Peace protected, and discontent dis-armed. Wherein the seventeen queries (with the addition of three more, postscript-wise) lately published, partly to allay the discontents of some about the late revolution of government, but more especially to guide every mans feet into the way of peace, as well his own, as the publique, are reinforced with replies unto, and animadversions upon, such answers, which some (it seems) have given unto them, to invalidate their purport and intent. Together with four new queries superadded. By the author of the said seventeen queries.

XV.

Whether is there any kind of zeal more ecstatical and fierie, then that which is blind, and without knowledg? Or was it not such a zeal as this, which made the Apostle Paul himself, whilst yet a Pharisee, exceedingly mad against the Saints, in so much as to persecute them even unto strange Cities a 1.1? Or were not the Jews, to whom notwithstanding Paul bears this witness, that they had a zeal of God, the fiercest ene∣mies of all others, to the most worthy and faithful Servants of God? Or was it not a spark of this un∣hallowed fire, that provoked the two Disciples, James and John, to demand of Christ, whether they should not command fire to come down from Hea∣ven to consume the Samaritans, because they received them not? Or did not the Lord Christ upon their mo∣tion turn himself towards them, and rebuke them in

these words; Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of ^b? Or do they understand and consider of what spirit, they either are, or ought to be, who (in effect) call for fire, not only from Heaven, but from Earth also (I mean, from the vulgar, and less considerate sort of people) to destroy, if not the per∣sons, yet the power and Authority (which must needs endanger the persons also) of such Rulers a∣mongst them, who do not receive their notions and Doctrines about Government, and submit to an in∣vestiture from them, and such as they please to joyn in the Act of this investiture with themselves?

This Query is presum'd satisfied with this bi∣membrous An∣swer.

• 1. If zeal without knowledg, be bad, surely knowledg of, with∣out * 1.2 zeal against, the sins of our generation, is much worse, and shall receive the greater condemnation.
• 2. The people that know not the Law, are cursed, said the Pha∣risees of the hearers and followers of our Lord Iesus.

To the former part of this Answer, thus. First, the Answerer * 1.3 had small cause to reflect upon the Querist, as a man without zeal against the sins of his generation. His Queries themselves are, with the best strength he could readily put to them, bent against some of the greatest sins (at least in his judgement, and as farre as his knowledge extendeth) of his generation; as viz. turbulen∣cie of spirit, running without sending, revileing Magistrates, mur∣murings and discontentments against the gracious and wise dis∣pensations of God towards the Nation, beleeving of spirits with∣out trying whether they be of God, or no (with others of affinitie with these.)

2. Zeal, being nothing but the strength and fervour of desire to accomplish some end, it may expressed otherwise then by blustering, or by crying out, either in the streets, or temple. Christ shewed as much zeal, or strength of desire, to propagate the Gos∣pell and save the precious souls of men, by not striveing, nor cry∣ing,

nor causing his voyce to be heard in the strets, when time was; and so in not breaking a bruised reed, in not quenching smoking flax, &c. as he did in terming the Scribes and Pharisees, hypo∣crites, serpents, a generation of vipers, and thundring out woe after woe against them. And when the sins of our generation are more likely, according to principles of sound reason and judg∣ment, to be redressed by a spirit of meeknesse, or private and af∣fectionate applications unto those, who are the great offenders, he may be every whit as zealous for the redresse, who in such wayes as these attempteth it, as he, who with bitternesse of spi∣rit, and a Stent••••ean voice declaimeth against the said sins upon the house top. Nor did the Apostle Paul intend, either to quench, or to abate, Timothies zeal against sin, when he thus in∣structed him: And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, instructing with meeknesse those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance—and that they may recover themselvs out of the snare of the Devil &c. a 1.4.

3. (and lastly) Although (possibly) knowledge of the sinnes of others, without zeal against them, be simply worse, then zeal without knowledge, considered onely as such, and apart from its fruits and actings; yet never did the knowledg of other mens sins without zeal against them, produce the like sad and greivous ef∣fects, at least directly, in the World, yea or amongst the Saints them selves, as zeal without knowledg, especially when indulged, and commended by others in the blind and irregular actings of it, hath frequently done.

To the second prrt of the Answer, I rejoyn;

1. If the Pharisees had spoke truth of the hearers and follow∣ers of Christ, in saying, that they knew not the law, they had spo∣ken nothing but truth, in saying, they were cursed, notwithstand∣ing their hearing and following Christ. For they who not long after, cryed, crucify him, crucify him, had been hearers and fol∣lowers of his formerly.

2. Were it granted, that the hearers and followers of Christ were unjustly and untruly charged by the Pharisees (who were enemies to Christ, and his Doctrine) that they knew not the law; this is no proofe, so much as in colour, that therefore all those, who are hearers and followers of a fallible spirit, and subject un∣to

error (how importunely soever it may pretend to be from Christ) are falsly, or unduly, charged to be ignorant of the Law, especially when they are thus charged by persons that are friends to Christ, and love his Doctrine, and know the truth. As be∣cause Moses and Aaron were unjustly charged with murther, or killing the people of the Lord, by the congregation of murmurers ^a, it doth not follow that therefore David was unjustly charged by Nathan (the Prophet of the Lord) with killing Ʋriah the Hittite ^b. So that this part of the Answer also being touched, vanisheth like the apples of Sodom, into nothing.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Act. 26. 11
• * 1.2

  Answer
• * 1.3

  Reply, & A∣nimadversiō.
• a 1.4

  2 Tim. 2. 24. 25. &c.