The zealovs Christian taking heaven by holy violence in severall sermons, tending to direct men how to hear with zeal, [how] to pray with importunity / preached by ... Mr. Christopher Love ...

MATTHEW 11. 12.

And from the dayes of John the Baptist untill now, the Kingdom of heaven suffer∣eth violence, and the vio∣lent take it by force.

* 1.1IN the third place, this doctrine may serve for instruction touch¦ing severall things. 1 The na∣ture * 1.2 of this holy violence. 2 The necessity of it. 3 The dis∣covery of it. 4 The differences betwixt an heady and holy violence.

Quest. 1. If you ask, what is the nature of this holy violence? * 1.3

I answer, 1 It is a full and vehement bent of a mans desires, affections, and en∣deavours after Jesus Christ in the Gospel;

so that no difficulties or discouragements whatsoever shall take him off from his pur∣suit after Christ in the way of his ordi∣nances.

2 For the necessity of it, that appears in * 1.4 5 regards. 1 In regard of God. 2 In re∣gard of ourselves. 3 In respect of the de∣vil. 4 In respect of other men. 5 In re∣spect of heaven it self.

1 In regard of God, Eccles. 9. 10. What∣soever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy * 1.5 might. God requires this at your hands, Rom. 12. 11. Not slothfull in businesse, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. The word signi∣fies boiling in spirit.

2 In regard of our selves, and that for two reasons.

1 We have violent temptations against us, our affections must be equal to our tem∣ptations * 1.6; if our affections be not violent, how can we resist violent temptations? shall not we be as violent to save our souls as the Devil is to damne them? Satan in∣vades the soul with fierce and furious as∣saults.

2 We have been violent in the wayes of sin. Shew as much violence in the wayes of God, as you can, and when you have done all, it will come short of your former vio∣lence in the wayes of sin, Rom 6. 19. As * 1.7 ye have yielded your members servants to un∣cleannesse, and to iniquity unto iniquity: even

so now yield your members servants to righte∣ousnesse unto holinesse. There are three To's in the expression of the service of sin, to uncleannesse, to iniquity, and unto iniqui∣ty, but in the service of God there are one∣ly two To's, to righteousnesse, and unto holines. To note that we were more addict∣ed to sin formerly then now we are to grace; the reason is, then there was nothing but sin in the soul, now there is something else besides grace, a stream of corruption to op∣pose it. We ought to be as violent in good as in evil: the same word which signifies to persecute, Act. 26. 11. is used to set out his earnest pressing towards heaven, Phil. * 1.8 3. 14.

3. In regard of the devill. He hath vio∣lent temptations and suggestions, 1 Pet. 5. 8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil as a roaring lion walketh about, seek∣ing * 1.9 whom he may devour. 1 He is said to be an adversary. Now an adversary will * 1.10 watch all opportunities for your hurt, and wil be intently set upon it. 2 He is a lion, not a lamb; a lion, a savage, fierce, and furi∣ous creature. 3 He is not asleep, but a roaring lion. 4 Not a lion standing still, contented with the prey when he hath got∣ten it, but still going about for more: he is not contented with what he hath gotten, though he hath been going about ever since Adams fal, yet he goes about still for more,

he labours to sill hell with souls. 5 He * 1.11 seeks whom he may devour. The devill watcheth, and doest thou sleep?

4 In regard of other men, and those ei∣ther bad or good.

1 In regard of bad men.

1 Consider, they are violent against the truth, and wilt not thou be as eager and vi∣olent in the profession of the Gospel, as they are in their oppositions against it? As Zeno said to one of his acquaintance, who was enticed to bear false witnesse against another, and walked privately, because he would avoid the man that sought to sub∣orn him. Oh, said Zeno, Shall he not be ashamed of sin, and wilt thou be ashamed to set thy selfe against sin?

2 Bad men rage and are violent in wayes of wickednesse: Wicked men are as swift as dromedaries in the wayes of sin, and wilt thou be as a dull asse in the service of God? shall a man run fast in a way of sin to destroy his soul, and will you but creep in the wayes of God to save your soul? shall wicked men run post to hell, and wilt thou but creep slowly to heaven? Shall a man make speed to the place of execution, and wilt thou but move slowly towards a crown and throne? shall wicked men not be ashamed to shew their rage in a sinfull course, and shall godly men be ashamed to be zealous in the wayes of God? Jer. 8. 6. * 1.12

They turn to their course as the horse rush∣eth * 1.13 into the battel, Jer. 9. 5. They weary themselves to commit iniquity, will not you do as much for God as they do for Sa∣tan?

2 In regard of good men. How eager * 1.14 and earnest are they after God? Caleb and Joshua followed God fully, Numb. 14. 24. vvhen hypocrites follow God partially and by halves. Psal. 132. 4, 5. David vvas so vio∣lent for God, that he would give no sleep to his eyes, nor slumber to his eye-lids, untill he found out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. As on the contrary, those wicked men, Prov. 4. 16. were so vio∣lent in wickednesse, that they could not sleep, except they caused some to fall. Psal. 69. 9. The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up, and the * 1.15 reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon * 1.16 me.

5 In respect of heaven it self, Luke 13. 24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for ma∣ny * 1.17 I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall * 1.18 not be able. Strive to an agony, or as in an agony men strive for life: it is not enough to seek; many seekers shall never finde, but there must be striving: there must be a kinde of holy impatiency to get into heaven, 1 Cor. 9. 24, 25. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize: So run that ye may obtain. And every man that * 1.19 striveth for the mastery is temperate in all

things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 2 Tim. 2. 5. * 1.20 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully. Heaven is compared to a hill, and hell to a pit. It * 1.21 vvill cost a man sweat and labour to get up an hill, but it is an easie thing to go down into a pit. Heaven is as Canaan (the type of it) was, though a land of promise, yet of conquest too. There were many Gi∣ants there, the sons of Anak in the land. Heaven is not had vvithout eagernesse, Luk 16. 16. Every man presseth into it. It is an * 1.22 allusion to souldiers that storm a City or strong Garrison, vvith all the speed and vi∣olence they can. Should souldiers go about that great vvork in a marching pace, they might all be cut off. And thus much shall suffice for the second thing, to shevv the necessity of this holy violence.

The 3 thing is the discovery of this holy * 1.23 violence. Novv it is discovered by these follovving marks. A violent or zealous per∣son is one,

1 Who is patient in his ovvn cause, but impatient in Gods cause. This vvas the temper of David. What the enemies did to David vvas but as a pin in the flesh, but vvhat they did against God vvas as a svvord in his bones. Isal. 42. 1 As with a sword in my bones mine enemies reproached 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whilest they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? The

reproaching of God vvas as death to him, as though he had been slain by it, as slaying * 1.24 in my bones. Moses vvas a man very meek in his ovvn vvrongs, Numb. 12. 3. Moses was very meek above all the men that were upon the face of the earth; but in the cause of God, Exod 32. he carried himselfe as if he had * 1.25 been a man made up all of passion, he broke the tables of stone. So Jesus Christ vvas famous for his gentlenesse, he vvas a lambe for meeknesse, and yet in the cause of his Father, he applied that to himselfe; The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up, John 2. * 1.26 17.

2. He never thinks that he began to serve God soon enough, or did him work enough, Psal. 63. 1. Early will I seek thee, and v. 8. * 1.27 My soul followeth hard after God. Act. 13. 22. God gave David this testimony, and said, * 1.28 I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine ovvn heart, vvhich shall fulfill all my vvill. Psal. 119. 6. Then shall I not be * 1.29 ashamed, when I have respect to all thy com∣mandments.

3. He is desirous to glorifie God by suf∣fering as vvell as by doing, to follow the lamb whitherscever he goes; to the vvildernesse, as vvell as to paradise; to a prison, as vvell as to a palace. Jer. 2. 2. I remember the kindeness * 1.30 of thy youth,—when thou wentest after me in a land that was not sowne. Cant. 8. 5. Who is * 1.31 this that cometh up from the wildernesse, leaning

upon her beloved, from the wildernesse of afflictions. Matth. 8. 19. A certain Scribe * 1.32 came to him, and said, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. He would follow Christ in doing, but not in suffering, as cloth doth last in wearing, but shrink in wetting; for when Christ told him, The foxes have holes, the birds of the air nests, but the son of man hath not where to lay his head, verse 20. his courage was abated.

4 He lookes more after duty then re∣ward, and complains more of his defects in it, then for want of expected returnes to it. Many men are content to follow God, so long as there is any advantage in so doing; they wil do their duty, but they do not care for duty, but upon expectation of rewards. Remiss spirits follow God as a dog doth his master, till he comes by a carrion, then he leaves his master, and turns aside to it: So wicked men follow God till they come at a carrion, till they meet with some stink∣ing lust, some occasion or object of sin, but then they depart from God, and close with it. But on the contrary David followed after God, and thirsted for God even then when he was in a drie and thirsty land, where no water was, Psal. 63. 1. Had we been in * 1.33 Davids case, we should have said, O Lord, give me drink; had we been in a barren land, we should have said, O Lord, give me food: but David in a barren and thirsty land cries,

O Lord, give me thy self. That is the spi∣rit of a man that is truly zealous after the Gospel.

5 Difficulties and opposition do rather quicken then abase his endevours; what ad∣ventures will he not make? what paines will he not take? what hazards will he not run for God? And as it is with the fire in the Smiths forge•• that growes hotter and more violent when the water is sprinkled upon it, or as fire burnes the most vehe∣mently in a cold and frosty day: So that opposition that is made against a zealous man doth but make it the more eager and fervent by a holy Antiperistasis. Thus it was in the dayes of Christ, the harder it was to get to him, the more violent and restlesse were they till they came to him. They trod one upon another, being an innumerable multi∣tude of people, Luke 12 1. Some forced their * 1.34 passage to Christ (as we say hunger doth to meat) through stone walls, Mark 2. 4. And * 1.35 when they could not come nigh unto Christ for the preasse, they uncovered the roof where he was, and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed, &c. Such was the temper of that Sy∣rophenician, whose zeal vvas not quench∣ed but increased by opposition, though e∣ven Christ did set himselfe against her as an adversary; When Christ said, It is not meet to take the childrens bread and give it to dogs, * 1.36 Mark 7. 27. Here is cold vvater (one vvould

think) enough to quench the zeal of many a professour, but the fire of her zeal made fuel of this cooling expression; She answer∣ed, Yet the dogs under the table, eat of the chil∣drens crumbs, verse 28. One compares a vi∣olent Christian to a burre, the more paines * 1.37 you take to get it off, it sticks the faster on: So a zealous Christian, the more you ende∣vour to pull him from God, he cleaves the closer to him. This vvas Davids disposi∣tion, vvhen he danced before the Lord, vvhen Michal despised him, and reproved him, and fell foul upon him for it; he an∣svvers, I will yet be more vile then thus, & will be base in mine own sight, for it was before the Lord, 2 Sam 6. 21, 22. And thus much for the third particular, the discovery of this * 1.38 holy violence. I novv come to the fourth.

The fourth particular is the difference * 1.39 betvvixt an heady and rash, and an holy and religious violence. Novv I shall shevv that in 10 particulars.

1 It is most seen in triviall and circum∣stantiall matters. Such vvas the violence of the Pharisees, about vvashing their vessels and their hands before meat, but they never lookt after the vvashing of the heart. So the Prelaticall party shevved much heat and violence about ceremonies, vvhereas they vvere lukevvarm, yea cold in more substan∣tiall matters, the observation of the Sab∣bath, and the strict exercise of holinesse,

&c. They were very violent for the linnen Ephod, though it may be there was a le∣prous skin under it; they took great care to have railes about the Communion-table, but never took care to make a rail to keep prophane persons from the prophanation of the Sacrament; but now a godly man is most conversant about that which may be most advantagious to him, which will bring him neerest heaven, which will be of most use to him to glorifie God, and to save his soul.

2 It is kindled by passion and vain glo∣ry in the one, by a zeal and holy indigna∣tion in the other. Thus many men are zea∣lous in the broaching of errours; when they cannot get glory by holding the truth, then they will give up themselves to vent errours. Whereas true violence comes from a better principle, and aimes at an higher end. The fire of the Altar was to come from heaven, Levit. 9. 24. And when Nadab and Abihu * 1.40 offered sacrifice with strange fire, it was not accepted, nay they were slain in their enter∣prize. Our zeal should be a fire from hea∣ven. God accounts that strange fire we fetch from our own hearts.

3 Violent rash zeal makes a man go be∣yond the bounds of his place and calling. Samuel reprov'd Saul for his heady violence, 1 Sam. 13. 13. When Saul had taken upon * 1.41 him to offer sacrifice, Samuel said, Thou

hast done foolishly. Yet Saul pleaded a fair excuse. verse 11, 12. Saul said, Because I saw * 1.42 that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the dayes appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves toge∣ther to Michmash, therefore said I, The Phili∣stistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord. I forced my selfe therefore, and offered a burnt∣offering.

You see Saul had much to say, yet all would not serve to justifie his invasion into the Priests office. Such was the violence of Peter, Matth. 26. 51. He stretched out his hand, and drew his sword and strook a servant * 1.43 of the High Priest, and smote off his ear. But an holy violence makes a man zealous in his place. A zealous Magistrate will severely punish sin, let other Justices indulge it. A zealous Minister will be faithfull and fer∣vent in the reproving of sin, though o∣thers prove dumb dogs, or flatterers that sowe pillowes under mens elbowes: So a zealous master of a family resolves with good Joshua, That he and his house will serve the Lord, Josh. 24. 15. whatever other ma∣sters and other families do. Fire in its place * 1.44 is good and usefull, but out of its place how hurtfull and destructive?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sermons Preacht at Lawrence Jury, April 29, 1629. SERMON 111.
• * 1.2

  Use 3. Instruction
• * 1.3

  1 What is the nature of this vio∣lence.
• * 1.4

  2 The ne∣cessity of it.
• * 1.5

  1 In regard of God. Rom. 12: 11. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. boyling in spirit.
• * 1.6

  2 In re∣spect of our selves.
• * 1.7

  Rom. 6. 19
• * 1.8

  Acts 26. 11. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Phil. 3. 14.
• * 1.9

  In respect of the De∣vill.
• * 1.10

  1 Pet. 5. 8.
• * 1.11

  Vigilat di∣abolus, & tu do mis. In respect of other men bad men.
• * 1.12

  Jer. 8, 6.
• * 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i••ruit more in undantis aquae.
• * 1.14

  2 In re∣gard of good men, Num. 14. 24. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Implevit ire post me, He went after me with full sail.
• * 1.15

  Psal. 132 4, 5.
• * 1.16

  Psal. 69. 9.
• * 1.17

  Luke 13. 24.
• * 1.18

  5 In re∣gard of Heaven it self. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 more pugi∣lum certa∣te.
• * 1.19

  1 Cor. 9. 24, 25.
• * 1.20

  2 Tim. 2. 5.
• * 1.21

  Facilis de∣scens••s A∣verni. Virgil.
• * 1.22

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Paraeus.
• * 1.23

  3 The dis∣covery of this vio∣lence.
• * 1.24

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Num. 12 3.
• * 1.25

  Exod. 32.
• * 1.26

  John 2. 17.
• * 1.27

  Psal. 63. 1.
• * 1.28

  Acts 13. 22.
• * 1.29

  Psal. 119 6.
• * 1.30

  Jer. 2. 2.
• * 1.31

  Cant. 8. 5.
• * 1.32

  Matth. 8 19.
• * 1.33

  Psal. 63. 1.
• * 1.34

  Luke 12. 1.
• * 1.35

  Mark 2. 4.
• * 1.36

  Mark 7. 27.
• * 1.37

  Verse 28.
• * 1.38

  2 Sam. 6. 21, 22.
• * 1.39

  4 The dif∣ference between a rash and a holy vio∣lence.
• * 1.40

  Levit 9. 24.
• * 1.41

  1 Sam. 13 13.
• * 1.42

  V. 11, 12.
• * 1.43

  Mat. 26. 51.
• * 1.44

  Josh. 24. 15.