the great.eat (Mark ix. 34), and had turned against one who used Cbrlat'11 Name yet followed not them (Mark ix. 38), that they were exhorted to be at peace one with another (Mark ix. 60). John referA to a certain Diotrephee, in a Church to which be wrote, who loved to have the pre-eminence among them. 'fhere are those who are more concerned to advance themselves, or their family connection, or their party, than the common ends for which the eociety exists. A co-opera.ting cause is prejurlia. There a.re thoee who are more a.t.ta.ched to opinions hastily formed, or traditionally received, or to which they are constitutionally inclined ae more liberal or more conservative, than to the truth honestly inquired into. When, with this, there conspires worldly motive, leading to worldly policy, the result, on occasion or, it may be, on little occaeion, is dispea.ce. One cure for dispeace is respect for the properly conetituterl authorities, or good feeling toward the pruidents. This will oftrn carry a society through a difficult trial. A Int~e cITective cure is abundana of C:hristian work. It was when the twelve were in the way (unemployed so far) that they disputed who was the greatest. When afterwa.rd they were in the midst of their work, the question would not be who was the greatest, but who could do the most work for Christ. .l:t'or a Church to be actively engaged in real work for the Master ie to be in the best position for its own peace. Pray, then, for the peace of Jerusalem, and for its order liness and holy activity, as conducive to peace. III. DUTY TOWARD THBEB OLASBEB WITHIN THE CHRISTIAN CIBCLB. 1. The di,- orderly. "And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly." This class is described by a word which is used of soldiers who do not keep their rank. There were those in the Thessalonian Church who were out of rank, in the way of being negligent of their business, under the influence of the coming of Christ. Jn Christian Churches still there are those who are out of rank, in the way of being careless in attendance on ordinances, in the way of being dissipated, in the way of being chargeable with dis- honourable actions. If it is a grave fault to be diaorderly in a military sense, it is no Ieee grave a fault to be disorderly in a Christian sense. Must it not be offensive to him who is pre-eminently charged with the order of the Church, the Captain of our sal- vation? And his command, laid not merely on the presidents but on all, is that such ehould be admonished. They all need to be admonished to the performance of the duty with regard to which they are at fault ; and some of them need to be admonished to take the first step in the Christian life. 2. The faint-hearted. " Encourage the faint-hearted." In our Churches there are those who are faint-hearted on account of the lose of friends, as the 'fheesaloniane were faint-hearted on account of the supposed fate of Christian friends taken away before the coming. There are those who are depressed by the state of their temporal affairs, as the Thessalonians would have a depressing influence in the way in which maintenance and home and even life were affected oy peraecution. There are always those who are apt to be faint-hearted on account of their spiritual state. Have they a real interest in Christ? Are they making progress in the Christian life? Are they doing any good? Are they having an influence for gootl upon those over whom they are immediately placed? The command of Christ, la.id on all, is that such are to be encouraged. Let them be encouraged by the thought of the kind l'rovidence that is exercised over them. Let them be encouraged to the exercise of faith. "0 thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" " Why art thou cast down, 0 my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I aha.11 yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." 3. The weak. "Support the weak." There would be those among the Thessalonians who felt tbe weakening influence of the heathenism out of which they had come. Heathen habits cC'uld not be la.id aside in a day. So there are those in our Churches who are anxious to do well, but are apt to stumble from the strength of evil habit. The command of Christ, laid on all, is that such are not to be left to stand or fall by the ms~' 7es; but they are to be supported by sympathy and counsel and example until they attain to greater more.I strength-as infants, or those weakened by disease, need to be supported, until they can go about freely. IV. 'l'HE ONE DUTY TOWARD ALL WITHIN TBB CHBISTIAB OIBOLB. "Be long· 1ulferina toward all." It seems better to confine the reference to the Christian oircle, and to .;'onsider the raferenca as widaned in tha following verse. This is the oondiiion of mind that will fit us for dealini;: with all. It was not unfitting that the duty should L26 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO 'l'HE THESSALONIANS. [oa. v. 1-28.
he laid upon a young Church like that of Thessalonic11. Young Christiane are of a ._,mguine disposition. In their own 1mthusiasm they look for others being enthusiRstic. l'hey need, in their experience of the difficulty of evil being cast out of their own heart.a, of kreping up their own enthusiasm, to be taught the lesson of patience. Let them not be le88 earnest, but let them bear long, in the hope of seeing those who are l11kewarm and faulty brought into a better state. V. DoTY ESPECIALLY TOWARD THOSE WHO INJURE us. .. See that none render unto any one evil for e,·il; but alway follow after that which is good, one towRrd another and toward all." The heathenish idea is to return evil for evil. Even Aristotle reg;rded it not less reasonable to return evil for evil, than to return good for good; "for other- w;se," he says," if a man must not retaliate, his condition appears to be as bad as slavery " (' Ethics,' bk. v. eh. 5). This heathenish di1position Lo take revenge on those who injure us needs to be conquered by us. Hence there i1 enjoined on us care: "Take heed that none render unto any one evil for evil." There is danger, if we are not careful of our giving way to revengeful feelings. The Christian idea is that we are to resist not evil : " Whosoever smiteth thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." The meaning here is that, instead of returning evil for evil, we are to do kind offices to those who injure us. This is the best way of gaining our offending brethren. It is also the best way of gaining over them that are outside. There is no more powerful argument in favour of Chrutianity than it.& conquest of revengefulness, its disposing us to return good for evil VI. DUTY OF REJOICING. "Rejoice alway." The happy God designs us be happy t o