The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 126

root-gmce out, of which his virtues sprang; it w&s the aecret sUBtainlng power whloh snppc,rtoo him under the trials of a pilgrim and BOjourner, The signlfioant atatement in Gt>nesis was fastened on by the apostle and triumphantly wielded &s a weapon to slay all Jewish prejudices against tbe gospel coctrine of juetifioation by faith. What rould be more convincing than to find the cardinal principle of Christianity ln a place where no euspicion could attach to it-in the very account of Divine honour conferred ,1n the great progenitor of the Hebrew nation? It was like finding in an old book an account of an experiment forestalling a modern discovery. I. THE SciuPruRES A BEOORD oF REVELATION. The distinction between the revela- tion and its history is important, many theories of inspiration failing to reoognb:e the human side visible in the record. The Bible contains the account of the way in which God has revealed and gradually achieved his great purpose of redemption, selecting the man, the family, the tribe, the nation, to be the channel of blessing to the world, till in the fulness of time there appeared the representative Man, Christ Jesus, consummating the revelation and its gracious effects. The Old Testament is not to be identified with Mosaism; it includes the Law, and more. The patriarchal dispensation and the prophetical teachings must be equally regarded. Nor was there any discrepancy between the grace of the patriarchal covenant and the rigour of the Law. The La.w was a stern process of education, necessary to the continuity of development, as the green fruit is acid prior to its maturity. And when the Jew contemned Christianity as a bastard growth, the apostle pointed to the prediction of the gospel clearly presented in God's dealings with Abraham,justifying Christianity as a legitimate scion of Judaism; the grandchild, as often happens, displaying features of likeneas to the grandparent not so marked in the intermediate generation. II. AD,A1''"TAGES OF A WRITTEN RECORD. .A particular instance here of the general stat.err.ent in eh. xv. that "these things were written aforetime for our learning." Writing is the natural complement of articulate utterance, the chief instrument of the progress of the race. It perpetuates the memory of noble thoughts and deede, enabling each generation to co=enoe where its predecessor left off. Printing is improved writing, facilitAting the multiplication of copies. The impression of a speech weakens and fades like the water-ripples caused by a etone, but the written page is powerful to the last, like the inhaling of the fragrance of a. rose. Latest readers may compare their ideas with the earliest receivers of a. revelation, and xnisundersta.ndinge are cor- rected. To peruse the story in Genesis is to note how the bud by its markings afforded promise of the full-grown flower. In the child were seen glimpses of the ma.nhood of religion., when there should be a system freed from burdensome ordina.nces, and adapted to every clime, race, and age. And since "no man liveth unto himself," the record of Abraham's faith stimulates the faith of every subsequent reader, The patriarchal hero has had posthumous glory from the narrative, beside the comfort of the assurance divinely communicated that his faith was reckoned for righteousness. The unity of 1he Divine character is att;ested by the same method of justification being adopted in the olden days. Cf. with the apostle's appreciation of a written record the puerile rem&rks of Peter Chryeologns, Archbishop of Ravenna: "Let the mind hold and the memory guard this decree of salvation., this symbol of life [the Creed], lest vile paper depreciate the gift of Divinity, lest black ink obscure the mystery of light." III. MEillS OF PEBSONALLY BENEFITING BY THE BEOOBD. Frequent perusal and the application by analogy of the principle implied in the history will show that the Chrutian., like Abraham, has demands made upon his faith by the wonders of the gOl!J)8l narrative, and by reliance. on God Cl\ll he likew~ re1:1a~ steadfast in obedient ri"hteousaess. We have a proilllSe to lean on as .Abraham had. We have the resur- r~ion of Christ to proclaim God's power and intent to save, his satisfaction with the work of Obrist and bi, aLility to give life from the dea.d to every sinful Aoul that trusts him. H=Lly yet thankfully and firmly clasp tliis <lcclaration to your breast.-S. H. A. Vere. 1-25.-A.braham jU6tiji,d by faith alone. We have just seen in Ja.et chapter the utility of Ju<!aisrn, the universal depravity of the race, the new channel for Divine rigLwJu.rne.;s wl,ic h Larl consequently to be found, aa<l the confirmation of law which is 1«:Cured by faith. The apoHtle in tbe present chapter Illustrates his o.rguruont fruru the hiistory of Ahrah~m. He was reckone<l hy the JewR ae "father of the faith• on, n,, 1-25.] TliE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 121