HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-llipenu• in iniquity. The figure here employed by Amos comes very naturally from him who had been a gatherer of the fruit of the sycamore tree. But at the same time, it is somewhat of a shock to the reader of this prophecy to find such a similitude employed for such a purpose. Our associations with "a basket of summer fruit" are all agreeable; but here the ripeness is in iniquity, and is unto condemnation and destruction. I. .A P..!.ST PROCESS OF MATURITY IN SIN IS IMPLIED, All the fruit has been ripened during months of growth unto maturity, so the nation of Israel has gradually and progressively come to such a condition as that lamented and censured by the prophet of the Lord. I. Past privileges have been misused. No nation had been so favoured as the descendants of Jacob; the great.er the privileges, the greater the guilt of neglect and abDBe. 2. Past warnings have been despised. If the people could not, in tha exercise of their own faculties, foresee the end of all their misdeeds, they had no Cllf. vm. 1-14.J THE BOOK OF AMOS. !69
excuse, for prophet aft.er prophet ha.<l arieen to rebuke them for unfaithfulness, and to warn them of impending judgment. 3, Past invitations have been unheeded. Often had the messengers of God mingled promises with threats, invitations with censure. But in vain. The voice of the charmer had been disregarded; the tenderness of Divine compassion had been despised. Hence the process of deterioration bad gone on. And circumstances which should have ripenl!d the national character into heroic virtue, into saintly piety, had only served to mature irreligiousnees and rebellion. Thne the sun and the showers which ripen the corn and the wholesome fruit bring also every poisonous growth to perfection. H. A SPEEDY PROSPECT OF CON81!:QUENT DESTRUCTION 18 REVEALED. The ripe fruit speaks not only of the sunshine of the bygone days, but of the consumption which awaits it. In this passage the figurative language of the prophet is to be interpreted as foreboding approaching ruin. "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." 1. Perseverance in i.TeligiolL~- ness issues in deterioration of character. The very years, the very privileges, which make the good man better, make the bad man worse. It was so with Israel as a nation. The operation of the same law may be traced in human society to-day. 2. Perseverance in irreligiousness will, under the Divine government, involve .:hastisement and punishment. The captivity foretold was to be accompanied by the desolation of the capital and the cessation, or at least the interruption, of national life. "The end is come," saith God, "to my people Israel.'' The prosperity and superficial peace of the wicked must be brought to a disgraceful close.-T. Ver. 2.-" My people." The occurrence c,f this expression in such a connection as this is very amazing and very encouraging. Even when, by the mouth of his prophet, the Lord is uttering language of regretful dennnciation, the prediction of sore chastise- ment, he still calls Israel his own I God's ways are indeed higher than our ways, and his thoughts than our thoughts. I. 'l'ms LANGUAGE 1s A REMINISCENCE OF PAST ELECTION. God called Israel his people, because he had chosen them from among the nations of the earth, to be the depositary of his truth, the recipients of his Ll\w, the instrument of his purposes among men. As early associations are strong amongst men, as we always retain a tender interest in those whom we have watched over, befriended, and benefited from their childhood, so the Lord represents himself as cherishing kindness for the people whom he had called as it were in their childhood, and nursed into maturity. He did not forget the days "when Israel was a child." II. THIS LANGUAGE 18 PROOF OF PRESENT KINDNESS. He does not say, " Ye w~e my people;" for they are his people still. " Mine is an unchanging love, Higher than the heights above; Deeper than the depths beneath ; Free and faithful, strong as death.• Even in carrying out his threats of punishment, Jehovah does not act in anger and vindictiveness. He is the Father chastening the child whom he loveth. He does not abandon the disobedient; he subjects them to discipline which may restore them to submission and to filial love. III. THIS LANGUAGE IS PREDICTIVE OF FUTURE RECONCILIATION. As long as God says, "My people," there is hope for tho future. He has not abandoned; be will not abandon. The city may be razed, but it shall be built again. There shall be captivity; but he deviseth means whereby his banished ones shall return. Wounds shall be healed, Tho grave shall give up her dead. 'l'he wanderer shall return, and shall be clasped to the Father's patient, yearning, rejoicing heart. "My people" are mine for ever. APPLICATION, God in the midst of wruth remembers mercy. When sin is recognized and realized as such, when chastening has answered its purpose, when the disobedient are penitent and the rebellious are submissive, then is there hope. Not in any excellence connected with man's repentance, but in the grace of the Father's heart, in. the faithfulness of the Father's promises. Not Israel alone, but mankind at large, are liO THE BOOK OF AMOS. [on. vm. 1-14,
designated by the Eternal "my people," Thereforo he who sent hie Son to ~i:?ek l\ncl to save that which is lost is described as "the Snviour of all men, specin-lly of them the.t believe."-T.