Homilist Amos 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, said the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon… The words are suggestive of early graves, and these abound. The vast majority of the race die in early life, the greater number by far in childhood; the sun goes down just as it appears in the horizon. What do these early graves show? I. That life is absolutely in the HANDS OF GOD. Who causes the sun to go down whilst it is yet noon? He alone can arrest its majestic progress, and turn it back. So it is with human life. The human creature seems organised to live on for years; but its Maker puts an end to its course at any time He pleases, so that the first breath is often immediately succeeded by the last. II. That man in all stages of life should hold himself READY TO LEAVE THE WORLD. He should regard himself not as a settler, but as a sojourner; not as a tree, to root itself in the earth, but a bark to float down the stream to sunnier shores. III. That there MUST BE A FUTURE STATE for the free development of human nature. What a universe of thought and sympathy and effort are crushed in germ every year by death! Potential poets, artists, statesmen, authors, preachers, buried in early graves. Why the creation of these germs — these seeds of majestic forests? Surely the wise and benevolent Author intended their full development; and for that there must be another world. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: |
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