J.C. Ryle: The True Church Is Jealous About Christ

"If we love a person, we are jealous about his name and honor.  We do not like to hear him spoken against, without speaking up for him and defending him.  We feel bound to maintain his interests and his reputation.  We regard the person who treats him ill with almost as much disfavor as if he had ill-treated us.  Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  The true Christian regards with a godly jealousy all efforts to disparage his Master's word, or name, or church, or day.  He will confess Him before princes, if need be, and be sensitive of the least dishonor put upon Him.  He will not hold his peace, and suffer his Master's cause to be put to shame, without testifying against it.  And why is all this?  Simply because he loves Him" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).