most important duty : but to engage in that service uncalled, and unsent, is not by any means expedient or right : for even our blessed Lord *' glorified not himself to be made an high priest, but waited for the call" of his heavenly Father". So again, w^e must attend to the time and manner of executing whdit we conceive to be a lawful act ; and not abuse oiu* hberty by exercising it in a way that may prove offensive to others". In a word, our zeal must be ^visely regulated : it should be able to rise to any occasion that may call for itP; but it should be under due control ; nor should it ever be satisfied with a conviction that a thing is " lawful," without considering also whether, and how far, it is " expedient i."
We think, then, that a zeal flowing from such a source, and regulated by such a standard, and exercised in such a way, will bear inspection ; and that, so far as we give the invitation for the purpose of self-inquiry, and not of self-applause, we may say, not to man only, but even to God himself, " Come, and see my zeal for the Lord."]
But there are occasions when our zeal is blame- worthy, and,
II. When it evidently manifests itself to be delusive and vain —
It is altogether vain and unacceptable to God,
1. When it is ostentatious —
[Such was that of Jehu on this occasion. Raised to kingly power, and successful beyond his most sanguine expectations, he was elated with pride, and desirous of having his prowess admired and extolled. Hence his conduct, which, as con- formable to a divine command, was made the ground of a re- ward, was, on account of the base mixture of pride and cruelty with wliich it was pursued, visited with signal punishments Ostentation will mar and vitiate the best actions that we can possibly perform. The giving of alms, or the waiting upon God with fasting and prayer, are acceptable services, if performed aright; but when made occasions for advancing ourselves in the estimation of men, they are hateful and contemptible in the sight of God, and will bring with them no other recompence than that which we vainly seek^" The declaration of God in relation to such things is plain and express : " For a man to seek his own glory, is not glory*:" therefore " let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth ; a stranger, and not thine own lips"."
n Hel). v. 4 — 6. " 1 Cor. viii. 10 — 13. p Acts xxi. 13.
1 1 Cor. vi. 12. ■■ Compare ver. 20. with Hos. i. 4.
s Matt. vi. 1 — 5. ' Prov. xxv. 27. " Prov. xxvii. 2.