Holy Zeal against Sin, SHOWN To be an Acceptable And Seasonable Duty: IN A SERMON PREACHED At Lyme Regis, IN THE County of DORSET, Sept. 4th. 1700. At a Quarterly Lecture appointed for the promoting the Reformation of Manners.  
By J. E. Minister of the Gospel.  Gal. 4.8. 
It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing.  
LONDON, Printed by J. H. for the Author. 1700.   
Num. XXV. 12, 13. part. 
— Behold, I give unto him my Coven●… Peace; and he shall have it, and his after him, even the Covenant of an e●…sting Priesthood; because he was ze●… for his God.  
IT is the observation of wise men, that 〈◊〉 Age has some special duty belonging 〈◊〉 For the most part, every Age brings with new turn of affairs; and hence arise new D●… I shall not go back to the days of old, and en●… what was the special duty of our Forefath●… their time: let it suffice to tell you, that th●… sent duty of this generation, and which G●… his Providence calls us to, seems to be the Ref●…tion of Manners.  
You need not be informed, that vice is g●… rampant; that profaneness and immorality ●… overrun our Land; that swearing and sab●… breaking, drunkenness and whoredom d●… much abound, and walk in our Streets in som●…ces at noonday: it is too evident to be unobse●… So that we stand in great need of a Reformatio●…  
And we have a very fair opportunity for it ●… command and countenance, both of King Parliament.  
We have been told, that in general Refor●…ons, we should wait the Magistrates motion●… concurrence. I will not dispute that now, ●●…ther it be universally true? It is sufficient, t●… will answer the present case; we have th●… pream Magistrate's concurrence in this matte●●… ●…he Honourable House of Commons, the great ●…esentative body of the Nation, have made a ●… pious Address to his Majesty, desiring him ●…e out his Royal Proclamation, commanding all ●…es, Justices of the Peace, and other Magistrates, ●…t in speedy execution, those good Laws that are ●…in force, against Profaneness and Immorality; 〈◊〉 to give due encouragement to all such as do 〈◊〉 duty therein.  
●…nd accordingly the King, (Our Gracious ●…reign, whom God long preserve!) has issued 〈◊〉 his Proclamation, wherein he strictly char●… all persons, Judges, Mayors, Justices of the ●…e, and all other Officers and Ministers, both ●…esiastical and Civil, and all other his Subjects, ●…n it may concern, to be very vigilant and strict ●…he discovery and prosecution of all persons, who 〈◊〉 be guilty of Excessive drinking, Blasphemy, 〈◊〉 have Swearing and Cursing, Lewdness, Propha●… on of the Lord's day, or other dissolute, immoral ●…isorderly practices, as they will answer it to ●…ighty God, and upon pain of the King's highest ●…easure.  
〈◊〉 that now we have a loud call in the pro●…nce of God to apply ourselves to this work Reformation. Now is a time for the Pious 〈◊〉 Sober, for all that are on God's side, to show ●…r Zeal against Vice, to show themselves Zealous ●…heir God.  
●…hat I might encourage so good a work, and 〈◊〉 note the Reformation already begun in many ●…s of this Kingdom, I thought it not amiss, ●…ropose to your consideration the above Text. ●…ich shows how acceptable to Almighty God 〈◊〉 Zeal of Phinehas was, in executing judgement on Zimri and Cosbi, two debauched persons. ●… tells him, that as a reward of his Zeal, he sh●… have confirmed to him an everlasting Priesth●… Behold I give unto him my Covenant of Peace, & ●…  
That you may see the Occasion and Scop●… these words, I shall give you, in brief, the hi●… of the matter. The Israelites being com●… their wilderness march to the plains of M●… Balak King of Moab sent to Balaam, (a 〈◊〉 Soothsayer in those parts,) to come and curse t●… But Balaam being able to do nothing ag●… Israel with all his Enchantments, whilst Israel●… faithful unto his God, whilst God beheld no ini●… in Jacob, as Balaam expresseth it, Num. 23.21▪ This wicked Prophet therefore advised Bala●… ensnare them into Sin; well knowing that sin w●… provoke the displeasure of the Almighty ag●… them, who was their protection, and so w●… make them fall an easy prey unto their Enemi●…  
By the way note; That nothing tends mo●●… rob a people or nation of its strength and glory, 〈◊〉 to expose them to contempt and ruin, than Sin 〈◊〉 Therefore those, that are Zealous in the wor●… Reformation, are some of the Nation's best frie●… It is the Interest of Princes to encourage such 〈◊〉 sons. It is some of the best state-policy in 〈◊〉 world, to give check to growing Impiety, an●… encourage the Virtuous. For Righteousness ex●… eth a Nation, but Sin is a reproach unto any pe●… Prov. 20.14, 34. This was the Observation Solomon, the wisest of Men, and the greates●… Kings. But this by the buy.  
Balaam, that crafty Diviner and Prophet well skilled in these Politics. And therefore Moses takes notice of it, Num. 31.15, 16.) h●… Balak to ensnare Israel by their Women. And were ensnared; first to Whoredom, and ●…o Idolatry, as you read in the two first Verses ●…e Chapter of my Text. Num. 25.1, 2. And abode in Shittim, and the people begun to commit ●●…dom with the daughters of Moab. And they 〈◊〉 the people unto the Sacrifices of their Gods: ●…he people did eat, and bowed down to their Gods. ●…ow God was so displeased with these abomina●…ractices, that he sent a destructive plague a●…g them, which swept away many thousands ●●…em. And he commanded Moses to execute ●●●…ent upon the transgressors, v. 3, 4.  
Moses, having received this commandment 〈◊〉 the Lord, gave order to the Judges, (the ●…nty that were chosen to assist him in the Go●…ment,) to slay every one his men, (those un●…charge,) as many of them as were guilty, v. 5. ●…ow in the interim, before this command was ●…n Execution, comes one of the Israelites named ●●…ri, and brings unto his Brethren a Midianitish ●●…han, in the sight of Moses and the Congregati●●…▪ so bold and impudent was he in his sin, v. 6. ●●…ereupon Phinehas, in a holy Zeal, takes a ●●…elin in his hand, goes to their Tent, and thrusts ●…n both through, the Man of Israel and the ●●…man through her belly, and so the plague was ●●…ed, v. 7, 8.  
●…hether Phinehas did this in the person of a ●●…gistrate, and as one of those Judges that were ●●●…ered by Moses to slay these transgressors, v. 5. 〈◊〉 whether he did as a Private person, being moved ●●…reto by some Speical direction and motion of ●●…d's spirit, and so there was something extraor●●●…ary in the action? It is not material at present to determine. For either way it is no warrant f●●… private persons, in ordinary cases, to take upo●… them the Execution of Justice.  
That which at present I would note to you 〈◊〉 Phinehas his zeal and fervour against Sin, which 〈◊〉 manifested by that action. Which zeal of 〈◊〉 was so pleasing to God, that he testified his hig●… approbation of it, not only by removing t●●… plague, (as before noted;) but by bestowing 〈◊〉 Phinehas an everlasting Priesthood, as a reward 〈◊〉 it. An account whereof we have in my Tex●… Behold, I give unto him my Covenant of peace, a●●… he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the Cov●…nant of an everlasting Priesthood; because he w●●… zealous for his God.  
The Observation I shall note to you from t●●… words is this;  
Doct. That it is a duty very pleasing unto Go●… when persons in a time of general corruption do sh●… themselves zealous for God.  
Is was a time of general corruption among t●●… Israelites, and Phinehas shown a more than ●●…dinary zeal in suppressing of it, and God ma●●…fested his high approbation of Phinehas his zeal 〈◊〉 bestowing on him an everlasting Priesthood.  
In prosecuting this point I shall, 

(1.) Show what it imports to be zealous f●●… God.  
(2.) Prove that 'tis a duty very pleasing un●●… God.  
(3.) Show who be the persons that should ●●…ercise this zeal. And,  
(4.) Conclude with some Improvement.    
First, I shall show, what it is to be zealous for G●●…  
That we may rightly apprehend the meani●●… ●…f this phrase, it may not be amiss to speak some●…hat to the nature of Zeal in the general; and ●●…en more particularly to show the Import of the ●…hrase in my Text.  
As for Zeal in the general, it denotes the ●…armth and fervour of Spirit. Zelare & Zelari, ●…aith Vossius,) utrumque dicitur de ardenti affect●…, ●●…nc pro aliquo, nunc contra aliquem. i.e. To have ●●…al, or to be zealous are both spoken of any ardent ●●…fection, sometimes for a person, sometimes a●●…inst him. The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (quod à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, vald●… ferveo,) signifies boiling, or fervent and ●●…rning heat. For as boiling or burning is the ●●…ghest degree of heat, so is zeal or fervency the ●●…ghest pitch of our affections. And therefore Zeal 〈◊〉 described by some, to be the heat and intention 〈◊〉 all the affections. It is not so much a virtue in 〈◊〉 self, as the life and soul of all other virtues. It 〈◊〉 like varnish to the Colour, which is in itself no ●●…lour, but gives a gloss and lustre unto all.  
Zeal in itself is neither good nor evil; but ac●●…rding to its object: accordingly there is a good ●●…d bad zeal.  
(1.) There is a bad Zeal. Of this kind is that ●…hich is set on wrong objects. This scarce de●●…ves the name of zeal, being nothing else ●…t an Intemperate heat, or rather a kind of Frenzy 〈◊〉 Madness. Such was the zeal of those Idolaters, ●●…o in their false worship cut themselves with ●…ives, 1 King. 18.28. Such was the zeal of those ●●…ws, who burned their children in the fire unto ●…oloch, Jer. 7.31. And with this violent and ●●…d zeal was St. Paul acted before his conversion, 〈◊〉 himself confesseth, Act. 26.11. Phil. 3.6. com●●…red,) when he was so enraged against the Christians, that he spared no cost or pains, to supp●●●… their meetings and to root them out. This is 〈◊〉 the zeal whereof my Text speaks.  
(2.) There is a good zeal, which may be t●●… described; It is a holy warmth and fervour of affe●…on, wrought in us by the spirit of God, whereby 〈◊〉 are inclined to promote God's glory, in a vigor●●●… manner, according to his word.  
The marks and properties of this zeal, am●… other, are these.  
(1.) It is always about a good thing, Gal. 4. ●… It is good to be zealously affected always in a g●… thing. If the matter be evil, the more vigor●… and earnest any person is, the more sinful. Ho●… zeal is always exercised about a good matter.  
(2.) It is always accompanied with knowled●●… Rom, 10.2. For I bear them record, that they h●●… a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. T●●… was the fault of the Israelites zeal: it wanted knowledge, zeal without knowledge is but a blind ze●●…  
(3.) It maketh the greatest account of the weighti●●… matter. This rule we have, Mat. 23.23. wh●… Christ blames the Scribes and Pharisees, for she●…ing great zeal about lesser matters, but having 〈◊〉 concern for those that were weightier, speaki●●… to them after this manner. woe unto you Scribes a●●… Pharisees Hypocrites for ye pay Tithe of mint a●●… anise and cummin, and have omitted the weight●●●… matters of the law, judgement, mercy and faith; th●… ought ye to have done and not to leave the other u●…done. First our zeal should be carried forth 〈◊〉 weightier matters, than to those of less momen●…  
From what hath been spoken of Zeal in the g●…neral, we may easily apprehend what it is to 〈◊〉 zealous for God. It is to have this true zeal, th●… ●…ave been describing. But more particularly 〈◊〉 phrase may denote these two things.  

(1.) A being zealous for God in his Service. And,  
(2.) A being zealous for God against Sin.   
●…hen are we zealous for God in his Service, when ●…carefully perform all religious duties, private 〈◊〉 public. When we dare not omit them, di●●…ntly attend them, and are devout in them; ser●●●…g the Lord with fervency of spirit, as the expres●… is, Ro. 12.11.  
Then we are zealous for God against Sin, when 〈◊〉 do not only mislike it in ourselves, and care●●●…y endeavour to abstain from it; but also when 〈◊〉 cannot bear with it in others, as the phrase is, 〈◊〉 v. 2.3.  
●…Tis this latter is the zeal, of which my Text ●…aks, for which Phinehas is commended, and ●…s rewarded of God. He had a zeal for God a●●●…nst Sin. Which zeal for God includes in it ●●…ese three things.  
(1.) A tender respect to God's glory. This is the ●…ound of all true zeal. 'Twas this made Phine●●●… so zealous for his God, because he had a ten●●… regard to God's glory. This was the fault of ●…u's zeal, and for which he is blamed; because 〈◊〉 had not so pure an eye to God's glory, as he ●●…ght to have. Come see my zeal (said he) for 〈◊〉 Lord, 2 Kin. 10.16. Jehu was zealous preten●●…dly for God: but self was at the bottom; it ●…s for a Kingdom. True Godly zeal hath always 〈◊〉 eye to God's glory; this is a principal ingredi●●…t in it. So in the above description of zeal; 〈◊〉 a holy warmth, whereby we are inclined to pro●●…te God's glory, etc. The Glory of God is the ●…eat end of our being. We are commanded to respect this in all that we do, 1 Cor. 10.31. It is the butt and scope of all regular and holy actions: and therefore of necessity must be included in holy zeal.  
(2.) A holy indignation against Sin. Sin does in effect dethrone God. The practical language of the Sinner is; who is the Lord, that I should obey him? It bids defiance to all God's Attributes. It ●…pposeth his Sovereignty, it slighteth his Omniscience, it contemneth his Power, it despiseth his Goodness, it is a direct opposition to his Holiness: in a word, it strikes at the very life and being of God; so horrid and abominable is the nature of Sin: And was it in the Sinner's power, as it is in his will, Psal. 14.1. there should be no God to punish him for his sin. Now this being the nature and tendency of Sin; who, that hath any concern for God's glory, who that hath any true zeal for God, can choose but have an abhorrence of it? By Sin God's glory is eclipsed and sullied; his very being and government are opposed and slighted: those persons therefore, that are zealous for God, must needs have a holy indignation against Sin.  
(3.) It imports a diligent endeavour to suppress Sin. Activity and Zeal go always together. The active Christian and the zealous Christian are never separated. Zeal in Scripture is opposed to laziness, indifferency, lukewarmness, Rev. 3.16, 20. It is of the nature of Zeal to be fervent, and to make persons vigorous and active, wherever it is Jehu, being zealous, was very active in his way▪ And so was Phinehas, the Instance of my Text; he was very active in suppressing vice, and executing ●●…dgment upon the Sinners. And where the is true zeal for God against Sin, it will make persons, in their respective places, to appear against it, and endeavour to suppress it.  
This briefly for the first general; what it is to be zealous for God, and what it imports. I come,  
Secondly, to prove, that it is a duty very pleasing unto God.  
That it is a duty, is plain from Scripture, Precept and Precedent: both lay an obligation on 〈◊〉 to be zealous for God.  
(1.) Scripture-Precept. Unless we break God●●… bands asunder, and cast away his cords from us and so act like those wicked ones, Psal. 2.3. we must resolve to comply with this duty, because by Precept we are enjoined to be zealous for God against Sin. The Scripture requires us, to be zealously affected in a good thing, Gal. 4.18. And what better thing can a person be employed in, than i●… endeavouring to suppress vice, whereby God i●… dishonoured in the world? Without compliant with this duty we cannot answer one great end 〈◊〉 Christ's Redemption, who gave himself for us, the he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify 〈◊〉 himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, T●●… 2.14. It is one end of Christ's Redemption, th●… we might be zealous of good works: and amo●●… good works, this of Reformation, the reforming of Sinners is none of the least.  
It is a foul blot in Laodicea's character, that 〈◊〉 had no heart to restrain evil-doers. 'Tis mentioned to the praise of the Church of Ephesus, th●… he could not bear with them that were evil, Rev. 2. ●…. But as for Laodicea, she was lukewarm, neither not nor cold, very indifferent as to this matter▪ and therefore God threatens to spew her out of his mouth, Rev. 3.15, 16. and to prevent this judgement calls on her to be zealous and repent, v. 19 If therefore God's call, his command and injunction have any weight with us, it is our duty to show ourselves zealous against sin. We are obliged thereto by Precept.  
(2.) Scripture-Precedent does oblige to it. We are bid to follow the footsteps of the flock, Can. 1.8. And to be followers of the Saints, wherein they are followers of God, Phil. 3.17. Eph. 5.1. Now 'tis recorded to the everlasting praise and commendation of the Saints, many of them, how eminently zealous they were in their days for God against vice. This was the commendation of David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, Kings of Judah, that they set themselves against vice, and zealously promoted a Reformation. This was that, which good Nehemiah took such comfort in, when he had been reforming and cleansing the people, and manifesting his zeal against the profanation of the Sabbath, said he, Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the great●…ess of thy mercy, Neh. 13.15, 22. Elijah also pleased his zeal before God, 1 Kin. 19.10, 14. I have ●…een very jealous (or zealous) for the Lord God of ●…osts, for the children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant, etc. And to mention no more, it was this ●…hat made Phinehas so famous to posterity, and ●…ained him the Covenant of an everlasting Priesthood, because he was zealous for his God; because ●…e appeared boldly for God against sin, and executed judgement on those presumptuous sinner's ●…imri and Cosbi, without having respect to their ●…ality and greatness, notwithstanding Zimri was 〈◊〉 Son of a Prince, and Cosbi was the Daughter of a chief House in Midian, Num. 25.8, 14, 15.  
Thus if we look back to the Saints of old, w●… find many instances recorded in Scripture, of pesons zealous for God against vice. It is therefo●●… our duty to be so too; that we may be like th●… people of God, in old time.  
That it is a duty very pleasing unto God, m●… be demonstrated from divers particulars: but 〈◊〉 present I shall keep to the instance of my Tex●… and thence make it appear to be an acceptable ●●…ty. That Phinehas his zeal was very pleasing 〈◊〉 to God will evidently appear from the consider●… on of these two particulars, both mentioned in 〈◊〉 Text and Context. One is, God's removing 〈◊〉 Plague from the Israelites thereupon. The oth●●… his bestowing an everlasting Priesthood on Phin●…  
(1.) God's removing the Plague from the Israel●●… upon Phinehas his performing this duty, is a pl●●… indication how acceptable his zeal was unto G●… The Israelites having greatly corrupted themsel●… by whoredom and idolatry, God sent amo●… them a sweeping Plague, which took away no●… than twenty four thousand, Num. 25.9.  
Times of general debauchery are usually 〈◊〉 forerunners of some sore judgement. Whate●… pretences men make to Loyalty, to the Templ●… the Lord, to the Church, and the like; yet if th●… are debauched persons, they are some of the N●…on's worst enemies. These were the persons 〈◊〉 brought wrath upon Israel, and caused God●… send the Plague among them.  
Now when God's judgements are abroad in 〈◊〉 earth, the Inhabitants thereof should learn Rig●…teousness. It should be so: but what shall we say The wicked will do wickedly still. Mercies 〈◊〉 Judgements, they are all one to them; they w●… be reclaimed. Thus 'tis in our days, and 〈◊〉 'twas in the days of old. An instance whereof 〈◊〉 have in Zimri and Cosbi, who notwithstand●●●… that dreadful judgement God sent on the pe●… for their great wickedness, went on still boldly●… the same debauched practices, not being afraid●… commit lewdness in the face of the Sun. But ●…nehas on the other hand was no less bold in G●… cause, in executing judgement: for in a holy z●… he went forthwith to them, and thrust them b●… through. Which action of his was so pleasing 〈◊〉 to God, that hereupon he stayed the Plague, 〈◊〉 And he went to the man of Israel into the tent, 〈◊〉 thrust them both through, the man of Israel and 〈◊〉 woman through her belly, and the plague was stay●… And if any should doubt, whether 'twas on the 〈◊〉 count of Phinehas his zeal, that the Plague 〈◊〉 stayed, 'tis farther added, v. 10, 11. And the L●… spoke unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the Son of E●…azar, the Son of Aaron the Priest, hath turned a●… my wrath from the Children of Israel (whilst he 〈◊〉 zealous for my sake among them) that I consumed 〈◊〉 the Children of Israel in my jealousy.  
(2.) God's bestowing an everlasting Priesthood 〈◊〉 Phinehas, as a reward of his zeal, is another ma●…fest indication of his being greatly well plea●… with it. This evidence we have in the words●… my Text; Behold I give unto him my covenant●… peace, etc. (Behold,) God calls upon others 〈◊〉 take notice of it, for their encouragement. 〈◊〉 God will reward others, as well as Phinehas, 〈◊〉 they show themselves zealous in his Cause. 〈◊〉 give unto him my Covenant of Peace,) i. e. the 〈◊〉 venant of Priesthood, as it is expressed, v. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here the Covenant of Peace; partly with re●…ct to the happy effect of this heroical action of 〈◊〉 whereby he made peace between God and the ●…ple; but chief in regard to the principal end 〈◊〉 use of the Priestly Office, which was to medi●… between God and Men, and to make atonement 〈◊〉 offering up Sacrifice, Incense and Prayers. ●…nd he shall have it.) His zeal was so pleasing to mighty God, that he doubles the promise, to ●…e him the greater assurance of it. (And his ●…d after him.) The promised blessing, the reward 〈◊〉 his zeal, extends likewise unto his posterity. 〈◊〉 God sometimes visiteth the sins of Parent's up●… their Children; so he ofttimes blesseth the ●…d of the righteous for the Parent's sake. Phi●…has his zeal brought a blessing on his Children. ●…ven the Covenant of an Everlasting Priesthood.) ●…e word Everlasting, in the Old Testament does ●…ually signify, till Christ's coming. And so the ●…port of the promise is this; that if Phinehas ●…s posterity did not forfeit it by some remarkable 〈◊〉, they should have the Priesthood continued to ●…em as long as the Law and Commonwealth of ●…e Jews lasted; i. e. till the coming of the Mes●…h, at which time the Aaronical Priesthood was 〈◊〉 give place to that of Christ, Heb. 7.11. (Be●…use he was zealous for his God.) Here's the reason 〈◊〉 all rendered, why God shown such favour to ●…hinehas, because he appeared boldly for God ●…ainst sin. So that 'tis evident from that reward, ●…hich was annexed to Phinehas his zeal, that God 〈◊〉 as highly well pleased with it.  
And hence we may gather, that to be zealous for ●…od at any time, is also a duty wellpleasing to the ●…lmighty; because the reason of the duty is the same still, the same now as it was then: Et 〈◊〉 milibus idem est judicium, of like things we 〈◊〉 pass a like judgement. I come,  
Thirdly, to show, Who be the persons that sh●… exercise this zeal.  
Whether Phinehas in that action of execu●… judgement may be considered as a Magistrate, 〈◊〉 some think) or as a Priest, or Private person●… matters not; for it is the duty of all persons●… their respective places, whether Magistrates, 〈◊〉 nisters, or private Christians, to show themse●… zealous for God against sin.  
(1.) Magistrates ought to be zealous for God●… to this particular. These have not only the c●…mon obligations of all Christians, but some pe●…liar bonds and ties, whereby they are oblige●… this duty above others.  
It is one great end of the Magistrate's Office, 〈◊〉 be a terror to evil-doers, and to execute wrath●… them that do evil; and this by the appointm●… and constitution of God; Ro. 13.3, 4. For Ru●… are not a terror to good works, but to the evil; 〈◊〉 thou then not be afraid of the power? Do t●… which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the sa●… For he is the Minister of God to thee for good. 〈◊〉 if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he be●…eth not the sword in vain; for he is the Minister●… God, a Revenger, to execute wrath on him that d●… evil. Magistrates are God's Ministers; of his 〈◊〉 appointment. And they bear not the Sword in va●… the meaning is, they should not do it. 'Tis co●…mon in Scripture, to speak of things as alrea●… done, that aught to be done. Because every p●…son in the judgement of charity, unless somew●… appears to the contrary, is supposed to act acc●… ●…g to his duty. But if Magistrates bear with evil●…rs, and suffer vice to go unpunished, they do ●…great measure bear the Sword in vain, and so 〈◊〉 not answer the end of their Office, the great ●…gn whereof is, to restrain vice and disorder, 〈◊〉 to punish evil-doers.  
Besides, Magistrates are under the peculiar tye 〈◊〉 a sacred Oath, whereby they oblige themselves 〈◊〉 be faithful to that trust committed to their ●…arge; and in all articles of the King's Commission ●…hem directed, to do legal right to the poor and to 〈◊〉 rich, after their cunning wit and power, accord●… to the known Laws and Statutes of the Realm. ●…d consequently by oath they are obliged to pu●…h offenders, without respect of persons; and 〈◊〉 put the Laws in execution against vice, when ●…e informations are brought to them. If they 〈◊〉 of performing their duty in this respect, they 〈◊〉 in danger of incurring the guilt of perjury.  
Furthermore, Magistrates are the Representatives 〈◊〉 God. And accordingly in Scripture they are ●…gnified with his Name, Psal. 82.6. I have said ye ●…e Gods, and all of you the children of the most high. ●…d therefore considering whose Representatives ●…d Vicegerents they are, they should show a zeal ●…ainst vice, because nothing is so abominable to ●…e holy God as sin is. The Scripture tells us, 〈◊〉 is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, Hab. 1.13. ●…ot that God does not see and behold all the ●…ckedness done under the Sun, even that com●…tted in secret places; for he is Omniscient; ●…t the meaning is, he cannot behold sin so as to ●…prove it. And therefore those Magistrates that ●…untenance vice, they are not like God, not●…thstanding by Office they bear his Image.  
Last of all, though Magistrates are little G●… upon earth, with respect to the people; yet in 〈◊〉 guard of the great God, who is higher than 〈◊〉 highest, they are but Stewards, and must be 〈◊〉 countable for their Stewardship. However dig●…fied among Men, yet they are Servants of the m●… high; and have a great trust, as well as honou●…ble, committed to their charge; and God will o●… day call them to account concerning this trust co●…mitted to them. He will hereafter call on the●… in such language as that, Luke 16.2. Come, give 〈◊〉 account of thy Stewardship, for thou mayst be no lo●…ger Steward. The time of their Stewardship w●… come to an end, and they must be accountable f●… what they have done. And therefore if Mag●… strates, Gallio-like, are very indifferent in Go●… cause, have no heart to punish vice, but in th●… respect bear the Sword in vain; they will be ab●… to give but a sorry account unto their great Mast●… at the general appearing on the great day. 〈◊〉 which day, there will be no respect of pe●…sons with God. High and low, rich and poo●… must all appear at his bar, and pass under an i●… partial trial. And therefore we find, that Kin●… and great men are brought in trembling, Rev. 〈◊〉 15, 16. Because with God there is no difference 〈◊〉 great or small, no respect had to any man's perso●… but all shall receive according to their works.  
Whether then we consider the great end of th●… Magistrate's Office, to execute wrath on him th●… doth evil; that solemn Oath they are laid unde●… to do right and justice according to the Laws an●… Statutes of the Kingdom; the nature of their O●…fice, as they are God's Representatives; or th●… high trust committed to their charge, for whi●… ●…eafter they must be accountable: in all these ●…pects it is sufficiently evident, that Magistrates 〈◊〉 eminently concerned in this duty, to appear for ●…d against Sin.  
(2.) Ministers are concerned in this duty. It was ●…e commendation of the Angel and Minister of the ●…urch of Ephesus, that he could not bear with them ●…t were evil, Rev. 2.3. It is recorded to the ever●…ting praise of Phinehas in my Text, that he was ●…alous for his God. For Ministers to show an in●…ferent spirit in God's cause; and to stand neu●…s, to stand by as unconcerned spectators, when ●…ers are busy in reforming-work, and do call on ●…em to lend their assistance; it argues a Laodicean ●…rit, and God threatens to spew such Ministers ●…t of his mouth, Rev. 3.16.  
Of all other persons, none should be more for●…ard than Ministers in discountenancing vice, and ●…pearing for God against sin. These, as well as ●…agistrates, have special and peculiar ties and ob●…ations.  
They are God's mouth unto the people. So they ●…e called, Jer. 15.19. Therefore thus saith the Lord, 〈◊〉 if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou ●…lt be as my mouth. God every where speaks a●…inst sin and sinners; and Ministers, who are the ●…outh of God, should speak as he doth. They ●…ould in their preaching, as well as in the exer●…e of Church-discipline, make a separation be●…een the precious and the vile, the good and bad. ●…ey should instruct, rebuke, exhort with all au●…ority. Of all others, Ministers should least of 〈◊〉 bear with those that do evil.  
Again, Ministers in Scripture are called Ambassa●…rs, 2 Cor. 5.20. Now than we are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us. Amb●…sadors are a sort of Representatives; they rep●…sent the persons of those Princes that send the●… And thus it is with Ministers; they sustain t●… person of God and Christ; they represent Go●… and supply the place of Christ upon earth. A●… therefore Ministers especially should show a ze●… against sin: for if they be cold and indifferent 〈◊〉 the matter, they will give occasion to others 〈◊〉 think, that their Lord and Master is just such an●… there as they are, one that makes no great accou●… of sin; and so they will bring dishonour and re●…proach unto God and Christ, whose Represent●…tives they are.  
Once more, It is the Ministers work to preac●… down sin. Their very Office does oblige them to i●… The main design of their Office is to reform si●…ners, and to turn them from the evil and error o●… their ways; to open men's eyes, and to turn the●… from darkness unto light, and from the power of Sa●…tan unto God, Acts 26.18. And therefore for Mi●…nisters to show a backwardness to discountenanc●… sin, they contradict the very end of their Office●… and are not worthy of the name of Ministers.  
(3.) It is the duty of all in general, of Private●… Christians, as well as Magistrates and Ministers, to●… show themselves zealous for God against sin. Ti●… the duty of all that profess Christ to show themselves zealous of good works. This is one end for which we were redeemed, Tit. 2.14. And 'tis a good work to restrain sin in others, to give check ●…o vice, according to our place, as we have op●…ortunity.  
Yea, self-interest does oblige to it, not only to ●…tain from sin ourselves but not to suff●●… 〈…〉 ●…trouled in others. There is a pertinent place this purpose, Leu. 19.17. Thou shalt not hate thy other in thy heart, thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy ●…ghbour, and not suffer sin upon him. This last clause ●…variously translated, as you may see particularly 〈◊〉 the margin of the Bible, where you find it thus, 〈◊〉 at thou bear not sin for him. And to this transla●…n I find Expositors of great note incline. And 〈◊〉 the meaning of the words is this, thou shalt in ●…y wise rebuke thy neighbour, (tell him of his fault, ●…r show thy dislike of it) and shalt not bear sin for ●…im, or for his sake: i. e. thou shalt not make thy ●…elf guilty of his sin, as thou wilt assuredly do, i●…●…hou dost not perform thy duty in rebuking him ●…or his sin. And so this clause is a weighty reaso●…●…o enforce this precept of rebuking our Brother, ●…hat so we may not share in his guilt.  
Furthermore, if we consider that relation tha●…●…rivate Christians bear unto God, this likewise ●…does oblige them to appear against sin. They stan●…●…elated to God as Children, therefore they shou●…●…esent the dishonour and injury that is offered t●… God their heavenly Father. An ingenious Chi●… cannot but resent his Father's wrong. Touch th●… Father in his name or person, and at the same tim●… you reflect injury upon the Son. Why, God 〈◊〉 our Father; we call him so in our daily Praye●… as Christ hath taught us, Mat. 6.9. And God 〈◊〉 dishonoured by men's sins, their horrid oaths, the open profaneness, immorality and lewdness. 〈◊〉 cannot but appear in the station God has set us, 〈◊〉 the vindication of God's honour, by endeavo●…ing what we can to suppress sin.  
Once more, private Christians do stand relate●… to God as Servants. They are not their own, 〈◊〉 are bought with a price, 1 Cor. 6.20. therefore 〈◊〉 should mind the interest of their Master. The 〈◊〉 perty of Servants (saith Aristotle) is not to●… their own will and pleasure, they have give●… themselves unto another. Servants are not su●… ris, at their own dispose; they are subject to a●… there, by whose command, and for whose p●… they ought to act. Those therefore that pro●… they are the Servants of Christ, as do all that 〈◊〉 called by the Christian name, they are, or ou●… to be devoted to his will; and should endeavou●… promote their Master's interest, whose Serva●… they are; consequently they should appear aga●… sin, and do what they can to stop the curr●… stream of iniquity; for nothing is so opposite●… Christ's interest as sin is.  
Thus whether we consider the command of G●… who requires us in the general to be zealously 〈◊〉 fected; or our own interest, which obligeth us 〈◊〉 give check to our Brother's wickedness, that 〈◊〉 partake not of his guilt; or our relation to G●… considered as Children, whereby we are obliged●… stand up for God's honour; or our relation to 〈◊〉 considered as Servants, whose interest we ou●… to study and promote: in all these respects, and ●…ny more that might be named, it is the duty 〈◊〉 private Christians, to stand up for God against si●●…  
And let this suffice for the Doctrinal part 〈◊〉 brief Application shall conclude this Discourse.  

APPLICATION.  
The only improvement I shall make of it, sh●… be to press you to this duty; to exhort you all 〈◊〉 your respective places, to be zealous for God agai●… sin. ●… And I know not how to direct you better to ex●…ss this zeal, than in promoting the Reformation 〈◊〉 Manners, which is begun in some places of this ●…gdom, and is recommended to all in general by ●…sons of the highest rank among us, not only 〈◊〉 King's Proclamation, but divers of the Nobili●… and Reverend Clergy, Lords Temporal and ●…ds Spiritual, who have publicly subscribed ●…ir approbation.  
God (my Beloved) has done great things for 〈◊〉 Nation. He has delivered us from our fears 〈◊〉 Popery, and arbitrary Government; and hath 〈◊〉 a most Christian Prince upon the Throne, who ●…er God has been our Deliverer. When our ●…thren, the Protestants in Neighbour Country's ●…an under severe persecution, and are forced to 〈◊〉 the bread of their Souls with the peril of their ●…es; we have it to the full. Our Sanctuary doors 〈◊〉 wide open; we have none to disturb, or make ●…fraid. In a word, we have a confluence of all ●…s of blessings; so that no Nation under Hea●… can scare boast of greater privileges.  
Now what does God expect from us, but that 〈◊〉 should be a holy People, a Reformed People. ●…norality and Profaneness have had a long reign●… time, and have too much gone unpunished. ●●…e hath been, when he that was virtuous, when 〈◊〉 that was truly and conscientiously pious made ●…self a prey. But (blessed be God) the scale is ●●…ed, the scene is altered. The Law now gins ●…un in a right channel. Liberty is granted unto ●…der Consciences. Profaneness and Impiety meet ●…h public check. Persons that are pious may ●…s holy as they will: and they have now also ●…pportunity to give check to others in their sin.  
How easy is it, were persons but diligent, 〈◊〉 drive swearing and sabbath-breaking, whoredo●… and drunkenness out of our Land; at least into s●…cret and obscure places? Did all ranks and degre●… of men lend a hand to it, nothing more easy. 〈◊〉 Ministers would but encourage this work, and n●… only reprove sinners in the Pulpit, but exhort M●…gistrates and private Christians to their duty. 〈◊〉 private Christians would rebuke their Neighbou●… as they ought to do; and in case of obstinacy gi●… information unto the Magistrate: And if Mag●…strates would but perform their duty, in putti●●… the Laws in execution against vice: This wou●… strike terror on our Debauchees, and make wic●… edness to flee before them. Sinners than wou●… be afraid of the Magistrate's sword; though the●… do not fear the Almighty's terrors, and the jud●…ment to come. In brief, it would not be easy 〈◊〉 find in short time an open debauched or propha●… person.  
That I may excite all sorts to their duty, I sha●… apply myself distinctly to Magistrates, Ministe●… and private Christians.  
First, I begin with the Civil Magistrate. Suff●… (Right Worshipful) this word of Exhortatio●●… show ourselves zealous in your public stations 〈◊〉 God against sin.  
Though you are our Rulers, yet we by Offi●… are your Monitors; we are to instruct and adm●…nish you in the Lord: therefore give me leave 〈◊〉 put you in remembrance.  
God hath raised you to a high post, he hath 〈◊〉 you above the rest of Mankind; you are intrust●… with great power; you have authority from h●… to execute wrath on them that do evil, as well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reward and encourage the virtuous. Show then 〈◊〉 our zeal, in a diligent and faithful discharge of ●●…at trust, that power and authority that is commit●…d to you.  
Magistrates, saith the Apostle, are God's Miniers for good, Rom. 13.4. They are set up by him ●…r the public good; the good of Church and ●…ate.  
With reference to the State, they are to pro●…de good Laws, (those of them that are entrusted ●…ith the Legislative power) for the preservation 〈◊〉 the public peace. They are to put (as there 〈◊〉 occasion) those good Laws in execution, with●…ut having respect of persons. It is their place to ●…ear Causes; to determine matters; to distribute ●…stice, rewards and punishments, as men deserve; ●…d to take care of the public weal.  
This office of Magistracy is so useful and necessa●…, that a Nation or State cannot long subsist with●…t it. Were it not for Government, men would 〈◊〉 Wolves to each other. They would by't and ●…oil and devour one another. The strongest Arm, ●…d longest Sword would carry all before it. We ●…ould not sit secure in our dwellings, nor be able 〈◊〉 call what we have our own. As in the instance 〈◊〉 Micah, and the sojourning Levite, of whom we ●…d in the Book of Judges, (Ch. 18, 19) which ●…agical Stories are both ushered in with this Pre●…ce, as the occasion of all, In those days there was 〈◊〉 King in Israel. The Magistrate's office is so use●… to the State, for the preservation of peace and ●…der, men's lives and properties; that 'tis better 〈◊〉 far to have a bad Magistrate, than none at all. 〈◊〉 Magistrates also are set up by God for the good 〈◊〉 the Church. Hence they are called nursing Fathers, Isa. 49.23. And Kings shall be thy nursing ●…thers, and their Queens thy nursing Mothers. Th●… promise was made to the Church of the Gentil●… and so belongs unto Gospel-times. Though th●… be not Fathers, to beget Souls to Christ, which 〈◊〉 the Minister's work; yet they are to be nursing ●…thers, to defend and protect those that are beg●…ten by the ministry of the Word. The Magistra●… office, and the Minister's office are two disti●… things; each acteth in a different sphere. As ●…nisters must not meddle with the Magistra●… Sword, considered as Ministers: so neither m●… Magistrates invade the Priest's office; they ou●… not to meddle with public preaching, administration of Sacraments, Church-censures, and the 〈◊〉 King Vzziah stands on record, for caution to 〈◊〉 Magistrates in such cases, 2 Chron. 26.18, 19  
Touching the Extent of the Magistrate's po●… in matters of Religion, I will not enter on a la●… dispute now. Thus much I take to be gener●… granted, that Magistrates are Custodes utriusque●… bulae, Guardians of the first as well as second Ta●….  
Tho' Magistrates may not force persons to 〈◊〉 or that Communion, perhaps that which 〈◊〉 themselves like best; or impose upon their ●… sciences in sinful or doubtful matters, the Conscience in such cases being subject to God only 〈◊〉 they may hinder the public exercise of an Idolatrous worship, and oblige persons to keep the 〈◊〉 bath, and to worship God in some way or o●… It stands upon record to Josiah's praise, that h●… down the Idolatrous Priests, and the worshi●… Baal, 2 Kin. 23.4, 5. The like is mentione●… good Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 31.1. Nehemiah m●… on's it as a good deed, and for which he w●… ●…ised whilst the world stands, that he restrained ●…sons from polluting the Sabbath, Neh. 13.15, 16. ●…d it is recorded to Asa's commendation, that ●…obliged his Subjects on severe penalties, to at●…d the worship of the true God, such as they could 〈◊〉 except against, 2 Chron. 15.13.  
●…n a word, it is the Magistrate's place to punish 〈◊〉- doers, whether they openly violate the pre●…ts of the first, or of the second Table; for this ●…e great end of their office, namely, to execute ●…th on them that do evil, Ro. 13.4. By Evil●… I do not conceive that such are meant, who snot conform in every punctilio, to the Magi●…e's mind in matters of Religion. I know that ●…e have been dealt with in time passed as evil●…s, under pretence of breaking the Law, (the 〈◊〉 of Man,) when it has been only to keep a ●…d Conscience toward God. The Magistrate's ●…er does not extend so far as this; to punish 〈◊〉 for different apprehensions in matters of Re●…n, whilst they agree in the Essentials of it. ●…en all Faces are alike, then shall we be all of ●… mind, as to lesser matters. And as 'tis unrea●…ble for the Magistrate to punish any person, ●…use he is not of his size in body; so it is also 〈◊〉 reasonable to punish him merely for different ●…hensions, in some disputable points, which ●…nnot help. Neither has such a course any ●…ade in it to make persons think otherwise. ●…y indeed force outward compliance, and 〈◊〉 men hypocrites; but what aptitude has it, ●…e or any one to take a stick and beat another, 〈◊〉 by to make him of our mind? This is no fit ●…s to enlighten the mind; and if a man acts ●…st his persuasion, against his mind, he must needs sin: for whatsoever in not of faith is sin, Ro●… 14.23. whilst therefore persons do agree in fu●… damentals, there ought to be liberty and tolerati●…  
Though I do not plead for a boundless liber●… for Atheists, Deists, Socinians, Idolaters, and su●… like; who subvert the Gospel, and bring in da●… able errors; yet this to me is past dispute, th●… those, who maintain the Essentials of Religio●… ought to have a liberty granted to them; as (bl●… said be God) it is at this day.  
Magistrates than are not now called to exec●●… wrath on those persons who differ from them 〈◊〉 some disputable points, wherein wise and go●… men cannot yet be agreed; but on Atheists, Idol●… ter, profane Swearers and Sabbath-breake●… and such like. In old time, the Idolater (and 〈◊〉 the Atheist) was to be stoned, Deut. 17.2, 5. T●… Blasphemer was put to death, Leu. 24. ult. So w●… the Adulterer, Leu. 20.10. The Fornicator also h●… his punishment, Deut. 22.29. And so had t●… Drunkard, Deut. 21.20. Not to speak of the p●… nalties for Theft and Murder.  
All these vices do fall under the Magistrate's co●…nizance. The law of God is expressly against ther●… and so are the laws of our land too. We ha●… excellent laws, not only against theft and murde●… but sabbath-breaking, profane swearing, dru●… kenness and whoredom: though it were to 〈◊〉 wished, that a more severe penalty, than is no●… in force, was annexed to the last of those menti●… ned crimes.  
In the mean time, it is the Magistrate's duty t●… put in execution those good Laws that we have 〈◊〉 against those immoral and profane Sinners; an●… I know not wherein they can better show the 〈◊〉 ●…al for God. A Gallio's spirit, in this Cause of ●…d, wherein his honour is so nearly concerned, 〈◊〉 very unbecoming a good Magistrate. What will ●…ignifie to have good Laws, if so be there is no ●…ecution of them? Did Magistrates according 〈◊〉 that trust and power committed to them, exe●…e wrath on evil-doers; this would be to their ●…mmendation; hereby they would fill up that ●…rt of their office which obligeth them to it, and ●…ould discover to all the world, if they proceed ●…th life and vigour, that they are zealous for ●…eir God.  
I would humbly propose it to their considerati●…, whether they are as zealous in punishing pro●…ane debauched sinners, who break both the Laws 〈◊〉 God and Man; as formerly they were in pu●…shing Dissenters? In this last case, the matter is ●…sputable, whether such persons ought to be pu●…shed? It is a question, whether the supreme Ma●…strate has power to impose on any man's Consci●…ce, in disputable matters, when persons cannot ●…e the lawfulness of them? And 'tis a question, ●…hether or no, inferior Magistrates ought to ex●…ute such Laws, notwithstanding their Oaths? ●…r if it be sinful, Oaths must not be bonds of ●…iquity. Whereas the case before us is plain. ●…here is no dispute, whether profligate sinners, ●…ho break God's law and Man's too, aught to be ●…nished? And therefore I would humbly recom●…lend this to the Magistrate's zeal; that he would ●…ow be as zealous in punishing these, as in time ●…st he was the former; and not browbeat those ●…ho endeavour to bring them to condign punish●…ent.  
Blessed art thou O Land, when thy King is the Son of Nobles, and thy Princes eat in due season, f●… strength and not for drunkenness, Eccl. 10.17. Whe●… thy Magistrates are just and sober; do rule i●… God's fear, and discharge their duty, in executin●… wrath on evil doers, and in protecting them tha●… do well!  
Secondly, I address myself to my Reverend F●… there's and Brethren in the Ministry, Conformists 〈◊〉 Nonconformists, for in this point, (the suppre●…sing of vice) we are all agreed. Suffer (Righ●… Reverend) this word of Admonition; Show you●… selves zealous for God against sin, in promoting an●… encouraging the work of Reformation.  
Be not offended, whilst I take upon me to b●… your Monitor; or rather Remembrancer. It 〈◊〉 God's cause that I am engaged in; and I know tha●… you, who are on God's side, will bear with me.  
If such as we, whose work it is to reform Sin●… ners, should not assist, when called on, to pro●… moat a National Reformation, we were e'en a●… good lay down our Office. We shall by our pra●… 'tice declare to the world, that whatever outcrie●… we make against sin when in the Pulpit, yet w●… are not willing to have sinners reform.  
Give me leave (my Brethren) to expostulate 〈◊〉 little. What is it that should make us thus back●… ward? Are not the vices we are called on to len●… our assistance for the suppressing of, condemne●… by us all? Who can deny, but that swearing, sabbath-breaking, drunkenness and whoredom ar●… crying iniquities, that deserve punishment? Ye●… who is there, of those that are so forward to prosecute their neighbours, for every neglect in poin●… of a Ceremony, where the law will allow, tha●… takes any notice of these profligate Sinners?  
I speak not at random, but from experience. It ●…as been the grief of my soul to see how difficult 〈◊〉 is to engage some Ministers, to put to their as●●…sting hand, in promoting this work of Reforma●…ion. I do not say, that all are so: God forbidden 〈◊〉 should then fear it an awful prelude of some fore ●…udgment.  
To see persons all life in a Ceremony; but i●… God's cause to have no heart, in some of the sub●…tantial points of Religion to be as dead as a stone, what is it but the height of hypocrisy? Our Sa●…iour himself has decided this case. He hath told ●…s, there are weightier matters, and lesser matters ●…nd he hath branded those for hypocrites, and ●…as denounced a woe against them, who keep 〈◊〉 ●…other about smaller matters, such as Ceremoni●… 〈◊〉 of Man's making, mint, anice, cummin; but neg●…ect the weightier matters of the Law; sobrie●●…●…ighteousness, peace, charity; faith, judgement, mercy You know where it is written, Mat. 23.23.  
When we see some persons thus zealous abo●●…●…esser matters, Jehu-like, driving on with a furio●…●…eal; and at the same time to have no regard fo●… God's honour; to be careless and indifferent, wh●…●…her God's law, and the great things of it, be observed yea or no; it is a temptation to many 〈◊〉 believe, that there is more than a Ceremony, th●…●…s the difference between the Church and the Me●●…●…ng; and that a separation is in some sort necess●…●…y, to keep up the power of Religion.  
I could hearty wish, that we could unite o●…●…ne common bottom▪ and walk together where●●… we are agreed, and particularly in suppressing vi●●…●…nd profaneness! now we have an opportunity fo●…●…t, the supreme Magistrate's countenance and goo●…  
It was the observation of our Blessed Lord, t●… the children of this world are wiser in their gener●●…on, than the children of light, Luke 16.8. O, 〈◊〉 it not, (my Reverend and dear Brethren) h●… true of Ministers. Shall the men of the world, 〈◊〉 different Interests, unite their forces, to prom●… one common and general design? Yea, let me a●… shall the Devils themselves, as I have shown el●… where, (see my late Treatise, Man's Sinfulness a●… Misery by Nature, p. 145.) unite and agree, to ca●… on one common Interest, against Christ and his Kin●…dom? And shall not Christians, shall not Ministe●… unite in opposing the Interest of Satan, by ende●…vouring the suppression of vice and profaneness Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in Askelon; let n●… the Papists hear of it, lest these uncircumcised Ph●…listins rejoice, who know that when we a●… throughly debauched, we are then fit for any Rel●…gion, and so may give them new hopes.  
In the Name therefore of our great Master, l●… us lay by our lesser heats, and show ourselves ze●…lous for our God, by promoting in our places, tha●… National Reformation, that is begun in some part●…  
I would hope (my Brethren) you need not m●…tives or a spur; though I take this liberty to pu●… you in remembrance.  
Thirdly, a word briefly to Private Christian●… and so I have done. Is it a duty very pleasing unt●… God, to show ourselves zealous for him? Then pu●… this duty into practice. It belongs to you as wel●… as others. Show yourselves zealous for God against Sin, by promoting in your places the s●… much talked of Reformation of Manners. More particularly,  
(1.) Reform yourselves. Begin at home. You ●…ll never be able to proceed with courage in re●…rming of others, whilst guilt lies at your own ●…or. It will be objected, first mend yourselves; ●…al yourself. The Snuffers of the Sanctuary were 〈◊〉 be of pure gold, Exod. 25.38. A Ceremony ●…as one has lately noted) significative of this, ●…nong other truths; that they must be holy, and ●…blameable themselves, who take upon them to reprove ●…nd reform others.  
(2.) As there is occasion, Rebuke your nighbour. ●…ow plain is this duty, though little practised? ●…ev. 19.17. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Bro●…her, and not suffer sin upon him. There is indeed ●…ome prudence required in giving rebukes some●●…mes. It may be done verbally, or by withdraw●…ng our presence, or some testimony of dislike, as ●…rudence shall direct, according to the circumstance ●…f time, place and person.  
(3.) Lastly, if after rebuke he continues obsti●…ate, and other ways will not reclaim him, gi●●…●…nformation against him to the Magistrate, that so 〈◊〉 ●…ay be brought to condign punishment. What ca●… Magistrates, or Laws do, though never so good ●…f none will take it on them to give information?  
I know, the Name of an Informer is become odious; because the thing has been abused; which ●…s either good or evil, according to the matter an●…●…ause of it. To inform against the godly, for ma●…●…er of duty, to expose them to the rage of Pers●…cutors, that is wicked. But to inform against th●… wicked, upon the account of their sin, whereb●… God is dishonoured, to bring them to condign p●…nishment; that is godly, and a Scripture-du●… Leu. 5.1. Deut. 17.4, 5.  
Perhaps you meet with some trouble and repro●… by giving Informations, and by endeavouring 〈◊〉 reform others. Well, be it so: Is it not our du●… to deny ourselves in some cases? Can we be Ch●●…stians without self-denial? Pray see Mat. 24.16.  
Who knows, but you by your zeal, may ke●… off God's judgements from the land? Did not Ph●…nehas turn away God's wrath from the Childre●… of Israel? Is it not recorded for the incourag●…ment of others? Num. 25.11.  
Remember, that it is the Cause of God. Ho●… zealous were the wicked in time passed in persecutin●… the godly for matter of duty; in hunting them a●… Partridges on the Mountains, sparing no cos●… time or pains? And shall their zeal, in a ba●… cause, wherein they did the Devil's works, ou●… do yours in the cause of God, wherein God honour and glory is concerned?  
Consider this, God takes notice of all that yo●… do; for he is Omniscient. He sees your zeal your labour of love, and all your trouble, an●… notes it down in his book. Your zeal to him is a●… well pleasing act of faith: you may learn this from the instance of my Text. God was so well pleased with Phinehas his zeal, that he bestowed on him an everlasting Priesthood; and not only so, ●…ut blest his Children for his sake. Behold, I give ●●…to him my Covenant of Peace, and he shall have ●…t, and his seed after him. Who knows, but that you, by your zeal, may derive a blessing unto ●…our posterity?  
Besides, if with Phinehas your zeal be rig●●… all be imputed to you for righteousness, as his 〈◊〉 ●…sal. 106.31. And God hereafter will rewa●●…●…ou for it; and will abundantly recompense yo●…●…ouble. Therefore comfort yourselves und●●…●…l discouragements with these thoughts.  
To conclude; If Magistrates, Ministers and p●●…●…ate Christians would each do their duty, a●… new themselves zealous for God against vice, 〈…〉 hearty promoting of the present Reformatio●… were an easy thing to drive sin into corners, 〈◊〉 ●…lear our Towns of whoremasters, drunkar●…●…rophane swearers and sabbath-breakers and 〈◊〉 ●…ring Religion and a show of Godliness into 〈◊〉 ●…ute. 'Twould also be a means of lengthe●…●…ut our present tranquillity, and of procuring ●…us many blessings, as well as the averting impe●…●…ng judgements; which, in case this work of 〈◊〉 ●●…formation be obstructed, will in all probabilit●…●…poured down on us. Which God of his inf●…●…mercy prevent!  
FINIS.