envious nnd revengeful thoughts of Ho.man (Est h. iii. 6, 6; see Jas. i. 14, 15). Here sin is not traced during its growth. From its birth St. James passes on to its rnatnrity: "The siu, when it is full grown, briogeth forth death." But Micah points out stages in its growth. 2. Plans of wiclcedness are deliberately contrived. They " work," prepare or fabricate, "evil upon their beds." In their hours of rest they "cannot cease from sin." On their bedB, where they might enjoy the sleep of God's beloved, where in wakeful hours they might commune with God and their own hearts (Ps. iv. 4; xvi. 7; !xiii. 6; civ. 34), they plot their crimes (Ps. xxxvi. 4; Prov. iv. 16). If they want allies they hesitate not to secure the e.id of the false witness, the procuress, the dishonest lawyer, the bribed judge. Illust.: Jezebel; the priests (Matt. xxviii. 11-14); the assassins (Acts xxiii. 12-15). 3. The plot is executed in a crime. They act promptly, early, showing no signs of repentance or reflection (Jer. viii. 6); in the daylight, without shame (Esth. vi. 4; Matt. xxvii. 1, 2)-" swift to shed blood," or defraud, or debauch. Might constitutes their right; "impiously mighty and _mighty in impiety," "because it is in the power of their hands." "Dextra mihi Deus" (Virgil). They are reckless of the ruin caused to an innocent man or a whole family robbed of their heritage (Neh. v. 1-5), or of their head (1 Kings xxi. 13), or of the flower of the flock, some beloved child more precious than e.ny heritage (2 Sam. xii. 1-9). II. ITS INEVITABLE CONNECTION WITH RETRIBUTION. While sinners are coveting, plotting, plundering, God is watching, devising, and framing punishment. This is: 1. Predestined; on the ground of deliberate sin. God's "therefores" have all the force of demonstre.tiveree.soning (Prov. i. 31; Isa. lxv.12,etc.). 2. Hard to be borne. Compared to a yoke. Contrast the yoke of the Father's discipline (Lam. iii. 27), and of the Redeemer's service (Matt. xi. 29, 30). If these yokes are contemptuously cast away, the evil yoke of punishment, a'." yoke of iron," is prepared (Deut. xxviii. 48; J er. xxviii. 14). 3. Inevitable. See the striking figures in Amos ix. 1-4 and Zech. xiv. 16-18 (God's manifold instruments of punishment); cf.1 Tim. vi. 9, 10. 4. Humiliating. "Neither shall ye go haughtily." How often the retribution on the proud or the extortioner is strikingly appropriate to their sin I Man's skill in successful sinning is outmatched by God's wisdom in punishing (Job ix. 4). When God's wisdom and power are both 11rrayed against us, it is an evil time indeed. 5. Utterly disastrous. A revolution in their entire circumstances (ver. 4). Thus the consequences of sin may be irreparable in this world; but the gospel of the grace of God tells of a forgiveness whereby sin may be righteously forgiven, and the eternal consequences may be cut off (Isa. xliii. 25 ; John v. 24).-E. S. P.
Ver. 6.-An impious veto; afatal withdrawal. We adopt as our rendering of this difficult verse, " Prophesy not ; they shall indeed prophesy ; they shall not prophesy to these; shame shall not depart." We see here- I. AN IMPIOUS VETO. Men may seek to put their veto on a faithful messena-er in various ways. 1. By seeking to persuade him to utter smooth words. Thus Mic~iah's integrity was first assailed (1 Kings xxii. 13). So, too, in the later days of Amos (ii. 12, where the corruption of prophets as well as of Nazarites is suggested) and of Isaiah (xxx. 9-11). 2. By direct veto, supported by threats, uttered or implied, as in the case of Amos (vii. 10-13). 3. By direct persecution. Micaiah was imprisoned; Jezebel "cut off the prophets of the Lord,'' and sought to slay Elijah. Conspiracies were form~d against the liberty and the life of Jeremiah (x:x. 1, 2; xxvi. 8, 9). God's faith- ful witnesses are always odious to "the beast" and those who bear his mark (Rev. xi. 7-10). Successive steps in this impious veto are seen in the experience of Christ's apostles (Acts iv. 1-3, 18-21; \'". 17, 18, 26---40). 4. By stubborn neglect or haughty contempt. 'l'hese are virtually a veto on faithful preachers ( cf. Isa. xxviii. 9-12; !iii. 1). It is as though their hearers said, "Spare your breath," etc., or in still ruder phrase, "Shut up!" For they actually prefer such teachers as those alluded to in ver. 11, who encourage them in sin nnd delusion (Deut. x:s.ix. 19, 20). '!'he contempt. with which preachers and their messages are often regarded are a temptation to abandon the work. They say," Drop not" (Hebrew), which seems almost equivalent to" Drivel not." We hear of " the decay of preaching," and know by how many it is neglected. To say," We do not care to hear your message," is much the same as to say, "Prophesy not." And the neglect of God's truth by courteous and even complimentary hearers is 28 THE BOOK OF MICAH. [cu. n, 1-18.