The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 81

Tht>re Clught to be no Bild hiRtus between our declarations and our aplrltual conduct. We must not only be finger-posts, but guides-" lest, having preached to othera, we oUJ'Belves become 011Stawa.ys." • The lore of Obrist and hia apostles twelve He taught, but first he followed it himself." If we are the channels of good to our fellows, it behoves us to olear away all that might impede the ft.owing, and defile the purity of the stream of truth from God, 2. Neces- sarily promotes their own improvement. Earnest sincore teaching not only demands selr-culture and progress, but is oertain to result therein. All Christian service is aelf-rewarding. • Thou she.J.t be served thyself, by every senae Of service which thou renderest." Teaching clarifies our own views, enforces truth upon our own souls. Many a teacher has enjoyed prayer and realized the sweetness and significance of the Scriptures most -when preparing the lesson for bis scholars. The Divine plan for oblivion of our own sorrows is to become saviours to the helpless, physicians to the sick. The outrush of Christian benevolence protect.s against the in.flow of corroding cares or pleasures.-S. R. A. Vers. 28, 29.-Heartfdt riligion. Religion may be conceived of as external or internal. According to the former view, we regard the religious man as one who in the sight of others observes the ceremonies of religion, attends Divine service, and conforms to the outward ordinances of Scripture. According to the latter view, we think of the heart of the man as moved by inward impulses, affected by certain sentiments, form- ing religions resolves, and conscious of holy affections. L A GE?-"EB.A.L KIST.A.KE CORRECTED: THE PRONENESS 01!' MANKIND TO LAY THB STRESS OF B.ELIGIOS UPON OUTWARD OBSERVANCES. The Jew grounded his self- satisfaction upon his initiation into the covenant by circumcision ; upon his religious dress, 'With its phylacteries and fringes; upon his prayers, fasting, and tithes. The heathen religion consisted mainly in superstitious ceremonies. sacri6ces, and incantations. And the people's query to John the Baptist, "What shall we do 1" like the jailor's request of Paul, " Wba.t must I d,o to be sa.ved?" shows this natural tendency, which begets in our day nominal Christianity; that contents itself with baptism and the Lord's Supper, reading the Bible, and subscribing to societies. Their religion ends there-mere formalism. Its causes may be found in the following circumstances. L v.r e are tlilder the governance of the senses. We like, and need to a certain extent, the visible signs and seals of religion, and thus run the risk of exaltin11: unduly their importance. Resting in the embodiment, we neglect the spiritual significance. 2. It Ba'l"es the tronble of investigating our spiritual condition. Definite rules please us, by relegating to codes or authorities the difficulty and weariness of understanding prin- ciples, and deciding as to times and degrees and dispositions of religious service. 3. The rites may be performed 'Without necessarily renouncing pleasurable vices. There is a ROrt of compromise effected. such and such duties condoning such other laxities. Even asceticism ;s easier than rigorous inward control and mortification. To depreciate internal religion is e,ridently wrong: (1) From the whole tenor of Scripture in many places. Even the Law of Moses affirmed the necessity of loving God with all the heart and BOul The prophets constantly denounced sacrifices which represented no moral feeling, no inward confession of sin or respect to the glory of God. (2) The intent of religio111 observances is as means to an end, and to stop at the means is to frustrate the aim of ceremonies, which are designed to purify our conceptions of righteousness, to strengthen our aspirations aft.er the noble and the good, and to leaven the whole life with godlineas. !L A WBOliO CONCLUBIOli OBVIATED: TlIAT EXTERNAL OBBEBVANOEB MAY J!l!I DIS• RF,<,ARDD>. It is ma11's habit, as Butler has remarked, when two thiuge are compared, tu fancy that the one adjudged less preferable may be whoHr, negleci.ed. "These ought ye to have done, and not to have left the other undone.' The practice of roligion dema.1:.1ds some outward rites. 1. ExpresMion iH helpful to our thoughts. Singing I.Der~ thankful1:.1eA; written vows stamp themselveB on the memory. And the ou. u. 1-29.] THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 75