The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 117

ence and apathy aN deadly enemiee or the soul. The unbelieving multitude sleep; t.hey are thoughtle!!B about their souls, careless of the awful destinies which lie before us. The believer will watch; for he will remember the reiterated comn111ndment of his Lord," Watch, therefore. . . . What I say unto you, l say unto all, Watch." Watch• fulneu i1 thoughtfulness; it is a vivid interest in everything that belonc,s to the spiritual life, an earnest desire to quicken it into ever new energies, a fre:hness of spirit, an active vigilance in guarding against ell the dangers end temptations that ~urround us. "They that sleep, sleep in the night," but we are sons of day. We must watch B8 men that wait for their Lord. We know not when be cometh; we must be watchful always lest that day overtake us lloS a thief. It cometh as n thief. This warnln" of our Lord is not only recorded in the Gospels, but St. Paul, St. Peter, St. John, re-ech~ the solemn words. It made a deep impression on the minds of the early Christians; witness the name Gregory ("watchful") so common in the ancient Church. Would that that impression remained, that we t.oo might be stirred to ever-deepening watchfulness. "The Lord is at hand." 5. They must be Bober. " They that he drunken are drunken in the night." The Christian must be sober. Intoxiration causes drowsiness; it is inconsistent with watchfulness. The intemperate cannot watch. The Christian must be temperate in all things; strictly temperate as regards food and drink, for temperanoe is the fruit of the Spirit, and drunkenness is one of those works of the 6.esh of which it is written that" they which do snch things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." He must be temperate in all his enjoyments; for all that is in the world, the lust of the 6.esh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,-all these things intoxicate their votaries a,1d make them slothful and drowsy in the concerns of the soul. But we must h; sober, for we oLre of the day ; we walk in the light of day and are looking for the coming of the day of the Lord. 6. T/iey must be prepared/or tM assaults of temptation. They must be clothed with the armour of light. (1) The breastplate of faith and love. The hosts of darkness will gather round the Christian warrior as he stands watchful at his post. They cannot harm him if he continue faithful ; the fiery darts of the wicked one cannot pierce the breastplate of faith and love. Faith la trustfulnesL The soul that trusts in Christ is fixed and steadfast. Trust not in earthly things ; they will fail you at the last. But trust in Christ; he ahideth faithful; he is able to save even to the utt.ermost; his love is stronger than death. Faith protects the Christian's heart. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Faith overcomes the world. Love springs out of faith, and quickens faith. Believe in Christ, and love him you must, for faith realizes bis presence in all his grace and tenderness. "We have known and believed the love that God bath t.o us;" " We love him, because he first lom ns." Love reacts on faith; for God, who la Love, can be known only of those who have learned of him the great lesson of love. "Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." Like is known by like. He who knows not in his own heart what it is to love, cannot know God, who is the eternal Love. Love grows out of faith, and love fills faith with life and joy and holy enthusiasm. Love and faith protect the Christian B8 he watches ; they sustain his energies. Faith preserves him from anxious doubts ; the holy love of God keeps out all carnal loves. (2) The helmet of the Christian warrior. The hope of salvation guards his head. Other hopes may fall in shattered ruins on him ; they will not crush him ; they may vex and bruise, but they will not reach a mortal part; they may strike him as be stands erect and fearless ; they will glance off from the polished surface of the helmet of salvation. The blessed hope of life eternal living in the heart supports the Christian in toil, in sorrow, in sickness, and in deatb. "Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three." He will watch wh'l bath these hies~ graces; he will persevere, faithful unto deatt~ looking always for the coming of the great and awful day. 7. God is their Strength. Without him they can do nothing. He did not appoint us to wrath. He is our Father ; he is not willing that any should perish. He willeth that all men should be saved. Salvation, great and hleued word, is what God willeth for us alL 8. The work of the Lurd Jesus. Our salvation is his work. He died for us, on our behalf and in our stead; his precious death is the high example of entire self-sacrifice for the sake of others; it is the atonement for our linL " Frw us." ThOl!e great words stimulate us to love and serve him; they should be oonstantly in our thoughts; they should fill us with wonder, awe, and ador- ing love. " For us," though we were 11inner1; "for us," though he is God; "for us"-we as. 1', 1-28,] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. 117