N01610:78
Zealots. A zeal for the house of God, blown up, in a sermon unto…Zelotes. A zeal for the house of God, blown up, in a sermon unto…
Zealots. A zeal for the house of God, blown up, in a sermon unto an assembly of Christians; in the south-part of Boston. On 8. d. XI. m. 1716,17. : A day of prayer kept by them, at their first entrance into a new edifice erected by them, for the public worship of God our Saviour. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. and F.R.S. ; [Two lines from St. Ambrose]Zelotes. A zeal for the house of God, blown up, in a sermon unto an assembly of Christians; in the south-part of Boston. On 8. d. XI. m. 1716,17. : A day of prayer kept by them, at their first entrance into a new edifice erected by them, for the publick worship of God our Saviour. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. and F.R.S. ; [Two lines from St. Ambrose]
Boston: printed by J. Allen for Nicholas Boone, 1717
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. He knows whether they do so or no. Christ Jesus is God as well as man, and therefore necessarily knows whether persons are hypocrites or sincere, in the profession they make of Religion. This is necessarily implied or intended in those words of our Text, I am he that searcheth the reins and the hearts. In a literal sense, the reins and hearts are Internal parts of the body, & quite out of the sight of men; yet God sees them. For there is not any Creature that is not manifest in his sight, all things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do, Heb. 4. 13. But the reins and hearts, in our Text are taken in a metaphorical or figurative sense, to signify the Rational Souls ⟨p. 14⟩of men, with their immediate designs, purposes, thoughts, &c. For tho' these are secret from the view of other men, yet they lie open to Christ's view. He searches them, the meaning is, he perfectly sees, knows, and is acquainted with them. Persons often pretend to have those designs and inclinations, which are not really in them; and thereby they may deceive men who can judge only by outward appearance. They may outwardly appear righteous to men, while inwardly they are full of iniquity and hypocrisy, Mat. 23 28. But the Lord Jesus, whose eyes are a flame of fire, cannot be thus imposed upon, or deceived. He not only knows mens words and outward actions, but also as fully knows their hearts, all their designs, desires and purposes. He knows the things that come into their minds, even every one of them, Ezek. 21. 5. If they act agreeably to his Will, sincerely desiring and designing to glorify him; he sees and approves their sincerity, tho' men possibly may tax them with Formality, Hypocrisy, and by sinister ends in what they do. So on the other hand, if they make the most pious shows and pretences, and shine ⟨p. 15⟩like Angels, in the opinion of men; yet if they secretly and chiefly aim at their own applause, outward profit or advantage in the matter; then the Lord Jesus plainly sees and greatly abhors, their cursed mockery and hypocrisy. Therefore he could say of the Pharisees, who made wondrous shows of Piety; all their works they do to be seen of men,