minutest accuracy your fenfations in cafes of competition. Men, reflecting with complacency on their affable deportment towards their inferiors, on that ground take frequent credit with themselves for humility and actually become puffed up with arrogance in the contemplation of their imaginary meeknefs. But bring them into contact with their equals and rivals: and the dominion of Pride is flagrant. Unless your bofom is fwayed by unaffected humility in your intercourfe with equals and with rivals; unless habitually and univerfally you mind not high things; conceive not that you are not the flave of Pride because you fondefcend to men of low eftate (i).

(i) Rom. xii. 16.

SERMON VIII.

Zeal illuftrated by the Character of Jehu,

2 KINGS, X. 16.

Come with me, and fee my zeal for the Lord.

IN regions where civilization has made but feeble advances, opinions grossly erroneous prevail concerning fome of the moft valuable productions of the earth, Subftances which, among nations enlightened by fcience, are daily introduced with fignal utility in medicine, in manufactures, in various arts which fmoothen or embellifh the paths of life, are indifcriminately neglected and defpifed: or, in confequence of mischievous effects produced by a rafh and unfkilful application of them, or by heterogeneous mixtures with which they are debafed, become objects of averfion and of dread,

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Zeal illuftrated by the Character of Jebu. 153

dread. Or having been found, in casual trials, to be endued with beneficial powers; they are extolled as invefted with a kind of magical influence, and are blindly employed as poffeffed of univerfal efficacy. Similar mifconceptions not unfrequently predominate even among ourselves concerning highly eftimable endowments of the mind: and predominate from fimilar causes, a very inaccurate infight into the nature of thofe endowments, and a hafty and unwarrantable use and appropriation of them. Thus by fome, genius is admired as an allpowerful talent, grafping without an effort the treafures of Tafte and Knowledge; while by others it is depreciated as unfitting the intellect for patient research, and terminating in tinfel and fuperficial attainments. And thus it is that industry at one time is dignified as nearly fuperfeding the neceffity of penetration and invention: at another is degraded as cold, plodding, fervile, insensible to refinement, the associaté of pedantry and dulnefs.

Among mental qualities there is scarcely, perhaps, one more commonly mifunderstood and lefs accurately appreciated than zeal. One class of men, furveying with indigpation the timidity and felfifhnefs of the luke,

Jukewarm, applaud that conduct in themfelves as unfophifticated zeal, which is deeply tinged with indifcretion, infubordination, and unchriftian vehemence. An oppofite clafs, deeming zeal but another name for fiery intolerance and enthufiaftic wildnefs, abhor it as reftlefs, fanguinary, and fanatical and look with fufpicion on moderation itself, until it has fubfided fo low as fcarcely to be distinguishable from apathy.

Come with me, and fee my zeal for the Lord. Such were the words of felf-commendation, which Jehu addreffed to Je, honadab, the fon of Rechab. The fpirit by which Jehu was actuated, the spirit to which he affigns the denomination of zeal for the Lord, is to be measured and eftimated by his actions. An examination of his conduct will enable us to draw forth into clear light, and to detach from extraneous incumbrances, the characteristic features of genuine zeal for religion,

I. The undertaking in which Jehu was engaged was the extermination of the family of Ahab. By the murder of Naboth, and by habitual idolatry, Ahab stood condemned to death under the impartial justice

of

The fentence was de

of the divine law. nounced. In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, fhall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. I will bring evil upon thee; I will take away thy pofterity; and will make thine houfe like the house of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and like the boufe of Baasha the fon of Abijah, for the provocation wherewith thou haft provoked me to anger, and made Ifrael to fin (a). In confequence of his contrition and humiliation before God, the deftruction of his houfe was delayed. Becaufe Abab humbleth himfelf before me, faid the word of the Lord to Elijah, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his fon's days will I bring the evil upon his house (b). Ahab was now dead. In the vineyard of Naboth the dogs had licked his blood. His fons Ahaziah and Jehoram, fucceffively inheritors of his throne, and fearless of the impending judgement, perfifted in idolatry. In the twelfth year of the reign of the latter prince the hour of retribution arrived. By the special appointment of God, Jehu was anointed to be king over Ifrael; and was at the fame time commiffioned forthwith to eradicate the houfe of Ahab. Thus

(a) 1 Kings, xxi. 19. 22.

(b) 1 Kings, xxi. 29.