"_The water is naught_," said the men of the city. Does not that
describe many a life? Naughty actions influence for evil; for wherever
these waters flowed they carried desolation. The fields through which
the river ran were useless to the farmer. Are there not some whom we
know who might be thus described--perhaps someone who reads these lines
among the number? First the schoolboy, then the youth, and now the man,
profitless and sour, so that all cultivation has been wasted. Is it so?
And, what makes the disappointment the greater, "the situation is
pleasant." It is just the place where men like to build. Everything
looks so promising. How true this of many in our midst! Have we not
heard some father say, when his boy's beauty has been praised, "_If he
were only as good as he looks_!" Is this so with those who are my
audience? Is there this combination of beauty and bitterness--men who
are courageous but proud, women that are beautiful but vain, workmen that
are industrious but covetous, others who are amiable but
intemperate--servant girls who are wonderfully clean and active but have
a dreadful temper?
Now, it is well for us to learn that we shall no more cure ourselves than
the land around Jericho could bring good crops so long as the water was
bad. Education and other appliances are sure to fail. I dare say the
people had tried one sort of cultivation after another, and had dressed
the land with different appliances; but all had failed; there was no hope
of success. Very likely some of you are disgusted that hitherto there
has been no improvement. There are times when you have really longed to
be better, but there has been nothing in yourself to give you hope. Now
what shall be done? Are we to remain as we are? Or shall we, like the
men of Jericho, seek help from One who delights to make the barren
fruitful, and to make the wilderness glad? This brings me to consider:--