The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 98

his pathwsy to earth. When it is Mid that the fallen asleep God will bring with Jesus. the meaning plainly is (taken in connection with the language which has just been u~ed) the.,, joining our Lord in the air, they will be brought with him to earth, We may think of the earth as transformed, in preparation for the Lord's coming. Some would interpose here a lengthened personal reign of Christ on earth with his saint.II. We are only on sure ground when we think of Christ as coming for judgment. "But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats." All that is here passed over, and we are presented simply with the final state of the two classes that have been united. "And so shall we ever be with the Lord." The meeting relen-ed to shall be followed by no parting. It is Christ's wish and promise that we should be with him. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be 11.lso." Christ has prayed to the Father that we should be with him. " Father, I will that they also whom thou hllSt given me be with me where I am." And when we have been brought into his presence, in spite of death and all opposing powers, separation will be impossible. As members, we must be with our Head; as loving, we most be with the great Object of our love. To be with the Lord is to be in the most favoured position for the enjoyment of his love, for the comprehension of his mind, for the reception of his Spirit, for the accomplishment of his plans. To be with the Lord is also to be with that great and blessed company who shall be gathered round him, comprehending the elder sons of creation, the great and good of all ages, and those Christian friends we have " loved ere. since and lost awhile." What is the position we shall be carried forward to through the course of eternal ages is more than tongue can tell, more than heart can conceive. V. MUTUAL COMFORTING. "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." We might read "exhort one another." But in view of the sorrow of the Thessalonians we rightly read "comfort one auothE'r." We might even read "cheer one another;" for the words are not ouly of a comforting, but of an inspiriting nature. It is not Christian teachers, but Christians generally, who are addressed. Knowing what comfort is, let us not selfishly allow our Christian brethren to be ignorant of it. Even in our ordinary partings in the world there is an element of sadness that calls for comfort. As Shakespeare has it- .. 8o part we sadly in thi8 troublons world To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem." How thankful ought we to be that we are not in the position of those who have no hope ; that we can tell those who have lost Christian friends of the sweet and cheering truth Jf Christ'~ coming I It is sad to think of them sleeping in the dust of the earth; but, laid to sleep by Christ, then they shall awake. They shall rest and stand in their lot at the end of the days. They shall hear the resurrection-call, and stand in the body as once they stood upon this earth. They shall be present as witnesses and actors at the most glorious event the universe shall ever have seen. They, and we too, shall be borne up in the clouds to meet and welcome our descending Lord. And from that first united meeting of him in onr embodied, completed state, we shall be for ever with the Lord.-R. F. Ver. 1.-Christian prog,-esa. This verse introduces a series of practical exhortations by an urgent entreaty to general Christian progress. The details of conduct must be considered. But the spirit and character of the whole life are of primary importance. First see to the health of the whole tree ; then prune and train the several branches. I. THE GREAT OBLIGATION OF CHRISTIAN PROGRESS. 1. It requires afull,rwnd develop- fTtilfl,t of spi,ritual gr-a,ea. It ie not Ratisfied with a shrunken, shrivelled life of the soul. The meagre Christianity of those who are only concerned with the minimum require- ments of religion i.s foreign to the very nature of a true spiritual life. This should abound; it should overflow; it should be developed in all directions. A one-sided life is maimed and marred, however odvanced it may be in a particular direction. We should a.in. at completing the circle of graces. This is what is meant by being" perfect." 2. Tt proceeds by gradu,al gr-uwth. We are to abound" more and more." Tb attainment OIL rv. 1-18.] '1.HE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALUNIANS. l'J