The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 301

end, to take imperfect men (men in whom there arc all sorts of imperfections physicnl, intellectual, spiritual, men who have mixed with their nature a corrupt and dobnsing element) and make them perfect-. .And this is to be done according to a Divine stan- dard of perfection, not a human one. Iodoed, tbat human excellence should attain 11 Divine standard is as necessary for the satisfaction of man as it is for the glory of God . .All that is instrumental and ministerial about human life is to he measured as it serve11 towards tbe perfecting of the individual man in true godliness and Christian character, .And we must ever remember this in the midst of all the infirmities and lapses of our present life. We are, indeed, strangely blind to the marvellous possibilities that lie hirl in every human being. V/ e often have to say of men that their purposes are broken off, but forget all the time that God's purposes for men may all be fulfilled if only they are willing to be co-workers together with him. II. TEE SERVICE OF THE LAw. The Law, taken in its most comprehensive sense including commandments as to conduct on the one hand, and ceremonies on the other: was of immediate service in two ways. It made men dissatisfied with their present selves, and intensely anxious to he better. If it did not give a standard of lil'e posi- tively, it was something that it ga\"e one negatively. One of the great merits ot Ps. cxix. is in showing what the Law could do by way of stirring up spiritual aspiration~, and filling men with a sublime _discontent. For what the writer of tllis psalm expresses, thousands must have felt. Like Paul, they wanted to do good, yet evil was present with them. And always, to many, the Law must have been indeed a shadow of good things to come, a proof that there was abiding substance which would one day be mani- fested. III. TEE LnlITB OF THE LAW. The Law was good as indicating where perfection lay; but there was in it nothing dynamic, nothing to advance men one stage nearer per- fection. Indeed, the Law, apart from its proper sequel in Christ, would have done harm rather than good, inasmuch as it would have driven men to despair. Perfection would have been seen across an impassable abyss. It has always been a curse of fallen human nature that what God gives for one purpose man uses for another. In the coune of ages the Jew had reduced a Law meant to rouse the heart, a Law that in the very essence of it was spiritual, to a mere collection of external ceremonies, The Law was reckoned o.s something that could be obeyed with the hands and lips. .And because men had lost the main part of the Law, the Law itself must have fallen into disrepute with many. Outwardly they saw a profession of religion; inwardly they saw a sordid and uncharitable life. .A.nd even the gospel may be misused as much as the Law. There may be an outward semblance of connection with Christ, while be has no power over the heart. Men did come to the Law seeking perfection; all Pharisees were not bad men at heart; their consciences were misled by traditional teaching as to the importance of ceremonies. In their own strength they did their very best to obey. What .is wanted is that we should really come to Christ, that our hearts should be brought fully under the regenerating power of his Spirit. 'l'hen shall we know something of steady and joyous approach 'to perfection; for while perfection itself may only come by slow degrees, yet Christ surdy means us to have the satisfaction of knowing constantly that we are in the right way.-Y. Ver. 3.-Reminding men of Bin$, I. TEE 1'"'EED OF suoa A REMINDER. Men need to be impressed with the fact that sin is sin, something special, something done in defiance of God's Law. If we do hurt to a fellow-man, even if be condone and excuse, that does not put things as they were before. God would have us to consider what a serious and terrible thing it is that we should do wrong at all. Then also we need to be reminded because of our liability to forget. Life is one long sin, made up of daily omissions and commissions in what are called little things. Vie see well enough as_ each day is passing over our heads what wrong words we have spoken, what evil thouahts we have had in our hearts; some days we feel deeply enough the sin of the dav ;°but soon the impression is gone. The total of life's sin, however, still remains, and it is above all things needful that we should not forget it. Then most important of all, perhaps, is it tLat we should be reminded how much of the trouble and misery of life coUJes from our ip-norance. Sins of ignorance, were specially provided for in thG Mrn,aic ~conorny. A wau can hardly Lr; Lla.mcd f.Jr what be <locs iu i~norance, anu Oil, X, 1-39.] THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE HEBREWS. 291