most obvious distinctions of truth and error, of right and wrong, and looks on the righteous and the wicked with an indiscriminating eyewhich sees not that forgiveness for a personal injury may be freely and safely granted, where neither repentance nor reparation has taken place, while it is not the Christian's prerogative to pardon the wrongs that are done to the cause of God, nor his duty to cease from withstanding those who do them, till they have ceased from their unlawful deeds-which in its cherished and boasted tenderness for the sinner, gives encou→ ragement and currency to the sin which ought to have been resisted, and rebuked, and punish, ed-and which, rather than put on the look of severity, rather than wound the feelings or expose the unworthiness of the offender, allows him to go on undisturbed in his guilty career, and is even contented that he should perish, provided only he can be made to go pleased and smiling into ruin.

Then, again, as to peace, the same unscriptural error is committed. Our zeal for religion is continually damped in its ardour, and interrupted in its operations, by a certain puling and piping about peace. If we "contend earnestly for the faith"-if we attack error with vehemence in the strongholds where it is trying to entrench and establish itself if we put the asserters of a he retical creed on their defence, or chide and re

prehend those whose misconduct has justly exposed them to such treatment-if either by word or action we break in upon their harmony, which is only preserved by a surrender of conscience, consistency, and truth,-then the hue and cry is raised against us that we are lovers of strife; and though doctrines are taught which are subversive of the Gospel of Christ, and practices are prevailing which set at nought the authority of God, and principles are avowed so adverse to " pure and undefiled religion” as to call for the most decid, ed opposition and the most relentless hostility, yet we hear nothing but this, " O, it is all very true and very much to be lamented; but let not your zeal kindle up the flames of war among us,—let these things alone,—they will cure themselves,— they cannot do much harm,-leave them to providence and time,—and allow us to have peace.

Brethren, such a peace as this is the peace of indifference, and delusion, and death. It has no sanction from God, even as "the God of peace." It is hostile to his glory and his will as the God of truth. And it is inconsistent with that Chris: tian zeal, by which we advance our own spiritual interests, and promote the cause of godliness in the world. The heavenly wisdom by which our zeal is to be guided, is "first pure, and then it is peaceable." True religion not only stimulates us "to follow peace with all men," but al so in the very same precept requires that we shall

follow" holiness, without which no man can see the Lord." And for our warning on the one hand, and our encouragement on the other, the Scripture assures us, that "as for them that turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord will lead them forth with the wicked," to expose them to the shame, and to subject them to the destruction, with which their obliquity of purpose, their disregard to honest dealing, their perversity in choosing paths for themselves instead of those prescribed to them by divine wisdom, so richly deserve to be visited; but that “ peace shall be upon Israel," upon those who are "Israelites indeed," who are believing and walking as God's people, and "in whom there is no guile.”

Away, then, with those mistaken views of charity and peace, by which some would cool your religious zeal, and frustrate all its operations. Be zealous for the truth. Let all the efforts of your zeal be made in charity. But never forget, that truth is the grand object, for maintaining and promoting which it is to be cherished and put forth, and that charity is to be exercised as a means by which its exertions shall be rendered more vigorous, more enlarged, and more successful. And while you cultivate peace, let it be remembered that you are to be zealous for it only as the result and consequence of that truth without which there can be no peace. Let truthtruth as it pervaded the world when God pro

nounced all things to be very good, or as restored by the wisdom, and mercy, and power of the Godhead, in the scheme of the glorious Gospel; let truth be established, let it be placed upon that throne on which it is entitled to sit and reignlet its rightful dominion be acknowledged and submitted to-and then, our zeal having accomplished all for which it struggled, our watchword is peace—" peace by all means”— peace with all men"- peace in all things-and peace for ever.

217

SERMON XI.

RELIGIOUS ZEAL.

REVELATIONS iii. 19.

Be zealous.

In considering the principles and maxims by which our religious zeal must be regulated, in order to its being an acceptable part of Christian character, and answering most purely and effectually the purposes for which it is enjoined, we stated that it must be real and conscientiousthat it must be according to knowledge-that it must be guided by prudence and discretionthat it must consist with moral integrity-and that it must be under the government of charity.

6. We now remark, in the last place, that our zeal must be in proportion to the value and importance of the objects which excite it, and to the exigencies in which these may happen to be placed.

Religion consists of a variety of parts, each of which taken separately has its own meaning and usefulness, and all of which, in their combined