Homilist Hosea 4:9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. I. THERE IS SOMETIMES A DISGRACEFUL RECIPROCAL INFLUENCE. 1. It is a disgrace to a true priest to become like the people. One who is not above the average man is no priest, he is out of his place. A priest is a man to mould, not to be moulded; to control, not to cringe; to lead, not to be led. His thoughts should sway the thoughts of the people, and his character should command their reverence. Sometimes you see priests become like the people, mean, sordid, grovelling. 2. It is a disgrace to a people to become like a bad priest. There are priests whose natures are lean, whose capacities are feeble, whose religion is sensuous, whose sympathies are exclusive, whose opinions are stereotyped, whose spirit is intolerant. Shame on the people who allow them selves to become like such a priest!" II. THERE IS SOMETIMES AN HONOURABLE RECIPROCAL INFLUENCE. 1. It is honourable when people become like a true priest; when they feel one with him in spiritual interests and Christly pursuits. 2. It is honourable to the true priest when he has succeeded in making the people like him. He may well feel a devout exultation as he moves amongst them that their moral hearts beat in unison with his, that their lives are set to the same keynote, that they are of one mind and one heart in relation to the grand purpose of life. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. |
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