Moſes tho' the meekeſt of Men, ſaw the Calf which the People of Iſrael had made, and Dancing, his Anger waxed hot, and he broke the Tables of Stone, (Ezod. xxxii. 19.) Yet he earneſtly plead for Mercy towards their Perſons, (Exod. xxxiii. 19.) Thus our dear Lord looked on ungrateful Impenitents with Anger, who ſought to flay their kindeſt Benefactor; being grieved for the Hardneſs of their Hearts, (Mark iii. 5.) And hence we may learn that true Zeal is a compound of Anger and Grief, both which proceed from love to God and Man, and therefore is inconſiſtent with Barbarity and Blood! (See Gal. iv. 12. 2 Cor. xii. 21. Luke ix. 53 to 57▪) Wilt then that we command Fire to come down from Heaven, and conſume them? But he turned and rebuked them, and ſaid, Ye know not what Manner of Spirit ye are of: For the Son of Man is not come to deſtroy Men's lives, but to ſave them. See how contrary Chriſt is to Dragooning for Religion, and ſpreading his ſpiritual Kingdom by the carnal Weapons of Sword and Terge: A Method which ſome fierce Bigots would fain tamper with, to ſpread the Shibboleths of their Schiſms! If Club-law be the proper Method to convince Mens Underſtandings and propagate the Faith; then the Spaniſh Inquiſition is the Perfection of Chriſtianity; the moſt worthy and pious Diſcovery that has yet been made. O horrible! is it decent or conſiſtent for Proteſtants, who confeſs they are fallible; aſſert the Neceſſity of Knowledge, and the right of private Judgement, and who blame the Papiſts for their cruelty and bloodſhed, to imitate the Mother of Harlots in her Wickedneſs, by propagating her ſlaviſh and bloody Tenets; for if external Force be neceſſary to promote Religion, it will neceſſarily follow, that eronious Decrees have a binding Power; that implicit Faith is ſound Doctrine; that Knowledge is dangerous, and Ignorance the Mother of Devotion; becauſe the leſs we know, the more eaſily we can ſubmit blind-ſold to an abſolute Authority: But when any do ſo in Matters purely Religious, they admit and obey another King in Chriſt's Kingdom, and ſo commence Rebels againſt his ſupreme Authority, who is the only Lord, Lawgiver, and Maſter of his People; by prefering others before him, and ſetting up their Authority in Oppoſition to his, (James iv. 12▪ Matthew xxiii. 10.)

LEARNED Mr. Warburton on this Subject, juſtly obſerves, That it hath been offered in excuſe for this Behaviour of the Proteſtant Churches, on their Separation from the Church of Rome; (for their Perſeverance in it afterwards, will admit of no Apology,) that the Spirit of Perſecution hath a marvelous Malignity in its Nature, above all other Errors, to corrupt and deprave the human Mind: So that when every other Iniquity of papal Power had been now detected and expelled; this ſtill ſculked behind, within the cloſe Receſſes of the Heart; and as often as it could diſguiſe its Deformity under a Zeal for the Work of Reformation, it was ready to ſtep out and play the Devil!

4. PROPORTIONED in Degree to the Weight and Moment of Things, more careful about the Subſtance than the Circumſtance; and prefering great Things to ſmall; Righteouſneſs and Peace to Meats and Drinks; the weightier Things of the Law, to Mint; and a Camel to a Gnat, (Mat. ix. 13. Rom. xiv. 17 and 20. Mat. xxiii. 23, 24.) Prefering Things plain and ſelf-evident, to Things comparatively doubtful and problematical, (Rom. xiv. 5 and 17, 18.) Prefering Matters that concern vital and practical Holineſs, to uncertain Opipinions about what is remote from the Heart and Practice of Piety; ſuch as fooliſh and unlearned Queſtions, which gender Strife, Genealogies, and Contentions about the Law, which are unprofitable and vain, (Titus iii. 8, 9. 2 Tim. ii. 23.) And ſtriving about Words to no Profit, but to the Subverſion of the Hearers, (2 Tim. ii. 14.) True Zeal contendeth not for ſmall and doubtful Controverſies, to the loſs or wrong of greater Truths and Duties, tho' it regards every Truth; yet in a Degree proportioned to its Place and Weight in the Chriſtian Syſtem, or Analogy of Faith, (Rom. xii. 6.) It is hotteſt in the greateſt Things, and cooleſt in the leaſt; more earneſt for a vital Faith, Love, and good Works, than for doubtful Opinions, and mutable Ceremonies; more earneſt for the Foundation, than for ſome ſmall Apendages in the Superſtructure; more earneſt for the Life and Soul of Religion, than its Garb and Dreſs, (Col. ii. 19. and iii. 14. Heb. xii. 14.) Nor can any Thing be more reaſonable, for Love is the fulfilling of the Law, and Faith and Holineſs the Subſtance and Scope of the Goſpel, (Rom. xiii. 10. 1 Tim. i. 5. Gal. vi. 15, 16.) Carnal conteſts about little Things, while the great are neglected; ſeem to expreſs great Solicitude; how moſt neatly to adorn a Carcaſe, or at beſt, how with greateſt Art and Curioſity, to Trim and Apparel gorgeouſly, a languiſhing Man, in the feared approaches of Death, inſtead of endeavouring to ſave his Life The Reverend and Learned Mr. JOHN HOW, in his Preface to the carnality of religious Contentions.. But if we walk in the Spirit, we ſhall not fulfil this Luſt of the Fleſh; but on the contrary, ſpeak the Truth with Judgment, and in Love, (Gal. v. 16. Philip. i. 9. Epheſ. iv. 15.) Some as Cyprian obſerves, are unfaithful for the Faith, and ſacrilegeous for Religion!

THINGS comparatively ſmall, ſuch as Mint, Aniſe and Cummin, ought to be regarded according to their Moment, and obſerved in their proper Order, but not put on a Par with the weightier Matters of the Law: And regarded they may be by us, as to our own Perſuaſion and Practice; and modeſtly and peaceably recommended to others by Reaſon and Argument, without impoſing them as Terms of Communion on others; a Claim we have no Authority for, from the King of the Church, (See Rom. xiv. throughout, and xv. 1 and 7. Epheſ. iv. 2.) Our Lord directed the ſuperſtitious and cenſorious Phariſees, to go and learn what that meant, that God would have Mercy, rather than Sacrifice, (Matt. ix. 12.) That is when a leſſer Duty interferes with a greater, the leſſer is to be at that Time omitted; the offering of Gifts or Acts of external Worſhip, muſt give Place to brotherly Love and Compaſſion: To ſay that there is no Difference in reſpect of the Degrees of Importance, in different Truths and Duties, is to oppoſe the plaineſt Dictates of Reaſon, as well as the poſitive Declarations of Chriſt and his Apoſtles; and to ſay that theſe ſhould not be regarded accordingly, is to be guilty of the Iniquity which our Lord reproved in his Enemies, the Phariſees, and to reject common Senſe! To regard a Nail in the Roof of a Houſe, as much as a Stone in the Foundation; or, the Hair of a Man's Head and his Nails, as much as his Heart and Lungs, is rediculous and abſurd!

5. TRUE Zeal is ever tender of the Churches Peace and Unity, and therefore avoids with Care, irregular Meaſures and Impoſitions which tend to Confuſion and Diviſion: The Wiſdom that is from above, is firſt pure, then peaceable, gentle, and eaſy to be intreated; full of Mercy and good Fruits, without Partiality, and without Hypocriſy, (James iii. 17.) The Union of Chriſts Body miſtical is her Strength and Comfort, her Beauty and Glory; this makes her the Delight of her Friends, and the Terror of her Enemies. In this Situation, how goodly are thy Tents, O Jacob, and thy Tabernacles, O Iſrael? Who is ſhe that looketh forth as the Morning, fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun, and terrible as an Army with Banners? (Cant. vi. 10.) Chriſt prays that his People may be one, that the World may know the Father had ſent him, (John xvii. 21.) And ſhall not we labour to keep the Unity of the Spirit, in the Bond of Peace, (Epheſ. iv. 3.) Labour to be one in Affection and Deſign, as Chriſt and the Father are one: And as far as we have attained, be one in Conduct, (Philip. iii. 16.) Labour to be one in fundamentals, and as to leſſer Points exerciſe Forbearance, allowing that Liberty to others, which our great Maſter has left to all, and which ourſelves deſire; and the Weakneſs of our preſent State, renders ſo Neceſſary to our Comfort and Benefit, (Tit. iii. 10. Epheſ. iv. 2. Rom. xiv. 1. Gal. v. 1.) Labour to adopt that antient ſcriptural and rational Maxim, In Neceſſariis Unitas, in non neceſſariis Lbertas, et in utriſq Charitas. In fundamentals Unity, in circumſtantials Liberty, and in both Charity: O how happy would it be for the whole Chriſtian Church, which is now, alas for it, by her numerous and ſcandalous Diviſions, become a Torment to herſelf, a Grief to her Friends, and the Scorn of her Enemies! Would ſhe embrace and act up to this equitable Axiom! But what good can be expected, while the ignorant and furious Biggots of every Sect, look on themſelves and their Party, to be the only true Church of Chriſt; in the mean Time excluding all others, and ſaying, Lo Chriſt is here, or lo he is there, (Luke xvii. 21.) As if the Redeemers Kingdom was reduced to a Nut-ſhell, and he had no Fold but one; from ſuch unhallowed Zeal, and uncharitable Charity, may the good Lord deliver us!

6. TRUE Zeal is Impartial, it is as hot againſt our own Sins, and the Sins of our Relations and Friends, as the Sins of others: It labours firſt to take the Beam out of our own Eye, before we attempt to caſt out the Mote of our Brothers Eye, (Matthew vii. 5.)

7. UNIFORM, it reſpects all Gods Commands, (Pſ. cxix. 6.) It is not hot for one, and cold towards another: But aims at, and labours for a Perfection of Obedience to all; and juſtly ſeeing all are of the ſame Tendency, and enjoined by the ſame Authority, (Philip. iii. 12, 13.) It conſiſts principly in the Fervor of our love to God, whereas a falſe Zeal conſiſts chiefly in hatred againſt Man; and therefore manifeſts itſelf in ſevere Cenſures upon the Sentiments and Actions of thoſe it diſlikes, (James 3 Chap.) As the Legs of the Lame are not equal, ſo the Life of a Hypocrite or falſe Zealot, is not of a Piece; like Ephraim, he is a Cake not turned, half raw and half roaſted, (Hoſea vii. 8.) His Goodneſs is like the Morning Cloud, and early Dew, that ſoon paſſes away, (Hoſea vi. 4.) A ſudden Flaſh that ſoon expires, like that of a Fevor, or of the ſtony Ground Hearers, (Mat. xiii. 5, 6.) But the Zeal of the truly pious, is like the natural Heat of the Body, which regularly digeſts the Nouriſhment it receives, and ſo animates and ſtrengthens the Man: And like the Light of the Morning which ſhines more and more to the perfect Day!

8. DISCREET, inſtead of magiſterial Severity, or pharaſaic Cruelty, it introduces Reproof, with a Commendation of what is praiſe-worthy in the Perſon reproved; this Method has an excellent Tendency to prevent or remove Prejudices, and excite to receive the Admonition kindly, which makes it more likely to anſwer the End deſigned: An Example of this, we have in our Lords treatment of the Churches of Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia, (Rev. 2 and 3 Chap.)

I MAY add, that true Zeal is attended with undaunted Bravery of Mind, and a generous princely Spirit; as appear in Nehemiah, Paul, and Araunah! Should ſuch a Man as I flee? (Nehem. vi. 11.) What mean ye to weep, and break my Heart? For I am ready, not only to be bound, but to die at Jeruſalem, for the Name of the Lord Jeſus! (Acts xxi. 13.) All theſe Things did Araunah, as a King, give unto the King, (2 Sam. xxiv. 23.) But ſome Profeſſors ingloriouſly change Shapes in Danger, as often as the Camelion its Colours▪ and in Matters of Charity, do more reſemble Nabal than Araunah, (1 Sam. xxv. 10, 11.) When help for Zion is aſked, their little ſelfiſh Souls ſhrink within their Iron Boſoms, like a Snail in its Shell, and are as impenitrable as Adamant, to all the Arguments of Piety, Generoſity, and public Spirit!

THE Excellency of a true Zeal appears, from the following Conſiderations, which recommend it to our Choice and Practice, viz.

1. ZEAL being Nothing but the Fervor and Vigor of every Grace, it hath in it all the Beauty and Excellency of all thoſe Graces, and that in a high Degree of Eminence; if Love to God be excellent, then zealous fervent Love muſt needs be moſt excellent!

2. THE Nature of holy Objects is ſuch, ſo great, ſo excellent, and of ſuch tranſcendent and unſpeakable Importance, that we cannot be ſincere, in our Eſteem of them, and Purſuit after them, without Zeal: If it were about Riches and Honors, a cold Deſire and dull Purſuit might ſerve the turn, but about God and Chriſt, and Grace and Heaven, ſuch cold Deſires and Endeavours are virtually a Contempt! To love God without Zeal, is not to love him at all, becauſe it is not loving him as God: No deſire of Chriſt, of Holineſs, and Heaven, is ſaving; but that which prefers them to all the Treaſures and Delights of Life; and that which doth ſo, hath certainly ſome Zeal in it; ſo that Zeal is eſſential to every Grace, as Life and Heat is to a Man.

3. THE Integrity and Honeſty of the Heart to God, conſiſteth much in Zeal; as he that is true to his Friend is zealous for him, and not the Man that is indifferent and cold; to do his Service with Zeal, is to do it willingly and heartily; to do it without Zeal, is to do it heartleſly, and by halves, and leave out the Life and Kernel of the Duty: It is the Heart that God doth firſt and moſt require, (Prov. xxiii. 26.) My Son give me thine Heart, and let thine Eyes obſerve my Ways. The End when valued according to its Worth, excites and directs the Affections and Endeavours, in that Order and Meaſure, as is proportioned to its Excellency, and the Difficulties of obtaining it: True Zeal animates Endeavours, as the Motion of the Heart, diffuſes the Blood into the Veins, and the Spirits into the Arteries, to convey Life and Motion into all Parts of the Body: One Thing, ſaith the PSALMIST, have I deſired of the Lord, and that will I ſeek after, that I may dwell in the Houſe of the Lord, all the Days of my Life, to behold the Beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his Temple. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? And there is none upon Earth that I deſire beſides thee, (Pſalm xxvii. 5, and lxxiii. 25.) No Man can ſerve two Maſters, God and Mamon: Either he will hate the one, and love the other, or hold to the one, and deſpiſe the other, (Matthew vi. 24.)

4. ZEAL is the Soul and Strength of the Duty, and makes it like to attain its End; the fervent Prayer of the Righteous is effectual. (James v. 16.) Importunate Suitors are like to ſpeed, the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffereth Violence, and the Violent take it by Force, (Matt. xi. 12.) We are commanded to STRIVE, as in an Agony, to enter in at the ſtraight Gate. Agonizeſthe agonize, agonia, angor, trepidatio, animi eſtuatio, Anguiſh, trembling, and Fervency of Mind, Luke xxii. 44. 1 Tim. vi. 12.—Paſor. And that for this Reaſon, Becauſe many will ſeek to enter in, and ſhall not be able, (Luke xiii. 24.) Not every one that ſeeketh, findeth; not every one that ſtriveth, is crowned; not every one that runeth, gains the Prize; but he that doth it lawfully, (2 Tim. ii. 5.) i. e. REGULARLY, HUMBLY, EARNESTLY, PERSEVERINGLY, (Iſaiah lxvi. 2. Luke xi. 8, 9. 1 Cor. ix. 24. Heb. xii. 1.) No wonder we are commanded to love God with all our Heart, Soul, and Mind, which is a zealous Love; for that overcomes all other Love, and conſtrains to Obedience: From what has been ſaid it is evident, that Zeal is neceſſary to Salvation, both in reſpect of Command and Mean, for it is not only enjoined by divine Authority, and has a gracious Promiſe annexed, (Rev. iii. 19.) but it has an Aptneſs, a Becomingneſs, a Tendency in itſelf, to the Object and the End propoſed.

5. ZEAL embraces and improves the Opportunities, and Seaſons of Mercy and Grace; which Sloth and Negligence let ſlip: The zealous work while it is Day; they ſeek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near; they know the Day of their Viſitation and Salvation, while the Lukewarm and Indolent ſtupidly delay and trifle; audaciouſly harden their Hearts, and ſleep with their Lamps unfurniſhed, and do not knock till the Door of Mercy be ſhut againſt them: Lukewarmneſs and Negligence are the Grave of Mercies, where they are ungratefully buried, till they riſe up in Judgment againſt the Deſpiſers of them: Surely the Improvers of Nature ſhall condemn thoſe Neglecters of Goſpel Grace, yea the very Beaſts ſhall be Witneſſes againſt many, who did not ſerve God with that Diligence, as they ſerved them.

6. ZEAL and Diligence are the victorious Enemies of Sin and Satan; they cannot endure Sin; but are to it as a Fire to Thorns; they dally not with Iniquity, but reject the Motion inſtantly with Abhorrence, and avoid the Appearance of Evil; while the Vineyard of the Sluggard is over-grown with Thorns, and his Soul famiſhes with fruitleſs Wiſhes, becauſe his Hands refuſe to Labour: Impediments that ſtop a Sluggard, are as Nothing to a zealous Soul: As a Wheel that moves ſlowly, is ſtopt by a little Matter, which a quicker Motion eaſily Surmounts; a lively Servant makes a Pleaſure of his Work, which a lazy one does with Pain and Wearineſs.

7. ZEAL is faithful, conſtant and valiant, and therefore greatly pleaſeth God; it cleaves to him with unſhaken Firmneſs, with a dving Gripe, in the midſt of the moſt formidable Dangers and Calamities; the Fire conſumeth it not, nor do many Waters quench it; but ſuch as have a lukewarm Religion, will be eaſily drawn or driven from it, they are ſo indifferent that a little more of the World put into the Scale, will weigh down Chriſt in their Eſteem; the Hopes and Fears of temporal Things, prevail with them againſt the Hopes of eternal. No wonder therefore that God diſowns ſuch treacherous Servants, and turns them away as unworthy of his Family! (Luke xiv. 26, 27.) If a Man come to me, and hate not his Father and Mother, and Wife and Children, and Brethren and Siſters, i. e. Comparitively he cannot be my Diſciple. Chriſtian Prudence inſtead of oppoſing, realy befriends true Zeal, by directing it in reſpect of Time and Mode, ſo as to anſwer its Deſign, but carnal Cunning oppoſes all Goodneſs,

IT is in vain to maſk this malignant Iniquity of Lukewarmneſs, with the plauſible Pretext of Moderation, for that is only oppoſed to immoderate Deſires, Fears, and Cares about earthly Things, but not to Zeal about heavenly; for herein it is lawful, laudible, and truly Noble to excel! Their Neceſſity, Sublimity, Value, and Duration, require and deſerve all the Ardor and Vehemence, all the Vigor, the Fire, the Force, of an immortal Spirit; in its boldeſt Salleys, its wideſt Expanſions, and moſt intenſe Operations! It is true as to Things in their own Nature indifferent; we may, yea we ought to be indifferent; to rejoice as tho' we rejoiced not, and weep as tho' we wept not; becauſe the Faſhion of this World paſſes away; all its Enjoyments are rather an Appearance than a Reality, a meer Shadow that flee from our eager Embraces; a Scene that often Shifts, and will ſoon come to its final Period: But to be indifferent in a Matter of the greateſt Moment, a Matter of Life and Death, a Matter of everlaſting Life, and everlaſting Death, is ſhocking and horrible! As irrational as it is ignoble, ſinful, perilous, and damnable! Lukewarmneſs my Brethren, is exceeding diſhonorable to God and Religion; nor can it when habitual and allowed, conſiſt with the Truth of it: This monſtrous Trifling with God and Salvation, Marrs all our ſacred Service, deprives us of Communion with the divine Majeſty, and expoſes us to his Indignation and awful Judgments; as our Text and Context aſſure us. This makes us uncomfortable to ourſelves, and unprofitable to others; the very Lumber of the Creation, a Burden to the Earth, and a Poiſon to the Air; cumberers of the Ground, barren Trees accurſed by Chriſt; who are every Moment in danger of being cut down by the Ax of divine Juſtice, and caſt into the Fire of Hell! Luke xii. 7. Matthew xxi. 19. Matthew iii. 10. What can this crimſon Iniquity proceed from, but a Contempt of God, and the Things of God?— An immoderate Love to the World,—Ignorance, Unwatchfulneſs,—Lazineſs,—Preſumption,—unneceſſary and familiar Converſation with the Secure, —Conformity to the World,—engaging in unprofitable Queſtions, which do not warm the Heart, and mend the Life; and carnal Contentions about Religion:—Now the Badneſs of theſe Cauſes, manifeſt the Meanneſs and Malignity of the Effect, and point to the Means neceſſary to prevent or remedy it.

WHEN you grow cold and ſlothful, O! conſider how great and good a Maſter you ſerve; ſhould any Thing be done negligently for God, your Creator and Sovereign, your Redeemer and Benefactor? Can you ever do enough for that glorious and gracious Being, to whom you are under ſo immenſe, innumerable, and endearing Obligations? Nor will he ever ſuffer you to be Looſers by his Service, which is indeed its own Reward.

O CONSIDER! that he is always preſent in every Duty you perform, and will you loiter in his Sight, when a very Eye-ſervant will work, while his Maſter ſtandeth by!

ONE ſerious Thought of the End and Conſequence, one would think, ſhould put Life into the dulleſt Soul, ſay to thy ſleepy frozen Heart, is it not Heaven that I am ſeeking, is it not Hell that I am avoiding, and can I be cold and ſlothful about ſo great Events?

THE Work I have to do is great and excellent, what Knowledge and Grace have I to get, what Means to uſe, what Oppoſitions and Temptations to ſurmount, ſhall I then be eaſy and indolent?

HOLINESS is the Ornament of our reaſonable Nature, the Beauty of God: He is glorious in Holineſs, and clad with Zeal as a Cloak.

O CONSIDER my dear Brethren! that as the Maſter is great and good, and ever preſent, the Work difficult and excellent; ſo the Reward is glorious, incomprehenſible, immortal: A Kingdom that is unſhaken, a Crown that will never fade away, an exceeding great and eternal Weight of Glory; compared with which, all the light and momentary Afflictions of the preſent State, are not worthy to be compared; and in View of which they appear as Droſs or Dung, yea ſhrink into Nothing, and are lighter than Vanity! This, this Felicity, will infinitely over-balance all our Labour and Ardor in queſt of it! Further,

THE Time we have to work in, is ſhort and uncertain; O how faſt does it fly! How ſoon will it end, end for ever! All the Time we have to prepare for Eternity is but a Moment, the preſent NOW; the Time paſt is elapſed and cannot be recalled, and much of that Time, alas for it! ſpent in Sinning and Trifling; the Time to come we may never poſſeſs, and will we ſpend any more Time in vain, when Death is ſo near at Hand, and the great Judge at the Door? God forbid! Shortly there will be no Praying, no Hearing, no Working for us any more on Earth; look into the dark Grave, and go to the Houſe of Mourning! O conſider! that this Heart hath but a little more Time to think, this Pulſe but a little more Time to beat, this Tongue but a little more Time to ſpeak, and all will quickly end, end in awful Silence, end in the endleſs Recompence! Me thinks this ſhould quicken the coldeſt Heart, and rouſe the moſt ſluggiſh lethargic Soul!

HOW many Millions are undone already by their Coldneſs and Negligence; how many are in Hell, lamenting their Sloth on Earth; what if we ſaw them weltring in Flames, and heard their Groans, would it not make us Serious? What if one of them had Time and Leave to Hope again, would he be cold and careleſs?

HOW many Millions are now in Heaven, who all came there by Means of holy Zeal and Diligence, and are now enjoying the Fruit of all their painful Labours and patient Sufferings; ſhould not this ſtir up our Zeal, or are we covered with the Scales of Leviathan?

WHAT Thoughts will all the World have of Zeal and Diligence at laſt; how will the beſt wiſh they had been better, and done more for God and their Salvation? And how will the worſt wiſh when it is too late, that they had been zealous and diligent? How earneſtly will they then knock and cry, Lord, Lord, open unto us; but alas it will be all in vain! What Heart rending Grief will ſeize them forever, when they think by what Indifference and Sloth they have loſt their Souls! yea, ſold them to Deſtruction for a Thing of Nought!

WE muſt be zealous and diligent Sirs in this, or in Nothing, for there is Nothing elſe that is comparatively worth one ſerious Thought; to be earneſt and laborious for periſhing Vanities is the Diſgrace of our Underſtandings, and will ſoon be the Diſappointment of our Hopes; the Shame and Ruin of our Souls! But Zeal and Diligence will thro' Grace, recompenſe all thy Pains!

HAST thou not been cold and indolent long enough already; how much Knowledge, Grace, Comfort, and Uſefulneſs hath this deprived thee of, and wilt thou be lukewarm and ſlothful ſtill? O doleful Infatuation! O Lord Jeſus rend the Heavens and come down, and ſpeak our ſtupid Souls into Light, and Life, and Love!

HOW diligent is thy grand Enemy Satan, he goes about like a roaring Lion, ſeeking whom he may devour: And wilt thou be leſs diligent to reſiſt him when thy own Salvation is at Stake? Leſs diligent to ſave thy Soul than he to damn it, O horrible!

WHAT an Example of Zeal and Diligence, hath the antient Chriſtians left us, whoſe Advantages and Obligations were not greater than ours, if ſo great; they had the ſame Difficulties to grapple with as we have, and no greater Crown to labour for;—and ſhall this have no Influence on our ſtupid frozen Souls, what then will affect us?

SEE the Lord Jeſus weeping, ſweating, bleeding, groaning, dying, to purchaſe Salvation for thee; hear how he excites himſelf to Diligence in this Work, by the Shortneſs of the Time he had to do it in; the Night cometh, when no Man can work: And canſt thou be careleſs and cold, about thy own Salvation? How unaccountable, unbecoming, and ungrateful is this Stupidity? O ſhall the Labours, the Tears, the Groans, and Blood of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, have no Influence on us, to excite us to Zeal and Diligence! Are we colder than Ice, and harder than Adamant?

REMEMBER how earneſt thou haſt been in the Service of Sin and Satan, and wilt thou be now cold and carleſs in the Service of God, thy rightful Maker and Proprietor, whoſe Service is real Liberty?

SEE how eager Worldings are in the Purſuit of Mamon, the Proud and Senſual in Chaſe of Honor and Pleaſure, and think what a ſhame it is to thee, to be more remiſs for God and Salvation!

WHAT haſt thou thy Health, thy Time, and all thy Talents for, but to ſecure thy Salvation; do not all the Mercies of God towards thee, and all the Means of Grace bind thee to be earneſt and diligent, the Sun and Moon, the Air and Earth, attend thee with their Help; and yet wilt thou be cold and careleſs, and laboriouſly fruſtrate all theſe Means and Mercies to thy own Ruin? O lamentable!

SEE how an awaking Pang of Conſcience, or a View of Death at Hand can alarm the Wicked, to ſome ſerious Diligence for the preſent, and ſhall ſaving Grace have leſs Influence on thee?

O CONSIDER! that a Spirit of ſlumber is a moſt dreadful Judgment; the Decay of natural Heat is a ſign of old Age, and is accompanied with the Decay of all the Powers, and Sickneſs and Pains do attend all ſuch Decays of Life: When the Horſe grows dull he is like to feel the Rod or Spur!—

IS NOT your Coldneſs and Sloth, a Sin againſt Knowledge, Covenants, Profeſſion, Promiſes, and therefore greatly aggravated; and will not Puniſhment be proportioned thereto by a righteous holy God?

IF you would be zealous and diligent, drown not your Hearts in worldly Buſineſs and Delights, for theſe create a Loathing and Wearineſs of holy Things; they are ſo contrary to one another, that the Mind will not be eagerly ſet on both:—Cheriſh Faith,—Beware of Sins againſt Light,—Live in the conſtant Expectation of Death,—Aſſociate with warm Chriſtians,—Pray for divine Quickning. (Revive me and quicken me, O my God, that I may run the Way of thy Commandments,) and attend the preached Word.

HEAR how the Lord Jeſus thunders againſt the Indifferency of the Church of Laodicea, and thro' them threatens us, who are alas for it, got into the ſame deteſtable State in a great Degree! I know thy Works, that thou art neither cold nor hot, I would thou wert cold or hot; ſo becauſe thou art lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will ſpue thee out of my Mouth. q. d. I obſerve thy Behaviour, thou art neither openly prophane like Heathens, or ſuch as make no Profeſſion of Religion at all, nor yet haſt thou true Zeal or Warmth, either for the Faith once delivered to the Saints, or love to God and Man, and the Practice of Holineſs; no ſincere and ſuitable Zeal for the Glory of God, and the good of Mankind; thou haſt a form of Godlineſs, but by thy Indifference, practically denies the Power thereof; thou haſt a Name to live, but art dead; for this Reaſon I will reject thee with Abhorrence: See how hateful Lukewarmneſs in Religion is to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, it turns his Heart againſt lazy worldy-wiſe Profeſſors, as lukewarm Water does Men's Stomachs; if Religion be real, it is noble, excellent, and abſolutely neceſſary, and conſequently demerits our higheſt Eſteem and moſt vigorous Purſuit; if it be not true, it ſhould be oppoſed with Vehemence, as a deteſtable Impoſture, and Impoſition upon Mankind; if Religion be worth any Thing it is worth every Thing, and therefore Indifference is inexcuſable; an open Enemy is like to find better Quarter than a perfidious Neuter, there is more Hope of a Heathen than of ſuch:—We are not to imagine that Chriſt wiſheth any Perſon cold abſolutely, but only comparatively; hereby intimating, that the Condition of one who makes no Profeſſion of Religion at all, is in ſome reſpects more hopeful than that of a formal lukewarm Hypocrite; no doubt both are offenſive to God, and are in the Road to ruin; but it is better not to have known the Truth, than after the Knowledge of it to depart from the holy Commandment: As Sins againſt greater Light are more hainous, ſo in general ſuch Perſons are more puffed up with ſelf-conceit than others, and having ſomething to ſatisfy their natural Conſcience with, are harder to be convinced of their bad State, which is nevertheleſs neceſſary to their Reformation; it may be therefore juſtly concluded, that their Condition is in ſome reſpects more perilous, than that of others; as many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten, when they wander from me, or grow lukewarm in my Service: Be zealous therefore, if you would either prevent the inflicting of Judgments, or have them removed in Love; eſteem and admire a regular well tempered Zeal in others, and cheriſh it in your own Souls, for without this the Practice of religious Duty is but like a dead Carcaſe without a Soul to animate it; let God's Glory and in Subordination thereto, the Intereſt of his Kingdom be the grand Mark of all your Purſuits, whither natural, civil, or religious, and ſet every Action in the whole circle of Life, tend to this truly noble Center, with an honeſt and ſteady Simplicity; and eſpecially let love, ardent, ſupream, and tranſcendent love to God, be the Spring, the Soul, the Scope, from, to, and in which, all the Acts, the Lines, the Streams of Life proceed, tend and terminate: O let this noble Godlike Grace warm and inſpire your Boſoms, enliven and animate all your Thoughts, Speeches and Actions, for God and his Kingdon; that you may be inclined from ſweet Experience, from conſcious Integrity, to ſpeak in the ſeraphic, ſublime, and noble Language of the royal Prophet. Iſaiah lxii. 1. For Zion's Sake I will not hold my Peace, and for Jeruſalem's Sake I will not reſt, until the Righteouſneſs thereof go forth as Brightneſs, and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth!

AND now Sirs, what has been ſaid concerning Zeal, ſhould excite us to enquire, whither we have any Zeal at all, and if any, of what Kind it is? if true Zeal be the vigorous Exerciſe of Grace, then certainly thoſe have it not who are deſtitute of the Grace of God; it would be therefore abſurd for me to excite the ungodly, or ſuch as are not born again, to Exerciſe what they have not; inſtead of this, I would intreat thoſe graceleſs Galeos, to begin at the Foundation; to make the Tree good, and the Fruit will be good, (Matt. vii. 17, and xii. 23.) To this End, plow up the fallow Ground of your Hearts; conſider ſeriouſly and ſpeedily your SIN AND DANGER, leſt the righteous God tear you in Pieces, and there be none to deliver you! Awake thou that ſleepeſt, ariſe from the Dead, and Chriſt ſhall give thee Light: Why ſtand ye all the Day idle in the Market-Place? Wherefore do ye ſpend your Money for that which is not Bread, and your Labour for that which ſatisfieth not? How long wilt thou ſleep, O Sluggard, when wilt thou ariſe out of thy Sleep? How long halt ye between two Opinions, if the Lord be God follow him, but if Baal, then follow him: What ſhall a Man give in Exchange for his Soul, if he gain the whole World and looſe the ſame? What meaneſt thou, O Sleeper, ariſe, call upon thy God, if ſo be that God will think upon us, that we periſh not!

AND let ſuch as have a falſe malignant Zeal, hear and conſider the Words of Chriſt to a perſecuting Saul, Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? It is hard for thee to kick againſt the Pricks: On whomſoever the Stone which the Builders rejected falls, it will grind him to Powder!—

You that have true Zeal, labour to cheriſh and preſerve it, and be more and more zealous for the glorious God, whatever blinded Sinners think, or ſay, or do againſt you: Bewail your paſt Remiſſneſs; ariſe and ſhine, for your Salvation is nearer than when ye believed; ſee that ye walk circumſpectly, not as Fools but as Wiſe, Redeeming the Time, becauſe the Days are Evil: Take Care that your Zeal be qualified as before expreſſed, and thus be intrepid Heroes in the Cauſe of God and Religion, and count not your lives dear, that ye may finiſh your Courſe with Joy; O think often on the noble Zeal of Abraham, Moſes, Phinehas, Elijah, Nehemiah, Araunah, and above all; of the Prince of Prophets! And now Brethren, ſeeing we alſo are compaſſed about, with ſo great a Cloud of Witneſſes, let us lay aſide every Weight, and the Sin that doth ſo eaſily beſet us; and let us run with Patience the Race that is ſet before us, looking unto Jeſus, the Author and Finiſher of our Faith; who for the Joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, deſpiſing the Shame, and is ſet down at the right Hand of the Throne of God, Amen.