upon Jsrnel were oonntleBS. The Divine forbearance with the people ,v11s wonderful. On!' speci11! mark of God's f11vour w&s his raising up the prophets, one 11fter 11nother, to "call them" (ver. 2) from their idols, and t.o "dr11w them" back to himself. And does not the Lord de&! just thus with men Rtill? His methods of touching the hoort Aro humane nnd Affectionate. We see the" gentleness" of God in his kindly providence, in hi~ wonderful redemption, and in the me&ns and motives towards holiness which he emplr1ys. He calls to the sinner, "Come now, and let us reason together" (Isa. i. 18). He tells the believer that a consecrated life is "your reasonable service" (Rom. xii. 1). 4. A cn,i.siderat.e Master. (Ver. 4, second part.) The Lord dirl not act towards Israel as brute beasts are often treated by ungentle drivers. A kind farmer treats his ox humanely, both when it is treading out the corn and when it is feeding in the stall; he '9.;t.hdraws the muzzle, or loosens the yoke-strap, that the animal may cat with comfort. Now, God had always acted so towards the Hebrews. In the innumerable blessings which he sent them, in the means of grace which he maintained amongst them, and in the immunities which they enjoyed as bis chosen people, God said to them, "My yoke is ea.sy.n So, in like manner, does the Lord still deal with his redeemed people. He "removes their shoulder from the burden," taking off the yoke of guilt, the yoke of sin, the yoke of the Law, the yoke of unrest, the yoke of fear. And be" lays.meat unto them ''-" the hidden manna" of his grace, and "the fatness of his house." TI. ISRAEL'S VILE TREATMENT OF GoD. (Vers. 2, 3.) 'l'be nation had proved alto- gether unworthy of its sunny and glorious past. 'l.'he people bad been: 1. Ungrateful. They persistently forgot both the fact of their redemption and the continued presence of their Redeemer. The prophets" called them," but in vain. God" healed them," but they ::iscribed their deliverances to others. 2. Unfaithful. Israel requited the tender love of Jehovah with base apostasy. They opposed and rejected him. "They turned their back unto him, and not their face" (Jer. ii. 27). They shamefully denied him bv their sacrifices to Baal. 3. Obstinaf.e in their wickedness. The career of the northern kingdom especially had been one of universal and continuous desertion. People and priests, princes and kings, had alike conspired to return hatred for Jehovab's love. And now, at length, Ephraim's hour of gracious opportunity seemed past. Only by a miracle could the avalanche of judgment be arrested. What a lesson to ourselves iR unfolded in this representation of the outrageous guilt of Israel I We must beware of trusting in our national advantages or our spiritual privileges. How often have we, too, acted ungratefully and unfaithfully ! God's wonderful tender mercies a.re a sore aggravation of our sin. " Lord, with what care hast thou begirt us round I Parent.s first season us. Then schoolmaster■ Deliver us to laws. They send us hound To rules of reason. Holy messengers; Pulpit.sand Sundays; sorrow dogging sin i Afflictions sorted ; anguish of all sizes ; Fine nets aud stratagems to catch us in I B,bles laid open; millions of surprises; Blessings beforehand; ties of gratefulness; 'J'hc sounds of glory ringing in our cars; Without, our shame; within, our consciences; Angele and grace; <eternal hopes and fears I Yet all the11e fences, and their whole aaay, One cuuni11g bosom siu blowd quite away." (George Herbert.) C.J.
Ver. 4.-~,e magnet of love. "I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love." 'l'bese words refer, in the firRt instance, to ancient Israel, and• remind us how kindly nr,d tender had been the Lord's dealings with them. In applying tbo text to uurselvcR, we shall consider it under two aspects. We have here- I. A REPRESENTATION OF Gon's WAY OF DEALING WITH MEN. The supreme power oYer 11,,_. world of mankind is n0t th~ rclentk.;s power of nntural law. The forces of i:iaturt dominll.Le the physicul uoiverise; b11t tu :n i~ a. wora.l being, and is conscious o!' OH, XI, 1-12.] THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 345