Homilist Micah 2:10 Arise you, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. This injunction does not mean either of the three following things. 1. It does not mean the termination of our mortal life. Life is a talent which we should guard. 2. It does not mean neglect of material interests and duties. We are commanded to be "diligent in business," etc. 3. It does not mean absolute retirement from the world. 1. There is no rest for the soul in a dominant materialism. "This is not your rest." There are four forms in which this dominant materialism exists amongst us, and in neither of which can the soul find rest. (1) There is the gross, sensual form. The sensualist and the voluptuary live in this, but they have no rest. Ask the epicurean and the debauchee. (2) There is the thoroughly secular form. The man who is absorbed in the work of "making money" lives here; but in it he finds no rest. Ask the man who has become the creature of business, etc. (3) There is the intellectual form. The region of mere "fleshy wisdom": — fleshy arts and fleshy literature; —poetry and novels that appeal to the flesh. There is no rest for the soul here. Ask Byron, Burns, Dryden, etc. (4) There is the religious form. There is a fleshly religion amongst men: — a religion of pictures, music, pompous rites and ceremonies; — all appealing to the senses. There is no rest for the soul here. Let it "arise then and depart." Another reason here suggested is — 2. There is pollution for the soul in it. To allow the material in any form to rule us is a sin. (1) Reason shows this. Mind was made to govern matter — the senses were made to be the servants, not the sovereign of the soul. (2) Conscience testifies this. Conscience is everlastingly protesting against the dominion of the flesh. (3) The Bible declares this. "The carnal mind is enmity against God." 3. There is danger to the soul in materialism. "It shall destroy you." "For to be carnally minded is death." The work of soul destruction is going on every moment; the soul decays in this state. Force of intellect, discrimination of judgment, freedom of will, sensibility of conscience, elasticity of soul, are being destroyed. "Arise," then. The voice of philosophy, the voice of history, the voice of the Bible, and the voice of departed saints, all combine in the injunction, "Arise and depart." (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. |
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