The Sin of Doing Nothing.
IN an old religious magazine there are the following questions on the words, "Curse ye Meroz." The writer says : "By whose authority? The angel of the Lord.
"What has Meroz done? Nothing.
"Why, then, is Meroz to be cursed? Because he did nothing.
"What ought Meroz to have done? Come to the help of the Lord.
"Could not the Lord do without Meroz? The Lord did do without Meroz.
"Did the Lord sustain, then, any loss? No; but Meroz did.
"Is Meroz, then, to be cursed? Yes, and that bitterly.
"Is it right that man should be cursed for doing nothing? Yes, when he ought to do something.
"Who says so? The angel of the Lord,—'That servant who knew his Lord's will, and did not according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.' Luke xii, 47." If thou favorest evil, thou art worse than he who committed it. Thou actest deliberately; but he was acted upon by temptation.