He will come out of Zion,-the Deliverer,
He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

And this is my covenant with them,

When I shall take away their sins.

11: 26.

So far as the Good News is concerned they are enemies for your sake, but so far as the chosen few are concerned they are loved for the sake of their fathers. For the favors and the call which come from God are irrevocable. For just as you yourselves were once disobedient to God, but have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, so they also have now been so disobedient, that through the mercy shown to you they themselves also may now obtain mercy.

For God has brought all to disobedience and shut them up in it, so that he may

have mercy on all.

O the depth of the inexhaustible resources

Both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments,

And his ways past finding out!

For who has gotten to know Jehovah's mind?

Or who has become his counsellor?

Or, who has first given to him,

And it shall be given to him in return?

For from him, and through him is everything,

And in him ends.

To him be the glory forever!

Amen.

!

ROM.

12: 1.

PRACTICAL EXHORTATIONS.

175

So I call on you, brothers, to show your appreciation of God's mercies by presenting your bodies a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing to God. I call on you to do this, because it is your religious duty sanctioned by reason. And do not keep copying the changing fashions of this present age. On the contrary, undergo a deep and abiding change, by the renewing of your mind, so that you may be able to decide what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is, and act in harmony with it.

For I say, by means of the favor given to me, to every man among you, not to think more of himself than he ought to think, but to consider soberly how he shall regulate his life in harmony with the measure of faith God has severally given to each. For just as we have many members in one body, but all the members have not the same function, so we, the many, are one body in Christ, but as individuals we are fellow-members with each other. Now since we are in possession of divine favors, differing according to the favor severally bestowed on us, let us put these divine favors into exercise aright,

If spiritual insight, in harmony with the proportion of our faith,

If practical duties, in their proper sphere;

If any one is a teacher, in teaching,

If any one is an exhorter, in exhorting; Let him who gives, give liberally,

12: 6.

Let him who presides over others, do it zealously, Let him who engages in works of mercy do it cheerfully.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor the evil,

Cleave to the good.

In brotherly love, cherish affection for each other.
In honor, let each put others before himself.
Do not lack in earnestness.

Be fervent in spirit.

Be slaves of the Lord.
Rejoice in hope.

Endure in trouble.

Persevere in prayer.

Share in the needs of Christ's followers.

Practice hospitality.

Bless those who keep persecuting you.

Bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who are rejoicing.
Weep with those who are weeping.
Be in harmony with each other

In thought and purpose.

Do not keep your thoughts on high things.

On the contrary, be carried away with the

lowly.

ROM.

BE SUBJECT TO THE AUTHORITIES.

177

12: 16.

Do not be wise in your own conceits.

Return to no one evil for evil.

Care for what is noble in the sight of all men.
If possible, so far as you are concerned,
Live in peace with all men.

Do not avenge yourselves, dear brothers,

But leave room for the wrath of God.
For it is written :

Vengeance is mine, I will repay,
Says the Lord.

But if your enemy is hungry,

Feed him.

If he is thirsty,

Give him a drink.

For by so doing,

You will heap coals of fire on his head.

Do not be conquered by evil,

But conquer evil with generosity.

Let every soul be subject to the authorities. For there is no authority except that derived from God. The existing authorities have been appointed by God. So that whoever resists authority withstands God's ordinance, and whoever so withstands will incur God's judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to well-doers but to evil-doers. But do you desire not to be afraid of the authority? Do what is good and you will receive praise from it. For he who exercises it is God's dispenser of

But if you do evil, be afraid.

13: 4.

For

good to you. he does not possess the right to put to death in vain. For he is God's servant to execute deserved wrath on him who does evil. For this reason you must obey him, not only because of the wrath, but, also, for conscience' sake. For it is for this reason you pay taxes also. For they are God's servants devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Owe no one anything except the love you owe each other. For he who loves his neighbor has kept the whole law. For this:

Thou shalt not commit adultery,

Thou shalt not kill,

Thou shalt not steal,

Thou shalt not covet,

and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying:

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Love never wrongs a neighbor. So love is the fulfilment of the law.

And this, because you have learned what the occasion demands, that the hour has already come for you to awake out of sleep. For now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed.