cngendorcd forgetfnlness of God. But Israel was without excuse. For she had bcr,n taught hy Moses (Dent. v}ii,). She had been v.:a:ned by Elijah (1 Kings xvii.). Every pnge of her marvellous history spoke of the D1vme bounty. The offe.rinrr of the first- fruits-the three great Hebrew festivals-and especially the Feast of P;ntccost, were all just so many solemn thanks~ivings to Jehovah for the blessings of his providence. It was true that the men of Ephrnim still formally observed these institutions, but the living spirit of them had ebbed away; God was no longer remembered as the Giver of nil good. And are there not multitudes still, even in Christian lands, who make no grateful acknowlcdgmeut of the Divine mercies? They ascribe their successes entirely to their good luck; or, at best, to their skill, or enterprise, or industry (Hab. i. Hi), without recognizinz the smile of a benignant Providence upon their efforts. 2. ThP, prosperity itself was deified. (Vere. 8, 12, 13.) Ephraim prostituted it to the worship of the powers of physical nature. 'fhe people became "lotos-eaters;" they were enervated with sensuous pleasure. They regarded their harvests as the gift.'l of the Baalim-the "lovers' wages" which they received from their idols (ver. 12). They employed their silver and gold in the manufacture of images of llaal and Ashtaroth ( ver. 8), as well as in the adornment of their persons for the celebration of the idolatrous fostiva!s (ver. 13). But are not similar evils rampant just now amongst ourselves? The a.ir is still full of the spirit of Baalism-the deification of force, the worship of success. We meet with this spirit: (1) In politics. "Witness the French saying: 'God is always on the side of the heavy battalions.' Witness Prince Bismarck's motto: 'Beati possidentes.' \Vitness the modern English phrase: 'British interests,' as used to express a rule of diplomacy which some rtgard as even more binding than the moral Law." (2) In economics. There can be only one true system of political economy; but in times of trade-disputes the capitalist and the labourer often adhere to diverse systems. The strike and the lock-out are an appeal to physical force-a virtual offering of the prayer, "0 Baal, hear us I" (3) In philosophy. How many of our modern scientists deify nature under the name of" law"! They repudiate Providence, and recognize only force. They ignore the living God, and substitute in bis room some blind impersonal power. They exalt proud reason to the place which should be occupied by a childlike faith. They ask us to accept a reauing of the universe_ which leaves out the fact of sin, and the soul's hunger for jnnnortality. (4) In literature. How many of our great authors-poets, historians, and even moralists-have deuicated their golden intellectual gifts to the service of materialism! (5) In social life. The immense increase of wealth in our time tends to foster ostentatious and luxurious habits. What multitu<les "bow the knee" to the Baal of commercial success! With many life consists not in being, but only in having. But" the word of the Lord by Hosea." reminds us that the love of the world is moral harlotry, and that deference to its spirit is Baalism. III. PROSPERITY MISERABLY BLIGHTED. Israel shall suffer: !.Deprivation. (Yer. 9.) She bas refused to remember God, therefore he win compel her to think of !Jim. He is the real Proprietor of the corn and wine, of the wool and flax. Israel was only his steward, and yet she has claimed these precious gifts.as if they were altogether within her own power. So the Lord will suddenly withdraw them. He will send the foreign foe, or the simoom, or the locusts. He will blast the ears of corn when they are just ready for the sickle. He will destroy the vine-clusters in the very hour of the vintage. He will take away his material gifts from those who worship only a God of corn and wine, forgetting that the true God is "righteous," and "loveth righteousness." It is a. simple matter for Divine Providence to pauperize the man who is making his own prosperity an idol. He may do it by means of business losses,or family bereavement, or personal affliction, or by giving power to the monitions of conscience. 2. Cht:,l~sement. God can and will "curse our blessings" (Mai. ii. ~) if we persistently misuse ,'.., m. So in store for poor Israel there shall be: (1) Shame. (Ver. 10.) The Lord will d;shonour her before her idols themselves by withdrawing his gifts, and exposing Israel's folly in placing her trust in material things. (2) Mourning. (Ver. 11.) The people's sin- fulness and their light-hearted mirth, which they had unnaturally wedded to each other, shall be divorced. What though Israel still professed to observe joyfully the Mosaic fostivals? She could have no true gladness in Jehovah, so long as she refused to recognize his supremacy in providence. Her mirth was " the laughter of the fool," un<l God would tl1rn it into mouruing. (3) E~ile. (Ver, 12.) The vineyarJs and tile 64 THE DOOK OF HOSEA. [cH, n. 1-23,
fig orchards aball beoome "a forest" (Ps. cvii. 33, 34). The ravag\n11 Ae8yrian shall come, like "the boar out of the wood," and root up the vine which ,va: at first brought out of Egypt. Ephraim shall disappear for ever from among the nations. CoNcLu_srnN. We should cherish gratitude to the Hebrew prophets for tho great lesson which they constantly teach, viz. that national sin is certain in the course of proYidenoo, to be followed by national calamity. ' "In them is plainest taught and easiest learnt Wbat m~kes a nation hn.ppy, and keeps it so; Wbat rums kingdoms, and lays cities fiat." (Milton.) ~ oat.ion's stren~th ooes not consist in it~ '"l'.ealth, nor in its armies, nor in its diplomacy. 'I h<' true palladmm of a commonwealth 1s 1ts moral character. And the clcstiny of a people is determined by their willingness to lay to heart the lessons of national chastisement, and to use these as stepping-stones to a purer life.-C. J,