The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 357

in tendernees over the helpless e.nd the 1111fferlng. Now, in the heart of God this love BBsume1 these two phBBeB or manifestations. 1. Material 11atwre shows that there is the stern e.nd th.e mild in God. Winter reveals hie sternness, summer hie amiability e.nd kinclness. 2. Provider,,~ shows that there ie the stern and the mild in God. The hoavy affliction& that befall nations, families, and individuals reveal hie sternness; the hl'alth and the joy that gladden life reveal hie mercy. 3. The spiritual C011,Btituwm of '171,(ffl shows that there ls tho stern and the mild in God. In the human 11◊ul there is an instinct to revenge the wrong, often stem, inexorable, and heartleRe. There is also nn instinct of tendemeee e.nd compassion. Whence ea.me these? From the great Father. In God, thon, there is justice and mercy. II. Mercy and justice ae EXCITED BY HAR' in the heart of the Father. 1. The fflM'aJ, wickedness of Ephraim evoked hie justice. Ephraim, unfaithful, sensual, false, idoJa.- troue, justly deserved punishment. J uetice awoke, demands destruction; it ae.ya, "Let Ephraim be given up, make no more efforts for its restoration and happiness; let it bo delivored into the hand of the enemy, let it be torn to pieces. Rain ftre from heaven upon it, and let it bum to ashes, as did Admah and Zeboim." Human wicked- ness is always stirring, so to say, the justice of the infinite heart. 2. The filial aujfervng of Ephraim evoked hie mercy. Elsewhere (Jer. x:u:i. 20) we have these remarkable words: "le Ephraim my dear son ? is he a pleasant child ? for since I epake ag:i.ill8t him. I do earnestly remem her him still : therefore my bowels are troubled for him ; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.• God calls Ephraim his son, and Ephraim waa in suffering, and hence his compassion WBB turned. Why does the eternal Father show mercy unto mankind? They deserve destruction on account of their sins; but men a.re his children, and hie children in suffering. III. Mercy BT1tUOGLING AGAINST justice in the heart of the great Father. There is a father who has a son, not only disobedient, but unloving e.nd malignantly hostile; he spurns his father's authority, and pursues a course of conduct antagonistic to his father's will and interests. Often has the father reproved him with love and entreated him to reform, but he has grown worse and worse, and has become incorrigible. The wickedness of the son rouses the sentiment of justice in the heart of the father, and the father says, "I will give you up, I will shut my door against you, I will disown you, and send you as a vagabond on the world ; never more Hhall you cross the threshold of my home, never more will I speak to you." This is justice; but then the tho11~bt that he is bis son rouses the other sentiment, love, and here is the stru~gle : "How shall I give theo up?" Such exporience as this is, alas I too common in human life. Such a struggle between mercy and justice is going on now in the heart of many a father in London. '!'he passage gives us to understand there is something like this in the heart of tho infinite Father. Justice crying ont, "Damn I " mercy crying out, " Save 1" Thie is wonderful. I cannot understand it; it transcends my conception ; and yet this passage suggests the fact. IV. Mercy TRIUMPHING OVER justice in the heart of the great Father. "Mine heart is turnod within me, my repentings a.re kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim." 1. Mercy has triumphed over justice in the perpetuation of the race. Justice said," In the day thou ea.test thereof thou aha.It surely die." Adam did eat of the fruit, but lived an~ became the father of e. countless and ever-multiplying race. Why? Mercy triumphed. 2. Mercy has triumphed over justice in the experience of every living man. Every man is a sinner, and his sins cry out for destruction; and he lives on because mercy has triumphed. 3. Mercy has triumphed over justice in the redemptive mission of Christ. In relRtion to the whole family tree, justice said, "Cut it down, for it cumbereth. the groun,l;" but morcy interposed, and said, "Spare it a littlo longer." How comes 1t to pass that mercy thus triumphs? Here is the answer. "For I am God, and not man.~ Had I been o. man it would havo been otherwise. " My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."-D. 'l', Ver. 12.-The lies of a people. "Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, anJ tho bouso of brae! with docei~." 'rhe Almighty here represents himself as a. man ucs,·t with lies on every band, as if ho could not movu either one wa.y or the other. Let u~ 111i1 h~c --  THE BOOK OF H~EA. Lon. ll.l. 1-lZ,