The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 313

atonement, But further, these men VJere his fellow-crruhttryrrvm. Surely the condition of our" kinsmen according to the flesh" must be uppermost in our tho11ghts, and each man's efforts naturally commence at his own house, his own nei"hbourhood his rmn ~ation. Then, tfae'!/ we:e the descendants of men signally ~Ned in the pt:i-". Their lineage was so d1stmgu1shed, that Paul could not calmly witness the exclusion from the kingdom of God of these sons of patriarchs and prophets. They were in a Bl)",cial sense the "brethren" for whom Christ died. What more affecting to-day than to witness religious apathy in the families of the godly, to see the place of the fathers unoccupied by the children in the house of faith? And the apostle had '!Ii.awns of the splendid results that would ensue if the veil were removed from their hearts, and they should recognize in the Nazarene their wished-for Messiah. What should the receivin.,. of them into the Church be but "life from the dead"? The same reason impels u~ to seek the conversion of many around, whose talents and earnestness might be of such signal service in our ranks. As Saul the perdecutor became Paul the missionary, so we may look upon a bigoted opponent as a potential future enthusia.st in the canse c,f Christ. II. How DID THE APOSTLE'S CONCERN EXPRESS ITSELF? We answer-In hi.s preach- ing. He ever visited first the Jews and the synagogue in bis tonrs. It was God's design that the gospel should be first preached to his ancient people, that by rejecting or receiving the message they might either fill up the measure of their iniquity and crucify the Saviour afresh, or free themselves from the guilt of their nation and welcome the breaking down of the partition wall between Jew and Gentile. And the writings of the apostle evince his unabated regard and anxiety for the Jews. He declared that he could wish himself "anathema" from Christ, if that self-sacrifice could procure their redemption. We are reminded of the supreme act of self-abnegation by Moses on the mount, when rejecting Jehovah's offer to create from him a new people in the stead of that corrupt and obstinate generation. The apostle's Llngnage breathes the spirit of the croBB of Christ-it is an emanation to the disciple from the Master's self-immolation for the good of men. The prayers of the apostle showed the genuineness of his affectionate solicitude. Prayer is a. thermometer that gauges the warmth of our' desire to save men from misery and ruin. Does not the teacher bring the members of the class before God. in earnest petitions, and the pa.rent his children? We care little for those who a.re never mentioned in our supplications. Let us rememb£>r them where it most avails. ' IIL WHAT CONTBmUTED TO MAKE Tms DEEP CONCERN so NOTEWOBTtIT? It was prayer for men who hated and maltreated him. With rancorous unceasing enmity did the Jews pursue the apostle. They were the chief cause of his imprisonments and tortures, they did their utmost to mar his success and embitter his labours, and at last secured his death. Thinking of their attempts to overthrow the faith of Christian converts, the apostle could use strong language for their discomfiture ; but on his knees, in the solemn presence of the God and Father of all, larger and more generous thoughts possessed his soul, and he forgot all bis personal annoyances in the o'ermaster- ing impulse to seek their salvation. If wronged by any, take the matter to the throne of grace, and you shall begin to pity and then pray for him that did the wrong. It was prayer for those who had proved obstinate, and whose ,aluation Sttmed little likely. No acquaintance with the decrees of God, nor the fact of God's forethought and fore- ordination, could binder the apostle's entreaties. What a lesson for us not to despair, not to faint I Our mistrust too often paralyzes our intercessions, our human reasonings "limit the Holy One of Israel." This was a benefit conferretl which they had no power to ref'U86. Prnyer is a kind office which we may render to men who would accept nothing else at our hands. This they cannot hinder.-S. R. A. Ver. 4.-The end of tlie I.aw, 'l'he desire for righteousness has embodied itself in diverse and some of them grotesque forms. Gather together the Pharisee with his phylacteries and ablutions ; the Chin1m1nn burning his bits of paper for ancestral worship; the Hindoo bathing in the sacrod river, or prostrating himself under the idol- co.r; the Roman Catholic telling his bearls and porfonuing bis penance; and the moml youth who never omits bis daily portiou of Scripture, or bis morning and evenin~ prayo:S, and would ecllrn to toll an untruth. and one would scarce im:,~ine th:\t the S12 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO Tml BOIIA.NS. (ott, x.1-21.