Rom. xi. 20. Be not high-minded, but fear.
THE deep mysteries of our religion are calculated at once to encourage sinners, and to humble saints. The sovereignty of God is a great depth ; and it was awfully displayed in the rejection of the Jews, and the admission of the Gentiles into his Church. This is the subject of which the Apostle speaks in the whole context : and he makes use of it as the means of provoking to emulation the Jews themselves, and
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at the same time of guarding the believing Gentiles against self-preference and self-security.
In considering his exhortation, we shall,
I. Explain its import —
The former part of it contains a dissuasive from pride —
[The proper tendency of religion is to produce humility : but, through the corruption of our nature, pride will take occasion even from the grace of God itself, to rise in our hearts. What self-complacency will sometimes arise from a consciousness of our superior attainments in truth and holiness! What acrimonious severity towards those, who dishonour their profession ! And what contemptuous disregard of those who are yet immersed in ignorance and sin ! Together with this self-preference we are also too apt to indulge a secure and self- depending spirit, and to think " our mountain so strong, that we can never be moved3." But as the former disposition is most hateful to Godb, so the latter also is an object of his utter abhorrence0. In both these views therefore it becomes every believer to attend to the Apostle's advice, and, instead of en- tertaining too high an opinion of his own wisdom, strength, or goodness, to " think soberly d."]
In the latter part the Apostle recommends humility and watchfulness —
[By " fear," we are not to understand a slavish dread of God's wrath ; for that, so far from being opposite to pride, is in many cases the offspring of it. That which is here recom- mended is, a holy jealousy over ourselves, lest by any means we be tempted to walk unworthy of our high privileges, and thereby provoke God to deprive us of them. We are in the midst of an ensnaring world, beset with many and subtle adver- saries, and ready to be beguiled by a treacherous and deceitful heart. Hence, like St. Paul himself e, we are necessitated to use the utmost circumspection, diligence, and self-denial, lest, after all our exertions, our labour prove in vain.]
To shew the importance of this exhortation, we shall,
II. Point out the reasons of it —
Many reasons might be assigned : but we shall content ourselves with noticing three :
3 Ps. xxx. 7. b Isai. lxv. 5.
c Jer. xvii. 5. Prov. xxviii. 26. d Rom. xii. 3.
e 1 Cor. ix. 27.