V ers. 21, 22.-The great First Cause of 'blessing. The language' of the prop)iet. here is language of true poetry. To his vivid imagination all nature is personified, endowed with hearing and with speech. The wants of the penitent .Israel (figured, as Jezreel) are known to the products of the earth by which human need is supplied; the earth when called upon yields her fruits, and the, heaven, in response tp earth's demands, pours down the fertilizing showers which ensure a ple~teous harvest; for the Lord of all hears the entreaty of the skies, and bids them be bountiful and free. . . .• L HUMAN WANTS A.RE SUPPLIED BY PHYSICAL AGENCIES'. Man, though a spi_ritu,il being, has a physical nature with corresponding necessities. As a. s~rvant oHhe Creator, he depends upon nature for the maintenance of bodily strength and the-opportunity of pious service. To despise the material is to question the wisp.o,m of the:G:od of. nature. IL CREATION IS A SYSTEM ARRANGED TO SECURE THE GOOD OF GOD'S INTELLIGENT scJJJECTB. The body of man depends upon the fn1it&of,the-. earth; the .fruits_.of the earth depend upon the atmospberic influences. There is mutual dependence among, all parts of the great system of which, through our corporeal µature, we form a part. And all things work together, and by Divine appointment, for tb,e good of th.ose who love God. Ill. GOD IS IDMSELF THE CONSCIOUS AND BENEVOLENT l'dAINSPl;UNG ,OF TBE VAST MACHTh"'E. "I," saith the Lord, "will hear the heavens." From this we. gather that the Divine mind arranires and controls universal· nature, and that the delight of _the great Ruler is in the welfare of his dependent. and intelligent creatures, for ,which, all things terrestrial and celestial are fashioned to .co-opera~, to \Vhich all ·things conc,ur. That there is phy~ical law no thoughtful man will quest10n; ,and those who are a)iJrn thoughtful and devout will recognize the Lawgiver who is behind the law, and will delight in the conviction that whilst the Divine mind is i.Dfinite wisdoin, the Divine heart is infinite love.-T. Ver. 23.-Purposes of pity and of possession. The name Jezrul had been applied by the Divine command to one of Hosea's sons, and thence to Israel, by way of marking G0d's displeasure with the rebellious people, whose capital has been marked by deeds of disobedience and of bloodshed. But the name itself was good, meaning 1' God will cu. u. 1-23.J 'l'HE llOOK OF HOSEA.
sow." An,1 in this verso .it is declared that Go,1 will indeed sow Israel unto himself, in morcy and for life and_ blessing. lt is thus fr~nrati~ely asserted that days of favour an,1 uf prosperity shal~ be ncconled to repenting Israel. J. MEilOY COMES TO TIIO~l!: WIIO BY REJlJl:LLIMI HAD PUT THEMSELVES BEYO:-rD M1:llCY. In this respect tho northern tribes are re(lresentative, not of tho Hebrew people only, but of tho human race. God has ever p1t1ed those who have had no pity upon them- selvcs. Had there been no sin, there would have been no room for mercy. This Divine attribut.e is manifested pre-eminently in the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is incarnato compassion. II. Goo CLAIMS_ AB HIS OWN PEOPLE TUOSE WHO HAD THROWN OJl'B' ms AUTHORITY AND TllEI~ ALLEGIANCE. Israel was bound to Jehova.h,. both by the common ties of human creatureship a.ud l!Y tile special tie~ of the covenant he had made with the fathers of the nation. It was especially discreditable in those who owed so much to God, to forsake his wor~hip, to d~spise his ordinances, to break. hii!,. la.ws, to defy his authority. Yet, even.f,;i~ those who ha.d so sinl)ed, .there wa.s, when-. they repented, reconciliation and re.stora.tion.. _His of .rfght a.nd his by covena,nt, Israel now became hi~ by actual possessiop. The language of mutual appropriation here employed is very beautiful. "Thou a.rt my people," says Jehovah. And Israel responds," Thou art my God." When such language .is sincere, the c9nvictions it expresses ma.y bo regarded as the foundation of all. g9od. Such a. relationship involves unfailing favour from God and unfailing faithfulness from man . .APPLICATION. 1. Consider the light this passage casts upon the Divine disposition towards mankind. 2. Copsider the urgency of our condition, and the consequent desirableness of taking advantage of _this Divine disposition.-T. · 0