The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 473

"kept in eilence through times eternal:" hidden in the thought of God fr0m the begin- ning, and through the earlier ages of the world's hi~tory. Oh, these blessed secrets of God, ready to burst upon 11B with a ehock of surprieel This secret had broken on the world; the mystery was "manifested," and "made known unto all the nations : " manifested to the B.postles, pre--eminently to Paul, and made known by them, not as on absolutely new thing, but BS hinted at in earlier prophecies; made known in their teaching and writing, that all the world might know. And the end as before, "obe- dience of faith "-the yielding of the whole mind and heart to the me;sa"e and 0"race of the eternal God, that so his power might work in them to their salvation and eternal stablishment. III. To such a One he commends them, and to the word of his grace. He had taught them according to his best wisdom ; should be see them, be will build them up according to hie best power. Bot his wisdom and power are nothing apart from the power of God "only wise;" and when his wisdom and power have done their best, still God's wise power mnst work all. He may see them; he may not: but, in any case, the eternal God is their Refuge, and round and underneath are the everlasting arms I To him be the glory, through Christ I "For of him, and through him, and to him are all things. Amen."-T. F. L. Vere. 1, •2.-A (Jhristian commendatioo. It ls an honour and a help to recei-,~ an introduction from one high in authority. Men of exalted station incnr a serion3 responsibility in the matter of granting or withholding letters of recommendation. The Apostle Paul had known what it was to be treated with scant courtesy by the Church at Jerusalem, until he was warmly taken by the hand by Barnabas. Doubtless this remembrance quickened his desire to support and shield others in a similar position. How strongly he advocates the cause of Phcebe I L CLAIMS TO THE REGARD OF A CHURCH, 1. As a fellow-bdiever, a " sister" in Christ. To the instinctive sympathy which nature fosters, grace adds a further reason in the reminder of the one communion to which all belong who have professed loyalty to the one Lord. " Work good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of faith." This mark of distinction is of necessity more visible where the surroundings are not even nominally Christian, and where a confession of faith in the new doctrine is a signal for tribulation and persecntion. 2. .As an officer of a sister Ohurch. She was a deaconess, a servant of the Church, set apart for special ministra- tion to the female portion of the community. "Render honour to whom honour is due." Office is prima facie an indication of worth, of high estimation by the electing body. There are ranks and orders in the heavenly hierarchy, as on earth. 3. .As one in need of hospitable succour. Need is itself an argument for attention and aid. Other things being equal, the call of the necessitous is paramount. The prosperous cat, manage well enough, whereas the situation of the distressed is an opportunity for benevolence. Phrobe's errand to Rome implied difficulty and insufficiency, whetlm· she sought redress in an imperial co\lrt of law, or the discovery of some lost relations, or the pursuit of some handicraft, or surgical assistance. 4. As having herself con- tributed to the relief of the suffering. This is the le:i; talionis in its benignant form. Who is such a proper recipient of charity as the man who has done good according to his means? With the merciful does God show himself mercifol. "Give, and it shall be given unto you." The idle vagabonds are not the deserving poor. Charity organi- zation can alone bestow alms without pauperizing. 5. .d.s having ministered to the writer. Though Phrobe'e privilege of tending the apostle in one of his sicknesses was also a duty, the grateful invalid by no means forgets her services. What is done to ourselves strikes us more forcibly than the aid we witness rendered to our neighbours. It is like a lantern whose rays are turned full upon our face; we perceive its brightness. Hence the impulse to Christion devotedness felt when with individuBl consciousness of indebtedness to Christ we say, not only, "He died to save sinners," but also, "He loveJ me, and gave himself for me." II. THE REOEPrION nEFITrING THE CHURCH. 'l'his is an illustratiou of the gener:1l maxim insisted on in eh. xv. 7. 1. A hearty welcome bes,•ems the sai11ts. n~s0rvo au,l coldness molt awny u11dc1· tho iu~riring beams of kinship to tlw S,wiour. The dee!)S of_ 472 'l'HE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO 'l'HE HOM.ANS. [oa. XVI. 1-27,