HOMILETICS. Ver. 1.-Intercessory prayer. 1. Its duty. We must not be selfish or confined in our prayers, but bear each other's burdens before a throne of grace. Christian love find& its outlet in intercession. A desire for the salvation of others must manilest itself in prnyer for their conversion. God is the Hearer of prayer, and will answer our prayers for others R1' well as for ou111elves. The command of God to make intercession for all men should constrain us, and the example of holy men should encoura~e us. 2. Its objects. Sinners, that they may be saved; believers, that they may be confirmed in the faith aad kept from evil; ministers, that their ministry may be blessed; the gospel, that it may have free course and be glorified. Ver. 3.-Perseverance of the saints. 1. It, nature. By the perseverance of the saints is meant that all true believers, those who are united to Christ by faith and sanctified by his l:-,pirit, can never fall from the faith; that they shall always abide in a state of grace or favour with God; and that they shall continue in holiness unto the end. 2. lts ground. The perseverance of the saints is founded on the faithfulness of Christ. "The Lord is faithful" He who has begun the good work will carry it on; he who intercedes for us in heaven will obtain bis requests; he who has bestowed upon us his Spirit will not withdraw bis grace. 3. Its uses. The perseverance of the saints is full of comfort to confirmed believers; it is that which imparts security to all their other blessings, transforms their hopes into assurance, and fills them with joy unspeak- able. On the other hand. it affords no encouragement to licentiousness, for it is a per- ~everance in holiness; it is not that believers will be saved whatever their conduct may be, but that they will persevere in holiness unto the end.
Ver. 6.-The patienu of Ohrise. 1. It, perfection. As seen in his conduct toward God and man during his sufferings, and in contrast to the conduct of the most patient men, as for example Job, Moses, and Paul. 2. Its ea:ample. We have need of patience in this world of toil and suffel'ing. A contemplation of the patience with which Christ endured his unparalleled sufferings is the best antidote against impatience under any sufferings which we may be called upon to endure. VIll'. 6.-Avoidance of wil company. The apostle commands us to withdraw ourselves from every brother that wal.keth disorderly, and to have no fellowship with those who obey not bis instructions. We must avoid making wicked men our companions, other- wise we Bhall soon be led astray and contaminated by their evil principles. The happi- ness or misery of the young for time and for eternity is, humanly speaking, dependent upon those whom they now choose as their intimate companions. Ver. 10.-Theaanctity of labour. True religion hallows earthly labour. Christianity is not designed to draw a man out of the world, to cause him to neglect his earthly duties, or to make him idle; but to consecrate and sanctify bis worldly employments, Lo cause him to perform them in a religious 11pirit, and to look up to God as his chief Master. !'au! himself wrought at the occupation of a tent-maker; and a far greu.ter than Paul, the Lord JesUB Christ himself, was for the greater part of his life engaged in the occupation of a carpenter. "Earthly things," observes Dr. Arnold, "are preciolll! when we use them as the materials with which we may build for ourselves a heavenly habitation; and the humblest and most ordinary trade or employment may he carried on with such a temper and such a spirit that it may advance us daily on our way to heaven; and the angels themselves may behold us engaged in it with rupect e.nd love.•
Ver. 11.-Evil of kHig busvbodies. Busybodies are idle, yet busy; idle as regards oa. IIL 1-18.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE TllESSALONIANS. 87
their own work, but busy with the buRiness of othere; ever meddling with what belongs not to them; always coun~elling others and interfering with their concerns whilst neglecting their own ;-a character at once mean and degrading, the cauae oi muoh annoyance to themselves and of mischief to others. Ver. 13.-Wetirines, in well-doing. 1. TM ~ification of BO'fM dijferent/<J'r"TM of well-doing. The advancement of men's temporal interests, the promotion of religion, the diffusion of the gospel, working with and for Christ. We must remember that we ourselves must first be good before we can do good ; there must first be well-being before there can be well-doing. Good works can only proceed from good men. 2. The cawu of weariness in well-doing. A love of ease and a wish not to put ourselvl!II tu trouble; a want of self-denial ; the monotony of the work ; a want of co-operation and sympathy; a want of apparent success; a want of realization of Christ's claims on our lives and services. 3. Oonsiderations why we should not be weary in well-doing. Our duty as Christians; the bright example of Christ; the reward which awaita - - the rest which remains for the people of God.