HOMILIES BY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. Vera. 1-8.-Tlte dijfkulties of Dwim revelation, Jewish '1/A'/,belief, and Divine fastir,e, TLe apostle, in the twu preceding chapters, has now tihown that both Jews and Gentilot lltlwd er-' the &a.me platform 118 regards their need of a Saviour, Both are alike eiml.en en, w, 1-81,] THE EPISTLE 0'8' PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 89
in God'e eight. The Gentile, who hae not the Law, if he does by nature the things contained in the Law, will be justified before God. " Shall not his uncircumcisir,n be oounted for circumcision?" (eh. ii. 14, 26). The Jew's circumcision will profit him If it be e. religion that affects the heart aud the spirit (eh. ii. 29). St. Paul, s,, quick to see the bearings of every etatemcnt, noticee at once that a difficulty naturaliy ari.BP,e hero, and he is prompt to meet it. "What advantage, then, bath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?" I. Tmi: DIVINE REVELATION A GREAT PRIVILEGE. Notwithstanding all that had been said a.bout the sins and shortcomings of the Jews, the Jews were still a privileae<l people. Nothing could ever destroy the fa.et that th~y were the chosen people 0f G~, the people chosen to be the channel of God's revelation to the world by the patriarchs a.nd lawgivers and prophets, chosen also to be the channel through which the Divine Word become flesh and tabemacled among men-" of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came." The chief privilege which Paul mentiona here was that "unto them were committed the oracles of God" (ver. 2). It is an advantage to have a Divine revelation entrusted to us. The possession and knowledge of God's Word is a privilege not to be despised or lightly esw.med. There are degrees of nearness to the kingdom of God. While the gospel is" the power of God unto salvation t,o every one that believeth," while there are such events as sudden conversions, yet there are some who are in a more favourable condition for receiving the gospel than others. St. Paul, though he was suddenly converted, had a long and thorough training previously in the Word of God. The scribe who came to Christ, and whom the Saviour pronounced to be " not far from the kingdom of God," was one who had a thorough know- ledge of the Scriptures, and who had been living a life of obedience to the Law of God. Such men were certainly more likely to be influenced by the personal power of Christ than those who had no previous knowledge of Divine truth. God works by miracles; but his ordinary method is to work by means. In these days of sensational evangelism it is well that we should not undervalue the importance of a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. Paul wrote to Timothy, "From a child thou hast known the Holy Scri::,tures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." They who are well instructw. in the Holy Scriptures are, as a rule, more likely to become true and permanent Christians than those who, under the influence of sudden excitement or emotion, without any previous religious know- ledge, profess their readiness to follow the banner of Jesus. There are e:i::ceptions, but this would seem to be the rule. And those who ar" so highly privileged incur a serious and solemn responsibility. If unto us a.re committed the oracles of God, if we have the Bible in our he.ads and its truths treasured up in our minds, terrible indeed will be our guilt if we disobey its precepts, reject its invitations, and neglect its warn- ings. "To whom much is given, of them shall much be required." II. DIVINE FAITHFULNESS NOT AFFECTED BY HUllAN UNBELIEF. "For what if some did not believti? shaff their unbelief make the faith of God of none effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; e.s it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, u.nd mightest overcome when thou art judged" (vers. 3, 4). The promises of God will be fulfilled, even though there are some who do not believe on them. The Law of God will assert its claims, even though there are some who repudiate them. It will not save men from the punishment of their sin that they did not believe God's Word when it says, "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also ree.p." Gorl'sfaiehfulness is not affected by the u11'belief of his ow11 peopl"-- Some persons a.rgue against the Bible because of the unbelief of those who proi"e$S to regard it as their guide. They nrgue against Christianity because of the inconsistencies of its professors. The argument is false. Christianity is to be judged by its own teachings and spirit, and not by the imperfect way iu which even its profo:,sors have received nnd prnctisccl them. Christianity is the !if~ and teachiu~ of Jesus Christ, combined with tho influence of his doi\th upon tho cross. No incousistt>ucy of profess- ing followers can over me.r the beauty aud sinlessness of that perfrct Eirnmple. No unbelief can ever do away with the inhereut power that is in the cross of Jesus to l!lwa ■inners. The preaching of the cross is to them tba.t perish foolishness; but to thtilll that are saved it is the power of God and the wisdom of God. III. DIVINm J'DBTIOE 1B NOT AFFEOTED BY THE CONSEQ'DENC&S OF H'DlUN illN. "Bu& 90 THE EPISTLE OF PAut TO THE ROMANS. [ort, rn. 1-81 '