God for H? Yee; for was he not spiritually identified with all who were identi fled with Ohrist his Lord? (1) Doubtless the fo.ith itself which was so eminent was the chief cause of graUtude. That there should be such a light Rhining in a dark place filled his. heart with joy. '!'hey were alive unto God I (2) That the faith of the gospel should have to.ken such hold on the world's central and imperial city was no lllllall caaB!l for joy. What visions of the future might not open up before his mind I (3) The wide proclama,- tion of their faith was gratifying, for if others were stimulated it would be for the further- ance of the gospel. 2. .A longing. "To see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift," etc. The grace of God that was in him was to be operative towards othera; he lived not unto himself. And was it not even so with them? A mutual duty, and a mutual blessing. (1) The interaction of their common faith: intensity by contact. (2) The special aspects of the common faith: "yours and mine;" "some spiritual gift." Thus their establishment. The fulfilment of what promised so well, and the supply of any lack. 8. .A request. "If by any means now at length,'' etc. ...ls Paul taught the Philippians afterwards (Phil. iv. 6), so he practised now. ...lnd doubtless, with all the wrestlings of that impetuous spirit, there was peace. For God's will was gO'll,vern,ant. "By any means." He learned in the issue (Acts x.xviii.) that his ways are not as our ways. But it would still be "prosperity" (see ver. 10), if it were God's doing; so eh. viii. 28. II. His PURPOSE, 1. The great constraint of the gospel,. "I am debtor." Nothing in the universe so free as the spirit of Christianity; nothing, on the other hand, which lays so commanding a grasp on love and life. A blessed yoke. (1) A.11 our possessions and powers are held in trust for the world; we all a.re "debtors," according to oar several capacities and circumstances. ~2) In an eminent degree are we stewards as being entrusted with the gospel of Gods grace. And the law-here, as in the former case-is, that being unused it ceases to be possessed. 2. The personal aim. "That I might have some fruit." Were the words of our Lord in mind, John xv. 8? Or was he rather regarding the world as a great field, and himself as a sower? (see John iv. 35-38; 1 Cor. iii 7-9). (1) The commission was to the Gentile world (..:\..cts ix. 15; xxii 21; so vers. 13, 14). (2) Must not the central purpose, then, be the evangeliza- tion of the great metropolis of the Gentile world? Doubtless this filled his mind, and hence his intense interest in these Roman Christians. What visions! Realized in history. How? and how may it yet be? Let us realize our stewardship (1 Pet. iv. 10); and that the fulfilment of our stewardship may become a freedom and gladness, let 118 realize our oneness with Christ, and with Christ's people.-'!'. F. L. Vers.16, 17.-Not ashamed I Why should he be ashamed? The great metropolis of a world-empire, with Its wide-reaching power and permeating law; and he and his gospel I What a contrast it might seem I and how the supercilious Romans might overwhelm him with contempt I For they were not, as the Athenians, ever desirous to hear some new thing. And his gospel? it would be their laughing-stock. Nay, he shell not be ashamed. He will take his stand in the very centre of Rome's power, and at her fountain-bead of righteousness, and there present his gospel. For it power, ,ind in it was revealed a righteousness-the power of God, the righteousness af = a.
God. Let us regard these two aspects now. I. Gon's POWER. Man plumes himself with pride on the possession of might, but how impotent he is in the grasp of the great God I So, too, the "great powers" of the world's history: Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's vision (D,m. ii. 31--!6). And " the powers that be ore ordaiue,l of God." God's power is manifold. The govern- ance of nature, the control of the alfairs of men, the influence on the heart. And of thfa manifold power of God the gospel of Christ is a pre-eminent display. 1. Its aim. "Unto solvntion." No narrow restriction of this term; coexteusi,·o with tht110:is: the man, the life, tho world. Soo eh. viii. for this wide meanin~ of tht1 w0nl.. Man's very self: ignorant, onslavod, corrupt, and withal estranged fro~u GoJ, l\lld uuder con- demnntion. 'l'he ~ospel of Christ works light and liberty and \,we; it brings p..won and God. Mnu's lifo-history: tho gospel of tho resurreotiou. Man's world: the gvspel of tho new oreatiou. What splendid visions were those I and how, in comp,u-isou, the ■plendour of Romo's power paled I 2. Its conditicm. 'l'o him " thnt believeth." (1) A BOMANB, D 84 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [on. 1, 1-82.