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impressed the greatest minds and has earned for it the title of the “ Epistle of the Ascension”. It tarries largely among “ the heaven- lies,” and lifts us into the eternities a parte ante and a parte post. It is characterised by a dignity and a serenity which are entirely in harmony with the elevation of its thoughts. It takes little to do either with the questions of ceremonialism or with the personal vin- dications which fill so large a space in others of the greater Epistles of St. Paul. The polemical element is conspicuous by its absence. There is scarcely even an echo of the great controversies which ring so loudly in the Epistles to the Romans and the Galatians. If they were still active in any measure or at all in the writer’s view when he addressed himself to these Asiatic Churches, they are not on the surface at least of this majestic Epistle. The nearest approach to any explicit allusion to such things is in what is said in a single verse (chap. ii. 11) regarding the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision. There is a remarkable cohesion, too, in the composition, part fitting in with part naturally and without effort. In its structure the Epistle is an unmistakable unity. The whole argument moves round a few great ideas. The plan is simple. The Epistle opens and closes in the usual Pauline way, and it divides naturally into two great sections, one doctrinal and the other practical or hortatory. There is first the usual inscription or greeting (i. 1, 2), followed by ‘a thanksgiving which takes the form of a solemn ascription of praise to God for the spiritual blessings enjoyed by the writer and his readers. The mention of these blessings develops into a doctrinal statement which deals with the lofty themes of election, predestina- tion, redemption and the forgiveness of sins; the mystery of the Divine will; the grace of the Holy Spirit as seal and earnest ; the power of God in the resurrection and exaltation of Christ ; the sovereignty of Christ over the world and His Headship over the Church ; the Divine quickening of the spiritually dead; the abrogation of the Law that formed the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile ; the love of Christ and His indwelling in the believer. Each of these great themes leads easily to the next. In the course of their exposition the Apostle enlarges especially on the ultimate purpose of God to sum up all things in Christ (i. 9-11); the relation in which Christ stands to the universe and to the Church (i. 20-23); the absolutely gracious character of the salvation, the new life, and the gifts bestowed upon believers by God (ii. 1-10) ; the revelation and fulfilment of the purpose of God, hidden for ages, to make the Gentile partaker with the Jew (ii. 11-22) ; and the marvel of the grace that has established equality and unity where once there were pri ilege and separation VOL, III. 14