p. 517 | Decision of Character by William M. Taylor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 27, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 33.

Decision of Character

By William M. Taylor

SOME years ago we made a most instructive visit to the Assay Office, in Wall Street, where we were shown a balance, concerning which the courteous superintendent said: "The distinctive feature of this balance is its combination of sensitiveness with decision. It may be turned by the smallest fraction of a grain, and when it is turned, it never wavers, but moves right on. We had one formerly," he continued, "which was extremely sensitive; but it lacked decision, so that it quivered from side to side for a long time before it settled; and frequently we wasted fifteen minutes in getting a result which we can obtain from this one in a moment." As we listened to his lucid explanation, we could not help saying, "How like that wavering balance, many men are!—abundantly sensitive, they yet lack decision, and take so long to settle what is to be done that the opportunity of doing anything is gone before they are ready to begin." All praise decision of character in common things; but all are not so ready to acknowledge its importance in spiritual affairs; and there are those to-day who would make a merit of indecision, and glory in the fact that they are believers in the great dictum that nothing should be believed about spiritual things. What is lacking in such persons?—W. M. Taylor, D. D.