The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 302

trnly known him during his career of unbelief and persecution. It was when Jesus met him by the way that his hostility was overcome, thRt his heart wns melted, thnt bis nature was changed. But this was exceptional treatment. The Lord who, by o. supernatural appeara.noe and voice, called Saul to the knowledge of himself, com- missioned him to preach the gospel to his fellow-men, and made him one of the first, and perhaps the most suocessful, of the innumerable band of preaohers of the cross. We have here-- I. A Drvnra PROVISION. All good is from God. No apostle more constantly insists upon this great truth than does Paul ; and in no treatise is it more prominently set before the mind of the reader than in this Epistle to the Romans. 1. We are told what the ultimate blesmng is which Christianity proffers. It is salvation. Righteous- ness has reference rather to what is positively given; salvation, rather to the state from which men are rescued by the Redeemer. A worthy end I-worthy even of the inter- position of Heaven, of the benevolence of God the Father, of the sacrifice of Christ, of the grace of the Spirit. A deliverance of the spiritual nature from condemnation and from all evil, and the pronsion for the saved of new associations, a new lot, a new hope -a sal.-ation which is final and eternal. 2. We have brought before us the extent to which salvation may be enjoyed, the persons for whose benefit it is proposed. All man- kind are qualified to be recipients of this boon upon compliance with the terms pre- scribed. There is no difference in the view of God. The comprehensive term "who- llOCVer" is conclusive upon this point. Jews are not excluded; Gentiles are welcomed; the pronsion is for humanity. 3. The text sets before us the conditions upon which this blessing may be enjoyed. It is required (1) that men should call upon the Name of the Lord, i.e. Christ Jesus ; and (2) that they should do this in intelligent and cordial faith: for "how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?" The expression, "call upon the Name of the Lorci," is full of meaning and beauty. It reminds us whence the blessing of salvation proceeds ; and as the voice, the call, the cry, come from a heart conscious of need and longing for deliverance, it speaks of the spiritual state which prepares for receiving salvation. Thus Christians are spoken of as "all who in every place call upon the Lord." They who act thus glorify God and his promises of faith• fulness. Tbey seek what he has promised to bestow, and they seek with earnestness and confidence. "He is near to all that call upon him in truth." In order to intelli- gent ca.lling upon the Lord, the apostle reasons, there must be faith. "He that cometh unto him must believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that seek after him." Faith is the first requirement of the gospel; faith in the glad tidings proclaimed; faith in that Divine Saviour to whom those tidings relate, and who, indeed, is him- self the GospeL "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." An arrangement this in harmony with the wisdom of God, and with the moral nature of man. Dead in unbelief and unspiritnality, the sinner rises in faith into newness of llie, for he lays hold of the grace of God revealed in the Saviour Obrist. Consider how unspeakably rich is the provision here made, and how unepeakab!Y: gr~ious the con- ditions here proposed. Hearers of the gospel, how can you remam without such a blessing as this when it is put within your reach, and when you are invited to take it, and when the te!'lDJ! upon which you may enjoy it are such that you cannot cavil at them? How can you think of such a Saviour and such a gospel, and remain faithless and unmoved? How can you do other than. from your sin and danger and helpless- ness call upon One who is "mighty to save "-to "save to the uttermost all that come un~ God by him"? This is the day of visitation. "To-day," says Christ, "if ye will hear my voice, harden not your hearts." II. A HUMAN AGENCY. The apostle brings before us two classes of agents-those who, by the publication of the gospel, are the means of lead~n~ their fellow-men to faith• and those who send forth such preachers upon such a m1es1on. 1. God employs preachers in bringing men to salvation. They have glad tidings of peace, of good things, t.o communicate. As the first bands of returning exiles, bringing good news of a larger company following in their train, were welcome to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, wbu bailed their approa.ch by the mol!ntaine of Judroa; so the preachers of Ohrietianity may well have been welcumed by the spiritually captive tribes and nations whom thoy visited on their errands of grace and evangelization. Thie method of promulgating truth, tb,Jugh not peculiar to our religion., ii very dilltinctive of it. Chrillt chose twelve apost!ee; OH, x. 1-21.] THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 301