The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Secondly, It is a folly in the world to be so fervent, zealous and active in matters of Religion. They like well enough a general profession of Christianity a lukewarm obedience unto all the duties thereof; but this zeal is forwardness, they cannot abide, that is rashness, indiscretion, that's madness and wild fire. Now it's true, there may be an ignorant and a rash zeal; but men are apt to judge so of any more powerful and forwarder practices of holiness, than they themselves use. Whereas the Scripture is plain, That no man can be saved, that doth not make it his business, his work, his one thing necessary, to do the work of God. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force, Mat. 11.12. Doest thou think then by thy formality, coldness and lukewarm moderation ever to attain Heaven? Is not Christianity compared to striving in a mastery, to running in a race? Do ye not read of Pauls striving forward, and forgetting all things that are behind? Phil 3 Did not the holy Ghost descend in the form of fire, with a mighty rushing wind, to signify how active it is in those that are godly? Doest thou therefore cry out of this forwardness and this zeal? What is this, but to open thy mouth against Heaven? On thy death-bed, it may be nothing will trouble thee so much as thy slothfulness ⟨p. 242⟩and barrenness, that thou wast not as active for God, as for the world, thou wouldst then wish thy soul might fare as theirs shall, who made it their employment to serve God.

Secondly, It is a folly in the world to be so fervent, zealous and active in matters of Religion. They like well enough a general profession of Christianity a lukewarm obedience unto all the duties thereof; but this zeal is forwardnesse, they cannot abide, that is rashnesse, indiscretion, that's madnesse and wilde fire. Now it's true, there may be an ignorant and a rash zeal; but men are apt to judge so of any more powerfull and forwarder practices of holinesse, than they themselves use. Whereas the Scripture is plain, That no man can be saved, that doth not make it his businesse, his work, his one thing necessary, to do the work of God. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force, Mat. 11.12. Doest thou think then by thy formality, coldnesse and lukewarm moderation ever to attain Heaven? Is not Christianity compared to striving in a mastery, to running in a race? Do ye not read of Pauls striving forward, and forgetting all things that are behinde? Phil 3 Did not the holy Ghost descend in the form of fire, with a mighty rushing wind, to signifie how active it is in those that are godly? Doest thou therefore cry out of this forwardnesse and this zeal? What is this, but to open thy mouth against Heaven? On thy death-bed, it may be nothing will trouble thee so much as thy slothfulnesse