. Vers. 21, 22.-God's ru~ in natu1'e and in gi-ace, Hosea. wae projecting himself mto the future. lie felt as 1f standmg alroady amid the desolation threatened ac,ainst hrael. . He saw arou_nd. him a laud barren through drought. Its inhabitants, dying of st~rvat10n, were cravm_g the wonted produce of vineyards aml corn-fields, but looked in mm f?r a sign ?! coru,~ng ble~srng. l!nder the name "J ezree\ '' they are represented as crymg to the corn and wme to sait.1s fy them; but these are in bondaae to the earth and appeal to it for vitalizing power. Then earth takes up the wail; tvery fissure ii; 1t becomes a mouth calling to the heavens for rain. Last in the series, the heavens n0t able to send rain except by Divine ordinance, appeal to him who is over them e.ll'. (Quote text.) Context ~hows that spiritual~ well as _natural bless!ngs are portrayed. Prophets saw the analogies of nature, the unity of the whole D1vme economy and ,ievoutly believed that in the realms _of n:tturo an,~ of grace the same God reigned. Draw out the analogy between the spnng-t1me promised here, and the new creation in the soul of man. 'l'he text reminds us of- . I. THE PERB?NAL~~Y- OF ~D's BOLE. ". I will hear," etc. 1. All things ultim~tely dq,endent_-on him. lhis dem~d by_ man:y m. Hosea's days and ,in ours. •~ Nature," mth mawmateforces acd partially mvestigated laws, so exalted that a personal. Go.d,js declared to be ceedless. Hosea believed tµat the products of nature expressed God'.s thoughts a.nd fulfilled his purpose, and that the cry of his people reached him and moved biro through the series of forces represented by corn, earth, acd heavens. Surrounding nations held that one god gave corn, another wine, etc. (illustrate from mythology); but Hosea. ascribed all to one God, in whom all power centred, to whoi;n all cries ultimately came. (Illustrate this re-echoe4 cry by t;he fires on. the bea.cQnJ;1ills telling from town to town that the Armada was in sight; _or by ~lie ijystem of signalling in our army and navy, which makes known peril and want to. him who commands in chief.) 2. .AU things mutually dependent on each o{{ier" ,Ra.in,necessa;-y to the earth, ea.rth to seed, seed to bread, bread to man,; so the withholding of rain, as in Etijah(s time, brought home the sense of guilt to the sinful. _Show intimacy of relation betw~n man and earth, between moral and material prosperity, from history. Paul~~," whole creation groaneth," etc. Complete reconciliation between man an<i man, between man and God, will bring about new .heavens and new earth, in which righteousness will dwell. Still true " the eyes of all wait UpPn. thee, and· thou ·givest," etc.; " 'J:hou openest thy hand, and saµsfiest," etc. , . , • IL TBE MEDUTE!>""ESS OF Gon's !,lETHOD. Text reminds that_ all through the universe one force acts on.another to effect the desired result, yet God is not the less working because his hand, is unseen. As we do not pay the tool. bu.t the workman w:hos!;l skilful hand uses it, so we pay homage, not to" force'.' or to II law,''. but to. God. The .age waJtt8 what the prophets had-spiritual discernment. Ezekiel saw, ,the ":wheels,\'J~~t; also "the living one" within them. He noticed· the ''. bane\ of the ciall," but_ abo-ve,1t "the wicg of the cherubim." If possible to him, more so to disciples of Cbrist,·who taught so distinctly the care of God even over birds and flowers, Th~ H0ly Spir;it,_moreover,.was promised to bring all such truths to our. remembrance. Slww :how GQd works through secondary means. 1. Of our phy~ical constitution this is true. • (1), The irui,ividtv,al '111-!ln is not created afresh from the dust. He has intimate relatio11s w\th predecessots, ,is affected by their strength, weakness, prejudices, _)µ;bjt$, etc. Ho ,is. the result, of•:,coJD- plicated agencies workiJJ.g for centuries, yet. it is_ '.' God that hath. QJade ·U.S, 11otJ:1We ourselves." (2) .Man'68upport comes not dir~ctly_from. God (as i)l t~e. ma.nca, or Christ's feedicg the multitude), but by process descnbed m tex.t,,yet /J11,g1vJ1s us each. -day;o,ur daily bread. (3) Man's life on earth is ter~inated,~ot by _.angel's touch, but- by some chill, or infection, or developed germ of disease, wh~ch J:>nngs weakces~, th.en de11Jh. 2. Of our spiritual life this ~s _trv,e. (1) ]:ardon _caQle through our hea.rmg the_ ~rJJ.~h, which by the power of the Spmt brought~ :0 pemten~e and pr11,yer. (2~ Reconciliation is possible to the world through the mediatl?n of Chmt. 1 (3) Others will be brQU[!ht to God, not by the voice that spok11 to Abram 1n Ur of the Chaldees, and to Samuel. m the tabernacle, but by pleading of parents, infl~e~~ of teachers, etc. "He that reJecteth you rejecteth me;" "Ambassadors for Chnst, etc. . CoNCLUSION. 1. How great the privilege of God)s peopl,e I "They shall hear Jezreel.'' Earth and heaven are to supply our wants. "Meek shall inherit the earth;" "All thingti are yours." 2. How splendid the destiny of God', pwp~ ! "I will sow her unto CJII. II. 1-23.] 'l'HE BOOK OF HOSEA. 71
me;" "A handful of corn in the earth, ... the fruit thereof shn.11 shn.kc like Lcbn.non." God's Church thA germ of God's harvest. P«rhaps like seed Gorl's peo1do must be scattered, sown, buried, forgotten; but the hn.rvest is sure, and in it God will fincl his glory. Application: By his mercies God has said to YO'U, "Thou art my people;" have you answered with loyal heart, "'l'hou art my God" ?-A. R.