The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-23
PASTOR DRAWS HIS
THEME FROM HOSEA
Minor Prophets Read in New
Testament Light
A PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Hosea's Lines Cast on TroubIous
Tmes-Lesson of Divine Love
ImpresslveIy Taught in Bible
Narrative.
A PRACTICAL APPLICATION

grim Congregational churcu OF blfhlhs-
ham, preached at the Gate City Congre-
gational church last night. His text was
taken from Hosea xi4.
'I drew them with the cords Of
man, with bands Of love"
Mr.. Burrill said in part;
Hosea is one of the minor prophets, an
unfortunate term for that section of the
Old Testament which in contrast to the
longer books of Isaiah, jeremiah and
Ezelxiah groups together the shorter
prophetieal books This is all the term
minor, as applied to them, was ever In
tended to mean. Its reference is wholly
to the length of the books, not at all to
their contents In this respect this little
group of prophetic writings Is anything
but minor" Indeed, in the three books
of Amos, Hosea and Jonah they contain
about the very best Of the Old Tesla
ment. Amos, the preacher of divine JUS
tice; Hosea Of the divine mercy, the book
of Jonah declaring the universally of that
mercy--to these 1t Is needfui to add only
Jeremiahs message of the relation OF
this individual soul to Jehovah to cover
the whole gamut of Old Testament truth.
All else therein, whether in law, history.
prophecy or psalm are but repetitions In
various language and forms of these
great fundamental FRUITS of divine reve-
lation, and the prophets above named are
historically their fountain source.
In Light Of Historic Study.
II these statements seem surprising let
me urge you to read these prophets
studiously and faithfully for yourselves
In the light the historical study of the
scriptures throws upon them. This his
torical study, popularity and unfortunate
ly called the "higher criticism" has not
at all destroyed or undermined the pow
er or worth of Gods word, but by giving
us an historically more correct point of
view have deepened our understanding
and appreciation of the Bible as the re-
cord of Gods revelation of Himself to
men through His chosen people. That
point of view is the change of emphasis
from Moses and the law to the prophets
Of the eighth century B. c., as the earliest
written sources of that revelation.
1t is, therefore, exceedingly unfortunate
that Christian people, as whole, are
generally so ill-acquainted with these
great sources of religious truth and in
spiration-much more SO than our faith
ers ever were; and 1t is much to be re-
GREETED that a great International sys-
tenn of Bible study gives as yet no place
in its courses for any comprehensive
appreciation of their teaching. This
means a distinct loss to religious life;
their recovery a distinct gain. For they
are the perennial source of that civil and
social Righteousness on which our fathers
laid the foundations Of our republic, and
for which the heart of man continually
hungers and prays. 1t is for this reason
that ] would turn your thoughts this
evening to the message of this almost
forgotten prophet.
Hosea's owl Signature.
Hosea is the only one IF the prophets
of the northern kingdom whose writings
have come down to us under his own
signature, and yet he Is really one OF the
purest and greatest of the noble company
of Old Testament prophets. This is the
position accorded him in the famous
series of religious paintings by Sargent.
His name implies that he was native
of northern Israel, and likewise do many
significant local touches throughout his
writings 1t was land of fields and
meadows, forests and hills, flowers and
streams, a land famous for its marvellous
fruitfulness; in later days the loved CALI
lee of the major part of Jesus blessed
and beneficent ministry, to whose birds
and flowers Jesus tenderly referred his
perplexed and anxious disciples for tok-
ems OF the Fathers constant love and
care. This was Hosea's homeland
There he lived during the last years Of
the reign of Jereboam II. and until near,
If not quite to, the overthrow of Samaria
and the complete destruction by Assyria
Of the mort hern kingdom of Israel. The
nations prosperity had filled her with
pride and self-conceit. MY own right
arm has won for me all this prosperity"
she cried The rich oppressed the poor,
injustice and extortion falsehood and
sensuality, greed and lust. reigned SUI
preme.
A Rotten State.
Amos and Hosea are both explicit In
their catalogue Of the national sins. The
Tghole state w&s rotten to the core and
already tottering to its downfall. with
In was civil war. Two kings had been
murdered and their thrones usurped, the
uturpers in turn being overthrown by
others. Without, the rising Assyrlan