III. What lessons we should learn from it —
Two things it may well teach us : 1. That opposition, how formidable soever it may be, is no excuse for our turning back from God —
[What are our persecutions, in comparison of those which they endured? Yet they were "steadfast, immoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord." Should we then be intimidated ? Should we hesitate whom to obey, or what course to follow ? No ; we should take up our cross cheer- fully ; and having counted the cost, should be content to pay it. The stony-ground hearer, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, may well draw back, because he has no root in him : but the true disciple will go with his life in his hand, and be willing not only to make minor sacrifices, but even to lay down his life for Christ's sake. We must not imagine that such a line of conduct was necessary for the pri- mitive Christians only : it is equally necessary for Christians in every age : and " he who loves his life shall lose it ; and he only who is willing to lose his life for Christ's sake, shall find it unto life eternal."]
2. That whatever proficiency we have made in the Divine life, we should still press forward for higher attainments —
Certainly the proficiency of the Thessalonians was very eminent, even in the earlier state of their progress ; for even then " they were ensamples to all believers, both in Macedonia and Achaia." But they had not rested in their attainments : they had pressed forward for the highest possible degrees of grace : and through mercy they had attained a most uncommon eminence in the divine life. So we, if we had advanced as far as St. Paul himself, should, like him, " forget all that was be- hind, and reach forward to that which was before, and press forward to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." We should aspire after a perfect resemblance to our Saviour's image ; and seek, if possible, so to be poured into the mould of the Gospel, as to have every lineament of our character conformed to it. We should think nothing at- tained, as long as any thing remained to be attained. We should seek to " grow up into Christ in all things, as our Head," and to " be changed into his image from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord."]
Application : — But,
1. How different from the Thessalonian Church are the generality of those who call themselves Christians!