The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 234

together for good to them that love God." Some might be disposed to doubt such a 11tatement with regard to the experience even of the Christian. Yet many others besides Paul have borne similar testimony. David said, " I have been young, and nnw t1m old ; yet never have I seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed be.,.!!incr 0 bread " (Pa. xxxvii. 26). .And again," Before I was afflicted I went astray; but no~ have I kept thy Word, . . . It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I mic,ht 0 learn thy etatutee" (Ps. cxix. 67, 71). I. THERE IS GOOD IN ALL THE PROVIDENOEB OF Gon. Many persons think there is good only in those things that give pleasure or delight to body or mind. Thev wiil admit that there is good in health and prosperity. But they :find it bard t.:> s,;,; what good there can be in sickness, in adversity, in poverty, or in sorrow. The apo9tle takes o. wider view of life's experiences. He holds that "al,l things wO'T'k together for good." He could appreciate the joys of life, but he felt that there was a wise purpose and blessing in life's sorrows and trials also. Our human nature is in itself unholy, alienated from God, easily absorbed by the influences of this present world, and easily led away by temptation and sin. What a proof of the ungodliness of man's nature is afforded by the fact that many are as little affected by the most certain and most important religious truths, which they profess to believe in, as if they did not believe them at all I There are no truths more universally admitted than the existence and moral ~overnment of God, the certainty of death and of a future state of rewards and punish- ments. Yet how many do we see around us whose character and conduct afford almost no evidence that they believe in these truths at all I How, then, are men to be roused from their indifference? How are they to be led to think seriously of their own souls and that eternity that awaits them? Some might be disposed to answer-By what we ordinarily call exhibitions of God's love and goodness. But we are having exhibitions of God's love and goodness supplied to us every day in onr daily food, in health and strength, and all the other blessings and comforts which we enjoy. Yet these, instead 9f making men think of eteraity, seem to make them think more of this present world. Go.d's goodness, instead of leading them to repentance, hardens their heart~. The discipline and awakening of suffering and trial are needed. These trials, breaking in i.1pon the routine of our daily business and enjoyments, help to withdraw our desires from the things of this perishing world, and to fix: them upon a more enduring sub- J!tance. They remind us that this is not our rest; that we are entirely dependent upon a power that is above us for all our happiness and comforts; and that there is indeed o. God that judgeth in the earth. '!'here is nothing more calculated to show a man his own weakness and his dependence upon a higher Power, and to lead him to reflect seriously upon his future prospects, than to find himself, in the midst of important and perhaps pressing duties, suddenly laid aside, stretched upon a bed of sickness, racked, it may be, with pain, and unable to do anything for himself. In such circum- stances we must feel that "it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." There are many Christians everywhere who, with feelings of deep humility and gratitude, are ready to acknowledge that they never had any serious thought of eternity, that they never knew the power of the love of Christ, and that they were never led to seek him as their Saviour, until the day of adversity made them consider; until they were stripped of their dearest possessions; until they were warned by the sudden death of some one who was dear to them ; or until they themselves were laid upon a bed of sickness, and brought nigh unto the gates of death. "Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with men, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with .the lig~t of the living" (Job x:xxiii. 29, 30). .And through all the Christian life, how mo.ny times we have to thank God for the discipline of trial I Our trials have ofien proved to be our greatest blessings (see also on eh. v. 3-6). II. Wao ARE THOSE THAT EXPERIEN0E THIS GOOD lN' ALL Gon's PROVlDl!:NCES? "All ·~hinge work_ toi;:ether for good to them that love God." It is no_t all ?1en, therefore, who are entitled to such a happy way of lookin" at the events of hfr. 'I here are many in whose case everything that God gives tho~ seems to be turned into evil. Not merely the trials which harden thoir hearts, but also his blessings which they abuse and nre ungrnteful for, and the life he gives them, which they misspend. The more they have prospered, the more theJ luwo forgotten God. 'l'hosu things that might be ~, blessing if rightly usod, become lhoir greatest curse. Love to God is the 2ualit!J 2!2 'l'HE EPISTtlll OF :PAtrL TO 'rHE ROMANS. tan. vtn.1-89.