March 18

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.—John 2:17.

Or this saying the disciples were reminded, because with zeal of the house of God did the Lord cast those who made his Father's house an house of merchandise out of the temple. Brethren, let each and every Christian among the members of Christ be even eaten with zeal of the house of God. Who is eaten with zeal of the house of God? He who, when happily he sees aught wrong here, does his best that all may be set right, wishes it to be mended, doth not sit still and do nothing: who, if he can not mend it, endures it, mourns. In the threshing, the grain is not shaken out from the floor; it still puts up with the chaff; that it may enter into the barn when the chaff is separated. If thou be grain, then, be not thou shaken out from the floor, ere it be time for the barn; lest thou be picked up by the birds, or ever thou be gathered into the barn. For the birds of heaven, the powers of the air, are on the watch to snatch somewhat from the floor, and they snatch not save what is thence shaken out. Then let the zeal of the house of God even eat thee: every Christian, let the zeal of the house of God even eat him, in the which house of God he is a member. Surely, thine own house is not more worth than the house in which thou hast salvation everlasting. Into thine own house thou enterest for temporal rest; into the house of God thou enterest for rest everlasting. If then for thine own house thou doest thy best, that nothing wrong be done therein; in the house of God, where salvation is put before thee and rest without end, is it fit thou suffer, in so far as thou canst help it, if happily thou see aught wrong? For example; seest thou a brother running to the theatre? stop him, warn him, be grieved for him, if the zeal of God's house hath even eaten thee. Seest thou others running and wanting to drink themselves drunk, yea, wanting to do in holy places this which in no place is decent to be done? Stop whom thou canst, hold whom thou canst, frighten whom thou canst; whom thou canst win by gentleness; do not, in any wise, sit still and do nothing. Is it a friend? let him be admonished mildly. A wife is it? let her be right severely bridled. A handmaid is it? let her be kept in even with stripes. Do whatever thou canst, according to the relation thou bearest, so shalt thou make good the saying, The zeal of thine house hath even eaten me. But if thou be cold, spiritless, having an eye to thyself alone, as thinking thou hast enough to do for thyself, and saying in thine heart, "What have I to look after other people's sins? I have enough to do with mine own soul; let me keep that entire unto God: "—Ha! does it come into thy mind to bethink thee of that servant who hid his talent, and would not lay it out? Was he accused for losing? not for keeping without gain? So hear ye then, my brethren, that ye be not quiescent. I am about to give you counsel: may he give it, who is within; for though through me he give, it is he that giveth. Ye know what ye are to do each one of you in his own house, with friend, with inmate, with his client, with greater, with smaller: as God giveth access, as he openeth a door for his word, give yourselves no rest, but win for Christ, because ye were won by Christ.