_Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty_ “THE EARTH,” “The earth,” not the “land” (R.. marg_._) of Judah or Palestine. “The prophecy leaps far beyond all particular or national conditions.” (_J. Skinner, D. D._) THE SOURCES AND CONSEQUENCES OF ANARCHY I. THE FATAL CONSEQUENCES OF ANARCHY. Of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it shall be, as with the people, go with the priest_ THE MUTUAL ASSIMILATION OF MINISTER AND PEOPLE The minister makes the people and the people make the minister. I. THE MINISTER’S INFLUENCE. 1. As a preacher and teacher--upon the conceptions of truth and duty, the understanding of the Wor... [ Continue Reading ]
_The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof_ THE EARTH POLLUTED BY SIN The inhabitants of the earth pollute it by their sins: the children of Israel defiled God’s land by filling His inheritance with the carcasses of their abominable things, with their idolatries, with their wicked in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires_ GLORIFYING THE LORD IN THE FIRES The suffering child of God will glorify Him in the fires-- I. BY ACKNOWLEDGING HIS POWER. The same Almighty One who fed Elijah, in the terrible days of dearth, and who delivered Daniel from the power of the lions, still... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fear and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee_ FEAR, AND THE PIT, AND THE SNARE The expressions here used seem to have formed a proverbial saying, as appears from their being repeated by the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 48:43). They allude to the different methods of taking wild beasts that were a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The foundations of the earth do shake_ THE RELIGIOUS IMPROVEMENT OF EARTHQUAKES (preached in 1756):--The works of Creation and Providence were undoubtedly intended for the notice and contemplation of mankind, especially when God “comes out of His place,” that is, departs from the usual and stated... [ Continue Reading ]