Earnestness and Conscientiousness
Earnestness and Conscientiousness.—But earnestness and conscientiousness are not a proof of the goodness or utility of a movement. There are conscientious heathen, pagans, Mohammedans, Mormons, infidels. Many of these are as thoroughly conscientious as it is possible for a Christian to be. The Pharisee Saul was conscientious when he pursued Christians to imprisonment and death. He said, “I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to his disciples, “The time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” This is conscientiousness. Sir Thomas More was a conscientious Catholic. Calvin was conscientious doubtless in his actions concerning Servetus. The Puritans were conscientious in their persecutions of Baptists. And the zeal and earnestness of the devotees of false religions would put to shame many Christians.