Vere. 1, 2.-0ounsels to the sinful. It was the office of the prophet to be faithful at once with man and with God. He was bound not to flatter man, not to conceal or palliate human sins. At the same time, it was his to declare the whole counsel of God as the Ruler of all men, the Judge of the obdurate, the Healer of the penitent. I. A REMINDER OF THE FALL. The Book of Hosea.'s prophecies is full of reproaches and expostulations addressed to backsliding, idolatrous Israel. The people a.re charged with iniquity, and they a.re put in mind of the " fall" into which their ungodliness has brought them. As surely as men wander from the ways of God into the ways of error, unrighteousness, and folly, so surely do they, sooner or later, meet with e. fall. It is e. plain truth that the godly stand upright. Under a. Divine and righteous rule it cannot be well with those who neglect and despise the moral law. Our first pa.rents " fell" by sin, and in this they furnished an exemplification of the consequences of disobedience as a. lesson to their posterity. II. AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO REPENTANCE. In the very language nsed in this expostu- lation and entreaty there is much to cheer and to justify the approach of the penitent sinner unto God. 1. There is the designation "Israel," the use of which seems a reminder of the Divine favour. 2. There is the appellation given to Jehovah-" the Lord thy God; " thine, even though thou hast shown thyself so insensible and so ungrateful. 3. There is the term which the counsellor employs-" turn," "return," unto the Lord, implying that the right and proper path is Godward, that to have for- saken that path was deviation and error, that steps must be retraced. What stress is la.icl in Scripture upon sincere repentance and conversion-upon the turning of the soul unto him against whom sin has been committed, needs not to be shown; yet the sinful need that such directions should be repeated, both to preserve them from any other and any false way, and to encourage diffident and desponding souls in their access to God. Ill. A DIRECTION TO CONFESSION AND ENTREATY. "Take with you words." 1. This is an encouragement to the expression and outpouring of the feelings of the heart. Mere words, that is," meaningless e.nd insincere words, a.re vain; but words which are the utterance of a penitent and lowly soul, are acceptable. 2. Words should utter the sl'lf-a.basement which is the sinner's proper attitude of heart before a righteous Lord. Confession is indispensable; for only the hardened and insensible can withhold it. 3. Words should plee.d for pardon and acceptance. The prophet himself puts such language into Israel's lips, and at the same time represents the willingness of an offended God graciously to hear and royally to answer. APPLlOATION. 'l'o show what light i8 furnished by the gospel of Christ to make evident. alike the sinner's condition and also the grounds and assurance of Divine favour an,\ forg;ivc•nctis"-'l'. Ver~. 2, 3.-The supplicalio11 a11d the vow. \Yun.ls a.lune are vaiu. Yet, iu lLte TUE BOOK OJ<' HOSEA. [en. x1\r, 1-!l.
nrder of nature, words are the expression of thought and sentiment aud resolve, Especially must words uttered to Heaven be sincere and truthful ; for he is the Searcher ,,f liearts, whose favour the sinner beseeches with contrition and with confiJenco. Let i~, then, be understood that the words here sugp:ested as suitable for the repenting ~inner's address to God are the utterance of deep emotion and sincere resolution. I. PE1'7irEl>'r COl>FEss10N. Israel acknowledges that there has been misplaced confi- dence. Slie has trusted in alliances with Assyria, in military resources, in the vain aid of the idols of the surround~ng idolaters. In all this she has been her own enemy, and has been proving her own folly. The confession, which is the indispensable cundition to acceptance, is liere made. 11. REPE~TANCE Al>D RESOLVE. Israel not only sees the fact and feels the reproach concerning herself; she resolves upon a change-a turning from human aid and an abandonment of self-confidence. Apart from this there is no hope of a safer way, a better life. III. E:!>"TREATY FOR FORGIVEJIESS AND ACCEPTANCE. Israel loathes her sin, and ,:esires that both the sin aI!d its consequences should be removed. Israel is weary of curnity with God, and desires that there may be peace, that she may be accepted and Jealt with in grace and love. • . . . . l V. '!'HE SUPPLIANT's vow. It has ever been characteristic of human nature to deal wiLh the higher Power as though that power were human, and to be appeased with offerings and with promises of service. Vows have been and still are made'under the influence of this superstitions belief. Yet this is no argument against such vows as :hat here put into the lips of Israel: "So will we render the calves of our lips." S>tcrifices of obedience and of praise a.re just on the part of man, and are acceptable to God. N oue who is graciously pardoned and accepted can withhold this tribute. There have doubLless been those who, in their ignorance and unspiritnality, have };loped to bribe Deity with the proffer of their praises. But none the less cloes· it become t,he pardoned penitent to express his gratitude to him who is plenteous in foigiveness,-:-T.