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Having thus dealt separately with the Gentile and the Jew, the apostle now included both, and uttered the appalling verdict of the condemnation of the whole race in the quotation of a series of passages from the Old Testament.

The first group of quotations sets forth the condition of the race. Men everywhere are seen degraded in the central and majestic citadel of their personality. The master principle of the will is out of the straight, "there is none righteous." The intellectual faculty through which guiding light should pass to influence choices and decisions is darkened, "there is none that understandeth.'' The emotional nature which should be for evermore the inspiration of action is deadened toward that which is highest, "there is none that seeketh after God."

The second group of quotations reveals the general conduct of the race. So far as relationship to that which is higher is concerned the attitude is of the essence of sin, all turned aside and become unprofitable. Consequently all the activities of the life are sinful.

The final group describes the consciousness of the race in the midst of the conditions first described. The degradation of the will issues in disaster, "destruction and misery are in their ways.'' The darkening of the intelligence results in overwhelming despair, "the way of peace they have not known." The deadening of emotion is manifest in the degradation of callousness, "there is no fear of God before their eyes.''

This whole description applied equally to the Jew with the Gentile; and indeed, the apostle made special application of it to the Jew. Having quoted from the oracles which they possessed, he declared that the message of the law was pre-eminently for those who were under the law; and indicated that his reason for having made the quotations was that every mouth might be stopped, and all the world brought under the judgment of God. The whole question as to the Gentile was settled in his first section, and he now claimed that the Jew also who had been making excuses, and pronouncing his judgment upon the Gentile, must in honesty be compelled to silence, and to confession of guilt.

Thus ends the first section of the division. It presents a picture of humanity from the Divine view-point. That picture is so terrible as to create in us a sense of utter hopelessness, for whether with, or without law, man has equally and signally failed.

Yet let us at once remind our hearts that this terrible revelation of the condition of the race in its ruin, is the prelude to the proclamation of the glorious Gospel of the grace of God.

Because God is love, this very condition of hopeless and helpless ruin makes demands upon His heart, and calls for His interference in order that out of the experience of utter hopelessness, man may find deliverance and salvation.