And now the conclusion. The doctrinal part of Romans has a grand and glorious summing up in Romans viii, beginning with the thirty-first verse: "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" The dispensational section, Romans ix, x, and xi has also a sublime conclusion.

"As regards the Gospel, they are enemies on your account; but as regards election, beloved on account of the fathers. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as indeed ye also have not believed in God, but now have been objects of mercy through the unbelief of these; so these also have now not believed in your mercy in order that they also may be objects of mercy. For God hath shut up together all in unbelief, in order that He might show mercy to all. O depths of riches, both of wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counsellor? Or who has first given to Him, and it shall be rendered to him? For of Him, and for Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen."

It is not our intention to follow these words in detail. Blessed it is to read once more the grand assurance, that God's gifts and calling are without repentance; He will not go back on His Word. And Jews and Gentiles are all under mercy, which does not mean, that every Jew and Gentile will receive mercy, as taught by that unscriptural "restitution of all things." The Gentiles who believed, obtained mercy, and when at last the Lord comes again Israel will receive blessing, salvation, and enter on her inheritance through the sovereign mercy of God alone. And thus Jew and Gentile is a debtor to that wonderful mercy.

It is this fact which brings forth the sublime doxology. What depths of riches both of wisdom and knowledge of God in God's merciful dealings with the Gentiles and with the Jews! How unsearchable His judgments! How untraceable His waysl May we even now join with our hearts in the praise of our God and our Father and delight ourselves more and more with His merciful ways. And as such who are saved by grace may we not forget that they are enemies as regards the Gospel on our account and as regards election, beloved for the Father's sake. May we remember Israel, His poor wandering, scattered sheep. May we not forget the debt we owe to that people, the people "whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the lawgiving, and the service and the promises; whose are the fathers; and of whom according to flesh is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever" (Rom, ix;45).