The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 363

their pre8Umption, as sliielding themfr()'m, pui1ishment. Even so in the Churches of Christ it has ever been the rich and: the great who have dragged down the moral lnw and outraged the holiness of their calling, becanse they seemed to be beyond the reach of discipline or correction in this world. 3. 'J.'hat their sin was intensified by contrast wuli the penitential sorrow and the trouble all around them. Even so does the reckless sin of abandoned people assume a darker hue in the sight of God and of good men, because it shows itself side by side with all the sorrow and the pain, the penitence and supplication, which that very sin has worked in nnnnmbered souls. There is not a city in Christendom where that scene of sin and weeping in the camp of Israel is nut ever being reproduced in full sight of God, if not of men. 4. That the sin of Zimri was, and i,s, revolting to everybody, not, however, because it was really worse than numberless other such acts, but only because it °'4serled itself in its naked hideousness. Even so the most revolting crimes which all men cry out npon are not really worse than those which are committed every day; it is only that circumstances have robbed them of the disguises and concealments beneath which men hide their ordinary sins. III. Consider again, with respect to THE ZEAL 011' PHINEHAS-1. That it was well- pleasing in the sight of God because it was a zeal for God, and against sin. Even such must be the character of all true religious zeal; it must have no lesser or meaner inspiring motive than the pure desire that God may be glorified and sin may be destroyed. It is this zeal, and nothing else, which puts the creature at once on the side of the Creator, and produces an active harmony of will and purpose between God and man. How little religious zeal has this pure character I Hence, although it achieves much,-builds churches, wins converts, gains all its ends on earth,-yet it does not obtain any commendation or reward from God. 2. That it stood in strong contrast to the supineness of the chiefs, and even apparently of 1-loses; they (at best) only 'ITWurned, Phinehas acted. True zeal is always rare1 and most rnre in high places. It is so much easier to deplore the existence of evils thnn to throw oneself into active contention against them. The enthusiasms and reforms which have purged the Church of its grosser moral corruptions have never come from its leaders. 3. That it toas all the more acceptable with God because it wa.1 spon- taneous, and not ojficial. Even so the zeAI which pleases God is thnt which is not paid for directly or indirectly, and which is not prompted by any human ex- pectations, and does not wait for any advantages of position. llow often do men tacitly agree to leave zeal for religion and morality to their official exponents, as if it were a professionnl matter to seek the glory of God and the triumph of righteousness I 4. That it merited the favour of Heaven oecause it was unhesitat- ing and unabashed. No one else perhaps wonld: have "followed" when nnd where Phinehas followed. Even so a genuine religious zeal does not hesitate to seek its ends by painful courses, and such as natural feeling and ordinary sentiment shrinks from. Zeal knows no shame except the shame of doing wrong or of suffering wrong to be done if it can be helped. 6. That the act of Phinehas was commended because it was (1) according to the will of God, and (2) inspired by zeal for God unmized with lower motives. According to the law of Israel, 11s then underHtood and sanc- tioned by God, it was right that these sinners should die, and right that any private person in Israel should execute judgment upon them if the rulers hesitnted; and Phinehas had no private ends to gain or malice to gratify by what he did. Even such is the ultimate test of every act of religious ze11I, by which it must be weighed in the last account. If a thing be right in itself, according to the revenled will of God, yet if it be done from any motive but the highest, it has no reward herenfter, because it seeks its reward here. 6. That the act of Plu'.nd1as was one which was right tlien, but would be wrong now, because the present dispensation is built upon eternal, not upon temporal, s11nctions. Yet is his zeal 11nd ours all one in its essence: wo must put to death the deeds of the flesh by the arms of righteousness ; every man must be a Phinehas to his own lusts in act-to others in word 11nd example only (d. 2 Cor. vii. 11). IV. Consider lastly, with respect to PBINEHAS AS A FIGURE 011' CamsT IN HIS ATONEMENT-1. That the act of Phinehas was accepted as an atonement becanse it aoaa inspired by a pure zeal for God and against sin, without regard oj ,elf And .J50 THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. (CB. XXV. 1-18.