his most agreeable and useful friends; though there was a time when Paul thought it inconsistent with prudence and duty to admit him as a companion. He that reproveth a man shall afterwards find more favour than he who flattereth with the tongue. And if the faithfulness of plain rebukes may be the means of recovering our brethren tỏ a sense of their duty, they will no doubt be sensible of the obligation, and it will add firmness and endearment to future friendship.

When Epaphras was at a distance from his brethren at Colosse, he was not only praying for them, but, as the word signifies, wrestling with God in his prayers on their account; an important evidence of his Christian affection for them. And how well were his petitions chosen! That they might not only be sincerely good, as they already were, but perfect and complete in all the will of God; that there might be in their hearts and actions a more entire conformity to it. May that be our character and happiness to have respect to all God's commandments, and to carry our regards to them as far as we possibly can!

Commendable, and perfectly consistent with the strictest modesty, was the concern which the apostle expresses, that his epistles might be diffused as far as possible, and that Christians in different societies might receive the benefit of them. And indeed they turn so much upon matters of universal importance, that they are admirably calculated for the edification of those who may live in the most distant countries and ages. Surely there cannot be a more sacrilegious attempt upon Christian liberty and piety than to take them away from the common people, to whom Paul expressly ordered they should be publicly read: nor can there be greater madness than to pretend to guard men from error and heresy, by concealing from them writings which the Holy Spirit himself suggested, to lead them to truth and holiness.

We know not what there might be so particular in the character or circumstances of Archippus as to require the solemn admonition with which the epistle closes. But, whatever the occasion of it were, it certainly suggests a most useful and important thought to all the ministers of the gospel. It is of the Lord Jesus Christ that they receive their ministry; to him they are quickly to render a strict account of it. May they all therefore take heed to it! May they be sensible of the importance of the trust, and have grace to be faithful in it; that they may give up their account with the joy of that steward, who, having approved his fidelity on earth, shall receive his reward in heaven.

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE

THESSALONIANS.

IT appears from Acts xvii. that Christianity was planted at Thessalo nica, the metropolis of Macedonia, by Paul and Silas, soon after they left Philippi. On their first entrance they preached with so much success that great numbers of the Gentiles, and some of the Jews readily embraced the gospel; but the unbelieving Jews stirred up the idolatrous inhabitants against the apostle and his friends, so that they were obliged to leave these converts abruptly, who afterwards suffered much opposition. This epistle was addressed to them so early as the year 52. The design of it was in general to confirm them in their adherence to the Christian faith, of which he reminds them of the striking evidence they had seen, and by the sufferings they had endured for it, and the extraordinary character they had maintained, to engage them to make greater advances in every branch of the Christian temper,

SECTION I.

The apostle expresses his joy in their character, by which they did credit to their profession. Ch. i.

1

PAUL, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the

Thessalonians which is in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace unto you from God our Father, and 2 the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you 3 all, making mention of you in our prayers: incessantly remembering your work of faith and labour of love, and patience of hope*, by our Lord Jesus Christ, before God even the Father: 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election of God; because our 5 gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as you well know what 6 manner of persons we were among you for your sakes. And you became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the 7 word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost; so that ye 8 became examples to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia. For

from you the word of the Lord sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every placet your faith toward God came in such a degree, as made it unnecessary for us to recount 9 any thing. For they themselves among whom we came, declare concerning us what a kind of entrance we had among you, and what a reception ye gave us : how ye turned to God from idols, to 10 serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heav en, whom he hath raised from the dead, even Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

* "Perseverance of the hope of our Lord," &c. M.

"To which your fellow-citizens resort for commerce." M.

REFLECTIONS.

We see here a compendious view of the Christian character: it is to turn from idols; from every thing which we have loved and esteemed; from every thing which we have pursued and trusted in an irregular degree, to serve the living and true God; under a real sense of his infinite perfections and glories. It is turning also to Jesus, his Son, as saving us from the wrath to come: from a deep conviction of our being justly exposed to wrath by our transgressions against God, to seek rescue and refuge in Christ, as delivering us from it, by his atonement and grace, and completing that deliverance by almighty power, in the day of his final triumph. It is to look and wait, with unshaken faith and with holy joy, for Jesus the Son of God from heaven; keeping the eye of our soul habitually directed towards him, the loins of our mind continually girded up, and ourselves as servants who look for their Lord's coming. In the mean time may we maintain the work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God, even our Father.-If this be the effect of our receiving the gospel, it will evidently prove that it is come to us, not only in word, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost; and it may give us abundant assurance of our interest in God, and cause us by the happiest tokens to know our election of him. Whatever afflictions may in that case be allotted to us, while we hereby become followers of the apostles and of Christ, we may rejoice in the Lord. The ministers of Christ will rejoice in such an entrance among their people as shall produce these blessed consequences, and the word of God will be sounded forth with the greatest advantage by those who are pleading for its truth, efficacy, and importance, by this silent but powerful eloquence. May this character be every where more prevalent among all those that call themselves Christians, and may grace and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, be with all in whom it is found!

SECTION II.

The apostle reminds them how he and his brethren behaved among them on their first visit. Ch. ii. 1—12.

1

2

FOR

ye yourselves know, brethren, the entrance that we had

before suffered, and been injuriously treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of 3 God with much contention (Acts xvii.) For our exhortation was 4 not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in craftiness. But as we have been approved by God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we 5 speak not as pleasing men, but God who trieth our hearts. Neither did we at any time deal in flattering words, as ye well know, 6 nor use a pretence of covetousness; God is witness. Nor did we seek glory of men, neither of you, nor of others, though we 7 might have been burdensome as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle in the midst of you; even as a mother who is a nurse

8 cherisheth her own children, so we, being tenderly affectionate towards you, took pleasure to impart to you, not only the gospel of God, but even our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and toil: for night and day, working at our business that we might not be burdensome to 10 any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. Ye are witnessess, and God also, how holly, and righteously, and unblama11 bly we behaved ourselves to you who believe as ye also know how constantly we were exhorting and comforting every one of 12 you, as a father his children: testifying that ye should walk worthy of God, who hath called you into his kingdom and glory.

REFLECTIONS.

Surely it is not possible to conceive from any thing, but the example of the great Shepherd of the sheep, a more amiable idea of the character of a gospel minister than that which is here exhibited. With what a frankness and openness of soul does the apostle appeal to their consciences, as to the integrity and benevolence of his behaviour among them, whilst, unterrified by all the indignities and inhumanities he had met with at Philippi, he immediately renewed the same combat at Thessalonica, and contended boldly with all the enemies of the gospel, not esteeming his liberty or his life, on an occasion of so great importance-With such courage let the ministers of Christ face all danger and oppositions: with such simplicity of heart let them deliver their important message; not with deceit, uncleanness, or guile, but as those who remember that they have been put in trust with the gospel by God himself, and therefore must be solicitous not to please men, but God, who trieth the heart. And may they ever be superior to those views of avarice, ambition, or popular applause, which should lead them to sacrifice truth to the affection or favour of men, or even to the fear of being thought to do it. And let them, with all this intrepidity and firmness of soul, put on a gentleness and sweetness of disposition; a gentleness like that with which a nurse cherishes her children. While their people, like new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby, let ministers, with a natural tenderness, draw forth that precious nourishment to them, as imparting even their own souls unto them, and willing to wear out, or (if such should be the will of God) to sacrifice their lives in such a service.

Let them particularly endeavour by all prudent care, suitable to the circumstances in which God has fixed them, not to make themselves burdensome to the people in temporal things, nor, under the pretence of a divine mission, to tyranize over their consciences; but behave with such integrity and such sanctity, that they may be able cheerfully to appeal to God as a witness of it, and may also have a testimony in the breast of each of their flock. And O, that the entrance of such ministers among their people, and their labours with them, may not be in vain; but that the blessed consequence of all the charges, entreaties, and consolations, they are addressing to them may be this, that they may walk worthy of God, worthy of that kingdom and glory, to the

views and blessings of which he hath condescended to call them! Then will all the fatigues of their office sit light upon them, while they see the blessed purposes of it answered. Then will they finish their course with joy, and bless God with their dying breath, that he hath chosen them to an office, the most laborious, and, perhaps, in secular views, the least advantageous of any in which persons of liberal education use to engage.

SECTION III.

He blesses God for the readiness with which they received the gospel, notwithstanding the persecution raised against them, and assures them of his continued affection. Ch. ii. 13. &c.

13

FOR this causeived the word of God, which ye heard from us,

OR this cause also we give thanks to God incessantly, that

ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which worketh efficaciously in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God, which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from those of your own country, (Acts xvii. 5.) as they did of the 15 Jews: who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and whatever they may fancy, please not God, but greatly offend him; and are contrary to all men; being 16 full of malignity against all other nations; forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved; as if they desired to fill up the measure of their sins continually but wrath is coming upon them to the greatest extremity.

17

But we, brethren, though separated from you for a very little season, in person, not in heart, being exceedingly desirous to see 18 your face again, endeavoured it to the utmost. Therefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and a second 19 time, but Satan hath hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not ye also before our Lord Jesus 20 Christ at his appearance? For ye are our glory and joy.

REFLECTIONS.

May divine grace teach our souls ever to distinguish between the authority of the word of men and the word of God; that we may always set them at a due distance from each other, and may feel that peculiar energy of the divine word with which it operates in all them that believe! May we experience this, whatever be the consequences, yea though we should be exposed to sufferings, severe as those which Jews or heathens at first inflicted on the professors, or even on the preachers, of the gospel! Adored be that power of divine grace that went along with it, so that when the envious disciples of Moses, after having slain the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as their own prophets, forbad his messengers to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, these faithful ambassadors of health and life feared none of their threatenings or cruelties, but courageously declared the matter as it