March 8

"I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them."—Hosea 11:4.

THIS chapter records Israel's sins and God's mercies. In the text we have three things that God does for his people. Let us look at each in the order in which they stand. They may be expressed in three words.

ATTRACTION. "I drew them." Observe

Its nature. It supposes a state of distance. The design of God in the Gospel is to draw man to himself. Sin has enticed, mercy attracts. This is a drawing from the paths of sin to the ways of holiness, to the throne of grace, the house of God, the cross of Christ, and the glories of heaven.

Its Agent. It is God himself. The corruptions of the human heart are so strong, that nothing short of a Divine power can subdue them.

Its method. "With cords of a man, with bands of love." It is reasonable. The Almighty condescends to reason and plead with us, that we may reason with ourselves. He argues the case with us, as one man would with another. It is affectionate:—"With bands of love." The Gospel breathes love, and is calculated to attract the mind and win the heart. The awful denunciations of the law must always be connected with the sweet accents of the Gospel.

LIBERTY. "And I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws." Here is an allusion to the merciful husbandman, who does not keep his cattle continually at work, but releases them from the yoke, that they may rest and eat. In the cultivation of the land in eastern countries, it was the general custom to use oxen. Thus the Israelites were rescued from Egyptian bondage; and the sinner, in the day of conversion, is made free, rescued from the dominion of sin, the course of the law, and the tyranny of Satan:

PROVISION. "And I laid meat unto them;" as the husbandman does when his cattle are unyoked. Those who are drawn to God, and made free, have an appetite for spiritual provision. The food God gives to his people is

Suitable as to quality. Adapted to the soul's capacities and wants. Not that which perishes, but that which endures unto everlasting life. It is "laid unto them," brought nigh, in the covenant of mercy, the announcements of Scripture, the preaching of the Gospel, and the teaching of the Spirit.

Sufficient as to quantity. There is in the Gospel a rich abundance,

"Enough for each, enough for all, Enough for evermore."