Hosea 8:9-14

Here is a very striking passage in these words of the Lord, and is as suited to all ages as to the age of Israel. The Lord saith, that the great things he wrote to Israel were counted by them strange things. And Reader! what more strange to thousands, who call themselves Christians, than the pure doctrine of Christ's blood and righteousness, as the only possible means of salvation, and yet what so great and so glorious? Who, untaught of God the Holy Ghost, can enter into a right apprehension of that blessed doctrine; God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them? 2 Corinthians 5:19. We shall indeed know these things to be the great things of God, if so be the Holy Ghost condescends to be our teacher. But without his gracious instruction, the mystery of godliness will be to us as strange things, and men will now, as much as in the days of Christ's flesh, call the most blessed truths hard sayings, and go back from Jesus, who never in heart walked with Jesus. John 6:60, etc.