LXXI.

CHRIST AN EXAMPLE OF ZEAL.

JOHN ii. 17.

The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

THIS expression is quoted from Psalm lxix. 9. A Psalm composed by David; but which several quotations in the New Testament teach us to refer immediately to the Messiah. These words were brought to the mind of our Lord's disciples, when they saw him drive the buyers and sellers out of the temple. The Jews, in the next verse, demanded a sign, to prove his authority for so doing; but there could not well be a greater miracle than the act itself. When we think how many thousands of Jews were assembled at the feast of the passover, it must have been like a large fair, which was held in the courts of the temple, to furnish them with sacrifices and paschal lambs. And that a plain countryman from Galilee should be able to overcome all the traders, whom the priests had thus encouraged to crowd the temple, was an astonishing instance, not only of zeal, but of a divine power over the minds of this covetous and resentful throng.

I wish, however, to take up the subject in a more general view, and would pursue the following method. I would,

FIRST, Explain the import of the phrase.

Zeal, is the fervor of love, conjoined with the warmest opposition to every thing contrary to the beloved object; exciting to diligent concern for the honor and interest of that object.

The zeal of God's house, is zeal for his worship and ordinances; delighting in attendance upon them; in preserving them pure and entire; and opposing all neglect, abuse, or corruption of them; taking pleasure in seeing and exciting a suitable attachment to them in others.

For zeal to eat one up, is, for it to have full possession of the soul, influencing all its powers, and shining forth in the outward conduct: so that it draws the attention entirely to its proper object, and makes a man impartial and constant in promoting the divine honor, and in strenuously opposing all that would dishonor God. Whereinsoever the divine

glory calls him to action, he would go in the path of duty, regardless of consequences, and fearless of dangers. He is filled with painful concern for any thing which tends to God's dishonor; but will, by no means, be deterred from his service himself, nor from laboring to excite others to a punctual discharge of their duty. Every thing, with him, must give way to religion, or be rendered in some way subservient to it.

There is probably an allusion to the fire from heaven, which fell on the sacrifices, and consumed them. So all our Lord's strength and spirits were employed and spent in his Father's service, and his life, at last, was made a sacrifice for his glory. But let me more particularly,

SECONDLY, Show the propriety of its application to Christ...

How justly was this expression applied to him, whose heart always burnt with this heavenly fire! At twelve years old, he said, "Know ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" He was careful to fulfil all righteousness; all moral, and all positive duties. Throughout his public ministry, he was unwearied in teaching and doing the will of God. He always opposed sin, with the greatest firmness. None could convict him of sin, in any thing. And never did he connive at sin in others: not in the highest pretenders to sanctity. Yea, not in his own dear disciples, however disguised, or mixed with zeal for himself. Get thee behind me, Satan." "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." On this occasion, and on a similar one later, (Matt. xxi. 12. Mark xi. 15. Luke xix. 45.) bearing testimony against all the abuses of the Jews. his giving himself at last a ransom for many; laying down. his life; making his soul an offering for sin; consenting that the temple of his body should be demolished, as it were, though he would raise it up again the third day. this was from zeal for God's glory, the honor of all his glorious perfections. That justice and mercy might meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. He tabernacled in human flesh on purpose, that in consequence of his dying for his people, he might form them into a living

Especially,

All

temple, an habitation of God, through the Spirit.

us consider,

Let

THIRDLY, The reasonableness of imitating his example. Consider the excellence of the divine nature, and moral character, and say, Is not God worthy of ardent zeal? Consider the importance of his kingdom among men. How wonderful, that he will condescend to dwell among them! What reason is there that we should subserve his gracious designs with all our powers! His benefits conferred on us individually, claim our grateful and strenuous exertions in his cause. He who deserved all the zeal, and services, and sufferings of Christ, surely deserves all that we can give. What Christ has done and suffered, confirms and increases our obligations. All he did for God, was also done for us, for our highest benefit; and at the same time was intended to be an example. Can we bear lukewarmness, when we reflect on his amazing love? Must it not give the lie to our profession, if we serve him with indifference? How short is the time in which any difficulty will attend his service! And how much is there to counterbalance every present disagreeable circumstance! Consider, how transitory are our sufferings, and how long will be the season of rest and enjoyment? He does not send us on a warfare at our own charges, but encourages us to live on his fulness. He has promised the aid of his Holy Spirit; is always at hand to defend us; and will own those before angels, who own him before men. Consider,

FOURTHLY, The way in which we should manifest this disposition, if we have the same mind in us that was in Christ Jesus.

Shall we not manifest it by a readiness to attend on God's ordinances, and a concern to encourage the like care in others? Shall we not be careful to keep

all God's ordinances pure, according to their original appointment? Shall we be content with bare attendance

on them, or shall we not want communion with God in them? Will it not grieve us to see others negligent of God's ordinances; formal, hypocritical, and inconsistent

If

in their walk and conversation with their profession? the zeal of God's house doth eat us up, we shall not do the little we do with grudging, but should think it an honor, a privilege to subserve his cause, like David. (1 Chron. xxix. 14.) "Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer after this sort?" We shall be glad to deny

ourselves in other respects, that we may gratify ourselves by serving Christ's cause. We shall be careful to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and be concerned to recommend religion to others. We shall be anxious for the coming of Christ's kingdom among men, planning and contriving new means to promote it. We shall make zealous opposition against error and sin, especially in ourselves, and those we are most nearly connected with.

Impatient

of serving God so feebly and imperfectly, we shall long to enter on a state of perfection, that we may serve him without interruption or defect.

Oh brethren! how few of us can adopt this language in sincerity! With what abatements and exceptions must we use it! When we think of the warmth of Christ's love to us, which some of us have so often celebrated at his table, how must we blush at the coldness of our love to him! How ready was he to deny himself for us; but how backward have we been to deny ourselves for him! How much more willingly did he lay out all his time and strength for us, than we ever laid out ourselves for him! If we were to be called, like the martyrs, to die for him, surely our zeal must be strangely increased, or we should make a poor hand of sufferings, when we are so little active in a time of the greatest ease the church ever knew. Oh! may we look to the author and finisher of faith, for an increase of faith, love, and zeal!

LXXII.

ON SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES.

JOHN V. 39.

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

SUCH was the charge given by our Lord to the Jews, referring, doubtless, to the writings of the Old Testament,

for the New was not then extant. And his appeal ought to have had great weight with them, who admitted they contained the directions needful for obtaining eternal life; and who acknowledged that they foretold a Messiah, and gave an account of many particulars respecting him. Let then the pretensions of Jesus be tried by this standard, and his claim to the character of the true Messiah stand or fall, as they accorded or not with these ancient predictions. How different was the case of Mahomet! He was introduced by. no prophecies. If the Old and New Testament are true, as he allowed, Christ's kingdom was to have no end. Nor could the promise of the Holy Spirit apply to him, who surely was not holy, but impure; not a comforter, but a destroyer. And how strongly does it confirm the whole Bible, that it should be thus divided into two parts; the former of which, according to the testimony of the most inveterate enemies of Christianity, was written long before the latter, and yet fully accords with it. Like a lock with intricate wards, and a key exactly corresponding. There is therefore abundant reason to apply the injunction given to the Jews to other persons, who have now opportunity to examine the whole system of divine revelation; and to exhort you in particular, who have the complete canon of scripture, to search those sacred writings. At the same time, as it is no light matter, it will be worth while to inquire, in what manner this injunction should be obeyed. Consider, FIRST, The reasonableness of our urging you to search the scriptures.

I might expect it would have some weight with the curiosity of the young, to plead that they are (some of them, at least,) by far the oldest writings in the world: that the best scholars, and men of the finest taste have admired them, as containing the most sublime specimens of eloquence. Where will you find simplicity and pathos, equal to Judah's speech to Joseph; or awful sublimity, to compare with Isaiah xiv.? The histories are generally interesting, and perfectly free from all appearance of art. How devoid of invective or panygeric! Their impartiality is a most striking feature; as in the instances of David, Hezekiah, and Peter. Nor is their harmony less