Vors.1-5,-0hrislian patriotism, We saw in last chapter how a "Paradil!e" may ree.lly be experimentally "rege.ined," e.nd how Christian experience culminates in a triumphe.nt o.ssure.nce, ~~t t~e e.postle could n?t conternp!ate. this as a mere persona.I matter. Ho could not reJoice m personal ea.lvat10n and be ind1fferent to the Balvation of his brethren. The case of his countrymen accordingly cymee forward for review and in the review of it the e.postle is seen as the Christian patriot, Though the "ap:istle of the Gentiles," he has lost no interest in his Jmoish countrymen. The subject raised in this section is, consequently, the important one of Christian patriotism. Now, there are some who imagine that we have in these terms a real contradiction. Their notion is that the true Christian is so occupied with a future world as to have little interest in a present one. b not heaven the fatherland of the believer P is he not taught to regard himself as a citizen of the better country? is he not to live as if already within its pearly gates? and will he not in consequence lose real interest in the world that now is, and pass through it as a mere "pilgrim and stranger"? While this is perfectly true, it is also true that the Christian may and ought to be the very best of patriots, and Christian patriotism the very best form of patriotism. St. Paul's case is one in point. He was the very finest specimen of a Christian which our era bas produced, He laid the emphasis on the future world as few have ever done. He lived as if within the gates of the eternal city. And yet, in his relations to bis fellow-countrymen, he was the truest and wisest of patriots. Up to a certain period Saul of Tarsus had been a trusted national leader. It was to him the chief priests committed their policy of persecution; and right zealously had he carried it out. Under the notion that the Christians were the enemies of their country and religion, ihe Jews, and Saul as their chosen instrument, thought that they did God service when they imprisoned and mur- dered them. Had it been asked who was the greatest patriot among all the Jews, the reply would have been unanimous-Saul of Tarsus. His patriotism "as thoroughly unscrupulous; it stuck at nothing. But when the risen Saviour meets and conquers him on the road to Damascus, the arch-persecutor becomes a meek and lowly Christian. And now he seeks out Jews instead of OhrW.ians, not to persecute them, however, but if possible to persuade them to become Christians too. The result is he is persecuted, and has to flee; yet the process is repeated in the missionary tours which characterize his life. To the Jews first, and then, when they reject his message, he turns to the Gentiles. He might, indeed, have given up the Jews with good reason. "Surely," says Colani, "if the Christian was held to break the chains which. bound him naturally to a nation, never, to a certainty, had any man been so completely delivered therefrom 1\s the apostle." 1 He might have said, moreover, that he was set ape.rt for the mission to the Gentiles. Yet, in spite of all their persecutions, he will give them the first place in hie affections and in hie evangelistic work, Indeed, he seems to gravitate instinctively and at all hazards to Jerusalem, prepared to sacrifice life and, as it would seem, ever- lasting happiness, if it would save them, And indeed, when we look into Paul's life we see at once a cosmopolitanism and a pe.triotism-a cosmopolitanism which embraced all Gentile nations, and a patriotism which would have made any sacrifice for his own beloved Jews. In contrast with this, pagan patriotism will be found to be politic rather than patriotic. Cities, not broad fatherlands, were the tiny footholds for which the citizens were ready to make sacrifices. They had not under paganism any broad or liberal views such as Christianity produced. Christianity transformed selfish citizen- sl1ip into disinterested patriotism. I. THE CmtIBTIAN PATRIOT WILL EMPHASIZE THE GOOD QUALITIES OF ms COID"'TBY- MEN, (Vers. 4, 5.) Paul is particular in bringing out the good qualities of the Jews. 'l'hough they had persecuted him, his only revenge was in doing them service by preaching to them Christ as their true Messiah. And when be found them unwilling to receive his message," great heaviness and continual sorrow" seem to have settled in his heart. This consuming interest, moreover, was kept alive by the consider:.\tion of the good qualities of his countrymen. To them, as he rejoiced to think, pert~uned "the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom a.s concerning the flesh Ohrist came, who is over all, God blessed for ever." He looked into Jewish 1 Of. Colani'e sermon on "Le Patriotisme," in his second volume, p. 3H : t\lso D<'llll
Goulbqrn'e eormo11 on" The Grounds of True Pntriotism," • Serman.s,' p. 22"7. 2S6 THE EPISTI,E OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS, [oH, 1x, 1-38,