The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 319

tho Sanheclrln? Was Joeeph of Arimatbrea noble a.a he gave bis heart to the dP,8piw1 Saviour, but continued afraid to confess him? Neither man became nobla until the Crucifixion brought decision, and they vied with each other what respect they C1Juld show to the remains of their great Master. Or would Saul of Tarsua have ever bec0rne tho noble apostle of tho Gentiles if he had sneaked into Damascus after hia conversion a~d resolved to risk nothing for bis new-found Saviour? The manly character which Saul cultivated by confessing Christ wae an infinite gain. It thus appears that con- fession of Christ is the wise test of the reality of our faith in him. May we all stand the test, and not be ashamed of him 1-R. M. E. Vers. 12-21.-The natwral history of faith. From an acconnt of the plan of salvation as faith in and confession of a risen Saviour, the apostle, in the verses now before us, proceeds to consider the natural history of the faith which Jew and Gentile are led to place in the one Lord. For it is most important to know bow faith is induced. And here we notice- I. THE RISEN LORD IS WITHIN EVERY ONE'S CALL. (Vers. 12, 13.) There is no difference in his accessibility to both Jew and Gentile. "He is rich unto all that call upon him." With the sovereigns of this world court-favourites are the rule, and I suppose there is no exception. Only certain individuals get near the king, and are favoured with an audience. But this risen Lord over a.II can be rich unto every one that cares to call upon him. Let Jew or Greek only cry to him, and the needful help will come. This suggests the following comforting thoughts. 1. The throne on which, owr Lord now sits is a throne of grace. He is to sit, indeed, one day on a throne of judgment; meanwhile let us rejoice that he sits on a "throne of grace." It is to help the needy and the lost that he now sits enthroned. We are now under a "reign of grace." We hear a good deal in the present day of a" reign of law:" what consolation it is to think that, so far as Christ is concerned, we are all under a "reign of grace"! 2. He can hear directly every one that calls upon him. Of course, such a fact implies that our risen Saviour is indeed Divine. By virtue of his Divinity, he can hear everybody, whether Jew or Gentile, who cares to call upon him, and can deal directly with them. 'l'he many-voiced cry of lost and tempted souls reaches hia ear e.nd is all interpreted. It is easy to state the case of Christ hearing prayer, but it is overwhelming to imagine what such an arrangement demands from the blessed Being upon the throne. Yet it is sober fact-the whole cry of the race, the bitter cry of lost and tried souls, enters the sympathizing mind of our Divine Saviour and King. 3. He is rich to all the petitioners. Just as when on earth he allowed no one to go empty away, so from his throne of grace on high there is no real petitioner dismissed without relief. He encourages Jew and Gentile alike to call upon him, and then treats us in a way that becomes a King. He does far more "exceeding abundantly for us above all that we ask or think, e.ccording to the power that worketh in us." If we ask him to eave us, he does so with an everlasting salvation. If we ask him to pardon ns, he does so with overflowing love. If we e.sk him to sanctify us, he enables us to die daily unto sin and to live unto righteousness. If we ask him to make us useful, he opens doors of usefulness for us of the most surprising character. In short, " Eye bath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God he.th prepared for them that love him. But he bath revealed them unto us by hie Spirit" (1 Cor. ii. 9, 10). II. BuT AN OMNIPRESENT SA VIOUB NEEDS THE BEAUTIFUL FEET OF ms HERALDS TO DE UPON ALL THE MOUNT.Arns IF lllEN ARE TO KNOW RIS NKARNESS. (Vars. H, 15.) We have seen thl\t the risen Saviour is within every one's call. But he is not palpablt1 to sense. He is unseen. His presence is spiritual. Only by heralds going forth to proclaim the glad tidings of his presence are men led to call upon him. And the heralds address the el\rB of men. By this pa.rtioular a.venue of hearing does tht1 message oome. If men never hear of Jesus, they cannot be ti:tpected to realize his presence or to trust him. And so n propaganda is necessary, and the rui~iouary enterprise is just such a propaganda to brino- before Jew and Gt,ntile the splendid fact thnt a risen Saviour is within each man's ~11. '!.'ho natural hist...,ry of faith is, then, this: '" l!'nith'-the faith whioh, overcoming the world, justifies and purities t\nd sav88 -• comoth by henring,' oon1oth ln the way of communication from mau to man, aiJ  818 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [on. x.1-21.