Homilist Zechariah 2:1-4 I lifted up my eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.… I. THE FUTURE INCREASE OF GOOD MEN ON THE EARTH. Two remarks are suggested concerning the extent of genuine religion. It is — 1. Measurable only by the Divine. Who had the "measuring line"? Not a mere man, not any created intelligence, but the God-man, the Messiah. Men cannot measure the growth of piety in the world. They attempt it, but make fearful mistakes. They deal in statistics, they count the number of churches in the world and the number of professed worshippers. But piety cannot be measured in this way. Have you scales by which to weigh genuine love? Any numbers by which to count holy thoughts, aspirations, and volitions? Any rules by which to gauge spiritual intelligence? Have you any plummet by which to fathom even the depths of a mother's affections? No one but God can weigh and measure the holy experiences of holy souls. II. THE FUTURE SECURITY OF GOOD MEN ON THE EARTH. Who shall penetrate a massive wall of fire? But that wall is God Himself, omnipotent in strength. Omnipotence is the Guardian of the good. III. THE FUTURE GLORY OF THE GOOD MEN ON THE EARTH. Good men are the recipients and the reflectors of the Divine glory. They are the temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in, and they reveal more of Him than the whole material universe. Holiest souls are His highest manifestations. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.WEB: I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. |
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