Use 2.1 As you would be found in the catalogue of the godly, labour for zeal; as good be of no religion, as not to be zealous in religion. Beware of carnal policy; This is one of those three things which Luther feared would be the death of* Religion. Some men have been too wise to be saved. Their discretion hath quenched their zeal; beware of sloth, which is an enemy to zeal, be zealous and repent Rev. 3. 19. Christians, what do you reserve your zeal for? is it for your gold that perisheth? or for your lusts that will make you perish? can you bestow your zeal better, than upon God? how zealous have men been in a false religion? Isa. 46. 6. They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. The Jews did spare no cost in their idolatrous worship, nay, Jer. 32. 35. They cause their Sons and Daughters to pass through the fire to Molech. They were so zealous in their idol-worship, that they would sacrifice their Sons and Daughters to their false Gods; how far did the purblind Heathens go in their false ⟨p. 163⟩zeal? […] the Tribunes of Rome complained they wanted gold in their Treasur•es, to offer to Apollo, the Roman Matrons plucked off their chains of gold, and rings, and bracelets, and gave them to the Priests to offer up* sacrifice: were these so zealous in their sinful worship, and will not you be zealous in the worship of the true God? can you loose any thing by your zeal? shall it not be super-abundantly recompensed? what is heaven worth? what is a sight of God worth? was not Jesus Christ zealous for you? he sweat drops of blood, he conflicted with his Fathers wrath; how zealous was he for your redemption, and have you no zeal for him? is there any thing you your selves hate more than dullness and slothfulness in your servants? you are weary of such servants; do you dislike a dull temper in others, and not in your selves? what are all your duties without zeal, but non entia, meer fancies and nullities.
Use 2.1 As you would be found in the catalogue of the godly, labour for zeal; as good bee of no religion, as not to be zealous in religion. Beware of carnal policy; This is one of those three things which Luther feared would bee the death of* Religion. Some men have been too wise to bee saved. Their discretion hath quenched their zeal; beware of stoth, which is an enemy to zeal, be zealous and repent Rev. 3. 19. Christians, what do you reserve your zeal for? is it for your gold that perisheth? or for your lusts that will make you perish? can you bestow your zeal better, than upon God? how zealous have men been in a false religion? Isa. 46. 6. They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the ballance. The Iews did spare no cost in their idolatrous worship, nay, Ier. 32. 35. They cause their Sons and Daughters to pass thorow the fire to Molech. They were so zealous in their idol-worship, that they would sacrifice their Sons and Daughters to their false Gods; how far did the purblinde Heathens go in their false ⟨p. 163⟩zeal? 〈…〉 the Tribunes of Rome complained they wanted gold in their Treasur•es, to offer to Apollo, the Roman Matrons plucked off their chains of gold, and rings, and bracelets, and gave them to the Priests to offer up* sacrifice: were these so zealous in their sinful worship, and will not you bee zealous in the worship of the true God? can you loose any thing by your zeal? shall it not bee super-abundantly recompenced? what is heaven worth? what is a sight of God worth? was not Jesus Christ zealous for you? he sweat drops of blood, hee conflicted with his Fathers wrath; how zealous was hee for your redemption, and have you no zeal for him? is there any thing you your selves hate more than dulness and slothfulness in your servants? you are weary of such servants; do you dislike a dull temper in others, and not in your selves? what are all your duties without zeal, but non entia, meer fancies and nullities.
- 1Use 2. Exhort.
- *Melch. Adam in vit. Luth.
- *Livy.
