and also in the irony of the address by the same prophet to the prince of Tyrus-" Behold thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee," Ezek. xxviii. 3. The name of Daniel, fixing on him the authorship of this book, occurs repeatedly throughout its chapters vi. 20; vii. 15; viii. 15, 27; ix. 2, 22; x. 2, 11; xii. 4, 5, 9. He is throughout represented as the subject of special communications from God. The following instance of a revelation like to the apocalyptic ones should be added to the former ones. "And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever, that it shall be for a time, times, and an half," Dan. xii. 7. "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven; and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, That there should be time no longer," Rev. x. 5, 6.* 35. Hosea.] We now enter on the consideration of the minor prophets," whose works, amounting separately to twelve, were bound up in one volume; and were altogether ranked as but one of their scriptural books by the Jews. The application to them of the epithet minor, respects the quantity, and not the authority, of their writ ings. The Jews frequently spake of them as the twelve, in like manner as the apostles are spoken of in various parts of the New Testament. The authorship of the prophecy of Hosea, is ascribed to him in the prophecy itself-he being named in the commencement, and making use of the first person, particularly in the third chapter of the book. He is the subject of undoubted and express quotations in the New Testament. The first of those which follow is most conclusive. "And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God," Hos. i. 10. "As he saith also in Osee-And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God," Rom. ix. 25, 26." I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God," Hos. ii. 23. "Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God," 1 Pet. ii. 10." For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice," Hos. vi. 6. "Go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice," Matt. ix. 13. See also Matt. xii. 7.-"I called my son out of Egypt," Hos. xi. 1. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son," Matt. ii. 15." O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction," Hos. xiii. 14. "Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?". Cor. xv. 54, 55.-"So will we render the calves of our lips," Hos. xiv. 2. "By him, et us offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips," Heb. xiii. 15.-Considering the small amount of the book, it is peculiarly rich in the scriptural evidence by which it is supported.* 36. Joel.] Even for this brief composition, there are not wanting some decisive references in the New Testament. Peter in the Acts of the Apostles quotes it, and gives the name of the author-which also occurs at the commencement of the book. There are one or two more undoubted citations of this prophecy, which are either given here, or pointed to in a foot note below. "And it shall come to pass afterwards, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke," &c. Joel ii. 28-30, &c. "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, (saith God,) I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my spirit; and they shall prophesy," &c. Acts ii. See furtherHosea ii. 23.-Rom. ix. 26. iv. 1.-Mic. vi. 2. : Hosea vi. 2.-1 Cor. xv 4. 16-18, &c.-"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," Joel ii. 32. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," Rom. x. 13.-" Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe," Joel iii. 13. "Thrust in thy sickle, and reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe," Rev. xiv. 15.* 37. Amos.] This book also has its incorporated title, and its announced claim to inspiration. "And the Lord took me, as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go prophesy unto my people Israel," vii. 15. The name of Amos occurs, with the use of the first person, repeatedly in the book, as throughout the whole of the 7th chapter, and in viii. 1, 2; ix. 1. He is twice quoted in the New Testament, not by name, but as belonging to "the prophets;" and in such a manner as might lead one to imagine, that the volume in which he was bound up along with the others, might have been referred to by its title. It was a volume which comprehended all the minor prophets; and so, if these quotations are to be regarded as a homologation of the whole volume from which they are taken, they might, without any stretch of argument, be pled as testimonies, in behalf not only of Amos himself, but of the other eleven with whom he was associated." Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves: Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus," Amos v. 25-27. "As it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon," Acts vii. 42, 43.—“In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old, That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this," Amos ix. 11, 12. "And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things," Acts xv. 17.* See further- i. 2.-Jer. xxv. 30. V. 8.-Job ix. 9. xxxviii. 31. v. 11.-Zeph. i. 13. v. 15.-Rom. xii. 9. v. 18.-Is. v. 19. Amos v. 18.-Jer. xvii. 15. vi. 3.-Ezek. xii. 27. |