hie Llhorntor and Lord. Though the apostlce put forward their Rpecial claim to b,i Ohrlst's bond-servants, this is a relation which every Christian claims, to hold toward Obrist, a designation which every Christian delights to appropriate. III. TnE APOSTLE OLAIMS Jl'OB BIB :MINISTRY A DIVINE AUTHORITY. Whatever men thought then, and whatever they think now, about the validity c,f the apostles' claim, it ie not to be denied that they advanced it, and it cannot reasonably be questioned that thoy were sincere in their professions when they asserted themselves to be commissioned by Divine authority and qualified by Divine inspiration for a Special service on behalf of mankind, Paul declared himself to be a "called apostle," i.e. called by the Lord Jesus himself, none the Iese really than were those who were BUmmoned and commissioned during the Lord's ministry upon earth. As an apostle, Paul waa "'sent," i.e. selected, authorized, and made an ambassador, by the King himself. There is here a singular and instructive combination. Very lowly, very far from self-assertion, is Paul's designation of himself as II servant of Christ; " at the same time, very bold, confident, and unhesitating is his demand (for such it is) to be received as the minister, the herald, the ambassador, of the Lord. Doubtless, by using such language at the outset of this treatise, Paul required his readers to bea.r in mind what manner of document they were about to peruse; the form of it, indeed, given by the intellect, the heart, of a man, yet the substance of it proceeding from the mind of God himself. IV. TnE APOSTLE INCLUDES AMONG BIB OBEDENTIALS THE GLOBIOuB .L.'fl> BENE- VOLENT ocouPA.TION OF BIB LIFE, 11 Sepa.rated," marked off from other men. and even from his former self, St, Paul is conscious that he is entrusted' with a congenial work: of evangelization. In a sense, he has been II separated" from his very birth ; but this consecration, itself a Divine purpose, has been now actually effected. When Saul was arrested on his way to Damascus, he was not only enlightened from above, and so brought to see in the Jesus whom he had persecuted a Saviour and a Lord, but he was assured of his own selection by Obrist as an ambassador to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, That was the first step ; the second followed after an interval of years. When Saul and Barnabas, in connection with the Church at Antioch, were designated for an evangelistic mission, this was at the express instance of the Holy Spirit, who directed the prophets and teachers to separate these two for the work whereunto he had called them. By "separation unto the gospel of God " must be understood complete and lifelong devotion to the work of proclaiming the good news which was from God, and which regarded God. Now, this devotion to the publication of tha.~ gospel which-in its doctrines and in its bearings upon practical and social life-was the theme of this Epistle, was more than an introduction to the Roman Christians; it was a commendation to their confidence, and a demand upon their faith and obedience. Coming from such a man, so specially and supernaturally qualified, this Epistle claims the attention, not of the Romans only, but of the world.
Ver. 2.-A promised gospel. It sometimes happens that a blewng long promised, loudly heralded, and warmly ex.tolled, loses thereby something of its charm, and suffers in the warmness of its welcome when it appears. That must be a vast and pricel- boon which will bear to be promised and expected generation after generation. Expecta- tion is aroused, the flame of hope is fanned, desire stands on tip-toe and strains her eyes, And wh.au the gift comes, it must be of surpassing value, if no dLsappointment follow. The gospel of Jesus Christ was foretold for centuries. It had become" the desire of all nations." But when it came, it was more glorious and welcome than all hope, all imagination, could have dreamed. I. IT WAS TAUGHT DY CHRIST A~'D JIIB Al'OSTLES THAT THE GOSPEL WAS a. BLESSING PROMISED FB0]I[ ANCIENT TIME. Here are three direct proofs of this. 1. Our Lord, in his conversation with the disciples on the way to Emmaus, reproached them as " slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had spoken; " and, " beginning at Moses and all the.prophets, expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." 2. Upon the Day of Pentecost Pdler instanced the resurrection of Christ ae a fulfilment of Hebrew propheoy; David, being a prophet, and knuwing that Goel had sworn to raise up hie descendant to sit on his throno, "se~in~ this bd"c,ro, epa.lrn of the rosurrootion of Christ." 3. When beforo Agrippa t\ll,L 1''ei;tu:,, P,ml allinnod th11t, in his witnessiug, be !!IUd "none other things thll.ll thO&J which ti.t.i 18 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [on. 1. l-at,