The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 63

dreadf~lness of his wraLh, the holiness of his commandments, and the duty of putting away sm. Ill. RENUNCIATION OF IDOLATRY IS IN CASE OF ISRAEL ANOTHER RESULT OF DIVINE MERCY. He drn.ws them, and they run after him; he makes them willin" in the day of his power. Relief from suffering is followed by renunciation of si; • this iR a blessed consummation. 1. Other lords had dominion over her, but now sh; renounceR nil th_ese, and devotes hers_elf to Jehovah alone. So _with sinners when they give up the Hill that does most easily beset them. No longer 1s some beloved lust the subject of their thoughts or the object of their affections; no longer are they wedded to sensuality, or avarice, or ambitiC>n, or worldliness, or pride, or passion, or sin in any form; their Maker is now their Husband-even the Lord of hosts, which is his name. Nay, more; they acknowledge God as their Lord and Master, and so he is; they look up to him as their Patron and Protector, and so he is; they confess his right of ownership so as to dispose of them according to his sovereign will and pleasure-and they do well, for so he is. 2. But, above all this, they can come nearer to him and claim a closer connection; with holy boldness they can approach bis throne with more confidence 11nd less apprehension than Esther to her imperial husband, when she touched the golden sceptre which he held out to ·her. The Church can address Jehovah not merely a.~ Baali~" my Lord," but with true wifely affection as Ishi-" my Husband." Or, if the distinction we have intimated be disallowed, the name of an idol shall never again be put in the plac(l of the living God, according to the injunction in Exod. xxiii. 13, "Make no mention of the name of other gods, neith~ let it be heard out of thy month." So with whatever lust, or evil appetite, or sinful gratification, or vicious course we h"ve had for an idol, let it not be once named among ue. 3. But how is the change effected? It is 6-od himself who by his. grace brings it about. "I," says God, "will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth." 'l'he very name is to be treated with abhorrence; it must never more be mentioned, but consigned to the oblivion of the past. God himself girds his people with strength for the sacrifice ; " for it is God which worketh in you both to will aud to work, for his good pleasure." "The dearest idol I have known. Whate'er that idol be, Help me to pluck it from thy throne, And worship only thee." IV. RESTORATION TO PEACE LIKE THAT OF PARADISE. Once sin is renounced and man is at peace with God, he has peace with all around. 1. A scene of peace did once pre- vail on earth; it was in Paradise. In those Eden bowers our foreparents enjoyed sweet peace ; they had peace with each other, peace and communion with God. Day was succeeded by night, and night melted into day ; they slept, they waked, they walked ; they kept that Paradisaical spot and dressed it. Above, around, within, the Divine favour brightly shone. No sound of discord was anywhere heard, nor did jarring note intrude. But soon·as man broke the peace by turning rebel against God, the beasts, that, till then had been subject to man and rendered him willing service, rose in fury arid in fierceness against him. Man by sin turned a foe to himself, roused to rage the creatures before subject to him; and was at war with his follow. 2. But when Israel returns to allegiance to God, the various sections of animate creation shall resume subjection to him. Wild beasts of the most savage nature, or bloodthirsty disposition, or venomous character, shall be at peace witli h\.rn; the fowls of heaven, the winged emissaries of the evil one, that snatch the Divine ,v ord out of the heart, shall lose the power of injury; enemies resembling the creeping things of the ground, however harmfol before in enticing to low lusts, and leaving the slimy trail of sin behind, shall be restrained from hurting, Not only so; the curse of war shall cease. Jehovah pledges himself by covenant to bless Israel with peace ; but the promise carries us un to that happy day when the Prince of peace shall restore peace to the individual heart, peace to the domestic hearth, and peace to the human family throughout all the worlu. 3. When the weapons of war shall have perished, men shall dwell, not only in safety, but security. 'l'hey shall be fearless of every foe; fearless of all the powers of evil; fearless in life, for "perfect love cn~teth out fear;" fearless in death, and triumphant over the last enemy. May tho good Lord hasten that time when  60 THE BOOK OF HOSEA. [OH, 11, 1-23.