- A godly man is a zealous man; grace turns a Saint into a Seraphim,1 it makes him burn in holy zeal; zeal is a mixed affection, a compound of love and anger, it carries forth our love to God, and anger against sin in the most intense manner: Zeal is the flame of the affections; a godly man hath a double baptism, of water and fire, he is baptized with a spirit of zeal, hee is zealous for Gods honour, truth, worship, Psal. 119. 139. my zeal hath consumed me; it was a crown set on Phineas his head, hee was zealous for his God. Numb. 25. 13. Moses being touched with a coal from Gods altar, in his zeal hee breaks the Tables, Exod. 32. 19. our blessed Saviour in his zeal, whips the buyers and sellers out of the Temple, Ioh. 2. 17. the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up.
But there is a Praeternatural heat, something looking like zeal, which is not, a Comet looks like a Star: I shall therefore show some differences between a true and a false zeal.
1 A false zeal is a blinde zeal, Rom. 10. 2. They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge; this is not the fire of the spirit, but wild-fire. The Athenians were very devout and zealous, but they knew not for what, Acts 17. 23. I found an Altar with this Inscription, […], To the unknown God, Thus the Papists are zealous in their way, but they have taken away the key of knowledge.
2 A false zeal is a self-seeking zeal; Iehu cries, come see my zeal for the Lord, 2 King. 10. 16. but it was not zeal, but ambition, he was fishing for a Crown. Demetrius pleads for the Goddess Diana, but it was not her Temple, but her Silver shrines he was zealous for: Such zealots Ignatius complains of in his time, that they made a Trade of Christ and Religion, thereby to enrich (Ignat) themselves. ‘Tis probable many in King Henry the eights time were forward to pull down the Abbies, not out of any zeal against Popery, but that they might build their own houses upon the ruines of those Abbies; like Eagles which fly aloft, but their eyes are down upon their prey: If blind zeal be punished seven fold, hypocritical zeal shall bee punished seventy and seven fold.
3 A false praeposterous zeal, is a misguided zeal; it runs out most in things which are not commanded, It is the sign of an hypocrite to be zealous for traditions, and careless of institutions. The Pharisees were more zealous about washing of their cups than their hearts.
4 A false zeal is fired with passion. Iames and Iohn, when they would call for fire from heaven, were rebuked by our Saviour, Luk. 9. 54. Yee know not what spirit yee are off, it was not zeal, but choller; many have espoused the cause of Religion, rather out of faction and humour, than out of zeal to the truth.
But the zeal of a godly man, is a true and holy zeal, which evidenceth it self in the effects of it.
1 True zeal cannot bear an injury done to God, zeal makes the blood rise, when Gods honour is impeached, Rev. 2. 2. I know thy works and thy labour and patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; hee who zealously affects his friend, cannot hear him spoken against, and be silent.
2 True zeal will encounter with the greatest difficulties; when the world holds out a Gorgons head of danger to discourage us, zeal casts out fear; it is quickned by2 opposition. Zeal doth not say there is a Lyon in the way; zeal will charge through an Army of dangers, it will march in the face of death. Let news be brought to Paul, that he was waylaid, in every City bonds and imprisonment did abide him, this sets a keener edge upon his zeal, Acts 21. 13. I am ready not only to bee bound, but to dye for the name of the Lord Iesus: as sharp frosts do by an antiparistasis make the fire burn hotter, so sharp oppositions do but inflame zeal the more.
3 True zeal as it hath knowledge to go before it, so it hath sanctity to follow after it: Wisdome leads the van of zeal, and holiness brings up the rear: an hypocrite seems to be zealous, but he is vitious: the godly man is white and ruddy, white in purity, as well as ruddy in zeal; Christs zeal was hotter than the fire, and his holiness purer than the sun.
4 Zeal that is genuine loves truth when it is despised, and opposed, Psal. 119. 126. They have made void thy law, therefore I love thy commandements above gold: the more others deride holiness, the more we love it; what is Religion the worse for others disgracing it? doth a Diamond sparkle the less, because a blinde man disparageth it? the more outragious the wicked are against the truth, the more couragious the godly are for it: When Mical scoffed at Davids religious dancing before the Ark, if (saith he) this be to be vile, I will yet be more vile, 2 Sam. 6. 22.