The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 417

tendency is t<> be found in the great fuct that ftll are &000un.table to O.Jd. Remomber. in~ thi!', we sh11U not, except where the authoritative eooiety, the ordinance of Hoaven, n,quires it, be willing t-0 pass sent.ence upon onr fellow-men. 1. THE F.~CT OF JUDGMENT. It is a fact to which consoience, and the con.atltutlon of human nature and human society, nndeviatingly testify. Men sometimes strive to forget it, but reldom venture to deny it. 1. Judgment involves a Divine Judge, God will judge the world by Jesus Christ, a Judge qualified, both by his Divine knowledge and his human sympathy, for fulfilling this awful office, 2, Judgment involvee an accountable moral nature on the part of those who are subjected to it. Man is so fashioned that it is just that be should be judged. He has knowledge of right and wrong, power of independent action arising from his voluntary nature, and the capacity to appreciat.e inducement.s to righteousness. 3. Judgment, always a faot, will in the future be explicit, pronounced, and manifested. Doubtless the Judge observes, approves, and censures every day; but there will bo a period in which this shall be apparent. "The day will declare it I" II. Tm!: m.-rvxRSALITY OF JUDGllENT. Wherever is a moral nature, amene.ble to law, there responsibility exist.s, and there the judicial exercise of Divine authority shall take place. Babes, idiots, madmen, are not subject to moral e.ccountability; but all beside-according to light and privilege-must appear for retribution before the bar of God. None is so high in this world as to be superior to justice; none is so low as to escape it.. The omni.science of Deity cannot be deceived; the justice of Deity cannot be eTIMied. ill. Tm!: n."DIVIDUALITY OP JUDGHENT. 1. Ea.eh shall stand alone at the bar; every one shall give account of him$el,f. In this sense, "every man shall bear his own burden." For his own character, and for his own acts, shall each separate person be held responsible. 2. None shall escape responsibility by casting blame upon Providence, by pleading that he was not favourably circumstanced, that he was not one of "the elect." 3. Nor can any evade judgment by throwing the blame of his sin upon society. The influence of others makes human life a discipline, but it does not reduce it to irresponsible mechanism. 4. Nor can any escape by casting censure upon the Church. Whether or not professing Christians have done their dut;y b;y one another, the fact of individual responsibility remains unaffected. AlTLicATIOli. L To all hea.rere of the gospel this fact is a reason for accepting the good tidings of reconciliation. 2. To all Christians it supplies a motive to watchful- ness and diligence. Vera. 17, 18.-.The kfr1gdnm of God. Christianity furnishes a moral perspective. It throws all things into their proper relations to one another, and elevates those things which are of supreme importance to the loftiest position of eminence, Instead of occupying themselvea about outward actions, ceremonial observances, and ritual distinctions, Christians are in this passage recommended to aspire to those virtues which are of highest importance in the sight of God, and which bear the most power- fully upon the welfare of human society. L C=TI.Ali"ITY CREATES A BPIBITUAL KlliODOH, It is not, like many human religioiiS, a system of regulations as to conduct or observances. It is not "eatinit and driILking." It is a kingdom conceived in the Divine mind, and worthy of its Divine Author; a kingdom established upon the mediation of a Divine Saviour; a kingdom coD.Sisting in the role of spiritual powers and principles, It is a kingdom over spiritual natures, acting by spiritual agencies, and issuing in spiritual subjection and obedience, .At the same time, it is a kingdom whose subjects are governed in their whole life by the power it introduces and applies to the inner nature. It is a kingdom in a measure realized in human society, and destined to be perfected in the glorious future, IL Tm: SPECIAL CHARA.CTEBB OP TBIS KlllGD0H, 1. In relation to God-righteoua- f".eM. His law of jll8tice is obeyed. Introduced. into right and harmonious relations with the supreme Ruler, the ,ubjeet of the kingdom pra.cti888 ri_ghteouaneBB in hllll!an relati..ot:.LBhips. Righteousness is what man w~s made for, or 1s what the Ohrlst1an attait:.LB to. 2. In relation to men~. Strife an.cl hatred are the curBO of .human llueiety. Christianity alone baa dwcovered and applled the principle which remediea tha evil. True peace ii bastd on righteowwess, on the prevaleDDe of those principlea on. xiv. 1-23.J 'flIE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE TIOM,\:N'S. 415