The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 406

as his advent shall be the rising again of the eun; the interval is summer niaht. Owr salva~ion ~• nearer than w~en we bega_n to believe, Faith commenced the process of sanct16cal1on, ushered us mto that kmgdom of God on earth, whose consummation, whose outward triumph and glory, are approaching. The apostle may have deemed Ohrist's appearance nigh. Like the ancient seers, he viewed comin<> events in a picturn, whero the distinction could not always be accurately perceived bet';,een the backf!Tound nnd the foreground. He knew, however, that certain occurrences must precede the Parousia, ~urely this incentive to vigilance should be operative with us, to whom later centuries have rolled. Who shall say when the cry may resound, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh"? No doubt, too, that the apostle foresaw a rapid extensi~n of evangelistic endeavours. The nearing downfall of Jewish hopes would cause many to turn to the gospel as the only possible fulfilment of their Messianic a.5pirations.. Such times of potency are ever occurring to us individually and collectively. Like ardent men of business, we should be on the look-out to seize our opportunities. Both at home and abroad this is an unequalled season for missionary effort; doors are being opened on every side. To spend the night in rioting is to slumber during the day: the morning will find us heavy-eyed and dull of brain. And to each one the day of death is drawing near-a day of deliverance, of full salvation to the faithful. Who would indulge the ambition of standing before the blaze of glory from the throne in filthy garments, with marks of sin upon the brow, and defiling stains upon the person? This night is onr earthly day of service and opportunity. The day of heaven closes for ever the night of earth. The remembrance of wasted moments will diminish the splendour of the heavenly reward. "Work, for the day is coming! " The anticipation of such a season of disclosure is calculated to melt the stoniest heart into contrition. All deeds will stand confessed. "My conscienoe he.th a thousand several tongues, And every tongue brings in a severe.l tale." II. THE CONDUCT REQUISITE IN SUCH A CRISIS. 1. Oultivate a spirit of wakifulneu. "When the sun ariseth, man goeth forth to his labour." Those who sleep heavily, like the drunken, know nothing of the signs of dawn, and are surprised that the morn- ing could come without their noting its approach. "Awake thou that sleepest," for thy sleep is that of death I His voice sounding through the cavern shall give thee strength to arise, and in his light thou shalt see all things clearly. It is death to the sentinel to sleep at his post. The lover cannot rest when he pictures the joy of the morrow, and the bride of Christ may well watch with intense delight the multiplying tokens of her Lord's arrival. 2. Indue the appropriate attire. This involves, first, the "ea.sting off" of the vestments of the night, and secondly, the "putting on" of the costume of day. The worli:s of darkness are like an infected garment, which the instructed wee.rer throws aside as worse than no covering at all. 'l'he panoply of light, the faith, hope, and love in which Christ arrays his followers,-this is the armour which will bear the scrutiny of the Oaptain, and prove a sure defence a.,aainst the powers of evil. This negative and positive preparation is in essence one and the same, as the entrance of light scatters the darkness. Armour was the favourite dress of Romans. and though they would doff it for night revels, they would scom to lack their accoutre- ments in the daytime. The cross of Obrist is the tiring-room of his servants; there they die to sin and live unto righteousness; there they "put on Christ," imbibe his spirit, and receive his colours. The Northumbrian earl, conscious of the advent of death, desired to be clothed in the suit of mail in which he had won so many fights; but the eye became gle.zed, the nerveless hand could not grnsp the spear, the IIShen hue of mortality overspread his face. The Christian dons his equipment, never to lay it aside; in it he shall join the throng of those who have overoome. 3. Exerl a d«orous activity. Avoid evil by pursuing good. "Walk honestly," not indulging iu intOlll- perance, impurity, and discord, but lending a righteous, sober, godly life. D~eds of darkness are condemned by the light, revealing their hideousness, whilst b:i.bits of integrity and virtue shrink not from My scrutiny; tb.oy shine most lustrous iu the brightest rays. Attnin "to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," "grow- ing up into him who is the Hend in nil things." We a.re now weaving and sewing and donning the vestments that shall be our glory or our shame through eternity.-S. R. A.. ™ THE EPISTLE OF P.AUL TO THE ROMANS. [on, xm.1-U,.