it, Feelin~ of a superstitious nature become with m1my a. 11ubstituto for religion. Tbey _sc:k, m the ml\teriR.listic accompaniments of worship, a satisfaction which the worship 1t~elf would not afford them (altars, ritual, architectural gloom, vestments, etc.). l ll. THE: WERE BEGUILED INTO GROSS IMMORALITY. "Therefore ._your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses [daughters-in-law] shall commit adultery 1' (,•er. 13). _The sedu~tions of the place, the character of the worship, and the exciting ~ehanour rndulged m at the altar, paved the way for lewd practices. These were incorporated as a part of most heathen worship. The heart which has cast off the fear of liod is only too eagerly prepared for licentious conduct. Lust is one of th,e oommonest forms of sin. IY. THEY SET AN EVIL EXAMPLE TO THEra JUNIORS. "I will not punish your daughters," etc. (ver. 14). The unblushing conduct of the parents in going _to the public a.lta.rs with immoral women made it impossible to blame.too severely the younger genrration, who simply followed the example set them by their elders. Thus cor- ruption was propagated, and the most shameless deeds were tl.aunted in the light of open day. • V. THEY BROUGHT DOWN ON THEMSELVES THE VENGEANCE OF Goo. "Therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall " (ver. 14). The origin of .all was the: not understanding. They are destroyed for la.ck of knowledge (ver. 6).-.J. 0. Vers. 15-19.-Warning to Judali. Judah had not yet sunk so low as Israel. She was, however, far from guiltless. Her princes were like them t~a.t remove the bound ( eh. v. 10). She is included with Israel in the threatenings that follow (eh. v. 5, 10, 14; vi. 4, 11). "The people did yet corruptly," is the testimony of the. history (2 Chron. :xxvii. 2). Still her case was not so hopeless but that jud~ent might be averted by timely repentance. There was still "some good thing" in Judah to work upon; something to appeal to. The prophet bids her take warning from the. sister kingdom, "Come not ye unto Gilga.l, neither go ye up to Beth-aven [Bethel]," etc. (ver. 15). Judah should be wa.med- , . ., L BY IsRAEL's llo"TRACTABLENESS. (Ver.16.) "Israel is intractable as an intractable heifer." The nation, that is, had proved unruly, obstinate, refractory, backsliding, unteachable. Nothing that God could do would induce it to walk quietly in his ways. This is a picture of the natural, unrenewed temper. "It is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. viii. 7). In Judah, also, this temper W/!oS beginning to show itself. Let it be warned. Israel would soon have liberty enough, and 'miJre than it cared for. "Now the Lord will feed them a,, e. lamb in a large place." Intra.c- ta.bleness springs from s. false desire of freedom. It counts the yoke of God a. bondage. 'l'he punishment would correspond. God would relieve the people of hie yoke, but would relieve them at the same time of the care and protection they had enjoyed as his nation. Left, in a condition of dispersion, .to realize their helplessness, they would learn to long for the yoke they had once despis~ _, II. BY lsBAEL's OBDURACY. (Ver. l7.) Obdµracy is defined a.a that state which implies "a total disregard of Divine calls and warnings, and an insensibility to their import.a.nee" (Miiller). This is the state to which intra.ctableness tends. In.Israel it had been already reached. "Ephraim is joined to his idols: let him a.lone." 1. The soul has its idols-its earthly objects, which it puts in the place of God. 2. There comes in time to be such a welding of the soul to the objects of its sinful pursuit, that further remonstrance is useless. 3. When this stage is reached, God " lets it alone." He ceases remonstrating. He abandons it to its sinful courses. Conscience is silent. The Spirit ceases to strive. These awful .words, "Let it alone," are the soul's death- knell A!ter this there is no recovery. How solemn the warning to Judah-and to us/ llI. BY ls&AEL's MORAL DEGENERACY. (Ver. 18.) Everything in the kingdom had become spoiled, decrenerate, corrupt-like wine turned sour. The Hebrew word means. literally, "to tun~ aside." Life, when turned a.side from its right ends, speedily degenerates. So do gifts and blessings. The land L!I badly tilled; its fruits are wasted in gluttony and debauchery; health degenerates through the waste of the _powers_ of life in profligacy; feasting sinks to mere animalism, etc. This wa.11 the state into which Israel had come. "Her rulers (shields] have loved, have loved, shame." They loved OH. V. 1-16.] THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 135
she.me, n.nd the print of she.me we.a on them, The spectacle should deter Judah from following in their steps. lV. BY IBRAEL1B EXPEnIENOE 01" THE FUTILITY 01" T&UBT IN IDOLS. (Ver. 19.) Destruction we.a about to descend on the nation. The tempest would carry them away on its wings. A fe.te (1) swift; (2) violent; (3) resistless; (4) dispersive. Then it would be manifest how helpless their idols were to aid them. They would be ashamed of the sacrifices they had offered to them. The wicked will one day be driven ont of their false confidences.-J. 0.
Ver. 16.-0.f!ending. 1. We offend when we frequent places notorious for wicked- ness. This we.a the character of Gil gal and Bethel. 2. We offend when we lend countenance to impieties practised in the name of religion. One of Jeroboam's calves was at Bethel. Its presence changed Beth-el, the " house of God," into "Beth-aven " "house of vanity." 8. We offend when we are partners to any profanation of the N a~e of God. "Nor swear, The Lord liveth." An oath is so solemn a thing that it ought not to be taken except on the most solemn occasions. The light use of God's Na.me in any connection--especially in connection with circumstances otherwise dishonourin" to him-is a heinous transgression.-J. 0. "'
EXPOSITION.