Year: 1861

Chrisfian Zeal.


Extracts from discourse Geirered at S. Fn6ars Cathe-


drol, Charleston, s. c., Sunday morning, April %,
1861, By the Rer. DR.. J. W. Cummings, Pastor of s..
&ephen's Church, NeW York City,


any dearest brethren every man be sw to hear but slow


to speak and slow to for the of workeh
| and 20tt Uerses.


We have an instance recorded in the fourth Book
Of Kings, illustrating the position of the Apostle
st. James, when he says that the wrath of man
worketh not the justice of God. The three Kings
Of EdOm, of Israel, and of Judah, were collected
t0gether in the presence of their enemies the peo-
pie of Muab. Their followers for long time had
been deprived of water Both the soldiers and their
kingly leaders were in danger of perishing from
thirst. Driven by their sore necessity, they sought
for q man who was prophet or the son of a pro-
phet, that all human hope having failed, they
might be delivered from their difficulty through the
merciful interpositiOn of God


The prophet Eliseus, summoned by them stood
in the presence of the Kings. The King of Israel
was a wicked sovereign, the King of Edom was an
infdel, and JOsaphat. as you will remember, was
the piOus King of Judah.


The King of Israel spoke to the prophet, and
asked him to direct them how they should escape
from the ribulation by which they were straitened
The man of God confronted the King of Israeli
and his features lit up with lively indignation.
After asnOment of silence As the Lord God of
Hosts liveth," said he, I" in whose presence
stand, would not harken to thee, nor look upon,
did not reverence the face of JOsaphat, King of
JUDAH His indignation vas stirred up from the
depth of his soul by the presence of this wicked
ruler, who dared ask the interpositiOn of divine
power, that he might be saved from the fate which
he SO richly deserved. Yet mark the progress Of
the Gospel narrative. 1t was the will of God that
Eliseus should save these kings and their people
from the fate which impending. But while
he was filled with this indignation, the hand of
God fell not upon him. He spoke to the men and
asked them if there was minstrel who played up
on his instrument in the presence of the prophet.
And when he played, his melody told with soothing
effect and calmed the feelings Of the listener His
heaving bosom was stilled, his head was bowed
down, the indignation that he had felt gradually
passed from him, and the heart of the prophet
filled with peace. Then, says the inspired writer,
the hand of God came upon Eliseus, and he pro-
phesied then to the Kings of Edom, of Israel, and
Of Judah.


Here you have an instance of the justice of God
working by his appointed servant; but the work.
ing of that justice is preceded by the upgushing of
human indignation, of what we may readily excuse
as holy zeal but that zeal, however holy, not
approved of by the Most High. Until the excited
spirit of the messenger of God had been perfectly
subdued and calmed; until the voice Of human wrath
was silent in his bosom no words of prophesy came
from his lips.


This passage places in its true light as well as
the words have read from the New Testament.
The subject of zeal upon which design, with Gods
blessing, to address you


Zeal beloved brethren, is beautiful virtue; for
it signifies earnestness in the cause of religion and
of God. 1t is pitiful to behold those who are so
filled with energy in the cause of human honor or
human interest utterly listess and cold in the d.
rect service of God. How often do we give up our
whole being to the pursuit of some real or imagi-
nary advantage, and then when the hour comes to
dedicate ourselves to the discharge of duty,
act in a manner so lukewarn and careless that the
service of God becomes q mere mechanical perform
ance unworthy to be offered up for His acceptance.
Zeal is opposed to this coolness-this want of hear
tness in the service of God. It inspires to do we'll
whatever we do for religion. 1t warns up our
hearts to our work SO that we are steady in our
good intention and thoroughly in earnest in our
good actions.


But while exemplifying those points of sincere
and ardent ZEAL it is my duty to draw your atten-
tion to the fact, that this bright and trenchant
spiritual weapon meg be fearfully misused, and
that this danger exists in proportion to the very
keenness of its edge, and the brightness of its pol
ish We are apt to fall into error by giving our
selves up to the impulse of our Jealous feelings,
and the error consists IN this thatwe misplace our
energy. We should keep that energy in ourselves,
for the purpose of strengthening our desire to do
good and we allow it to pour itself forth In holy
assault on our neighbor. He who is Jealous, in
the good sense only of the word, feels spirit with
in him that leads him to dedicate himself, heart
and SOUL to the service of his neighbor, and to shed
his blood if need be, in the cause of charity. He
who is led by the false spirit of zeal, would earn
estIy convince and convert his fellow men, but if
he meets with resistance he is reused to desire
tn nunish and destroy the neigbbOr to whom he has
earnestly addressed his jealous words in vain. He
mistakes the workings of the anger of man for the
earnestness of Gods justice. He arrogates for his
moor human wisdom the divine right of Judging and
condemuipg his neighbor. He is not satisfied with
preaching and teaching the law of God, but would
carry out its sanctions, and strike down the pre-
sumptuous mortal who will not promptly listen,
be speedily convinced, and fully converted. This
zeal is surely enough, energetic but 1t develOpes
its strength in the wrong direction. In place of
strongly subduing and effectuaIly checking the i'm
patient utterings of human passion, it leaves un-
imnroyed the heart where it has its source, and
goes forth to pass sentence and execute Judgment
on others whom it, perhaps, honestly seeks to
benefit, but whom it can only allienate and repuse,
because it is intemperate and unwise.


need not pause here to rehearse the sad records
preserved by historians of what was done in olden
times on the plea VI Ieai duu uueh .e PIeseuOe vi
earnest religion. They who taught false and erro-
neous doctrines, undertook to persecute those who


the traditions of their fathers in the faith
and too Often alas they who held earnestly to
the truth of God forgot violated the charity of
God in the bitterness of their hostility and human
wrath, against such as would not promptly listen
10 their teachings and obey their commands


Let US once more enquire for o clear and practi-
cal answer to the question, What is true zeal l.
only zeal that can do good to my soul and TO the
soul of others' The reply is briefly this. When
/ have real zeal in behalf of another, have a
greater love and broSer charity towards him
son, or class Of persons, will be willing to show