Section 15

15. A godly man is a zealous man; grace turns a Saint into a Seraphim, it makes him burn in holy zeal; zeal is a mixed affection, a compound of love and anger, it carries forth our love to God, and anger against sin in the most intense manner. Zeal is the flame of the affections; a godly man has a double baptism, of water and fire, he is baptized with a spirit of zeal, he is zealous for God's honor, truth, worship, Psalm 119:139: My zeal has consumed me; it was a crown set on Phineas's head, he was zealous for his God. Numbers 25:13. Moses being touched with a coal from God's altar, in his zeal he breaks the Tables, Exodus 32:19. Our blessed Savior in his zeal, whips the buyers and sellers out of the Temple, John 2:17: The zeal of thy house has eaten me up.

But there is a Preternatural heat, something looking like zeal, which is not, a Comet looks like a Star: I shall therefore show some differences between a true and a false zeal.

1. A false zeal is a blind zeal, Romans 10:2: They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge; this is not the fire of the spirit, but wildfire. The Athenians were very devout and zealous, but they knew not for what, Acts 17:23: I found an Altar with this Inscription, [Greek text], To the unknown God, Thus the Papists are zealous in their way, but they have taken away the key of knowledge.

2. A false zeal is a self-seeking zeal; Jehu cries, come see my zeal for the Lord, 2 Kings 10:16. But it was not zeal, but ambition, he was fishing for a Crown. Demetrius pleads for the Goddess Diana, but it was not her Temple, but her Silver shrines he was zealous for: Such zealots Ignatius complains of in his time, that they made a Trade of Christ and Religion, thereby to enrich themselves. 'Tis probable many in King Henry the Eighth's time were forward to pull down the Abbeys, not out of any zeal against Popery, but that they might build their own houses upon the ruins of those Abbeys; like Eagles which fly aloft, but their eyes are down upon their prey: If blind zeal be punished sevenfold, hypocritical zeal shall be punished seventy and sevenfold.

3. A false preposterous zeal, is a misguided zeal; it runs out most in things which are not commanded, It is the sign of an hypocrite to be zealous for traditions, and careless of institutions. The Pharisees were more zealous about washing of their cups than their hearts.

4. A false zeal is fired with passion. James and John, when they would call for fire from heaven, were rebuked by our Savior, Luke 9:54: Ye know not what spirit ye are of, it was not zeal, but choler; many have espoused the cause of Religion, rather out of faction and humor, than out of zeal to the truth.

But the zeal of a godly man, is a true and holy zeal, which evidences itself in the effects of it.

1. True zeal cannot bear an injury done to God, zeal makes the blood rise, when God's honor is impeached, Revelation 2:2: I know thy works and thy labor and patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; he who zealously affects his friend, cannot hear him spoken against, and be silent.

2. True zeal will encounter with the greatest difficulties; when the world holds out a Gorgon's head of danger to discourage us, zeal casts out fear; it is quickened by opposition. Zeal does not say there is a Lion in the way; zeal will charge through an Army of dangers, it will march in the face of death. Let news be brought to Paul, that he was waylaid, in every City bonds and imprisonment did abide him, this sets a keener edge upon his zeal, Acts 21:13: I am ready not only to be bound, but to die for the name of the Lord Jesus: as sharp frosts do by an antiparistasis make the fire burn hotter, so sharp oppositions do but inflame zeal the more.

3. True zeal as it has knowledge to go before it, so it has sanctity to follow after it: Wisdom leads the van of zeal, and holiness brings up the rear: an hypocrite seems to be zealous, but he is vicious: the godly man is white and ruddy, white in purity, as well as ruddy in zeal; Christ's zeal was hotter than the fire, and his holiness purer than the sun.

4. Zeal that is genuine loves truth when it is despised, and opposed, Psalm 119:126: They have made void thy law, therefore I love thy commandments above gold: the more others deride holiness, the more we love it; what is Religion the worse for others disgracing it? Does a Diamond sparkle the less, because a blind man disparages it? The more outrageous the wicked are against the truth, the more courageous the godly are for it: When Michal scoffed at David's religious dancing before the Ark, if (says he) this be to be vile, I will yet be more vile, 2 Samuel 6:22.

5. True zeal causes fervency in duty, Romans 12:11: fervent in spirit: Zeal makes us hear with reverence, pray with affection, love with ardency. God kindled Moses's sacrifice from heaven, Leviticus 9:24: There came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the Altar the burnt offering: when we are zealous in devotion, and our heart waxes hot within us, here is a fire from heaven kindling our sacrifice: how odious is it for a man to be all fire when he is sinning, and all ice when he is praying: A pious heart, like water seething hot, boils over in holy affections.

6. True zeal is never out of breath; though it be violent, 'tis perpetual; no waters can quench the flame of zeal, it is torrid in the frigid zone: The heat of zeal is like the natural heat coming from the heart, which lasts as long as life: That zeal which is not constant, was never true.

Use 1. How opposite are they to godliness who cry down zeal, and count it a Religious frenzy? They are for the light of knowledge, but not for the heat of zeal. When Basil was earnest in preaching against the Arian Heresy, it was interpreted folly and dotage. Religion is a matter requires zeal; the Kingdom of heaven will not be taken but by violence, Matthew 12:11.

Objection. But why so much fervor in Religion? what becomes then of Prudence?

Answer. Though Prudence be to direct zeal, yet not to destroy it; because sight is requisite, must the body therefore have no heat? If Prudence be the eye in Religion, zeal is the heart.

Question. But where is moderation?

Answer. Though moderation in things of indifferency be commendable, and doubtless it would much tend to the settling the peace of the Church; yet in the main Articles of Faith, wherein God's glory and our Salvation lie at stake, here moderation is nothing else but sinful neutrality: It was Calvin's advice to Melanchthon, that he should not so affect the name of moderate, that at length he lost all his zeal.

Objection. But the Apostle presses moderation, Philippians 4:5: Let your moderation be known to all?

Answer. The Apostle speaks there of moderating our passion; the Greek word for moderation, signifies candor, and meekness, opposite to rash anger; and so the word is rendered in another place Patient, 1 Timothy 3:3. By moderation then, is meant meekness of spirit; and that is clear by the subsequent words, The Lord is at hand: As if the Apostle had said, avenge not yourselves, for the Lord is at hand, he is ready to avenge your personal wrongs, but this does not at all hinder, but that in matters of Religion a Christian should be zealous.

2. What strangers are they to godliness, who have no zeal for the glory of God? They can see his ordinances despised, his worship adulterated, yet their spirits are not at all stirred in them. How many are of a dull, lukewarm temper, zealous for their own secular interest, but have no zeal for the things of heaven; hot in their own cause, but cool in God's. The Lord does most abominate lukewarm professors, I had almost said, he is sick of them, Revelation 3:15: I would thou wert cold or hot, (anything but lukewarm) but because thou art neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth: A lukewarm Christian is but dough-baked, just like Ephraim, Hosea 7:8: Ephraim is a cake not turned: To keep up a form of Religion without zeal, is to be like those bodies the Angels assumed, which moved, but had no life in them. I would ask these Tepid neutral professors this question, If Religion be not a good cause, why did they undertake it at first? If it be, why do they go so faintly about it? why have they no more holy ardors of soul? These persons would fain go to heaven in a soft bed, but are loath to be carried thither in a fiery Chariot of zeal. Remember, God will be zealous against them, who are not zealous; he provides the fire of hell, for those that want the fire of zeal.

Use 2. As you would be found in the catalogue of the godly, labor for zeal; as good be of no religion, as not to be zealous in religion. Beware of carnal policy; This is one of those three things which Luther feared would be the death of Religion. Some men have been too wise to be saved. Their discretion has quenched their zeal; beware of sloth, which is an enemy to zeal, be zealous and repent Revelation 3:19. Christians, what do you reserve your zeal for? is it for your gold that perishes? or for your lusts that will make you perish? Can you bestow your zeal better, than upon God? how zealous have men been in a false religion? Isaiah 46:6: They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. The Jews did spare no cost in their idolatrous worship, nay, Jeremiah 32:35: They cause their Sons and Daughters to pass through the fire to Molech. They were so zealous in their idol-worship, that they would sacrifice their Sons and Daughters to their false Gods; how far did the purblind Heathens go in their false zeal? The Tribunes of Rome complained they wanted gold in their Treasuries, to offer to Apollo, the Roman Matrons plucked off their chains of gold, and rings, and bracelets, and gave them to the Priests to offer up sacrifice: were these so zealous in their sinful worship, and will not you be zealous in the worship of the true God? Can you lose anything by your zeal? shall it not be super-abundantly recompensed? what is heaven worth? what is a sight of God worth? Was not Jesus Christ zealous for you? he sweat drops of blood, he conflicted with his Father's wrath; how zealous was he for your redemption, and have you no zeal for him? Is there anything you yourselves hate more than dullness and slothfulness in your servants? you are weary of such servants; do you dislike a dull temper in others, and not in yourselves? What are all your duties without zeal, but non entia, mere fancies and nullities.

Do you know what a glorious thing zeal is? it is the luster that sparkles from grace, it is the flame of love; it resembles the Holy Ghost, Acts 2:2: There appeared cloven tongues like fire, which sat upon them, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Tongues of fire, were an Emblem to represent that fire of zeal which the spirit poured upon them.

Zeal makes all our religious performances prevalent with God: When the iron is red hot, it enters best; and when our services are red hot with zeal, they soonest pierce heaven.

15. A godly man is a zealous man. Grace turns a saint into a seraph — it makes him burn with holy zeal. Zeal is a mixed passion, a compound of love and anger. It carries our love toward God and our anger against sin in the most intense way. Zeal is the flame of the affections. A godly man has a double baptism — of water and of fire. He is baptized with a spirit of zeal. He burns with zeal for God's honor, truth, and worship. Psalm 119:139: My zeal has consumed me. Zeal was a crown placed on Phinehas's head — he was zealous for his God, as Numbers 25:13 says. Moses, touched with a coal from God's altar, smashed the tablets in his zeal, as Exodus 32:19 records. Our Lord, in His zeal, drove the buyers and sellers out of the temple. John 2:17: Zeal for Your house has consumed Me.

But there is an unnatural heat — something that looks like zeal but is not. A comet looks like a star. Let me therefore show the differences between true zeal and false zeal.

1. False zeal is blind zeal. Romans 10:2: They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. This is not the fire of the Spirit but wildfire. The Athenians were very devout and zealous, but they did not know what they were worshiping. Acts 17:23: I found an altar with this inscription: To an Unknown God. In the same way, Roman Catholics are zealous in their religion, but they have taken away the key of knowledge.

2. False zeal is self-seeking zeal. Jehu cries, Come and see my zeal for the Lord, as 2 Kings 10:16 says. But it was not zeal — it was ambition. He was fishing for a crown. Demetrius championed the goddess Diana, but it was not her temple he cared about — it was the silver shrines that enriched him. Ignatius complained of people like this in his day, who made a profitable trade out of Christ and religion. Many in King Henry the Eighth's time were eager to tear down the abbeys — not out of any zeal against the Roman church, but so they could build their own estates on the ruins. They were like eagles that soar high but keep their eyes fixed on their prey below. If blind zeal will be punished severely, hypocritical zeal will be punished far more severely.

3. False zeal is misguided zeal — it runs hottest in things that are not commanded. It is the mark of a hypocrite to be zealous for human traditions while ignoring God's actual commands. The Pharisees were more concerned with washing their cups than with purifying their hearts.

4. False zeal is driven by anger rather than love. When James and John wanted to call fire down from heaven, the Savior rebuked them. Luke 9:54: You do not know what spirit you are of. It was not zeal but rage. Many people have taken up the cause of religion out of faction and personal feeling rather than genuine zeal for the truth.

But the zeal of a godly man is true and holy zeal, which shows itself in its effects.

1. True zeal cannot bear an injury done to God. Zeal makes the blood rise when God's honor is attacked. Revelation 2:2: I know your works and your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil. A person who truly loves a friend cannot hear that friend spoken against and stay silent.

2. True zeal faces the greatest difficulties without flinching. When the world holds up the threat of danger to discourage us, zeal drives out fear. Zeal does not say, there is a lion in the way. Zeal charges through an army of dangers and marches in the face of death. When Paul was told he was in danger everywhere — that bonds and imprisonment awaited him in every city — this only sharpened his zeal. Acts 21:13: I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Just as a hard frost makes a fire burn hotter through the surrounding cold, fierce opposition only inflames true zeal further.

3. True zeal has knowledge leading it and holiness following it. Wisdom leads the way and holiness brings up the rear. A hypocrite may appear zealous but is corrupt in his life. A godly man is both pure and passionate — white in holiness and red with zeal. Christ's zeal burned hotter than fire, and His holiness was purer than the sun.

4. Genuine zeal loves truth even when it is despised and opposed. Psalm 119:126: They have made void Your law, therefore I love Your commandments above gold. The more others ridicule holiness, the more we love it. What has religion lost because others look down on it? Does a diamond sparkle any less because a blind man dismisses it? The more fiercely the wicked attack the truth, the more boldly the godly defend it. When Michal scoffed at David's religious dancing before the ark, he said: If this is being undignified, I will be even more undignified than this. 2 Samuel 6:22.

5. True zeal produces fervency in duty. Romans 12:11: Fervent in spirit. Zeal makes us hear God's Word with reverence, pray with genuine feeling, and love with passion. God kindled Moses's sacrifice with fire from heaven. Leviticus 9:24: Fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering on the altar. When we are zealous in devotion and our heart burns within us, it is fire from heaven kindling our sacrifice. How repulsive it is for a man to be all fire when he is sinning and all ice when he is praying. A heart that is truly devoted, like water at a boil, overflows with holy affections.

6. True zeal never runs out of energy. Though it is intense, it is constant. No waters can quench the flame of zeal — it burns hot even in cold conditions. Zeal's heat is like the natural warmth of the body that comes from the heart and lasts as long as life itself. Zeal that is not constant was never genuine.

Application 1: How far from godliness are those who dismiss zeal and call it religious fanaticism. They want the light of knowledge but not the heat of zeal. When Basil preached urgently against the Arian heresy, it was called foolishness. Religion is something that demands zeal. The kingdom of heaven is not taken by the passive — Matthew 11:12 says it has suffered violence and the violent have taken it by force.

Objection: But why so much passion in religion? What becomes of wisdom then?

Answer: Wisdom should direct zeal, but not destroy it. If the eye is needed, must the body therefore have no warmth? If wisdom is the eye of religion, zeal is its heart.

Question: But what about moderation?

Answer: Moderation in non-essential matters is commendable and would certainly help bring peace to the church. But in the core articles of faith, where God's glory and our salvation are at stake, moderation is nothing but sinful neutrality. Calvin advised Melanchthon not to be so fond of the name 'moderate' that he ended up losing all his zeal.

Objection: But the apostle urges moderation in Philippians 4:5: Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

Answer: The apostle there is speaking about controlling our anger. The Greek word for moderation means candor and meekness — the opposite of rash anger. The same word is translated 'gentle' in 1 Timothy 3:3. Moderation here means gentleness of spirit, which the next words make clear — 'The Lord is at hand.' The apostle is saying: do not take personal revenge, because the Lord is near and will right your wrongs. This has nothing to do with zeal in matters of religion — a Christian should be zealous there without reservation.

2. How foreign to godliness are those who have no zeal for the glory of God. They can watch God's ordinances despised and His worship corrupted without the slightest stirring in their spirit. How many people are dull and lukewarm — passionate about their own worldly interests but cold toward the things of heaven. Hot for their own cause, cool for God's. God most strongly rejects lukewarm professors. Revelation 3:15-16: I wish that you were cold or hot — but because you are neither, I will spit you out of My mouth. A lukewarm Christian is only half-baked — like Ephraim in Hosea 7:8: Ephraim is a cake not turned. To maintain the outward form of religion without any zeal is to be like bodies that move but have no life in them. I would put this question to these tepid, neutral people: If religion is not a worthy cause, why did you take it up in the first place? If it is, why do you pursue it so half-heartedly? Why do you have no holy passion? These people would love to get to heaven on a soft bed but are unwilling to be carried there in the fiery chariot of zeal. Remember: God will be zealous against those who are not zealous for Him. He reserves the fire of hell for those who lack the fire of zeal.

Application 2: If you want to be counted among the godly, labor for zeal. It is as bad to have no religion as to be without zeal in religion. Beware of worldly shrewdness — this was one of the three things Luther feared would be the death of true religion. Some people have been too calculating to be saved. Their caution has smothered their zeal. Beware also of laziness, which is an enemy of zeal. Revelation 3:19: Be zealous and repent. Christians — what are you saving your zeal for? Is it for your gold that will rot away? Or for your lusts that will drag you down? Can you spend your zeal on anything better than God? Think of how zealous people have been in false religion. Isaiah 46:6: They pour gold out of the bag and weigh silver on the scales. The Jews spared no expense in their idolatrous worship. More than that, Jeremiah 32:35: They caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire to Molech. They were so zealous in their idol worship that they sacrificed their own children to their false gods. How far did the pagans go in their misguided zeal? The Roman tribunes complained of a shortage of gold to offer Apollo. Roman matrons pulled off their gold chains, rings, and bracelets and gave them to the priests for sacrifice. If these people were so zealous in their sinful worship, will you not be zealous in worshiping the true God? Can you lose anything by your zeal? Will it not be repaid a hundredfold? What is heaven worth? What is a sight of God worth? Was not Jesus Christ zealous for you? He sweat drops of blood and endured the full weight of His Father's wrath. How zealous He was for your redemption — and do you have no zeal for Him? Is there anything you hate more than laziness and sluggishness in your servants? You grow weary of such servants. Do you dislike a dull temper in others but tolerate it in yourself? What are all your religious duties without zeal but empty forms — hollow and lifeless?

Do you understand how glorious a thing zeal is? It is the brilliance that shines from grace — the flame of love. It resembles the Holy Spirit Himself. Acts 2:2-3: There appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Those tongues of fire were a picture of the zeal that the Spirit poured out upon them.

Zeal makes all our worship effective before God. When iron is red hot, it cuts best. When our service is red hot with zeal, it most readily pierces through to heaven.