Sérm. X.XVzII. The Dang.er ofZeal, without Knowledge. 20 Toenrthe high Pried, and they that were with him, were filled with indignation, ( the word is Zeal) and laid their hands on the Apoflles, and put them inprifan. And, Chap. 13. 45. it is ffid, the yews wens fill'd with Zeal, and fpake againfl thofe things which were fpoken by Paul, contradifling and blafpheming. And, Chap. 17. 5. The yews which believed not, moved with Zeal, gathered a compa- ny, and let all the City in an uproar. 'Tis frequently reckoned amongft the works of the Alb, and mentioned in the company of the greateft Vices and Crimes; Wrath, Contention, Divifion, Sediti- on, Murthers, Tumults, Confufìons, Rom. 13. 13. Let no walk honeflly as in the day, not in chambering and wantonnefs, not in flrife and zeal, o Cor. 3. 3. Whereas there is amongyou zeal, and flrife, and divifïons ; are ye not carnal ? 2 Cor. 12. 20. Left there be debates, zeal, wrath, flrifè, Gal. 5. 19, 20, 21. The works oftheflefh are manifefl, among which the Apoftle reckons, hatred, vari- ance, zeal, wrath,flrife, (editions, herefies, envyings, murthers. St. yames calls it a bitter zeal. Jam. 3. 14, 15, i6. But ifye have bitter zeal and flrife in your hearts, glory not, and lye not again/l the truth. This wifdom defcendeth not from above ; but is earthly, fenfual, devilifb. For where zeal and is, there is confiafion andevery evil work. By which it appears that zeal molt frequently goes under a bad Name and Chara&er in Scripture ; zeal, I mean, in matters of Religion; for of that molt of the Texts I have mentioned fpeak ; and this is that which St. Paul means here in the Text, by a zeal of God, that is, a zeal about Religion, and divine things. Ibear them record, that they have a zeal of God; but not according to knowledge. Inwhich words, the Apoftle being defrrous to fay the beft he could of his Countrymen, the yews, he commends thegood meaning of their zeal, and blames the ill condufl of it. I bear them record, pgpîopry xolos, Igive this tefliowny on their behalf, that they have a zeal ofGod, that is, that by all this fiercenefs á- gainft the Chriftian Religion, they intend the honour of God, and think they do him Service : but yet this Zeal is greatly to be condemned; becaufe it is a mi- ftaken andmifguided zéal, not at all dire&ed as it fhould be they have a zeal of God ; but not according to knowledge. From whichwords I (hall take into Confederation thefe Three things. I. What- are the Qualifications and Properties of a Zeal according to know- ledge. Il. By what Marks and Chara&ers, we may know that zeal, which here, and elfewhere in Scripture is condemned, as not being according to know- ledge. III. How far the doing of any thing, out of a zeal for God, doth mitigate and extenuate the Evil of it. For when the Apoftle here teftifies Concerning the yews, that they hada zeal of God ; he fpeaks this in favour of them, and by way of mitigation of their Faults. When I have handled thefe Three Particu- lars, I Ihall apply myDifcourfe to the prefent Occafion ofthin day. I. What are the Qualifications and Properties of a zeal according to know- ledge. I {hall mention thefe Three. a. That our Zealbe right, in refpe& of its Obje&. 2. That the Meafure and Degree of it be proportioned to the Good or Evil of things, about whichit is converfant. 3. That we purfue it by lawful Ways and means. a. That our Zeal be right, in refpeil of itsObje&, I inean, that thofe things which we are zealous for, be certainly and . confiderably Good; and that thofe things which we are zealous againft, be certainly and confiderably Evil. A mi- flake in any of thefe quite marrs our Zeal, and fpoils the Virtue of it : Andtho' it be never fo múch intended for God, it is not at all pleafing and acceptable to him ; becaufe it is a blind and ignorant and miftaken Zeal : And the hotter, the worfe ; it is not an heavenly fire, that comes down from above; but it is like the fire of Hell, Heat without Light. If we miftake Good and Evil, and be zea- loufly concerned, againft thaf which is Good, or for that which is Evil; the grea- ter our Zeal is, the greater is our Fault;, and inftead of doing God and, Religion D cl Service
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