like himself, and not merely in heaven. We cannot, indeed, have a light heart when we think of the evil in us and around us. But while sorrowful, we can always rejoice in the thought of our Christian advantages. "He that bath the inexhaustible Spring of good for his portion, that bath his welfare entrusted in God's most f'aithful hand, that hath the infinite Beauty and Excellency for the perpetual object of his contem- plation, that enjoyeth the serenity of a sound mind, of a pure heart, of a quiet conscience, of a sure hope, what can he want to refresh or comfort him? If we scan all the doctrines, all the institutions, all the precepts, all the promises of Christianity, will not each appear pregnant with matter of joy, will not each yield great reason and strong obligation to this duty of rejoicing evermore?" (Barrow). VII. DUTY OF PRAYER. " Pray without ceasing." This cannot mean that prayer is io occupy our whole time. For prayer is only one duty, and we have to propor- tion our time between our various duties. But it means that we are to make prayer part of the great business of our life, and not a by-bw;iness. It means that we are to connec~ prayer with the principal occa.si.om of our life. It means that in particular matters we are to pray on, until we succeed in the object of our requests. It means that we are to have stated timea for prayer, especially the natural seasons of morning and evening. It means that in the intensity of our earnestness we are to overleap these statt:d times. "Devotion is the beet food of our souls, which preserveth their life and health, which repaireth their strength and vigour: if we, therefore, long abstain from it, we shall starve or pine away; we shall be faint and feeble in all religious per- formances; we shall have none ·at all, or a very languid and meagre piety" ( Barrow). VIII. DuTY OF Tllil!lXSGIVING. "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward." To give thanks means that, sincerely, duly sensible of our benefits, we are to make cheerful acknowledgment of them to God. To give thanks in everything means that we are to thank God, not only in great things, but also in small things; not only in rare things, but also in common things. It means that we are to thank God, not only in present things, but for pa.st mercies as well, and even for what is laid up for future enjoyment. It means that we are to thank God, not merely in things affecting ourselves, but also in things affecting others. Lt means that we are to thank God, not merely in prosperous things, but also in adverse things, recognizing the merciful lllod.erating of them, the merciful design in them, the support- ing grace under them, and the benefit resulting from them. It means that we are tu thank God, not merely in things alfecting our bodies, but also in things affecting our souls. The duty of thanksgiving is here enforced by the consideration that this is the will of God in JeeUi io us-ward. O b r i s t I n Christ J e s U i h e is kindness, i n f i n i t e
a.lway1 ovriowing In \lleumg on us. How fitting, then, that we 1hould, through 011. Y, 1-28.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONlANB. 127