The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 436

pleased not himself." 3, We remark in the Lord Je8Ueperfect oberlien~ t,, the F,ther. Prophecy put into hie lips the language, "Lo, I come to do thy will O my God." Ho himRelf declared that he ea.roe to do the will of him that sent him and he wae conscious that this purpose was carried out. "I do always those thin"~ that please hi~." He ev~~ shap~d this principle into the remarkable prayer," Not my will, but thme, be done, Oons1der that the only way to make sure that life is not' self-seek.in" and self-pleasing is to consecrate it to the high end of plea.sing God. 4. Our Savio~ endured reproaches and wrongs vn the procuring of human salvation. These reviling3 and injuries were inflicted by sinners, and they came upon the innocent. He "endured the contradiction of sinners against himself;" he endured the cross, despisin" the shame." And this he did willingly and without a murmur. For "with his s~ripes we are healed." The "joy that was set before him" reconciled him to hardship :md privation, to insult and mocking, to anguish and death. Thus the plea.sin" of self was utterly absent; the mortification and crucifixion of self were cowrpicuo~sly pre- sent; reproaches were welcomed, that the reproachers might be redeemed. 5. The passage presumes the action qf the distinctively (Jhristian principle in such a, way as to influence the conduct of Christ's people. Not only have we, in our Lord's spirit and conduct, the one perfect example of self-denial and of devotion to the cause of human welfare. We have a provision for securing that Christ's people shall resemble their Lord. His love, personally apprehended and experienced, becomes the motive to their gratitude, affection, and consecration; and is the seed of its own reproduction and growth in their renewed nature. His Spirit is the Agent by whose energy men's natural selfishness is vanquished, and the new life is fostered and sustained. PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. Admire the Divine wisdom in the provision made for over- . coming the natural selfishness of mankind. What inferior agency could suffice for such a task? 2. If unhappy, consider whether self-seeking is not at the root of rest- lessness and dissatisfaction; and fall in with the Divine plan, by seeking earnestly the welfare of your neighbours. And you shall find such action will bring its own reward. 3. Cherish the divinely justified hope for the world's future welfare. Neither interest nor philosophy can effect what Christianity is capable of doing. The prospects of humanity are bound up with the rule and the grace of him of whom we read, "Even Christ pleased not himself." 4. Let the strong please, and bear with the infi..'"Inities of, the weak, by supporting such institutions as are desi,,crned t.o relieve suffering and to supply need. - Ver. 4.-The Scriptures. In many ways the New Testament lends its support and sanction to the Old. Our Lord himself bade his auditors and disciples "search the Scriptures." The evangelists support the Divine authority of Christ's ministry, by exhibiting many of its incidents e.s the fulfilment of Old Test.am.ant prophecy. And the Epistles abound with quotations from the ancient Hebrew writings which they 11pprove e.s of inspired authority. In this passage, Paul records in explicit language his own view of the character e.nd purposes of Old Testament Scripture. I. TBE INTENTION TBAT THE SCRIPTURES SHOULD BE OF PERPETUAL USE. "These things were written for our learning," i.e. for our instruction and improvement. This may be shown to be the case with the historical lessons, the biographical examples a.nd warnings, the moral precepts, the prophetic promises, of the Word of God. N uthing is pul"poseless or vnlueless. II. THE METHOD IN WHI0H THE SCRIPTURES PROVE SERVICEABLE. They are not like an amulet, e. charm, the mere possession of whic!i is supposed to be ad.antageous. 'l'hey are to be used in conformity with our intellectual and moral nature. Only by entering into the soul, and noting upon its passions, principles, and powers, crui the teachings of inspiration profit 11nd help us. '!'he apostle mentions two ways in which the Scriptures thus act, 1. By pati,mce. That is to say, the Scriptures r~preseut our humnn nature and life ns exposed to suffering, temptation, and many evils, agrun.st which the power of religion alono can fortify, and from whioh it alone can d<lliver. The Scriptures contain representations of God himself which e,re fitted to sustain his people to endure, and to inspire them to persevere. They contain actul\l. illustratic>ns of the power of ;patience exhibited iu the lifo of many of the saints of God. 2. By oorrtfort. If pati81106 is ~eroi.sed by man, consolation is aJl"i;mk-d by Gud. The aoJUQ. h  THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [ou. xv. 1--88.