HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-3.-Ministerial faithfulness. The prophet is represented 119 11 messenger with alarming tidings, or sentinel at his post to give warning of the enemy's approach, or rather as a herald commissioned to declare war. Earthly kings have heralds or special messengers for this purpose, and here the King of kings cbargeo the prophet as his herald to proclaim war. "Go, then, and let the Israelites know, not now by thy ni,;rnth, but even by thy throat, by the sound of the trumpet, that I am an enemy to then,, and that I am present with a strong army to destroy them." The presence of a herald on such occasions presupposerl the preparation of the enemy-that they were ready to take the field, or were actually on the march. As the prophets of old, so ministers still require to act boldly, bravely, with earnestness and faithfulness in rebuk- ing sin, warning men of approaching peril and punishment, and calliag on them loudly and fearlessly to repent and return to God. I. PoNISHMENT IN POBSUIT OF THE GUILTY. Even a. heathen poet has sung, "Seldom does punishment, though la.me of foot, quit the criminal who goes beforr." Sometimes the prophet is summoned to declare the people's sin, showing them its guilt and dangerous consequences; sometimes to denounce its punishment. We have " notable example of the former in a passage a good deal like the opening verse of thi~ chapter ; thus Isaiah is commanded by God in the words, " Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house ot· Jacob their sins." But the Prophet Hosea is here enjoined to proclaim the puafahmeu t which the sin of Israel was surely and swiftly bringing upon them: "He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord." The abruptness imparts vigour to the expres- sion, while it indicates the sad and sudden reality. When the cup of a people's iniquity is brimful, calamity is just at band; when they are ripe for judgment, tbe enemy is ready to execute it; when the day of vengeance has arrived, no distance can secure 'them from it. From the far-distant' la.ad of Assyria, the Assyrian eagle, Shalmaneser, like the great Babylonian eagle, Nebuchadnezzar, of a later date," with great wings, long-winged, full of feathers," came from a.far, swift in his advance, sudden in bis approach, sure of his prey, and savage in rending it. No boasted privileges can delay that Jay of disaster, nor deliver when it comes; even the house of the Lord shall not be exempt. Israel, though God's people, his house and family, shall fall by the assault of the Assyrian. God usually speaks before he strikes, and warns before he pours down his wrath; nor does he either threaten or strike until he has been provoked by sin. II. THE PBO0URING CAUSE OF ISRAEL'S PUNISHMENT. "Because they have trans- gressed my covenant, and trespassed against my Law;" such is the cause which God assigns for the threatened punishment. God thus indicates his proceedings, exhibits his justice, asserts his patience and long-suffering, declares his hatred of sin, and gives to all a solemn warning against its commission. Here again the mercy of God is made manifest. Notwithstanding God's supreme right over men and absolute autbority to dispose of them as he pleases, yet he graciously condescends to enter into a covenant with his creatures, stipulating promise of reward to obedience, and penalty in case of disobedience. Nor could Israel plead ignorance of the conditions of this covenant; for the Law, with its commandments, exhibited those conditions, exp1icitly declaring all the quties of the covenant. They, however, broke the commandment, and so prepared the way for breaking the covenant; they trespassed against the Law, and so transgressed the covenant. 'l'hey violated the commandments of the Law that taught them their duty to their neighbour;' they broke the covenant that bound them to their God. Usually men proceed from omissions to commissions, and frequent violations of the Law maku way for the final and entire renunciation of the covenant, III. PROFESSION WITHOUT PRACTICE IS MERE PRETENCE. Israel had, no doubt, more knowledge of the true God than any of the neighbouring nations. God's Name was known among them; to Israel belono-ed "1;he adoption, the glory, and the covenants." They depended much on this, and in°their adversity they urged with much vehemencu the plea," My God, we know thee." So at last many will cry, "Lord, Lord, open i.,, us;" or," Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy Name, and in thy Name cast oue; devils, and in thy Name done many wonderful works?" But this plea shall only meet, THE BOOK OF HOSEA. [011. vm.1-U
ns it merits, the indignant response, " Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity." Here is the 8<>crel of theJr rejection: their profcss)on was not supplemented by practice. They pretend to know Uod lil the day of their distress; but as long as they basked in the 8Unsbine o_f prospe_rity, they neither desired the knowledge of God's ways, uor delighted m t_he duties required of them; nay, they despised practical piety. 'l'hey had a name to hve, but "'ere dead; they had a form of godliness, but denied its power in their heart and life. Alas! how many professors of religion are in this same state. "What stead will it st.aud a man in to be able to say, 'My God. I know thee,' when he caunot say • My Go<l, ! love thee,' and' My Gu,l, I serve thee, and cleave to thee only'?" Israel had cast <Jff tl,e thing that is good; they had cast off God, the supreme Good. There is nothing truly !(rea~ but God, a_nd n_othing really good but <1od; e.nd in rejecting Gud they rejected all that 1s good. God 1s the Author of all goodness, and nearness to him is the rnre "ay of getting good. "Whatsoever a.ny man bath or enjoys of good, is from his relation to him, bis nearness to him, bis congruity with him." Israel cast off the Law of God, though that Law was holy a.nd just aud good; they cast off his worship thon"h tbat conduced both to their temporal and eternal good; they abandoned his 'servi~e though it was good for a.JI the relations of life; they had cast over everything guod and upright, just a.nd true; and now in turn they a.re cast off. 'l'he contrast is observable; they bad driven away from a.11 that wa.s good, e.nd now the enemy drives in hot pursuit after them.