f.-11it found." 'l'he fir11t words a.re (as we understand them) Ephrnim'A; the lnAt wor,l1 nre God's. The cyrrcRs is an evergreen, but it does not borir fruit. Orn\, howepcr, will gh·c fruit to Ephraim M well as unf~d\ngnees. (1) Ephraim derives his fruit from God. His fru\t ie spiritual. It is on\:t a1 IHl al,ictcR in God tha.t he le nble to bring forth fruit Rt &ll. (2) Ephn1,im "findR" his frnit in God. i•'rultfulness Is main- tained by active fellowship, by consmnt trust, \Vlliting, watohfulnMs, and prnyer. "Abide in me," Christ says (John xv. ¼), "Without me," he adds," ye can do nothing" (ver. 5).-J. 0. Ver. 9.-The lesson of the book. The lesson may be summed up in few words, but· it is Ro comprehen6ive that the e.ccepte.nce or rejection of lt malce& all the difference between supreme wi6dom and supreme folly. 'l'ho lesson simply is thnt "the ways of the Lord are riirht." Men prefer their own ways to God's, but what the history of ltlrnCl teaches is that, if they <lo so, It Is to their own ruin. • I. Goo's WAYS ARE RIGHT. They are: 1. Right in themselves. They are the ways of absolute rectitude. They a.re m1trked out for us by perfect wisdom, spotless holiness,· and unchanging goodness. Equally right are God's own ways, the principles of' his government, the modes of his action. His commands are just, his requirements reason" able, his doings wise, his intentions kind. 2. Right as conducting to a right end. God desires the good of every one. He has no pleasure in the death of any. • He sets before us tbe way of life. "See," he says, "I have set before you life and death" (Deut. xxx. 15, 19). God knows better than any other wherein our true good lies. Ta.king the way be prescribes, we shall infallibly attain to blessedness. , II. WISDOM JS TESTED llY THE ACCEPTANCE OR REFUSAL OF Gon's WAYS. "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them?" 1. The wi.se r~ognize the rightness of God's ways. They are taught· of God to recognize this rightness. Plain as the truth seems that God's ways alone are right, the natural heart is incapable of receiving it (1 Cor. ii. 14). 2. The wise show their 'IJ!isdom by walking in God's ways. "The just shall walk in them." . Wisdom is a. practid~l thing. It implies the adoption of that which we know t.o be right. Wisdom is cdnnected 'l\"ith uprightness. It is the upright in heart-the just-who choose the right ways. 3, The unwise slww their folly by refecting God's wavs, This is their ruin,. " The trans- gressol'I shall fall therein."-J. O. HOMILETICAL INDEX TO
THE BOOK OF HOSEA. TBE'KB P.A.OB CHAPTER L Sympathy with Israel in Spite or their THElfll PA.GE Bins ... 56 The Bin of Israel sharply reproved 10 Jehove.h's Condemnation of Fe.ithleBB The Buffe1ings of Israel symbolically Israel... 61 recorded 12 Prosperity abused e.nd blighted 62 There is Salvation in Store for both Israel's Restoration 64 Israel and Judah 15 The Golden Che.in of Causation 65 The Prophet and hie Work 16 The Message from Hnmc .. . 6i Hoeea's Marriage and Prophetic Train- God's Rule in Natnre and in Grace ... 70 ing 17 The Delu.eions of the Ungoclly 71 Hosea's Children ... 19 The Way hedged up 71 The 0uree reversed 21 Mercies abused 72 " Great shall be the Day of J ezreel " 22 Retribution 72, 82 Divine Retribution 23 Comfortable Words 73 Diville Deliverance 25 " A Door of Hope " 73 The Word of the Lord 28 Divine Betrothal ... U Spiritual Infidelity 28 The Great First Canse of Blessiilg 74 Mercy denied 29 Purpcses of Pity e.nd of Possession 7-1 Salvation, not of Man, but of God 30 Divine Restraints 75 Rejection and Restoration ... 80 The Conjunction of Bill e.nd Mirth 76 " Bona of the Living God " 31 The Prosperity of the Wicked 76 One Body and One Head .. . 31 Soul-Restoration ... 77 Scripture, Kings, and Truth 82 The Sublime Privileges of the Good 78 Retribution 33 God and his Universe 79 God's Mercy 84 Spiritual Adultery 80 The Destilly of the Race 35 The Philosophy of the Diville Che.s- Superscription 36 tisements 81 The "Wife of Whoredoms " 38 Israel's Recovery... 82 " Children of Whoredoms "... 89 Allurement 82 Meroy triumphant over Judgment 40 The New Betrothal 83
OHAPTER n OHA.PTER IIL The Prophet exhibit& the Groes Bin or God's Heroifulnese e.nd larael's Bint'ul- Idolatry 51 neBB are brought into Contrast 89 The Pains e.nd Penalties that are at- The Applicability of these Veraee 91 ta.ahed to Bin .. . 118 Hosea detains Gomer in Seclusion 92 ii INDEX.