erected on a mountain; tbe tr11ns6.gnr,ition, thll crucifixion, and the ascension, wllre each on II mountain. But mountains became scenes of idolatry and sin, and therefore God, whm he forbade such worship, fothRde th<l scenes thereof. 2. IsrMl's l':CRI was ,n,i·t hy or a better ea.use. Th ,t 1.c-, I clrnmcterized their sRcrificcs, for it is t.h<l intensivo form of the verb thRt is use,\-yezabbechu (Piel), not yizbeehu (Qal); It distinguished their burning of incense, for again it is first ye1attern, not yaqteru. • "'rhe word~ express," savs Pusey, "that this which God forbade they did diligently; they sacrificc,l much and diligently; they burned incense much and diligently." Nor was this all. They performed with equ11l diligence both the important parts of the service-the sacrifice and the burning of incense. 3. The blood of the sacrifice signified atonem<lnt • the pleasant smel 1 of the incense typified service acceptably offered. '' Incense, bein~ fragrant, repre~enten. that which is pleasing, and which bas in it acceptability; and ,.,hen offered along "'ith prayer, praise, or any feeling of the soul, exhibited a type of t lie merits of the Surety enveloping his people's services." IV. MEN'S OWN SINS ARE OFTF.N MADE THEIR SCOURGES. Never did the great poet of human nature give expression to a trner sentiment than that- • ,', " The gods &re just, and of our pleasant vioea Make instruments to scourge us." This was eminently the case with Israel. They he.d co=itted spiritual adultery renouncing their subjection to him by violation of the marriage covenant, and tnereb; forfeiting that protection secured to them by the conditions of that covenant. '"l'hey," says an old writer," who commit idolatry, and follow false religions, imd so do renounce subjection to GJ:>d, and put themselves from under bis directions, do also put themselves from under his protection ; for in both these respects it is true that Israel went a-whoring from under their God." They prostituted themselves to idols, and withdrew from under God's anthority, casting off the obedience they owed him 'and the reverence which was his due. Nay, more, fathers of families and husbands at the head of households were not only guilty of spiritual whoredom or idolatry; they were guilty of carnal "·boredom with these vile priestesses to abominable idols and prostitutes to the worshippers---devotee-harlots who had consecrated themselves to a life of sin, as though such shameful desecration of themselves were consecration to Divine service.' Now they are in turn disgraced and distressed by the whoredom of their daughters and the adultery of their wives; nor a.re they allowed to comfort themselves by the hope of a speedy cessation of such corruption, for, unchecked by chastisement, the licentiousness continues, prosperity in sin tempting to perseverance. "So," says Pusey," through their own disgrace and bitter griefs, in the persons of those whose honour they most cherished, they shonld learn bow ill they themselves had done, in departing from him who is the Father and Husband of every sonL 'l'he sins of the fathers descend very often to the children, both in the way of nature, that the children inherit strong temptations to their parents' sin, and by way of example, that_ they greedily imitate, often exaggerate them." •
Vers. 15-19.-.A passing woril of warning is addressed to Judah. The prophet pauses in his dark catalogue of Israel's sins and sorrows, and, turning aside, speaks a word of warning to Judah, that the people of the southern kingdom might be deterred from the crimes and awed by the calamities of their northern neighbours. In the large heart and catholic spirit of the prophet both Judahite and Israelite found a place; he had a message from God for both. I. PLACES PERILOUS TO PIETY SHOULD BE SHUNNED. Judah he.d hitherto maintained their superiority to Israel both in religious worship and moral conduct; but their proximity to such neighbours was fraught with peril. Evil communications exercise a fearful potency in corrupting good manners; sensual indulgences, especially 'in the guise and under the name of religion, present strong inducements; scenes of sin have not unfrequently a fatal glamour about them. If Judah would steer clear of the rocks on which the faith of Israel had been wrecked, they must keep aloof from such places, of peril and scenes of dissipation as Gilgal and Beth-aven. Wantonness and crimo had proved disastrous to Israel, therefore let Judah beware and take warning in time. If men are in earnest in their prayers and in their efforts to avoid temptation, they must OH, IV, 1-19.] TIIE BOOK OF HOSEA. 113