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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [First Thessalonians IV].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T T H E S S A L O N I A N S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter the apostle gives earnest exhortations to abound in
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holiness, with a caution against uncleanness, enforced with several
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arguments,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:1-8">ver. 1-8</A>.
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He then mentions the great duties of brotherly love, and quietness with
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industry in our callings,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:9-12">ver. 9-12</A>.
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And concludes with comforting those who mourned for their relations and
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friends that died in the Lord,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:13-18">ver. 13-18</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Th4_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th4_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th4_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th4_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th4_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th4_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th4_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th4_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Exhortations to Holiness; Caution against Impurity.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 51.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort <I>you</I>
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by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to
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walk and to please God, <I>so</I> ye would abound more and more.
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2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
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3 For this is the will of God, <I>even</I> your sanctification, that
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ye should abstain from fornication:
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4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel
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in sanctification and honour;
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5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which
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know not God:
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6 That no <I>man</I> go beyond and defraud his brother in <I>any</I>
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matter: because that the Lord <I>is</I> the avenger of all such, as we
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also have forewarned you and testified.
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7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto
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holiness.
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8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who
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hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. An exhortation to abound in holiness, to <I>abound more and more</I>
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in that which is good,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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We may observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. The manner in which the exhortation is given--very affectionately.
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The apostle entreats them as brethren; he calls them so, and loved them
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as such. Because his love to them was very great, he exhorts them very
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earnestly: <I>We beseech and exhort you.</I> The apostle was unwilling
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to take any denial, and therefore repeats his exhortation again and
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again.</P>
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<P>
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2. The matter of his exhortation--that they would abound more and more
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in holy walking, or excel in those things that are good, in good works.
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Their faith was justly famed abroad, and they were already examples to
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other churches: yet the apostle would have them yet further to excel
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others, and to make further progress in holiness. Note,
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(1.) Those who most excel others fall short of perfection. The very
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best of us should <I>forget those things which are behind, and reach
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forth unto those things which are before.</I>
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(2.) It is not enough that we abide in the faith of the gospel, but we
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must abound in the work of faith. We must not only persevere to the
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end, but we should grow better, and walk more evenly and closely with
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God.</P>
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<P>
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3. The arguments with which the apostle enforces his exhortation.
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(1.) They had been informed of their duty. They knew their Master's
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will, and could not plead ignorance as an excuse. Now as faith, so
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knowledge, is dead without practice. They had received of those who had
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converted them to Christianity, or been taught of them, <I>how they
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ought to walk.</I> Observe, The design of the gospel is to teach men
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not only what they should believe, but also how they ought to live; not
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so much to fill men's minds with notions as to regulate their temper
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and behaviour. The apostle taught them how to walk, not how to talk. To
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talk well without living well will never bring us to heaven: for the
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character of those who are in Christ Jesus is this: <I>They walk not
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after the flesh, but after the Spirit.</I>
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(2.) Another argument is that the apostle taught and exhorted them in
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the name, or by the authority, of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was
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Christ's minister and ambassador, declaring to them what was the will
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and command of the Lord Jesus.
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(3.) Another argument is this. Herein they would please God. Holy
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walking is most pleasing to the holy God, <I>who is glorious in
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holiness.</I> This ought to be the aim and ambition of every Christian,
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to please God and to be accepted of him. We should not be
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men-pleasers, nor flesh-pleasers, but should walk so as to please God.
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(4.) The rule according to which they ought to walk and act--<I>the
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commandments they had given them by the Lord Jesus Christ,</I> which
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were the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ himself, because given
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by authority and direction from him and such as were agreeable to his
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will. The apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ were only commissioned by
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him to teach men to observe all things <I>whatsoever he had commanded
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them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+28:20">Matt. xxviii. 20</A>.
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Though they had great authority from Christ, yet that was to teach men
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what Christ had commanded, not to give forth commandments of their own.
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They did not act as lords over God's heritage
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+5:3">1 Pet. v. 3</A>),
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nor should any do so that pretend to be their successors. The apostle
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could appeal to the Thessalonians, who knew what commandments he gave
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them, that they were no other than what he had received from the Lord
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Jesus.</P>
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<P>
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II. A caution against uncleanness, this being a sin directly contrary
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to sanctification, or that holy walking to which he so earnestly
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exhorts them. This caution is expressed, and also enforced by many
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arguments,</P>
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<P>
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1. It is expressed in these words: <I>That you should abstain from
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fornication</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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by which we are to understand all uncleanness whatsoever, either in a
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married or unmarried state. Adultery is of course included, though
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fornication is particularly mentioned. And other sorts of uncleanness
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are also forbidden, of which it is a shame even to speak, though they
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are done by too many in secret. All that is contrary to chastity in
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heart, speech, and behaviour, is contrary to the command of God in the
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decalogue, and contrary to that holiness which the gospel requires.</P>
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<P>
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2. There are several arguments to enforce this caution. As,
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(1.) This branch of sanctification in particular is the will of God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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It is the will of God in general that we should be holy, because <I>he
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that called us is holy,</I> and because we are <I>chosen unto salvation
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through the sanctification of the Spirit;</I> and not only does God
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require holiness in the heart, but also purity in our bodies, and that
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we should cleanse ourselves from all <I>filthiness both of flesh and
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spirit,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+7:1">2 Cor. vii. 1</A>.
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Whenever the body is, as it ought to be, devoted to God, and dedicated
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and set apart for him, it should be kept clean and pure for his
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service; and, as chastity is one branch of our sanctification, so this
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is one thing which God commands in his law, and what his grace effects
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in all true believers.
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(2.) This will be greatly for our honour: so much is plainly implied,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Whereas the contrary will be a great dishonour. <I>And his reproach
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shall not be wiped away,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+6:33">Prov. vi. 33</A>.
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The body is here called the vessel of the soul, which dwells therein
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(so
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+21:5">1 Sam. xxi. 5</A>),
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and it must be kept pure from defiling lusts. Every one should be
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careful in this matter, as he values his own honour and will not be
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contemptible on this account, that his inferior appetites and passions
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gain not the ascendant, tyrannizing over his reason and conscience, and
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enslaving the superior faculties of his soul. What can be more
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dishonourable than for a rational soul to be enslaved by bodily
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affections and brutal appetites?
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(3.) To indulge the lust of concupiscence is to live and act like
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heathens? <I>Even as the Gentiles who know not God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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The Gentiles, and especially the Grecians, were commonly guilty of some
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sins of uncleanness which were not so evidently forbidden by the light
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of nature. But they did not know God, nor his mind and will, so well as
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Christians know, and should know, this his will, namely <I>our
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sanctification</I> in this branch of it. It is not so much to be
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wondered at, therefore, if the Gentiles indulge their fleshly appetites
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and lusts; but Christians should not walk as unconverted Gentiles,
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<I>in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings,
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banquetings,</I> &c.
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+4:3">1 Pet. iv. 3</A>),
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because those who are in Christ <I>have crucified the flesh with its
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affections and lusts.</I>
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(4.) The sin of uncleanness, especially adultery, is a great piece of
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injustice that God will be the avenger of; so we may understand those
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words, <I>That no man go beyond or defraud his brother</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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<I>in any matter</I>--<B><I>en to pragmati,</I></B> in <I>this</I>
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matter of which the apostle is speaking in the preceding and following
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verses, namely, the sin of uncleanness. Some understand these words as
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a further warning and caution against injustice and oppression, all
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fraud and deceit in our dealings with men, which are certainly
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criminal, and contrary to the gospel. And Christians should not impose
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upon the ignorance and necessity of those they deal with, and so go
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beyond them, nor should they by equivocations or lying arts defraud
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them; and although this may be practised by some and lie long
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undiscovered, and so go unpunished among men, yet the righteous God
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will render a recompence. But the meaning may rather be to show the
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injustice and wrong that in many cases are done by the sin of
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uncleanness. Not only are fornication and other acts of uncleanness
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sins against his own body who commits them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:18">1 Cor. vi. 18</A>),
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not only are they very injurious to the sinner himself both in soul and
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body, but sometimes they are very injurious, and no less than
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defrauding, acts of injustice to others, particularly to those who are
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joined together in the marriage covenant and to their posterity. And,
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as this sin is of such a heinous nature, so it follows that God will be
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the avenger of it. <I>Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+13:4">Heb. xiii. 4</A>.
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This the apostle had forewarned and testified by his gospel, which, as
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it contained exceedingly great and precious promises, so also it
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<I>revealed from heaven the wrath of God against all ungodliness and
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unrighteousness among men,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:18">Rom. i. 18</A>.
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(5.) The sin of uncleanness is contrary to the nature and design of our
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Christian calling: <I>For God hath called us not unto uncleanness, but
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unto holiness,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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The law of God forbids all impurity, and the gospel requires the
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greatest purity; it calls us from uncleanness unto holiness.
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(6.) The contempt therefore of God's law and gospel is the contempt of
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God himself: <I>He that despises despises God, not man</I> only. Some
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might possibly make light of the precepts of purity and holiness,
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because they heard them from men like themselves; but the apostle lets
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them know that they were God's commands, and to violate them was no
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less than to despise God. He adds, <I>God hath given Christians his
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Spirit,</I> intimating that all sorts of uncleanness do in an especial
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manner grieve the Holy Spirit, and will provoke him to withdraw from
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us; and also the Holy Spirit is given unto us to arm us against these
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sins, and to help us to mortify these deeds of the body, that we may
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live,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:13">Rom. viii. 13</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="1Th4_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th4_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th4_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th4_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Brotherly Love.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 51.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto
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you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
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10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all
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Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more
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and more;
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11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business,
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and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
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12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and
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<I>that</I> ye may have lack of nothing.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these words the apostle mentions the great duties,</P>
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<P>
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I. Of brotherly love. This he exhorts them to increase in yet more and
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more. The exhortation is introduced, not with a compliment, but with a
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commendation, because they were remarkable in the exercise of it, which
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made it less needful that he should write to them about it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Thus by his good opinion of them he insinuated himself into their
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affections, and so made way for his exhortation to them. Note, We
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should take notice of that in others which is good, to their praise,
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that by so doing we may lay engagements upon them to abound therein
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more and more. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. What it is that the apostle commends in them. It was not so much
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their own virtue as God's grace; yet he takes notice of the evidence
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they gave of the grace of God in them.
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(1.) It was God's grace that he took special notice of: that God had
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taught them this good lesson: <I>You yourselves are taught of God to
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love one another,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Whoever does that which is good is taught of God to do it, and God must
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have the glory. All who are savingly taught of God are taught this
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lesson, to love one another. This is the livery of Christ's family.
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Note also, The teaching of the Spirit exceeds the teaching of men; and,
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as no man should teach contrary to what God teaches, so none can teach
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so effectually as he teaches; and men's teaching is fain and useless
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unless God teach also.
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(2.) The Thessalonians gave good evidence of their being taught of God
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by <I>their love to the brethren in all Macedonia,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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They not only loved those of their own city and society, or such as
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were near them and just of their own sentiments, but their love was
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extensive. And a true Christian's is so to all the saints, though
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distant from him in place, and differing from him in some opinions or
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practices of less moment.</P>
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<P>
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2. The exhortation itself is to increase more and more in this great
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grace and duty of brotherly love,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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Though these Thessalonians had in some sense no need of an exhortation
|
|
to brotherly love, as if it were wholly wanting, yet they must be
|
|
exhorted to pray for more, and labour for more. There are none on this
|
|
side heaven who love in perfection. Those who are eminent in this or
|
|
any other grace have need of increase therein as well as of
|
|
perseverance unto the end.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Of quietness and industry in their callings. Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. The apostle exhorts to these duties: that they should <I>study to be
|
|
quiet,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is the most desirable thing to have a calm and quiet temper, and to
|
|
be of a peaceable and quiet behaviour. This tends much to our own and
|
|
others' happiness; and Christians should study how to be quiet. We
|
|
should be ambitious and industrious how to be calm and quiet in our
|
|
minds, in patience to possess our own souls, and to be quiet towards
|
|
others; or of a meek and mild, a gentle and peaceable disposition, not
|
|
given to strife, contention, or division. Satan is very busy to
|
|
disquiet us; and we have that in our own hearts that disposes us to be
|
|
disquiet; therefore let us study to be quiet. It follows, <I>Do your
|
|
own business.</I> When we go beyond this, we expose ourselves to a
|
|
great deal of inquietude. Those who are busy-bodies, meddling in other
|
|
men's matters, generally have but little quiet in their own minds and
|
|
cause great disturbances among their neighbours; at least they seldom
|
|
mind the other exhortation, to be diligent in their own calling, <I>to
|
|
work with their own hands;</I> and yet this was what the apostle
|
|
commanded them, and what is required of us also. Christianity does not
|
|
discharge us from the work and duty of our particular callings, but
|
|
teaches us to be diligent therein.
|
|
|
|
2. The exhortation is enforced with a double argument; namely,
|
|
|
|
(1.) So we shall live creditably. Thus we shall walk honestly, or
|
|
decently and creditably, towards those that are without,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
This will be to act as becomes the gospel, and will gain a good report
|
|
from those that are strangers, yea, enemies to it. Note, It is a great
|
|
ornament to religion when the professors of it are of meek and quiet
|
|
spirits, diligent to do their own business, and not busy-bodies in
|
|
other men's matters.
|
|
|
|
(2.) We shall live comfortably, and have lack of nothing,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
People often by their slothfulness bring themselves into narrow
|
|
circumstances, and reduce themselves to great straits, and are liable
|
|
to many wants, when such as are diligent in their own business live
|
|
comfortably and have lack of nothing. They are not burdensome to their
|
|
friends, nor scandalous to strangers. They earn their own bread, and
|
|
have the greatest pleasure in so doing.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Th4_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Th4_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Th4_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Th4_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Th4_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Th4_18"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>State of Departed Saints.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 51.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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 him.
|
|
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we
|
|
which are alive <I>and</I> remain unto the coming of the Lord shall
|
|
not prevent them which are asleep.
|
|
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
|
|
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and
|
|
the dead in Christ shall rise first:
|
|
17 Then we which are alive <I>and</I> 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.
|
|
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these words the apostle comforts the Thessalonians who mourned for
|
|
the death of their relations and friends that died in the Lord. His
|
|
design is to dissuade them from excessive grief, or inordinate sorrow,
|
|
on that account. <I>All grief</I> for the death of friends is far from
|
|
being unlawful; we may weep at least for ourselves if we do not weep
|
|
for them, weep for own loss, though it may be their fain. Yet we must
|
|
not be immoderate in our sorrows, because,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. This looks as if we had no hope,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is to act too much like the Gentiles, who had no hope of a better
|
|
life after this; whereas we Christians, who have a most sure hope, the
|
|
hope of eternal life after this, <I>which God who cannot lie hath
|
|
promised us,</I> should moderate all our joys and our sorrows on
|
|
account of any worldly thing. This hope is more than enough to balance
|
|
all our griefs upon account of any of the crosses of the present
|
|
time.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. This is an effect of ignorance concerning those who are dead,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
There are some things which we cannot be ignorant of concerning those
|
|
that are asleep; for the land they are removed to is a land of
|
|
darkness, which we know but little of and have no correspondence with.
|
|
To go among the dead is to go among we know not whom, and to live we
|
|
know not how. Death is an unknown thing, and the state of the dead, or
|
|
the state after death, we are much in the dark about; yet there are
|
|
some things concerning those especially who die in the Lord that we
|
|
need not, and ought not, to be ignorant of; and, if these things be
|
|
really understood and duly considered, they will be sufficient to allay
|
|
our sorrow concerning them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. They sleep in Jesus. They are asleep,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
They have <I>fallen asleep in Christ,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+15:18">1 Cor. xv. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Death does not annihilate them. It is but a sleep to them. It is their
|
|
rest, and undisturbed rest. They have retired out of this troublesome
|
|
world, to rest from all their labours and sorrows, and they sleep in
|
|
Jesus,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Being still in union with him, they sleep in his arms and are under his
|
|
special care and protection. Their souls are in his presence, and their
|
|
dust is under his care and power; so that they are not lost, nor are
|
|
they losers, but great gainers by death, and their removal out of this
|
|
world is into a better.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. They shall be raised up from the dead, and awakened out of their
|
|
sleep, for <I>God will bring them with him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
They then are with God, and are better where they are than when they
|
|
were here; and when God comes he will bring them with him. The
|
|
doctrine of the resurrection and the second coming of Christ is a great
|
|
antidote against the fear of death and inordinate sorrow for the death
|
|
of our Christian friends; and this doctrine we have a full assurance
|
|
of, because we <I>believe that Jesus died and rose again,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is taken for granted that as Christians they knew and believed this.
|
|
The death and resurrection of Christ are fundamental articles of the
|
|
Christian religion, and give us hope of a joyful resurrection; for
|
|
<I>Christ, having risen from the dead, has become the first fruits of
|
|
those that slept;</I> and therefore <I>those who have fallen asleep in
|
|
him have not perished nor are lost,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+15:18,20">1 Cor. xv. 18, 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
His resurrection is a full confirmation of all that is said in the
|
|
gospel, or by the word of the Lord, which has <I>brought life and
|
|
immortality to light.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Their state and condition shall be glorious and happy at the second
|
|
coming of Christ. This the apostle informs the Thessalonians of <I>by
|
|
the word of the Lord</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
by divine revelation from the Lord Jesus; for though the resurrection
|
|
of the dead, and a future state of blessedness, were part of the creed
|
|
of the Old-Testament saints, yet they are much more clearly revealed in
|
|
and by the gospel. By this word of the Lord we know,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That the Lord Jesus will come down from heaven in all the pomp and
|
|
power of the upper world
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout.</I> He
|
|
ascended into heaven after his resurrection, and passed through these
|
|
material heavens into the third heaven, which must retain him till the
|
|
restitution of all things; and then he will come again, and appear in
|
|
his glory. He will descend from heaven into this our air,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
The appearance will be with pomp and power, <I>with a shout</I>--the
|
|
shout of a king, and the power and authority of a mighty king and
|
|
conqueror, with <I>the voice of the archangel;</I> an innumerable
|
|
company of angels will attend him. Perhaps <I>one,</I> as general of
|
|
those hosts of the Lord, will give notice of his approach, and the
|
|
glorious appearance of this great Redeemer and Judge will be proclaimed
|
|
and ushered in by the <I>trump of God. For the trumpet shall sound,</I>
|
|
and this will awaken those that sleep in the dust of the earth, and
|
|
will summon all the world to appear. For,
|
|
|
|
(2.) The dead shall be raised: <I>The dead in Christ shall rise
|
|
first</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
before those who are <I>found alive at Christ's coming shall be
|
|
changed;</I> and so it appears that those who shall then <I>be found
|
|
alive shall not prevent those that are asleep,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
The first care of the Redeemer in that day will be about his dead
|
|
saints; he will raise them before the great change passes on those that
|
|
shall be found alive: so that those who did not sleep in death will
|
|
have no greater privilege or joy at that day than those who fell asleep
|
|
in Jesus.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Those that shall be found alive will then be changed. They shall
|
|
<I>be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
|
|
the air,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
At, or immediately before, this rapture into the clouds, those who are
|
|
alive will undergo a mighty change, which will be equivalent to dying.
|
|
This change is so mysterious that we cannot comprehend it: we know
|
|
little or nothing of it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+15:51">1 Cor. xv. 51</A>.
|
|
|
|
Only, in the general, <I>this mortal must put on immortality,</I> and
|
|
these bodies will be made fit to inherit the kingdom of God, which
|
|
flesh and blood in its present state are not capable of. This change
|
|
will be <I>in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+15:52">1 Cor. xv. 52</A>),
|
|
|
|
in the very instant, or not long after the raising up of those that
|
|
sleep in Jesus. And those who are raised, and thus changed, shall meet
|
|
together in the clouds, and there meet with their Lord, to congratulate
|
|
him on his coming, to receive the crown of glory he will then bestow
|
|
upon them, and to be assessors with him in judgment, approving and
|
|
applauding the sentence he will then pass upon the prince of the power
|
|
of the air, and all the wicked, who shall be doomed to destruction with
|
|
the devil and his angels.
|
|
|
|
(4.) Here is the bliss of the saints at that day: they shall <I>be ever
|
|
with the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
It will be some part of their felicity that all the saints shall meet
|
|
together, and remain together for ever; but the principal happiness of
|
|
heaven is this, <I>to be with the Lord,</I> to see him, live with him,
|
|
and enjoy him, for ever. This should comfort the saints upon the death
|
|
of their friends, that, although death has made a separation, yet their
|
|
souls and bodies will meet again; we and they shall meet together
|
|
again: we and they shall meet together again: we and they with all the
|
|
saints shall meet our Lord, and be with him for ever, no more to be
|
|
separated wither from him or from one another for ever. And the apostle
|
|
would have us <I>comfort one another with these words,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
We should endeavour to support one another in times of sorrow, not
|
|
deaden one another's spirits, nor weaken one another's hands, but
|
|
should comfort one another; and this may be done by serious
|
|
consideration and discourse on the many good lessons to be learned from
|
|
the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, the second coming of
|
|
Christ, and the glory of the saints in that day.</P>
|
|
|
|
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