9

unto us his holy Spirit. But 9 Love to man is a duty we owe to as touching brotherly love ye God. need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught t of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you,

12

brethren, that ye increase
more and more; 11 and that
ye study to be quiet, and to
do your own business, and
to work with your own hands,
as we commanded you: 12 that
ye may walk honestly toward
ye may have lack of nothing.
13 But I would not have you
to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep,
that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so
them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with
15 For this we say unto
him.
you by the word of the Lord,

11 Two excellent cautions - one
against idleness, and the other against
that vain and contemptible curiosity
to which idleness leads.

12 It is difficult for a busybody to
act an honourable part.
them that are without, and that
13 This and the following verses
must fill every heart with comfort.

14 The loved one sleeps in Jesus!
Behold! God will restore the dead!
O mourner-hope then is yet thine!

15 The living at the day of judg ment shall not prevent, that is, shall not go before those who have been

dead, and are asleep in their graves.

that we which are alive and
remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them

The

which are asleep. 16 For the
16 The dead shall rise first.
Lord himself shall descend
the living or the quick, as they are
from heaven with a shout, termed-shall be changed without
with the voice of the arch- death into immortal bodies, either
angel, and with the trump of for happiness or misery, for ever.
God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in
the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever
be with the Lord. Where- 18 Reader! if this comforts not,
fore comfort one another with then is never comfort to be found.
these words.

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CHAPTER V.

MARCH 14, JULY 13, Nov. 9.

TUESDAY IN WHITSUN-WEEK, Morn. ver. 12 to ver. 24.

BUT of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need
that I write unto you. 2 For
yourselves know perfectly
that the day of the Lord so
cometh as a thief in the night.

? Death passes us to our eternal
bliss or our eternal misery; yet who
shall tell its hour!-Watch!
For when they shall say, Peace

and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not 6 Blessed is he who is found watch

sleep, as do others; but let ing-ready to meet his Lord! us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus

10

Christ, who died for us,

that, whether we wake or

10 Would we live with Christ hereafter in glory?-who would not ?— let us live with him here in holiness!

sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12 Ver. 12. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them

12 How encouraging to your minister to have your regard and esteem.

which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you! and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the week, be patient toward all men, See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. 16 Nothing weakens joy derived from God.

17

16

Pray without ceasing. In 17 Be ever in a fit mind for prayer. every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not 21 Many will try and rob you of prophesyings. 21 Prove all 21 Prove all your religious hope. Hold it fast. things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ver. 24. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

The first epistle unto the Thessalonians was written from
Athens.

Towards the close of this chapter, St. Paul is so ardent and earnest,

1

MAR

MARCH 15, JULY 14, 2 THESSALONIANS I.

Nov. 10.

that expression fails him to give full utterance to his feelings. In the manner of one overflowing with anxiety for others' welfare, thought succeeding thought with breathless rapidity, he is brief, abrupt, impetuous. No minister now may have St. Paul's fervid eloquence, but be sure that every minister shares the Apostle's anxious feelings, and finds his heart overflow with the Apostle's love for the souls committed to his care. My christian brother, be not wanting to thyself!

LT

La

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the
Chessalonians.

CHAPTER I.

MARCH 15, JULY 14, Nov. 10.

PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the
Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. 3 We are bound
3 This increasing spirit of charity
to thank God always for you,
was a beautiful proof of an increas
brethren, as it is meet, be- ing spirit of religion.
cause that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of
4 To endure persecution patiently,
every one of you all toward
is the test of Christian faith.
each other aboundeth; SO
that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your
patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations
5 Scripture assures us that through
tribulation we must enter into glory.
may be counted worthy of the

6

4

that
which is a
endure:
ye
manifest token of the righte-
ous judgment of God, that ye
kingdom of God, for which
ye also suffer: * seeing it is
a righteous thing with God to
that trouble you; and to
you who are troubled rest
with us, when the Lord Jesus

"Sure punishment awaiteth the persecutors though it come late. recompense tribulation to them 7 Sure recompense-even rest in heaven-awaiteth the righteous suf

ferers.

shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and

9 In God's presence is fulness of joy: if cast out from that presence, we

die.

that obey not the gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ: who
shall be punished with ever-
lasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from
the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified
in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe
(because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

3

C

.

11 Wherefore also we pray 11 How often do we find St. Paul always for you, that our God praying for his people, and thus would count you worthy of strengthening their mutual love! this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER II.

MARCH 16, JULY 15, Nov. 11.

Now we beseech you, bre-
thren, by the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and by our
2 that ye be not soon shaken
in mind, or be troubled,

1 A solemn looking to the future. gathers strength for the present hour gathering together unto him, 2 The day of Christ was, then, dis

tant.

neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as

3 Various as have been the forms assumed by the enemies of the Christian faith, God hath ever yet overruled their councils; and to the end Church shall finally triumph. will so controul them, that his true

7 Yet even in St. Paul's days this evil had begun.

that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work only he who now letteth will let, until he be 8 God consumeth the strength of taken out of the way. And this iniquity by his word, and He then shall that Wicked be will finally sweep it away in his revealed, whom the Lord anger. shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure

8

E

13 But in unrighteousness. we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which

13 It was of grace that the Thessalonians were elected and chosen of God, to receive the offer of his Gospel.

15 Like good soldiers, stand fast in defence of the cause in which ye are engaged, under the banner of Christ.

16 Blessed thought! that whatever else fail us our consolation and "hope through grace" faileth mot! That is everlasting.

hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

CHAPTER III.

MARCH 17, JULY 16, Nov. 12.

'FINALLY, brethren, pray
for
us, that the word of the Lord
may have free course, and be
2 and that we may be deliver-
ed from unreasonable and
wicked men :
for all men
have not faith. 3 But the
Lord is faithful, who shall
establish you, and keep you from evil.
dence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do
the things which we command you. And the Lord direct
your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting
for Christ. Now we com- 6 Unity and order are indispensable
mand you, brethren, in the for a Christian Church. Division is
name of our Lord Jesus destruction.

1 The Christian ever prays for his
minister as well as for himself.
glorified, even as it is with you:

2 Heavy is the trial that we endure from the unreasonable and the wicked.

3 Thus ministers trust that the Lord will keep their charge in safety.

6

And we have confi

Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves dis- 8 St. Paul's high spirit brooked not orderly among you; neither unnecessary dependence.

did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be charge