The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 42

with euoceSB such as only an ardent Jove of souls, onlv the presence of God the Holy Ghost, could gh•e. 4. 7'hey set a high ~mple. 'l'he Tlwttsalonians saw their outward life; G, ,d C<>uld read t.he secrets of their hearts. That life was pure and holy towards God, ju,;t and ri~bteuus in its relations to men. The Christians of Thessalonico. knew that they were blami>less. Others might, perhaps, be busy with their insinuations; unbelievers might su"gest this or that unworthy motive. The Christians ha.d lm\med to know St. Paul and his companions. They knew the sincerity, the purity of their lives. Na,·. St. Paul could fearlessly appeal to a higher Witness-to the all-seeing God ExamJile is R mighty aid in preaching the gospel. Deeds are more persuasive than words. A holy lil"e is an evidence of the reality of those spiritual facts which tht preacher describes in words. 5. They tauyht theii· converts individually. They were not contented with preaching in the synagogues every sabbath day; they taught from lt<>use to house. The converts were many, we read in the Acts of the Apostle~. Chry- sostom wonders at their zeal in omitting no one in so great a multitude. 'l'hey sought <>Ut ,•ach. caring for each separate soul, sharing the ttngels' joy over one sinner that n,pe111ct1,. They tried a.11 means of winning souls. They exhorted, stirring the sow of men w11h burning words, suggesting nobler views of human life and destiny; they comforted, encouraging the afflicted, the despondent, the penitent, by the glad tidings of pardon, peace, and hope; they testified, urging their converts by every constraining motive to persevere in the Christian life. And all this they did with such earnestness, with such affectionate interest, with such love a.s a father shows towards his own children. A bright example of the pastor's work. 6. The purport of thei'.r exhortation. God was calling them; they must walk worthily of that high calling. He was calling them into his kingdom now, into the kingdom which Christ had come to found-his Church. They had become children of the kingdom. He was calling them higher yet, to his glory, to the beatific vision, that the Saviour's prayer might be fulfilled," I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they ma.y behold my glory which thou hast given me." Their walk in life m11St show the reality of their hope. Walk implies movement, change of place and scene. As they move hither and thither in the conrse of their daily lives, in their business, in their am11Sements, they must ever think of that high calling, and live according to their hopes. Their religior "'IU! not t;o be confined to the sabbath, to the synagogue, to the hours spent on their knees in private prayer; they must carry it everywhere with them; it must guide, stimulate, comfort, encourage in all the varying circuwstanCt!s of daily life. Their life must be worthy of their ea.Hing. They must show its influence; they must adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. LESSONS. 1. Study the lives of St. Paul and other holy men. 2. Let not that study end in a.d.n..tiration ; a.et upon it. 3. Jn such Jives is seen the manifest workings of the grace of God. 4. The sight of such lives confirms the fa.iLh of the wavering, kindles the desire of the lukewarm. 5. True Christians are the light of the world; they must let their light shine before men. 6. But not for their own glory; they musi seek only the glory of God.-8. C. C. Vers. 13--16.-The effects of the gospel. I. ITS RECEPTION BY THE THESSALONIANS. l. They believed that it came from God. Paul and Silas al:ld Timotheus brought the wessage; the Thessa.lonians recognized it as the message of God. They felt that ,it came from him. (1) Their words were such a.s never man untaught of God could speak. The gospel was utterly unlike anything that had been heard or rcarl before. It stood alone, unique, separate from all other histories. No human imagination could ltave pictured it; no human genius could have thought it out. It must be of God; it could have no other source. It bore withiu it-self the evidence of its inspiration, of its Divine origin. And (2) they felt its energy within their heart~. It did not lie dormant there; it wu living and powerful. It wrought within them with a mighty working, drawing them by a Htrange constraining power a.way from their old self-pleasing lives iuto the new life of faith and love and self-denial. That living force showed that it was the Word of God. No mere huwan words could so stir tl,c 1,eart. 'l'he preachi11g of the cross might be a stumbling:-block to the Jews, it might see111 foolishness to thu Greek.I; but to those who had tl,e precious ~ift of faith, it was "the power of God aucl the wisdom of God." 2. They showed, their f uith by their wwk&. 'l'he infant Europea.o OB. n. 1-20.J THE Fll<ST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. a9