'Better than indiscreet and superstitious zeal': A Hackney Phalanx sermon for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

From A Course of Sermons, for the Lord's Day throughout the Year, Volume II (1817) by Joseph Holden Pott - associated with the Hackney Phalanx - an extract from a sermon for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. Preaching on the Gospel of the Sunday, the Lord's compassion for the Widow of Nain, Pott holds the Lord's example before us as a call to exercise charity.  Note the contrast between the duty of charity, exercised towards the neighbour in daily living, and the "self-inflicted pains" of "superstitious zeal", a further example of the Old High critique of an Enthusiasm which would later be seen amongst Tractarians.

The Gospel will instruct them how to take up this part with a good grace, and without any overweening zeal: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ": such is the precept. None are exempted from the duties it enjoins. If this be a sort of voluntary suffering, yet it has a better end than many of those self-inflicted pains, which have been prompted by indiscreet and superstitious zeal; by which the benefit of others has not been in the least considered or promoted. Nor will a readiness to bear a part of the burden of our neighbour, serve only to add another to the number of those, who are heavy laden in the world. To what end would it be, to swell that list by voluntary miseries? A far better purpose will be answered, by foregoing some hours of worldly business or amusement, and by consenting to give up some measures of indulgence. 

The exercise of charity will be enlarged; and the growth of every noble quality of heart and mind, will be expanded. Some measures of compassion must be cherished by every member of the common family of mankind, or the fruits of temporal prosperity will be bitter at the last. It is to be observed likewise, that they who think it too severe a duty to rob themselves of any cheerful moment, and to open any inlet to the floods of sorrow, by taking a voluntary part in the burdens or the griefs of others; they who can make use of selfish pleas to justify a careless life, or to excuse a cold neglect, must have formed no just conception of the real satisfactions which are experienced by the benevolent, even where they seem to give up their own pleasures, and to make a sacrifice of some enjoyments, which cannot be called unlawful or forbidden. The measure of enjoyment is really increased in all such cases. So true it is in every sense, that "the merciful man doeth good to his own soul". He enlarges the best sources of its happiness, and establishes a sure ground of contentment. He cultivates those pleasures, which will bear reflection, and which will lose nothing of their sweetness by decay, or by the changes of a varying season.