mistake, as though religion required us to hate any of our fellow- creatures; we must love their 2Je7'sons, but hate their ways. This line of conduct is prescribed to all the followers of Christ: whilst they " glory in the cross of Christ," they must " by means of that cross be crucified unto the world, and the world be crucified unto them."
Now, if we draw back from this avowal of our sentiments and this decision in the cause of Christ, we rank ourselves immediately on the side of his enemies. *' In forsaking his law, we praise the wicked," when rather, " by keeping his law we should contend with them®." " We strengthen the hands of Christ's enemies," and in the most effectual manner promise tliem life, though every part of the inspired volume threatens them with death ^. Let us remember then that we must be faithful to our profession : we must shew " whose we are, and whom we serve :" we must " shine as lights in a dark world," and, " instead of being conformed to the world, we must, by being transformed through the renewing of our minds, prove, and exhibit to all around us, what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God^."]
Let us LEARN then from hence,
1. The proper objects of Christian zeal —
[There is a zeal that is good ; and there is " a zeal that is not according to knowledge." Of the latter kind was that which the Apostles manifested when they forbade a man to cast out devils, merely because he did not follow with them. The work itself was good ; and its being done in the name of Jesus, gave them reason to believe that he was a believer in Christ, though he did not unite himself to them. Should they not then rather have rejoiced in tlie good that was done, though it was not done precisely in the way which they would have preferred ? Alas ! the spirit which they indulged prevails in every age : men do not like to see the empire of Satan assailed, or the kingdom of Christ established, if it be not done by their own particular party, or by the means which they particularly prefer : and they would rather that the good were wholly left undone, than that persons, differing from each other in smaller matters, should unite together to effect it. All this is the effect of pride, and envy, and bigotry : and, whatever such persons may think, they will be reproved by Christ, even as the Apostles were. The proper object of our zeal is the advancement of Christ's kingdom upon earth, and in our own hearts in parti- cular. To be zealously affected always in such a cause is a good thing : and I pray God that we may never relax our exertions in it to the latest hour of our lives.]
« Prov. xxviii. 4. f Ezek. xiii. 22. e Rom. xii. 2.