But what were,
II. The particular objects of his intended visit to them —
Rome was then the most magnificent city in the universe : it was the seat of empire, the capital of the world. But was it to gratify a vain curiosity, or to court popularity among the great, that the Apostle sought to go thither ? No : he had far nobler ends in view : the true objects of his intended visit were,
1. The advancement of their welfare —
[The Apostle was honoured by God with a power of con- ferring miraculous gifts : and these, when conferred, tended greatly to strengthen the hands of those who preached the
a Rom. xv. 22, 23.
Gospel, and to confirm the faith of them that heard itb. To this therefore he might in part refer, when he spoke of " im- parting to the Church some spiritual gifts." But he certainly desired to increase also the graces of the Lord's people ; to confirm their faith, enliven their hope, and augment their joy. However exalted their characters were, there was yet abundant room for improvement ; and he hoped to be a blessed instrument in the hands of God for the advancing and per- fecting of his work in their souls. For this end, God is pleased to make use of his ministering servants. On them he confers the honour, not merely of awakening men from the sleep of death, but of " building them up also on their most holy faith," and completing them, as a spiritual edifice, for his own immediate residence. O blessed work indeed ! Well might the Apostle desire to be engaged in it, wherever his labours might be successfully employed : for surely no labour can be so great, no suffering so heavy, but it is richly compensated, if this end be in any measure produced.]
2. The comfort of his own soul —
[Next to the happiness of communion with God, is that of fellowship with his believing people. To be appreciated, it must be felt : no one can have any conception of that oneness of heart and mind which exists in the Lord's people, unless he himself has experienced it. When their faith is in lively exer- cise, and their souls are humbled in the dust, and their hearts overflow with love, who shall give us any adequate idea of their felicity? Certainly it is nearly allied to the happiness of heaven ; or rather, it is an anticipation and foretaste of heaven itself. This happiness the Apostle assuredly expected to enjoy among the people at Rome : yea, this happiness does every faithful minister enjoy, according to the degree in which his own soul is devoted to God, and the people to whom he ministers have imbibed his spirit.
O that it may be known and felt amongst us ; and that we may increasingly reap this fruit of our intercourse with each other !]
Improvement —
1. Let us be thankful to God, who has heard and answered our supplications —
[That you have remembered your minister, we have no doubt: and " God is witness" that he has not been unmind- ful of you ; and now our heavenly Benefactor has graciously renewed to us our opportunities of uniting together in our wonted exercises of prayer and praise. Let us then be thank-
b This is strongly marked in his appeal to theGalatians,Gal. iii. 2,5.