The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-11-07
IL For the Wheeling Registsr. : :
Zeal and KnOWledg e.

first rank They are the life and light {
the mind-they move and illume the whol
man-giving force and form to all he does
They ought always to be found together
like the wings of 8 bird or the oars of
skiff. 1t is not good for one of them to b'
alone, If sundered, each, like the half of
pair of scissors, becomes useless, it no
dangerous. l.r.s. s=a# --: -s.-
Zeal without knowledge is fanaticism-
knowledge without zeal stoieism. The
former is fire that consumes and destroys
all that it touches when it is not controlled
by knowledge-the latter, is frost that
| freezes all around it, when unvitalized by
ZEAL A soul that lacks either, is either
frantical or stoical Where both are con-
joined in their Just proportions, there you
will see consistency of character and hsr-
mony of action; but wherever there is dis
proportion of the two, the department OF
the man will be characterized by jerks
or jumps of the most eccentric, and even
dangerous character.
It is right to be zealously affected in a
good cause, but there is zeal which is not
according to knowledge Zeal of this kind
often SO fires as to destroy the map. 1t
is passionate ardor in the mind for per-
son or cause and is a most commendable
virtue when wisely directed. 1t is
false or true according to its
origin and direction. Hence, there is the
zeal of ignorance, and under its impulses
men often say and do things they would be
far from saying or doing were they better
informed. This actuated the Jews in op-
posing Christianity; and caused them to
boast of their own eXcellencies and to de
spise those of others. This kind of zeal is
yet most shamful(y prevalent. Its subjects
are very numerous. They look at but one
side of cause, and therefrom form and fix
their opinions. Hence, many OF them are
as selfish as they are silly. This is the bit.
ter root of fanatical abolitionism-and all
those crusading isms that go forth to war
with all that cannot see with their eyes,
agree with their peculiar notions, or say
their shibboleths.
But the zeal of ignorance leads to the
zeal of persecution. Then it will prescribe
persons for opinions sake and if it have the
power to Danish, imprison or kill all who
dare resist its tyranny. To prove this we
need not open the records of antiquity; the
doings of the present administration and its
friends, will prove it; for the prosecutions to
which they have subjected many innocent
truly patriotic citizens, have arisen entirely
from ,willful ignorance of the real status of
the subjects of their wrath, as to the mo
mentous struggle through which we as a
nation are now passing. There Is tyranny
in ignorance that is as detestabe as
it is dreadful, and it matters not whsth-
er this ignorance be willful or natural.
This spirit crucifed the Saviour, hung the
apostles, built the Inquisition and lit the
fires of Smithfield. A degree of it may be
in Lincoln and his Cabinet, as really as in
Nero and his courtiers. 1t caused Saul OF
Tarsus to breathe out slaughter and death
against the innocent, and John and James
to ask that fire might be sent down from
heaven to consume the comparatively harm
less villages Of Samaria.
Look at this Two disciples are sent by
their master to seek entertainment for the
night in neighboring town. They are
refused. For what reason we are not spe-
officially informed They became enraged
and determined to take vengeance. But
are rebuked, although they had referred to
the doings of most illustrious Bible per-
sonage in justification of their dreadful de-
terminations-see Luke lX:52-56. Let us
command fire to come down from heaven
and consume them" All, indeed! Con-
sumo them? And what for2 "Oh, they
don't think as .es do, nor won't do as ioe
ask Let US consume them" This Is the
voice of passionate human nature, etouded
in ignorance of itself and of the rights OF
Others; as we'll as fancied by zeal not ac-
cording to godliness. The rebuke how
pointed "Ye kno,C not what manner OF
spirit ye are of; the son of man came not
to destroy mans lives, but to save them. ="
And now, reader, since | have taken 1t
upon me to preach little, pray you let
me 90 on. Would you have thought this
of John and James? Had it been Peter
and Judas there would have been less
grounds to marvel. But the loving John,
and the gentle James to talk thus ! Strange
Their zeal was not according to their knowl,
edge. The punishment they ask, is m ost
extreme, and entirely dispreportloned to the
offence. Their department. has tar more OF
private passion in it than Christian principle
1t is evident they acted more from maze tc
the Samaritans than love to the Saviour
For when the Gadarenes insulted thell
Master, they said nothing, and when the Ma
zarenes laid violent hands on him, they do
nothing. Why are they now SO Jealous ap
parautly for his honorl Ah! the forme1
were all Je,cs, aud so were John and James
but the Samaritans were not Jews, anC
hence their offence, though really far les
than that of the others appeared to TIT
| prejudiced eyes of these fiery zeslots, as ia
the greater. 1t is so yet. The wrongs Q
our party are nothing those of yours ar
enormous! The former We will forgive
the latter, .taggot! This is the spirit of th
age in which We live.
= Can Lincoln err? No, says the Republ
can. What--not if he destroy the Const
tuition and usurp the rights of States an
persons No, no, military necessity" give
him limitles, authority and makes him il
, fallihlal HI. i to enioin. ours to obey. i