Amos 6

See here a hand-writing upon the wall; here is that which may check a sinner's mirth. He is now brisk and frolic, he chants to the sound of the viol, and invents instruments of music (Amos 6:5). He drinks stolen waters, and says they are sweet.

Homines capiuntur voluptate ut pisces hamo, Cicero. Pleasure is the sugared bait men bite at, but there is a hook under; (Job 21:12) They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ: And a parallel Scripture, (Amos 6:4) That lie upon beds of ivory, that chan…

Ah, this goes close to honest hearts! But though God allows — indeed commands — the most awakened apprehensions of these calamities, and in such a day calls to mourning, weeping, and girding with sackcloth (Isaiah 22:12), and severely threatens the insensible (Amos 6:1), yet it…

Wherefore say my people, We are Lords, we will come no more unto you? Nor can we think that prosperity sanctified,which wholly swallows up the souls of men in their own enjoyments, and makes them regardless of public miseries or sins, Amos 6. 4, 5, 6. They lye upon beds of Ivory…

This feasting with men is a daring of God, a sending (as it were) defiance to Heaven. And such feastings Amos reproves (Amos 6:4-5). They did eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall, they chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselv…

When London had provoked God so highly by so many sins, yet how secure were they before his judgments broke forth upon them — they ate and drank, they bought and sold, etc. They sat at ease, and put far from them the evil day (Amos 6); they were still, and at rest, little expect…

The flesh is for pleasure; it had rather be gaming, than running the heavenly race. There is a description of fleshly pleasures (Amos 6:4-6): That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, that chaunt to the sound of the viol; that drink wine in bowls, a…

A Dear friend, who was a great observer of the works of God in nature, told me, That being entertain'd with a sight of many rarities at a friends house in London; among other things, his friend shewed him a Finch, whose eyes being put out, would frequently sing, even at midnight…

It is as easy to rend the rocks, as to work saving contrition upon such a heart. [illegible]; all the melting language and earnest entreaties of the Gospel, cannot urge such a heart to shed a tear: Therefore it's called a heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26), a firm rock (Amos 6:12).…

The beasts of slaughter have the f[•]ttest pastures; so have the ungodly in the world; Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart could wish, Psal. 73. 7. their hearts are as fat as grease, Psal. 119. 7. These be they that fleet off the cream of earthly enjoyme…

1. To the people, oh that all of us would now mind the things of peace and holiness in these distracted times. The great house is smitten with clefts, and the little house with breaches (Amos 6:11). There are divisions in cities, divisions in families, divisions in councils, div…

You think such delights as you have, are no such things as God takes notice of, they are but matters of sport; you thinkest you hast liberty in them, to do what you listest, you shall never hear of them again; but assure yourself, God will bring you to judgement, to be examined,…

It contemneth the rod of my son as every tree. (i. e.) As if it were a common Rod, and ordinary affliction; whereas the Rod of my Son is not such as may be had of every Tree, but it is an Iron Rod to such as dispise it, Psalm 2:9. O it is a provoking evil, and commonly God sever…

3. Affliction, or Malum Poenae, is an act of divine justice; but Malum Culpae is an act of man's corruptness. For the first, affliction: "Is there any evil, and the Lord has not done it?" (Amos 6:3). But sin is the devil's work in us; "He that commits sin is of the devil; for th…

Use 1. To reprove those that do not desire the coming of Christ, but put off the thoughts of it; why? Because it casts a damp upon their fleshly rejoicing: Which put far away the Day of the Lord, the evil day; it is so to them (Amos 6:3). They wish it would never come, and would…

But Jovial spirits have banished the fear of God. Amos 6:4, 5. That lye upon beds of Ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, that drink wine in Bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief Oyntments. Sinners whose hearts are hardned with soft pleasures, let them have th…

And so for threatenings, especially against the sins we are most inclined to, Who among you will give ear, and hear for the time to come? (Isaiah 42:23) You should think of what will come afterward; it is well with you for the present, but matters to come are put off, little car…

It is an appearance of excellency, Aristotle, Rhetoric, Book 1, Chapter 11. Or in his instruments of music, as those (Amos 6:5) that chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music like David. No, this was not the mirth that he chose for his portion.

When we suffer not by immediate and direct passion, we should suffer by way of fellow-feeling and compassion. It is charged as a great crime, that those that were at ease in Zion, were not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph (Amos 6:6), compared with the first verse. It may be…

If we had a due sense of eternal life, we would be running to take hold of the hope that is before us (Hebrews 6:18). 2. Security. If men have a cold belief of heaven and hell, if they take up the current opinions of the country, yet they do not take it into their serious though…

There are certain laws of commerce between God and his creatures; so between God and man, he meets us with his blessings in the way of our duty. Amos 6:12. Shall horses run upon the rock, will one plow there with oxen? Some ground is incapable of being plowed, some are morally i…

Those that make reckoning of the ways of God, need not be discouraged with their spiteful vaunts. USE. Let us take heed of pride; the Lord that hated the pride of Moab, does also hate the pride of Jacob (Amos 6:8). 1. Take heed wittingly and willingly of opposing any command of…

And when these are over, they sleep away the rest of their time, they cannot endure to be at home, lest (a worse thing than a scolding woman) an upbraiding conscience should fall upon them. They can afford no leisure to think how they have idled and sinned away, and thereby wors…

Partly, that they might not be crossed in their sensual [illegible], but that they might have elbow room and go on with ease in their ungodly lusts, whereas the consideration of the danger of our sinful [illegible] damps and dashes men's delights, deadens men's endeavors and hea…

A carnal man's joy, as it is airy and flashy, so it is sordid; he sucks nothing but dregs. Amos 6:13: You rejoice in a thing of nothing. A carnal spirit rejoices because he can say this house is his, this estate is his.

Saint Paul did die daily; he began with lesser sufferings, and so by degrees learned to be a martyr; as it is in sin, a wicked man learns to be expert in sin by degrees; first he commits a lesser sin, then a greater, then he arrives at custom in sin, then he grows impudent in si…

Ninth, mirth and music. Amos 6:5: That chant to the sound of the viol, and drink wine in bowls. Instead of the dirge, the anthem — many sing away sorrow, and drown their tears in wine.

Alas then, what shall we say to them that stand all the day idle? Come to many, and one would think they had no race to run; they put their hand in their bosom (Proverbs 19:24). Is that a fit posture for him that is to run a race? They stretch themselves upon their couches (Amos…

Such the Prophet deciphers, who do not mortify, but gratify the flesh. Amos 6:4, 5, That lie upon beds of Ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, that chant to the sound of the vial, that drink wine in bowls, etc. Pleasure, like Circe, enchants men's minds, and transfo…

Feathers swim upon the water, but gold sinks into it; light feathery Christians float in vanity, they mind not the day of judgment, but serious spirits sink deep into the meditation of it. Most men put far away from them the evil day, Amos 6:3. they report of the Italians, that…

Thirdly, a false pretender to religion, a hypocritical professor meeting with prosperity and success, grows altogether unconcerned about the interest of religion, and senseless of the calamities of God's people. Thus the prophet convinces the Jews of their hypocrisy (Amos 6:1-6)…