1. He reminds them of Ms former teaching. He had given them a ohe.rgc, 11.nd thl\t thr011gh the Lord Jesus. He had received of the Lord the.t which he delivered unto them. The commRndments were not his; they were the commandments of Christ. He he.d received them from Christ; and through Christ's 11.ppointment, guidance, presence, he delivt•red them to the Thessalonians. He appeals to their recollection. They knew tht·m; they had the knowledge; that knowledge involves a deep and solemn responsibility. The Lord tells us in the Gospel of the coudemnatJ.on that hangs over the careless servant who knew his Lord's w1ll, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will. Hence the force of the apostle's words," Ye know." Much had b<.>en given to them, much would be required. It is a warning to be always remembered, to be urged constantly upon ourselves, upon those who are brought in any way under our influence.. "Ye kno~." Knowledge, if it issue in obedience, is exceeding precious; knowledge without obedience mvolves an awful danger. "Ye know;" therefore we must use that knowledge, that precious talent t:-ntrusted to our keepina. The tremendous alternative lies before us-the blessed words," \Vell done I" or the ~entence that fills the heart with shuddering awe," Thou wicked and slothful servant!" 4. He 11rges them to continual progress. He had taught them bow to walk and to please God. The subject of his practical teaching was how to walk, not how to talk. They musl walk in the Spirit, he had told ti1em; their daily life in all its details and circum• stances must be guided·by the promptings of the Holy Spirit. "Speak, Lord; for thy servant hearetb," is the key-note of the true Christian life. Thus living they would please God. To please God is the highest Christiirn ambition; the consciousness of pleasing him is the highest Christian joy. But walking implies progress. Standing still is dangerous; it must issue in backsliding. They must go on from strength to strength; they must forget those things that are behind, and press on to those that are before. The grace of God abounds; it is without limit. He giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not. So must the Christian abound more and more in the exercise of the graces communicated to him by God ; he mlll!t work the works of righteousness with ever-increasing enerey, as the wace of God more and more fills his heart. LESSONS. 1. Do all things in the Name of the Lord Jesus; learn by experience the meaning of those deep words, "in the Lord.'' 2. Remember that knowledge implies responsibility. 3. Strive to maintain continual progress in all Christian graces, in faith, hope, love, humility, patience.-B. C. C.
Vers. 3----8.-fie law of purity. L P!TBITY op HE.A.BT. 1. The tDill of God tlie ruz. ef tM Christi.an life. To please God is the strongest desire of the true Christian; and we please him by obedience. The Lord delighteth not in outward observances as he doth in "obeying the voice of the Lord." The Christian's prayer is, "Thy will be done." The standard of that obedience is the obedience of the angels in heaven. It is above .iur reach; but it is what we are bidden to aim at, what we are told to pray for in our daily prayers. It should be the effort of our lives to lift ourselves up, by the grace of God assisting us, nearer and nearer to that heavenly rule. Without that grace we are helpless; but "I can do all things," says St.Paul, "through him that strengtbeneth me." i. fie will of God is our sanctification. He willeth that all men should be saved ; but salvation i~ possible only through sanctification; for without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Sanctification is the separation from all that is evil, the entire consecra- tion of the whole man to the service of God, the gradual conforming of the human will to the blessed will of God. Christ is our Sanctification. " He of God is made unto u, Wisdom, and Hi;.:hteousness, a-.,d Sanctification." Faith brings us near to him, and bt becomes our Higbteousness; t.l:,.en the work of sanctification begins. It is a progressin work, slow aud gradual. The more the believer grows in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the more does that blessed knowledge exert its hallowing power. The beauty of holiness, the sweetness of fellowship with God, the glories of his coming king- dom, are more and more deeply felt. '!'hen, when the affections are set upon things above, and the heart's love is centred upon God, the soul reacheth forth after Christ, longing above all things to be like him, yearning after holiness with a strong, intense desire, eagerly striving to purge itself from the defilement of sin, and to advance ever onwards in the work or sanctification; and that because the Lord Jes11B Christ dwelleth there lumself, and the pul&,11 of bis love beat in the converted heart. He ia our Sanctification. 1!11. IT. 1-18.J THE I<'IRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIA.NS. 86