tvho have contributed to aid the society with your funds, an acknowledgment is justly due: and I trust that your liberality on the present occasion will afford me fresh ground for joy and gratitude. Yet, I must not let my gratitude terminate altogether on you; but must rather view God himself in you; and give glory to Him, " from whom alone cometh every good and perfect gift.'"]
2, In a way of affectionate exhortation —
[Let none of you rest in any attainment. The Apostle commended his Thessalonian converts, because " their faith and love grew exceedingly^." Let me have similar ground of joy in you. You have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God, and have " made your profiting to appear:" but " we beseech you, brethren, to abound more and more^" Endeavour to honour God more ; to adorn the Gospel more ; to diffuse richer benefits among the saints ; and to give more abundant evidence of your piety to all around you. So shall you be approved of your God, both now and in the eternal world : for " he is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed towards his name, in that ye have ministered unto the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same dili- gence to the full assurance of hope unto the end^."]
e 2Thess. i. 3, 4. f 1 Thess. iv. 1. s Heb. vi. 10, 11.
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