feoblo, 11,nd their resistance is vain. 'l'hc Rnlcr has established, by his grace and for~ bearnnco, the strongest claims upon his subjects' gratitude and loyal affection; the rebels hnvo shown 111nazin:i; insensibility nnd obduracy. This is indeed a just picture of the righteous and merciful God, 11nd of the disobedient and rebellious children of men. 'l'he inhabitants of the Ja,nd, i.e. of Israel, are in this matter reprecentative in their attitudo and conduct of i:m-u11godly race. H. THE GROUND OB' THE CONTROVERSY. The prophet, speaking in the name of Jehovah, charges Israel with evil-doing of two kinds. 1. Immorality. The two great clnsses of human duty are simply described by the two terms, truth and mercy. If men are just and benevolent in their dealing with one another, they fulfil moral obliga- tions; for these virtues comprehend all excellences which may be displayed in human lifo and intercourse. But where faith is broken and pity is withheld, the honds of society: are loosened; and its dissolution has begun. 2. Impiety. "The knowledge of God in the land" is essential to the well-being of a nation. Where God is unknown. where men live•• without God in the world," where his knowledge is suffered to lapse, and the rising generation are trained with no fear of God before their eyes-there vice and crime will be rampant and unchecked, and there will be no guarantee for social order and peace. III. THE ISSUE oF THIS CONTROVERSY, 1. It cannot be in the victory of the rebel- :ious. 2. It must be i[! the maintenance of Divine authority and honour. 3. It should bo in the repentance and submission of the disloyal, and in a reconciliation. between the penitent offenders and the righteously offended God. 4. The gospel is especially intended to bring this controversy to a close, in a way honouring to God and advantageous to sinful man. "We beseech you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."---''l'. Ver. 6.-Ignorance and destruction. All classes in Israel were guilty of forsaking Jehovah, and all classes were reproached with the same sin. It is usually the case that rebellion against a righteous Lord, ar.d neglect of sincere worship and devotion, are chargeable, if not equally so,_ upon high and low, learned and ignorant. And wheo. none are free from guilt, none are exempt from condemnation. 1. 'l'RUE RELIGION IS BASED UPON KNOWLEDGE, Idolatry and superstition are com- patible with ignorance, and are favoured by ignorance. But the religion which is alone- proper to man and acceptable to God is spiritual, and therefore intelligent. If this was the case with the Mosa.ic economy, how much more so with the Christian! In the Old Testament, the" fear of the Lord" and "wisdom" were the same; in the New Testa- ment we are taught that life eternal conaists in the knowledge of the true God through his Son. A religion of formal assent -or observance, a religion of mere feeling and excitement, is vain. _ Knowledge alone is insufficient, but knowledge is nevertheless indispensable to true Christianity. I[. Tll'.OSE SPECIALLY QUALIFIED AND APPOINTED AS MINISTERS OF RELIGION ARE BOUND TO DIFFUSE KNOWLEDGE. , In Israel the priests and the prophets seem to have been both, if not equally, to blame for the irreligion and defection of the people. '!'he priests taught religious knowledge by symbol, the prophets by word of mouth_ Both orders were chargeable with negligence of these sacred and honourable duties. In the- new and spiritual kingdom of Christ, there are no officers exactly corresponding to either the priests or the prophets of the Hebrews. But those whose ministry it is especially to teach, and o.11 who by reason of their own gifts and position have the opportunity of ,imparting spiritual knowledge, are bound to communicate the Word of life. Ill. THE REJEOTION OF KNOWLEDGE ON THE PART OF ANY INVOLVES THEIR OWN- REJECTION BY GoD. Lack of knowledge is itself destruction. It is the starving of the soul through defect of spiritual nourishment. "They die without wisdom," is the mournful lamentation of the spectator of moral d.elinquency and consequent destruction. Israel was rejected and punished, was sent into a long captivity, because of religious defection and hardened impenitence. - And it ;is a law of the Divine government that wilful ignorance should entail moral dcteriqration. 'l'he plant cannot be takcu into the darkness without suffering; its vitality is at once enfeebled, and gradually diminishes until it dies,, It is so with the soul; it is so_with the nation. This is a solemn warning 124 THE BOOK OF HOSEA. [oil, IV, 1-19,
to tho~e who Ion rnorp.) darkness rather than light. It is an admonition to those who have thr light that they walk therein. IV. THE HEAVIEST PENALTY FALLS UPON THOSE THROUGH WHOSE NEGLEOT THE PEOPLE ARE LF:FT rn ern. Although a ~ro]?het himself, Hosea upbraided those called to the prophet.1c office who left the people m ignorance, and those priests who encouraged and led the pe0ple in sa..irifices to the gods of the heathen. Such were threatened with the Divine displeasnre, and assured the.t they should no more Rustain sacred offices but should be deprived of a.II that made them honourable. It is ever the ce.se that ;buse of trust is worse than neglect of privileges, and that those who not only wander them- selves, but lead others astray, as their guilt is greater, shall experience a sorer con- demnation.-T.