The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 153

,ers. 1S, 19.-The two antithesea. Th<' equal solidarity with Christ as with Adam J'('sffirm<'d, from the implication of '\"ers. 12-14, in the strength of the arguments of '\"en.-. 15-17. Affirmed in two antith('scs, the one pointing in either OMO more to hist{lrical e'\"ents, the other to moral caus('s. 1. Tu RISTORIOAL ANTITHESIS. 1. One trespass unto condemnation-the con- demnation that ii! marked by death. 2. One act of righteousness (i.e. one decree of rightrousness) unt,o justification-the justification that brings life. IL THB MORAL .U.'TITHESIS. 1. One man's disobedience making the many sinners : it being imputed t,o them for sin. The sinfulness of perverted will also hound up in the same B&d heritage. 2. One Man's obedience-obedience" unto death" (Phil. ii. 8)- mak:ing the many righteous: it being imputed to them for righteousness. The power of a holy will also involrnd in the restored heritage. We see here the immense importance of moral acts; the immense influence also of monil factors. Never to be repeated on such a scale: but not on a lesser scale? "If one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it."-T. F. L. Ven.. 20, 21.-The ec01Wmy of law. A return to the mention of the Mosaic Law, and its part in the great economy of the world's history. Its immediate, remoter, and ultimate effects. L horEDu.TE EFFECT. 1. A side-economy : among one people, for disciplinary purposes. 2. "Tha.t the trespass might a.bound," i.e. that men might be compelled to the consciousness of tha.t which wrought in them unconsciously. Working thus two- foldly-ss revelation, and as repression. In the latter wa.y, obviously to the intensifying of the consciousness of sin, as when a. torrent is dammed. The former has a.n analogue in the growing knowledge of the Christian life, and the increased arduousness of Christian effort which is consequent upon it. So the moral la.w, the ceremonial, the prophets, and John Baptist. The climax of its effect towards sin in the crucifix.ion of Christ, in which man's wickedness, driven t,o desperation by the holy law of the life of Christ, 8howed its utmost evil Truly, "the La.w ea.me in, that the trespass might abound," II. RElwTEB EFFBCT. "Grace did a.bound more e:r:ceedingly." 1. The very economy of la.w was an economy of mercy, in all its parts: so the "This do, and live," which in some sense was verified even t,o their imperfect doings; a.nd eo the double signifu:a.nce of their sacrifices, revealing indeed their guilt, but prophetic of expiatiuu. 2. The clim.u of sin, wrought through the Law, wa.s a. climax of grace : the death of him who mW!t die to take a.way sin. " More exceedingly?" Ah, yes l III. ULTUU.TE EF'l"ECT. Extension of effects, to a.11 the world : and they? A contra.st once a.gain. 1. "Sin reigned in death "-the dread sign of its sovereignty. Seen everywhere-the dark sign-ma.nua.l stamped on all the world. 2. "That even IIO might grace reign." etc. (1) Grace. God's favour shown in spite of sin. (2) Thruugh righteuusnut. The favour being shown through Christ, and through the jUBtifi.cation which is by him. God's favour a.t once the originating ea.use, and the realized effect, of the "righteousneH." (3) Unto eternal life. The everlasting sign of the sovereignty of love, as contrasted with tba.t death which was the sign of the 110vereignty of sin. ThiB, then, the piean which shall reeonnd through all the e.ges-" Death is swallowed np in victory!" Shall we have pa.rt in that immortal song ?-T. F. L. Ver. 2.-A. stau of pri11ilege. It seems as if the apostle was delighted to turn from demODStrations of the credibility of the gospel pla.n to consider the happiness of those who bad embraced it and were realizing its privileges. His pen glows as he exhorts bimaelf and his rea.dere to taste the full comforts of the condition of reconciliation t.owarda God. When our right to the estate is challenged, we me.y spend time in examining the title-deeds and ver:z~F, our claims; but in general it is healthier and more BaW1factory to settle down y on the property and reap the benefit of its treasure&. Let m confidently ent.er the dwelling which Divine love hae aeourod us, and not alwaya ata.y jUBtifying the aeheme of its foundation and architeoture. L Tu PALAOB Ili'l'O WlllOB WJI ill: ADHl'l'TED. It la a ho'IUJe of j[farA, where the favour of God ia eDjoyed, md whiah la flll'Diahe4 from the 11t.ore1 of :Plvluo good11011, 011. v. l---'-21.] THE EPISTLE OF PAtJ'L TO TIIE ROMANS. 149