Year: 1861

| holler than others, rancorous and unforgiying
spirit, we may be sure that our zeal is neither true
nor pure. Follow this rule. my brethren, and YOU
will never be deceived. Charity is an infallible
test by which you may know true zeal from false
You will be enabled to look steadily into the dark
ness of your conscience, to plumb the most hidden
motives, and to discover at the bottom of your
hearts impulses detected by other eye save your
own and the all-seeing eye of God.
| In reference to the judgments which we pass up
| on our neghbors, we have to avoid the harshness
OF mistaken zeal not only. but have also to fear
that our sentence may be falsely as well rashly
pronounced. And what says the
holy Father st. Augustine, "When you under
take to condemn hastily sinner as an enemy of
uod' have care lest you may pronounce sentence
upon an apostle in Disguise


would not willingly omit an instance given US
by our Savior himself of the difference between the
Judgment of man and those of an all wise and all
merclfui God. In the touching parable Of the
ProdIgal Son. the elder brother is represented as
having been always discreet and virtuous youth,
very different indeed from the graeeless boy who
had spent all his substance, living riotously in
foreign land. Yet, in spite of his transgressions,
we are presented with picture of the unfortunate
younger son, at the close of his wild abroad
which fills the reader with compassion, and pre-
pares the mind to deal kindly with its object. The
elder brother blamed the prodgal after his return,
without having seen him, and accused him of mis-
deeds which had been bitterly repented of. The
object OF his Indignation and self-righteOus dsdain
had suffered all the want and degradation of ex-
treme poverty. Afar from the home where he had
been so decatey nurtured, he was left alone with
out the pity of single individual without shelter,
food, or raiment, except few tatters, the only
remnants of his former greatness and prosperity;
and was reduced even to act as herdsman among
a hock of unclean animals. There he sat him down
IN his great grief, and with streaming eyes he
thought of his indulgent father and his long lost
home. His pride was gone now, and if a poorer,
he had certainly become also wiser man. He de-
termines not to die before asking the pardon of the
father whom he had so grievously offended and
after long struggle with himself, he finally acts
nobly on the resolution he had formed ' l will
arise and go to my father, and say to him, Faith
er, am not worthy to be called thy son receive
me even as one Of the servants of thy house.
Here Is humility, courage, selEcOnquest, and
brave turning away from the world and sin to duty
and to God. And this youth is the object Of pro-
found dislike to his virtuous brother.


Oh! beware, ye just, how you condemn your
weaker brother sinner, grievOus sinner though he
be Fear to Judge your neighbor in your zeal, for
you cannot read his heart. We know not what as
pirations towards better things may exist in the
breast of the man of whom know so far nothing
but evil report. Let US remember that no man has
gone so far in wickedness that he may not be re-





full of vice that all goodness has departed from him.
IT, then, you truly Jealous, lay hold of that in
your neighbor's character and conduct which may
lead him on to better things do not crush him
under the weight of his faults, his folies or his
crimes, beyound hope Of redemption; The prOdigal
of to-day may be received as penitent tomorrow,
and he who stands let him beware lest be fall.


have treated the subject on general principles,
but they have bearings and applications which en-
ter into the daily life of every Christian. Let me
exhort you to beware of that zeal which is only
pretended zeal. but which so easily leads to hypoc
risy. Reject that zeal which is not accompanied
by prudence and moderation. Mistrust that zeal
which, under pretence Of religious devotion and the
practice of piety, causes you to slight neglect
the duties which you owe to your home and to
your station in society Earnestness in the service
of God by no means excuses carelessness In the
charities we owe our neighbor, and he is not the
best Christian who prays most deyoutly in chruch,
but the who after he leaves the church Is the
most faithful, upright and affectionate IN discharg
ing his duties to his household, his neighbors,
and to all mankind.


Finally. dear brethren, remember that the pres
ence of God always produces peace in the soul.
Wherever zeal is accompanied by tumult, disorder
and unrest, you may be sure that it is not zeal
inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Prophet Elias
Mad been obliged to flee from before the face of


is people. He walked for forty days in the desert,
nd when he reached the foot of the mountain an
nigel appeared to him. and asked him why he was
there. Here is his answer &c With zeal have
been Jealous for the Lord God of Hosts, for the
children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant.
They have thrown down Thy altars, they have
slain Thy prophets with the sword, and alone am
left; and they seek my life to take it away"
Surely here was reason enough for the prophet to
look with Indignation on his people.


But there was a beautiful lesson in store for
him whereby he might learn to distinguish between
human zeal and zeal betokening the presence of
God. The angel said to him Z" Go forth and stand
upon the mountain of the Lord, and behold the
Lord passeth." The prophet stood upon the noun
tain, and there was mighty wind OvertoweriDg
the mountain and breaking the rocks to pieces.
The Lord is not in the wind. And after this NIGH
ty storm of the wind had passed away, it was fol-
lowed by an earthquake with all its havoc and de-
vastation. And the Lord not in the earthquake.
After the terrors of the earthquake had allowed
the land to rest, there was great fire. shifting the
forest with its withering breath. And the Lord
not in the FIRE. And after the fire there
the whispering of gentle breeze, and Elias COW
cred his face with his mantle, and, coming forth
from the cave, be stood in the presence of the
Lord. The Lord then was not in the storm, the
earthquake, or the fire, but His presence made
known to His servant by the light whispering of
gentle breeze. In like manner, dearly beloved, will
you discern the presence of the Lord in your hearts,
His voice will not be heard among the angry NUT
terings of zeal which is not according to knowledge
nor enlightend by charity, but which seeks to
uproot. punish and destroy. Whenever He il
present, the smile of His divine countenancs
dffuses light and joy in the heart He hath chosen
for His abode, and when His voice speaks, it is in
the gentle words Of love and peace.


GF The records of life run thus: Man creeps
into chiIdhood-bounds into youth-sobers into