The Essex Remembrancer 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 darkness of an eclipse may be considered — I. As AN EXCITEMENT TO GRATITUDE. The present state of knowledge affords abundant reason for gratitude. We axe not ignorant of nature as our distant fathers were. Ignorance is never a simple privation of knowledge; in the absence of correct knowledge there will always be erroneous conclusions; and hence ignorance is always injurious. The regularity of the course of nature claims our gratitude on an occasion like the present. Deviations from the ordinary course are not of frequent occasion, but we are acquainted with their arrival. One reason for such deviations may be, that our sluggish faculties may be awakened to observe the wonderful works of God. II. THE DARKNESS OF AN ECLIPSE AS A MEMORAL OF PAST FACTS. 1. We are reminded of the creation of the world, when "darkness was upon the face of the deep." How concerned is God for man's comfort! Surely man ought to be concerned for God's glory! 2. Of the darkness with which God has surrounded Himself in His intercourse with man. How superior are the spiritual manifestations of Deity under the Gospel, to the personal manifestations of Deity under the law. 3. Of the plague of darkness which was inflicted on the Egyptians. The bewildering and distressing effects of darkness may be illustrated by a familiar example. It may have happened to us to lose our way in a field at night. Once bewildered, you wander without the least conception whither. So this plague of darkness gives us an impressive view of the value of that light which will be temporalily darkened by the expected eclipse. 4. Of the supernatural darkness at the time of the death of Jesus Christ. This could not have been occasioned by an eclipse, as the Passover was held at the time of the full moon. On this memorable instance we are taught how easily God can reverse the order of nature. The course of nature is but the will and energy of God, who "worketh all in all." III. THE DARKNESS OF AN ECLIPSE AS A REMINDER OF EVENTS WHICH ARE TO COME. 1. We are reminded of the time when we shall " go whence we shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death." The grave is dark, but we shall not perceive its darkness if we are the disciples of Jesus Christ. 2. We are reminded of the punishment of the wicked. This is spoken of as "the outer darkness." As figurative, this seems rather to heighten our apprehensions of distress than to diminish them. (The Essex Remembrancer.) 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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