A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The Holy Fire of Zeale: In a Sermon Preached at a Generall Visitation at IpswichWard, Samuel
Religion
A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The Holy Fire of Zeale: In a Sermon Preached at a Generall Visitation at Ipswich
Ward, Samuel
Bible. Revelation III, 19 -- Sermons; Piety -- Sermons; Sermons, English -- 17th century
The Sunne will put out the fire; and so will the love of the world, the
love of the Father, they cannot stand together in intense degrees, one
cannot serve both these matters with such affection as both would have.
Seldome seest thou a man make haste to bee rich, and thrive in religion.
Christs message to _John_ holds true; The poore are most forward in
receiving and following the Gospell: as thou lovest thy zeale, beware of
resolving to bee rich, lest gain proove thy godlinesse; take heede of
ambitious aspiring, lest Courts and great places, proove ill aires for
zeale, whither it is as easie to go zealous, as to returne wise:
_Peter_ whiles hee warmed his hands, cooled his heart; Not that
greatnesse and zeale cannot agree; but for that our weaknes many times
severs them. If thou beest willing to die poore in estate, thou mayest
the more easily live rich in grace. _Smyrna_, the poorest of the seven
Candle-stickes, hath the richest price upon it.
The diligent practise of these courses will make easie the practise of
this counsell, _Be zealous, &c_.
_The fift part._
[Sidenote: 1 Object.]
But heere mee thinke I heare the lukewarme worldling of our times, fume
& chafe, and aske what needs all this adoe for zeale, as if all Gods
people were not zealous enough.
[Sidenote: Answer.]
Such as thinke they are, or can bee zealous enough, neede no other
conviction to bee poore, blinde, naked, wretched and pittifull
_Laodiceans_: Fire is ever climbing and aspiring higher; zeale is ever
aiming at that which is before; carried towards perfection; thinking
meanely of that which is past, and already attained, condemning his
unprofitable service, as _Calvin_ his last Will: this rule tries full
conceited Christians.
[Sidenote: 2 Object.]
What would you have us doe? wee professe, keepe our Church, heare
Sermons, as Christians ought to doe.
[Sidenote: Answer.]
Affectionate friendship and service is not onely for publique shew and
pomp, upon festivall dayes, in Chambers of Presence; but for
domesticall, ordinary, and private use; to such holy-day and Church
retainers, God may well say, Let us have some of this zeale at home and
apart.
All affections are most passionate, without a witnesse. Such as whose
families, closets, fields, beds, walkes, doe testifie of their worship,
as well as temples & Synagogues, are right servitors: God much respects
their devotions; and they have strong proofe of the power of godlinesse.
[Sidenote: 3 Object.]
Wee would you should know, that wee are such as have prayer sayd or read
in our families and housholds; or else we say some to our selves at our
lying downe, and uprising and more then that, say you what you will, wee
holde more then needs.
[Sidenote: Answer.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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