HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers.1-4.-Effective11ess of the gos71el. Entrance into Thessalooica. n wu not neoos- 1111.ry, however, to depend upon foreigu testimony for the facts of the case, for the Thes- salonia.ns themselves were the best witnesses. "For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain," but an effective living reality, a great and gracious success. 'l'he proof of the fact is contained in two circumstances. I. 'l'HB BOLDNESS OF THE THREE PREA0HERS. "But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much conflict." The insulting treatment the apostle had received at Philippi had not the effect of scaring him a.way, or of leading him to withdraw into Asia, leaving Europe to its fate. Such treatment would have deterred men of a different stamp.. His boldness was not mere stoical courage, but based on faith, for he was" bold in our God," and was equal to present perils 1111 well as to past persecutions; for he spoke the gospel of God "in .much conflict,'' caused, u we know, by the league of violence which the Jews of Thessalonica formed with u lewc fellows of the baser sort" against the gospel. IL THE SPIRIT AND METHOD OF THEIR JIINIBTBY. "For onr exhortation wa.11 not of 1eceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile." The matter is exhibited first negatively, a.nc then positively. 1. Negatively. His persuasive exhibition of the truth was not (1) "of deceit." He was not deceived himself-he had not" followed cunningly devised fa Mes n-,-neither did he design to deceive others, for he preached the truth as it if in Jesus. 'l'herefore there was all the greater force and fervour and directness in his teaching. (2) "Nor of uncleanness." 'l'here were no impure or sinister ends in his teaching, implying love of gain; nor any disposition to tolerate those subtle forms ol temptation which soruetimes manifest themselves even under the guis,:, of piety. (3) "Nor in guile," for he was straightforward and sincere in his method8, with" no cunning craftiness," no manreuvres, no strategy; for the)' had" renounced the hid,l,·n thing11 ol ,lishonesty, not wiilking in craftiness, nor liandli11g the Word of God deceitfully" (2 Cor. iv. 2). 2. Positively. The method of his preaching met with the Divine approval. " But as we were approved of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as plea.sing men, but God, who trieth our hearts." (1) 'l'he gospel is a Holernn trust, a. rich treasure. 'J'hcrc are many hnma.n trusts which men would rather shirk, but the apostle is not u1uvilliug to 11ccept this trmt for the good 11f the world. (2) He olairus no independent -,.,orthiness !'or so sacred a trust. God gave him any worthiness or sufficiency he possessed. "Onr sufficiency is of God, who also bath 11,ade us able ministert1 of the New 'l'estam.,nt" (:: Cor. iii. 5, 6). (3) He discharged his trnst (a) with a perrect disregard for lllt>U's opiuions about him (l Cor, i..-. 3); (b) ud wi1 h 110 det1ire to catch the i'avour of men. "Not WI plea:iing men;" for" uof llinouity, :2 TUE FlH~'l' EPISTLE TO THE THRS~ALONIANS. [en. n. 1-2!)
,is ofGu<l, in th<' sigl1t or God,spoak we in Christ" (2 Cor. ii. Ii). N~tsacrificing tmlh ,., the f:rnciPs nr 1•n·j11,lic<', 111' men m ,,r,l<'r to secnrr thrir frwonr. If" he plmsc<l men, lH• ~h,,u)., 110\ 1,,, rlw "'n·~nt nl God" ((fal. i. 10). (4) He ha,I s1'(1rerne an,] final r•!ganl l,<1 thr :ill-st~Ping God," ,dw triet.b rlre l1<•arts," who knows tlw springs of ,ill actions, ciis«,vc>rs all artilices. and 111'in~s all lriilden things lo ligl,t. Men look on the outward RJ'l"'ar:i11ce G-otl "spares all beings bnt himself that awful sight-a naked human ''""rt.'" He "seeth not as m1m sooth." It is vain, therefore, to appear other than ,w Rre.-T C