nation to which the promises were made: "whose were the fathers:" who had been God's chosen people. "Salvation was of the Jews." Through them they had received what was beyond all price; they had received that which might bless the soul for ever. It was not much to relieve a temporal distress, in return for everlasting good. As Paul wrote to Philemon (19), "I do not say unto thee how thou owest me thine own self besides;" and canst not justly grudge the favour which I now seek from thee.

So argued the Thessalonians and Corinthians. They had received much; and would make a due

return.

27. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

28. When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

29. And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

30. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

31. That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judæa; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

32. That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

33. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Paul was now going to Jerusalem. With what feelings he went, we know from his words at Cæsarea. (Acts xxi. 10-13.) "I am ready, not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the

name of the Lord Jesus." For "a certain prophet, named Agabus, took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles." Paul, however, knew that nothing could befal him which God did not permit and he also knew the power of fervent effectual prayer. Therefore he entreats the Roman Christians that they strive together with him in their prayers to God, that he might be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea, and come to them with joy by the will of God, and with them be refreshed.

He was not mistaken in foreseeing this enmity: neither was he disappointed in the effect of their prayers. The unbelieving Jews did assail him with all violence, malice, and injustice; and not content with bringing him before the council, and accusing him to the Roman governor, "more than forty banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul." From all these dangers he was preserved, the hand of God visibly protecting him. And at last he did "see Rome," though not in the way that he had desired. He had hoped by the will of God to come unto them with joy. He did come, but as a prisoner who had appealed to Cæsar from the injustice of his countrymen. He did come, and was refreshed. For as he approached Rome, says the history, (Acts xxviii. 15,) "when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum and the three taverns: whom when

1 Acts xxiii. 12.

Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage," He came also, as he had hoped, in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ: showing it to be "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." "There came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning till evening." And though some did not believe the things spoken, others did believe: and to the Christian company which he found established at Rome he had the privilege of adding many others of his countrymen.

He

The providence of God continued to watch over him. He had been carried to Rome as a prisoner under accusation. Yet he still found favour. was suffered to "dwell two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” 3

Thus he was able, both by word and by example, to promote that harmony among the Roman Christians, which ought to exist among the heirs of a common salvation. The elements of union were there: those were now to worship together, who formerly might not eat together: and "Jews by nature," were joined in fellowship with "sinners of the Gentiles." Paul had already besought them to "receive one another, as Christ had received them:"5 now he could enforce his exhortation, that forgetting the things in which 3 Acts xxviii. 30, 31

2 Acts xxviii. 23, 24.

• Gal. ii. 15.

s Ver. 7.

they differed, they should look only to those in which they mutually agreed: and whilst they served and trusted him through whom both Jews and Gentiles were reconciled to God, the God of peace might be with them all. Amen.

LECTURE XLIV.

THE SALUTATION OF THE APOSTLE TO MANY OF THE ROMAN CHRISTIANS.

ROMANS xvi. 1-16.

1. I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

1

2. That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

3. Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

4. Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

5. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

Aquila and Priscilla had now returned to Rome. It appears where they are mentioned in the Acts, (xviii. 1, 2,) that they had left Italy in obedience

1 Cenchrea was the seaport of Corinth, from whence Paul wrote this epistle and Phebe is supposed to be the person who carried it to Rome, having business to transact there.

to the edict of Claudius, who had "commanded all Jews to depart from Rome." They had accompanied Paul in many of his journeys; they were with him at Ephesus, and were made useful to Apollos, instructing him in "the way of God more perfectly:"2 they were also residing there, when he wrote his first epistle to the Corinthians: and they could not be assisting him in his various labours, or attending him in his many missions, without being themselves exposed to danger. Therefore he praises them, as having for his life laid down their own necks risked their lives in succouring and befriending him in obedience to the word which said, "He that findeth his life, shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it."

The lives of Aquila and Priscilla had been preserved, and they had now been permitted to return to Rome, and establish themselves there again as a Christian family. Paul salutes together with them, the church that is in their house, where probably not their own household only, but others with them, were accustomed to unite in prayer and thanksgiving. Amongst them was Epenetus, who like themselves had been a sojourner at Corinth, and the first convert to Paul's teaching so that he calls him the first-fruits of Achaia unto Christ, the first sheaf of the harvest which he had gathered in that field, after he had sown there the word of God. It was the earnest of many sheaves which the heavenly husbandman per

2 Acts xviii. 18-26.

4 Matt. x. 39.

3 See 1 Cor. xvi. 19.

5 The same phrase is applied, 1 Cor. xiv. 15, to the household of Stephanas. Perhaps Epenetus was one of that household.