HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1, 2.-Sin against light and love. This language of reproach and threatening was addressed to _Israel ai:id _J ud~h. ~e~ ~11 w_ho oc~upy a parallel position of privilege, and who are gmlty of s1m1lar 1nsens1b1hty, rngrat1tude, and !lpostasy, are subject to the condemnation and the penalty pronounced upon the favoured but sinful descendants of Israel. L UNPARALLELED FAVOURS .A.BE RECOUNTED. .As a matter of history, Israel had been treated in a singular manner, with unique favour. However we m!ly explain the fa.et, a fact it is which is here recalled to the memory of the too oblivious Hebrews. 1. Israel had been treated as the family of God. 'l'he heavenly Father had ea.red for provided for, and protected his peculiar family, the children whom he had adopted. 2: Israel had been brought up from the land of Egypt. To the marvellous deliverance and interposition recorded by Moses, to the equally marvellous guidance and guardian- ship experienced in the wilderness of wandering, the sacred writers frequently refer. This is not surprising; for never was a more signal instance of Di vine compassion than that afforded in the earlier passages of the national life of the chosen people. 3. Israel bad been the object of the Divine knowledge. By this we understand (for the language is accommodated to our human weakness) that God had regarded and selected Israel in his inscrutable wisdom for a certain purpose, viz. in order by Israel to make himself known to mankind at large. A peculiar honour was conferred upon the Hebrew nation, not, however, for any excellence or worthiness in them, but for reasons larger and higher than any which were generally apprehended. II. U1'"PABALLELED INIQUlTIEB A.BE IMPUTED. Idolatry was charged upon those who had been distinguished as the recipients of the revelation of the Divine unity. Immorality of ve.rioll8 kinds we.s rife amongst those who en_ioyed the advantage of the purest more.l code known e.mongst the nations of mankind. 'l.'he just principle was e.pplied., "To whom much is given of him will be much required." And the applica- tion of this principle ma.de manifest the peculiar guilt of Israel. The Word of the Lord by his prophet was therefore righteously severe; other nations were guilty of cqua.l enormities, but the privileges of Israel rendered their iniquities more reprehensible. III. U1'"PABALLELED CHASTISEMENT IB THREATENED. .All the iniquities of Israel were to be visited by Divine correction. In the remainder of his prophecies A.mos enlarges upon this theme. Whether we consider the captivities and humiliations undergone by the favoured nation in the period immediately succeeding, or the history of subsequent centuries, we see the truth of this prediction. Much more apparent is it when we look at the natione.l life of Israel as a whole; and, connecting the earlier apostasies with the rejection of the Messiah, recognize in the present dispersion of the tribes the fulfilment of a Divine purpose a.nd the inculcation of a Divine lesson.-T.
Ver. 3.-Har'TMnious followship. These words have passed into a. proverb, which fact is in itself a proof that they accord with human experience. I. HARMONY OF SENTIMENT AND PURPOSE ALONE CAN ENSURE AGREEMENT IN LIFE. The spiritual is a key to the outward life. And this holds not only with regard to the individual, but with regard to society. Beca.ll8e people live together in a. house, they are not necessarily a true family; because they meet together in an ecclesillstical building, they are not therefore a. true congregation; because they occupy the same territory, they are not therefore a. true nation. There must be inner accord in order that fellowship may be real. Il. WANT OF HAUMONY OF HEART WILL BUBELY MANIFEST ITSELF IN LIFE. This is the other side of the same law. The strifos of society are a.n indica.tion of conflicting OIi, ttI. 1-15.] THE BOOK OF AMOS.
principles. Even Christ came to send, not peace, but a sword. Where there is no agreement, one will walk in this road and another in that. External uniformity is of little value. In fact, manifest discord may be of service in revealing the want of spiritual unity, and so leading to repentance. Ill. IN THE RELATION DETWEEN GOD AND MAN AGREEMENT 18 ONLY TO BE ATTAINED BY THE CONFORMITY OF .MAN'S MIND AND WILL TO Goo's. It is not to be expected, it is not to be desired, that God's purpose should bend to man's. The human ignorance must accept the Divine wisdom, and the human error and sin must embrace the Divine grace and holiness. Such is the teaching of revelation, of the Law, and of the gospel. IV. WHERE THERE IS WANT OF HARMONY BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, IT IS FOR MAN TO BEEK THE RECONCILIATION AND UNITY WHIOH ALONE OAN BRING ABOUT MAN'S WELFARE. If these blessings were not offered, there would be room to doubt their accessibility. But the revelation of God's counsels in Scripture assures us that our heavenly Father desires that his children should be at one with him.-T.