pass11ge last olted. " The things of which apology o.e seems t.o be implied in ver. J9 ye are now ashamed,'' in var. 21, are " the (according to the meaning of the verse thnt works of clo.rknees" of Eph. v. 11; and in hu been preforred) for speaking of oar both pl11cos they are declared to have no becoming BUIIIJU to righteousness. For we fruit. Bin is a barren tree, and only ends do belong to Gcd B8 hie 3oii>..o, a.nd to in denth. Of. wh11t was ea.id above with Christ, having been "bought with' a. price,. respect to fls -r~11 a.110µ!1111 and fls a.-y1arrµo11 (cf. I Cor. vii 23); and St. Panl at the in ver. 19. It is true, however, that tho beginning of his Epistles often calls himself expression in the next chapter, 1<11fJ1'orf,opfiu111 Boiil\os Xp11T'Toii (cf. also Luke J:vii.10). Ilat -rrj 81111,hq,(ch. vii. 5), in opposition to 1<11p,ro- it does not follow that our service should rf,opfiuo,µ.•11 -rrj e.,;, in some degree weakens be the service of slaves ; it may be e. free, the force of the above argument. We willing, enthusiastic obedience notwith- observe, lo.etly, on ver. 23, that to the" wages" standing; we obey, not because we a.re of sin (o,i,d,11111, used usually t.o denote e. under bondage to obey, but becall88 love soldier's pay) is opposed "free gift" (x&p,u• inspires us (cf. Gal iv. 6, etc., "Because µ.11); for sin earns death a.a its due reward; ye are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son but eternal life is not earned by us, but into your hearts, crying, Abbe.; Father. granted us by the grace of God. As to the Wherefore thou art DO longer a eenan1, phrase, Bov>..o,8/v,,-u ,,.,, e.c;;, in ver. 22, it but a son"). can be used without the need of any such
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-11.-The meaning of (Jhrist's 'l'esurredion. The prominent position occupied by the resurrection of our Lord in the apostolic wri~as and preaching need occasion no surprise ; an event in itself so wonderful, and in its consequences so momentous, could not but be constantly in the minds and upon the lips of those to whom it was the supreme revelation of God. It may be well to gather up in a. few sentences the import and significance of this central fact of Christianity. J. .As A FA.OT, THE BESORBECTION OF ClmIST RAS A GENERAL ..U.--0 WO&LD-WIDB INTEREST. The historian of humanity, the philosopher reflecting upon the most impol'tant factors in huma.n life, is constrained to acknowledge the central and universal interest of our Lord's rising from the dead. 1. It was a fulfilment of predictions, and a realization of hopes sometimes dim and sometimes bright. 2. It starting-point of the Christian religion. The existence of the Church of Christ is the = Jnly to be explained by remembering how firmly the first promulgators of the new faith held the belief that their Lord had risen from the dead. 3. It was, in the view of the Christian community, the pledge of the general resurrection of &11 men to another life; it gave definiteness and power to the belief in persoMI immortality. !I. .As A DOCTRINE, THE RESUIUIEOTION 011' CHRIST HAS A SPECIAL CimlsTI.L.'I' INTEREST. 1. It is the chief external evidence of the Messiahship and Divinity of Jesus of Nazareth. It WIIS in fulfilment of his own e::i:press declarations that, aft-er enduring a death of violence, he rose victorious from the gro.ve. His resurrection is in hnrmony with his claim to a nature and character altogether unique. 2. !t is the seal of the efficacy of his mediatorial sufferings. However the humiliation and sacrifice of the Redeemer were related to the forgiveness and justification of men, it is certain that Christ's rising from the dead was the completio.n of his redemptive undel'taking on man's behalf. JU. As A POWER, TBE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST HAS A PEBSONAL AND SPIRITUAL INTEREST. This is the aspect of this great fact which is insisted upon mosi strenuously in this passage, and its praoticl\l import.a.nee to every individual Christian is manifest. The true believer in Christ shares in his Lord's resurrection. 1. Our sins were crucified in Christ's death upon tho oross, and in his resurrection we were delivered from their power. 2. Our past sinful life became dead to us as Christ died; and our newness of life began in his rising from the tomb. We have the sign of this, the apostle teaches us, in baptism, with its teaching regarding renewal and consecration. 3. By our faith in the rt•surrection of our Saviour, we are raised above trial, doubt, tempt.'1.tion, darknoss, and fear. '!'he cross tells us tlmt it mo.y consist with the wisdom aud the goodnoss of God tho.t for a season we should endure trouble, disappoiutruent, and lltleming faibre. But tho empty tolllb as~ures us that for e,;exy good w:1u aud fo, 164- THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [err. vt.1-28.