The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 179

I. THE ALTERNATIVE. We yield to the motions either of" sin unto death" or of "obedience unto rigbteo~sness.': No middle .co.urse. is possi!1le. .Though the notorious transg_re~sor _may do a kmd action, and the distmgu1shed samt disappointingly err, yet the d1stmct1on is real. Characters o.re only of two sorts; they verge to good or evil. It is not for others, but ourselves, to estimate our position and tendency. Men are deluded by the imaginary difficulty of drawing a boundary-line because of the way in which apparently the good shades off into evil. In the one service or the other we are actually enlisted. II. THE FREEDOM oF 0HOIOE. There is the option of the two careers; we are not oompelled to either. Motives, longings, circumstances, do not amount to constraint. The apostle pictures men as voluntarily yielding themselves, presenting themselves to the chosen employer. This does not mean that men willingly elect sin as such. The moral bent, the image of God, is shown in their use of terms to hide the viciousness of actions; "a gay life" instead of debauchery; "embellishing a story" instead of a per- version of the truth. Milton describes sin as leaping from the bead of the arch-fiend. a form that struck the rebel host at first with horror, "but familiar grown she pleased.n That is the death of the soul when evil is deliberately selected: "Evil, be thou my good.'' And the freedom of choice does not imply the absence of obligations to serve God. To delay is to adhere to sin. III. THE SERVICE OF BIN A DISOBEDIENCE TO Goo. The statement of the alter- native, by its sharp antithesis of" sin" and "obedience,n indicates the essential nature of sin, Disobedience is the wanting our own way in opposition io some command of a rightful authority. God's government being moral, to elect a course of life which violates hie laws is to give one's self to the service of God's enemy. As compliance with some small order evinces the loyalty of the soldiers; so with us, like our firat paren.ts, it may be a so-called trifling matter which tests onr disposition. To sin is to disobey a physical, moral, or religious commandment, and this transgression is not merely an individual concern; it affects the Ruler of the universe. Treason is the worst crime against the state, and no man can be allowed to become a centre of infec- tion to the body politic. 'l'he disobedience may be in thought, affection, or will, apart from any outward act. Human laws can rarely take note of the inner man; but it ia the perfection of Divine laws to regard the heart of the agent. IV. THE HAPPY RESULT OF OBEDIENCE. Obedience to " the highest we know " is justified by its consequences, "righteousness" and " life." Men are often afraid lest, by keeping the commandments, they may be debarred. from gain and enjoyment; yet is it obedience which augments true power and satisfaction. The laws of God were framed and written upon the heart of man to secure his well-being; to break them i.'! to mar the working of the beautiful machine. If conscience warn you of danger, only folly will silence the monitory voice and darken the beacon-light. Note the work of Ohrist in removing hard thoughts of the Lawgiver, and exhibiting the beauty of a blamelessly obedient life, He manifested. the goal of obedience to be peace, joy, triumph. Our obedience is not the life of despotism, where to reason is illegal; nor of slavery, where is work without a recompense; nor of penance, where merit is sough& by righteous deeds as a title to heaven; but Christian obedience is rendered as the joyous intelligent outcome of se.lvation through Christ, bringing us righteousness and life. Persevering obedience begets a habit of virtue, and surrounds us with a holy environ- ment, wherein it is easier to do right than wrong. Conscience as the approYing faculty ministers constant delight. This, at least, is the ideal, to which we may increasingly conform. Compare the lines, spoken by Adam to Michael, in the • Paradise Lo.st ' - " Henoeforth I learn that to obey is best, And love, wiUi fear, the only God," eto.; and the Ggel'a reply- " This havillg learnt, thou bast attained the sum Of wisdom: hope no higher," eta. s. R. A. Ver. 17.-Tha go,ptl a mould qf obedience. Some memories are beat forgotten, like a horrid dream. Not ~o the Christian's reoolll10tion of his conversion. As the Cori.u-  THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [on:. vt, 1-28,