Good and Bad Things in Moral Character
2 Chronicles 19:1-9
And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.…


Is a man whose character is good to the extent of six-sevenths to be pronounced a bad man? Is there not a spiritual arithmetic which looks into majorities and minorities of a moral kind? Will God, then, at last drive away from Him men who have had six good points out of seven? As business men, suppose a man be recommended to you in these terms: This man has seven qualities, and six of them are really admirable; the only thing about him is that you cannot trust him with money. Would you take him? Six points are good out of seven: will you go by the majority or by the minority? Another man is also good in six points, admirable; the only fault he has is that you cannot believe a word he says. Will you take him into your business? There is a minority greater than any majority can be. That is the doctrine which we have omitted when we have been criticising eternal providence and wondering about the issues of human action. Amongst ourselves it is right that we should say of one another, "He is a good man take him on the whole." But what is the meaning of the reservation? Is it a grace, a posture that may be taught by a hired master? Or is it a morality, the want of which turns the whole being into a bog on which you cannot rest with security?

(J. Parker, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

WEB: Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.




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