for their Master, as being most particularly concern'd in him, [ A] two of his neerest intimates; and their zeal would needs break out into flame. And why not? a rudenesse to Eli jah was reveng'd by him with Fire from Heaven, which con∣sumed twice fifty Souldiers and their Captain, though they came to do the King's Command: And shall these hated Schismaticks be rude to Thee? and reject the Messiah, and yet go unpunished? Lord, shall we command fire to come down from Heaven to consume them, even as Elias did? Which our Saviour answers with this sharp rebuke, Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of. [ B]
Not to divide but to explain my Text, and so instead of parts present you with some Subjects of Discourse.
By Spirit here is meant that disposition and complexure of Christian Piety and Vertues, that course and Method of Religion which the Spirit does prescribe to Christ's Disci∣ples, and does guide them in; or in a word, the temper of the Gospel is so called: And this in opposition to the Law, the difference of these being exprest by a diverse manner of Spirit; the one is called Spirit of Bondage, the other Spirit of Adoption; so here Ye know not of what Spirit ye are, ye [ C] do not judge aright, if you believe the temper of the Gospel is like that of the Law: The course that I prescribe to my Disciples differs much from that of Prophets under the old Testament, you must be guided by another Spirit than Elija's was in calling for Fire, if my Spirit dwell in you, For I came not to destroy ••••ens lives on any such ac∣count. In this sense it affords these propositions.
First, To destroy Mens lives, or other temporal rights on this account meerly, because they are Apostates, Schismaticks, or otherwise reject the true Religion, or Christ himself, is incon∣sistent with the temper of the Gospel. This is that which [ D] Christ reproves here, telling them that would do so, Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of.
Secondly, Because the Spirit of Elias, which the Gospel Christian Spirit here is set in opposition to, oppos'd the Ma∣gistrate, destroy'd those that came commission'd from the Prince, and Christ designedly does say ye must not do now what Elias did, therefore, to attempt upon or against the Magistrate, on the account of Christ, or of Religion, is in∣consistent with the Spirit of the Gospel. [ E]
First, of the first that to destroy mens lives, &c.
But here I must observe, that since these fiery Disciples that did give occasion for our Saviours rebuke, here were no Magistrates, nor did Christ himself that gave the rebuke