I. PERl'O?fl! TO DK SB1J}."NED. Those "who cause divisions 1md offenoes,"· True Christianity ever ru11kl'@ for peace. There m11y be rending and outcries whilst the former evil spirit is undergoing expulsion; there are often searchings of heart and a forsaking of old companions and practices; but when Christ is acknowledged as King tranquillity reigns in the breast, and peace and love spresd their pinions over Christia~ fellowship. To break up "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peaoo" is B surd method of placing stumbling-blocks in the path of the unwary, More harm hRs proceeded from this oouroe to the body of Christ than has ever resulted from outside attacks. Safety lies in withdrawal from those who walk clisorderly, rudely disturbing the peace of the Church. n. wA~'T0N PROMOTERS OF STRIFE BAVB A PERBONAL END TO GAIN. They" servo their own belly." Thus ruthlessly does the apostle analyze their motives, and he hesitates not to impute their action t.o a base desire for self-gratification. Perhaps they aim at notoriety, or they are jealous of the accepted leaders of religious life, The pugnacious see little chance of distinguishing themselves in seasons of serenity. The arm rebels against the governing head, and instead of counting it an honour to minist.er according to its functions, would rather force the rest of the frame t.o pander to its single indulgence. The simple are easily imposed on by specious professions and plansible protestations of a regard for the common weal. ill. JUDGE THE CONDUCT OF KEN BY TIIE STANDARD OF TBUTB. We are not left to our intuitive discernment. What is "contrary to the doctrine" of the apostles can oever be allowed as a basis of division. Heavy is the responsibility those incur who initiat.e &tri.fe among Christians. Let them be certain first that what they bring forward aa a test is truth, important fundamental trnth. If it opposes the ethical rnles or the elementary teachings on which the gospel is established, it carries its own condemna- tion. A speculative theory is not a sufficient reason for throwing a firebrand amongst the articles of faith. Such behaviour di1fers radicn.lly from a religious reformation like that of Luther, where it is a return to gospel simplicity that is contended for, and not an overlaying of sonnd words with superstition and ceremony. The apostle's warning applies, not to genuine seekers after truth, but t.o those who delight in making breaches in the Christian fortress. Discriminate between schismatics and dissenters I IV. Te:J: JI.ADI SECUB.ITY AGA.INST EVIL INFLUENCE A.ND THE CHIEF PBESERVATIVE OF HARKOlilY JB All EAJD."EBT DEBIBE FOB THE GLORY OF CHBIBT. " S11rve our Lord Christ." ~ a wire introdnced int.o a solution promotes crystallization, eo really Christian thoughts and purposes and acts group themselves around the Person of the Saviour. Petty longings are snbordinated t.o the one grand idea of doing the will of the Lord. The foe cares little about the damage inflicted on the kingdom; the servant grieves over every disruption of its peace and power. Even necessary departures from a corrupt Christian society have been deplored as evil in themselves by the good men who have felt constrained thus to prove their loyalty to conviction.-S. R. A. Vers. l-27.--Saw.tatwm and benedictions. The programme being sketched, the apostle now proceeds t.o the salutations and benedictions with which hie Epistles usually end. And here notice- L THE DIBTINGUISBED PLACE OCCUPJED IN THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH DY WOMEN, There are no lees than 'IW/Ul women specially referred to in this list, and all are active in the Chnrch. Some were deawnessea ; for instance, Phcebe, Mary, Tryphena and Try- phoa and Persis. Oriental society separates the sexes in a way we do not in the West ; hence' the need of such officials there, and in zenana mission work·etill. Why should they not exist? Many a work which the Church should undertake can be better done by women than by men. But notice briefly : 1. Phabe. She was a deaconess of Cencbrea, the port of Corinth. It was she who carried the precious Epistle to Rome. Some bW!in8811 led her thither. She is the bearer of the fineat Epistle ever written to a Christian. Church, and in it she h&s a magnificent introduction. 2. Prisca. Called Priscilla, and mentioned before her husband Aqnila. Perhaps she was the better Chriatian. At all eventB, they had a "Church in their house." They had been very kind to the apostle, and had prosecuted with him their tent-making trade. 3. Tryphena and T,-ypJ-M>ea. 'l'heir names suggest voluptuous living-but they had been iransformed by grace into hard workers (cf. Godet, in Zoe.). 4. J>erBia. Likely an aged deaconess. 011. xvi. 1-27.J 'l'HE EPIS'rLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. 475
Iler work le over. She had done much-had donbtleRs done what she could, and did not need to go to her work in company, like the preceding pair, but could face it alone. 6. Mother of Rufus. Bho seems to have been the widow of Simon the Cyrenian, a.~ Mark xv. 21 suggests. Paul had likely lodged with them when in Jerusalem, and received maternal sympathy from the good lady. Hence he speaks of her as his mother too. II. NOTICE THE PABTIOULAR KNOWLEDGE PAUL POSSESSES OP' THE MEllBERS OP' THE OHUROH JN RoME. This long list is a very particolar one, and show3 how the apostle hns them all at his fingers' ends. He seems to have had that very enviable faculty for remembering names. And his particularity in the matter was from the lcue he bore them, as references in the words used over and over suggest. III. THE SALUTATION WITH THE KISS OF HOLINESS. The arrangement was men kissed men, and women women, as is the Oriental fashion. It indicated a. deeper interest in one another's welfare than we are inclined for in the West. IV. THE ADVICE TO AVOID TROUBLES OF THE CmraCH. (Vers. 17-20.) Prudence wa.s necessary in the doing of good and a desire to avoid all pugnacity. On peaceful lines they might expect the victory over the evil one. V, PAUL'S FELLOW-WORKERS AT 0oBINTH SEND GREETINGS TO THE CHURCH AT Rol!H. (Vera. 21-23.) The apostle had made good way at Corinth, from the greetings he was here enabled to send. VI. THE DOXOLOGY. (Vere. 24-27.) He carries his praise and hope np·.qards, and lays all at the feet of God. So should it be always.-R. M. E. HOIDLETICAL INDEX TO
THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS.
THl!XB PAGZ