Holy living in which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every virute, 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 occasians [sic], and furnished for all necessities / by Jer. Taylor.

Cautions and Rules concerning. zeal.

* 1.11. If zeal be in the beginnings of our spi∣ritual birth, or be short, sudden and transi∣ent, or be a consequent of a mans natural temper, or come upon any cause, but after a long growth of a temperate and well regu∣lated love, it is to be suspected for passion, and forwardness, rather then the verticall point of love.

2. That zeal only 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 ex∣cuses. 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 recomposed and ta∣med: and Moses broke both the Tables of the Law by being passionately zealous a∣gainst 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 excre∣scence 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,* 1.2 for that is just so pleasing to God, as hatred is an act of love.

5. That Zeal that concerns others, can spend it self in nothing but arts, and actions and charitable instruments for their good: and when it concerns the good of many that one should suffer, it must be done by persons of a competent authority, and in great ne∣cessity, in seldom instances, according to the Law of God or Man; but never by private right, or for trifling accidents, of in mistaken propositions. The Zealots in the Old Law had authority to transfix and stab some cer∣tain persons; but God gave them warrant; it was in the case of Idolatry, or such notorious huge crimes; the danger of which was insup∣portable, and the cognizance of which was infallible: 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 perfection, Though in these instances there is not a direct sin, even where the zeal is lesse wary, yet there is much trouble and some danger: (as, if it be spent in the too forward vows of Chastity, and restraints of natural and inno∣cent 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 thanksgiving, and frequent addresses: provided that no indirect act passe upon them to defile them; such as complacency, and opinions of sancti∣ty, censuring others, scruples and opinions of necessity, unnecessary fears, superstitious numbrings of times and hours; but let the zeal be as forward as it will, as devout as it will, as Seraphicall as it will, in the direct ad∣dresse and entercourse with God, there is no danger,* 1.3 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 upon 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 & affecti∣ons; for these will make it full of noise and empty of profit,* 1.4 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 forwardness & circum∣stance of another duty,* 1.5 and therefore is then only acceptable when it advances the love of God and our Neighbours, whose circum∣stance it is: That zeal is only safe, only acce∣ptable which increases charity directly; and because love to our Neighbour, and obedi∣ence 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 seve∣rally, if it relates severally. S. Pauls zeal was expressed in preaching without any offerings or stipend, in travelling, in spending and be∣ing spent for his flock, in suffering, in being willing to be accursed for love of the people of God and his country-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 al∣waies more severe against thy self,* 1.6 then a∣gainst others.

¶The other part of Love to God is Love to our Neighbour, for which I have reserved the Paragraph of Alms.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Gal. 4.18.
• * 1.2

  Phil. 3 6
• * 1.3

  Lavora cente 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••avesti a compar•• og∣ni horat ado∣ra come

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 tu havesii •• mo••ir al∣••ore.
• * 1.4

  Rom. 10.2.
• * 1.5

  Tit. 2.14. Rev 3.16.
• * 1.6

  2 Cor. 7.11.