326 ROMANS 14: 1—23.

the synagogue. The cases therefore are not parallel. When we do what we think God has forbidden, we are evidently guilty of disobedience or contempt of the divine authority. But when we do what we think he has required, we may act under a culpable mistake ; or, although we may have the judgment that the act in itself is right, our motives for doing it may be very wicked. The state of mind under which Paul and other Jews persecuted the early Christians was evil, though the persecution itself they regarded as a duty. It is impossible that a man should have right motives for doing a wrong action ; for the very mistake as to what is right vitiates the motives. The mistake implies a wrong state of mind ; and, on the other hand, the misapprehension of truth produces a wrong state of mind. There may, therefore, be a very sinful zeal for God and religion (see Rom. 10:2); and no man will be able to plead at the bar of judgment his good intention as an excuse for evil conduct, V. 23.