among them," in that " they had turned from idols to serve the living and true God :" and, immediately after our text, he mentions the heavy trials they had had to endure ; which yet they had sustained with unshaken fortitude : and the tidings he had heard from Timothy, of their advancement in faith and love and every grace, completed his joy, so that he forgot all his own afflictions through his joy on their account a. What could he desire more than this ? St. John, who had been admitted to nearer intercourse with his Saviour than any other of the Apostles, knew no greater joy than thisb. Well there- fore might St. Paul pour forth his soul to God in praises and thanksgiving for such a mercy as this.]
In St. Paul's acknowledgments we may see,
II. What grounds of thankfulness all ministers have, whose labours are so blest —
Wherever the Gospel is so received, and so ope- rates, there is abundant cause for praise and thanks- giving unto God ;
1. For the people's sake —
[Happy, thrice " happy are the people that are in such a case, yea happy are the people who have the Lord for their God." " Who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lordc!" Can we reflect on the change that has taken place on you, and not rejoice? " Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are dug." Do ye congratulate Lot on his escape from Sodom ? What was that fire in comparison of those burnings from which ye are escaped ? He was saved to die at last : you are saved to live for ever. You are not merely delivered from the power of darkness, but are translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, yea, and are made heirs together with him of an ever- lasting inheritance. Little can we know of the value of an immortal soul, if we are not filled with joy and gratitude at the thought of such blessings being imparted to it.]
2. For the Church's sake —
[No language could adequately express the transports of the saints of old, when they contemplated the effects that are here described : " Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it : shout, ye lower parts of the earth : break forth into sing- ing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein : for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel d."
a 1 Thess. iii. 6, 7. b 3 John, ver. 4. c Deut. xxxiii. 29. rt Isai. xliv. 23. See also Ps. xcvi. 11 — 13. and xcviii. 1—9.