HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-ReligiO'U,S indifference and false secu,rity. Amos was a native of the· southern kingdom, but his ministry was mainly to Israel. His impartiality appears in the censures and reproaches which he addresses, as in this passage, to both Judah and Samaria. But the description applies to professing Christians to-day as accurately as if it had just then been written, and had been explicitly applied to such. How many who are called to devotion and diligence are "at ease," are "confident," or "secure"! I. THE DISPOSITION .um B.ABrr HERE CONDEMNED. The following elements are to be recognized. 1. Self-satisfaction. 2. Self-indulgence. 3. Indifference. 4. Carelessness. 5. Negligence. II. TBE 0IRCUMSTANCF.R WHICH AGGRAVATE THE BlN OF lNDIFFEBENCE AND BEClJRITY. In the case of those here addressed we observe: 1. That they resided in places which were themselves a reminder of the character of Jehovah and of his past "dealings,, with the chosen people. 2. That they occupied positions fitted to inspire them with a sense of personal responsibility. They were the distinguished chiefs of the nations-the men to whom the people looked as their leaders, and in whom they might reasonably expect to find an example of piety, unselfishness, and zeal 3. That they lived in times when the judgments of God were abroad, and when insensibility to duty and religion were all the more inexcusably culpable. ill, THE EVIL FOLLOWING UPON THE DISPOSITION AND HABIT HEBE CONDElllllED. 1. Divine displeasure is prophetically declRred against those who are at ease when they should be at work, against those who are secure and confident when they should be examining and judging themselves, and beginning a new and better life. 2. Moml deterioration cannot but follow upon such a state of mind as is here depicted. 'l'he- slothful are the first to feel the ill effects of their sloth; the habit grows, and a religious, not to say an heroic, life becomes an impossibility. 3. National disaster and punish- ment are entailed by the indifference and unfaithfulness of those who are called to be ll. nation's guides and rulers.-T. Ver. 3.-Putting away the evil day. By the "evil day" must be meant the day of account and reckoning which comes to all men and to all communities. As surely as there is a moral government and a moral Governor in the universe, so surely must all reasonable and intelligent natures be held responsible for their conduct and for their influence. Yet it is no unusual thing for men to follow the example of those who are- censured in this verse. I. THE THOUGHT OF A DAY OF ACCOUNT IS UNWELCOME TO THE UNFAITHFUL AND ~HE IRRELIGIOUS. Such persons need not be disbelievers in judgment, in accountability; they may accept the assurance of their own reason and conscience that an account must be rendered to the Jurlge of all. ·Yet, as the thought of a reckoning is one altogether repu_gnant to them, they persuade themselves that it may be indefiuitely deferred, It must come, but it may not come yet ; it may not come for a very long 126 THE BOOK OF AMOS. [on. VI. 1-H.
time; indeed, may be so remote that it need not be taken into consideration in arranging the plans of life. " Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." II. 'fira DEFERRING OF THE THOUGHT OF THE DAY OF ACCOUNT WILL NOT DEFER 11'RE DAY ITSELF. Moral law is never inoperative, is never suspended. Judgment lingereth not. The history alike of nations and of individuals proves that there is a Ruler on high, who is not remiss in carrying out his purposes. There is a reckoning in time; there will be a reckoning in eternity. "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exoeeding small; Though with patienoe he stands waiting, he exaotly judgeth all." It is irrational and futile to imagine that by forgetting responsibility men can efface it. Such a supposition reminds of the action of the foolish ostrich who thrusts his head into a bush, and, because he loses sight of his pursuers, supposes that he has eluded them. There is no discharge in this war. III. NEGLIGENCE CONCERNING BESPONSillILITY MAY EVEN HASTEN THE APPBOACII OF "l'HE INEVITABLE DAY OF Accoul.nr. They who forget their accountability to God for their unfaithfulness are likely to be confirmed in their sinful courses; and, as iniquity abounds, judgment approaches. Thus the dreaded retribution is hastened rather than postponed; and the evil day which men would fain put far from them is brought near -and the tempest, which they dread and would avoi<i and escape, breaks upon them i~ .all its force and fnry.-T.