Use 2. To the called. (1.) Bless God for this calling. The woful estate out of which we are called, and the blessed estate into which we are entered, compared together, should make us wonder : 1 Peter ii. 9, ' Ye should show forth the ])raises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.' (2.) Walk answerably : Eph. iv. 1, * I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wlierewith ye are called.' And 1 Thes. ii. 12, ' That ye would M'alk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.'
SERMON XIII.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions wMch ye have been taught, ivhether by luord, or our epistle. — 2 Thes. II. 15.
Tee apostle, after he had comforted the Thessalonians, he exhorteth them to constancy in the truth, whatever temptations they had to the contrary. The comforts he propoimdeth to them were taken — (1.) From their election, ver. 13 ; (2.) From their vocation, ver. 14. His exhortation is to perseverance : ' Therefore, brethren,' &c. In the words observe: —
1. Tiie illative particle, there/ore; because God hath chosen you and called you, and given you such advantages against error and seduction.
2. The duty inferred : ar/jKere, stand fast. It is a military word ; you have the same in other places : 1 Cor. xvi. 13, ' Watch ye, stand ye fast,' &c. ; Eph. vi. 14, ' Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth/ The word intimateth perseverance.
3. The means of perseverance : hold the traditions ivhich you have been tanqht, wlicthcr by word, or our epistle.
Where observe :—(!.) The act ; (2.) The object.
1. The act : KpaTelre, hold with strong hand. The word implieth a forcible holding against assaulls, wlicther of error or persecution. The Thessalonians were assaulted in both kinds; the heathens persecuted them, and some were gone abroad that began the mystery of iniquity, and were ready to pervert them.
2. The object, which is proi)ounded — (1 .) By a conmion and general term : ' The "traditions which ye have been taught.' (2.) By a distribu- tion : ' Whether ])y word, or our epistle.'
2 ThES. II. 15.] THE THIKTEENTH SERMON". 123
1. The common and j^eneral term, 'The traditions which ye have been taus^lit.' There are two sorts of traditions — human and divine.
First, Human traditions are certain external observances instituted by men, and delivered from hand to hand, from progenitors to their posterity. These may be either besides or contrary to the word of God. (1.) Beside the word, as the institutions of the family of the Kechabites, in the observance of which, from father to son, they were so exact and punctual, that God produceth their example to shame the disobedience of his people: Jer. xxxv. 6, 7, ' Jonadab the son of Kechal) our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, nor build houses, nor plant vineyards,' &c. (2.) Contrary to the word of God, such as were those of the pharisees : Mat. xv. 3, * Why transgress ye the commandment of God by your traditions ?' Human inventions in religion are contrary to, and destructive of, divine laws.
Secondly, Traditions divine are either heavenly doctrines revealed by God, or institutions and ordinances appointed by him for the use of the cliurch. These are the rule and ground of our faith, worship, and obedience. The whole doctrine of the gospel is a tradition delivered and conveyed to us by fit messengers, such as the apostles were : 1 Cor. xi. 2, ' Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances [marg. traditions] as I delivered them to you.' So that holding the traditions is nothing else but perseverance in apos- tolical doctrine.
2. The distribution, that no cheats might be put upon them under any pretence ; therefore he saith, ' Whether by word, or our epistle ;' that is, by word of mouth when present, or by epistle when absent ; and he saith, not epistles, but epistle, as alluding to the former he wrote unto them. They were bound to yield to both alike credence and obedience ; for, whether in speaking or writing, the apostolical autho- rity was the same. To improve this verse for your benefit, I shall lay down several propositions.
I. That whatever assurance we have of God's preserving us in the truth, yet we are bound to use diligence and caution.
II. Our diligence and caution is to be employed about this, that we may stand fast in the faith of Christ, and the profession and practice of godliness.
III. That the means of standing fast in the faith of Christ, and the profession and practice of godliness, is by holding the traditions which were taught by the holy apostles.
IV. That while the apostles were in being, there were two ways of delivering the truth — by word of mouth and writing.
V. That now when they are long since gone to God, and we cannot receive from them the doctrine of life by word of mouth, we must stick to the scriptures or written word.
I. That whatever I'^^urance we have of God's preserving us in the truth, yet we are bound to use diligence and caution. For the apostle had said that ' God had chosen and called them to the belief of the truth,' and yet saith, ' Therefore, brethren, stand fast.'