A. That it be right in refpect of its Object, that what we contend for be certainly and confiderably good, and that what we oppose be certainly and confiderably evil. That the Meafure and Degree of it be propotioned to the Good or Evil of Things about which it is converfant. And that it be always pursued and profecuted, by lawful and warrantable Means; fince no Zeal for God and his Glory, for his true Church and Religion, will justify the doing of that which is morally and in itself evil. Q. When does our Zeal become criminal?

A. When we violently contend for any Doctrine that is erroneous, and are more earneftly concerned for the Externals of Religion, and the Inftruments of Piety, than for folid and fubftantial Goodness which they are defigned to work in us; when it betrays us to the Breach of any of God's Laws in order to promote his Glory, and creates Divifions and Schifms in the Church of Chrift. And when we profecute even Truth itself without that Meeknefs and Charity which are effential to the Character of a true Chriftian; and we have the more Reason to take Care how we govern our Zeal, because Mofes himself, eminent for his Meek– Pfal. evi. nefs when zealous for God, at the Waters of Me- 32, 33. ribab, was fo provoked, that he spake unadvisedly 19. with his Lips; so that if our Zeal for God be not well tempered, we may with that great Prophet break the Tables of the Law, and throw them out of our Hands, with Zeal to have them preferved. Q. What Confiderations are proper to excite our Zeal in the Service of God?

A. The Excellency of the Divine Nature, and the infinite Bounty and Goodnefs of God towards

Ex. xxxii.

The wonderful Condefcenfion of the Son of God; who ftooped fo low to redeem us, and fuffered fo much to purify to himself a peculiar People zealous of Good Works: The great Importance_rit.ii.14.

of

of working out our Salvation, and the Neceffity of ftriving, if we will enter in at the ftrait Gate, That it is true Wisdom to employ our chief Concern upon Things that are moft valuable; and that fuch is the Weakness of our Nature, and the Strength of Temptations, that without constant Application of Mind, we fhall never be able to attain them. That if we be ftedfaft, unmoveable, and always abounding in the Work of the Lord, our Labour fhall not be in vain in the Lord.

Q. How far does Zeal for God extenuate and mitigate the Immorality of any Action?

A. Wicked Things, done out of true Zeal for God, are damnable without Repentance, because the Nature of wicked Actions is not altered by our Perfuafion concerning them; though it may be fome Allay to the Fault of the Perfon, and may render him more capable of the Mercy of God by Repentance, than if he had done contrary to his confcience, and the clear Convictions of his own Mind. For it is a much greater Fault to do that which we really believe contrary to our Duty, than ignorantly to tranfgrefs when we are under the Power of an erroneous Confcience. The first argues, we have a Will to do Evil; the other fhews our Practice to be agreeable to our Judgment; and though we break God's Law, yet it is with a finçere Intention to ferve him.

Q. How ought we to express our Zeal towards Heretics and Schifmatics?

A. By earnest Prayer to God for their Converfion, that he would bring into the Way of Truth all fuck as have erred and are deceived. By fhewing fuch Kindness to their Perfons as may difpofe them to receive the Impreffion of thofe Arguments that we fhould offer with Meekness for their Recovery. By abftaining from all reproachful and bitter Reflections, which prejudice them against the Truth, By

exercifing

exercising all Acts of Charity towards them, which is the only Moderation due to thofe that diffent from us, without impairing our own Principles by a misunderstood Complaifance; for though St. Ignatius advises us to be their Brethren in Kindness St. Ignat, and Gentleness, yet not to imitate their Ways, but Epift. ad Ephef. p. to be Followers of the Lord, and to their Errors 23: to oppofe Firmness in the Faith. But when they lie under the Cenfures of the Church, we fhould keep at a Distance from their Converfation, which is but reafonable, that when all Methods have been used for their Recovery, we may be careful to avoid any Infection ourselves. As for great Corporal Punishments and Infliction of Death upon thefe Accounts, they appear to me contrary to the Genius of the Chriftian Religion, and inconfiftent with many of the chief Principles of it. For the Gospel of our Saviour engages us to fhew Mecknefs unto all Men, and univerfal Love and good-will even to our Enemies; from whence it must follow, that no Difference of Religion, no Pretence of Zeal for God, can juftify a fierce, vindictive, and exterminating Spirit.

The PRAYERS.

I.

ALMIGHTY God, who haft built thy For Unity. Church upon the Foundations of the Apof tles and Prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the Head Corner-ftone; grant that all Chriftians may be fo joined together in Unity of Spirit by their Doctrine, that they may be made an holy Temple acceptable unto thee, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

II. LORD

For truc

Piety.

For true Chriftian Zeal.

II.

LORD of all Power and Might, who art the Author and Giver of all good Things, graft in my Heart the Love of thy Name, increafe in me true Religion, nourish me with all Goodness, and of thy great Mercy keep me in the fame, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

III.

GRACIOUS God, who haft endowed me

with an immortal Soul, grant that I may apply my most serious Thoughts to work out my own Salvation with Fear and Trembling. Enlighten my understanding, that I may fee the wondrous Things of thy Law; rectify my Will, that I may follow the plain Rules of Good, and efchew the Ways of Evil; and in all my Actions, fix my Heart entirely upon thy Glory. Let my devout Prayers be offered in Retirements where thine All-feeing Eye only enters. Let my Works of Mercy and Charity be often unknown even to those that receive the Benefit of them. Make me to confider that the Praife of Men is but a Smoke which vanishes away, and that thy Favour only is better than Life, and endureth for ever. Teach me heartily to strive that I may enter in at the ftrait Gate, to fight the good Fight of Faith, and to deftroy the whole Body of Sin. Grant I may be always upon my Guard against my potent and malicious Enemies; and that the fhort Time I have to work, may make me careful to improve it to the best Purposes: and the Uncertainty of all Things here below may call off my Mind from the Objects of fecular Happiness; that applying myfelf entirely to Devotion and Charity, Juftice and Sobriety, I may be prepared in the Temper and Difpofition of my Mind, for that Happiness

which thou haft promised through the Merits of thy Son Jefus Christ our Lord.

IV.

Amen.

ercife of

ALMIGHTY God who art the first and For the chefeft Good, engage all the Powers and right ExFaculties of my Soul to love and delight in thee; Zeal. and to place all Affiance, Truft, and Confidence in thee. Teach me to proportion my Zeal to the Value of Things, that I may love thee, the Lord my God, with all my Heart, with all my Soul, and with all my Strength; and in the firft Place feek the Kingdom of Heaven. Let my Zeal have a Refpect to all thy Commandments, that it may never degenerate into Hypocrify and Faction; but that I may always pursue it by Juft and proper Means, and may never think to promote thy Honour, and the Safety of thy Church, by Ways offenfive to thee, and which thou haft forbid. Let not a good End prevail upon me to overlook any unlawful Means that may advance it, but that trufting in thy Providence, and depending upon thy Care of our most holy Faith, I may never start from the Way of my Duty, in all thofe Methods I fhall at any Time purfue, in order to preserve it. Grant this, O Lord, for Jefus Chrift his Sake. Amen.

All-Saints, November 1.

Q. WHAT Festival doth the Church celebrate

this Day?

A. That of All Saints.

Q. What do you mean by a Saint?