3. lt'or editors of newspnpers and other leaders of public opinion. It was these who were, to a lnrge extent, responsible for Lhe Crimean War. 4. For the leaders of fashion, who may foster habits of extravagance, of peril to health, or even of cruelty in matters of dress. 6, For men of business; the exchanges of the metropolis giving a tone to tho commercial customs of the country. 6. For artisans, whose trades unions may help or injure their fellow-workmen scattered in the provinces. 7, lt'or preachers, whom many gather from all parts to hear, and who may give a tone to the preaching of the country, 8. For Church members. Heresy or worldliness in metropolitan Churches may soon spread among rural Churches maintaining a simpler faith and practice (cf. Matt. v. 14, 16; Rom. i. 8).-E. S. P. Vers. 1, 2.-Divine revelation. "The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which be saw concerning Samaria. and Jerusalem. Hear, all ye people; hearken, 0 earth," etc. Micah calls himself a Morasthite because he was a native of Moresbeth-Gath, a small town of Judrea. He prophesied in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and his prophetic mission commenced soon after that of Isaiah. He was contemporary with him, as well as with Hosea and Amos. His prophecies were directed to Samaria, the capital city of Israel, and also to Jerusalem. Hence we find denunciations against Samaria mingled with prophecies concerning Judah and Jeru- salem. One of his predictions, it seems, saved the life of Jeremiah, who would have been put to death for foretelling the destruction of the temple, bad not Micah foretold the same thing a hundred years before. The book is commonly divided into three sections-eh. i. and ii.; eh. iii. to v.; eh. vi. and vii. Each of these opens with a summons to hear God's message, and then proceeds with expostulations and threaten- ings, which are followed by glo1ious promises. His style is bold, fiery, and abrupt, and has not a little of the poetic grandeur of Isaiah. His sudden transitions from one subject to anothrr often make bis writings difficult to explain. "It is not," says Delitzsch, "a little remarkable that Micah should adopt as the first sentence of hi~ prophecy that with which his namesake concluded his denouncement against Ahab" (1 Kings xxii. 28). Hengstenberg is of opiniou that "he quoted the words designedly, in order to show that bis prophetic agency was to be considered as a confirmation of that of bis predecessor, who was so zealous for God, and that he had more in common with him than the bare name." We may take these words as suggesting certain thoughts concerning Divine revelation, or the Bible. I. IT IS THE" Woao OF THE LORD-" What is a word? 1. A mind-manifesting powlJ'T'. la his word a true man manifests himself, bis thought, feeling, character; and his word is important according to the measure of his faculties, experiences, attain- ments. Divine revelation manifests the mind of God, especially the moral character- istics of that mind-his rectitude, holiness, mercy, etc. 2. A mind-influencing power. Man uses his word to influence other minds, to bring other minds into sympathy with his own. Thus God uses bis Word. He uses it to correct human errors, dispel human ignorance, remove human perversities, and turn human thought and sympathy into a course harmonious with his own mind. II. IT IS "THE WoRD OF THE LORD" MADE TO INDIVIDUAL MEN. It" came to Micah the Morasthite." It did not come to all men of bis age and country in common. It came to him and a few more. vVhy certain men were chosen as the special recipients of God's word is a problem whose solution must be left for eternity. If it be said-'l'be men to whom God made special communications were men whose mental faculties, moral genius, and habits specially qualified them to become recipients, and if all men hacl the same qualifications, all would have Divine communications, the difficulty is not removed by this; for it might still be asked-Why have not all men such qualifica- tions? The fact remains that "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." !IJ. IT IS " THE \V OBD OF THE LOBD" MADE TO INDIVIDUAL MEN FOB ALL MANKIND. "Hear, all ye people; hearken, 0 earth, and all that therein is I" God did not speak to any individual man specially in order that the communication might be kept to himself, but that he might communicate it to others. He makes one man the special ;recipieut of truth that he may become the orgau aud promoter of it. God's Wosd H THE BOOK OF MICAH. [ou. I, 1-16.
is for the world, and the man who has it should give it forth. God enlightens, renovates, and saves man by ma.n.-D. T.