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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>S E C O N D<BR>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. I.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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After the introduction
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>)
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the apostle begins this epistle with an account of his high esteem for
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these Thessalonians,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:3,4">ver. 3, 4</A>.
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He then comforts them under their afflictions and persecutions
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:5-10">ver. 5-10</A>)
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and tells them what his prayers were to God for them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:11,12">ver. 11, 12</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Th1_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Th1_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Th1_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Th1_4"> </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>Introduction.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 52.</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 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the
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Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
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2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord
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Jesus Christ.
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3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is
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meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the
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charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
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4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for
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your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations
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that ye endure:
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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. The introduction
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>),
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in the same words as in the former epistle, from which we may observe
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that as this apostle did not count it grievous to him to write the same
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things
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+3:1">Phil. iii. 1</A>)
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in his epistles that he had delivered in preaching, so he willingly
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wrote the same things to one church that he did to another. The
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occurrence of the same words in this epistle as in the former shows us
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that ministers ought not so much to regard the variety of expression
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and elegance of style as the truth and usefulness of the doctrines they
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preach. And great care should be taken lest, from an affectation of
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novelty in method and phrases, we advance new notions or doctrines,
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contrary to the principles of natural or revealed religion, upon which
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this church of the Thessalonians was built, as all true churches are;
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namely, <I>in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. The apostle's expression of the high esteem he had for them. He not
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only had a great affection for them (as he had expressed in his former
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epistle, and now again in his pious wish of grace and peace for them),
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but he also expresses his great esteem for them, concerning which
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observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. How his esteem of them is expressed.
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(1.) He glorified God on their behalf: <I>We are bound to thank God
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always for you, brethren, as it is meet,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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He chose rather to speak of what was praiseworthy in them in a way of
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thanksgiving to God than by commendation of them; and, as what he
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mentions was matter of his rejoicing, he accounted it matter of
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thanksgiving, and it was meet or fit it should be so, for we are bound,
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and it is our duty, to be thankful to God for all the good that is
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found in us or others: and it not only is an act of kindness to our
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fellow-christians, but our duty, to thank God on their behalf.
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(2.) He also <I>glories in them before the churches of God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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The apostle never flattered his friends, but he took pleasure in
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commending them, and speaking well of them, to the glory of God and for
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the excitement and encouragement of others. Paul did not glory in his
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own gifts, nor in his labour among them, but he gloried in the grace of
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God which was bestowed upon them, and so his glorying was good, because
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all the commendation he gave to them, and the pleasure he took himself,
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centered in the praise and glory of God.</P>
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<P>
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2. For what he esteemed them and thanked God; namely, the increase of
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their faith, and love, and patience. In his former epistle
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+1:3"><I>ch.</I> i. 3</A>)
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he gave thanks for their faith, love, and patience; here he gives
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thanks for the increase of all those graces, that they were not only
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true Christians, but growing Christians. Note, Where there is the truth
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of grace there will be increase of it. <I>The path of the just is as
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the shining light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day.</I>
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And where there is the increase of grace God must have all the glory of
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it. We are as much indebted to him for the improvement of grace, and
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the progress of that good work, as we are for the first work of grace
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and the very beginning of it. We may be tempted to think that though
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when we were bad we could not make ourselves good, yet when we are good
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we can easily make ourselves better; but we have as much dependence on
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the grace of God for increasing the grace we have as for planting grace
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when we had it not. The matter of the apostle's thanksgiving and
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glorying on behalf of the Thessalonians was,
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(1.) That their faith grew exceedingly,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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They were more confirmed in the truth of gospel-revelations, confided
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in gospel-promises, and had lively expectations of another world. The
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growth of their faith appeared by the works of faith; and, where faith
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grows, all other graces grow proportionably.
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(2.) Their charity abounded
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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their love to God and man. Note, Where faith grows love will abound,
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for faith works by love; and not only the charity of some few of them,
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but of every one to each other, did abound. There were no such
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divisions among them as in some other churches.
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(3.) Their patience as well as faith increased in all their
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persecutions and tribulations. And patience has then its perfect work
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when it extends itself to all trials. There were many persecutions
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which the Thessalonians endured for the sake of righteousness, as well
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as other troubles which they met with in this calamitous life; yet they
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endured all these, by faith <I>seeing him that is invisible,</I> and
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looking to the <I>recompence of reward;</I> and endured them with
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patience, not with an insensibility under them, but with patience
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arising from Christian principles, which kept them quiet and
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submissive, and afforded them inward strength and support.</P>
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<A NAME="2Th1_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Th1_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Th1_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Th1_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Th1_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Th1_10"> </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>Prospect of Persecuted Saints.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 52.</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>5 <I>Which is</I> a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God,
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that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye
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also suffer:
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6 Seeing <I>it is</I> a righteous thing with God to recompense
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tribulation to them that trouble you;
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7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus
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shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
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8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,
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and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
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9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
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presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
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10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be
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admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you
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was believed) in that day.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Having mentioned their persecutions and tribulations, which they
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endured principally for the cause of Christ, the apostle proceeds to
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offer several things for their comfort under them; as,</P>
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<P>
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I. He tells them of the present happiness and advantage of their
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sufferings,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Their faith being thus tried, and patience exercised, they were
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improved by their sufferings, insomuch that they were <I>counted worthy
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of the kingdom of God.</I> Their sufferings were a manifest token of
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this, that they were worthy or meet to be accounted Christians indeed,
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seeing they could suffer for Christianity. And the truth is, Religion,
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if it is worth any thing, is worth every thing; and those either have
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no religion at all, or none that is worth having, or know not how to
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value it, that cannot find in their hearts to suffer for it. Besides,
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from their patient suffering, it appeared that, according to the
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righteous judgment of God, they should be counted worthy of the
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heavenly glory: not by worthiness of condignity, but of congruity only;
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not that they could merit heaven, but they were made meet for heaven.
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We cannot by all our sufferings, any more than by our services, merit
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heaven as a debt; but by our patience under our sufferings we are
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qualified for the joy that is promised to patient sufferers in the
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cause of God.</P>
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<P>
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II. He tells them next of the future recompence that shall be given to
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persecutor and persecuted.</P>
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<P>
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1. In this future recompence there will be,
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(1.) A punishment inflicted on persecutors: God will <I>recompense
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tribulation to those that trouble you,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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And there is nothing that more infallibly marks a man for eternal ruin
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than a spirit of persecution, and enmity to the name and people of God:
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as the faith, patience, and constancy of the saints are to them an
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earnest of everlasting rest and joy, so the pride, malice, and
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wickedness of their persecutors are to them an earnest of everlasting
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misery; for every man carries about with him, and carries out of the
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world with him, either his heaven or his hell. God will render a
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recompence, and will trouble those that trouble his people. This he has
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done sometimes in this world, witness the dreadful end of many
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persecutors; but especially this he will do in the other world, where
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the portion of the wicked must be <I>weeping, and wailing, and gnashing
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of teeth.</I>
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(2.) A reward for those that are persecuted: God will recompense their
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trouble with rest,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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There is a rest that remains for the people of God, a rest from sin and
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sorrow. Though many may be the troubles of the righteous now, yet God
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will deliver them out of them all. The future rest will abundantly
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recompense all their present troubles. The sufferings of this present
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time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be
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revealed. There is enough in heaven to countervail all that we may lose
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or suffer for the name of Christ in this world. The apostle says,
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<I>To you who are troubled rest with us.</I> In heaven, ministers and
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people shall rest together, and rejoice together, who suffer together
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here; and the meanest Christian shall rest with the greatest apostle:
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nay, what is far more, if we suffer for Christ, we shall also reign
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with him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ti+2:12">2 Tim. ii. 12</A>.</P>
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<P>
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2. Concerning this future recompence we are further to observe,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) The certainty of it, proved by the righteousness and justice of
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God: <I>It is a righteous thing with God</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>)
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to render to every man according to his works. The thoughts of this
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should be terrible to wicked men and persecutors, and the great support
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of the righteous and such as are persecuted; for, seeing there is a
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righteous God, there will be a righteous recompence. God's suffering
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people will lose nothing by their sufferings, and their enemies will
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gain nothing by their advantages against them.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) The time when this righteous recompence shall be made: <I>When the
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Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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That will be the day of the <I>revelation of the righteous judgment of
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God;</I> for then will God judge the world in righteousness by that man
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whom he hath appointed, even Jesus Christ the righteous Judge. The
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righteousness of God does not so visibly appear to all men in the
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procedure of his providence as it will in the process of the great
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judgment-day. The scripture has made known to us the judgment to come,
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and we are bound to receive the revelation here given concerning
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Christ. As,</P>
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<P>
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[1.] That the Lord Jesus will in that day appear from heaven. Now the
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heavens retain him, they conceal him; but then he will be revealed and
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made manifest. He will come in all the pomp and power of the upper
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world, <I>whence we look for the Saviour.</I></P>
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<P>
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[2.] He will be revealed with his mighty angels
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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or the angels of his power: these will attend upon him, to grace the
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solemnity of that great day of his appearance; they will be the
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ministers of his justice and mercy in that day; they will summon the
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criminals to his tribunal, and gather in the elect, and be employed in
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executing his sentence.</P>
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<P>
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[3.] He will come in flaming fire,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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A fire goeth before him, which shall consume his enemies. The earth,
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and all the works that are therein, shall be burnt up, and the elements
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shall melt with fervent heat. This will be a trying fire, to try
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every man's work,--a refining fire, to purify the saints, who shall
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share in the purity, and partake of the felicity, of the new heaven and
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the new earth,--a consuming fire to the wicked. His light will be
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piercing, and his power consuming, to all those who in that day shall
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be found as chaff.</P>
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<P>
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[4.] The effects of this appearance will be terrible to some and joyful
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to others.</P>
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<P>
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<I>First,</I> They will be terrible to some; for he will then take
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vengeance on the wicked.
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1. On those that sinned against the principles of natural religion, and
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rebelled against the light of nature, <I>that knew not God</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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though the invisible things of him are manifested in the things that
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are seen.
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2. On those that rebel against the light of revelation, that <I>obey
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not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.</I> And this is the
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condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness
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rather than light. This is the great crime of multitudes--the gospel is
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revealed to them, and they will not believe it; or, if they pretend to
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believe it, they will not obey it. Note, Believing the truths of the
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gospel is in order to our obeying the precepts of the gospel: there
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must be the obedience of faith. To such persons as are here mentioned
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the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ will be terrible, because of
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their doom, which is mentioned,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Here observe,
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(1.) They will then be punished. Though sinners may be long reprieved,
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yet they will be punished at last. Their misery will be a proper
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punishment for their crimes, and only what they have deserved. They
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did sin's work, and must receive sin's wages.
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(2.) Their punishment will be no less than destruction, not of their
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being, but of their bliss; not that of the body alone, but both as to
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body and soul.
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(3.) This destruction will be everlasting. They shall be always dying,
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and yet never die. Their misery will run parallel with the line of
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eternity. The chains of darkness are everlasting chains, and the fire
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is everlasting fire. It must needs be so, since the punishment is
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inflicted by an eternal God, fastening upon an immortal soul, set out
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of the reach of divine mercy and grace.
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(4.) This destruction shall come from the <I>presence of the Lord,</I>
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that is, immediately from God himself. Here God punishes sinners by
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creatures, by instruments; but then he will take the work into his own
|
|
hands. It will be destruction from the Almighty, more terrible than the
|
|
consuming fire which consumed Nadab and Abihu, which came from before
|
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the Lord.
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(5.) It shall come from the <I>glory of his power,</I> or from his
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|
glorious power. Not only the justice of God, but this almighty power,
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|
will be glorified in the destruction of sinners; and who knows the
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power of his anger? He is able to cast into hell.</P>
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|
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<P>
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|
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<I>Secondly,</I> It will be a joyful day to some, even to the saints,
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|
unto those that believe and obey the gospel. And then the apostle's
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|
testimony concerning this day will be confirmed and <I>believed</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>);
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|
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in that bright and blessed day,
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|
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|
1. Christ Jesus will be glorified and admired by his saints. They will
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|
behold his glory, and admire it with pleasure; they will glorify his
|
|
grace, and admire the wonders of his power and goodness towards them,
|
|
and sing hallelujahs to him in that day of his triumph, for their
|
|
complete victory and happiness.
|
|
|
|
2. Christ will be glorified and admired in them. His grace and power
|
|
will then be manifested and magnified, when it shall appear what he has
|
|
purchased for, and wrought in, and bestowed upon, all those who believe
|
|
in him. As his wrath and power will be made known in and by the
|
|
destruction of his enemies, so his grace and power will be magnified in
|
|
the salvation of his saints. Note, Christ's dealings with those who
|
|
believe will be what the world one day shall wonder at. Now, they are a
|
|
wonder to many; but how will they be wondered at in this great and
|
|
glorious day; or, rather, how will Christ, whose name is Wonderful, be
|
|
admired, when the mystery of God shall be finished! Christ will not be
|
|
so much admired in the glorious esteem of angels that he will bring
|
|
from heaven with him as in the many saints, <I>the many sons,</I> that
|
|
he will bring to glory.</P>
|
|
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|
<A NAME="2Th1_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="2Th1_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Apostle Prayer.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 52.</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>11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would
|
|
count you worthy of <I>this</I> calling, and fulfil all the good
|
|
pleasure of <I>his</I> goodness, and the work of faith with power:
|
|
12 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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these verses the apostle again tells the Thessalonians of his
|
|
earnest and constant prayer for them. He could not be present with
|
|
them, yet he had a constant remembrance of them; they were much upon
|
|
his thoughts; he wished them well, and could not express his good-will
|
|
and good wishes to them better than in earnest constant prayer to God
|
|
for them: <I>Wherefore also we pray,</I> &c. Note, The believing
|
|
thoughts and expectation of the second coming of Christ should put us
|
|
upon prayer to God for ourselves and others. We should watch and pray,
|
|
so our Saviour directs his disciples
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+21:36">Luke xxi. 36</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to
|
|
stand before the Son of man.</I> Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. What the apostle prayed for,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is a great concern to be well instructed what to pray for; and
|
|
without divine instruction we know not what to pray for, as without
|
|
divine assistance we shall not pray in such a manner as we ought. Our
|
|
prayers should be suitable to our expectations. Thus the apostle prays
|
|
for them,
|
|
|
|
1. That God would begin his good work of grace in them; so we may
|
|
understand this expression: <I>That our God would count you</I> (or, as
|
|
it might be read, <I>make you) worthy of this calling.</I> We are
|
|
called with a high and holy calling; we are called to God's kingdom and
|
|
glory; and no less than the inheritance of the saints is the hope of
|
|
our calling, nothing less than the enjoyment of that glory and felicity
|
|
which shall be revealed when Christ Jesus shall be revealed from
|
|
heaven. Now, if this be our calling, our great concern should be to be
|
|
worthy of it, or meet and prepared for this glory: and because we have
|
|
no worthiness of our own, but what is owing purely to the grace of God,
|
|
we should pray that he would make us worthy, and then count us worthy,
|
|
of this calling, or that he would make us meet to partake of the
|
|
inheritance of the saints in light,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+1:12">Col. i. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. That God would carry on the good work that is begun, and <I>fulfil
|
|
all the good pleasure of his goodness.</I> The good pleasure of God
|
|
denotes his gracious purposes towards his people, which flow from his
|
|
goodness, and are full of goodness towards them; and it is thence that
|
|
all good comes to us. If there be any good in us, it is the fruit of
|
|
God's good-will to us, it is owing to the good pleasure of his
|
|
goodness, and therefore is called grace. Now, there are various and
|
|
manifold purposes of grace and good-will in God towards his people; and
|
|
the apostle prays that all of them may be fulfilled or accomplished
|
|
towards these Thessalonians. There are several good works of grace
|
|
begun in the hearts of God's people, which proceed from this good
|
|
pleasure of God's goodness, and we should desire that they may be
|
|
completed and perfected. In particular, the apostle prays that God
|
|
would fulfil in them the <I>work of faith with power.</I> Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The fulfilling of the work of faith is in order to the fulfilling
|
|
of every other good work. And,
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is the power of God that not only begins, but that carries on
|
|
and perfects the work of faith.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Why the apostle prayed for these things
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>That the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified;</I> this is the
|
|
end we should aim at in every thing we do and desire, that God and
|
|
Christ in all things may be glorified. Our own happiness and that of
|
|
others should be subordinate to this ultimate end. Our good works
|
|
should so shine before men that others may glorify God, that Christ may
|
|
be glorified in and by us, and then we shall be glorified in and with
|
|
him. And this is the great end and design of the grace of our God and
|
|
the Lord Jesus Christ, which is manifested to us and wrought in us. Or
|
|
thus: it is according to the grace of God and Christ, that is, it is an
|
|
agreeable thing, considering the grace that is manifested to us and
|
|
bestowed on us, by God and Christ, that we direct all we do to the
|
|
glory of our Creator and Redeemer.</P>
|
|
|
|
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