The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 123

ing without being aeen. So those who have abundance of light in them and around them should not be surprised by the day of the Lord. The class from which - as Christians are excluded is that of those who are o/ the night and of dal'kne88, They are those who have moral night drawn Around them. They are those into whnsr nature the light of God's mercy and truth hBs not penetrated. Lovin<Y the darknPss rather than the light, because their deeds are evil, they come to have da~lrness as their surrounding and 1heir nature, so that they are of the night and of dark11ess. It was open to the apost.le, from the use of similar expressions by our Lord(" sons of this world" "sons of the devil"), to have said sons of the night and sons of darkness. He seems io liavt! chosen his language purposely to avoid the idea of freedom, to bring out the idea nf se,·vitwie. They are not like the free sons of light and free sons of the day. They arn rather those who are hemmed in by the night, who are enslaved to darkness. When there iB darkness in and around a dwelling there may be said to be an invitation to the thief io approach. So those who have darkne:;s in and around their being may be BBid to in-.ite a surprise from the day of the Lord. IV. How W1I: ABE BOUKD, AS ENLIGHTENED CHRISTIANS, TO WATCH AND BE BOBER. " ~o then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night." There is put forward what we are not to do. Let us not sleep, as do the rest of mankind. Sl<•eping implies obliviousness and inactivity. The rest of mankind are in an oblivious, inactive state, especially with regard to the sdemn issues of life. Let us who have light not lie like them. What we are to do is to watch. We are to have the wakeful activity of the sentinel at his post. He knows not from what side or what hour the enemy may approach, so he has altogether and always to be vigilant. In like manner, let us take full account of the fact that death is coming. And, seeing we know not how or what hour it may come, let onr vigilance all round never sleep. What we are to do is alBO to be sober. A subject should be in a fit state when ushered into the presence of hiB sovereign. It will be a solemn thing for us to be ushered into the presence of the Lord at death; and we should be in a fit state for the occasion. We should especially have our appetitee in proper restraint. We should have the full command of our powers. We should be so employed from moment to moment that, when the last moment comes, we can fitly leave our employments and pass into the presence of our Judge. Not to be doing this, is to be conforming to unenlightened practices. "They that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night." The literal fact is stated as the basis for thought. Night is the con- genial time for sl,eep. So those who are in the night of sin are in a.drowsy, unalanned state with regard to their spiritual concerns. They do not take into account that they have to meet death, and yet, however deep their sleep, they have to meet it and the realities to which they will be "akened up after death. Night is also the congenial time for drunkennesa. How much of the drinking that is to be deplored goes on after darkness has set in I So those who are in the night of sin are in a state of spiritual intoxication. And that ia the worst thing tb,at can be said of the literal drunkard. Bis spiritnal nature is in a bad state. In not restraining his appetites he is rebelling against God. In continuing in sin he is harJening his heart. And he is not fit for passing into the presence of his Judge. And so is it, too, wi1h those who are drunken with the world's engagements and cares. They become incapacitated for spiritual exercise, and for the enjoyment of the Lord's presence. "But take heed to yourselves, lest haJJly your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenr,ess, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare." V. How WE ARE TO GIV.E PROOF THAT WE AB.E SOBllR BY BEING ARMED WITH FAITH, LOVE, AND ROPE. "But let us, since we are of the day, be subcr, putli11g on the breast- plate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation." Having the light of day, and knowing wbat is coming, let us, as &Ober men, take all due precautions. For us to be forewarned should be to be forearmed. It is only defensive armour that is thought of here a.s brought into requisition. The idea seems to be, that we are to be armed against all that would unfit us for our Lord's coming. 1. The breastp'la,u. This is a double piece of armour. It is faith and love cowhiaed. Faith apprehends the Lord's coming, in 01,JJosition to blind unbeli~f which says, " Where ie the promise of hi, comin6(? for since the fatLerH foll a;;leep, all things continue as they were." Faith defend~ OIL v. 1-28.] 'fHE FIRST EPISTLE TO TH~~ THESSALONIANS. 123