The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 67

gaw ~m MW life. He knew what it was to die dnily, to bear about always in the bo<ly the dymg of the Lord Jesus. But if death, as he says, wa.s working in him, there w11~ a new life that more than balanced it; a new life, full of warm, glowing feelings, full of hi_gh hopes and eRger aspirations. A~d. thllt life w:as ~ourished and sustained by the continned progress of the gospel. The t1dmgs of their faith gave him a sense of life, a spiritual energy, a joy analogous to that joy in the mere sense of living which we experience l!Omctimes in the bloom of youth and health. But his joy was wholly spiritual; the lire of Christ in other souls seemed to stimulate the energies· of the same LJivine life in him&•lf; he felt the water of life within him springing up with renewed freshness, as he listened to the glad words of Tirnotheus telling him how the Thes- B&lonians were standing fast in the Lord. They were in the Lord, as he was-in the sphere of his gracious presence, of his Divine working; and to he in the Lord is life for he is the Life. Spiritual life consists ii: union with him, without whom we ea~ do nothing. The ThesB&lonian Christians were in him; so was St. Paul Their life and his life came from the same Source. The knowledge of their faith and love, their spiritnal life, quickened the Divine life that lived in him. III. His Tllil"KBGIVING. 1. He thanks God/or Chem. He regards thanksgiving aa a return due to Almighty God for his mercies. So the psalmist, "What shall l render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me?" He fulfils his own precept, "In everything give tha.nks." Thanksgiving is the outflow of a loving heart. The love of God is the very essence of religion ; and the more we love him, the more fervent will be our thanksgivings. St. Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians, for their faith and love: for faith and love come from God, who is the Object of faith, who alone can increaae our faith; who is Love, from whom, the highest Love, cometh all pure arid holy love. 2. He thanks God for his own jog. Holy joy is the fruit of the Spirit, the gift of the Spirit, the foretaste of the joy of heaven ; it must issue in thanksgiving. SL Paul's joy was full and complete. He thanks God for all the joy wherewith he was joying. 'l'here were no shadows to darken its brightness ; he had heard of no back- sliding& among the Thessalonians. And it was pure ; it could bear the all-seeing eye of God. "We joy before our God," he says. There was no element of selfishness, no earthly pride, no lower motive, to defile it. Such joy in the salvation of souls is indeed heavenly; it is like the ineffable joy wherewith the blessed rejoice before the throne. 3. Be adds prayer to hi, thanksgiving. Prayer and thanksgiving ever go together; they act and react upon one another. Prayer leads to thanksgiving; thanksgiving lends increasing energy to prayer. (1) He prayed night and day. The quiet of the night is a time for holy thought.a. The psalmist thought of the Name of God in the night season, and received comfort. The Christian prays; he watches with Christ as he lies yet awake on his bed. He prayed night and day. While working at his daily labour, the hard work of weaving the goats' hair, he ever prayed. So it is with Cllristians now. They " Ply their daily task with busier feet, Because their secret souls some holy strain repeat.n (2) He prayed exceedingly. "Above measure," the words mean literally. The more we pray, the more we love prayer. The prayers of the Christian increase in fervour, in earnestness, and in delight, the nearer he draws to God. l'rayer occupies more and more of his time; it tenrls to assume more and more its proper place as the great work of life, the most important part of each day's business. St. Paul's love for the Thes- B&lonians deepened the importunity of his intercession. (3) He prayed that he mighL see their face. 'l'o see a good man's face, to hear his voice, to touch his haud, is a source of true pleuure. St. John trusted to speak face to face with his Christian friends, "that our joy," he says, "may be full." So was it with St. Paul. (4) That he might be enabled to do them good. He had been but a very short time with them. He wished to give them further instruction, to fill up what was lacking in their know- ledge. Chri11tians may be living near to God, but tliere is always room for further advance in knowledge and in holiness. A. saint of God like St. Paul car. always do us "000. .., Learn: 1. To rejoice in the spiritual progress of others. 2. To thauk God for it. 3. To take delight in intercourse wi1L holy men.-B. C. C. on. 111. J -13.J THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THEBBALONIANS. 8.~