April 16

Romans i.—16. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it written, The just shall live by faith.

18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.

20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man,

In going to Rome, which was then, even more than the Paris of our time, the splendid capital of learning, art, luxury, empire, Paul knew that he should encounter both ridicule and violence in proclaiming the gospel of Christ. Yet confident in the power of that gospel, through the testimony of Nature, of conscience, of history, to the truth of God, and through the attestation of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers, he felt no timidity nor shame at the prospect of the contempt of philosophers, the scouts of worldlings, the persecution of blasts.

The very condition of Rome was an argument for the gospel. With all her intellectual pride, and her civic and military glory, she was barbarian in her idolatry, and beastly in her

and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves;

25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

28. And, even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient:

29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers.

30. Backbiters, haters of God, despitful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.

31. Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32. Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

vices. The writings of Cicero, Seneca, Plutarch, Epictetus, and other sages of Rome, so nearly contemporary with Paul, the views of earlier Greek philosophers of the school of Socrates, the primitive monotheism of Egypt, and the theology of her "Book of the Dead," clearly show that it is possible for the human mind to know God from the study of itself and of the physical universe. But this knowledge was darkened, perverted, debased, through moral depravity; and the superstition and degradation of the pagan world, its very ignorance and idolatry, were the offspring of sin. Hence redemption from moral evil was necessary to render possible that very intellectual and social progress of which science now boasts. In every sense, Christ was the Light of the world.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.

Prayer.

[Nos. 7, 18, 38.

O God, who didst create us in thine own image that we might know thee and enjoy thee forever! we confess with shame that we have turned away from the blessedness that is found in thee to seek our good in the beggarly elements of this world. We have worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator; have abused our powers, misspent our time, wasted our opportunities, and have chosen death rather than life. Oh! for the sake of Christ, the Son of thy love, forgive this our folly and sin, and restore within us the image of God by thine own Spirit.

We would look up to thee this morning as children, crying "Abba, Father!" Thou hast watched over us with a Father's care; thou dost surround us with a Father's love: oh! give to us a Father's blessing in all the duties and occupations of this day. May we see thee in thy works, hear thee in

thy Word, and obey the voices of thy providence and grace! Keep us, O Lord! from every evil passion and unholy desire; from all sin in thought, word, or deed.

We beseech thee, O Father! mercifully to look upon our nation, and, for the glory of thy name, turn from us all those evils that we most justly have deserved; and give unto us thy Holy Spirit.

We bless thee for thy great goodness to us as a family. Incline us ever, we pray thee, to the choice of that which is good in thy sight. Be very gracious to all our friends. Bless our rulers; our schools and churches; the poor and needy; the sick, the unfortunate, the sorrowing; yea, bless all peoples with thy salvation, and turn the nations unto thy ways. And unto the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be glory and dominion world without end. Amen.