The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Thessalonians — Section 12

ing their nature on the throne ; for "he ia not uhamed to call them brethren" (Heb. ii, 11). (2) In their being clothed with his righteousneas-" comely with the comelineee he has put upon them." (3) In their "reigning with him," and "being glorified together" (2 Tim. ii. 12 ; Rom. viii. 17). They shall be "partakers of his glory." 3. The spring or BOUf't:41,o/ all the blullinga of the saints. "According to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (1) The whole work of salvation till it ends in glory illustrates "the exceeding riches of his grace." (a) The purpose of the Father is of grace; (b) the mediation of the Son is of grace; (c) the blessings of the new covenant are all of grace. (2) This grace hu a unity of source-" in our God and the Lord Jesus Christ;" implying oneness of essence and the coequal Godhead of Father and Son.-T. C. Vera. 1--4.-Tlu, introduction, L THE ADDRESS. L The du,:ription. St. Paul repeats the opening words of the First Epistle. He addresses the same Church; he describes it in the same sacred words. It is "in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." He could say of it nothing higher, nothing holier. To be in God, in Christ, is of all positions the loftiest, of all blessings the most precious. None are so highly exalted as those who are nearest to Christ; none have such rich at.ore of heavenly treasure as those who abide in him, in whom dwelleth all the fulne.ss of the Godhead. There is but one slight variation. In the First Epistle he said. " the Father;" here it is " our Father." The pr-0noun implies a close, endearing, affectionate relationship. The Cl;rnrch is in God our Father, in the embrace of his fatherly love, chosen by his electing grace; in the Lord Jesus Christ, saved by his precious death, living in that life which Hows from Christ, which ill Christ. 2. Tiu, salutation. He uses the same words as in the First Epi~tle; he could find no more suitable terms to express his good wishes for his converts. He could desire nothing better for them than grace, and peace; grace, the origin, the source, of every highest blessing; peace, the sweet and holy end, the very crown, of the Christian life. It is from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ that these and all other blessings flow. St. Paul joins together the two Divine Persons ; they could not be thus associated as the one ultimate source of grace and peace, wert:i they not both alike Divine. Peace is the fruit of the Spirit; with the Holy Spirit whom the Lord Jesus sends unto us from the Father comes the sacred gift of peace. Grace and peace come from God the Father by the incarnation, atonement, intercession of God the Son, through the indwelling presence of God the Holy Ghost. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God flow into the Chrilltian heart through the fellowship of the Holy Ghost. All that the Christian can desire for himself, for his friends, for the whole Church, comes from God; he seeks it of God in prayer; he knows that God will hear. "This is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we aak anything according to his will, he hearetb us." IL THE THANKSGIVING. 1. T/16 duty. Thanksgiving la a debt which we owe to God, a debt which we must always acknowledge, which we can never fully discharge. It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks for all things unto God. We must thank him for his grace given to ourselves; and if that grace abides in us, we shall feel ourselves bound to thank him for the working of the same grace in others. We shall regard every true conversion, every increase of grace in others, as a blessing granted to the whole Church and to our- selves. We shall feel a keen, living interest in each soul that is gathered into Christ'• &ock, and so share the angels' joy over one sinner that repenteth. For the welfare of each member affects the whole Church; when "one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it." Such was the feeling of St. Pan!. "We are bound," he eays- Wt> owe it as a debt-" to thank God always for you." He fulfiiB his own precept; he gives thanks always. The thanksgiving of the faithful Christian must be continuous, never-ending. 2. The ground of St. Paul's thanksgiving. (1) The faith of the Thes- ealonians. He had gladly reco~nized their faith and love in his First Epistle; he had again and again exhorted them to abound more and more. Now, writing a eeoond time after a short interval, he thanks God for the growth of their faith. It had increased "exceedingly;" he uses one of those strong words which his ardent feeling& so often suggested. "Lord, increase our faith," is a prayer which we cannot make too often. Faith must grow if it is true and liTiq: for it is the evidence of ~ W>t IBIID ; it  10 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO 'l'HE 'l'HESSALONIANS. [oH. 1. 1-12.