The Pulpit Commentary — Amos — Section 131

,vhoge path through life has been most calm and prosperous, have to expect certain calnmities that befall all. There are trials common to all mon, whatever their con- dition or character-afflictions, bereavements, infirmities; these await most men. There is one evil day, however, for us all. Death is in many respects an "evil day," What mysterious sufferings it generally involves I What privileges and ple&.sures it terminates I What disruptions it produces! Sinner, thy death will be an evil day; and it is before thee, and it is nearer now than ever. TI. SoME MEN ADJOURN IN THOUGHT THIS "EVIL DAY." They "put far away the evil day." Ungodly men put this evil day so far on in the course of time that they seldom discern it and never realize it. It is a mere speck, seldom visible on the horizon of many years of unclouded sunshine. Why do men adjourn in thought this evil day ? 1. Not because they have any doubt as to its advent. No day is more certain. Sooner shall all the wheels of nature be stopped than the sun of this day fail to break on every eye. "It is appointed to men once to die." 2. Not because they laclc reminders r!f its approach. Every physical pain, every tolling knell, every funeral procession, every graveyard-all remind us almost every moment that our evil day is coming. Why, then, adjourn the thought? 'l'he reason is found: 1. In the strength of our material attachments. 2. In our dread of the mysterious. 3. In our lack of interest in the spiritual and material. 4. In our conscious want a/preparation for the srenes of retribution. ffi. NONE WHO ADJOURN THIS "EVIL DAY" IN THOUGHT OAN DELAY IT IN FACT. "And cause the seat of violence to come near." Perhaps what is meant here is that these men so ignored their coming calamities that by their conduct they hastened them on. Ignoring the evil day, they pursued such a course of injustice, falsehood, dishonesty, sinful indulgence, and impiety as served to bring it nearer. Thus the more they put it off in thought the nearer it drew, because they became more self-destructive in their conduct. A general truth is suggested here, viz. that a man who oojO'Urns all thO'Ught of his end wi?l pursue such a course of conduct as will hasten its approach. Some men imagine that by thinking upon death they will hasten its advent ; hence their dread of making wills. But such is not the fact. He who keeps the evil day in view, rightly regards it, prepares for it, will render such a practical obedience to the laws of health as to delay rather than hasten it. "Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."-D. T. Vers. 4-7.-0arnal indu7,gence. "That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch them- selves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall," etc. Here is a sketch of the way in which theije leading men of the chief nations luxuriated in carnal pleasures and sensual indulgences. Observe two things. l THE MORAL TOBPOB OF o.ABNAL INDULGENCE, Observe two things. 1. These people wrought entirel,y for the senses. See how they slept l They provided themselves with "beds of ivory." They did not require rest for their weary limbs, otherwise beds of straw would have done. They wanted to be grand. they loved glitter, hence" beds of ivory." Here is the lUBt of the eye. See how they ate I "And atretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall" They abounded in superfluities; they partook of the choicest dainties of nature, and that in a recumbent position. Here is the lust of the palate. See how they sang I "That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instru- ments of music, like David." Musical sounds gratified their auricular sensibilities, and they chanted to the "viol." Here is the lust of the ear. See how they drank! They "drink wine in bowls." Small vessels would not do; they must take long, deep draughts of the pleasing beverage. Here again is the lust of the palate. See how they anointed themselves I " With the chief ointments." They regaled their olfactory nerves with the choicest perfumes of nature. Here is the lust of the smell. See how indifferent they were to the suffering of the true Church of God I " They are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph." What a description this of a people that lived and wrought entirely for the senses I They were practical materialists. 'l'hey had no spiritual vision, sensibilities, or experience. '!'heir imperishable souls were submerged in the deep flowing sea of mere animal pleasures. Are thero no such men now? For CH, VI, 1-14.] 'fHE BOOK OF AMOS. 131