Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-12-05
THE ZEAL WHICH EATETH UP.

The succeeding article, written by Addison
for the Spectator, can be no more out Of place
in 1899 than it was in I'LL. We have never
seen the authors writing quoted but with re-
spect and approval, and we commend this ~
the calm consideration OF those who have been
induced 10 believe that any cause, however
righteous it may be- in itself can be forwarded
or supported by wrath and persecution, aided
and enforced by the ''strong arm oil the law"
And dwells such fury in celestial breasts7
There is nothing in which mon more deceive
themselves than in what the world calls zeal.
There are so many passions which hide them-
selves under IT, and 80 many nisches arising
from 1t, that some have gone so far as TO say
II would have been for the benefit Of mankind
if ii had ever been reckoned in the catalogue Of
virtues. II 10 certain, whore i: is once laudable
and prudential, it is an hundred times criminal
and erroneous; nor can it be otherwise, if we
consider that it operates with equal violence in
all religions, however opposite they may be to
one another, and in all the subdivisions Of each
religion in particular.
We are told By some Of the Jewish rabbins,
that the first murder was occasioned by a ro-
Iigious controversy; and if we had the whole
history Of zeal from the days Of Cain to our
own times, We should see it filed with so MANY
scenes of slaughter and bloudshed, as would
make wise man very careful how he suffers
himself to b. actuated by such principle.
when it only regards matters Of opinion and
speculation.
would have every jealous man examine his
heart thoroughly, and believe he will often
find, that what he calls zeal for his religion,
is either pride, interest, or ill.natnre. A man
who differs from another in opinion, sets him.
self above him in his own judgment, and in sew
erai particulars pretends to DO the wiser per-
son. Ihlsis great provocaton to the prouc
man, and givesa very keen edge to what he
calls his zeal And that this is the case very
|oiien, we may even observe from the behaviour
oil so nc OF the most Jealous for orthodoxy
who have oilen great friendships and inlmacie,
with VICIOUS, immoral men, provided they dc
bur agree with them in tho same scheme Of be.
lief The reason is, because the vicious believ.
or gives the presidency to the v.rtIous man
and allows the cool Christian to be the worthier
person, at the same time that he cannot come
up 10 his projections. This We find exemplifed
n that trite passage, which we SEQ gu ,ted in al.
most every system of ethics, though upon
another occasion.
see the right, and approve il too.
Condemn the wrong, and yet the wrong pursue.
On tho contrary, it is certain, if our zeal
were true and genuine, we should be much
more angry with a sinner than hereto; since
there are several cases which may excuse the
latter before his great Judge, but none which
can excuse tho former,
Interest is likewise great inhamer, and sets
a man on persecution under the color of zeal
For this reason we find none are so forward
to promote the true worship by FIRE and sword
as those who find heir present account in it,
But shall extend tho word interest to n larger
meaning than what is generally given it, as il
relates to our spiritual safety and welfare, al