could ecarcely find coherent expreRsion; one seem9 to follow and to efface that which precedes; nnd the unity of the whole is with diflic1Jlty rli8~emihle, b~c:H.,e of tho pressure upon the attention of the several parts. It is RO with these clr,sing ver.,es of the Epistle to the Romans; they introduce to the reader's mind so very many subjects, nnd they ~ntain so many memorable ~bservations, t?at he is likely to forget that they constitute a doxology. But to the mmd of the wnter the intention to utter closing words of praise wRB present and powerful; and the reasons and motives for praise crowded in upon his mind with such rapidity and force that he conld hardly hrine1 his Epistle to its conclusion. Let us endeavour to appreciate the comprehensiveness or°this great doxology. I. THIS DOXOLOGY CONTAINS A OELEBBATION OF DIVINE A'l'l'RIBUTES, Three are brought forward, two of them explicitly, and one implicitly, in such a manner aa to enhance our conception of God's character, and to summon the Church of Christ to the congenial exercise of lowly and adoring praise. 1. Power. 2. Wisdom. 3. Bene- volence. All these attributes are connected with the gospel which Christians have received, and which is intended for the illumination and salvation of all men. Though benevolence is not mentioned, it is implied in the statements of God's designs of mercy towards all nations, made at the close of ver. 26. II. Tms DOXOLOGY CONTAINS A COMPENDIUll'. OP CHRISTIAN DOCTBTh7!!. 1. The substance of Christian truth is contained in the Person and ministry of Jesus Christ. 2. This is represented as e. gospel, or glad tidings from God to men. 3. And as a revealed mystery, something which existed in the mind and counsels of God from eternity, which was treated throughout the earlier ages of human history as e. secret, concealed beneath promises and types e.nd sacrifices, but only made manifest upon the institution of the new and spiritual kingdom of truth and righteousness. III, THIS DOXOLOGY CONTAINS A PROMISE OF WORLD-WIDE BLESSINGS TO :llAY. The large heart of the great apostle of the Gentiles was in perfect sympathy with the love of God revealed in Christ, and with the vast scheme of human redemption. It is like himself-the unselfish, compassionate, truly heroic nature that he was-that, in closing this Epistle, which has sometimes been misrepresented as teaching the limitation of Divine mercy e.nd the substitution of arbitrariness for pity, St. Paul should thus refer to the glorious future of the kingdom of the Saviour upon earth. He glorified God that the glorious gospel of the blessed God should be published to all nations, that this should be by Divine prediction e.nd by Divine co=and, and that the purpose of such publication WRB, not the condemnation of the sons of men, but salvation, as explained in that elevated e.nd truly Christian phrase," the obedience of faith." IV. Tms DOXOLOGY IMPLmS A WI8B AND PRAYER FOR THE STABILITY IN FllT!l AND HOLINESS OF THOSE TO WBOll AND FOB WHOSE BENEFIT THE EPISTLE WAS WRITTEN. V. THIS DOXOLOGY CONCLUDES THE EPISTLE WIT!l AN ASCBIPrION OF PR.USE ~ ' l ) HONOUR TO THE GoD OF ALL GRAOE AND SALVATION. The whole tre:itise is inspired by a reverent e.nd grateful spirit, and is evidently an effort to represent the true moral glory of tho Lord of e.ll; e.nd it is appropriate that it should close e.s it does with ascribing glory, through Jesu,s Ohrist, to God the only wise.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-" Phcebe our sister:" a sermon to young women. The Rev. W. S. Swan- eor., speaking some time a.go at Manchester, showed that the religions of the East were powerless to regenerate the hoort e.nd purify the life, e.nd that, however excellent some of them me.y appear in theory, they utterly failed in practice. Among other things he eaid, "I e.ek what e.daptntion hnve we found in these religions to meet the wants, to heal the wounds of woman, nod to give her her proper e.nd rightful position? Whl\t he.vo they done to free her from the oppression that imprisons, degrades, e.nd brute.Uzee her? What he.a 'the light of Asia.' done to brighten her lot ? What re.y of oomfort hnve these religions shed into the eh11mbles where she is bought o.nd sold? What h11ve they done to sweeten and purify life for her? Why I ht)r place in the ~oe.lled pl\radises of some of them, in the way in which it is painted, only buru■ ROMANS, ~~ ii 4G6 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE HOM:ANS. [err. xv 1, 1-27,