The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 369

over-conficlenco, and to ~he negl~t of necessary mea.ns c-.f _defence. They ;may then be t11ke°: una.w_ares_, and bemg surpneed may succumb to tl1e1r foe; or in IIDY ca.!!e the foo !1rny !n o.11 hkehhood go.in an advantage over them. An example is gi--ren by St. Paul lD this passage. There is a natural tendency to revenge. A Christian who has been wronged is urged by the surging of resentful pa.qsion within to turn upon his injurer to retaliate, to inflict evil for evil. But, if he do so, in snch case he will in fact t:, ov~rcome by evil.. Many are the c~es in w?ich the u~p)ri_taal principle or impulse go.ms the mystery in the heart and m the act10ns of the md1V1dual. Who is there who cannot from his own experience bear witness to this? And what state of society wh~t age of the world, can be pointed out which has been exempt from snch spectacle~ as the temporary defeat of truth, justice, and goodness_? Apart from Christianity, it does not seem that things have a natural tendency to improve. He who studies the history of any unchristian community will observe forms of sin continually varyina- sometimos more and sometimes less repulsive, but he will not find truth and righte-0~~ ness progressively powerful and finally triumphant. Now and again the snow-white standard sinks in the tumult of the strife. IV. CHRIST, AS THE CAPTAIN OF THE RIGHTEOUS HOST, TOOK PART Dr THE CO"SFLICT, AND CONQUERED EVIL WITH GOOD. It is true that the Lord Jesus was the Prince of peace, yet his whole life was one long struggle with sin and error. He knew well that there was but one way to a peace which should be acceptable to God and serviceable to man; and that that way was the way of spiritual conflict. It was in this sense that he ea.me to send, not peace, but a mvord, upon earth. Now, the supreme illustration of the method enjoined in the text, where we are bidden to overcome evil with good, is that furnished in the ministry of our Lord and Leader. He has proved himself the Conqueror, and if the world's sin is finally to be vanquished, it will be through Christ. And what wore the tactics of the Divine Commander? He did not turn against his foes the weapons with which they attacked him. He did not render injury for injury, slander for slander, hatred for hatred. He relied upon the power of the highest and pure.~t morality. Such strategy, if the word may be used in a. good and not an evil sense, was not likely to be immediately successful; but under the government of God it cannot ultimately fail, By the compassion of his heart, by the UO.,,,<Yflldging sympathy he ever showed to sufferers, by the patience with which he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, by his forgiving spirit, by his voluntary sacrifice,-by these means Christ procured his victory, Our Saviour's ministry mis a conflict with the powers of darkness and of iniquity. In this conflict he was never really wornted. A..nd that he wa.s at last victorious wa.s ma.de manifest when he a.rose from the dead and ascended to the Father, V. CHRISTIANS ARE SUMMONED TO FOLLOW THEm MASTER IN THIS HOLY W .!.B. Have not their own hearts been the battle-field upon which the Saviour has fought and conquered? Has not their evil been overcome by his good? Such being the case, if they now yield to the adversary and espouse his cause, how inconsistent and indefensible will be suoh a course I And it must needs be that their own nature and character must be the field upon which the struggle is to be maintained even to the end. Nor is this nil. We have as Christians n battle to wage with the ungodly world around. In every condition of life, in every relation, in every calling and service. there occur opportunities for us to withstand the forces of evil. And this we are c:\lled upon to do in the Saviour's No.me, and by the might of the Saviour's cross, It is by honour and integrity, by purity and truth, by courage and patience, by meekness s.nd love, th11t this holy war is to be waged. "Fight the good fight of faith." VI. VICTORY HAY DIii DEFERRED, BUT rr IS ASSURED AND CERTAIN TO THE_ .llUIY OD' THE LORD, It is not denied th11t the conflict will certaiuly be arduous, will prL.,_ be.bly be long. Why, we cannot tell; yet we oan see that the protracted moral strife is II means of testing the faith and zeal of those combatants who have vowed to follo\v the banner of the Son of God. But the attributes and the promises of God himself, the glorious work of Ghrist, the precious and faithful declarations of Scripture, :111 assure us that the issue of the strifo is in no way doubtful. Victory is pledged to the followers of tho L11mb, We mny unf11lteringly roly upon the express assurance of the great Co.ptnin of our s11lvo.tion: "'l'o him that overoomelh will I grant to sit J.own with 01,3 upon my throne." 368 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO 'l'HE ROMANS. [oe. n1. 1--91.