a sore temrtalion to 11n earnest preacher who watches for souls not for smiles (Ezok, xxxiii. 30-32). To this impious veto a reply comes in the form of- II. A FATAL WITHDRAWAL. We hear three sharp, decisive messages. 1. "They shall prophesy." God's servants shall oontinue to do AO under the constraint of both a Divine commend and an irresistible impulse. Both these arc illustrated in the history of Jeremiah, who shrank from his mission (i. 6-19; xv. 10; xx. 7, 8), yet undertook it (ii. 1), aml returned to it again and aga.iu (xv. 16, 16; xx. 9). St. Paul is another example (Acts xxvi. 16-20; Gal. i. 15, 16; see too Acts xx. 24; 1 Cor. ix. 16). Men's impiety shall not frustrate God's purposes. 2. " They shall not prophesy to these," 'fhe ministry shall be withdrawn (Ps. Ix xiv. 9; Amos \"iii. 11-13; and see 1 Mace. iv. 46; ix. 27; xii·. 41); or, if continued, it will be of no avail because of the lrn.rdness of heart of the he1trers (Ezek. iii. 24-27). Both these threats are illustrated by the treat- ment of the gospel by the Jews, and of the Jews by the apostles (Acts xiii. 46 47 • xxviii. 23-28). Many now are subject to a similar sentence. They nominally attend some pastor's ministry, but practically are without it, because deaf to the messaae it brings to them. Then the threat against God's ancient vineyard is fulfilled, "I°will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it" (Isa. v. 6). Showers of blessing are dropping on others, but their hearts are dry, like Gideon's fleece when the floor around was soaked with dew. 3. "Shame shall not depart." By silencing God's messengers they hoped to silence the reproaches of conscience and the shame they felt at the prophet's rebukes. But in vain. The fact of the withdrawal of the messengers was itself a shame to the people; like the withdrawal of an ambassador because he had been shamefully treated (illust.: 2 Sam. x. 1-4; Roman ambassador insulted at Tarentum; and cf. Luke x. 16). This shame was the fruit of their own doings, and was thus bound up with their future history. It became more and more aggravated, owing to the d~grading influence of sin. The wrath of God abode on them, whereas, by repentance and faith, it might have been removed (cf. John iii. 36 with ix. 41). The final issue of shameful sin must be a resurrection" to shame " and " condemna- tion" (Dan. xiL 2; John v. 29).-E. S. P.
Ver. 7.--Jud,gment, God's strange work; mercy, his delight. Adopting as our trans- lation, "0 thou, called the house of Jacob, is the patience of Jehovah short? Are these his doings ? Do not his words do good to him that walketh uprightly?" we learn two truths respecting God. L JUDGMENT IS Goo's "STRANGE WORK." 1. The people are reminded of this by their very name. It is a great honour but a grave responsibility to have a good name and ancestry (John viiL 39; Acts iii. 25). What sacred associations clustered around the name, "house of Jacob" I The personal history of their ancestor Jacob gave great significance to the name, "God of Jacob" (Ps. xlvi. 11). The history of Jacob shows tl,at he had to do with a God who is forbearing to sinners; who enters into covenaut with men, and renews that covenant even with the unworthy children of god.l.i· parents_; who is the Hearer of prayer, and condescends to represent himself as being overcome by it; who bestows eternal life on those who die in faith (Exod. iii. 6; Matt. xxii. 31, 32). Similar lessons might be learned from God's treatment of "the house of Jacob" which name they gloried in. 'l'hey could look back to a long cata- logue of mercies (Ps. lxxviii., cv., cvi.). Yet the very fact that they bore this name made more glaring the contrast between it and their real character (vers. 5, 6; Hos. xii. 2-7 ; J obn vii i. 33--40; Rom. ii. 17-29). .Apply to the name we English bear as a Christian nation. 2. An appeal is made to their judgments as to the character of God. "Is the r,atience of JeLovah short?" Let God testify to them (Exod. xxxiv. G, 7), and Moses respond (Numb. xiv. 17-20), and David take up the strain (Ps. ciii. 8-10), and the long Jives of the ungodly, and late repentances confirm the Divine words, and their own consciences confess that Jehovah is a long-suffering God. 3. Thl1J ore reminded that God is =t responsible for sin, and has no pleasu;re in p'II/T/,ish- me,d. "A.re these his doings ? " We take it as a moral axiom that God is not responsible for sin, unless the sun can be held responsible for the shadows caused by op~que objects (Jas. i. 13; 1 John i. 5). .At the best, sin is the corruption of what God made good ; t:.g. selfishness is depraved self-love ; envy is fallen emulation; and 110 with other siW!. In regard to punishment we know thAl.t "he doth not afflict OH, U, 1-18,] THE BOOK OF MICAH. 29