Regulated ZEAL.  
OR, An earnest request to all Zealously affected Christians, to seek the desired Reformation in a peaceable way.  
Showing further, in several particulars, wherein they are offensive who disturb the PEACE of the CHURCH.  
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  ROM. 12.18. 
BY W. T. homason  
LONDON, Printed for Samuel Rand. 1641.   

Regulated Zeal.  
ZEAL for God's glory, and love of the Truth, are two such transcendent excellencies, that whosoever will not for the advancement thereof, (being lawfully called thereto) most willingly engage both his life and fortunes, deserves not the name of Man: but yet it necessarily concerns (as the times now stand) every good Christian to know, that good actions may be ill done; as choice meats may be slovenly handled, and so marred in the dressing: in a word, things are never well done, that are not orderly done, Order being their beauty. The business I drive at is this: The general cry (at this day) of the Kingdom is Reformation: and in truth this is now a very seasonable and blessed desire; and what heart is not full of it? But I wish from my soul, we were as right in the way to that longed-for redress, as we are desirous of that end But I fear there are too many, who whilst in their over-uchement, and unwarrantable proceed, they seek to quicken this Reformation, they lay stumbling-blocks in the way, and involve it with more difficulties.  
Zeal, where it's well ordered, is a precious Diamond: there is no service pleasing to God without it; but yet, where it is not qualified with knowledge on the one side, and a calling on the other, too much zeal may prove dangerous, I wish we could not experimentally say, scandalous, both to Church and Commonwealth. It is an undeniable truth, that every man in his place should endeavour a Reformation, every man should pray for it, every man should persuade to it: but no private man may break the peace of God and the King for it, no man may swagger for it, or cause tumultuous and seditious meetings for it; much less overthrow the frame of all Government and Order in the Church for it: For private men to labour the redress of public grievances in a peaceable way, as by their humble Petitions to the seat of Justice, I say, happy are those men that do it: but for such to forget their stations, to involve themselves into the mysteries of Government, and to make themselves Reformers, where their place is to inform; I think the Laws neither of God nor man will warrant it. It would make a man's heart to bleed to see what divisions we have in our Church, what differences, even to separations, what distractions, what disgraceful handling one of another, to the shame and reproach of our Church, and derision of our adversaries, and all this for points not fundamental; yea, for Circumstances and Ceremonies, which are not parts, but appurtenances to God's worship. What comfort can such men reap of their zeal, who living in a Church, which doth hearty desire a Reformation of her blemishes, and at this very present is seriously employed in the pursuit thereof, yet will not tarry the leisure of their Governors, but will snatch the sword out of the hand of Justice, and have a Reformation of their own devising; certainly such men pull down more by their impatience, than they build by their zeal.  
Is it now a time to be divided amongst ourselves, when all our forces united are little enough to withstand the common adversary? Alas those seditious oppugners of the public weal little know, and less consider, how grievously they wound the cause of Religion, and how many they wrong at once: They are offensive to God in the contempt of his ordinance, who commands every soul to be subject to the higher powers: they are injurious to the State they live in, whose power they despise, and Government they trample under foot: they bring a blot upon the Ministry, who suffer through their sides, and are perhaps by some malevolent spirits (though unjustly) censured as the seditious projectors of their unwarrantable insolences.  
And lastly, that which is seriously to be considered on, and I would to God they would take it more to heart, they render us a gazing stock to all Christian Churches, and make us the derision of all that are round about us. I would counsel these unquiet spirits, but to walk by the same light which themselves set up for others: let them regulate themselves by the rule of the Scriptures: What one thing is there that the holy Scripture doth more abundantly insist upon than this, That we should keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace? with what vehemency of Spirit doth St. Paul urge it? If there be any consolation in Christ, (saith he) if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and mercy, fulfil my joy, that you be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, and of one judgement, that nothing be done through contention or vain glory. Phil. 2.1. And again, let us follow those things which concern peace, and wherewith one may edify another. Rom. 14.19. And the Apostle doth urge the same so fare, that he exhorts all good Christians, to press on uncessantly towards this mark, even until they find an utter impossibility of obtaining the same: If it be possible (saith he) and as much as in you lies, live peaceable with all men: Nay our Saviour himself, when he departed the world, left as a Legacy to his Disciples this blessing of peace; My peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: And excellent to this purpose is that of St. Cyprian, Qui pacem Christi rumpit, adversus Christum facit: That man which breaks the ligaments of Christian peace, fights against Christ himself. Cypr. de unit. Eccles.  
Run over the whole volume of the Word of God, and and you shall not find any grace or virtue whereunto God hath vouchsafed greater honour, than to this of peace: God Himself is styled, the God of peace; Christ, the Prince of peace; the Word, the Gospel of peace; his Angels, the messengers of peace; his Ministers, the reconcilers to peace. So exceedingly God delights in it, so strongly he pleads for it; yea, and blesseth them that make it: Blessed, saith our Saviour, are the peacemakers; and he promiseth them a sweet blessing indeed, for they shall be called the Sons of God. Alas then, by what name shall I term those, who for things of smaller moment, for Ceremonies, will rend the Church, shake off the yoke of obedience, and as fare as their endeavours will extend, reduce all Government into a confused Chaos? Oh that such minded Christians would sit down a while and commune with their own hearts; Am I now in God's way? where is my warrant? what ground have I? where is my Commission? is the cause I now undertake, of that weight and consequence that it will bear me out, being a private man, in these boisterous proceed? We all agree that the Scriptures are the perfect rule of our faith, we all accord in the fundamental grounds of Religion; may I then for things that are merely appurtenances, and no parts of God's Worship, make a tumult in the Church of God, and trouble the peace thereof? God is the God of Order, and shall I be the Author of Confusion? God would not come to Eliah in a Whirlwind, but in a quiet and still voice; and shall I break out in thunder? But some perchance may object, the cause we stand for is Gods, we strive to vindicate God's service from the defilements of Popery, the Ceremonies of our Church are the rags of Antichrist. I answer, who hath given you a calling to this employment? I am sure the Apostle gives private men a better direction; namely, to study to be quiet, and meddle with their own bunesse, and to see that all things be done in love.  
It is true that liberty is given to every Church to use what Ceremonies they please, that agree to the general rule, and tend to edificati n and decency: but liberty is not left to every one in the Church, that he may set up, and pull stowne, what he will. This must be left to the wisdom of the Governors only, who (if they find the Ceremonies of the Church not conducible to that end for which they did intent them) may, and aught also to be as ready to give them a dismission, as they were willing to receive them. If every one in the Church of Crect might set up what his list, to what purpose did St. Paul leave Titus there, to set in order the things that were wanting. Tit. 1.5. Order is the usher of peace, and if every one should rule, it would be no virtue to obey. It is a happy conjunction between Prince and people, where Unity and Order knits their several hearts into one. The Apostle St. Paul puts us in mind of one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God, one Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all. Ephes. 4.3, 6. Declaring to us, by this multiplication of Unities (as a most reverend Father of our Church observes upon this place) that the knots whereby we are tied together, are both in number more, and of far greater moment, than that matters of smaller consequence should dissever us. And therefore leaving Church government to those it doth concern, our duty is (I speak of private persons) to stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel. Philip. 1.27. and if we pass these limits we disturb the state, and in it ourselves, since in the quiet and prosperity of our Church, consists both our weal and safety. But what need we many persuasions to peace & love one with another, when we have Gods own example for our rule? For did we with a serious eye look upon the face of these times, and well consider our strange irregularities, and sinful provocations both in Church and State on the one side, and Gods merciful dealing towards us, even to admiration and astonishment on the other, we could not but acknowledge, that we have infinite cause to spend the whole stock of our time (yea though it could be doubled) in breathing out praises and thanksgiving to God, rather than to squander it away in matters of strife. How strange a deliverance did God, not long since, vouchsafe us, when the Sword, accompanied with blood and death, was entered into our Coasts, which had not God's overruling hand seasonably prevented, had undoubtedly devoured us? What matchless Conspiracies hath he revealed unto us, which it was thought were laid so deep, that they could never have seen the light, but that it appeared, he that was higher than highest regarded it, and there be higher than they? Now what shall we say to these things? what shall we repay God for these blessings? we see with our eyes, and our hearts may rejoice in it, the Lord hath had thoughts of peace towards us, and shall we now have thoughts of contention one against another? God hath wrought wonderfully for our safety; and shall we in the want of a common enemy divide ourselves into parties? God forbidden. The Prophet David saith, (and our experience hath found it true) that God hath pleasure in his people: why then should not his people delight in him again; and in him, and for his sake delight in one another. It's strange to read in some places of Scripture what emphatical expressions God hath given us of his love: how he doth beseech us to be reconciled. 1 Cor. 5. how he even waits to have mercy on us Esay. 30.18. yea, and wonders at our back wardness. Esay 59 16. And how sweetly doth the Lord reveal himself to his people the Jews. I will rejoice over them (saith he) to do them good and will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart, and with all my soul. Jer. 32.41. O how convincing and prevalent should this compassion of God be with us, even to enforce us to love and compassionate one another? Happy were it, if they would advisedly consider of this Gods gracious indulgence to his people, who for Circumstantial matters, which God hath neither commanded nor forbid, are ready to contend, even to blood. But let me not be mistaken, it is not my intent here to patronise & defend the Ceremonial Ordinances of our Church, but wish rather, since they are of that nature, that they may be safely abrogated without any offence to God, but cannot (as the times now manifest) be so safely retained, without breach of peace) that for the quiet, and peace sake of our Church, they were returned into the bosom of that Church from whence we had them: that so we might all as one man, serve the Lord in the purity of his Ordinances, with a cheerful & peaceable mind. But yet so long as they stand established by the hand of Authority, it's every private man's portion to obey: Only thus far extends the duty of us all; if private men, to pray zealously; if Ministers, to preach zealously; if Magistrates, to endeavour zealously, that we may with one heart and soul keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And when all this is done, if those whom the care & charge of Reformation shall concern neglect their duties, the sin will be their own, and private men are free.   
FINIS.