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

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

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The Holy
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Title: A Coal From The Altar, To Kindle The Holy Fire of Zeale In a
Sermon Preached at a Generall Visitation at Ipswich
Author: Samuel Ward
Release Date: August 3, 2005 [EBook #16423]
Language: English
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A COAL FROM THE ALTAR, TO KINDLE THE holy fire of Zeale.
In a Sermon preached at a generall _Visitation at Ipswich._

By SAM WARD Bach. of Divinity.
_The third Edition, corrected and much amended._
[Greek: Theô kai humin]
LONDON,
Printed by _E.G._ for Joyce Macham, widow; and are to bee sold in
Pauls Church yard, at the signe of Time, 1628

To my reverend Friend Mr. SAMUEL WARD.
_Sir, your Sermon which I copied partly from your mouth, and partly
from your notes, I have adventured into the light; encouraged by the
approbation, and earnest entreaty of such, whose judgements you
reverence, and whose love you embrace: who also have made bolde
heere and there to varie some things, not of any great consequence, if I
can judge. I was loth to smoother such fire in my brest; but to vent it, to
enflame others. If you shall blame me, I know others will thanke mee.
What I have done, is out of Zeale to God and his Church._
Your affectionate friend,
_Ambrose Wood._

Revel. 3. 19. _Be zealous._
[Sidenote: Mat. 24. 12.]
[Sidenote: 1 Kin. 1. 1.]
This watch-word of Christ, if it be not now a word in season, I know
not when ever it was, or will bee: Would he now vouchsafe to bestow a
letter upon his Church heere on earth; should hee need to alter the
tenour of this? which being the last, to the last of the seaven Churches,

why may it not (saith an Ancient, upon this text) typifie the estate of
the last Age of his Churches? the coldnesse whereof himselfe hath
expressely foretolde. And if God should now send through he earth
such surveying Angels as Zacharie mentions, chapter 1. Could they
returne any other observation of their travailes then theirs; _The whole
world lies in lukewarmnesse?_ which makes mee often in my thoughts
proportion these ends of time, to the like period of Davids age, when no
cloathes were enough to keepe heare in him. Faith I grant is a more
radicall, vitall, and necessary grace; but yet not so wholly out of grace
with the times, as poore _Zeale_; which yet if by any meanes it might
once againe be reduced into favour and practice, before Time sets, and
bee no more; I doubt not but Christ would also yet once againe in this
evening of the world, come and Sup with us; A favour including all
other in it.
[Sidenote: 2]
My desire especially is, that this our Iland might take it to it selfe, as
well as if it had by name beene directed to it; what would it hurt us to
make an especiall benefit and use of it? Some of our owne, have so
applyed it; (whether out of their judgements, or affections, I say not.)
Learned Fulk marvels if it were not by a Propheticall spirit penned for
us: others more resolutely have made it a singular type of purpose for
us. Their warrant I know not; especially if it bee true which all
travellers tell you, _That they finde more zeale at home then abroad._
We are I grant in sundry respects equall to _Laodicea_: Even the very
names thereof, as well the first and oldest in regard of the blessings of
God, [Greek: Dios polis] Gods Darling, as the later in regard of good
Lawes and Civility, Laodicea, How well doe they become us? As rich
as they, and that in the very same commodity of woolls; Abounding as
they with many learned Zenoes & bountifull _Hieroes_; Parallel in all
regards; I would I could say lukewarmnesse excepted. But I must bee a
faithfull and true witnesse, and yet this is all I have to say; It was, as I
conceive, _Laodicea's_ complexion and not her constitution, her
practice not her orders, personall lukewarmnesse not legall, which
Christ strikes at. That fault I finde in my text,