2. He has stirred up attention to the Jews —
3. He has excited an expectation of the Messiah, here and on the Continent —
4. He has given success already —
Some pious — and studious, preparing —
Success great, considering the efforts — Ergo, it is come.
Rom. xi. 25, misunderstood. See ver. 12.
But if it were not come, our duty is the same —
Rom. xi. 30, 31, proves us unjust stewards if we do not —
We call you then, not to be generous hut just — Pay your debts —
If we called on you for temporal relief only, we should say so — text — " Our duty is to minister to their relief" —
But we stand on higher ground than Paul —
Think what arrears are due —
Let not our importunity, like that of common creditors or claimants, offend —
Let all the means in our power be used —
Do all with holy zeal — " It pleased " twice —
But let us, in the first place, give up our ownselves to the Lord ; 2 Cor. viii. 5 —
Then may we hope for most success, when we can say, " Come, and I will go also ;" Zech. viii. 21.]
THE gospel a source of blessings.
Rom. xv. 29. / am sure, that, ivhen I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ.
OF all the Apostles, St. Paul was by far the most abundant in labours. In this chapter he mentions the almost incredible pains he had taken in preaching throughout all that extensive region, " from Jeru- salem round about unto Illyricum, the Gospel of Christ." He was now going to Jerusalem, to carry thither the alms he had collected for the relief of the poor saints in Judaea : but as soon as he should have accomplished that object, it was his intention to pro- ceed immediately for Spain, and to visit Rome in his way thither. Of this intention he apprises the Church at Rome. He tells them, in this epistle, that, though he had not been the means of planting a Church
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