SOMETIME ago I happened to pick up one of the well-known London monthlies. The title of an article written by a lady attracted my attention. She had command of a style in which clarity and felicity of expression helped to give an attractiveness to it that made reading a pleasure. Combined with this the writer had a rare power of analysis, a gift possessed by few. Evidently she anticipated criticism and near the beginning of the article she gave expression to words heading this article in all likelihood to forestall any criticism that might come from her hypothetical critic. The phrase was new to me, but as I pondered over it, got, as I thought, some light on the words and actions of men that seemed otherwise inexplicable. How is it that one finds otherwise sensible men use words that seem so out of place in their description of things. Why is it that politicians give utterance to expressions in the heat of their oratory as they denounce their opponents in words of burning invective. May it not be that they have minds incapable of seeing things in right proportion? The situation has been well-stated by one—a midge and an elephant are the same to him, or as Mr. Spurgeon put it: “It is not wise to employ a steam-hammer to remove a speck of dust from a man’s face.”
Now, this incapacity to judge things in their right proportion is an inheritance from the Fall. We come short in seeing things in their right proportion—time is of the greatest importance—eternity is of minor significance—surely there is a want of the sense of right proportion of things there. This defect is not confined to a few but is an inheritance from the Fall. How small and insignificant are the things of God and how important the things to come in the aftermath. I remember hearing the late Rev. Neil Cameron tell a story about Donald Cameron who, afterwards, became a noted, God-fearing man and ended his days as a catechist in Kilmallie. Mr. MacQueen, afterwards the noted Rev. John MacQueen of Strontian Free Church and latterly of Daviot. At the time of our story Mr. MacQueen was acting as a Gaelic teacher in Mull and conducted services on the Sabbath. One day he met Donald Cameron and said to him, “I don’t see you at the services on the Sabbath.” Donald, after his kind, had many excuses to offer and did not hesitate to bring them forth. “But,” said Mr. MacQueen, “I see you going to the sales every market-day, Donald.” “Oh, Mr. MacQueen, but a great deal depends on that.” Donald Cameron had no sense of the right proportion of things. However, another day came when all things became new. While this expression does not explain what may appear to be extraordinarily alike in the actions and words of men yet it may throw some light on the situation. As stated already this defect has come down to us from the Fall and Satan makes use of it in furthering his own ends. Oh, how great and beautiful he can make the glory of the kingdoms of the world, how fascinating he can make worldly position and honour, and how insignificant he tries to make the enduring riches of heaven and its eternal glories. May the Lord through His divine Spirit, give us a sense which would discern things in their right proportions.