A.D. 52. 1, 2. Paul, etc., see on 1 Th. i. 1. Note on the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians.-Since the salutation sending of the first letter, some one had been imposing upon the "A letter timely Thessalonians a letter in the Apostle's name, to the effect that writ is a rivet to the day of the Lord was close upon them; exciting them, and the chain of causing them to walk disorderly, and to disregard their own busi- affection, and a letter untimely ness in life. On being informed of this at Corinth, where he delayed is as rust remained a year and a half, he sent this Second Epistle, not con- to the soldier." tradicting, not even modifying, his former teaching, but filling it a Alford. out, and rendering it complete; informing them of those things which in the Divine counsels were destined to precede the coming of the day of the Lord, and the manifestation of which was kept back by circumstances then existing.a Ro. viii. 17; Ac. xiv. 22. I have observed that those who have begun life with an extreme faith have, in the end, greatly narrowed it; while, on 3-5. we.. you, see on 1 Th. i. 2. faith.. charity, see on Divine Col. i. 3; and Ep. i. 15-17; and 1 Co. i. 4, 5. glory, boast. tokens Churches, in and about Corinth. which.. token,a i.e., this a 1 Pe. iv. 12, 13; religious fortitude. of.. God, a proof that his opinion-judg-2 Ti. ii. 11, 12; ment-was right. ye.. worthy, ye Gentiles, whom those who are called the children of the kingdom despised (see on Ph. i. 28). A poor man's gratitude.—A gentleman of very considerable fortune, but a stranger both to personal and family religion, one evening took a solitary walk through part of his grounds. He happened to come near to a mean hut, where a poor man lived with a numerous family, who earned their bread by daily labour. the other He heard a continued and pretty loud voice. Not knowing what hand, nothing is it was, curiosity prompted him to listen. The man, who was more common piously disposed, happened to be at prayer with his family. So than for the early soon as he could distinguish the words, he heard him giving sceptic to end in thanks, with great affection, to God for the goodness of His providence, in giving them food to eat and raiment to put on, and in supplying them with what was necessary and comfortable in the present life. He was immediately struck with astonishment and confusion, and said to himself, "Does this poor man, who has nothing but the meanest fare, and that purchased by severe labour, give thanks to God for His goodness to himself and family; and I, who enjoy ease and honour, and everything that is pleasant and desirable, have hardly ever bent my knee, or made any acknowledgment to my Maker and Preserver?" It pleased God to make this providential occurrence the means of bringing him to a real and lasting sense of religion. a firm belief."Byron. "A very small page will serve for the number of our good works, when vast contain our evil deeds." volumes will not Wilson. - Bishop Divine xiv. 13; vii. 13, 14. 6-8. recompense. . you," while you justify His choice by your patience, He avenges your trials. and, in the future. rest, the rest in the better life. when.. angels, see on 1 Th. iv. 16 [i. 116]. in.. fire, encircled by a flame of fire. who.. God, their ignorance culpable. obey.. Gospel, by turning fr. sin. The Second Advent.-I. The great event referred to-the coming of Christ-His final coming on the great day of judgment. II. c Ma. xiii. 40—42. The manner in which He will come: 1. Its publicity-"revealed d Anon. from heaven;" 2. Its pomp and glory--" with His mighty angels." III. The consequences that will attend this coming. To-1. commit acts that Sinners. We have here—(1) Their character, (2) Their fearful deserve punishdoom. 2. To saints.d ment ought to "Those. who mocritus. you have been told, and told again, even till you are weary of hearing it, and till you could make the lighter of it, because you suffer the conse- Retribution.-About the year 1738, when some of the ministers quences." - De- of the Secession were preaching at Braid's Craigs, in the vicinity "All this and of Edinburgh, a man had the hardihood to set fire to some furze more than this bushes in the immediate neighbourhood of the spot where a numerous audience was assembled, concluding, from the direction and force of the wind, that the smoke proceeding from the burning bushes would exceedingly annoy the Seceders. It so happened, however, in the good providence of God, that the wind immediately veered about to another quarter, and the assembly suffered no inconvenience. The impious project, in the meantime, athad so often tracted the notice of the ministers as well as the people; Mr. heard it; like the Ralph Erskine publicly remarked, that the person who had been is brought by cus- guilty of that deed would perhaps live to repent of it. That tom to sleep un- same individual, it is credibly related, was afterwards three times der the noise of driven from his own dwelling by means of fire. First one house hammers, he occupied on Clerkington estate was burned down, and then fly another; on which his master dismissed him, saying, “That man ." would burn all the houses on his property." He removed, in consequence, to Prestonpans, where a similar calamity befel him, the truth of which was attested by a very old woman in Edinburgh, who affirmed that, when a child, she made a very narrow escape from the flames of that house, being let down from a window in a blanket. smith's dog, that the and when the sparks do about his ears." -Baxter. God glorified 10, 11. c Ps. xvi. 11; Is. 9, 10. punished, shall pay the penalty. with.. destruction," "a testimony to the eternity of future punishment that cannot easily be explained away." from.. Lord, removed from, etc. the.. power, the sphere where His power manifests its glory in the splendours of heaven, and the eternal bliss of the saved. glorified, praised. in.. saints, whose character and condition will manifest His wisdom, mercy, etc. and.. ad"The Great Phy-mired, to be wondered at. in.. day, of His coming and sician will appear reigning. ii. 19. d Ep. iii. 10; 1 one of whom e with His recover- A word to a Universalist.—Mr. W., a Universalist, preaching at ed millions, every the village of M-, where a large congregation had come out to will afford evi- hear something new, endeavoured to convince his hearers that dence of His dis- there is no punishment after death. At the close of his sermon, interested love he informed the people that, if they wished, he would preach blood to the there again in four weeks; when Mr. C., a respectable merchant, whole admiring rose, and replied, "Sir, if your doctrine is true, we do not need you; and if it is false, we do not want you." and efficacious creation."-A. Fuller. Apostolic prayer a 2 Ti. i. 9; Lu. xii. 32; Ep. i. 5. b 1 Pe. i. 5; He. xii. 2. being done, this 11, 12. calling,a by wh. you have become disciples. fulfil, complete (see on Ph. i. 6). with power, i.e., powerfully. glorified, exalted, honoured. grace, not by works, lest any man should boast. The glory of Christ in His followers.—Christ is glorious in the c Jo. xvii. 10, 24. character of His followers in that-I. They give Him the throne, "Make your calling sure, and by and cheerfully acknowledge His authority over them. II. Whatthat your elec-ever is excellent in their character is but the reflection of His tion; for that own. III. They are His witnesses in this ungodly world. IV. They follows of itself. love to promote His glory and advance the interests of His kingWe are not to dom. Application :-(1) This is full of comfort to God's people, pry immediately because they have the greatest security in His guardianship and but to read it in love; (2) It is full of inducements to holy being; (3) It is full of the perform- rebuke to ungoldly men, that there are no indications of the anco."-Leighton. Saviour's glory in their characters.-Dr. G. Spring. into the decree, CHAPTER THE SECOND. с c "Whosoever is afraid of submit 1, 2. by.. Christ,a as our Judge. by.. him, as you moral firmvalue your joy in ea. other then, and your acquittal by Him. ness not.. mind, from your mind: i.e., fr. your belief, opinion. a He. x. 25. troubled, agitated, frightened. spirit, feigned to be that of 6 1 Th. iv. 16, 17. prophecy. word, of false teacher. nor.. us, a forged letter. 1 Jo. iv. 1. as.. hand, to the effect that the day of the Lord is commencing. The day of Christ falsely said to be at hand.-I. The error ting any queswhich the Apostle disproves that the day of Christ was then at tion, civil or rehand. II. The effect which this error might produce--trouble test of free disligious, to and unsettledness of mind. This implies-1. That errors breed cussion, is more this disquietude; 2. That Christians should be firmly established in love with his against them. III. A removal of the foundation of this error-with truth."-Bp. own opinion than the brethren were not to be shaken either by spirit-by word-or Watson. by letter." the d W.Burkitt, M.A. they looked to fore do not die as die; and there Moral firmness.-George III. was a man of firm mind, with "Men in general whom one had pleasure in acting. He was very slow in forming his do not live as if opinion, very diligent in procuring every information on the subject; but once convinced, he would act with the most unflinching firmness. His beautiful speech about the Roman Catholic if they looked to question shows his character: "I can give up my crown and live."-Manton. retire from power; I can quit my palace, and live in a cottage; I can lay my head on a block, and lose my life; but I can not break my oath."e a e Twiss. antichrist saved."-P. Mar 3, 4, let.. means, of wh. examples have been given, v. 2, nor yet by other devices. for .. come, words in italics being understood. a.. first, apostasy will precede the last day. man.. sin (see intro.), as if sin were here impersonated, "inc Jo.xvii. 12; Re. xiii. 11; xix. 20. carnate sin, wherein the entire nature of sin is concentrated, a "I see not how incorporated, culminates." revealed, manifested in his true any Pope can be character. the.. perdition, like Judas, his type.d opposeth, s 11. "When the usual conclusion of the Pope's bulls is, "The constitutions I was first in and ordinances of the Apostles, and all things else to the contrary orders, I notwithstanding." exalteth.. God, "The Pope can do all some good hopes that Christ can do, and is more than God." sitteth, the Pope's place of dominion is called his see or seat.9 shewing.. God, "antichrist sitting in the chair of pestilence, and next to Lucifer himself."h had of salvation; I when I was made a cardinal, doubted; but now that I am a Pope, I do almost despair."--P. Pius V. The man of sin.-I. That moral evil on earth is represented in human nature. Sin is connected with man in contradistinctione Trapp. to-1. Abstract systems; 2. Super-earthly sinners. II. That it Hostiensis, Zais often found usurping the prerogatives of God, such as-1. Pro- barel, and Bellarmine say: "Of prietorship in human life; 2. The taking away of human life; 3. wrong he can Dominion over conscience; 4. The absolving from sin; 5. Infalli- make right, of bility of character. III. That it is subject to restraint in this world vice virtue, of -restraint arising from-1. Civil law; 2. Social intelligence; 3. thing." And The monition of conscience; 4. Physical inability. IV. That it is associated with the mysterious (v. 7). Evil is mysterious on account of-1. The darkness that enfolds its introduction; 2. The mask under which it works; 3. The wonderful issues that will result from it. V. That it is Satanic in its operations (v. 9). nothing some P. John XXIII. says: "He is angels, so that he can excommunicate them; he lifted above the the law of nature, can dispense These operations are-1. Sensuous; 2. Marvellous; 3. Deceptive; against not only 4. Unrighteous; 5. Destructive. VI. That it is destined to be but against all the destroyed by the agency of Christ (v. 8). By-1. His word; 2. Evangelists, His manifestation.i Prophets and Antichrist.-One day, after prayer, King Charles I. asked Mr. Apostles." g Title of "Uni- Robert Blair, an eminent Scottish minister, if it was warrantable versal Bishop in prayer to determine a controversy. Mr. Blair, taking the assumed by P. hint, said, he thought he had determined no controversy in h Descr. of the that prayer. "Yes," said the king, "you have determined the Pope by Bp. Pope to be antichrist, which is a controversy among divines.' Grossetête, of To this Mr. Blair replied, "To me this is no controversy, and I Lincoln (1235), who am sorry it should be accounted so by your majesty; sure it was against the ne-none to your father." This silenced the king, for he was a great potism of P. In-defender of his father's opinions; and his testimony, Mr. Blair knew well, was of more authority with him than the testimony of any divine. Boniface III. protested nocent IV. i Dr. Thomas. mystery of iniquity a 5-7. remember, etc., he now places on perpetual record what he had previously said. He had not spoken rashly. with. So Chrys., holdeth, providential restraints till the time of the revealing Theoph., Ecum, came. Early writers a ref. this to the political power of Rom. Cyril of Jerus., etc.; but see Ols Empire. mystery.. iniquity, i.e., of lawlessness. hausen; Alford, subtly working to prevent the laws and principles of the true Prolegom.; and Christian faith. Wordsworth in loc. b 2 Pe. ii. 1, 2; 1 how to check the Sin Wickedness a mystery.-It is a mystery with regard to I. Its origin; II. Its connections, and the means which it employs; III. Its progress; IV. Its tendency.c Jo. iv. 3; Re. xvii. 3-6; Col. ii. 18. Incompatibility of Popery.-Popery can build new chapels;"He who ruleth welcome to do so, to all lengths. Popery cannot come back, any the raging of the more than Paganism can, which also still lingers in some countries. sea, knows also But, indeed, it is with these things as with the ebbing of the sea: designs of the you look at the waves oscillating hither, thither on the beach; ungodly. I sub- for minutes you cannot tell how it is going; look in half an hour mit myself with where it is,-look in half a century where your Popehood is! reverence to His Alas, would there were no greater danger to our Europe than the holy will. O Abner, I fear my poor old Pope's revival! Thor may as soon try to revive. And God, and I fear in that, this oscillation has a meaning. The poor old Popehood none but Him." will not die away entirely, as Thor has done, for some time yet; -Racine. nor ought it. We may say, the Old never dies till this happens; c Heubner. till all the soul of good that was in it has got itself transfused "The fruit of sin, into the practical New. While a good work remains capable goodly and fair to view, deceives us of being done by the Romish form; or, what is inclusive of all, in its beauty. while a pious life remains capable of being led by it, just so long, Pluck'd, it turns if we consider, will this, or the other human soul adopt it, go to ashes on our about as a living witness of it. So long it will obtrude itself on lips."-Webster. the eye of us who reject it, till we in our practice, too, have appropriated whatsoever of truth was in it. Then-but also not till then-it will have no charm more for any man. It lasts here for a purpose. Let it last as long as it can.d d Carlyle. 8-10. wicked, Gk., the lawless one-"the man of sin." revealed, his evil heart being developed and manifested. whom mouth,a His word of power. brightness,' manifestation. even him, the man of sin. coming, to a full revelation. after, according to. with.. wonders, in all power and signs and wonders of lying." and.. unrighteousness, in every kind of deceit of iniquity. in.. perish, for those that are because, etc., "He that now requires oracles to make him be perishing, now, and in a perishing state then. descr. the state of those who are perishing. Antichrist.-I. The title given him-" that Wicked"-the law-lieve, is himself less one. II. His revelation-" shall be revealed "--when re- a great miracle." vealed, all should shun and abhor him. III. His ruin-Christ-Austin. shall slowly destroy him. IV. How this ruin is accomplished. d Ellicott. Christ shall destroy him-1. With the spirit, or breath, of His e W. Burkitt, M.A. mouth; 2. By the brightness of His coming.e 11, 12. and.. cause," bec. they first rejected the truth. judicial delusions send, directly, judicially, that having rejected His truth men b may manifest the consequences to mind and circumstance of a Ps. lxxxi. 11, holding error. 12; Ro. i. 28; 2 delusion, inworking of error. that.. lie, Co. iv. 3, 4. as worship of relics, spiritualism, Mormonism, and other tomfoolery. damned [i. 275], judged, and condemned. who.. truth, rejection of the truth man's great sin. but.. unrighteousness, love of sin the true cause of this rejection of truth. Homiletical hints.-All unrighteousness is a lie; in promising men satisfaction it lies.-Contempt for the pure, saving truth of God must be punished by belief in falsehood.-God has no share in evil; but He can employ the agency of evil spirits and evil men for the attainment of His purposes.g b" WhateverGod permits He or dains." Alford. But to this Ellicott objects. "Judicial infatuation." Waterland, Serm. v.486. c Jo. iii. 18; Mk. xvi. 16. d Jo. iii. 19. "It many times falls out that we deem ourselves much deceived in others, because we first deceived Sidney. The power of Satan.-The application of these awful texts, ine Hochmeyer. their full force, to the spiritualists and necromancers of the f Diedrich. present day, will not be questioned by those who believe God's g Rieger. Holy Word, and who have considered in its light the facts of spiritualism. The history of Paganism might have sufficiently taught men what a terrible servitude, servitude to evil spirits is, and how easily, when God permits it, we may be brought into connection with, and subjection to, the unseen evil spiritual world. But human society at present refuses alike the lessons of expe- ourselves." - P. rience and the warnings of the Word of God, and is blindly rushing on into the positions which Satan intends that his servants should occupy in the last great conflict between Falsehood and Truth. Men are deliberately rejecting the guidance of God and of His Word, and are inviting the help of Satan. It is not wonderful that God should give them up to "strong delusion." 13, 14. we.. you, see on 1 Th. i. 2-4. because.. chosen, see on Ep. i. 4; and Ro. viii. 29, 30. through.. Spirit, wrought by, effected by the S. as the agent. and.. truth, as the instrument. whereunto, to wh. salvation, etc. to. Christ, see on 1 Th. ii. 12. He is the best accountant who can count up correctly the sum of his own errors. the Christian calling a 1 Pe. i. 2; 2 Ti. ii. 19. b Ja. i. 18. c 2 Ti. ii. 10. xvii. 22. e Dr. J. Edmond. The grand race.-I. The course, with the goal at the end. This running of God's Word is to be-1. Over all the world; 2. In men's hearts. II. The starting-point-this runner-this Word of d1 Pe. v. 10; Jo. God-started from the very scene of the Fall. III. The competitors. We have in this grand race-1. The Bible against all other books; 2. The news of the Gospel against all other news" The imaginabesides; 3. The truth against all lies; 4. Mercy against judg-tion and the feelings have each ment. IV. The spectators-many-heaven-earth-hell. V. The their truths, as crown of victory-the crown of saved souls, and of a regenerated well as the world.e Gratitude for election.-A good man, who had been for a long time perplexed about the doctrine of election, as fearing he was not among the number chosen, resolved one day to fall down reason. The absorption of the three, so as to concentrate them in the same point, |