Jn the counsels or the wicked concerning one who is half-hearted ii is said " We will o.ek him ago.in; his answer we.e not decided; he is not an avowedly Christia~ man ; by o. little pressure we can bring him over." How can such a man pray, "Lear! us n0t into temptation, but deliver '!s from evil".? 2.. You weaken powersfryr good, and le.wn hope of the future. There rn a blossomtng time for every tree, a flowerin.,. time for every corn-field, and then tho future is decided, for fruit or ror barrenness. "Our Lord comes down to listen at every heart for pra.yer, to see thP- effect of all he has clone for each. He looks and feels for fruit amidst the leaves of the fi~ tree, and fioclino- none he finally utters the word, "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever."-A. R. Ver. 9.-The unperceived siu.ns of mO'T'al de1:ay. This chapter is occnpied with a denunciation of the sins of the princes and chief men in Israel, who are rlesignated (in ver. 1) by" Ephraim,'' the principal tribe, and" Samaria," the prin~ipal city. Such men are ever most condemDed in Scripture, because they have (1) more opportunity of knowing God's will, and (2) more influence over others (see Matt. xi. 20--24). A. godless lad who bas been brought up under Christian influence, and bas seen the Christian life represented in his home, is more deserving of condemnation than the waif thrown up by the sea of irreligious life, who has been unblessed by teaching and prayer. The man successful in business or scholarship, the ·attractive and popular visitor, the gifted writer, the eldest in a family, the leader in policy, etc., have heavier responsibili- ties than others because they have nobler powers. The sins condemned here were (1) drunkenness, which specially prevailed on the king's birthday (ver. 5) and at similar festivities; (2) passion ,for idolatry and its licentious rites, the heart of the people being like the oven heated hot, and needing only the stirring of opportunity to burst into flame (vers. 4, 6, 7); (3) refusal to believe in God's presence and watchful- ness (ver. 2). These and other sins were the signs of moral decay, which were reflected in national disasters. Yet none of these were perceived by the infatuated people. (See Keil and Delitzsch in· justification of the rendering "He knoweth it not" in both clauses.) Subject-Unnoticed signs of mO'T'al decay. I. THAT MORAL DECAY RAS ASCERTAINABLE CAUSES. ExPmplify from tbe sources of Israel's decadence. 1. Want of consideration. (Ver. 2; Isa. i. 3; Hag. i. 5.) Every faculty fails after disuse; e.g. the eyeless fishes of lakes in dark caverns. Muscular and mental development or decay, by exercise or inertness. He who will not think of God, at fast cannot think of him. 2. .Association with evil. (Ver. 8.) Show the effects of unconscious influence in the formation of character. They must be jealously watchful over themselves who are necessarily associated with the godless. 'l'he companionship of books equally important. S,ensuous or sceptical literature may emasculate character. 3. Forgetfulness of God. All are 'prone to this. Material life becomes increasingly aggressive in thought. The hurry of business;the whirl of society, lessen the frequency and intensity of prayer. • 4. Self-indulgence. Israel gave way to drunkenness and the licence of idolatry. It was the opportunity for gratifying the worst passions that made the worship of the groves so popular. Many begin by staining the imagination who end by defiling the life. Depict the ruin of the drunkard, who once perhaps was a leader in Christian and benevolent enterprise. II. THAT MORAL DECAY HAS OBSERVABLE SYMPTOMS. "Strangers have devoured his strength." Egypt and Assyria had despoiled Israel, sometimes by exacting tribL1te, sometimes by violent attack (2 Kings xiii. 7 ; xvi. 9). Corupare the condition of the Roman empire just before its ruin by the Goths. With Israel the losses were the direct result of leagues made, contrary to God's will, with idolatrous 11atio~s around; for they· became thereby involved in their disputes and disasters. Still this was not perceived. These and other signs of wasting and decay were visible to the prophet, and seemed to him like grey hairs sprinkled here and there-the effects of declining age, the tokens of decay. Point out symptoms of spiritual decline in the soul. 1. Want of appetite/or what is good. The house of God neglected, the old service forsaken, the infrequency and unreality of prayer, etc. 2. Want of sensibility to what is evil. Contentment with a lower standard for Christian life, flippancy in dealin~ with infidelity, indifference to acts and words which at one time would have raised a flush of ehame, etc. III. THAT llOBAL DECAY HAS IRREVERSIBLF. ISSUES. These grey hairs were the 224 THE BOOK OF HOSEA. [on, vu. 1-16,
precursors o~ death. Israel would ~ever be ~estored. The life wa~ lived, was nearly m•cr, and w1t~out ~ope of re~urrection. Christ Jesus speaks of a time of probation given now wluch will not be given hereafter. He will do all the.t can be done even for a fruitless fig tree, but at last must say, "Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?" IY. THAT MORAL DECAY MAKES IMPERCEPTI~LE ADVAN0E. At first grey hnirs are sprmkled here and there. How fast they multiply, though no one notices the change in each hair! \Vhen first noticed, an endeavour may be made by nostrums to dis"uiso the fact ; but the decay goes on. The march of old age, as he sprinkles his snows i~ not really checked. If a man could persuade himself as well as others that he w~s still young, t.hat would not prolong his life. But it is far easier to disguise from ourselves the signs of moral decay, and this has been done with fatal frequency. The old world though often warned," knew not till the flood came and swept them all away." Samso~ betrayed tbe source of his strength and lost it; but when he rose against his foes as afuretime, "be wist not that the Lord was departed from him." King Saul was robbed uf his means of defence and refreshment, but he still slept on (1 Sam. xxvi.). So Israel shut its eyes to the loss of strength and hope. Beware lest character be like the cliff, secretly honeycombed by the sea, until in an unexpected moment it falls in irreparable ruin. CONCLUSION. .Address the aged,. There is a natural decay, which may be the pre• cursor of destruction or the promise of resurrection (1 Cor. xv.). 1. " The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Eleazer said," I will not do that which seems to be evil, lest I should spot my white head." 2. The hoary head is a call to repentance, if it be found in the way of wickedness. "I have no pleasure iu the death of him that ilieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore tum yourselves, and live ye."-A. R.