[While we desire, and pray to God for, the salvation of others, we rejoice and bless our God for you. We consider the prosperity of your souls as the richest recompence of our labours. Ye have "received Christ Jesus the Lord:" see to it then that ye " walk in him," and " abide in him," and " cleave unto him with full purpose of heart."]
Rom. x. 4. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
ZEAL, if directed to a good object, is highly com- mendable : as the Apostle says, " It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing." In refe- rence to the concerns of religion, it is indispensably necessary for all who would approve themselves to God : " Whatever our hand findeth to do, we should do it with our might." But in proportion to its value when operating in a good cause, is the danger of it, when engaged on the side of error. This appears from the havoc which Paul in his unconverted state made of the Christian Church ; purely from a desire to render, as he thought, an acceptable service to the Lord. Such, alas ! is yet the zeal of too many : it is well-intentioned, but blind, and ignorant, and inju- rious: nevertheless, such a zeal, conscientiously ex- ercised, at all times deserves respect, and should be treated with respect even by those who suffer from it. The conduct of the Apostle towards the unbe- lieving Jews was, in this point of view, worthy of universal imitation. He was constrained to tell them that they were in error, and that their error was re- plete with danger to their souls : but he told them of it in terms as conciliatory as love could dictate, or language could afford. He assured them, that they were objects of his tenderest regard, and that he felt the deepest anxiety for their welfare. He even bare testimony in their behalf, that, in the zeal they mani- fested, they had an unfeigned desire to serve God :