A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

2. The other concomitant is Zeal, which is the most intense degree of desire and endeavour to please, and honour God. 'Tis the boiling up of the affections to the greatest heat; this must be the companion of every grace; now Zeal is expressed against sin, or in duty. In the exercise of Zeal against sin, I beg of you to observe this Rule, viz. Whatever act of Zeal you express towards others, double it first upon your selves: whatever evil you reprove, or would reform in others, be doubly strict against it in your selves. This is Christ's counsel, Cast out the beam out of thine own eye, then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote out of thy Brother's eye; ¹Mine eye is not capable of having a beam in it, but a mote in mine own eye, should be to me as a beam, in comparison of what it is in another's. Take a few Scripture instances (for this had need to be inculcated in the present age) in case of dishonour done to God and your selves, compare Moses his carriage^(g), Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? and the Lord heard it, but Moses was as if he heard it not, for he was very meek above all men that were upon the face of the earth: He was so indeed, but it was only in his own cause; when the glory of God is concerned, you'll find him of another temper. As soon as he saw the Calf, and the Dancing, Moses's anger waxed hot — and he took the calf which they had made, and burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder, ³and strewed it upon the water, and made the Children of Israel drink of it — And Moses stood up in the gate of the Camp, and said, who is on the Lord's s de, let him come unto me — and he said, put every man his Sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour, &c. Here is one ice-cold in his own cause, fire-hot in God's. Take another instance of Paul^(h), Brethren I beseech you be as I am, for I am as ye are; you have not injured me at all, q, d. the wrong you have done me, I count as nothing: but to Elimas that would hinder the entertainment of the Gospel, he saith, thou Child of the Devil, thou Enemy of all Righteousness,