ZEAL. "His Zeal None seconded, as out of season judged, Milton. "Press bravely onward; not in vain Whittier. "It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing." "Yea, what vehement desire! Yea, what Zeal!" Gal. iv. 18. 2 Cor. vii. 11. N CHAPTER VII. Seal and his Enterprise. EXT appears a noble son whose name is ZEAL. Ardent in his temperament, and rapid in his thoughts, with an active hand and a nimble foot, he is always ready for every work that promises good. He is more valued for his valuable services, than loved for his lovable qualities. He is naturally inclined to be a little rash and overbearing; frequently taxing the tenderness of CHARITY and MERCY; almost alarming the sensitiveness of JUSTICE, and awakening the apprehensions of complacent TRUTH. But in the DIVINE FAMILY there is not a naturally nobler heart than beats in the honest breast of ZEAL. His greatest difficulty is the natural warmth of his temper, which often betrays him into unguarded expressions, and hasty deeds. His feelings are usually quite intense, and he speaks habitually with corresponding warmth. He is never at rest himself, and he likes to have everything in motion around him. And if matters do not move ahead pretty rapidly, under the highest kind of pressure, he usually gets a little impatient, and is apt to scold. But If it were not for the amiable dispositions of the rest of the family, ZEAL would be very likely to occasion some little trouble amongst them. He does not seem to have a great amount of sympathy; and, though he always means well, he frequently injures the feelings of others by the roughness of his manners. MERCY Sometimes undertakes to regulate his conduct, and teach him how to speak with more regard for the tender feelings of others. -precious soul-she has her hands full, as the saying is, and frequently gives him up in despair. If she could only be with him all the time, and could know beforehand what he was about to say, she might, perhaps, by taking very great pains, train him to milder habits so that he would be less offensive. But as it is not possible for her to be with him at all times and places, nature will have its way, and she hears of what ZEAL has said and done when she was not with him, and it occasions her great mortification and grief. ZEAL does sometimes make a full confession of his uncultivated manners and hasty words; and makes a thousand promises to be more guarded in the future. But he breaks out in his old habits again, and becomes discouraged, and says there is but little use in his trying to be unlike himself, or like any other. He does about as well as he knows how, he thinks; and congratulates himself that he is ever sincere in all he does; and carefully avoids some things which are done by others, which to him seem worse than what he allows himself to do. CHARITY unites with MERCY in the endeavor to soften the manners of ZEAL; but the result is far from being encouraging. He has a great deal of natural obstinacy, in connection with his habitual warmth, and is not easy to be controlled. CHARITY solemnly assures him that milder manners and softer words would be for his advantage in every enterprise in which he labors. But he sometimes retorts, that a little more fire and energy would be as much for her advantage, as a little less would be for him. What is the use, he asks sometimes, for one to have a strong arm and a nimble foot, if they are never to be used? Of what use, he will inquire, is a sabre's edge, if it is never to be drawn from the scabbard? CHARITY, in fact, has less influence over ZEAL than even MERCY; for he can withstand her mild apologies, and courteous admonitions, better than he can endure MERCY's tears. Indeed, ZEAL has, after all, more regard for feelings than for courtesies. He has a tender spot somewhere away down in his heart, that MERCY fully understands in all its aptitudes and tenderness, and knows just how to touch when she appeals to ZEAL. And ZEAL cares so comparatively little for the superficial customs and courtesies of life, that he can disregard them, whenever they obtrude themselves in his way, and fetter his free motions, far easier than he can knowingly offend and grieve the tender heart. ZEAL and CHARITY are never much together, unless they both happen to agree in their pursuit; then ZEAL and CHARITY are on the best of terms, and she commends him for his ardent love. But usually their courses lead in different directions; and ZEAL has too much stub |