A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The Holy Fire of Zeale | Page 9

swift as the grey-hound in the waies of
Gods commandements; in the race to heaven, as nimble as the Goat
climbing the steepe and craggy mountaines of pietie and vertue; A
victorious King, overcoming the world and his lusts: Salomon in all his

royalty, is not cloathed like one of these in his fiery Charriot.
To cut off the infinite praises of zeale, let us heare what honourable
testimonies and glorious rewards, it pleaseth God to conferre upon it;
Davids ruddy complexion and his skill in musique, made him amiable
in the eyes of men: but the zeale of his heart, stiled him a man after
Gods owne heart; and the sweet Singer of Israel. Abraham, that could
finde in his heart to sacrifice his Isaack, was called the friend of God.
The same vertue denominated Jacob a Prince with God. Elisha, The
Charriots and horse-men. Paul, A chosen vessell, &c.
[Sidenote: Revel. 12.]
[Sidenote: Revel. 7. 3. Ezek. 9. Exod. 12.]
Neither doth God put them off, with names and empty favours, but
upon these he bestowes his graces: David dedicateth his Psalmes to him
that excelled: God in dispensing of favours, observeth the same rule, to
him that overcommeth will I give, &c, To him that hath, shall bee given.
Husbandmen cast their seede uppon the fertilest ground, which returnes
it with the greatest interest: God gives most talents to those that
improove them in the best banke. Joseph shall have a party coloured
coat, of all kindes of graces and blessings: And because he knowes this
will purchase them hatred and envy, hee takes them into speciall tuition;
if any will hurt his zealous witnesses, there goeth out a fire out of their
mouthes, to devoure their enemies. A man were better anger all the
witches in the world then one of these. If God bring any common
judgements, he sets his seale and Thau on their fore-heads, & sprinkles
their posts; snatcheth Lot out of the fire (who burneth in zeale, as
Sodome in lust) as men doe their plate whiles they let the baser stuffe
burne. In fine, hee taketh Enoch and Eliah in triumphant Charriots up
to heaven, and after their labours and toyles, setteth them in speciall
Thrones, to rest in glory; The Apostles in their twelve, the rest in their
order, according to their zeale. And though hee may well reckon the
best of these, unprofitable servants; yet such congruity (not of merits,
but of favour) it pleaseth him to observe in crowning his graces, that
the most zealous heere, are the most glorious there.

Who would not now wonder, how ever this royall vertue should have
lost it grace with the world; how ever any should admit a low thought
of it? But what? Shall all the indignity which hell can cast upon it,
make it vile in our eyes? or rather, shall wee not reason from the
opposition, as Tertullian did of _Nero:_ That religion which Nero so
persecutes, must needs be excellent.
[Sidenote: 1 Object. Zeale is madd, and makes men mad.]
[Sidenote: Acts 26. 24 1 Cor.]
If zeale were not some admirable good, the Divell and World would not
so hate it; Yet lest silence should bee thought to baulke some
unanswerable reasons, let us see how they labour to be madd with
reason: Let Festus bee the Speaker for the rest, for hee speakes what all
the rest thinke; you know his madd objection, and Pauls sober answer
in that place, and the like, 2 Cor. 5.13. whether hee bee madd or sober,
it is for God and you.
This text bids us bee zealous and repent; the word signifies be wise
againe, or returne to your wits. The prodigall is sayd to come to
himselfe, when he was first heat with this fire. Wee may well answer
the world as old men doe young: You thinke us Christians to bee madd
that follow heaven so eagerly; but we know you to bee madd, that run
a-madding so after vanity.
[Sidenote: Acts. 2.]
[Sidenote: Acts. 7.]
A Christian indeed is never right, till he seeme to the world to be beside
himselfe; Christs owne kindred were afrayd of him. The Apostles are
sayd to be full of new wine; besides, with these the world is madd: they
runn with Stephan like madd men; Nichodemus and such as he, never
offends them.
[Sidenote: 2 Object.]

[Sidenote: A makebate.]
[Sidenote: Tenterden steeple.]
You know also what Ahab laid to the charge of _Eliah_; with the
Apologie hee made for himselfe. This is a stale imputation in ages.
Haman accused Mordechay and the Jewes of it. The Apostles are sayd
to bee troubles of the whole earth. In the Primitive Church all mutinies
and contentions were layd to the Martyrs. True it