The Pulpit Commentary — Romans — Section 474

11p,'lth~- arr for e~er brokc-n up liy the entr11nce'of Ohriat into the heart. To receive a a fe\10w-member "in the Lord" is to display some of the love and tenderness which Christ mnnifestc-d t,)wtmls his disciples. It is quite incompatible with that frigid etiqut'tte which suspects new-comel'll, and resents as vulgar every outward token of c>nwti,,n. 2. To re11der aid to the tuhole body qf Oh,·ist is an esse11tial pa,·t of every Ci1111-c'.'s fririetions. A Church exist.s, n,,t. for its owu aggrandizement allll glorifioation hut as an instrument for strengthening and enlarging the one kingdom of Christ. And· e~ery power at its command must be utilized as the ver;r law of its life. Where a c,immunity or an individual wraps itself up in seclusion, mdifferent to the welfare of others, there th2 process of decay and death has begun. And it is not in the mass, but by single persons, that the world is regenerated &11d service rendered. The reoognition of the real brotherhood of Christians will usher in millennial days. Affection is the oentrnl fire oi sainthood, burning up what is mean and selfish, and glowing like a coal from the altar of him whose incam~te love is our clearest revelation of Deity. 3. That is poor admiration of cm apostle wMch i.s rontent toi,th a grudging compliance with his bidding. Here was a chance presented to the Roman Chrii;tians at once to be generous to a nsitor, and to fill the apostle's hea.rt with thankfulness. And we to-day do best mark our reverence for apostolic authority and for the Master whose instructions are thus communicated by a whole-hearted endeavour to carry out the principles of New Testament liberality and beneficence. They have good security who lend unto the Lord. 4. To lwrwur woman for her place and work is a sign of high citriUza~on. It may not be true that only Christianity has treated woman with befitting dignity, but it is certain that Christ paid her signal respect, &11d that she has been foremost in the a.ccepta.ncc and promulgation of the faith. The prominence of woman in the primitive Church was succeeded by somewhat of obscurity and depreciation; but the Christian idea. has again triumphed, and woman's special mission to ~soothe the aching head, and succour the weary, and to minister to distress as an angel of God, was never so fully. discerned and so warmly appraised. as now. " Rise I woman, rise To thy pecnliar and best altitudes Of doing good and of enduring ill- Of comforting for ill, and teaching good, And reconciling all that ill and good UntD the patience of e. constant hope." Fem.a.le labour in schools and missions e.fl'ords the brightest prospects of evangelizing the world.-S. R. A. Ver. 7.-.A noble encomium. It is not without significance that this, the most abstruse and difficult of all the Epistles, should have appended to it the longest list of friendly greetings. Doctrine and argument are not necessarily productive of coldness of heart. The apostle was e. beautiful example of the blending of the philosopher and the gentle- man. Deep thonght and elevated diction were not joined to forgetfulness of the cour- t.esies of life. The true refinements of society are worthy of attention; they lessen the friction and ha.rsh grating of the wheels of the machinery. Lofty pillars and strong bnttresses may be graceful as well a.a UBefuL Of course, reality is ever preferable to mere show and a rouuh demeanour covering sincere affection is better than superficial politeness. 'The tribu~ of respect which is here paid to Andronicus and J unias suggests several considerations. L THE BOND OF NATURAL KINSHIP IS IMMENSELY BTllENGTIIENED BY A COMMON BELIGIOUB FAITH. A philosophical Utopia which annuls special forms of alliance over- looks a fundamental element of our human constitution. A man's regard for his own family is the first fulfilment of the law to love his neighbour. From this starti?g-point affection may branch out in all directions. The apostle noted e.e one of the signs of a corrupt condition that men were "without natural affection." And though our Lord wr,u]d not permit family claims to interfere with discipleship, he _yet rebuked t~e l'i,arisecs for encouraging gifts to the teml?le from ~en who left their ?Wn parents Ill want. The Saviour made provision for hie mother e comfort even e.m1d the agony of the cr,,ss, Christianity may divide some households like a sword and fire, but where Ull, XVI, 1-27.] THE EPIB'fLE OF PAUL 'fO '£HE ROMANS, i73