The works of George Swinnock, M.A

2. Their carriage was wise; They shall keep silence. The words may have a two fold exposition; 1. If they be taken in relation to God (as some think) they speak the patient submission of the faithful, in that evil day, to the divine providence and pleasure. 2. If they be taken in relation to men (as others expound them) they speak the prudent conversation of the gracious in that day of persecution; they shall not causelessly throw themselves into greater miseries, but shall keep all due silence to avoid needless sufferings. Indeed thy care must be to own Christ ever, and to profess him publicly when thou art called to it; but as thy policy should not eat up thy zeal, so thy zeal must not eat up thy wisdom; I would not discourage thee from confessing the Lord Jesus; yet I must tell thee that thou art not bound to proclaim in all companies, of what judgement thou art, nor what Church Government thou wouldst choose, not what society thou meetest in, &c. Nay, thou art bound to the contrary. He that hath a good mixture of zeal and prudence, is like a fire on the hearth, of much use and service; but zeal without discretion, is like fire on the top of the Chimney, which often doth much mischief. Zeal to a Christian is like an high Wind ••lling the sails of a Ship, which unless it be ballasted with discretion, doth but the sooner overturn ⟨p. 169⟩it. Obadiah a Bishop, raised a dreadful storm of persecution by his intemperate zeal; I doubt not but the whole company of believers in some Nations, have suffered through the indiscreet heats of some particular persons. Zeal in a man, is like wings to a Bird, or mettle to an Horse; but the bridle of discretion is requisite, as the Poe•s fable that Minerva put a golden bridle on Pegasus, lest he should fly too fast. Bernard hath a good saying, Discretion without Zeal is slow-paced, and Zeal without Discretion is heady; let therefore Zeal, spur on discretion, and Discretion rein in Zeal. Paul was full of heavenly fire; its said of him, when he came to Athens and beheld their Idolatry, that his spirit [Greek or Hebrew] was stirred within him, Act. 17. 16. yet it is worthy our observation, though he preached much against Idols in general, yet he pleads not at all against Diana in particular, the Goddess of whom the Athenians were so foolishly fond; his zeal moved him to oppose Idolatry to his power;