THE CHRISTIAN TREASURY.

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HOLY ZEAL.

BY THE REV. JAMES BEGG, NEWINGTON.

the feet swift to run in the way of God's commandments. It rules over the whole conduct. It makes us ready to devote our time, our wealth, our talents, our influence, our all to the glorious Redeemer, and the cause of truth and

tial to ministers and people, is Christian zeal. It is not an affection, but it heighters and brings out all affections. It is not a principle, but it gives energy to all principles; and without it all principles are dead. It is not a separate faculty of the mind; but it gives power to all the faculties, lustre to all the graces, intensity to all the feelings of the human soul. With it, we are ready to every good work; without it, we are dead even whilst we live.

As explanation, in the first place, of the true countenance shine-the eyes beam-the tongue nature of Christian zeal is essential, because quick to defend truth, as the pen of a ready this, like every grace of the Christian character, writer-the hands active in every good workhas many counterfeits. Satan, and all the followers of Satan, have assumed the garb of angels of light-presumption has been substituted for faith—the alarm of death and judgment for repentance-a vague complacency, even in regard to falsehood and sin, has endeavoured to usurp righteousness. Such, and so powerful, so essenthe place of Christian love-outward acts have assumed the title of holiness-intolerance and persecution have endeavoured to palm them selves upon the world as zeal. About the nature of no grace do more mistakes exist, or have more mistakes existed in all ages, than about the nature of Christian zeal. Many false appearances have passed for it. Some imagine that all men have enough of it-some that many have too much of it, and that, instead of labouring to stir men up to be zealous for the truth and cause of God, it is more the duty of Christian ministers to smooth down the energy of their brethren, and moderate the warmth which they exhibit. The nature of this grace, in a word, is misunderstood where it does not , exist, and despised and vilified where it does; and when we see how Satan takes advantage of all this ignorance and folly-and how cold and careless, in regard to spiritual things, professing Christians in general are-how few make any efforts to advance the cause of truth-how many are zealous in the service of sin, and in urging on a thousand follies which drown themselves and their brethren in perdition; is it not our duty to endeavour to rescue this essential mark of holiness, and to set it before glittering height of which it hopes to arrive, and men in all its vital necessity and importance, as the impelling cause of all active Christianity, the beauty and perfection of the Christian

character?

There is much zeal in the world, altogether apart from Christianity; and by examining it you may discover the true nature of Christian zeal; for it appears that men, after they are converted, retain the very same elements of nature, only quickened and purified, fixed on new objects, and increased in intensity. In the "new heart," the direction of the affections has been entirely changed; but as the king eagerly gazes on his crown, and on the princes and men at arms by whom he is surrounded, all indicating the majesty of his kingdom-as the mother earnestly watches her infant, and would defend its life by the sacrifice of her own, all the deep feelings of her nature being roused into activity—as ambition fixes its eyes stedfastly upon the hill at the

as all the energies of its nature are quick to discern and pursue every object by which the result may be achieved as the miser fastens his eyes on heaps of gold and silver, and is never seen, What, then, is the true nature of Christian waking or sleeping, to unloose his grasp or lose zeal? It is one of the precious fruits of the sight of his favourite object-as the hero eyes Holy Spirit, and consists simply in an earnest his army with fixed interest, by whose aid he and enlightened desire to promote the glory hopes to press his way through fields of blood to of God and the good of men. It is a fire garlands of perishing glory; so a zealous Chrisfrom the Divine altar, touching the hearts of the tian beholds with fixed interest the object of followers of the Lamb; and it makes the un- his pursuit-the glory of God and the good of derstanding acute-the memory retentive-the souls. All his perceptions and feelings are alive conscience alive-the affections warm and ar--nothing diverts him from his object--nothing dent. It pervades the whole man. It makes the will make him relax, till the loud proclamation No. 27. *

II. There is an ostentatious zeal, the fruit of pride and self-righteousness, which is equally condemned in Scripture, and especially by our blessed Saviour. There is a generation who take especial care to have all that they say or do properly noticed, appreciated, and recorded of men. None of the sacrifices which they make, | or deeds which they do, must be done in a corner. The more widely these are noised abroad, the more gratified are they. "Come, see my zeal for the Lord," said the wicked | I. A man may be zealous for falsehood as Jehu. And the Pharisees at the time of Isaiah well as truth, or he may endeavour to advance afflicted their souls, bowed down their heads like right measures by false means. There may be a bulrush, and spread sackcloth and ashes under strength and energy in connection with blind-them. The Pharisees at the time of Christ Samson may be strong, but he may be made long prayers in the corners of the streets,

sounded a trumpet before them, and did alms, to manifestations which usurp its name, let us be seen of men.

state the objects towards which it ought to be directed. Time would fail to mention all these; but it is our duty, first of all, zealously to secure our own salvation. All desires must give way to this; for "what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" and how miserable a thing will it be to say on the day of judgment: "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils," if Christ shall say, "I never knew you?" This was the zeal of the Apostle Paul, who said, I labour "lest, having preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." And when we think how fearful it will be to be like those inanimate statues which stand on the staircases of the great, to light others up to halls of glory whilst themselves are motionless and dead, we may well "give all diligence to make our own calling and election sure."

Now, it is to be observed, that it is not the duty of Christians to conceal all that they do, nor is it possible. Their light must shine before men, that others may see their good works, and glorify their heavenly Father. "They are as a city set on a hill, which cannot be hid." But all this must be with no desire after ostentation and vain display. Their light must be the calm, steady, ever-increasing light of principle, and not the broad glare by which the world may be deceived. Pretended zeal is generally very ostentatious, and a cloak for falsehood and iniquity; we see the greatest effort when the world is looking on and admiring, profuse expenditure only when it is to be greeted with the hosannas of the multitude. Within, all is full of selfishness and guilt; and such manifestations are sometimes only a covering for the grossest wickedness. "Proclaim a fast," said the infamous Jezebel, "and set Naboth aloft But, next to our own salvation, we should amongst the people;" whilst, at the very time, labour to advance that of all other men. Let us she was plotting his murder. Demetrius was but think of the interest which God himself has zealous for Diana, but the secret motive was exhibited in man from the very first-from the that his own craft was in danger; and if any time when he breathed into his nostrils the will look abroad in the present day, he will breath of life, and gave him dominion over the sometimes see men carrying on their avarice, creatures; think of man now fallen and contheir deceit, their cunning, their hypocrisy, all demned, and of God laying aside his majesty, under pretence of zeal for the best interests descending from heaven, and in human form of men. It is, therefore, necessary to distin-offering a glorious oblation, that he might build guish, and to beware. out of these very ruins a glorious everlasting temple to himself; think that every one you see passing along the street is the possessor of an immortal soul-a soul that shall live in happiness or misery for eternal ages; that God has given his ambassadors commission to preach the Gospel to every creature, and assured you that he will be the more delighted the greater the number of these wandering outcasts that are raised to glory; that he has not intrusted the high work of converting men to angels, but to the sons of men-to you, and me, and every man to whom the word of this salvation has been sent; think that time is so short that it is compared to a vapour-so uncertain, that death comes like a thief in the night, and say if zeal is not required in the work of converting your fellow-men.

III. False zeal is fluctuating and momen|tary in its duration, "like the morning cloud and early dew, which passeth away." Like Pharaoh, when Moses is before us, and when we are smarting under the rod of God, we may appear penitent, and ready to any good work; but when both are removed, our zeal departs with them. It may spring like the seed sown on the rock, which, when the sun rises, withers away. In church we may feel a glow of zeal, at the time of sacrament, when heated into ecstasy by an eloquent preacher, or by some unusual excitement, we may seem to catch the fire of zeal; but, like a hasty spark, it straightway dies. True zeal, like the fire in the temple of God of old, must never go out until He comes whose we are; faith and hope stand round and kindle upon true zeal fresh coals of fire, until all is swallowed up in the blaze of glory of that resurrection morning which shall consummate the joy of all the sons of God.

But about the external ordinances of God's appointment you should also be zealous. It is madness to say, God will maintain his own truth whatever we do. He will not maintain it without human agency-he will not maintain amongst men who are careless about its existbut remove it to other lands, whose inha

Having thus explained the nature of Chris-it tian zeal, and distinguished it from those false

ence,

A SABBATH SCHOLAR'S REWARD.

and whose honest sunburnt countenances corroborated her expressions of pleasure, that the English gentleman should honour their poor cabin by taking a meal in it. Whatever the honour was to them I could not divine: the benefit to me of their hospitality was real and substantial.

While sitting at the table, my attention was directed to a venerable old man, who appeared to have recently risen from his bed, and who was sitting by the side of the fire-place. My companion had greeted the patriarch with a familiar expression of esteem as he entered, and as soon as we were fairly seated, I got into conversation with him; and from him and his pastor (for such was the relation my friend sustained towards him) I learned the few particulars of his history. With these I shall conclude the chapter.

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cause of the time passing heavily; and under the promptings of a kind and benevolent heart, she resolved to go over to the old man's cabin, and offer the loan of her treasure for him to read. Murray, more with the design of gratifying the child, and glad to have something that might help to relieve the weary days of sickness, accepted her book, and promised to peruse it.. He did so. As he read, he became conscious of unusual emotion. It was neither old age nor feebleness from his affliction, that made his hand tremble so, as he turned over the pages; neither was it a natural dimness that at times hid the words from him. Tears were swelling up from his heart, deep convictions were strug gling in his soul; and, like Felix, he trembled as he read of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. That was a memorable day to him. Mightily did the Spirit of God strive' with him; the neglects, the transgressions of a long life were brought home to his conscience; the terror of the law flashed upon his guilty spirit, and everlasting ruin seemed inevitable. Ie wept, and read, and prayed; he prayed, and read, and wept again. He regarded his sickness with alarm-it might be unto death, and he felt unprepared; and the prayer of his trem

Thomas Murray-that was the old man's name—was born near Belfast, and wrought as a farm-labourer from his boyhood. At the age of forty-two he came to reside in the cabin where I found him, which he had not left for above a day for forty years. His dwelling was half a mile from any other; and the intercourse which he and the members of his family held with any others was infrequent and short, ex-bling heart was, "O spare me, that I may recept at times when mutual aid was given and required in the harvest seasons. His farm consisted of forty Irish acres-"a power of acres," he called them; for he had regarded himself, and was esteemed so by others, a large landholder, although half was mountain land, and more productive of heather than anything else. Still here he obtained a subsistence for himself and family, until "auburn locks" gave place to "reverend grey." Seventy-five years had passed over him, and left their traces in many a furrow on his bronze brow; and yet, although so near the close of his career, he was "without God in the world." No thoughts of a future eternity appear to have stirred the depths, or even to have ruffled the surface of his mind. He seemed to be "let alone :" "but God, who is rich in mercy," remembered him. At the age of seventy-five, he was laid aside from his accustomed duties by an affliction which confined him to the house; and he who had always led an active life, and to whom the healthful breezes of the mountain were as necessary as food, felt the irksomeness of his detention at home; and having nothing wherewith to while away the tedium of the lagging hours, he became exceedingly irritable and impatient. The tidings of his sickness were communicated to the inmates of the next cabin, in which dwelt a little girl, who was a scholar in the Sabbath-school at Strade. For her attention in the class, she had received a reward from her minister-one of the publications of the Tract Society. When she heard that old Murray was ill and fretful, because he knew not how to spend his time, she thought that the absence of books might be one

cover strength before I go hence, and be no more." Eagerly now did he thirst for instruction, and again and again was the book perused which had at first awakened him. It was in tended more for direction than conviction; yet as it had produced the latter, so also did it give! the former. Light broke in upon the old man's soul, and a Bible was now prized that had been before disregarded. The child when she heard that Murray had recovered his health, called for her book. He had learned very highly to value it, and was therefore unwilling to part with it. Misunderstanding his refusal, she repaired with tears in her eyes to her minister, and told him her tale. He, quickly discerning how matters stood, cheered her with the promise of another volume, and immediately repaired to the mountain cabin. It proved as he had anticipated. Thomas Murray had become a new man, and was bending over the pages of the precious volume the child had lent him. Mr. B- took it up; it was "The Anxious Inquirer" that had found its way into the old man's hand, and its truths had penetrated his heart. From that day he grew in divine knowledge with a rapidity as delightful and satisfactory as it was surprising. When I saw him he spoke as one who had caught glimpses of "the land that is very far off," and of "the King in his beauty." Our intercourse was refreshing to my soul; and I parted from him with a reverence for his piety as well as for his grey hairs.

A few weeks ago, I received from his pastor the intelligence of his death. His last illness was short, and his departure sudden. The day prior to his death he visited his neighbours, and