The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-01

lowing characteristics: He Is a dis
cerner of the evils of his time, who sees
beneath pretense and sham and ex-
ternal conditions of splendor the
threatening evils within and without,
that menace the present and future OF
the state and the people. He is
protestant against the evils he discerns
He lifts up his voice and rallies all his
influence against them. His protest
has a reformatOry purpose. He is
patriot and utters his notes of warn
ing that the evils may be overcome
and the dangers aVerted He is a man
of God, whether he be Hebrew, Greek,
Roman, AnglO-SaXon or German, liV-
ing in conscious sympathy with God
and the people whom God loves, with
special tenderness towards those who
need him most. With these facts be-
fore us, outlining our meaning of the
terms we use, let us look at one Of the
first marked protestants concerning
whose record we have any knowledge.
Hosea and all the others Of whom we
shall treat reveal through all their mis-
sion that they have been raised up for
the purpose for which they toll and
suffer
Hosea appeared and accomplished his
work between 100 and TAO B. G. He
lived In times that might we'll deceive
the very elect He was a citizen Of
northern Israel in the times of Jero-
beam H., period of great outward
prosperity and power. This shreWi
king had extended his territory by
arms and diplomacy. until the people
believed with him that all success de-
pended on the wits and wiles Of schem-
ing diplomats. The church was as
much deceived as the state and trusted
in Jeroboam. There seemed to be at
that time no foreign enemy sufficiently
strong to overthrow this empire, and,
ont
note Of warning was open to the charge
Of being that thing which is called
alarmist, pessimist disturber Of peace.
In the midst Of this era Of external
splendOr appeared Hosea, and his work
we are to judge.
He discerned the following evils III
the nations life. which were like ulcers
poisoning the blood and sapping the
foundations Of strength: First, a cor
rupt government, not carried on ac-
cOrding to principles Of equity nor in
the interest of the governed. but rather
in the interest Of the king and his no.
bles. Oppression was everywhere. Lux
ury and poverty in close relation caus-
ed no remark. The prophets heart was
set on fire by the things which he saw.
and against oppression he lifted up
his voice.
He discovered the prevalence Of vices.
such as fOretell the fall Of all who
practice them. There was drunken
ness and RIGHTEOUSNESS. The rich were
given over to spendthrift habits to safe
their vicious appetites, and the poor
aped the rich in 50 far as they could
secure the means for sensual revelings.
He discerned the corruption Of the
religion Of the people. It had ceased
to be even ethical, and the temples
were the laZar houses Of spiritual cor
ruption. Their artificial kings ana gods
Pa In
together that the evils all seemed to
him, whether Of governmental or social
life, or individual sins, the out
growth Of their false ideas and prac-
tees with reference to religion and God.
These things he saw. He gave us
In his prophecy such q picture Of them
that We seem to be reading an arraign-
ment Of modern society in the burning
words Of a man Of God, whose heart
has been moved by the facts Of life
opened to his vision.
Against these things he protested in
two ways. He declared the sinfulness
of the sin he discerned and its peril 10
all concerned in a number Of oracles
which have rarely been excelled. either
for their poetic force and beauty. or
for their trencnant power to awake
and move. He protested by his life.
He gave himself to the task Of awaking
the people to their condition ere It was
too late. The sorrows and agonies Of
his sad family life were unfoIded to
Israel, as a parable Of the relation IF
the people to God. indeed, out of hiJ
deep heart agony, brought upon him
by his own troubles, he was able 20
appreciate the love in the heart Of God
for sinful sons.
His dark pictures Of judgment for
sin are relieved by his rhapsodies OH
the blessings Of restoration.
These are not the rawlings OF a pes
simist, but the outbreathings Of a man
who has learned love and righteous
ness from God, and whose purpose is
to so intensely protest against the
wickedness Of his time that the people
may repent and be saved from the con-
sequences of transgression.
Hosea, by his insight and loyalty to
his heavenly Vision, is worthy Of
high place among the worthy great
protestants Of history.
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