The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 389

thorough~ess should charaoterize the di~co~11~ ju~t 118 well 118 the prophetical office. 8. Teaclwng. Now, the office of teacher 1B distmgu1shed frorn that of prophet in such passagos as 1 Cor. xii. 28; Eph. iv. 11. It has been suggested that the prophetical office ~mpli_es inspir~ti?n, w~lle the tcac~er'e only the C?mm_on knowledge of a devout and d1smphned Chr1strnn mrnd (Shedd, m loc.). There 1s evidently need of a teaching order in the Church e.e well as of a pre11ching or prophetical order. If any is called to teach, let him be thorough in his teaching. 4. Ezlwrtation, This is a gift which can be exercised by men who do not aspire to either the prophetical or the teaching office. It deals with the heart and will. "Evangelista" are for the most part of this character; they go a.bout to stir up the souls of men to decision and activity, while their teaching is of necessity of a very limited description. 5. Gwing. This applies to the distribu- tion by the deacon of the Church's charity, and it may also apply to the private benefi- cence of the Church-member. In either ce.ee simplicity of motive and of aim is to characterize the giver. Charity should be exercised without parade and without any ulterior or selfish end. 6. Rwing. This undoubtedly refers to the function exerciiled by the officers of the Church, and it implies that nothing but diligence can succeed. Zeal (1T1ro111l~) for the Church's purity and honour, and for the glory of the Church's Head, should characterize all who have authority in the Church. 7. Showing merr:y. This applies to the attention the deacons and private Christians show to the sick and the suffering. Well, it is to be exercised" with hilarity" (1>.ap&.,..,rn). What a differ- ence it often makes when we set cheerfully about our merciful ministrations, entering with alacrity into them, and not doing them "against the grain"! Our "pity,n as it has been very properly said," should be impulsive, and not an effort; an inclination., and not a volition" (so Shedd, in Zoe.). Now, if Churchmanship were entered into in this noble and sympathetic spirit, what a different tale would our different Churches have to tel11 It would be a tale of tender and gracious ministration, a tale of real because spiritual success 1 Ma.y the :merciful Master grant it 1-R. M. E. Vars. 9-21.-0hristian socialism. From <Jhurchmansh-ip, which was discussed. by the apostle in the preceding verses, we now pass to the Christian in society ; and our endeavour will be to appreciate the Christian socialism which Paul here inculcates. The great error of the Christless socialism which prevails, alas I in many lands, is that it tries to do from without and by mere material manipulation what can only come from within through the Christian spirit. Into the various forms which socialism has assumed it would be improper here to enter ; but any who wish to get some idea of the subject will do well to get the late Dr. Roswell D. Hitchcock's powerful and com- pendious treatise on 'Socialism,' where, after treating of "Socialism in General." "Cam- munistio Socialism," and "Anti-Communistic Socialism," he reaches his climll in expounding the meaning of "Christian Socialism." 1 Our duty just now is to appre- ciate the spirit of love which Christianity infuses into society, thereby securing all that socialism could possibly reach by its coarse materialistic methods, and infinitely more. I. CONSIDER THE OHARA0TEB OF LOVE. (Vers. 9, 10.) For this is the one thing needful (1 Cor. xiii.). Well, the apostle tells us it is not to be hypocritical (..,,,,..Jrp,-ros); not to be a. profession, but the reality of love. It is from this loving spirit that Chris- tianity proceeds to the regeneration of society. If, then, we start with a genuine spirit of love, we shall not be found rejoicing at evil, but always abhorring it; while to good at all costs we shall ever cleave. Thus " pure Christian love manifests itself in two phases-the ethical recoil from moral evil, and the cleaving to moral good. The former, full as much 11s the latter, evinces the sincerity of the affection. Indifference towards sin, and especie.lly an indulgent temper towards it, proves that there is no real love of holiness. The true moosurement of a man's love of God is the intensity with which be hates evil (cf. P~. xcvii. 10). 'l'he ethics produced by the sentimental idea of God and of moral evil, is 'easy virtue' " (so Shedd, in loc.). Such love, then, will bloom into the intense" brotherly love" (,pv..a5,>..,pt,), which is the great evidence of the Christian spirit (John xiii. 36). And when brotherly love is entertained, instood of a selfish rnce for honours, there will bo a pushing of worthy brethren forwards-a c,1 ntest not/or tho first rauk, but for worthier mou than wo nrll to put therein. How striking t\ Ciit:is- 1 • Boui11lism,' publish01l by Unud,,lph tmd Co. of Now York. 8utl 11\00 Kt1ufm,wu'1 1 Socit11iijw,' t1ml l'ook'~ • Sooiul Wrrn:ku u.' 11  THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [on. xn.1-11,