SERMON V.

THE DUTY OF ZEAL.

2 Cor. ix. 2.

And your zeal hath provoked very many.

ver. 20.

WHEN our blessed Saviour had planted His Gospel, and watered it with His Own blood in the land of Judea, He, after His resurrection, commanded His Apostles to propagate it in all other nations, saying, "Go ye, therefore, and Matt. 28. make all nations disciples, baptizing them in the Name of 19, 20. the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you." But lest they should mistake His meaning, and think it impossible for them to do what He commanded, seeing they were to continue but a short time upon earth, He therefore added, "And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world;" whereby He gave them to understand, that He laid that command upon them not as private persons, but as His Apostles, and therefore upon all that should succeed them also in that office, which He, for that purpose, would have to be handed from them to others, and so continued from one to another successively to the end of the world: that He did not therefore expect or require, that they themselves should convert all nations, but that this great work should be begun by them, and carried on by their successors in all ages, so as not to be fully accomplished till towards the end of the world: and He assured them withal upon His Word, that He Himself would be with them, and with all

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SERM. that should succeed them in that Apostolical office and employment, at all times whensoever they shall be heartily engaged in it, whereby they would be enabled to do what He had commanded so effectually, that at His second coming He shall find all nations made His Disciples, professing their subjection to Him, and owning Him for their Lord and Saviour.

Our Lord and Saviour having made this promise to His Apostles a little before He ascended into Heaven; soon after He came there, He accordingly sent His Holy Spirit, of the John 14. 16. same substance with Himself, "to abide with them for ever;" whereby they were not only qualified for it, but excited, animated, and empowered to propagate His Gospel far and near, notwithstanding all the opposition that men or Devils could make against it. For which purpose, both the Apostles themselves and many other Apostolical men, being led by the same Spirit, travelled about the world, some into one place, and some into another, so that in a short time the Gospel was preached in most parts of the earth, that were then known to be inhabited. And they who could not go themselves, assisted those who did, to the utmost of their power.

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For the Disciples of Christ in those days, by His Spirit abiding in them, were so full of faith and charity, that they never thought they could do enough for His honour, or for the good of mankind whom He came to save. And therefore they willingly parted with any thing they had for His sake, whether it was for the maintenance and encouragement of those who went about to publish His Name and Gospel to the world, or for the relief and support of those who emActs 4. 34, braced it. "They also who had lands or houses, sold them, and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles' feet," to be employed by them to such pious and charitable uses as they should think fit. "And distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." First, to those who preached the Gospel, in case they needed it for the better performance of their duty: and then to those who had received it, in case they wanted any of the necessaries of this life who being all of the communion of Saints, they who [Rom. 15. gave any thing to such holy uses were said "to minister to 25.] the Saints."

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Of this we have here a remarkable instance in the Corinthians, who were so ready to do it of their own accord, that the Apostle did not think it necessary for him to put them in mind of it. "For as touching the ministering to the saints," 2 Cor. 9. saith he, "it is superfluous for me to write to you. For I know the forwardness of your mind: for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia (of which Corinth was the metropolis) was ready a year ago." The Apostle, it seems, above a year before he wrote this Epistle, had sent word to the Church at Corinth, as he did to other Churches, that there would be occasion, ere long, for great sums of money to be raised for the sake of Christ and His Gospel; which the Corinthians no sooner heard of, but they prepared their quota, that is, as much as they were able, that it might be ready whensoever it should be called for, though it was a year before there was any absolute necessity for it: which the Apostle hearing of, he was so pleased with it, that he boasted of it to the Christians at Macedonia, that what was now demanded of them, the Corinthians had done a year before, and had thereby shewed their great zeal and forwardness for promoting the Gospel of Christ. Upon which he makes this remark, and records it to their eternal honour, "And your zeal hath provoked very many."

As if he had said, The zeal which ye have manifested by contributing so readily to the service of Christ, and His Gospel, hath had this happy effect, that many, very many have been thereby excited and stirred up to do so too. So that your forwardness in giving hath done more good than what you gave: in that many, both single persons and whole Churches, hearing of it, have followed your good example, in giving as liberally as ye did, which otherwise they might never have thought of.

This the Apostle asserted upon his own knowledge. And the Holy Spirit, by which he wrote, both confirmed the truth of it, and moved him to put the Corinthians in mind of it, the better to encourage them to continue and cherish that zeal which had done so much good, not only to many of the Saints, but to the whole Church of Christ. And it is left upon record, that we also may know how to provoke others to good works, even by being zealous of them ourselves. So

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that it was not only for their sake to whom he wrote, but for ours likewise, and for the sake of the whole Catholic Church, and all the members of it, in all ages, that the Apostle here saith," And your zeal hath provoked very many."

text.

What he means by zeal in this place appears from the conFor the Apostle, as I observed, is here speaking of the Corinthians' forwardness in ministering to the Saints, or those who professed, or published, the Gospel of Christ; whereby they discovered the great love and honour which they had for Christ, together with their earnest and fervent desire, that His Gospel might be upheld, and propagated in the world, to the glory of Almighty God. This he calls then zeal, or that fervency of spirit, which is opposed to lukewarmness or indifferency for the Christian religion, which is now too manifest in most of those who profess it: and even in those days appeared in some, particularly in the Church of Laodicea, to which He to Whom all hearts are opened, Rev. 3. 15, said by His Apostle and Evangelist, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot: So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth." And then it follows soon after, "Be zealous, therefore, and repent," which shews that their lukewarmness was a sin to be speedily repented of; and that, in order to their repenting aright of it, it was necessary for them to become zealous.

16.

ver. 19.

Zealous, such as Christians in those days generally were, when they took cheerfully the spoiling of their goods, hazarded all they had for the sake of Christ, and rejoiced that Acts 5. 41. they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name, when to their power, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves to contribute to the necessities of the 2 Cor. 8. 3. Church, and the members of it, as St. Paul testifieth, who was himself also a great example of this primitive zeal. For when the Holy Ghost witnessed, that in every city where he was to preach the Gospel, he should meet with bonds and afflictions; he was so far from being discouraged, that he Acts 20. 24. roundly said, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God."