Now enthusiasm is a priceless gift.
is the most potent factor in all human progress. Let us never discourage it. But this spirit must be directed to wise and useful ends, otherwise it may prove a curse and not a blessing. Simon and his comrades had a that made them capable of doing almost anything. Their zeal knew no limits, but in old time it had been directed to ends that were bad and sometimes inexcusable. Who cannot multiply illustrations of misdirected zeal and enthusiasm from his or her own personal experience. Enthusiasm must be informed and directed, and we can imagine Christ saying to Simon as He had said to Peter, "Thou art Simon, the Zealot, feared and distrusted even by those you count your friends. Come and follow me, and I
Will make you a tower of strength. I will make your enthusiasm a blessing to the world" And such indeed Simon became.
In spite of their excesses there must have bee much to admire in the Zealot programme for they attracted many noble minded men. They had a real love for their native land, and for all that it stood for, and they were willing to make all sacrifices for it. To this band of political enthusiasts Simon of Cana belonged, perhaps shared in some of their excesses. Then he came under the influence of the Prophet of Nazareth, and Simon the Zealot became a disciple of Jesus.
Now this is a very wonderful thing. Did you ever stop to consider how strange a thing it is that such a man should have enrolled himself as a follower of the gentle Jesus? No two men could have seemed more opposite in character and ideals. One aimed at restoring an earthly kingdom, the other looked forward to a kingdom that was not of this world.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.