(vers. lG, 17) that, according to the eame ' of hearing, and hsaring by the Word of God prophet, such uni verenl preaching, and con- (~f,µa:ro, e,ov, God's own Word, oommitted sequent hearing, doee not involve universal to, end spoken by, preachera duly sent). But hearlcening; thus showing, in view of the I say, Did they not hear l The previous main purpose of bis argument, that the fact aorist, lnrf/1toutra.11, in ver. 16 having been of the J ewe not hearltening now is no evidence understood 11e referring to the prophetic re- tbnt they hod not heard. Then he goes presentations rather than to present kn0wn on to ask whether o.ny could plead the facts, the aorist 1f1touo-a.v here must, for oon- excuse of not having heard, so ae to justify sistency, be similarly understood, tboao-h want of tho faith that cometh of hearing. with a view also to the actaal universality.,,of Nay, he replies (ver. 18), the sound or the the gospel message. The unexpressed n0mi- good tidings has gone forth to all the earth, native 101f1<outra.v appears from tbe oontext to even like the language or natlll'e spoken of be men in general, not the ,Jews in particular. in Pa. xi.x. Then (ver. 19), pressing his Israel is not specified till ver. 19. Yea, argument home to the Jews, who have been verily, their sound went into all the earth, nil along in view, he asks,•• But I say, Did and their words unto the enda of the world _not Israel know?" The word r-yvw, being (Ps. xix. 4). The" eonnd" and the "words" different from -l/1toutra.11 previously used, must in the psalm are those of the heavens and express some duferent meaning. But what the firmament. But in the second part of St. Paul exactly mee.nt by it is not quite the psalm, beginning et ver. 7, the psalmis1. clee.r. The quote.tions from the Old Testa- passes from God's revelation of himself in ment that follow in proof of knowledge (vers. nature to his revelation of himself in hi3 19, 20) seem to support the view that what Word. Still the psalm itllelf cannot well be Isre.el knew, or ought to have known, was understood e.s intimating the universal pro- the Divine design of the promulge.tion of the clamation of the gospel. Nor is it necessary "good tidings" to e.11 the world, which has to snppose that St. Paul BO undentood it. juat been spoken of. Such promulgation Enough for him that the words he quotes should have been to them no stumbling- express admirably what he desires to say. block ; for it bad been told to them from Ver. 19.-But I &ay, Did not Israel know! Moses downwards, nnd they he.d full oppor- (see explanation given above). First. llloses tunity of knowing it, Lastly (ver. 21), the saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them o,postle intimates that the present state of that nre no nation; by a foolish nation I will things, in wh;ch Gentiles accept the gospel e.nger yon. It may be observed that in the while Israel in the main rejects it, far from Greek we have the same word, 1611,i. in both being e.n objection to it, is but a further ful- classes of the sentence, though, in order to filment of Isaiah's prophecies, which repre- bring out the supposed meaning in the fi.n;t sent God as making himself known to those clause, it. is there, in the Authorized Vel'l!ion, who he.d not known him, while pleading rendered " people," and in the second, with Israel in vain. This exposition of the "nation." The passage occurs in the song supposed course of thought being borne in attributed to Moses in Deuteronomy (:uxi.i. mind, the passage (with the further a.id of 21), and expresses the idea of God, in ronse- aome interposed comments) may become in- quence of the defaults of Isr.1el, favouring telligible. It continues: And how shall they those who were so far, e.s it were, no nation believe in him of whom they have not heard t at nil, so as to provoke Ismel to jealousy. and how shall.they hear without a preaoher1 It is therefore aptly cited BS en intimation in and how shall they preaoh, e:a:oept they be the Pentnteuch itself of the c-illing of the sent1 as it is written, How beautiful are the Gentiles in pince of unbelienng Turael. The feet of them that [preaoh the gospel (or, good iden involved in "pronike you tojenlonsy"- tidings) of peaoe, o.ndl bring glad tidings of in the sense of moving to emulation, so thnt good things I (Isa. Iii. 7). 'fhe genuineness Israel it.self as a nation might, through the of the words within brnckets is nt least oollin.,. of the Gentiles, in the end be saved c\oubtful. Evon with them the toxt is not -is p~rsued, 111 will be seen, in the ohnptet quoted in full, though sufficiently to remind that follows. of its purport. Ver. 20.-llut E1aias is very bold, and Vore. 16-18.-But not all obeyed (or, anith, I was found of them that sought me hearleened to) the gospol (or, good tidings). not; I was made manifest unto them that This manna, apparently, thnt in the prophet's asked not after me (Isa. l:n-. 1). The pecu- ropresentntion of the prooliunntion of the liar boldne38 of IB11iah's utterance consi:;ts in good tidings nil were Bllid to hoar, but not thi~-thnt, nt a time when Israel wns recog- all to heorkon. l!'or Esaias aaith, Lord, who nized ns God's ono chosen people, ho is !!aid believed our report 1 (Tllo Greek word here to mnke himself known even to those who is a.1<off, the snme ns iu vor. 17, thoro ronrlored so11ght him not Rt 1\ll, "hoaring," unrl corl'Ospomling to tho vorb Vo1·. 21.-But to Israel he saith, All day ~outw iu vers. 14, 18.) Bo then faith comoth long I stretohed out my huds unto a dia- TIIE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [ou. x, 1-21,
obedint and pinlayiq people (Is&. lxv. 2). Paul ever delllgned to revert to a deo1·etu111 Tholuok remarks, •• If from this pas9ll.g8 we ab,olutum, but meant to oe.st all blnme upon onoe more look baok upon the tenth and the tDant of toill in men, resisting the gra• ninth ohaptera, it is manifest how little oious. wiU of God.