V, FOLLY THE CAUSE OF' MEN NEGLECTING THE RIGHT, AND REBOIITING TO WRONG SOUIIOE~ OF' BUOC01;'R AND _UELIEF, _I. Simplici_ty wi~h godly sinc~rity, in accepting the Word of G?d and m oboyrng the will of Go~, 1s ~st1m~ble and high I.,: co~mendable; simplicity without a heart to love God, following his guidance, and delighting in his "Overnance, is both wrong-headed and reprehensible. With regard to the former there is the JJromise, "The Lord preserveth the simple;" in relation to the latter the solemn question is asked, "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?" The union of simplicity or ingenuousness of purpose with understanding of heart is commended by the exhortation of our Lord," Be ye wise as serpents, harmless [or,' simple'] as doves." 2. 1'he silliness of Ismel was simplicity in its bad sense, as we learn from the specimen of their conduct which the prophet subjoins. The calamities which befell them were ~o many calls to them to return to God and seek his merciful interposition; but, instead of applying to God, they exhibited unspeakable folly in having recourse to one or other of the two great rival powers, Egypt and Assyria, of which the former was as unreliable as a broken reed, piercing the hand that leans on it, and the latter cru~hing and cruel as the king of foreign beasts in devouring his prey. "Egypt," it has been well said, "was a delusive promiser, not failing only, but piercing those who leant on it; .Assyria was a powerful oppressor." 3. The miseries which Israel brought upon himself, and in which men frequently involve themselves by taking a similarly silly and simple course, were (1) unescapable, and such as they coulrl by no possibility extricate them- selves from, for the net of God would ensnare and envelop them. (~) They are un- questionably certain; for however high hopes men may entertain of their carnal confidences, to whatever height of temporary pro~perity they may be elevated, God is sure to briug them down, and their fall will be disgraceful in proportion to the elevation they fancied themselves to have attained. (3) They will consist of sore chastisements, and all the sorer from being so well deserved. 4. The folly of such conduct in the face of warnings so great and manifold is as inexcusable as undeserving of pity. Israel sent southward to Egypt or travelled northward to Assyria in search of human helps, all the time turning their back on God; while to all the exhortations and remonstrances addressed to the congregation of Israel they refused to lend an ear. Line upon line they had been favoured with in the book of the Law-in the blessings on obedience and the curses on disobedience which Ebal and Gerizim respectively re-echoed-in the teachings of other prophets, in the appeals of Hosea himself; their heedlessness to all these disentitled them to sympathy from man or succour from God..
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-7.-8.ins of cowrt and country. The reproofs contained in this chapter lay special emphasis upon the sins of the upper classes. But the prophet brands the whole nation also for its irreligion and immorality, and (in the second part of the chapter) for its political corruption. I. THE EXPOSURE OF lsRAEL's BIN. The wickedness of the people is portrayed, both as regards principles and individual acts. It may be described as: 1. Cold-blooded in its principles. (Vers. 1-3.) These showed themselves in habits of: (1) "Falsehood." (Ver, 1.) There was" no truth in the land" (eh. iv. 1). The life of the nation had become a lie. Towards God there was chronic hypocrisy, and towards man habits of theft and robbery (eh. vi. 6-10). (2) Sympathy with sin and crime. (Ver. 3.) The ruling classes had become morally so corrupt that not only was their example always evil, but it also gave them positive satisfaction to take note of the immoralities of their subjects. Such satisfaction is itself the clima.x of human wickedness (Rom. i. 32). (3) Spiritual inconsiderateness. (Vere. 2, 7.) The root of all the evil was Israel', forgetfulness of God. They failed to remember his holiness, his justice, his omniscience. And, in ignor_ing these truths, they ne!(lected also their own hji;he~t _in~erests_; for, from the lack of timely repentance, their sins "beset them about. 'Ih1s rncons1derateness is the cardinal error of all ungodly men. Multitudes, like Ephraim, have had their attention loudly called to spiritual thin"S by the voice of temporal blessings, of gospel promises, and of providential cha.stise~ents; but they will not hear! But, ngain, Israel's sin was: 2. Hot-blooded in its acts. (Vers. 4-7.) Here the people are corn- TRE BOOK OF HOSEA. [01t. vtt. 1-18.