The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 254

glory, nod is "the present enjoyment of future good." Christian hope is not a mirage that mocks the heart, but is surely grounded on the work of Christ, who has revealed the character of God and his far-reaching purpose of love. Many e. man depending on high expectations hBB found them baseless; the legacy is absent, the coveted post is given to another. When the sceptic talks of a bird in the hand being preferable to two in the bush, we reply that by the very nature of the case Christian anticipation is precluded from being satisfied with the temporal. "We look for new heavens and a new earth." II. HOPE DRIVES OUT DESPAIR, THE FOE OF PATIENCE. Where despondency grows, there activity ceases. What means that sudden splash, that piercing cry, except that life has been quenched because the light of hope had vanished first? The gospel, by its promise of a free pardon for the penitent sinner, rolls away the burden from the be.ck, enables the criminal to take heart of grace, and to exchange the dungeon of dreary fate for the glad sunlight of a new lease of endeavour after righteou..oness. There is a danger of succumbing to the weariness of the long Christian journey, but hope grasps the future and draws us thereto. Hopeful, in the 'Pilgrim's Progress,' had much ado to keep his brother's head above the water; but he comforted him saying, "Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by to receive us." "Hope, like the glimmering taper's light, Adoms and cheel'B the way; And still, as darker grows the night, Emits a brighter ray." We are not as shipwrecked mariners, uncertain if any vessel shall pas3 near enough to succour us ; we know that, if we wait patiently, "he that cometh will come, and will not tarry." III. HOPE FITS THE SOUL FOB ITS FUTURE A.BENA OF GLORY. For every state certain qualifications are requisite, if we would play a proper part therein. Dr. Johnson would like due notice of Burke's visits, that he might prepare himself for the lofty conversation certain to ensue. The young lady prepares herself for the engagements of -society, and to acquit herself gracefully on her presentation at conrt. It is the hope of after-practice that inspires the labour of the student barristers and doctors. The necessary .waiting is a beneficial discipline testing perseverance and fidelity. The disciple of Christ can abstain from worldly indulgences because of more cherished loJ1gings. He will not barter away his birthright even though faint with hunger. "Every man that bath this hope in him purifieth himself." Hope is the great engine of progress and reformation. Israel under Ezra conld ratify a co,enant of amendment, because "there was hope for Israel concerning this thing."-S. R. A. Ver. 26.-Inarticulate prayer. One reason for the lasting power of the Bible is its wide-ranging view of life. It runs through the whole gamut of feeling, touches every etate. In this passage the apostle has brought heaven and earth together-bas shown that creation is a unity waiting for a glorious consu=ation. He gives us truth fit to be "the master-light of all our Christian seeing, the guardian light of all our doing." I. Oun BUMAN WEAKNESS. "Infirmity" suggests not so much the feebleness of the babe from a want of development, as the prostration of illness through the inroad of disenee. Sin wastes the constitution, and we perceive our weakness when we proceed to act. This is tho first stage of enlightenment, to be made conscious of helplessness. Ours is a condition of sighing. Like the rest of creation, Christians "groan within" themselves. They ore subjeot to vanity, corruption, and sorrow. Afflictions deceive, comforts disappoint. At Marah the waters are bitter, and at Nineveh the gourd of one day withers the next. With what pnin is thouaht exercised l Sin weighs us down; a cloud of passion obscures the Saviour's love; we btoil, and" catch nothing." Deliverance is our cry. We stretch the head and crane the neck to bail the day of redemption. "We that. are in_ this tabernnole do groan, being burdened." .A. notable instance of weakness is furnished by our prayers. We are ignorant of the lit requests to m~\ko, and the pnper mannra in which to present them. There is a danger of our a:skiug unwisely, too impetuously, for a hurtful grotificntion. The most needful obj<,ct, what "we ought" to supplicoto, we ore not earnest enough about; we sc,nce know what it 252 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [<lII, vm.1-39.