The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 335

they "were disobedient to God." Tbeirs was a negative diacipline to fit them for the reception of tbe truth. They were "ebut up unto disobedience," that they miaht be prepared to receive unmerited mercy at the bands of God. And tbe discipline did its work. For them there ea.me 11 " fulnese of the times." They became sick r,f their own endeavours o.fter wisdom and righteousness, e.nd when Christ wa.s preached unto them they received him. How bad it been with the Jews? Tbey were chosen by God to receive his truth, and the preparations for his salvation, in trust for the world. Theirs we.a a positive discipline. But the same sinful nature was in them a.a in the Gentiles, and it operated against the truth. They became hardened. Their very privileges became a snare to them. And at last, the "fulness of the timea" having arrived for them also, when their own Christ came unto them, they received him not! 2. The later period of the world's history, after Christ, consisted of a contrast, which itself was in contrast with the former one. The Jews were given over, are given over still, to their hardness of unbelief. They are the stoutest opponents of the gospel. They are "enemies." God was compelled to cast them off, that the gospel which they refused might be set free for the acceptance of the world. And the Gentiles are reaping the benefits of their rejection still. Not as dogs, eating the crurc bs from the children's table, but themselves admitted to the forsaken festal board. II. THE UNIVERSALISM. The dualism shall not always last; God is preparing the way for the religious fusion of all the peoples of the world ; they shall become one in Christ. 1. The gospel which the Jews despised, and the salvation of their own Saviour, is leavening the Gentile world ; the nations, one by one, are passing out of heathendom into Christendom. Apart from the question of the conversion to true spiritual religion of individuals, the world is being won for Christ. 2. But what of Israel? "The ful- ness of the Gentiles" shall "come in; and so all Israel shall be saved." Oh, the strange irony of history! By the agency of the Israelites the world should have been won; now by the example e.nd agency of Gentiles the Israelites shall be won. Yes; the hardening was but "in part," some being believers from the first; but likewise only temporary-" until." For they are still the people fitted by their gifts for GD<l'e great "!Ork, and therefore his call is not revoked. And the very working of their dis- obedience, as in the case of the heathen nations once, is but to fit them to receive h;_s grace. .And according to their own prophecies the Deliverer shall come, and "irom Jacob" ungodliness shall be turned away. So then God will" have mercy upon a.ll." Let us learn his ways of judgment. He will give us up to our sins, if we persist in cherishing them, till we repent. But let us learn also his marvellous love: repenting, he will receive us freely !-T. F. L. Vers. 33-36.-.A hymn of praise. The apostle has reached the height of his great argumeut, and now he will take one eagle glance at the whole way by which he hag led hie readers-nay, at an the ways of God. We may not coldly dissect such glowing words as these, but pause with reverence to listen to his adoring wonder, his challenge, e.nd hie ascription of praise. I. He has shown forth the belief and unbelief of man, e.nd the marvellous way in which God, foreknowing all, has yet woven the web of history so that the wrath of man she.11 praise him. Ilut man is lost in o.we and wonder in presence of such know- ledge and wisdom o.s are bore- " A vast, unmthomable see., Where all our thoughts are drowned." Tho judgmonte by which God manifests his knowledge, and the ways by which his wisdom mru-ches on to the accomplishment of bis designs, are beyond our searching aud tracing out. We may know the fnot, but not always the cause; we umy discern SL'lll~'- what of the tendency and drift of his dispensations, but not all their force. .A.nd when the end breaks upon us at last, in the time of t.he accomplishment of all things, we sh:ul aoo that what we formerly discerned was but a part of his ways, and our inteusilied astonishment must still oxolo.iw, "0 the depth of the riches I" II. Man, then, hae not had, onnnot have, fellowship with God in tho working out of such a hl~h history. Mau may iudol'd have work~'li, but Goo h:\S overworked. Aud even man's wickouuss has been cnught up i.uto the general proce&iion of Gvd'a design& 884 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [on. xt, 1-86,