the whole chapter is to console and confirm the confidence of believers. The interpretation just mentioned is not in accordance with this object. It is no ground of confidence to assert or even to feel that we will never forsake Christ, but it is the strongest ground of assurance to be convinced that his love will never change. And, moreover, verse 39 requires this interpretation; for there Paul expresses the same sentiment in language which cannot be misunderstood. "No creature," he says, "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus." This is evidently God's love towards us.

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, &c.* This is merely an amplification of the preceding idea. Nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ, neither tribulation, nor distress, nor persecution, &c. That is, whatever we may be called upon to suffer in this life, nothing can deprive us of the love of him who died for us, and who now lives to plead our cause in heaven, and, therefore, these afflictions, and all other difficulties, are enemies we may despise.

(36) As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long, &c. A quotation from Ps. 44: 22, agreeably to the LXX. translation. The previous verse of course implied that believers should be exposed to many afflictions, to famine, nakedness and the sword; this, Paul would say, is in accordance with the experience of the pious in all ages. We suffer, as it is recorded of the Old Testament saints, that they suffered.

(37) Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors,† &c. This verse is connected with the 35th. So far from these afflictions separating us from the love of Christ, they are more than conquered.' That is, they are not only deprived of all power to do us harm, they minister to our good. They swell the glory of our victory. Through him that loved us. The triumph which the apostle looked for, was not to be effected by his own strength or perseverance, but by the grace and power of the Redeemer. 1 Cor. 15: 10. Gal. 2: 20. Phil.

Sicut enim nebulae quamvis liquidum solis conspectum obscurent, non tamen ejus fulgore in totum nos privant: sic Deus in rebus adversis per caliginem emittit gratiae suae radios, nequa tentatio desperatione nos obruat: imo fides nostra promissionibus Dei tanquam alis fulta sursum in coelos per media obstacula penetrare debet.-CALVIN.

† Wir überwinden weit.-LUTHER.

4: 13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

(38, 39) In these verses the confidence of the apostle is expressed in the strongest language. He heaps words together in the effort to set forth fully the absolute inability of all created things, separately or united, to frustrate the purpose of God, or to turn away his love from those whom he has determined to

save.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, &c. &c. It is somewhat doubtful how far the apostle intended to express distinct ideas by the several words here used. The enumeration is by some considered as expressing the general idea that nothing in the universe can injure believers, the detail being designed merely as amplification. This, however, is not very probable. The former view is to be preferred. Neither death. That is, though cut off in this world, their connexion with Christ is not thereby destroyed. "They shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand," John 10: 28. Nor life, neither its blandishments, nor its trials. "Whether we live, we live unto the Lord, or whether we die, we die unto the Lord. So that living or dying we are the Lords," Rom. 14: 8.

Nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers. Principalities and powers are by many understood here to refer to the authorities of this world as distinguished from angels. But to this it may be objected that Paul frequently uses these terms in connexion to designate the different orders of spiritual beings, Eph. 1: 21. Col. 1: 16; and secondly, that corresponding terms were in common use among the Jews in this sense. It is probable, from the nature of the passage, that this clause is to be taken generally, without any specific reference to either good or bad angels as such. No superhuman power, no angel, however mighty, shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God.' Neither things present, nor things to come. Nothing in this life, nor in the future; no present or future event, &c.

(39) Nor height, nor depth. These words have been very variously explained. That interpretation which seems, on the whole, most consistent with scriptural usage and the context, is that which makes the terms equivalent to heaven and earth. 'Nothing in heaven or earth;' see Eph. 4: 8. Is. 7: 11, "Ask

it either in the depth or the height above," &c. &c. Nor any other creature. Although the preceding enumeration had been so minute, the apostle, as if to prevent despondency having the possibility of a foot-hold, adds this all-comprehending specification, no created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God. This love of God, which is declared to be thus unchangeable, is extended towards us only on account of our connexion with Christ, and therefore the apostle adds, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord; see Eph. 1: 6. 2 Tim. 1: 9.

Doctrines.

1. God chooses certain individuals and predestinates them to eternal life. The ground of this choice is his own sovereign pleasure; the end to which the elect are predestinated, is conformity to Jesus Christ in his moral character, and in his sufferings and glory, v. 29.

2. Those who are thus chosen shall certainly be saved, v. 30. 3. The only evidence of election is effectual calling, that is, the production of holiness. And the only evidence of the genuineness of this call and the certainty of our perseverance, is a patient continuance in well doing, vs. 29, 30.

4. The love of God, and not human merit or power, is the proper ground of confidence. This love is infinitely great, as is manifested by the gift of God's own Son; and it is unchangeable, as the apostle strongly asserts, vs. 31—39.

5. The gift of Christ is not the result of the mere general love of God to the human family, but also of special love to his own people, v. 32.

6. Hope of pardon and eternal life should rest on the death, the resurrection, universal dominion and intercession of the Son of God, v. 34.

7. Trials and afflictions of every kind have been the portion of the people of God in all ages; as they cannot destroy the love of Christ towards us, they ought not to shake our love towards him, v. 35.

8. The whole universe, with all that it contains, as far as it is good, is the friend and ally of the Christian; as far as it is evil, it is a more than conquered foe, vs. 35-39.

9. The love of God, infinite and unchangeable as it is, is manifested to sinners only through Jesus Christ our Lord, v. 39.

Remarks.

1. The plan of redemption, while it leaves no room for despondency, affords no pretence for presumption. Those whom God loves he loves unchangeably; but it is not on the ground of their peculiar excellence, nor can this love be extended towards those who live in sin, vs. 29-39.

2. As there is a beautiful harmony and necessary connexion between the several doctrines of grace, between election, predestination, calling, justification and glorification, so must there be a like harmony in the character of the Christian. He cannot experience the joy and confidence flowing from his election, without the humility which the consideration of its being gratuitous must produce; nor can he have the peace of one who is justified, without the holiness of one who is called, vs. 29, 30.

3. As Christ is the first born or head among many brethren, all true Christians must love him supremely, and each other as members of the same family. Unless we have this love, we do not belong to this sacred brotherhood, v. 29.

4. If the love of God is so great and constant, it is a great sin to distrust or doubt it, vs. 30-39.

5. Christians may well hear with patience and equanimity the unjust accusations, or even the condemnatory sentences of the wicked, since God justifies and accepts them. It is a small matter to be judged of man's judgment, vs. 33, 34.

6. If God spared not his own Son, in order to effect our salvation, what sacrifice on our part can be considered great, as a return for such love, or as a means of securing the salvation of others, v. 32.

7. The true method to drive away despondency is believing apprehensions of the scriptural grounds of hope, viz. the love of God, the death of Christ, his resurrection, his universal dominion and his intercession, v. 34.

8. Though the whole universe were encamped against the solitary Christian, he would still come off more than conqueror, vs. 35-39.

9. Afflictions and trials are not to be fled from or avoided, but overcome, v. 37.

10. All strength to endure and to conquer comes to us through him that loved us. Without him we can do nothing, v. 37.

11. How wonderful, how glorious, how secure is the gospel! Those who are in Christ Jesus are as secure as the love of God, the merit, power and intercession of Christ can make them. They are hedged round with mercy. They are enclosed in the arms of everlasting love. "Now unto him that is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forAmen!"

ever.

CHAPTER IX.

WITH the eighth chapter the discussion of the plan of salvation, and of its immediate consequences, was brought to a close. The consideration of the calling of the Gentiles, and the rejection of the Jews commences with the ninth, and extends to the end of the eleventh. Paul, in the first place, shows that God may consistently reject the Jews, and extend the blessings of the Messiah's reign to the Gentiles, 9: 1-24; and in the second, that he has already declared that such was his purpose, vs. 25-29. Agreeably to these prophetic declarations, the apostle announces that the Jews were cast off and the Gentiles called; the former having refused submission to the righteousness of faith, and the latter having been obedient, vs. 30-33. In the tenth chapter, Paul shows the necessity of this rejection of the ancient people of God, and vindicates the propriety of extending the invitation of the gospel to the heathen in accordance with the predictions of the prophets. In the eleventh, he teaches that this rejection of the Jews was neither total nor final. It was not total, inasmuch as many Jews of that generation believed; and it was not final, as the period approached when the great body of that nation should acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, and be reingrafted into their own olive tree.

Contents.

In entering on the discussion of the question of the rejection of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles, the apostle assures