The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 365

the P,(~ITT.Q.Ph 1W.(¥! the b~rdeq. of trespass, This wo are to share with a brother. Then corp.e~~~.the thol!ght of such self-deception as prevents 118 sharfog it sympathetically with hirp., .. F:ollowing upcm that is an .ex.hortation to apply proper tests to our conduct as a.whole, the rqsljlt. being that, if.we have the root of the matter in us, we shall have m1,1t~r 'for glorymg in regard of ourselveB alone, and not in reganl of our neighbour. And ,then the o.postle· si:ems to add tbat we have immediately to stand before God, each with ;h1s pwn burden, It is true that the burden includes the burden of trespasses. .And it is true that the fact that we have trespasses l!hould make us sympathetic. But that which,;yeights the burd.en of our conduct as a wl,0le, and which should make us tender to ea£h,other,)8 that we have immediately to rencler our account to God. The thought ~J:ten, is-;-:We are, to .feel for our brother, who in his trespass has a heavy and incom- municable load of responsibility; for in our own trespasses we have a load of respons;- l;>~lity that i~ heavy and incommunicable too. (1) It is a burden which cannot be refused qr, laid down at pleasure. By a mere wish we cannot be irresponsible. We are, in this "rellpect, as clay in,. the han«1s of the potter. \Ve have not the choice of our own exist- eiice or .of .our rion-,existence, All that pertains to our corning into existence, and to oµr constitution, has been, ordained. by a sovereign God, who for good and wise ends h~. made us, and has m,ade us responsible. Now, what does God require of us'? It i$, fii:.~EIW Testament langµage, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be s?,ved." .,!,part, fron;i .the graqiousness of this, there is its imperativeness. We have not been cop.suited as to the making of 'this command; but it has been imposed in virtue of Gpd's sovereign prerogative to lay commands on us. Is there any question as to the desirability of'salvation? It is enough that God wishes to see us saved. Is there any objection to the particular way of being saved? It is enough to say that this is God's v;ay .. Ha:v:i,ng appointed it, theJ,"e is no question of preference, but simply of obedience. Is there ai:iidiscre\ion as to time? It is said, "Behold, now is the accepted time, bel:icild;'no\Y is. the'clay of salvation." If,God says now, then it is at our peril if we delay for·an h,o.ur. It is well to have the command laid upon us in all its imperativeness, .th'at w,e ·way ,feel driven, as by weight of authority, to Christ for salvation. There is responsibility co:iinecteu with .our whole life. We have. not really the disposal of any- thing, apart from God's way. of disposfog of it. • God's will must rule our disposal of our,time,'of'our ta,lents, of our property. (2) It is a burden which we cannot devolve upon another. . This 1s its incommunicableness, which weights it so much.. We must act for ourselves iii the matter of our salvation. If we wait until others save us we shall never be saved at all. They may give us their sympathy, and by their prayers and appeals influence us; but they cannot act in our soul's stead. and accept of Christ fo~ us. Why )lave we been so nobly gifted? •Is it not that we may act for ourselves., 'and not need .t.o hold on to an.other? We are to act out our convictions of what is right, as .those that will ha:ve to stand before the judgment-seat and give an account of all 9µr acts. And sure.ly. we can never see our way as responsible beings to reject salva- .tfo~. ~t w\ll be found that all among whom our lot is cast will not be on the side of 6p.r be~t interests, . There will be some who would lead us to ruin, as though our souls ,vere. on)y to be pla;)'.ed :with. But if others choose to go to ruin, that is no reason why ,we should go with ·them. .And yet it is to be feared that many ruin their souls merely \o plea~e or not tjl aisplease their fri1;1nd. But no one can be excused for this. For what is .that but thinking µiore of our friend than of God? It is at our peril if we can fo. influenced by a fe\low-man when he asks us to sin, and not be influenced by God wb.en 1he asks, us to be saved. If those who seek to lead us away could take our respon- sibili,t.y and relieve _us.,from the consequ~nces of our acts, then we might have some inducement to go. with them. But that 1s what none of them can do, be he ever so great. "Wherefore should I fear [i.e. to say, slavishlyl when the iniquity of my heels shall 'compass. me about? They that trµst in their weafth, and uoast themselves in the . multitude ·of their ric~es; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a 'ransoi:n: for him (for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth [i.e. 'there is a timii when it ceaseth] for ever), that he should still live for ever, and not see corruption."' If no .ono, howev;er grnat, can do this, then we must act for ourselves ancl refuse to be 'infhlenced for eyil. Oh that men, when asked to take a wrong step, would only consider before God ho1v .~hoy are alone as responsible beings, standing or falling by Fhe,mselves I (3) It is a bm·d~n which we are always free to bear. We moan all who  332 THE EPIS'rLE T('.) TBE GALATIANS. [tut. vt. 1-18.