The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 189

being the thought of l11w subjecting to 111n between the et.ate described and th~ thnt introduces the whole pnssage, and runs Imagined previ0118 one before law ha,} through it-the 'Y~P which connects ver. 14 began t.o operate. with what precedes denoting a continuance The view which wethns confirlcntly a,:lvr,. throughout of the ume line of thought-and cate is that or the Greek Fathers generally, also from the marked change of tone in eh. the application of the pasea<>e to the re<>-ene- viii., where the state of the regenerate ii rate Chrillti.an being appar~tly dne t; An• undoubtedly described. gnetine in his opposition to Pelagianism ; i.e. Further, we find, in vers. 5 and 6 of eh. vii., a.ccording t.o his 1.aur view; for in his earlier the obvious theses of the two sections that days (Prop, 45 in • Ep. ad Bom.; • • Ad Sim- follow, in the remainder of eh. vii. and in eh. plic.,' i. 91 ; 'Con!.,' vii. 21) he had held with viii respectively. Their wording exactly theGreek Fathel'B. Jerome also seems to have corresponds to the subject-matter of these similarly changed his mind a.bont it; and sections; and ver. 5 distinctly expresses the the Iat.er view of both these Fathers has been sta.te of being under law, ver. 6 the state of adopt.ed by Anselm, Thoma.a Aquinas, Com. deliverance from it. Further, particular a Lapide, and by Luther, llelancthon, expressions in the two sections seem to be Calvin, Beza, and others among the Pro- in intended contrast with each other, so as testants. What weighed with Augustine to denote contrasted states. In eh. vii. 9, wu that in vel'B. 17, 20, 22, more propen~ion 11, 13, sin, through the Law, kills; in eh. t.o good is implied than his doctrinal theory viii. 2 we have "the law of the Spirit of allowed to the natural man. Under a life." In eh. vii. 23 the man is brought into similar impression, Calvin say;i, commenting captivity; in eh. viii. 2 he is made free. on ver. 17, "Porro hie locus pa.lam evincit In eh. vii. 14, 18 there is invincible strife non nisi de piis qni jam regeniti aunt between the holy Law and the carnal mind; Paulum disputare, Qna.mdiu euim manet in eh. viii. 4 the righteousness of the Law is homo sni similis, quantus quantus es'".., merito fulfilled. In eh. vii. 5 we were in the flesh; censetur vitiosus." If, however, St. Paul's in eh. viii. 9 not in the flesh, but in the intention, obvious from his own writing, Spirit. Aud, further, could St. Paul pos- does not fit in with Augustinian or Cah-in- sibly have spoken of the regenerate Christian istio theology, so much the worse for the as" sold under sin" (ver. 14)? His state latter. The verses in question do not, in is one of redemption from it. We do not faot, express more than the apostle else- mean that the sta.te which begins to be where allows man to be capable of, and what described at var. 14 is one devoid of grace. observation of fact shows him to be capable A condition of progress towards regenera- of, though not having yet attained to Chris- tion is described; and the fino.I utter dis- tian faith; viz. approvul of, longing for, and mtisfaction with self, and the keen yearning even striving for, who.t is good. It is not after good, imply a roused and enlightened more than the sincere and earnest, even in oonscienoe: it is the state of one who is the Gentile world, have been nlreo.ciy cre- being prepBred for deliverance, nnd is not dited with in oh. ii. of this Epistl~ (.-ers. 7, for from the kingdom of God, All, in fact, 10, 14, 15, 26, 29). It does not follow that we any is tllat it is uot till oh. viii. that the such moral earnestness is independent of picture of a soul emanoipo.ted by o. living Divine graoe; but there is II true nnd etl'eo- faith in Christ begins. We mny observe, tive operation of Divine grace, suitable to furtller, thnt the mere use of the present men's needs o.nd oapaoities, before the fnl- tense in ver. 14 o.ud nfterwards by no menus ncss of Penteoostnl graco. neoessito.tes our supposing the o.postle to be Aud further, howo,er " for gone from spel\king of his owu stnte nt the time of original righteousness" mnn in his natural writing, nnd therefore of the stnte of II re- stato may be, still th,\t utter dcpnwity at- genemte Ohrislio.n, lie uses the present to tributed to him by somo theologi,\us is add vividness o.nd roo.lity to the picture ; he neither oonsonant with observed fact nor throws himself back into, nnd renlizes to declared in Holy Writ. The im:lgu of God himself nge.in, his own former feebleness; in whioh he woe made is repres,mtuJ. 1\8 do- and he thus also more oleo.rly distinguishes faoed, but not obliterated. Be ii ohdened, 186 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [OB. v11. l-D6.