a Ge. xv. 1; Ps. xxvii. 1; cxviii. 6; xxxii. 7, 8, 1 Jo. Nu. xiv. 9; 2 Ch. iv. 4. b Jo. iii. 16; Ma. iii. 17; Ro. iv. 25; 2 Co. v. 15; 1 Co. iii. 21-23. "This declares the regular event, or, at least, the order of things, and the design of God; but not the ac to say? if.. us, "since God is for us who can be against us?" who.. us? who is ag. us, is ag. God. Who has fought ag. God and prospered ? He.. things ?o the free bestowment of the unspeakable gift, a pledge that other needful things will be freely given. God's great gift.-I. The doctrine: 1. The person who gave up His only son-God; 2. The greatness of His love; 3. Its objects-worthless sinners. II. The inference: 1. The mode of reasoning adopted; 2. What is included in these words.-The great partisan.-I. The great verity-"God is for us:" 1. See Jesus how He treats that fallen woman, John viii. 11; 2. See Him in Gethsemane; 3. See Him on the cross. II. The bold challenge. The enemy is-1. Strong; 2. Deceitful; 3. Assiduous; tual verification 4. Experienced. III. The pertinent question," what shall we of it to all per- say then to these."d-The certainty of obtaining God's favours inferred from the gift of His Son.-I. An interesting fact assumed. That-1. Christ is God's Son; 2. He was not spared; 3. He was right, with God delivered up for us all. II. A most encouraging deduction from on his side, is in this fact: 1. The characters thus encouraged; 2. What we may the majority. though he be expect from God; 3. These blessings are certainly attainable for alone; for God us. Application:-Let us consider our subject as (1) Administeris multitudinous ing reproof; (2) Affording encouragement; (3) Conveying inabove all populations of the struction.e sons." Bp. J. Taylor. A man in the earth."-H. W. d R. A. Griffin. a Is. 1. 8, 9; liv. The right persuasion.—In terrible agony, a soldier lay dying in the hospital. A visitor asked him, "What Church are you of?" "Of the Church of Christ," he replied. "I mean of what persuasion are you?" then inquired the visitor. "Persuasion!" said the dying man, as his eyes looked heavenward, beaming with love to the Saviour; "I am PERSUADED that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus." the death, 33, 34. lay.. charge,a bring an accusation against. elect?' resurrection, chosen in Christ. God.. justifieth, therefore the declaring and interces- of them to be righteous cannot be frustrated. condemneth? sion of Christ pronounceth to be guilty? Christ.. died,a in our stead, and 17; Zec. iii. 1-procured our pardon. The penalty for our sin has been already -4; Re. xii. 10, inflicted. that.. again, the proof that His dying for us is accepted. who.. us, and though He has finished the 6 Ep. i. 3, 4; 2 work that was given Him to do, He is still engaged in securing Th. ii. 13; 1 Pe. our salvation. 11. i. 2. c Ro. iii. 24; Is. xliii. 25. d Ro. xiv. 10; Ga. iii. 13; 2 Co. v. 21. e Ro. iv. 25; Ro. i. 4; 1 Co. xv. 17; Ro. iv. 10 Jo. xiv. 19. Christ's intercession.-I. Its nature. It consists in-1. His appearing before God for us, and presenting the memorials of His sufferings in our behalf; 2. His declaring that the blessings He has purchased should be given to the objects of His mercy; 3. His answering all Satan's accusations against His people. II. Its excellences: 1. Most earnest; 2. Affectionate; 3. Constant; 4. Universal. III. The blessings we derive from it.s-God's elect.I. The elect nation-1. We have in the call of Israel all the conditions of an election, such as the N. T. sets forth. They were the elect nation. 2. The light thrown on their election by their 22; He. viii. 1; history. II. The elect soul: 1. Its condition; 2. Its calling 1. 3; Is. liii. 12; unto life."-The mediation of Christ, the ground of the believer's 1 Jo. ii. 1; Lu. xxii. 32. triumph.-I. A brief view of the mediation of Christ: 1. The g Dr. Belfrage. character of Jesus; 2. His death; 3. His 'resurrection; 4. His He. x. 12-14, 56; 1 Pe. iii. 21, 19-22; Ac. vii. defiance to all ceive all their them back even exaltation; 5. His intercession for His people. II. His influence "Go forth now, in securing the believer's acquittal and triumph:-"Who is he my soul, and bid that condemneth?" The believer has nothing to fear from-1. thy enemies. For External afflictions; 2. Indwelling corruptions, and the sugges- the shield of thy tions of Satan; 3. Death; 4. All the powers of darkness. In faith shall reconsequence of Christ's mediation, he triumphs over all these. dents without Learn:-(1) What constitutes the distinctive character, and the any danger to essential glory of the Gospel; (2) The dignity of the Christian thee, retorting character; (3) Humility; (4) The guilt of unbelief. i-The appear-into the adversaance of all before the judgment-seat of Christ.-I. The appellation ries' faces. Apby which the people of God are distinguished,-God's elect. pear now with Elect, because I. God has translated them from a state of sin and confidence before the judgment death, to one of holiness and life; 2. They are conformed to the seat of God, likeness of their Almighty Maker; 3. They are objects of Divine bringing with compassion and protection; 4. They are made the children of God thee to the bar by faith in Christ. II. The condition in which the elect are said to be-justified.—The resurrection of Jesus Christ.-I. The number Jesus." of witnesses who gave testimony to it. II. Their credibility: 1. Harrington. Their capacity as men of discernment; 2. Their opportunity for h J. B. Brown, knowing; 3. Their agreement one with another; 4. The time of B.A. of mercy thy advocate Christ -Sir J. their bearing their witness; 5. The place in which they gave it; i Dr. Sprague. 6. The motives which induced them to testify.-The right hand k Rev. J. Bloomof God. The place of—I. Majesty and favour. The raising and field. elevation of Christ is the elevation, the acceptance, the enshrine-Dr. Spencer. ment, the glorifying of all His people, for He is their head and m C. H. Spurgeon. representative. II. Power. Christ, at the right hand God, hath "Though all power in heaven and in earth. Rest thou secure. If Jesus is thine all-prevailing King, and hath trodden thine enemies beneath His feet; if sin, death, and hell, are all vanquished by Him; by no possibility canst thou be destroyed.m Method of Christ's intercession. It was when the high priest entered with the blood and incense within the veil before the mercy-seat that he made intercession for the people. The very presenting of the blood and incense was an act of intercession, whether words were used or not. It was done in behalf of Israel for the purpose of averting the displeasure and conciliating the favour of Jehovah. With reference to this Jesus is represented as fulfilling in heaven this part of the priestly functions. In what precise manner His intercession is carried on, it may not be easy for us with certainty to determine. It is evident, from the type just alluded to, that there may be intercession in action as well as in words. If a general who had fought the battles of his country, and had received many a wound, were presenting a petition to his sovereign on behalf of any of his offending subjects, what could be a more effective intercession than the silent baring of his bosom, and pointing to his scars? n 35-37, separate," as Christians cannot be condemned, so neither can they be separated from Christ. tribulation [i. 182; ii. 353]. distress, straitness of space, difficulties. persecution, fr. enemies of truth, or those who have no regard for conscience of others. famine, lack of necessaries of life. nakedness, lack of clothing. peril, ordinary dangers fr. accidents, etc. sword, judicial, or war. written, of the Jews as types of believers. for.. sake, bec. of fidelity to Thee. killed ..long, undergoing suffering equal to death. counted.. slaughter, looked upon as destined for death as sheep are. all. the mariner sees not the pole-star, yet the needle of the compass, which points to it, tells him which way loadstone of with he sails; thus, the towards God by the soul that its course is heaven ward, towards the haven of eternal rest."Leighton. n Dr. Wardlaw. the believer a conqueror d Ps. xliv. 22. f Is. liii. 7; Ph. iii. 10. 92 Co. iv. 17; Re. xxi. 7:1 Co. XV. 54, 57; 1 Jo. v. 4, 5; Re. vii. 9, 10, 14-17. h Re. xii. 11; Ep. v. 23, 25-27. "We shall not need to bring forth against them all our forces; a small gain the day, and benefit and be things, ea. of them, and all together. more.. conquerors, we do more than overcome, the victory being so glorious. Him, our pattern, leader, saviour. loved us," His love secures His aid and our fidelity: and is the secret of the whole. The victor of victors.-More than earthly conquerors. I. Here: For the saints-1. Overcome stronger, and 2, more numerous, foes; 3. Possess more resources; 4. Have a more protracted war; 5. Serve a more illustrious Sovereign. II. Hereafter: more of— 1. Applause; 2. Fame; 3. Possessions; 4. Reward; 5. Lasting peace. Confidence in God." Who is it," says the heavenly-minded Henry Martyn, "in a moment of great faintness, that maketh my part of them will comforts to be a source of enjoyment? Cannot the same hand be sufficient to make cold, and hunger, and nakedness, and peril, to be a train of not only over-ministering angels conducting me to glory?"-Interpositions of come them, but Providence.-1. Abraham's knife lifted up-the angel appears. turn them to our 2. Lot near destruction-angels interpose. 3. Hagar and her son hoof."-J. Hales. dying-the angel discovers water. 4. Jacob in trouble wrestles with the angel-Esau meets and kisses him. 5. Moses on the brink of the sea-the waters divide. 6. Saul's sword at David's heart-the Philistines invade the land. 7. Rabshakeh insults God-his army destroyed in twelve hours. 8. Haman forms a plot-the king cannot sleep, lots are cast for a lucky day, the day thrown twelve months off. 9. Paul on the brink of death by murder-God turns the governor's heart to travel forty miles. 10. Peter on the margin of ruin—an angel bursts his prison.* i Stems & Twigs. k Dr. J. Campbell. what shall separate us 38, 39. persuaded," full assurance of faith. death, at any fr. the love of time, under any form. life, with all its changes, trials, joys, etc. God? angels, the good are our helpers. principalities, malicious spirits already conquered." powers, persecuting rulers. things . . come, including all that can happen. height, of honour or office. depth, of suffering, degradation. any..crea ture, that can be named or thought of. love.. God, manifested to and bestowed upon us. in.. Lord, and believers in a 2 Ti. i. 12; 2 Co. xi. 14. c He xi. 35; Re. xii. 11; Ep. vi. 12; Col. ii. 15; 1 Pe. iii. 22. d Beza. e 2 Ti. iv. 8; Ja. ii. 5. fJe. xxxi. 3; Ep. ii. 4-7. g1 Jo. iv 9; Col. iii. 3. "Death is the Him. The measure of the love of Christ.—I. Its depths—1. It reaches to men in every sphere of life; 2. To man in the lowest abyss of sin. II. Its height-1. The height of privilege to which it raises its objects; 2. The height of excellence: (1) In this life; (2) In the future. III. Its breadth-1. How it reaches to all men and lands; 2. Bigotry would limit it. IV. Its length-1. From age to age is the same; 2. To it there is no end. How different this is to human love. Learn: (1) Willing subjection to the purposes of Christ; 2. Superiority to envy; (3) The cultivation of extensive benevolence; (4) Anticipate the time when this love shall be comprehended. passage to the Christian Confidence.-Mr. Robert Bruce, the morning before Father, a chariot he died, being at breakfast, and having, as he used, eaten an egg, to heaven, the Lord's messen- said to his daughter, "I think I am yet hungry; you may bring ger, a leader unto me another egg." But having mused a while, he said, "Hold, Christ, a going to daughter, hold, my Master calls me." With these words his sight liverance from failed him: on which he called for the Bible, and said, "Turn to bondage and the eighth chapter of the Romans, and set my finger on the words, prison, a dismis-I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,' etc., shall be security from all able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus sorrows, and a my Lord." When this was done, he said, “Now, is my finger our home, a de sion from war, a upon them?" Being told it was, he added, "Now, God be with manumission from all misery." you, my dear children: I have breakfasted with you, and shall sup J. Bradford. with my Lord Jesus Christ this night." And then he expired. CHAPTER THE NINTH. 1, 2. I.. not, most strong and positive asseveration. "It is the Apostle's of the nature of an oath."b conscience.. Ghost, internal anxiety testimony of Holy Ghost enlightening and confirming conscience.ca 2 Co. xii. 19 heaviness, i..., for his brethren, vv. 3, 4. continual, not only great, but unceasing. Our duty towards the Jews.-I. The distinguished privileges of the Jewish people. II. The deep concern which we should feel for them. În considering the Apostle's words concerning them, it will be proper to notice-1. What is implied in them; 2. What is expressed.-Rev. C. Simeon, M.A. xi. 31; Ga. 1. 20; Ro. i. 9; Ph. i. 8 2 Co. i. 23. b Macknight. d Ro. x. 1; Ps. "It may seem a dreadful wish; but so much doth he value the salvation of so many thousand souls above the saving of his own one soul, and so much desire the glorifying of Christ and His grace in the salvation of them."-Dr. Lightfoot. Love of truth.--Park, in his travels through Africa, relates that a party of armed Moors having made a predatory attack on the flocks of a village at which he was stopping, a youth of the place was mortally wounded in the affray. The natives placed him on horseback, and conducted him home; while his mother preceded the mournful group, proclaiming all the excellent qualities of her boy, and, by her clasped hands and streaming eyes, manifesting the inward bitterness of her soul. The quality for which she chiefly praised the boy formed of itself an epitaph so noble, that even civilised life could not aspire to a higher. "He never," said she, with pathetic energy, 66 never, never told a lie!" 3-5. for.. wish,a lit. I was going to wish, or pray; i.e., I should have wished, had it been lawful. accursed. . brethren, separated fr. Christ instead of my brethren. kinsmen.. flesh, related by descent fr. a common ancestry. Israelites, so called fr. Israel the prevailer. adoption, sonship; of Israel, national, external, typical. glory, the Shekinah. covenants,/ (1) with Abraham; (2) at Sinai. service, the public worship, sible."sacrifices, ceremonial observances. fathers, the patriarchs. as.. flesh," as to His human nature. who, Gk., He that is c De. vii. 7; Hos. the being One: i.e., Christ. over all, the supreme and universal xii. 3, 5. ruler. God, distinct assertion of His Divinity. blessed..d Ex. iv. 22; Je. ever, worthy of eternal praise. Amen, emphasising the foregoing statement. : d The Deity of Christ.-I. The Scripture proofs of it: 1. Incommunicable titles are given Him by Divine authority; 2. Perfections are ascribed to Him, which are peculiar to the supreme God that He is-(1) Eternal; (2) Almighty; (3) Immutable; (4) Omniscient; (5) Omnipresent; 3. Works are ascribed to Him which God alone can perform; 4. Worship is given to Him which only belongs to the Supreme Being. II. Its importance: 1. It was absolutely necessary for the work He had to do. None but God could accomplish His work-(1) On earth; (2) In heaven. 2. It is a powerful motive to admiration, obedience, and love. 3. It is an inexhaustible fund of consolation. 4. It renders Christ infinitely amiable to His people, and should do so to all.i-Accursed from Christ.-I. Shall we understand this to mean that, if his Jewish kinsmen could thereby be saved, he would consent to his of Christ the Divinity a Ex. xxxii. 32; 2 Ti. ii. 9, 10. b Vaughan, Bengel. "Were it pos---Chrysos tom. xxxi. 9; De.xiv. 1. e Le. xvi. 2; 1 K. viii. 11: Ps. lxiii. 2; lxxviii. 61; 1S. iv. 21. Ge. xvii. 1, 2; Ex. xxxi. 16, 17; xxxiv. 27, 28; De. xxix. 12, 13. g Jo. iv. 22. iS. Hayward. "Since there is a possibility, a facility, a pro ROMANS. [Cap. ix. 6, 7. clivity of erring own damnation ? II. May we accept it as it stands, only in a herein, and so qualified and softened sense, that shall fall short of final doom? many conditions and circum- III. Neither of these will do; there is a safer solution of Paul's stances required words. Literally translated, it is not "I could wish," but "I to make an im- wished;" that is, before his conversion. Thus we solve the pression just and lawful, the best problem. Application:-(1) Let the reckless dealer in oaths way is to forbear beware; (2) Be not hasty in your conclusions; (3) Learn to love your enemies; (4) How solemn is life! (5) How indispensable is the Gospel! (6) And how free is that Gospel! -Anathema from Christ.-I. That which Paul prayed for, was in its very nature k J. Guthrie, M.A. impossible. II. Though impossible in itself, human history has shown wonderful approximation to it. III. There is in these approximate instances a wonderful union of joy and suffering, curse and blessedness, of defeat and victory.'-Paul's wish to be "Christ having accursed from Christ. The grand principle-I. Contained in Adam's nature, our text; II. Embodied in the Apostles: 1. The correction of a as we have, but popular error; 2. The essential purpose and work of Christianity; incorrupt, deriveth not nature 3. The reality of human redemption.m them or to be very sparing in them." Dr. Donne. 1 E. H. Plumptre, M.A. m Homilist. but incorruption, therefore, we are Adam; so, ex The Divinity of Christ.-In a tour which Dr. M. lately made, and that imme-in company with his pupil, Mr. B., along the shores of the Medidiately from His own person, into terranean, they slept one night at the little town where Bonaparte all that belong landed, and in the very room in which he reposed on his return unto Him. As, from Elba. About daybreak, Mr. B. heard his companion thus really partakers speaking in an audible, distinct, and deliberate tone,-"Took of the body of upon Himself the form of a servant. Now, every creature is, by sin and death, the mere fact of his creation, the servant of his Maker. Not so of received from our Lord Jesus Christ, for He took upon Himself the form of a cept we be truly servant; therefore He is, He can be, no creature-therefore He is partakers of the Creator-therefore He is God over all, blessed for ever." And Christ, and as then followed, in expressions of the deepest fervour, and of the really possessed of His Spirit, all most elevated sublimity, a solemn dedication to this Lord Jesus we speak of Christ, as his Maker, Redeemer, and ever-blessed God and Portion, eternal life is of himself, of his person, of his ministry, of his all. Mr. B. was dream. electrified, and rivetted; but he thought it to be the morning quickeneth us is meditation of his reverend companion, unconsciously uttered the Spirit of the aloud, and would not intrude on so hallowed an exercise. As second Adam, they rode along, however, in the course of the day, he could not that wherewith refrain from saying, "I was deeply interested, sir, in your reflecHe quickeneth." tions this morning." What reflections?" asked the doctor. "The reflections you uttered before you rose to-day." "I re"This is as great member none; what were they?" Mr. B. repeated them. As he an honour to all was doing so, his mind seemed caught by the novelty of the conking should ception, and powerfully struck also by the weight and conclusivemarry into some ness of it. "Perfectly new!" he exclaimed; I never saw the poor fam. of his passage in that light before—it is a finishing stroke. It cuts subjects."-Trapp. them up (the Socinians and Arians) root and branch. But-I but & That which and His flesh -Hooker. mankind as if the the true seed of Abraham line of Isaac a Nu. xxiii. 19; Ro. iii. 3; xi. 1, 2, 5; Lu. i. 68-70. b Ro. ii. 28, 29. c Jo. i. 47; Ps. lxxiii. 1. REMEMBER NOTHING OF THE MORNING." 6, 7. hath .. effect, in convincing and enlightening concerning Christ as the true Messiah. not.. Israel," not all possessed of the general characteristics of the nation—pride, obduracy, etc. which.. Israel, wh. are of that nation; since some have believed and are saved. because.. Abraham, lineally descended fr. the father of the faithful.d are.. children, true, spiritual descendants. but.. called, reckoned the children of Abraham externally: for some of his descendants came through the line of Ishmael. |