unfumi~hed on the world. Those who arc t.o influence mon must in the first place be !nfiuenl'~d by men. That community is_ rich which .cont.a.ins a lar~e amount of tonch- mg, qmckenmg power. One of our chief dangers 1s lest we should uverestimnte the power of money. There is much which C.'\nnot be purohased by materinl wealth. It is in the abundance of the highest type of Christian oharaoter that spiritual wonlth con- i:ists. '\\here there are found the lofty, noble-minded, the holy and the learned, the spiritual and benevolent, nmong the leading spirits of a Church, there the young and ardent and devoted will gather by a subtle magnet.ism, and thence they will derive in tum, by God's ~race, the power of Divine attraction. Hence the importance of seeking a high standar<1 of biblical knowledge and Christian intelligence among all classes in our congregations. And hence, too, the importance of seeking out, and wisely employ- ing, all the ability and culture which a.re devoted to Christ and 118Ilctified to his glory. Can they be said to be truly sent who are thrust forth and then forgotten? Or, rather, does not that Church truly send which follows its agents, whether near or far, with kindly interest, with watchful sympathy, with fervent prayer? Sympathy is invaluable to those who labour, as all Christian servants must do, amid many difficnlties and much opposition. Prayer of intercession is due from every member of the universal Church, and is especially required on behalf of Christian labourers. "Brethren, pray for us, that the Word of God may have free course, and be glorified." In order that the Churches may more adequately fulfil their office as illuminators of a dark world, it ie necessary that there should be a sincerer pity for the multitudes who are in darkness, and a firmer faith in the light which is from heaven. A Church which hesitates as to whether or not it possesses the truth, and has a gospel for mankind; a Church which can look with unconcern upon the prevalence of sin and misery in the world, is not likely to send forth heralds of Christ and tidings of salvation, Faith in the Redeemer, pity for those whom he died to redeem, forgetfulness and denial of self,-these are the conditions of true e,angeliza.tion. It is for us, then., to look up for a renewed baptism of the Holy Spirit, ae a Spirit of life and of power. How otherwise can we rise to fulfil responsibilities so sacred, to discharge duties so momentous ? Hearera of the gospel, seek the Spirit of faith and prayer, that you may be not hearers of the Word only, but doers also! Preachers of the gospel, seek the Spirit of wisdom and fervour, that your words may be with demonstration of the Spirit and of power I Churches of Christ, seek the Spirit of your Master, that you may, feeling your own debt to the Divine, immortal. Saviour, act in the spirit of hie lesson., "Freely ye have received, freely give" I V ers. 16-2L-Israel', tV11,btl,i,ef. The more highly the apostle prized the gqspel, the more sincerely and compassionately did he lament the folly and the guilt of those who deliberately or carelessly rejected it. Especially was his heart stirred to sorrow, when he observed bow generally the glad tidings of life in Christ were rejected by his "kins- men according to the fiesh." Both upon the peraonal ground of relationship and asso- ciation., and upon the general ground that Israel's greater privileges involved greater re2p0nsibilities, Paul grieved over the want of faith iL Christ mauifested by eo many of his countrymen. L THE FACT OF lsBAEL's UN13ELIEF. 1. It had been predicted. In that remarkable anticipation of the sufferings and the glory of the Messiah which has won for L;aiah the designation " the evangelical prophet," there occurs an intimation that the Messiah should himself be despised and rejected of men, and that the news of hie salvation should be disregarded by many for whose benefit it was intended. 2. Fact agreed with prophecy. Many sons of Abraham manifested Abraham's faith. Of the early pro- fessors and preachers of Christianity, a large proportion were Hebrews. Yet, although individuals welcomed the gospel, the nation as a whole, who by their leaders and repre• 11entative11 had crucified and slain the Lord Jesus, certainly turned away from the message of salvation! which, after his ascension, his apostles. urgently and faithfully proclaimtod. They did not all hearken to the report and obey its summons. II. THE JliEIOUBADLE GUlLT OF lsBAEL'I! TJNDELIEF. This is made apparent by several oowiideratioWI. It appears: 1. From the term, of salvation. "Belief cometh of heariD.g, and hearing by the word of Chrlllt.n No terms could be more righteous, more rtaliOoable, more w accordance with the character of God or the neceHsitics of on. x. 1-21.] THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 303
men: Compliance with the';D Involves no mental or 80cial eminence, and is equally possible to those of all nations among men. 2. From, the g,m,,;ral dijfuBion of the tidings, Like the very light of the sun, like the voiceleBS witnesa of the heavens the good nowe of salvation soon penetrated into the remotest and darkest places. Eve~ the distant "sons of the dispersion" could not complain that they had been neglected. For the disciples of Christ, so far from keeping the good news to themselves made it a point of conscience and religion to communicate to their neighbours the tidin"s of the advent and the mediation of the Son of God; whilst many, devoting themselv~ to the work of evangelization, deemed no journey too long to undertake and no perils too formidable to endure in the fulfilment of this sacred commission. 3. Even/rc,m. the/ad that many of the less-favowred Gentiles came to beluve. It had been foretold by :lfoses and by the prophet Isaiah that the privileges which the Jews would despise and refuse should be offered to and accepted by the Gentiles. This came to paBS. And it cut the apostle to the heart to remark that his kinsmen were rejecting blessings which the heathen to whom he preached were eagerly welcoming and receiving. 4. From thefvr- bearance and gracious invitations of a heavenly Father. Again the apostle has recourse to the language of prophecy. How affecting is the representation here given of the patience, long-suffering, and kindness of God I He " willeth not that any should perish." .Although the people oppose themselves, he does not soon weary of his invi- tations. He spreads forth his arms, as willing to welcome those who will return from their wanderings and be reconciled to him. So he stands, as it were, all the day long. Still, though he has long proffered grace in vain, the hands which might have been raised to smite &Ye extended to rescue and to bless.