had not continued to serve the
God of his mother. Are there not some of our readers who are tempted to
leave the Bible and Sunday school, and to turn their backs on the
religion of their parents? Remember that to turn your back on the God of
your mother is to hoard up dishonour and misery for yourself and those
dear to you, for what Hannah sang is yet true,

"THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH ARE THE LORD'S."

XIII. "IT IS THE KING'S CHAPEL."
AMOS vii. 13.

"Go somewhere else and preach, you ignorant peasant! What do you come
here for, spoiling our enjoyment, and keeping us awake at nights? Don't
you know this is no common conventicle? It is the place where the king
says his prayers! Away with you, or we will take off your head!" So
said Amaziah, the priest, and so says many a one to-day. Cannot you let
us rest in the enjoyment of our sins? You seem to forget that our god is
made of

GOLD!

We are not common pot-house people! Preach against drunkenness, if you
like; that is a sin which increases the rates! Preach against
prostitution, for we are afraid our sons will be entrapped some of these
days. Preach against love of dress, or anything else that costs money,
for we have to pay sadly too much to tailors and milliners for our
children and wife; but let us alone, for our god is GOLD.

Now, Amos, what do you say to that? Won't you go home to Tekoa, and
spend the rest of your time looking after the cattle? "Nay, verily, but
till I die, I will make Jeroboam howl with rage and vexation of spirit,
for he follows the sins of the man who made Israel to sin." It is the
work of the preacher to bring hell within sight of those, who, by their
selfish love of gold, make others to sin. Let the king know that I will
make him feel as though his crown was red hot. His honours shall burn
him, and his food shall scorch his tongue. It is in the king's chapel
where I will preach as I never preach anywhere else, for it is Jeroboam
against whom I am sent.

O! Amos, lift up thy voice with strength against these worshippers of
golden calves! Remember thy spiritual ancestry. Forget not the prophet
that came from Judah many a year ago. How he testified against that
golden god, and how Jeroboam's arm was paralyzed when he would have had
the prophet slain. Why are we so mealy-mouthed in denouncing these
golden-idol men? Is not the worship of money the hidden nourisher of
public sin? Could the gin-palace exist but