Ver. 1 i.-The duty of comtant prayer. •• Pray without ceasing." There is a mutual affi~it~-~tween joy, i:irayer, and thanksgiving, as wa see by other passs.ges of Scripture (Phil. Ill. 4-6; Col. IV. 2). I. PRAYER THE DUTY, THE PRIVILEGE, THE INTEREST, OF ALL BELIF.VERS. 1. It ia a c.ommanded duty. (Matt. vii. i.) 2. It is a sign of conversi.on. (Acts ix. 11.) 3. Saints delight in ii,. (Ps. xiii. 4; cxxii. 1.) 4. It is 1·ecom11umded: (1) By the example of Christ (Luke xxii. 32). (2) By the experience of past mercies (Ps. iv. 1). (3) By the faith- fu\ne.ss of God (Ps. cxliii. 1). ( 4) By the tulness of the promises (Ps. cxix. 49; l John v. 15). II. THE h"ECESSITY OF CONSTAh"T SUPPLICATION. "Pray without ceasing." 1. Then u n.othing in the words to justify the neglect of other duties. The apostle travelled and preached and laboured with his hands as well as prayed; but he cultivated a constant spirit of supplication. It is not true, therefore, that it can be fulfilleJ. only in idea. 2. It is a command not lo beftilfiJled by set hours of prayer, much less by adherence to a monastic rigour of de1·otion. Yet it is not inconsistent with set hours. The psalmist prayed at evening, morning, and noon (Ps. Iv. 17). Yea, "seven times a day do I praise thee" (Ps. cxix. 164). Daniel prayed three times a day (Dan. vi. 10). 3, The aposlle enjoins a constant spirit of prayer in view of our constant dependence on the Lord. Prayer should interspace all our works. The heart may rise to a throne of grace in inward prayer when the hands are busy with the duties of life.-T. C. Ver. 18.-The duty of thanksgiving. It is the natural fruit of joy 88 it is the natural accompaniment of prayer. " In everything give thanks; for this is the wiU of God in Christ Jesns concerning you." l. THANKSGIVING 18 THE EXERCISE OF A JOYFUL AND. PRAYING HEART. 1. II is a mark ef tl,e wicked that they have no thankfulness. They who glorified not God " neither were thankful" (Rom. i. ~l). It is a sign of the antichristian apostasy that men " shall be unthankful" (2 Tim. iii 2). Since "every good gift and every perfect gilt" comes from the Father of Lights, the guilt of such ingratitude is great. 2. It is the mark of the saints in heaven that they are full of thanksgivings. (Rev. xix. 6, 7; vil. 12.) 3. It is li~wise a mark of the saints on earth. "Blessed are they which dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee" (Ps. l.xxxiv. 4). They abound in faith with tila11ksgiving (CoL ii. 7). They offer sacrifices of thanksgiving (Ps. cxvi. 17). They habitually offer thanksgiving (Dan. vi. 10). 11. THANKSGIVING MUST BE UNIVERSAL IN ITS SPHERE. "In everything give thanks." L. For the rupply of our boduy wants. (l Tim. iv. 3, 4.) 2. For the gift of Christ. (2 Cor. ix. 15.) 3. For the goodness and mercy of the Lord. (Ps. cvi. 1.) 4. Jn all circtMMtance11 of prosperity and adversity, j"y and sorrow, heaUh and sir,kness. Job could say in the depth of his affliction, "ille~sed be the Name of the Lord" (Job i. 8, 20, 21). Ill. THE GROUND AND REASON OF THIS DUTY. "For this is the will nf God in Christ Jesw; concerning yotL" The Scripture as well as the light of nature directs to it, as it sets forth that "l!:ood and perfect and acceptable will of God," " Whoso offereth praise glol"ifieth me." In JesllS Chri1,t is this will revealed and made effectual: for all God's mercies reach us thraugh tbe chaanel of his mediation. Therefore we "are to give tuanks unto Gud and the Father by him" (Col iii. 17); therelore "by him let us olfor the sacrifice of praise to Gud conti11ually n (Heb. xiii. 15).-T. O.
v... 19-21.-Ezluwtationa reqardinq ,r,lnlual qift,. These three verses refer l,o oe. v. 1-28.] 'l'HE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE TBESS.U.ONIANB. 111