better. If the
plague of stinging, tormenting insects had made Pharaoh better, and
amend his ways, the other plagues would not have fallen upon him.
Thus, when you are tormented by evil tongues and spiteful words, if you
do not strive your utmost to live better lives, and undo any wrong you
may have committed, though the first woe may be past: behold, there
will come two more woes hereafter.

XLIX.

_PERFECTION TO BE SOUGHT._

12th Sunday after Trinity.

S. Mark vii., 37.

"He hath done all things well."

INTRODUCTION.--It was said by an old heathen writer that God cares for
Adverbs rather than for Substantives. That is to say, God had rather
have things done _well_, than that the things should be merely done.
He had rather have you pray earnestly than pray, communicate piously
than merely communicate, forgive your enemies heartily than say you
forgive, work diligently than spend so many hours at work, do your duty
thoroughly than solely be content with discharging your duty.

Of Christ, observe what is said. It is not "He hath opened the eyes of
the blind, He hath unstopped the ears of the deaf. He hath loosed the
tongue of the dumb, He hath healed the sick," but--"He hath done all
things well." The eyes do not become dull again, nor the ears again
lose their power of hearing, nor the tongue stutter once more, nor the
sick relapse into their sickness--what He hath done He hath done well
and thoroughly.

SUBJECT.--This, then, is what God desires of you--whatever you
undertake, to do it well. Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with
all your might. If a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth doing
well. It is not sufficient for us to coldly perform our duties, we
must perform them with zeal and thoroughness.

The prophet Amos was one day shown a vision. "Behold, the Lord stood
upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in His hand. And the
Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline.
Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my
people Israel; I will not again pass by them any more."

In this vision we have the work of God, as carried out by the
Israelites, represented under the form of a wall. God had given them
certain duties to perform, so much work in this world to be done for
Him, and He left them to themselves for a while. Then they thought,
"God is not here, He is not a hard overseer, we will work as we like,
and take it