Verse 6: Concerning zeal, persecuting the church
Before Christ's time there were divers sects among the Jews, as Pharisees, Scribes, Herodians, and Essæi.* But the Pharisees were the greatest sect of all; and as the word signifies, so they did separate themselves as better than other Jews whatsoever. And St Paul lays down this as one especial carnal thing, wherein he might glory. He was no common Jew, but a zealous Jew. So as thence we may observe, that there is a fire and zeal that is not kindled by heaven; but, as St James saith of the tongue, 'is set on fire of hell,' 3:6, out of ignorance. Blind zeal therefore is a ground of destruction. We are therefore to take heed; for unless our zeal have an eye, nothing is more tempestuous and troublesome than that man is whom it possesses.
VERSE 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church Where zeal is, if it be meant in the largest sense, it is very hot against all opposites. It hath the name from fire, separating heterogenies, and gathering things homogeneal. Our apostle was none of those drowsy professors that would be content to mingle religions, so as where there is no opposition there is no zeal. And therefore those that would reconcile religions, false and true, they have not a spark of zeal, but are key-cold. Again, Paul well joins persecution and a Pharisee together, for there was never hypocrite but he was a persecutor. For he, making and grounding his profession on pride
and a desire to be counted holy, when a downright person esteems him not, but by his integrity, puts the other's outward profession out of countenance, presently he falleth a persecuting, especially if his hypocrisy brings any profit or gain, as it was with Demetrius in the Acts, 19:24, 38; and as it is now with the Romish Church, whose chief end is profit, as appears by their purgatory, indulgences, pardons, dispensations, and the like. You shall have as much mass as you will, and as little preaching. We may observe further, that carnal zeal is persecuting zeal, and the persecuting church is the false church.
Christ's flock never persecutes wolves. It will not indeed endure to be near them, but it is not cruel against them. The papists indeed they speak much of their mildness and meekness, but what is the reason?
Their hands are bound. Solve leonem et senties leonem, loose the lion and then you shall find he is a lion.
Touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless This was a great prerogative.
Obj. But how can he be said to be blameless as concerning the law, when he was without the law? Rom. 7:9.
I answer, It is true he was without the law in respect of the inward man, in respect of sanctified knowledge, love, and fear; but in regard of his outward course of life, no man could blame him. Let this be observed by carnal civil men; they may be blameless as concerning outward conversation, and yet without the law.