Homilist Amos 7:7-8 Thus he showed me: and, behold, the LORD stood on a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.… I. There is a KIND OF MASONRY IN THE FORMATION of man's character. Man's character may be compared to masonry in several respects. 1. It has one foundation. Walls are built, not upon two, but upon one foundation. So is every man's character. There is some one principle on which it is organised. That principle is the paramount affection of the man. Whatever he loves most, governs him. If he loves pleasure most, his character is sensual; if he loves money most, his character is worldly. If he loves wisdom most, his character is philosophic; if he loves God most, his character is Divine, etc. 2. It has a variety of materials. In a building there are earth, lime, stones, bricks, wood, iron, etc. etc. These are brought together into a whole. Character is not formed of one set of actions, thoughts, impulses, volitions. All kinds of acts enter into it, mental, moral, muscular, personal, political, religious — all are materials in the building. 3. It is a gradual advancement. II. There is a DIVINE STANDARD BY WHICH TO TEST MAN'S CHARACTER. What is the Divine "plumbline" by which to test character? Here it is. "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." Or, perhaps more intelligibly, the moral character of Christ. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." III. There is a TERRIBLE RUIN for those whose characters will not bear the test of this plumbline. "Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of My people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more: and the high places of Israel shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword" (Matthew 25:31-46). (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. |
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