Zeal Is That Pure and Heav’nly Flame

Zeal is that pure and heav’n­ly flame

The fire of love sup­plies;

While that which oft­en bears the name

Is self in a dis­guise.

True zeal is mer­ci­ful and mild

Can pi­ty and for­bear;

The false is head­strong

fierce and wild

And breathes re­venge and war.

While zeal for truth the Christ­ian warms

He knows the worth of peace;

But self con­tends for names and forms

Its par­ty to in­crease.

Zeal has at­tained its high­est aim

Its end is sa­tis­fied;

If sin­ners love the Sav­ior’s name

Nor seek it aught be­side.

But self

how­ev­er well em­ployed

Has its own ends in view;

And says

as boast­ing Je­hu cried

Come

see what I can do.

Self may its poor re­ward ob­tain

And be ap­plaud­ed here;

But zeal the best ap­plause will gain

When Je­sus shall ap­pear.

Dear Lord

the id­ol self de­throne

And from our hearts re­move;

And let no zeal by us be shown

But that which springs from love.