Vol. 2

CHAPTER IX. 469**54. And when his disciples James and John sawthis, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fireto come down from heaven, and consume them, evenas Elias did ?"It often happens, that the ministers of the church,under pretence of zeal for her interests, offend againstChristian meekness. The church knows no suchthing as revenge, and her ministers ought not toknow it either. Their wrath should be incensedagainst sin, not against the sinner. The fire ofheaven is one day to come down to purify the worldby destruction : at present, it comes down only tosanctify it by edification. We must consult God,and address ourselves to Christ, in order to know ourduty, and to learn to moderate our zeal." 55. But he turned, and rebuked them, and said.Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of."The growing cold on the account of ill usage, and,much more, sharpness and bitterness of mind, are notaccording to the Spirit of Christ. The disciples ofa God who dies for his enemies, ought to think ofnothing but laying down their lives for those verypersons who do them harm : so far must they be fromrevenging themselves on those who only refuse to dothem good. God permits the inclinations of concupiscenceto appear sometimes in the holiest persons,on purpose thatthey may acknowledge that charityis a gift of God ; and that all the world may plainlysee, that there is no person whatever in whom natureisnot corrupted." 56. For the Son of man is not come to destroymen's lives, but to save them. And they went toanother villafre."o