A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The Holy Fire of Zeale | Page 2

the same I finde in our
common Christians, whose spirituall condition, and state is too like the

externall situation of our Country, between the Torrid, and the Frigid
Zones; neither hot nor colde: and so like Laodicea, that if wee take not
warning, or warming, we may, I feare, in time come to be spued out of
Gods mouth.
[Sidenote: 3]
For this present assembly of Ministers, could all the choice and time in
the world have better fitted mee then mine ordinarie Lot? If fire bee set
upon the Beacons, will not the whole Countrey soone be warned and
enlightned?
[Sidenote: 4]
For my selfe also, mee thinkes it will better beseeme my yeeres to heat,
then to teach my Ancients; to enkindle their affections, then to enforme
their judgements. And whereas Paul bids Titus preach zeale with all
authoritie; though in mine owne name I crave your patience, and
audience, yet in his name that is the first of the creatures, and Amen, I
counsell him that hath an eare, to heare what the Spirit saith to the
Churches;
[Greek: Zêlôson], _Be Zealous._

_A Coale from the Altar._
Revel. 3.19. [Greek: Zêlôson]: _Be Zealous._
Zeale hath been little practized, lesse studied: this heavenly fire hath
ever beene a stranger upon earth. Few in all ages that have felt the heat
of it, fewer that have knowne the nature of it. A description will rake it
out of the embers of obscurity: and it may be that many when they shall
know it better, will better affect it.
2. Zeale hath many counterfets and allies. There are many strange fires
which having sought to carry away the credit of it, have brought in an
ill name upon it: from these it would bee distinguished.

3. Zeale is every where spoken against it hath many enemies and few
friends: the world can no more abide it, then beasts can the elementary
fire, the rebukes of many have falne upon it, the Divell weaves cunning
lies to bring downe the honour of it. Oh that wee could raise and
maintaine it, by setting forth the deserved praise of it; and challenge it
from the false imputations of such as hate it without a cause.
4. Zeale hath in this our earthly molde, little fuell, much quench-coale,
is hardly fired, soone cooled. A good Christian therefore would bee
glad to know the Incentives and preservatives of it, which might
enkindle it, enflame it, feed it, and revive it when it is going out.
5. Zeale in the worlds opinion, is as common as fire on every mans
hearth, no mans heart without zeale, if every man might be his owne
judge; If most might be heard there is too much of it; but the contrary
will appear if the right markes bee taken, and the true rules of triall and
conviction bee observed, and the heart thereby examined.
6. Zeale generally handled will break as lightning in the aire, and seize
upon no subject: Application must set it on mens harts, and exhortation
warme this old and colde age of the world, chiefly this temperate
climate of our nation.
First Part.
It was sayd of olde, that zeale was an _Intension of love_: of late, that it
is a compound of _love and anger, or indignation_.
The Ancients aimed right, and shot neere, if not somwhat with the
shortest. The moderne well discovered the use and exercise of more
affections, then love, within the fathome and compasse of zeale; but in
helping that default, went themselves somewhat wide, and came not
close to the marke: which I ascribe not to any defect of eye-sight in
those sharpe sighted Eagles; but onely to the want of fixed
contemplation. And to speake truth, I have oft wondered why poore
Zeale, a vertue so high in Gods books, could never be so much
beholding to mens writings as to obtain a just treatise, which hath
beene the lot of many particular vertues of inferiour worth; a plaine

signe of too much under-value and neglect.
Hee that shall stedfastly view it, shall finde it not to bee a degree or
intension of love, or any single affection (as the Schooles rather
confined then defined zeale) neither yet any mixt affection (as the later,
rather compounded then comprehended the nature of it) but an _hot
temper, higher degree or intension of them all_. As varnish is no one
color, but that which gives glosse & lustre to all; So the opposites of
zeale, key-coldnes and lukewarmnesse, which by the Law of contraries
must bee of the same nature, are no affections, but severall tempers of
them all.
[Sidenote: Acts 26. 7.]
Paul warrants this description where hee speakes of the twelve Tribes.
They served God with intension or vehemency.