The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 357

l'ELLOWB. It Is observable that every several admonition in thie pasaage bas reference to benefits to be conferred upon others. The Chrietian ie called to look not npon hill own things, but also upon the things of others. This is the lesaon whi~h Christianity has from the beginning been inculcating; and modem society is for it under a debt which is not always frankly and fully acknowledged. Some modern systems of morality and schemes of human life, e.s positivism, make the whole of religion consist in living for others (e.ltruism). But it is vain to rear a superstructure without fi:rat laying the foundation. To induce and snstain an unselfish life, it is needful to bep.n with the counsels of God; to feel the one, se.cred motive of the croBB of Christ, to seek the guidance e.nd a.id of the Spirit of God. At the same time, unselfishness and self- denying benevolence a.re one great evidence of a renewed nature, and of the action of Christian principle. V. CHRISTIAN MINIBTBATION 18 OONFINED TO NO CLASS, BUT DEVOLVES UPON T1IB WHOLE CHUBOH. The apostle is not writing to the officers of the society at Rome, but to all in the city, who are "beloved of God, and called to be saints." The duties here enumerated are diffused amongst the community, amongst whom the gifts necessary for their discharge are gre.ciously and wisely distributed. There is a mischievous tendency in human nature towards doing good by deputy. It is, indeed, right that a man should not meddle with work which is not his; but some, who profess t.o act upon this principle, not only neglect other people's business, but neglect their own. You may not be gifted with much power of teaching, but you may be able to show mercy. You may have little to give, but you may, if you will exercise your gift, prove able to console and sympathize. In any case, let us not fall into the error of supposing that, because we cannot do everything, therefore we can do nothing. One of the disadvanta.,cres attending a professione.l ministry is this-that many suppose that it is the exclusive b ~ of the clergy to attend to the consolation of the saints and to labour for the evan,,,crelization of the world. The fa.et is that, wherever the gift has been bestowed and the oppor- tunity for its exercise provided, there the responsibility lies, and there the service is required. APPLICATION. 1. Let us ask, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" 2. Let ns cultivate the spirit of mutual respect and consideration as fellow-members of Christ. 3. Let us co-operate for the great ends which the Divine Head of the Church has set before us, viz. the increase and the harmony of the body of Christ. Vere. 6-8.-Gifts (second lwmily). In enumerating the various gifts impart.ed by the Lord to his Church, the various services its members are called to render to one another, the apostle writes for all time. In the primitive congregations there were persons endowed with special and supernatural gifts ; but these, with one exception, the apostle does not include in this instructive catalogue; he rather chooses to put upon record his own judgment as to the graces and qualifications necessary, through all ages, for the edification of the Church and~ the evangelization of mankind. We observe- !. GIFTS INTELLECTUAL .AND INSTRUOTIVll, The truth is the great gift and deposit entrusted by the Head of the Church. The truth is first apprehended and appropria.ted; and then, e.s a natural result, is communicated and propa,,,crated. And this has been and is done in various methods. 1. By prophecy. This L., in the strictest sense of the term, a supemature.l gift ; the word designates the power of uttering forth the mind and will of God, and implies a special illumination from above. There are traces, in the Book of the Acts, of the existence and ministry of suoh a olass, who authorit.atively_ announced the will of Heaven, and sometimes foretold events to come. We may justly regard the apostles as themselves prophetically endowed; so that we, and the whole 'Church, are benefited through the impartation of this gift. 2. By t«icAing. Christianity is a teaohing religion, and oommits to every generation the sacred duties of instructing the suooeeding rnco, l\Ud l\ssi~ns to the onli~hteued the offioe of evangeli11U11g those who nre in spiritual darknoBS and ignora.uoo. When the Son of God beciune iucarnatt', he conclosoonclod to llvo the life of a '!'cacher; and when he rounuitted to his 1\1,'4.'-'>tl~s the flnnl trust, ho bl\llo thom go forth and to:,ch nll nations. Iu the early Church the otlk-.i of the teaohor woe ml\gnilied; and it w1,s au evil time for Christianity when the ts:.wher became a prieet. It iB true that uot every Chrlstiiw has the quslillcatious of the teach~ 856 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [oH, xn. 1-21,