Hos. vi. 7. But they, like men, have transgressed the covenant.
THE merciful nature of God's dispensations greatly aggravates our guilt in violating his commandments. The law indeed which he imposed upon the Jews was in some respects an intolerable burthen ; but in other points of view it was replete with love and mercy : for though its requirements were many, yet its pro- visions for the unintentional violation of its precepts were also numerous, and peculiarly suited to the character and condition of his people. He required of them sacrifices and burnt offerings; but that which he principally desired, was the exercise of holy af- fections towards himself, and towards each other : and while they were observant of their duties, he pledged himself to watch over them, to protect them, to bless them. But they were by no means sensible of their privileges, or duly affected with his love : on the contrary, " they, like men, transgressed the covenant."
In the margin of our Bibles, the text is translated, " They, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant:" and this seems the more proper translation. The words which are translated, " like men," occur only in two other passages of the Bible : in one of which it is actually translated, "like Adama;" and in the other, that sense is evidently most agreeable to the context b. Thus in the text also it were far better to render the words, " They, like Adam, have trans- gressed the covenant." It is in this sense we propose to interpret them ; and in this sense they are well applicable to ourselves. We shall take occasion from them to shew,
I. What covenant we have transgressed —
a Job xxxi. 33.
b Ps. lxxxii. 7. " Ye shall die like Adam, whose honours were once so great, but were quickly ruined."