faith the Lord God of Ifrael; I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord. Thou fhalt fmite the house of Ahab. The whole boufe of Ahab fhall perish (c). In extirpating the devoted race, Jehu acted under the immediate mandate of God. His zeal conformed itfelf to the revealed will of heaven, exerted itself in the path of duty. Thus it poffeffed the primary diftinction, by which genuine zeal for religion is characterifed.

It is not however by a fingle characteristic that genuine zeal is ascertained. In colour the counter may exhibit a perfect resemblance of the unadulterated gold. But how ftands the comparison as to weight, as to folidity, as to ductility? Let us bring the zeal of Jehu to the teft of additional criterions.

II. In the profecution of his object Jehu fpeedily displayed a ferocious and cruel fpirit. When he met Jehoram, for whom, though no longer entitled to allegiance, fome emotions of tendernefs might naturally have been excited by the remenbrance of antecedent connection; he

(e) 2 Kings, ix. 6-8.

encoun

encountered the fallen monarch with unmitigated bitterness of reproach: and, inftead of devolving on his attendants the office of exacting the forfeited life of his former mafter, inftantly, with his own hands, executed the fentence himself. That Jezebel, the widow of Ahab and the mother of Jehoram, that fhe who, during fo many years, had ftood forward as the patronefs of idolatry, fhould die; that the blood of the prophets and the blood of all the fervants of the Lord, which had been fhed by her authority, fhould now be avenged upon her head, was a prominent part of the divine commission (d). How did Jehu fulfil the mandate of God? When he entered the city of Jezreel, he faw her as fhe leaned from a window: and, perceiving that fome individuals of her household were prepared to obey any directions which he fhould give, he commanded them to throw her headlong into the street and fome of her blood was fprinkled on the wall and on the horses; and be trode her under foot. The crimes of this wretched woman merited not compaffion. But to trample her to death under

(d) 2 Kings, ix. 7.

the

the feet of his horses, to drive his chariot in the public ftreets over her mangled frame, was an act of favage exultation, of wanton barbarity, an act neither enjoined by the voice of the Most High, ner warranted by any plea of neceffity. Genuine zeal for religion, is a branch of the wisdom that is from above. It is therefore, first pure; then peaceable, gentle, full of mercy (e). With perfevering firmnefs, unfwayed by prohibited feelings, it discharges every duty, however painful, which is impofed by the commandments of God. But it thuns even a word of needlefs feverity; and labours to unite abhorrence of fin with the ampleft exercife of justifiable mildness towards the finner. Is the zeal of Jehu, thus deeply polluted by the malignity of human paffions, Zeal for the Lord? Glory not, and lie not against the truth. This zeal defcendeth not from above: but is earthly, fenfual, devilish (ƒ). Such, when we contemplate this part of the conduct of Jehu, are the forebodings with which our bofoms are filled.

III. Zeal neceffarily bears a character of publicity. It manifefts itself in action: (e) James, iii. 17. (f) James, iii. 14, 15. and,

and, when directed to objects of extenfive: importance, is conftrained to labour before the eyes, and amidst the concourfe of men. Genuine zeal for religion, thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Chriftian humility, though it cannot retire from notice, courts not popular obfervation. Stedfaft, yet unobtrufive, it fubmits to the .general gaze, to the general noife of tongues, which, without relinquishing its appointed office, it cannot avoid: but pushes not forward vain-glorious pretenfions, delights not to become the fpectacle of wonder, the theme of applaufe. Is this the principle by which Jehu appears to be impelled? Come with me, and fee my zeal for the Lord. His language is the language of arrogance and oftentation. He fays not to Jehonadab ; "Come with me and ftrengthen my hands "under difficulties. Come with me and "fuggeft in this hour of temptation the "counfels of humility. Come with me, "and animate my gratitude to our God for "this unmerited elevation."-" Come with

me," he cries, " and behold me and ad"mire me. Survey my activity, my vigi"lance, my fagacity, my pious deteftation "of the race of Ahab, my devoted attachment to the honour of Jehovah !" Attachment

1

tachment to the honour of Jehovah! Jehu receives honour from men. Can he truly believe in Jehovah (g)? Jehu loves the praife of men. Does he not love it more than the praife of God (b)? Jehu founds a trumpet before him as the hypocrites do, that he may have glory of men; performs 'his exploits in the streets, that he may be feen of men (i). Is it thus that he fhall obtain a reward from our Father who is in heaven ? Our forebodings concerning the nature of his zeal acquire additional ftrength. Ere long they may be converted into certainties.

IV. The zeal that is from above is, first, pure. Ardent in the profecution of its object, it reforts not to means which are unjuftifiable. It abominates craft and duplicity. It abhors the fuggeftions of that worldly wisdom,, which teaches to do evil that good may come (k). How fares the zeal of Jehu, when tried by this criterion? From the deftruction of Jezebel the new king of Ifrael proceeds to the extirpation of the feventy fons of Ahab. The letters which he dispatches on this fubject to the

(g) John, v. 41. (h) John, xii. 44. (k) Rom. iii. 8.

vi. 2. 5.

(i) Matth.

rulers