The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 222

wo owe so much to human spirits, and yet owe nothing to him wbr, is "the Father of the spirits of 11!1 flesh "-in whom is all moral exce ilence, and whose benevolence is equal to hie holiness? Do we behold his handywork in the vuulted heavens and tho verdap.t ear~h; ~nd shall we not ~ecognize hi~ migh:y working in the spiritual realm, and admire hie grace and love m all that 1e pure m human character true in human speech, and beautiful in human life? If it is the Spirit of God that :, renew 3 the face of thii earth," that t~r.ns the winter into sp~ng, calling fo~h life and beauty, fragrance and song, where eterihty and death have reigned; surely 1t 1s not enthusiasm to attribute to "the Spirit of lifo" the transformation of the human soul, the enkind- ling of the spiritual vitality and energy, that mark the new creation! The Spirit of life does not act independently of means. The human soul is affected by power, In accordance with its own laws. In order to live unto God, a soul must have some knowledae of God and of God's purposes, must be awakened to a sense of sin and need, m;st understand and accept the gospel of Divine grace, must receive in faith the promises of pardon, of help, of guidance, of salvation. Now, the Holy Spirit of God acts in connection with these means; for he is the Spirit of truth, as well as of power. He takes of the things of Christ, and reveals them unto us. This is why we are especially encouraged to seek the influences of the Holy Spirit when we are usin~ the means which Divine wisdom has appointed for the conversion of sinners. The Spirit works with the Word, brings the gospel home with power to the heart of the hearer, at once gives energy to the truth itself and to the appeal of the heavenly message, and enlightenment and quickening grace to the nature of the bearer. The Word, alone, is lifeless; the soul, alone, is dead; but the Spirit imparts efficacy to the Word, and, so, vitality to the soul. Thus God accompanies the Word "with the demonstration of the Spirit and with power." There is a shaking among the dry bones; the Spirit is breathed into them, and they live, they stand upon their feet, an exceeding great army. What encouragement this doctrine should give to all who are labouring for the salvation of souls I They may be very ignorant and very weak, for they are but human. But the work is to be effected, not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. We do but comply with the directions of him who alike reveals the truth and imparts the Spirit. Yes, we may be assured that he will honour his own agency, that he will not forsake his own servants, that he will prosper his own work, and so glorify his own Name, and hasten his own kingdom. III. IT 18 THE OFFICE OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE, NOT ONLY TO AWAKE~, BUT TO SUSTAIN LIFE. Life is not a thing which is perfected at once. The blossom of the spring is fair and fragrant; yet months must pass, and all seasonable influences must liave play, before the luscious fruit shall be found, where the bloom of promise cheered the eye and roused the hope. 'l'he child, in his helplessness and speechlessness, must be nurtured and taught through long years before the infantile nature shall develop into that of the philosopher or the statesman. Life is a thing of progress, a thing of growth; has its own divinely appointed order and processes and laws. So is it with the spiritual life. It is no dishonour to the Divine Spirit that the work of renewal is not e.n instantaneous and perfect work, leaving nothing further to be done. The new birth is, as a birth, complete; but it is only the commencement of a new life. To be "born again" is to begin to live anew, with higher principles and purer motive:i and nobler aims. Here, upon earth, the path of the Christian is one of progress ; he is. introduced to the right way in order that he may follow it-that he may make progress therein, yenr by year, and day by day. It is not the will, the plan, of ~od that there should be either pause or (far less) retrogression. Two things are needful-first, growth, always; and secondly, revival, sometimes. It were to be wished ~hc.t young Christians were more conscious of the requirement of growth in the Divine life. To be brought into a right relation with God is the first step in the spiritu::i.J. life; but it remains to learn God's truth, to do God's will, to serve Christ's people, and to promote Christ's co.use." It will take the whole of life to fulfil the "high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Charncter and usefulness,-these, to use ordiul\l'y languuge, nre the groat ends of life. 'l'hey who fail here fail altogether. Coming to religious 11ervices, rending the Dible, prnyer, fellowship,-these are means to an end; and th:\t end is that men may be more like Christ. Aspiro to this; be not sntisfied unless you are making progress in this dirootion; let th11 fruit. be seen, ,vhich is the effect. and th11  THE EPISTLE OF PAtJL 'rO TH:g ROMANS. ton. vru. 1--89.