for their encouragement and inspiration. Yet they crucified their King, and hardened t-heir hearts against God's messages of mercy. Great privileges make our guilt t.\Jo great.er if we reject Christ. 2. He thinks of the world's obligation to them. The ,Te~dsh y,eople have been the benefactors of the whole world. They have been the channel through which blessings have come to other nations. How sad that they themsel,es should forfeit the Divine blessing by their impenitence and unbelief I So also it would be sad if our British nation, which by its missionary enterprise has brought so many blessings to other nations, should itself depart from the truth as it is in Jesus, and fall into the depths of materialism and infidelity. 3. He thinks of his own relatwn to them. "My brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." Those who are connected with us by ties of blood or common nationality should be the objects of our special solicitude and sympathy. Many Christian people are full of sympathy for the heathen in India, or China., or Africa, who never think-except, perhaps, with indif- ference or contemp~f the poor and ignorant and oppressed among their own country- men at home. The strikes among working men in England, the discontent among the crofters of Scotland, disaffection and outrage in Ireland,-<loes not much of the responsi- bility for these things lie at the door of the Christian people of these nations? 'l'hought- lessness and indifference \\ith regard to those around us bring their own retribution. II. His SELF-SACRIFICING SPIRIT, St. Paul did not confine himself to mere senti- ments or words. "I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (ver. 3). He had already given proof, in a very practical way, of his desire for the salvation of Israel. Wherever he went, "he preached Christ in the synagogues n (Acts ix. 20) as he had opportunity, thereby subjecting himself more than once t.o bitter persecution and attack. The true Christian patriot will sacrifice himself for the good of his country and fellow-countrymen. He will sacrifice his prejudices of class and creed, he will sacrifice even the favour and friend- ship of those of his own rank, if by so doing he may better reach the poor and degraded and ignorant. Ha,e we ever known what it is to have heaviness and continual sorrow of heart for our fellow-countrymen, and to bear reproach and opposition in our efforts to do them good ?-C. a L Vers.. 6--13 with 24-32.-.lsrael's rejectW'/1, no violation of the Divine promise.. The na.tural. question suggests itself to the mind, on thinking of the rejection of the Jewish people-What, then. becomes of the promises of God ? Has the Word of God, then, become of no effect? The apostle answers this question in the negative (ver. 6), and proceeds to give his reasons. L THE PBOKISE WAS A SPIRITUAL PROMISE. 1. It was a promise of spiritual blessin_q, "In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." 2. It was a promise made on spi,ritual cunditions. It was not a promise made to Abraham's children according to the flesh, for then Ishmael and bis children would have been partakers of it. "In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed" (ven;. 7, 8). Isaac was Abraham's son, not in the ordinary course of nature, but by reason of the special promise of God, and Abraham's faith in it. Many think they have a claim on God's promises who forget that every promise has a condition attached to it, and who fa.ii to fulfil that condition. II. ABBAH.Ull'S TBUB CHILDBEli' ABE THOSE WHO EXHIDIT AnBAH.A.llrl'B FAITH. "For they are not all Israel, whoa.re of Israel: neit~er, because they are the seed _of Abraham, are they all children" (vers. 6, 7); "The Gentiles, which followed not after nghteou11ness, Lave attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith" (ver, 30). The BaJDe thought is brought out~ eh: iv. 9-17. Abraham's rii;:hteo~ness was the righteousness of faith. He had this fa.1th when he was yet unc1rcumc1sed, "that he might be the father of aJl them that believe, though they be not circumcised" (eh. iv. 11), lleD.Ce the Gentiles who exhibit Abraham's faith are heirs of the same promise and r,artakera of the same righteousnesa. '!'here is no violation of the Divine promise in rejecting those who are Abraham's seed according to the flesh, but who do not exhibit Abraham's faith, and in including those who are Abraham's true spiritual ohil<lron, 1..ecallSe they exhibit Abraham's faith, though they are not his seed according to tha 1.(;61. Gu<l looketh on the bean. "In every nation he that fcnrcth him, and workoLh on. 1x. 1-33.] THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 275
righteousness, is accepted of him." Exter1:1al ~orms e.;nd outward privilege3 will not save us unless we have tho change of heart which JB required of all who would enter into the kingdom of God. "In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anythina nor u.ncir• 0 cumcision, but a new creature." '