which nro in harmony with the nature of God and the constitution of human society. 3, In the henrt of the subject-fay. Oheerfulness, serenity, happiness -these are the portion of the sincere believer in Christ, the loyal eubject of Christ. '" Rejoice ever- more I" is the Ohristian admonition; "al way rejoicing I" is the C,'hristian motto. The power of tho Holy Spirit accounts for this change from the forced gaiety of the worldling, and the cold gloom of the sceptic, to the gladnees of him who is at peace with God, and who cherishes a good hope of eternal life. III. THE RESULTS OF THIS KINGDOM. These are very fully stated in ver. 18. 1. Christ is served, If ho is the Lord and Head of the kingdom, this must be 80. His Name is honoured and his cause promoted where trnly Christian virtues prevail. 2. God is pleased. For the purposes of his holy benevolence are fnlfilled, and hie Son is glorified and his creatures blessed. 3. The approval of men is secured. It cannot be otherwise when dispositions and practices prevail which are corrective of human ills and promotive of human rectitude, concord, and happiness. Ver. 18.-The double aspect of Ohristia,n service. The apostle's mind was as powerful and active in a practical as in a speculative direction. Christ's law had been, "By their fruits ye shall know them." And in this verse, Paul, reiterating his Master's principles, vindicates the principles of the new faith by appealing to the excellence of the fruits of the Spirit. L WHAT CHRISTIAN BEBVICE IS. 1. It involves a personal relation between Master and servant. 2. It involves an acknowledgment of Divine authority. 3. It involves a powerful motive to a consecrated life. 4. It involves the inclusion of all activities and relationships within its sphere. II. SUCH BEBVICE IS WELL PLEASING TO Goo. 1. For it resembles that of Christ himself, who came to do the will of him who sent him, and who "pleased the Father al way," in whom the Father was "well pleased." 2. It is in conformity to the Di vine will. It is the prerogative of the spiritU'al nature of man that it is capable of appre- hending and voluntarily accepting and obeying the perfect will of God. 3. It tends to the Divine glory. This is by no other means so effectively promoted as by the willing consecration to the Lord of all intelligent and moral natures. III. SucH SERVICE IB APPROVED OF MEN. 1. Even those who do not render it themselves, approve it in others. 2. Even those who verbally censure, in their inner conscience commend it. 3. Legislators and rulers approve it, as contributive to the harmony and just development of human society at large.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-9.-Tlu, Ohristian's dependenca and tktJ Christian's independen«. The composite chnracter of the Christian community at Rome-the Jewish origin of many of its members on the one hand, o.nd contact with heathenism on the other-hart doubtless given rise to differences of opinion. Some there were who still retained their Jewish prejudices and ideas. They abstained from meats. They observed special days. They were inclined to judge harshly o.nd even to look down upcn those who did not think and act as they did (ver. 3). And, on the other hand, those who partook of all ments, nnd regarded all dnys as alike, were disposed to find fault with those who attached n religious significance to the pnrtaking of food and the observing of days. Tho apostle here lo.ys down some general principles which a.re of use in all such cases where differences of opinion a.rise a.bout non-essentials. I. THl!l CHRISTIAN'S DEPENDENCE. "None of us liveth to himself, and no mau dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die-, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, nnd rose, nud revived, that he might be Lord both of the <lend and livini n (vers. 7-9). There is no such thiug as absolute inde~udence. The relation of eaoh individual to Christ, dependence on him and responSibility to him ie here nssortod. 1. We depend upon the Lord's death. In the cr0&'i is our hope of f~rgivonos~, pBrdon, cleBnsing. 2. We depe,!<f UiJO'~. tlie Lo-i~s ni.sw-r«tion. In l.tis resurrection 1s our hope Bnd nssurnuce of the ltle Bnd 1111mortahty beyond. "B.N:au:;u 416 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [orr. xiv. 1-23,