Hosea 5:4 They will not frame their doings to turn to their God: for the spirit of prostitutions is in the middle of them… The perfection and beauty of all life — vegetable, animal, intellectual, and moral — depends largely on "framing," by which I mean culture. Scotland was once a barren soil, but industry and skill have turned it into one of the most fruitful and prolific lands to farmers in Europe. More: the orchid would not be so popular as it is, but for the care and skill of the botanist: the rose would not be the beautiful flower that it is, but for the gardener: nor would the carnation, nor the chrysanthemum be the favourites they are, but for the care bestowed upon them by professionals. The same law applies to the feathered tribes. It is a well-known fact that the almost endless variety of pigeons we have in England sprang from the common blue-rock pigeon; and Dr. Drummond says that if all these pigeons could be banished to some distant island for a few years, and their descendants brought back, they would be totally changed; for they would have become blue-rock pigeons. The same law applies with redoubled force to man. Let a man neglect his body for a little while, and he would become little better than a beast or a savage. Let a man neglect his mind, and disorder will follow. Let him neglect his moral nature, and his sympathies will be stunted, and his conscience will cease to commend him when he does right, and to warn him when he does wrong. This was the sin of those to whom the prophet spoke: "They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God." I. WHAT IS THIS LIFE FRAMING TO WHICH THE WORD OF GOD CALLS US? 1. Each man possesses a soul, which must exist for ever amongst the spirits of the redeemed, or be consigned to eternal punishment. 2. Some men tell us that the brain is the greatest power in man; others, that that power lies in the heart; while others contend that it lies in the will. The fact is, Christian character calls all these powers into requisition (1 Timothy 6:9-11). How is this character to be secured? (1) There must be repentance. (2) Prayer and self-denial. These are as necessary to expel the evil propensities of your nature as they were to expel devils in our Saviour's day. (3) Faith in Christ. (4) All men can live such a life if they will. A man may be humble in his origin, and poor in his circumstances, but these things do not prevent him rising to the dignity of a perfect man in Christ. II. LOOK AT SOME OF THE REASONS WHICH MEN URGE FOR THE NEGLECT OF THIS DUTY. "They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God." The reasons which men urge for the neglect of this important work are, at best, mere excuses, and too often hollow pretexts. 1. Some plead the unfavourable situation in which they are placed. Their companions stand in the way. They would sneer at them, revile them, or even persecute them if they could. To read the Bible, to pray, and to talk about religion in their presence would be impossible. Oh, man, where is thy courage, where is thy manhood? 2. Others plead the pressing claims of their worldly occupations. These are allowed to take precedence. Thought, conversation, and care are bestowed on houses, lands, and worldly wealth, as if there were no better inheritance for man. 3. Business is urged as an excuse. They have to build their house, educate their children, provide for their families, and these leave them no time to carry into effect that which they know to be their duty to God and to themselves. Now observe — (1) There is time enough for every one to save his soul, Others find time to do their duty to God, and you can if you will but try. (2) That family duties and cares need not stand in your way, for the calm influences of religion are just what you need to help you to bear life's heavy cares, (3) There are methods of amassing wealth in our day which are hurtful to men and abominable to God. 4. Others plead the strength of their passion. They are naturally intemperate, or unchaste, or dishonest, or grasping. 5. All these excuses indicate a shocking indifference to the claims of God upon you, and show, besides, an amazing ignorance of religion. They show that you don't understand the necessity of religion, as you under stand the necessity of food for the hungry, raiment for the naked, or houses for the homeless. You undervalue its importance as compared with other interests. 6. What does God say to these excuses? (H. Woodcock.) Parallel Verses KJV: They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. |
    |