George Hutcheson
17 And his disciples remembred, that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Unto this is subjoyned the observation and use the disciples got of it. The Spirit suggested to them that passage, Psal. 69.9. at that time, or afterward, and let them see it was then accomplished in Christ, though it had its own verity in David the type Whence learn, 1. It is the propertie of disciples to construct well of Christs working, and get a right sight thereof how rude and tumultuous soever it seem to others; for, so do the disciples here. 2. Christs working will be well constructed, and tend to edification when his Word and working are compared together, as the disciples are led to do. 3. Such as are faithful disciples, and conscientious hearers, have the promise of a sanctified memory, by the Spirits bringing Scriptures to their remembrance as they need; for, thus it was, that his disciples remembred that it was written, &c. Yet we ought in this to guard against neglect of searching Scripture, expecting somewhat to be suggested; against leaning to the suggesting of it, as the reason why we fasten faith on it, rather then if we found it by search agreeing with our need, which were to make it no divine Scripture to us, but when it is suggested; and against Satans delusions who may suggest Scriptures, unto soules taken with this way, under false glosses. 4. Much is spoken of Christ in the Old Testament under types, and it should be our care in reading it, to understand these types well, and see Christ the truth in them; for, so do the disciples see a Prophecie of Christ held forth in the profession and practice of David the type. 5. Zeale, providing it be according to knowledge, Rom. 10.2. is a commendable grace, when men are employed about right things, not negligently and for the fashion, but affectionately. As herein Christ hath given us a patterne, who excelled in all graces, and particularly, that of zeale. 6. As Gods house, and the matter of his Kingdome and Ordinances, are the chief object of zeale, which should be ballanced with meeknesse in our own matters; so true zeal is the only right and acceptable principle of Reformation; and men will go no further in the study of Reformation, then there is zeal or indignation against what dishonoureth God, and love to that which honoureth him; for, upon this principle did Christ reforme; and he was affected with the zeal of Gods house. 7. Albeit true zeal do trust God with caring for his own affaires, and so is neither diffident nor hastie, yet the nature of it is to be a spending grace, and it will affect the person with pain, till what is amisse in Gods house be rectified; And it will encline a man, having Gods call, to stoop to meanest employments, and to feare no hazards in carrying on Gods work; for, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up, and Christ evidenced how much his zeal affected both body and minde, by abasing himself to this mean emploiment of scourging out beasts and men, and by exposing himselfe to their fury, if he had not been armed with divine terrour. 8. Albeit that zealous instruments were removed, and love and zeal among men should decay, and they neglect and become carelesse of the matters of God; yet Christ never wanteth zeal to resent and redresse the wrongs done to Gods house; for of him it is still true, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
