The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 291

ficial; times ofRdvrr&ity put them to R test too l!evere. Tll'olll! 1'ho are willing to )JllrtaktJ of hospit!\li Ly anrl to. heighten conviviality A'te seldom the ftiendtl "born foradverlllty; • they oft.en v!\ni~h when sympathy is most needed, when eolitude le most dreaded, Ill. \\.HAT W1LL 't1!: DO WHEN RELIGIOUS OBSERVAl-TCES ARE FOU'ND TO Bill EMPTY FORMS? It is sometimes supposed that any time will do for religion, that religious aid and consolation are always at the service, at the beck and call, of every one of ue. But it is not 80. If we neglect and abuse our privileges, they -will forsake ue. The man who has long disused his Bible, and given up prayer, and forsaken public worship, may, in the time of anxiety and trouble, have recourse to ,vhat has been long ne••lected. J\ut he may find that these ordinal:lees and privileges are to him nothing bnt ; form. They have not changed, but M has grown unspiritual, hardened, and morally incRpable of using privileges within his reach. 'What then will he do? -• IV. WHAT W1LL YE DO IN THE PROSPECT OF 'DEATil A.ND JUD!fMENi' \I In youth and in good spirits, men sometimes bear of these dread realities-for such: they _are to the impenitent and unpardoned-without at all r81\l.izing them, or believing that· they have anything to do with themselves, But in sickness and in old age, eternity often draws near to the imagination and to the heart. 'Memory brings· up evil deeds 'and words and thoughts. The foreboding soul feels, and feels justly, that the account mµst soon be given, that the jndgment-seat mnst soon be faced. And yet there is no pre- paration, no defence, no plea. What a position ! 11.nd what a prospect! Faithfulness and kindness induce the prea.cher of the Word to 'remind the careless hear.er of the coming days, and the revelation they will bring; to urge upon him now; whilst it is af some use to consider the solemn question-What·wiH ye then do?-T. Ver. i.-The sin of despising God's prophe~. Every preacher of righteousness has to endure now and again the misunderstanding or the misrepresentatfon of some of those whom he addresses in the Name of the Lord: It is not to be desired 'that a.ll·men should speak well of him. The servant is not above his Master, and no.calumny was too base, no blasphemy too enormous, for the enemies of Jesus to assail him with. . ' L THE PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OF'l'EN 'MEETS WITH •BLIGHT AND WITH CON_; TEMPT FROM MEN. 1. The charges brought: "The prophet is a fool, the spi;i tual ·nJan is mad." Hosea and other prophets, from Noah down to the last of thl;l order, had 'tci contend with such foolish and wicked calumnies; As a shield for their own foll_y; sinners profess to find folly in those who rebuke them. 2. The motives which pro,;npt' to such charges. Sometimes it is done by the nij.stake of the unspiritual, who, to·the~r shame, know no better, because of their insensibility to Divine realities, because of the low level upon which they live. Sometimes. by the malice and calumnious wilfulness of opponents of truth and goodness, who bate nothing so D,11,lCl;i. as to be rebuked for their evil deeds. 3. The conduct which calls forth such charges. Usually the real grdun<\ of hostility to prophets and to faithful preachers has been the interference which _h~ aimed rebukes at prevalent sins. Thus the real fools and madmen are not the ministe'ts of God's word, but those who despise it and blaspheme. II. THE PRl':ACBER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL NEVERTHELESS BE VINDIOATED BY GOD. Whilst unbelieving and impenitent sinners make a mock at sin, and jeer at those who condemn sin, God, the righteons Judge, observes the 'treatment with which his servants meet. 1. God approves and advances bis faithful messengers. Noue can serve· him faithfnlly and be neglected or passed over. The good and faithful serv;i.nt; who has been deemed a madman by those themselves infatuat.e_d and mentally intoxicated, sha.11 be commended and exalt.ed in dne time. 2. God will1himself punish the mockers fo the days of visitation and recompense. "He, that being often •reproved hardeneth •his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.''-T~ Ver. 8.-The UKl,tchman,,, Among the many similitudes employed to set forth the character aad office of the prophet, the epiritoal teacher and counseller of men, none iii more striking than this. It is a figure employed aleo by Ezekiel and Habakkuk, and'· may be presumed accordingly to have commended itself to the judgment of the people' generally, or at least of those who reverenced the Lord's messenrere. Every preacher and teacher may be regarded as a watchman stationed on the waits, bound w give the' pe-.>ple warning of approachiag danger, and BO to secure their safety. ' VII. IX. l--17,] THE llOOK OF HOSEA. 291