The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 108

way. They are not adjudged criminnl merely on the ground of A<lnm's fall, but they them~el,es cross the line which separates obedience from disobedience. Scripture, histor.y, and conscienoe testify to this fact. 2. By defect. They" fall short of the glory of God." Their past beh&,four hM been blameworthy, and their preBent condition is far below what was intended when man wns formed in God's imago, to attain t-0 his likenEll!II. C..,mp11re the best of men ,v1th the example set by the Saviour or lo,e t-0 God and man, and of conformity to the highest standard discernible. Now, unless perfect, man cannot claim acquittal at the bar of jud~ment. Perfection is ma!"™ if one feature be distor~ or one limb be missing or weu. 'l'his is not to be takm to Bigflify that a/.l 71Un are eqwlly siriftd, that there Rre no degrees of enormity, i<nd that all are equidistant from the kingdom of God. But it means that, .without exception, all fail in the examination which Divine righteousness institutes, tpough some have more marks than others. Left to themselves, all men would drown in the t1eR of their iniquity, though some are nearer the surface than their fellows. The misunderstanding of this truth has done grievous harm to tender minds, fretting l>ecause they had not the same sense of awful misdoing that has been felt by notorious malefactors. We need not gauge the amount of contrition requisite; it suffices if the be.art turn humbly to God for forgiveness. Thus the gospel does not jf,attBT men. Soothing messages may comfort for a while till the awakening comes. Then we realize that it is of no use to be in a richly decorated cabin if the ship ie sinking, To reveal the true st,ate is the necessary preliminary to reformation. There is a down- rightness about the gospel assertions which, like .the deep probing of the surgeon's lance, wounds in order to thorough healing. Alas I tha,t the disease of sin should so frequently produce lethargy in the sick! they feel no need of e.. physician, I Lao, Mtwns of sin lessen O'll,T sen,se of the 'MCl!SSU!J of an atonement. We fail to discern e.. rebellion against the governmeut of God, and an offence against. the moral universe. We treat it as if it only concerned ourselves and our neighbours. No sprinkling of rose-water can purge away the evil; it can be cleansed only py the blood of the Lamb. . . . ' II, TJlnE 16 NO DISTINCTION IN RESPECT OF THE MEANS OF SALVATION, 1, Justi- ficatiun ooma in evt:ry case as a gift, not as a prize discovered or earned. "Being justified freely." Part of the beneficial influence of the gospel is the blow it administers to human notions of desert, and pride is a chief obstacla to enrichment by this gift of God. 2. To all men the kindness of God. is the source of their salvation. God :first loved and sought the sinner, not contrariwise. His "grace" is the fountain of redemption. 3. The same Difline method of deliverance is employed/or all, "Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." There is but one way to the Father, whether men walk thereon consciously or unconsciously, in heathen twilight or gospel noon- tide, in Jewish anticipation or Christian realization. 'l'he one atonement can cover all transgression. 4. T'ne aame human m,ode of entra'll,C6 into the kingdom ia open to all, viz. by faith. W ealmess, ignorance, degradation, cannot be pleaded ae Qbiitacles to salvation. The study of the philosopher is no nearer heaven than the co~to.ge of the artisan. The capacity of trusting is possessed by every man; the remedy is not remote, therefore, from the reach of any of the sin-sick race.-S. R. A, • Vers. 1-8.-Jewiah privileges and Divine jtdg=t. From n consideration ot the attitude of the Jewish world to God, the apostle proceeds in this section to state the privileges enjoyed by ,Tews, and to• point out the corresponding danger of com- mensurate condemnation in case the privileges were neglected Of abused. 'l'he Jew might be inclined to say, "If circumcision be not a seal of special privilege, if I am not to be accepted because of my circumcision and descent: what possible advantage Is there in being a Jew?" Now, to this Paul answers that the Jew has many advantages, but in the mean time he will only emphasize one-he is the custodia~ of the Divine revelation. It is round this fact that the thought of the present BeQtion 4lrcule.tes. Let us try to grasp the truths as the apo!!tle suggests them. I. THE llEVELATlOll' CONFIDED TO TUE CARE OF THE JEWS. (Ver, 2.) Into the mrge 1ubject of the Old Testament revelation we cannot, of course, enter. But it rnay be noted that the rnvel~tion is in foundation h!storiCfl.l; it givos the history of • peculiar people; it brings put the ~caning of theif l,iistory-how they had been , ~· 111. 1~31.J THE EPIH'l'LE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 103