For the fruit of their doings
Man’s ruin the fruit of his own conduct
Assuming it to be a fact that man’s ruin is evermore the fruit of his own conduct, three things must follow--
I. That his misery will be identified with remorse. Morally it is impossible for a man to ascribe his ruin to his organisation, to circumstances, or to any force over which he has no control. He must feel that he has brought it on himself.
II. That in his sufferings he must vindicate the Divine character. “Just and right art Thou,” etc. As fruit answers to seed, as echoes to sound, their calamities answer to their conduct.
III. That his salvation from ruin requires a change of life.
IV. That christianity is the only system that can meet his case. The mission of Christianity is to change the heart, to renew the life, and effect a spiritual reformation. This it is designed to do, this it is fitted to do; and no other system on earth is capable of accomplishing this work. (Homilist.)