Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, and there a little: I. THE LESSON OF THE PRECEPT is in order that we may be right and do right. God tells us the same thing over and over again. A precept is a warning, a command, which says, "Take care," "Mind," "Keep in the way." II. THE LESSON OF THE LINE. That is, in order that we may be right and do right, we must try over and over again. God helps all honest trying. An old proverb says, "God helps those who help themselves"; and another says, "Practice makes perfect." "Line upon line," — that is the way we all learn and have learnt all that we know or are able to do. It is so in learning to write. So it is in learning arithmetic. So in learning to draw. III. THE LESSON OF THE LITTLE. That is, in order that we may be right and do right we must not be discouraged if we do not make great advances; we must remember that it is "here a little and there a little." How slowly most great and valuable things grow! The harvest does not spring up in a field in a night. A step at a time mounts the tallest ladder at last, but it must be a step at a time. How long an oak is before it comes to its prime; yet if they could speak they would each say "I am coming on. Here a little and there a little" makes a learned man, a prosperous man, a useful and a good man. "Here a little and there a little" makes the perfect needle woman, and sets the most untidy house to rights at last. How great some ships are! What holds the mighty anchor which holds the ship in a storm? A cable. And what is a cable made of? Why, of ropes coiled over ropes, and every rope made out of little threads. So it is with the habits of life, good or bad; "here a little and there a little," so trifling as they seemed at first, they become at last such mighty and unconquerable affairs. (Anon.) Parallel Verses KJV: For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: |
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