On Making Battlements
When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence. — Deut. xxii. 8.
This is surely an extraordinary statement. May not a man please himself in building a house which he is able to pay for? No. God himself says nofc and society itself has in many particulars confirmed the divine word. There is nothing which a man may do merely to please himself. We are surrounded by other people and it is one of the most gracious appointments of divine providence that we are obliged to consider the effect of our movement upon our fellow-creatures. In this way self-will is limited, the gracious side of our character is strengthened, and all that is highest in friendship is purified and established.
It is easy to see how objections to such an appointment as that indicated in the text might arise. For example:
“My neighbour will call upon me only now and then: why should I make a permanent arrangement to meet an exceptional circumstance? We are in reality to build for exceptional circumstances. Granted that the average temperature of the year is mild that for most of the twelve months the wind is low and the rains are gentle; yet we build our houses not for such averages,, but for the possibility of severe elemental trials. The ship-builder builds his vessels not for smooth waters and quiet days only but for the roughest billows and the fiercest winds. Our neighbour may call to-morrow — see then that the battlement be ready! Though his visits be uncertain, yet that very uncertainty constitutes a demand for a permanent arrangement on our part; as the uncertainty is permanent, so also must be our means of meeting it. Be prepared for crises, and expect the unexpected, and be sure of the uncertain; he who is so defended, for his neighbour’s sake, will be found to be equal to the severest emergencies of life.
“But will it not be time enough to build the battlement when anything like danger is in prospect V^ No. Life is to be regulated by the doctrine that prevention is better than cure. We should not feel ourselves at liberty to try first whether people will fall off the roof. Life is too short and too valuable to justify such experiments. He who prevents a life being lost actually saves a life. The preventive ministries of life are not, indeed, so heroic and impressive in their aspects as ministries of a more affirmative kind, yet are they set down in the book of God as most acceptable services. If you prevent your boy from becoming a drunkard, it is better than if you were to save him from the extremest dissipation, though it will not carry with it so imposing an appearance before the eyes of society.
But ouq-ht not men to be able to take care of themselves when they are walking on the roof, without our guarding them as if they were little children ?^^ No. We are in all things to study the interests even of the weakest men. This is the very principle of Christianity. “If eating flesh or drinking wine,^^ etc. “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye.^^” Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died.” The house may be strong, but if the battlement as a sign of grace be not above it, it is wanting in that beauty which is pleasant to the eye of the Lord. You may be able to walk upon your roof without danger; but another man may not have the same steadiness of head or firmness of foot; and it is for that other man that you are to regulate your domestic arrangements. “Love thy neighbour as thyself.”
266 PULPn NOTES.
See what the CMstian application of this is. If we are so to build a house as not to endanger the men who visit us, are we at liberty to build a life, which may be to others the very snare of destruction? Is there not to be a battlement around our conduct? Are our habits to be formed without reference to their social influence? Remember that children are looking at us, and that strangers are taking account of our ways, and that though we may be proud of our strength, they may be lured from righteousness by a licentiousness which we call liberty. Am I then to abstain from amusements and delights, which I could enjoy without personal injury, lest a weaker man should be tempted to do that which would injure him? Precisely so. This is the very essence of Christian self-denial. Perhaps a man may say, in self-excuse,” I am so little known, or of so little account, that my example can do no harm to any one.’’^ Is it to his credit that, as a Christian man, his example is of so little moment? If he had been more faithful to his Master, in the circle in which he moves would he have been so little known? The very fact of his not being known as a Christian man, may itself constitute a very heavy charge against his fidelity.
Has God given directions for the building of a house, and forgotten to give instructions for the building of a life? Is it like him to do the little but forget the great? Is lie not more careful about the tenant than about the house? He bas given the most elaborate and urgent exbortations upon this matter of lifebuilding. With all tby gettings, get understanding/^ Tbe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom/^ “Wisdom is the principal tbing/^ etc. If you would know bow carefully God bas given instructions for the formation and development of a strong life, read the book of Proverbs and the sayings of Jesus Cbrist.” He that bearetb these sayings of mine and doetb tbem/^ etc. Tbe instructions are to be found in the Holy Book. Gro to that Book with an earnest desire to discover the way of salvation and the secret of vital growth and God will assuredly put the mystery inta the heart of the devout and diligent man.