Homilist Amos 3:1-8 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel… : — Now it is a fact that some men are far more highly favoured by heaven than others. Some have more health, some more riches, some more intellect, some more friendships, some more means of spiritual improve ment. I. They are OFTENTIMES THE GREATEST SINNERS. Who of all the people on the face of the earth were greater sinners than the Israelites? Yet they were specially favoured of heaven. England is a specially favoured land, but where is there more moral corruption? It is true that civilisation has so decorated it that its loathsomeness is to some extent concealed; but here it is. The corpse is painted, but it is still a putrid mass. II. They are EXPOSED TO SPECIAL PUNISHMENT. "Therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities." It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, etc. Therefore "I will punish you." I who know all your sins, I who abhor all your sins, I who have power to punish you. III. They should, LIKE ALL PEOPLE, PLACE THEM SELVES IN HARMONY WITH GOD. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed? " 1. Agreement with God is essential to the well-being of all intelligent existences. No spirit in the universe can be happy without thorough harmony with the will and mind of God. 2. The condition of all sinners is that of hostility to the will of God. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, |
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