The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 127

. Ver._9.:--"Like people, like -~t." This and similar passages show the justice and impart1ahty with which the mspired prophets fulfilled the office to which they were called. _K either the fear of the priest nor the favour of the people was allowed to act as a motive to deter them from plain speech and faithful dealing with men's souls. l. THERE IS ACTION ..U,"D REACTION BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THEIR BELIGIOUB LEADERS. A spiritual and vigorous mini8try tells favourably upon the moral and religious habits of the community, and a formal and seltish ministry is a check to moral improvement and a hindrance to national purification. The importance is manifest of securing for every community clergy and teachers who shall raise the moral tone of society. Yet it is only here and there that a minister of religion will be found truly alive to God in the midst of a corrupt and worldly society. For good and for evil, teachen; and taught, leaders and led, rise and fall together. "Like people, like priest." lI. THE PEOPLE AJID THEIR RELIGIOUS LEADERS ABE A.LIKE AMENABLE TO THE RIGHTEOUS RULE OF Goo. If the watchman be faithful amidst general corruption and defection, if he give the people warning, he shall deliver his soul. But if he neglect to do this, and the people perisb,shall the slothful or unfaithful watchman escape, in the day of inquisition and of jndgment? No! when the people are punished for their ways and rewarded for their doings, the pastors who have encouraged the sheep in their wanderings, and left them to perish in the wilderness, shall be overtaken by the penalties attaching to sinful neglect and abuse of trust. Their official position, even the formal fulfilment of their official duties, shall not exempt them from the fate of the faithless. "Like people, like priest." APPLICATION. 1. Let people value a faithful ministry, and give heed to wise and righteous warnings, ere it be too late. 2. Let ministers of religion beware lest they fall into negligent habits, and perform their services in a perfunctory and unspiritual manner, and thus encourage the people in impiety,-T. Ver. 11.-Sensuality i6 ruin. Whilst the language of this prophet regarding debauchery is sometimes to be ta.ken figuratively, we have no option but to read this statement in its obvious and literal sense. Evidently the worship of foreign deities in northern Paliestine was accompanied by licentious rites and debasing moral habits. In this verse is set forth the general law that the indulgence of the animal nature involves mental and moral deterioration and destruction. I. SENSUALITY AFFECTS THE MIND THROUGH THE BODY. Whoredom and intoxication have ever been, anli. are to-da.y, the two great" sins of the flesh." Man's bodily nature is so constitnted that these practices derange the nervous system, and render the sinner mentally incapable of many of the serious duties of life. The lunatic asylums are peopled with those who have lost their mental powers through addictedness to wino and to women. And where the evil has not gone to lengths so great, it is nevertheless sufficient to affect the powers of application, the memory, and the judgment. 11. SENSUALITY INJURES THE MIND BY CONSTANTLY DIRECTING IT TO MEANS OF CARNAL GRATIFICATION. The man who is besotted with the love of pleasure, and is constantly planning new means of animal gratification and excitement, has little en~rgy to spare for lo[tier flights. Even his intellectual efforts are tainted with the poison. If be be a man of genius, the trail of the serpent is over his works. lll. SENSUALITY CURSES THE MIND WITH SELFISHNESS. Whatever makes a man selfish takes away his hea.rt, 'l'he sensual become machines bent upon. the vain ta8k OH, IV, 1-19.] THE BOOK OF HO~EA. 125