abhorrent to the Divine nature. 8. That these sins expose to suffering not only the actual offenders, but others also. The first and second of these truths we will not here notice; but to the third we must now give a moment's attention. In all the passages to which we have referred at the head of this sketch punishment is tl:.t subject. ,ve offer two remarks on this subject. I. GREAT BINS ENTAIL GREAT SUFFERINGS. The calamities threatened to these different tribes of different lands are of the most terrible description. But they are all such as to match their crimes. 1. The connection between great sins and great sufferings is inevitable. The moral Governor of the world has so arranged matters that every sin brings with it its own punishment, and it is only when the sin is destroyed the suffering ceases. Thank God, this sin can be destroyed through faith in the ruediation of him who ea.me to put away sin by faith in the sacrifice of him,elf. 2. The connection between great sins and great sufferings is universal. .All these sinful peoples had to realize it from their own bitter experience. It does not matter where, when, or how a man lives, bis sins will find him out. I!. GREAT BINS OFTEN ENTAIL GREAT SUFFERINGS UPON PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT THE .ACTUAL OFFENDERS. "The fire," which is here the instrument of God's retribution to us sinners, would not only scathe the persons and consume the property of the actual offenders, but others. The fact is patent in all history and in all experience, that men here suffer for the sins of others. We are so rooted together in the great field of life, that if the tares are pulled up the wheat will be injured if not destroyed. The cry of men in all ages has been, " Our fathers have sinned, and we have borne their iniquities." Two facts may reconcile our consciences to this. 1. That few, if any, BUjfer more than their consciences tell them they deserve. 2. That there is to come a period when the whole will appear to be in accord with the justice and goodness of God.-D. T. Vers. 3, 6, 9, 11, 13; eh. ii. 1, 4, 6.-The enormity of the sin of persecution. "For three transgressions of Daruascue, and for four," etc. " They are all charged in general," says an old expositor, "with three transgressions, yea, with four; that is, with many transgressions, as by 'one or two' we mean many; as, in Latin, a man that is very happy is said to be terque quaterque beatus-' three and four times happy;' or, 'with three and four,' that is, with seven transgressions-a number of perfection, intimating that they have filled up the measure of their iniquities, and are ripe for ruin; or,' with three' (that is, a variety of sins), and with afourth especially, which is specified concerning each of them, though the other three are not, as Prov. xxx. 15, 18, 21, 29. Where we read of 'three things, yea, four,' generally one seems to be more especially intended" (Henry). Now, the sin especially referred to here as tbe "fourth" is taken to be that of persecution, that is, the sin of inflicting suffering upon others because of their peculiar religious convictions and doings. Other sine innum~rable, varied and heinoUB, they had committed, but this fourth seems to be the crownrng of their eviL Persecution has been called the measure-filling sin of any people, the sin that will be taken into account on the last great day. "I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat," etc. l. PERSECUTION 18 .A MOST .ARROGANT CRIME. The religious persecutor acts upon the assumption that his ideas of religion are absolutely true, that his theological knowledge is the test by which all other opinions are to be tried. Such a man is represented by the apostle as one that "sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is Gud" (2 Tlies3. ii. 4). Presumptuous mortal I The proud tyrant who has won bis way tbrongh seas of blood to the throne, and claims authority over men's bodily movements, shows an arrogance before which servile spiritd bow, but from which all t'10ugbtful and noble men recoil with disgUBt and indignation. But his arrogance is bhadowy and harmless compared with the arrogance of him who enters the temple of Luman conscience, and claims dominion over the moral workings of the soul. Yes, such arrogant men abound in all ages, and are by no means rare even in this age and land of what is called civil and religioUB liberty. The most arrogant title that morta.l man can wear is "Vicar of Christ." II. PERSECUTION 1s A MOBT .ABSURD 0RIME, Far wiser is the fool who would legislate for the winds or the waves, and, like Canute, givo commands to the billow1t OIi, II, 1-16.] THE BOOK OF AMOS.
than be who attempts to legislate forhume.n thoughts and moral convictions. Still more foolish to attempt to crush men's religions beliefs by inflicting civil disabilities or corporeal suffering. In sooth, the we.y to give life, power, and influence to religious errors is to persecute. .And truth never seems to rise in greater power and majesty than under the bloody he.nd of cruel persecution. It he.s been well said that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." " A blameless faith we.a e.ll the crime the Ohristian martyr knew ; And where the crimson current flowed upon the.t barren sand, Up sprang a tree, whose vigorous boughs soon overspread the land; O'er distant isles its shadow fell, nor knew its roots decay, E'en when the Roman Cmse.r's throne e.nd empire passed away." Ill. PEllsECUTION IB A MOST CRUEL CRIME. What ruthless inhumanities are in these verses charged against the various peoples mentioned-those of Damascus, Gaza, TyrUB, etc. I It has often been observed that no anger is so savage as the anger which springs up between relations of blood. A brotherly hate is the chief of hates; and it may be truly said that there is no animosity that burns with e. more hellish heat than that connected with religion. Gibbon, referring to the cruelties inflicted upon the early Christians, says, "They died in torments, and their torments were embittered by insult and derision. Some were nailed on crosses, others sewn up in the skins of wild beasts e.nd exposed to the fury of dogs; others, a.gain, smeared over with combustible material, were used as torches to illuminate the darkness of the night. The gardens of Nero were destined for the melancholy spectacle, which was accompanied by a horse- re.ce and honoured with the presence of the emperor, who mingled with the populace in the dress e.nd attitude of a charioteer."-D. T.