expected nnd could not hnve been foreseen. 1. In history we see thrit God has oftrn baffled man. Ho has defied probabilities, and chosen things which were weak tn conround things which were mighty. Take as a.n example the destinies of AsRyria and Judah, which were utterly unlike what man would have predicted. Assyria, in Hosoa's time, was the strongest creation of military force, and political genius. In tho magnificence of her wee.Ith, and the splendour of her palaces, she rose before n1eo'H thoughts gloriously as the image Daniel saw in his vision. But no politician would ba.ve expectecl what the prophet foresaw-that a stone cut without hands would come from tho mountain and smite that gigantic fabric to the dust ; that those richly peopled plains would become the haunts of the bittern and owl, and the lair of wild beasts. Meantime Judah, a. little despised kingdom, tossed helplessly between the opposing forces of Egypt and Assyria., like a. piece of seaweed between two enormous waves, was to be "saved by the Lord her God." And thence, in the fulness of time, there came forth One whom men recognized a.s possessing the highest power, and amidst the ruins of a greater empire than .Aasyria herself, Christ, the true Ruler, founded a. kingdom which never shall be moved. The world's expectations were set at nought. 2. Have not our previsions often been falsified, a.nd our best plans frustra.te<l, so that the old a.da.ge ha.a reasserted itself, "Ma.n proposes, God disposes"? Happy is it if, a.midst the ruins of our enterprises, we ca.n sa.y, "It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good." III. THAT MORAL VICTORIES ARE PREPARED FOR BY QUIET WAITING. God appoints quiet times for the recuperation of a.11 life. The winter prepares for the spring. Sleep malres us ready for toi.l, and without it the world would go mad. So in the moral world. Work ha.s been done most bravely and successfully by those who have bad seasons of trust and waiting. Elijah had to learn that there was more power in the "still small voice" than in wind, or ea.rthqua.ke, or fire. Saul of Tarsus ha.d to rein in his fiery spirit, and for three years wa.s learning God's answer to his question," Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Neither Luther in the Wartburg nor Bunyan in the prison was wasting time, but gaining strength. Let us learn to wait a.s well as tL' work; .and instead of being careful and troubled a.bout many things, sit at Jesus' feet to hear his word, and "in quietness a.nd confidence will be our strength." It is not by our subtle reasoning that we shall conquer our doubts, nor by our doings that we shall win salvation, nor by our efforts of speech that we shall save souls; for "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God." He has mercy upon the house of Judah, a.nd will save them neither by bow, nor sword, but by the Lord their God. IV. THAT ITS HIGHEST EXEMPLIFICATION IS SEEN IN CHRIST'S REDEMPTION OF THE wonLD. Ha.d he come in manifested glory, the sceptic would have been silenced anJ the wrong-doer a.bashed; but he wa.s made lower than the angels, that he might suffi:r death upon the cross. Born in a stable, he wa.s nursed by the poor, depended on the wages of a. carpenter for his food, and played with the common children in Nazareth. Having begun his ministry, he called to himself none of the leaders in the ecclesiastical, or intellectual, or social life of his age; but appointed Galilean fishernfen as bis repre- sentatives. Then he let his foes do their worst. No angelic forces hurled back his as~ailants, no trumpet-pea.I startled the court during the mockery of his trial; but he was taken" by wicked hands, crucified and slain." And when be ha.d passed away from earth, his disciples, without human advantages, won the world's attention anJ established the kingdom of the Lord amongst a.ll peoples. "It pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believed." Consider: 1. The principle which underlies our text has its application in the experience of every Christian life. We a.re justified, not by the works of the Law, but by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We conquer our easily besetting sins, not by strenuous resolve or Christian a.ssociatio □, but by him who, working through these, says, "Without me ye ca.n do nothing." We arc saved from the fret of care, not because we are strong and brave to bear it, but because we have learnt to cast all our ea.re upon him. We obtain rest from mental difficulties, not by reasoning, but by trusting, and leaving much contentedly to God's future revelation. And in our last conflict salvation will be ours, not through the memory of past service, nor through our clear perception of what awaits us in the unseen world, but through the realized presence of him who came to receive us to himself anu 28 THE BOO'.K OF HOSEA. (aill. l, 1-11.
w gjw us the victory. 2. .A.ndfinally let"" a,pply the principle to the accomplishment of Christian work. The foes or Christ are still around his Church, and they will be con11uered, not by the bow of intellectual, or social, or civil power, but by the Lord our God. You will never conquer scepticism by logical demonstrations; nor cnst out heresy by persecution or the thunders of excommunication; nor put down vices by ci,·il law; nor compel the heathen to submit at the point of the sword. But n<111iust these evils they will prevail who trust, not in men, but in God; who, consci~us of human helplessness, look beyond all that is seen as those who can re-echo the ~salmist's words, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my he ." For beyond the rea.ch of mortal weakness and transient power he reigns who of ol uttered this promise, "I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by hon;emen."-A.. R.