and when there is life
there is energy and earnestness. Even when enthusiasm takes forms that
we cannot altogether approve of, it is worthy of respect. "Next to
being Servetus who was burnt," said one, "I would have been Calvin who
burnt him." That was a strong way of saying that zeal is a beautiful
thing in itself, though "zeal that is not according to knowledge" is
not good. We may not approve of many of the opinions and methods of
Francis Xavier, the great missionary and saint of the Roman Church, but
we cannot fail to admire his burning zeal in the cause of Christ, and
look with something like awe on his high-souled devotion to the work of
an evangelist. He was swept on by an enthusiasm that never failed, and
which carried him over obstacles that would have daunted any ordinary
man. The Puritans were denounced by many good people of their time,
and the great preacher, Dr. South, delivered a sermon against them,
entitled "Enthusiasts not led by the Spirit of God." But we all know
how great the men were, and how great a work they did through the very
enthusiasm that he condemned. "It is better," according to the
proverb, "that the pot should boil over than not boil at all." The
word enthusiasm literally means filled, or inspired, by God, and the
meaning of the word may teach us how noble a thing enthusiasm is in
itself, and how worthy it is of admiration and respect.

2. _We should cultivate it in ourselves_.--It is a virtue, like all
others, that can be cultivated. (_a_) By resolutely setting our face
against doing anything in a languid and half-hearted way. If a thing
is worth doing, it should be done "with all our might." (_b_) By
studying the lives of great men. When we do so we catch something of
the earnestness that inspired them. This is perhaps the best result of
reading biography. We feel how noble was the enthusiasm of the heroes
of the past, and how, by means of it, they were able to do great
things, and to march on to victory. (_c_) By associating with those
who are in earnest. There is nothing so contagious as enthusiasm, and
when we come in contact with those who live under the impulse of grand
ideas, something of their force and power is conveyed to ourselves.
The great soul strengthens the weak soul. While the solitary coal on
the hearth will go black out, when it is heaped up with others it
springs into a blaze.

O ever earnest sun!
Unwearied in thy work,
Unhalting in t