VeI'II. 13, 14.-Apostolic thanh;giving for the election and lhe calling of the Thessa- lonians. I. Tm; DrVINE ELECTION. "God bath from tlu beginning chosen you." 1. There is an "elecr ion acco,·ding to grace" (Rom. xi. 6). lt is not to be confounded with the calling, which is an effect of it. " Whom he predestinated, them he also called" (Rom. viii. 30). Our salvation is always traced to "his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Je_sus before the world beg-an." 2. Tl,e date of the election, "From the beginning." It is "from the foundation of tho world" (Eph. i. 4) and therefore does not rest upon the personal claims of individuals. 3. The means ~f the election. "In sanctification or the Spirit and belief of the truth." The election is to the means as well as the end; it cannot take effect without the means. There is an objective as well a.s a subjective side in the sphere of the election. (1) The sanctifica- tion of the Spirit. This is the objective side. (a) It implies a spiritual change of nature. The Spirit applies the salvation, and regeneration is his first work. (b) Sancti- fication is the evidence as well as the fruit of election. (2) " The belief of the truth." This is the subjective side. Man is not passive in his salvation. (a) As the Spirit is the agent, the truth is the instrumeut of salvation. (b) The truth must be believed in order to salvation. As men are chosen to be saints, they are chosen also to be believers. (3) The necessary connection between the sanctification and the belief. It might appear as if the belief of the truth ought to precede the sanctification of the Spirit. But there cannot he faith without the operation of the Spirit, while, on the other hand, the sanctification 1s "through the truth." The two are inseparably joined together. 4. The end of the ekcticm. "God bath chosen you to salvation." (1) It is not an election to Church privileges. (2) Nor to national privileges. (3) But to salvation itself. (a) This is salvation from sin and sorrow, death and hell. (b) It is" the end of our faith" (1 Pet. i. 9). II. THE DIVINE CALLING. "Wbercunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lor<l Jesus Christ." The election issues in the call. 1. The AU,thor of the call. God. "Th,-re is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy." He has the right to ca.11 aud the power to call. Nothing but Divine power can save the soul 2. The means of the call. "Our gospel.n The ministry of the Word was the great instrument in the Spirit's hand of their conversion. 3. The end of the call. (1) It was to obtain the )!lory of Christ. It was to be obtained, not purchased or wrought out by their personal righteousness. (2) Believers are to share in the very glory of their Redeemer.-T. C.
Ver. 15.-E:chortation to a steadfast maintenance of apostolic traditions, "There- fore stand fast, &nd hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or oar Epistle." L 'l'HE GROUND OF TBJS EXHORTATION. It was their election and calling. There is a perfect consistency between the Divine election and the obligations of Christian duty, II. THE NECESSITY oF CHRISTIAN STABU.ITY. It was specially needful at Thessalo- nica, in the midst of the agitations and ehakings and restlessness that prevailed on the snbject of the secoud advent. Believers were not "to be carried about by every wind of doctrine," lest" being le~ away with the error of the wi~ke~, they e~ould fall fro~ their own 6Wadfastness." 1hey were to" hold fast the be)!;10nrng of their confidence, and not" be moved away from the hope of the gospel." 1. 'J.'here is safety in ,tability. 2. There u comfort in it. 3. It gives glory to God. 4. It gives etrength and en- couragerw-nt to the weak a1td vacillating. III. THE MANIFESTATION OF THIS STABILITY. "Hold fast the traditiona.• 1. They were of two kind,, oral, and written. "Whether by word, or our Epistle." (1) They included apoHtolic doctrines-" the form of doctrine delivered to them." (2) Apostolic ordinances, such as baptism and the Lord's Supper, which they had received from the aposiles, as the apoHtleH from the Lord. (3) Apostolic rules and usages for the govern- ment of the Church. 2. The tradition• in question afford M WO/l'ranlfor the Roman Catholic doctriM qf tradition.a handed down through UIJU. Because: (1) The word is h«e applied to both oral and written teaching. (2) The traditio'IS were not banded oe. n. 1-17.~ THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONI.ANS. 33
down from some one anterior to the apostle, and from the apostle banded down to the Thessalonians; nor were they committed to the Tbessaloniane to be banded down to future ages. They were handed over directly by the apostle to the Thessa- loniane. (8) The doctrine of tradition dishonours the 8criptnres, because the traditions are said to be necessitated by the defectiveness and obscurity of Scripture.-T. 0.