The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 465

obundnntly than all hie brethren, he himeelf ha.s recorded; and such bein"' the habit of his spiritual ministry, he was able and disposed to appreciate the work of hie dili;:sent nnd effective colleagues, There le great discrimination in his lan!!l.Ja"e of approbation, o.nd, at the same time, great generosity. We should learn the whol:some lesson that it is right to appreciate the services of our fellow-Christians, and gratefully to recdcmize 0 and remember their co-operation. V. It must etrike every reader of thie passage that we have here illustratione of the way in which CHRISTIAN APPBEOIATION IS INTENSIFIED BY PERSONAL BELATIO?f A~D FEELmG. One member of the Roman Church he designates "my beloved." In another he recognizes a "kinsman." A third-an aged Christian matron-he designates his own "mother," referring, no doubt, to her tender and hospitable ministrations in former days. Beautiful indeed ie natural feeling when thus sanctified by true piety. The Christian family, and the friendly circle, penetrated by Christian principle and sentiment, are nothing Iese than an earnest of the sacred fellowship of heaven. The Church below thus resembles and prepaTes for the Church of the Firstborn above. APPLICATION, 1. The strongest of all social bonds are those of our common Chris- tianity, which, binding hearts to Christ, binds hearts to hearts. Cultivate these bonds. 2. Christian labourers should never forget those who in former days have shared their toils and sacrifices. 3. Courtesy is a Christian grace, and its exercise smooths the path of social life. 4. Sympathy and brotherliness on earth will prepare for the sweet and immortal fellowship of heaven. Ver. 20.-Victory assured, In viewing our human life, we are tempted into one or other of two extremes. To the worldly and the careless, especially when young and prosperous, life seems easy. They a.re conscious of no temptation, for they yield at once to each congenial suggestion. They are ignorant of struggles, for to them life has never shaped itself as a moral ;warfare. But there are those who are ever oppressed by a constant sense of the solemnity of life. To such the conflict is a daily and inevi- table fact. They cannot drift a.down the current; yet, strike ont as bravely as they will, they feel as though they made no headway against the waters, as though they could never reach the shore. Struggle ;they must, they do; yet with many failures and with faint hope of final success. Now, Christianity rebukes the first of these classes for frivolity, the second for faithlessness. The Scriptures ever represent our life as a spiritual conflict; yet they ever summon us to fight the good fight of faith with hopeful hearts; the battle is fierce, but to the brave the victory is sure. I. THE CONFLICT AND THE FOE. There is a power of evil, a personal and mighty power. Sa.tan seeks to carry captive human souls; and in the effort employs every resource-the fiercest assaults, and the most unscrupulous, insidious wiles. In this Satan deals with men according to their circumstances, their character, their tempera- ment. Over multitudes he triumphs openly. Yet there are those who resist him, who regard him as their deadly foe. Well is it for you if you are aware of your position, your danger, the attempts of the adversary, and your own weakness and insufficiency for a struggle so unequal. Faithful, consistent, experienced Christian! you have not yet finished the campaign; you are not yet beyond the reach of the fiery darts. Young and ardent Christian I dare not to indulge in boa.sting or to self-satisfaction. J Wlt where and when you least expect it, then and there the attack may be made. " Resist the devil;"" Watch and pray, leat ye enter into tempta.tion; n "Take to you the whole armour of God." II. THE HELPER AND DELIVERER. In a conflict such as human life, how can we be blind to our own helplessness and need? Whither shall the assaulted and imperilled turn? Upon whom shall they call? The Christian cannot answer these questions amiss; for he has already sought and experienced the saving strength of God's right hand. Yet he may well need to be reminded of his only hope and refuge, Let us lift up our eyes unto the hills, whence cometh our help. 'l'he God of peace is, in the text, se& before us as our Saviour, Does it strike you as strange that the Most High should be eo described in such a connection? Do you ask-Why is the God of peace invoked, to oppose o.nd to vanquish the foe of souls? 'l'he nnswer is plain. G-od's nature is peace; his o.im is pc1ice; his rule is peaco. Ilut his is not the peace of compromise with sin His is the peace whioh comes with righteousness and with the reign of holy law  THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. [cm. xvi.1-2'7.