The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 119

strength in war, the self-confident man of bis strength of character. Such boastin" ia ·vsin. Man's estimate of hie own powers may seem absnrd to other bein"B · in the presonco of the Eternal and Almighty it is profane. Well dir\ the prophet'°speak the familiar words of warning, "Let not the strong man glory in bis strength." There is one respect, however, in which man may be strong. Weak in body in the presence of natural laws, weak in mind before the difficulties of life, man may nevertheless be •• strong in faith." Here no limits can be set; it ie faith that "Laughs at impOBBibilities, And cries, 'It sh.e.11 be done I' " I. STRONG FAITH IS r,EQUIRED BY THE EXIGENCIES OF HUllill NATURE A:!fl> B1J1U.N oraoUMSTAN0ES. The apostles drew their examples of virtue, of practical religion., from the history of the fathers of their nation; the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews recounts the triumphs of faith as apparent in the life of their illustrioll.S prer genitore; and St. Paul in this passage, with a view to encourage his readers to the exercise of a living and mighty faith, quotes the example of Abraham, whom he terms "the father of us all." Certainly, there seemed, to human judgment, little likelihood of the fulfilment of Jehovah's promise to the patriarch that the land of Canaan should be the possession of his seed. There was an antecedent improbability, so far as man's foresight could penetrate. And there were special difficulties in the family circum- stances of Abraham, which seemed insuperable. Yet, St. Paul reminds hi.i readers. Abraham "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." There is very much in our character and in our life which can only be successfully dealt with by the exercise of strong faith. Our sins, our sorrows, our privations, our ignorance and uncertainty with regard to the future, all call for faith. Intellectual doubts stand in the way of some men's progress and welfare; temptations to worldliness and selfishness are formidable obstacles in the way of others. All have occasion to complain that the light of nature, of reason., is scme- times dim. All are tempted sometimes to discouragement and to despondency. When our hearts are weak and our knowledge is limited, and all our resources fail wi, as must often happen in our human existence, where shall we look? Experience is a, fault, reason hesitates, man's help is vain. What we need at such times is "strong faith." - JI. STRONG FAITH IS JUSTIFIED BY TBE .6.TrJUBUTES AND THE PB0M1SES OP GoD. Reflection and reason may tee.eh us something of the Supreme; but the clearest light is shed upon his character and purposes by revelation; and it is in Christ Jesus that he has made himself most fully known to us ; for "he that hath seen the Son bath seen the Father." If we have the assurance that God is wise and all-powerful, much of our doubt and difficulty will disappear, for we shall enjoy the conviction that our lot is not ordered by chance or fate, but by an overruling Providence. If we are encoura,,,aed upon satiefaotory authority to believe that God is good and merciful, faithful and com- passionate, such belief will relieve us from many apprehensions aroused by a feeling of our own innumerable errors and follies. Buch a revelation has been vouchsafed to us. It should ever be borne in mind that the value of faith depends upon the object of faith. Placed upon feeble and fallible men, faith may often fail us; bnt settled :i.nd fixed upon infinite wisdom, righteousness, and love, it can sustain, direct, and cheer us throughout life's pilgrimage. To Abraham certain direct and personal promises were given by God; and Abraham's faith is reoorded by the apostle in the statement that he was "fully persuaded that what he had promised be was able to perform." The promises given to mankind through Jesus Christ are no less explicit, and are far more interesting, precious, and far-reaching. We may have, and justly, a very moderate measiire of foith in assurances given to us by our fellow-men, a wry qualified confi- dence in themselves. But this ought not to be the case when the eternal and faithful God and his gracious promises are in question. Upon him and his words we may "build an absolute trust." "Believe in God," says Christ; "believe ruso in me.• III. 8'1'1\0NG FAITH IS BBOOMPENBED IN THE EXPBRJ.J:NOJII OF Gon's Pl!:OPLB. It WU ao in the oaee of Abrnlmm, who beoawe the father of many nations, whose postority Inherited the land of Onnnau, and to whom hla personru faith was "imputoo. for rlgbteouaneea," It h11s evnr been so with Christians who have walked, not by sight-, JM)K.6.119, l  11½ THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [oH, 1v, 1-25.