The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 324

Faith begins to operate in its own energy and disoovefs a field of. enterprise in love. l. Faith inspires lovt, as love also in turn inspires faith. We believe in and trust the goodness of Christ, and so we are moved to love him. If we did not believe in his love we should never return it. 2. Faith having once roused love exercises itself in promoting the objects of love. We trust in the unseen Gqd, we also love him_; then we try to please him, to enjoy his favour, and t.o live in his presence-objects of. love; but objects we should never seek it wo were not supported and urged on by our belief ~ and trust to what is beyond our sight, and experience. III. FAITH WORKING THROUGH LOVE IS THE ONE ESSENTIAL CONDITION OJ!' BUC0ESS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. Circumcision is of no use. Uncircumcision and the liberty. t)lat boasts of it by themselves a.re useless. Mere barren liberty is nothing. Freed<;>m is conferred that in it we may have a field and range for noble enterprises. Mere rites, baptism, etc., mere observance of religious services, will not advance us in the spiritu~~ life, neither will resistance to the bondage of such things. The negative side ol Protestantism is no gospel if we rest only in that. Spiritual, active life is the great thing. Faith alone would not suffice, because our supreme.duties are love of God and love of man, and faith is only valuable as it leads up to these. But love alone w_ould not suffice, for without faith. even if it ea.me into being, it would languish and perish iu despair. "Faith working through love "-this is the motto for the healthy Christian life. He who relinquishes this will turn not only to a lower method, but. to a w<;>rthless and fatal one. Nothing else will avail, and nothing more is needed for gr<;>wth up to the attainment of the most perfect saintliness and the most fruitful service.-W. F. Ji. Ver. 7.-Birukred. I. PAST ATTAINMEMTS DO NOT DISPENSE WI'l'B THE DOEBSITf OF PRESE}."T PROGRESS. "Ye did run well." So far, so good. That was a matter 01 thankfulness. But it would count for nothing against the unworthiness of a slackened pace. Old laurels wither. Every day has its new duties. We must not waste to-day in congratulating ourselves on the success of yesterday. The tide is against us; to rest on the oars is to be swept back. No nation can prosper on its past history if the spirit of heroism has forsaken its citizens. As Christians, we never reach the goal till we have crossed the river of death. Till then we must be ever "pressing. on, and bearing up," or we shall assuredly make shipwreck even after earnestly running over the longest, steepest, roughest course. .. . IL PAST ATTAINMEFrB CONDEMN us FOB NEGLECTING PRESENT PROGRESS, We are judged by our own past selves. Our history is witness against us. 'l'he past proves that we could ran well. It shows that we admitted the· obligation to do so. Thoso who have never known Christ may plead ignorance. But they who have tasted of his grace and experienced the blessings of it and used it for some .work in. the .Christian life, a.re without excuse if they tum aside at last. ill. PAST ATTA..INMENTB MAKE THE DGLECT OJ!' PRESENT PBOGBEBB PECULURLY BAD. It is melancholy 1ro see a life rendered abortive from the .first, but it is much more mournful to witness the failure of a life that began in promise and made good way towards success. All the hopes and toils and sacrifices of the past are wasted. How painful to be so near the goal and yet to give up the race! to sink within ~ight of the haven ! Such a broken life, like a day opening in a cheerful dawn and passing throu~h a bright noon to a dark and stormy night, is of all lives most deplorable. •:Ye.did run well; who did hinder you "~what pathos there is in these words I Christ lVept over Jerusalem sadder tears than the ruin of Sodom could call forth. JV. WE MUST DEWABE OF THE DANGER OF }<"EGLECTING PR~BENT PRO.GREBS AFTER wccEEDING WITH PAST ATTAINMENTS. "Who did hinder you?" There must have been new hindrances and possibly surprises and unexpe~ted checks. 1. We must not rest satisfied with the establishment of good ha.hits. Habits liiay be broken. 2. We must be prepared for new diffictiltiP..s. 'l'h.e way that it1 now so smooth may beciome liUddewy rough and .stony. MWe know the anxious strife, the etern11.J Jn.we, To which the triumph of all good is given- High ea.crifi.ce, and labour without pa.nee, Even to the death; else wherefore should the eye Of mau eonvei:11e with immortality?" cu. v. 1-26.J THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. 291