[2.] There is another sort of carnal zeal which hath an ill object, though it may be a good cause from whence it proceeds, such as an ignorant zeal, which proceeds from some love to that which men call religion, but falsely ; and so the apostle saith, Rom. x. 2, ' I bear them witness that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge;' and such a zeal had Paul when he was a pharisee. He gives an account of it. Gal. i. 12-14, ' How that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.' Paul was a man that never acted against his con- science, no, not when he was a pharisee ; he still acted according to his light ; but when he was blinded by pharisaical prejudices, he wasted the church of God, and was exceedingly zealous for a false religion. Thus is such a zeal as possibly might have a tolerable cause, but it had a bad object, a zeal about the dictates of a deluded conscience, and this ze&\, perniciosior est, quo flagrantior, is the more pernicious the more earnest it is. It hath often raised confusions in the church, when men are led with a blind zeal they think for God ; if they be under, then they make divisions ; if they get a-top, then they are persecuting and oppressing. This is the zeal of a deluded con- science. In short, zeal must have a right object, otherwise it may be great, but cannot be good, pure, and holy.
468 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. CLVI.
[3.] Another false zeal is when it hath no ill object, but it exceeds in the measure and degree, and is far beyond the weight of the thing that it is laid out upon. This is a superstitious, a trifling zeal, which runs out to externals, and is altogether employed about lesser things of religion, as the i)harisees, Mat. xxiii. 23, that made a great business about a small matter, tithing mint, and anise, and cummin, but neglected weighty duties, faith, judgment, righteousness, and the great things of the kingdom of God. The a])ostle tells n?, Rom. xiv. 17, ' The kingdom of God is not meat and drink,' in being of this party and that ; many all their care and strength of their souls runs out in matters of less importance, keeping up a party and faction in religion ; we should first make conscience of principal matters. Superstitious scrupulosity is always damageful, like those that come into a shop to buy a pennyworth of a commodity, and steal a pound's worth. Oh ! they have a great zeal for lesser things when it runs out mightily about outward things, either for that or against that ; and in the meantime they cherish the world, pride, envy, carnal evil affections, that are destructive to and the bane of godliness.
2. There is a spiritual holy zeal which we may describe — (1.) 13y its cause ; (2.) by its object ; (3.) by its effects ; (4.) by its use as to public reformation ; (5.) as to its use as to Christians' private exercises, to carry on the spiritual life with fervour, warmth, and vigour.
[1.] I am to speak of the cause of it. The true cause of holy zeal is love to God and what belongs to God. Zeal is ferveniis amoris gradus, a higher degree of love ; it is the fervour of divine charity. We should mark still what spirit inflames the zeal that we have. Every man is eaten up with one kind of zeal or another. The zeal of the world eats up many, Ps. cxxvii. 2. They bereave their souls of good, and all for a little pelf ; they work in the fires, they load them- selves with thick clay. The zeal of the flesh inflames many ; they are mad upon carnal delights, can let go all considerations so as they may fulfil their lusts ; they are consumed with these kind of zeals. Another spirit should be working in us, a zeal for God ; and that comes from an entire love to God. When the soul doth heartily and earnestly love God above all, then there is a strong desire of pro- moting God's glory and interest ; there should be that spirit which breathes in our zeal, and with this zeal should we be eaten up and spent. Now they that love God will love all them which belong to God. Friends have all things common, so it is between us and God ; the injuries done to him will be as grievous to us as if they were done to ourselves : Ps. Ixix. 9, ' For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up, and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me ; ' and the glory that comes to them is as acceptable as if some great benefit had come to us : Acts xv. 3, ' Declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.' Oh 1 this is great joy to a gracious soul when God's interest thrives in the world. Oh ! this is that they would willingly hear spoken of ; their hearts are upon it, when God's interest stands or falls, such an earnest desire of the glory of God, which is the highest degree and measure of love to God.