The rule and exercises of holy living. In which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every vertue, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations. Together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion fitted to all occasions, and furnish'd for all necessities.

Cautions and rules concerning zeal.

1. If zeal be in the beginnings of our spiri∣tual birth, or be short , sudden and transient, or be a consequent of a mans natural temper, or come upon any cause, but after a long growth of a temperate and well regulated love, it is to be suspected for passion, and forward∣nesse, rather then the vertical point of love.

2. That zeal onely is good which in a fer∣vent love hath temperate expressions. For let the affection boyl as high as it can, yet if it boyl over into irregular and strange actions, it will have but few, but will need many excuses. Elijah was zealous for the Lord of Hosts, and yet he was so transported with it, that he could not receive answer from God, till by Musick he was recompos d and tam'd: and Moses broke both the Tables of the Law by being passionately zealous against them that brake the first.

3. Zeal must spend its greatest heat princi∣pally in those things that concern our selves; but with great care and restraint in those that concern others.

4. Remember that zeal being an excres∣cence of Divine love, must in no sense contra∣dict any action of love: Love to God includes love to our Neighbour, and therefore no pre∣tence of zeal for Gods glory must make us uncharitable to our brother, for that is just so pleasing to God, as hatred is an act of love.

5. That zeal that concernes others, can spend it self in nothing but arts, and acti∣ons and charitable instruments for their good: and when it concernes the good of many that one should suffer, it must bee done by persons of a competent authority,

and in great necessity, in seldom instances, according to the Law of God or Man; but never by private right, or for trifling acci∣dents, or in mistaken propositions. The Zealots in the Old Law had authority to transfix and stab some certain persons; but GOD gave them warrant; it was in the case of Idolatry, or such notorious huge crimes; the danger of which was insuport∣able, and the cognizance of which was in∣fallible: And yet that warrant expired with the Synagogue.

6. Zeal in the instances of our own duty, and personal deportment is more safe then in matters of counsel, and actions besides our just duty, and tending towards perfecti∣on. Though in these instances there is not a direct sin, even where the zeal is lesse wa∣ry, yet there is much trouble and some dan∣ger: (as, if it be spent in the too forward vowes of Chastity, and restraints of natural and innocent liberties.)

7. Zeal may be let loose in the instances of internal, personal, and spiritual actions, that are matters of direct duty: as in pray∣ers, and acts of adoration, and thanksgi∣ving, and frequent addresses: provided that no indirect act passe upon them to defile them; such as complacency, and opinions of sanctity, censuring others, scruples and opinions of necessity, unnecessary fears, su∣perstitious numbrings of times and houres; but let the zeal be as forward as it will, as devout as it will, as Seraphicall as it will in the direct addresse and entercourse with God, there is no danger, no transgression.

Do all the parts of your duty as earnestly as if the salvation of all the world, and the whole glory of God, and the confusion of all Devils, and all that you hope or desire did depend up∣on every one action.

8. Let zeal be seated in the will and choice, and regulated with prudence and a sober un∣derstanding, not in the fancies and affections; for these will make it full of noise and empty of profit, but that will make it deep and smooth, material and devout.

The summe is this: That, zeal is not a di∣rect duty, no where commanded for it self, and is nothing but a forwardnesse and circumstance of another duty, and therfore is then onely acceptable when it advances the love of God and our Neighbours, whose circumstance it is: That zeal is onely safe, onely acceptable which increases charity directly; and because love to our Neighbour, and obedience to God are the two great portions of charity, we must never account our zeal to be good, but as it advances both these, if it be in a matter that relates to both; or severally, if it relates severally. S. Pauls zeal was expressed in preaching with∣out any offerings or stipend, in travelling, in spending and being spent for his flock, in suf∣fering, in being willing to be accursed for love of the people of God, and his Countrey∣men: Let our zeal be as great as his was, so it be in affections to others, but not at all in angers against them: In the first then is no danger; in the second there is no safety. In brief; let your zeal (if it must be expressed in anger) be alwayes more severe against thy self, then against others.

The other part of Love to God is Love to our Neighbour, for which I have reserved the Para∣graph of Alms.

Notes

• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Gal. 4.18.
• Phil. 3.6.
• 〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• Rom. 10.2.
• Titus 2.14. Revel. 3.19.
• 2 Cor 7.11.