bring& the cross of Christ, the presence of God, within the range or our mental view. The.t holy vision will dre.w us nee.rer ever by its constraining power, quickening e.nd deepening in our hearts the faith which first brought us by the leading of the Spirit to the Saviour. The faith of the Thes~alonians was growing exceedingly; so it will be with us, in spite of the unbelief and indifference which so fill the air, if we persevere in prayer, and try, in humble dependence on the grace of ~ to fashion our lives according to our prayers. (2) Their love was abounding also. Love is the fairest ornament of a Christian Church. Faith is the root, l~ve is the fruit. 'l'he tree that grows downwards will grow upwards also; the fair growth of foliage, flower, and fruit will bear some proportion to the unseen depth and strength of the root below. The Thessaloni1m Church was rich in the fruit of the Spirit. And their love was not only increasing in fervour, but in range also. It was not partial, not limited to this man or that man according to natural tastes and similarities or disposition. It extended throughout the Church ; the love of each one of them all was abounding toward one another. It is a bright picture. Indeed, the Thessalonians were not without their faults, as we find in eh. ii. and iii. ; but the apostle, in his love and thankfulness, gladly dwells on the spiritual progress of the Church before he proceeus to notice the shortcomings of individual members. It shows his love and his wisdom. The encouragement of the opening verses would dispose the Thessalonians to receive in a good spirit the few reproofs that follow. 8, The e:i:pression of his thanlcfulness. He not only gives thanks to God; he glories before men. "We ourselves," he says-" we glory." Though his deep humility might have withheld him from glorying over a result which was due, under God, to his own zealous labours, the rapid growth of their faith and love so filled him with exuberant gladness that he could not refrain his lips. "God forbid," he says elsewhere, "that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." But he is really glorying in the cross now; ho glories, not in his own achievements, but in the triumphs of the cross. It was the work of God in real truth, not his work; he knew it well. Indeed, he had laboured abundantly-that he knew, he could not help knowing it; but he gladly explains the abundance of his labours by the abundance of grace that was vouchsafed unto him. " Yet not I," he says, " but the grace of God that was with me." The faith, hope, and love of the Thessa- lonians proved, as he said in the First Epistle, their election. God had chosen them to be his own; his grace worked mightily in them. And now St. Paul was glorying in the faith and patience of his convert&. They were in great afflict.ion; he sympathized with them, he comforted them; but yet he rejoiced over them. Their affliction by the grace of God was turned to a blessing; it proved the steadfastness of their faith and their patience, and it strengthened them. LESSONS. 1. Thankfulness is the Christian's duty; thank God always. 2. Especially thank him for his grace working in his people. 3. Glory in the victories of grace, not in worldly successes. 4. Pray for continual progress in faith, love, patience.-B. C. C.
Vers. 5-7.-The persecutions of the Thessalonians. L THE :MEANING OP APFLIOTION. L It does 110t mean that God is angry with us. Job's friends thought so. So did Asaph once; but when he went into the sanctuary of God his eyes were enlightened; he understood then that God himself is the Portion of his people; that there is nothing upon earth to be desired in comparison with him; that though heart and flesh may fail, God is enough, and more than enough, for his chosen in this world, and in the world to come will receive them to glory. God's dealings with men are often misinter- preted; people use the word" judgment·,, carelessly and without knowl~dge. Affliction would be almost intolerable, if it were indeed always a proof of the Divme wrath. But, God be thanked, he himself has told us it comes in love. 2. It is a trial of our faith. Satan said, " Duth Job serve God for nought?" The world often says so now; it imputes lower motives; it refus()s to believe in unselfish goodness. 'fhe man who can say in the midst of troubles, " The Lord gave, and the Lord bath taken away; blessed be tho Name of the Lord," is a li"inuO proof of the reality, of the sustaining power, of the presence of God; one of those miracles of grace which, thank God, are still daily wrought arouud us in the world. These things are among the facts registered by the observer of spiritu11l truths-facts as real as the facts of external nature, and of far deeper and more ahiding moment. 3. It worketh patitince. The trial of God'■ 118ints ea. 1. 1-12.) THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. 11