The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Thessalonians — Section 85

Ver. 5.-The patience of Christ. The Christian life has two aspects, a heavenward and an earthward aspect. In its heavenly relations it should be filled with love to God; in its earthly relations-especially when under such trials as befell the early Christians-it needs to be fortified to endure with patience. '£he latter grace claims particular attention. I. GRE.A'!' FA.TIENC!E IS REQUISITE FOR THE ENDURANCE OF EARTHLY LIFE. Very great differences in successive ages and in various individual lots make the amounts of patience necessary for each man to be very unequal. It would be foolish for one in our own day, to whom t.be lines have fallen in pleasant places, to pose with the solemn, martyr-like demeanour which was natural to Christians in the days of persecution. They needed patience to face cruel calamities which we happily are spared. Neverthe- less, "man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward;" the quietest public times see the bitterest private sorrows in some households; great, awful spiritual tro~bles come upon men whose external circumstances are placid and sunny; and even where no one heavy blow falls, innumerable small vexing cares, like the Egyptian plague of files, fret and wear the soul Therefore patience is still greatly needed. It is one thing to suffer trouble and quite another thing to bear it, not to be crushed by it, not to rebel against the Power that sends it, even in secret thought, hut to stand up under it, with dumb, unmurmuring endurance, like those sad, calm Caryatides that.have stood for centuries bearing on their patient heads ponderous temple structures. li. THE PATIENCE OF CHRIST 18 THE HODF.L AND THE INSPIRATION FOB THE PATIENCE OF CHRISTIANS. This wonderful patience of Christ m:iy be best appreciated when we come to me<!'itata on its relation to his circumstances and experience. 1. His previous glory. They who have once known better days feel the smart of adversity most keenly. From heaven's throne to the cross-what a descent I 2. Hill eztreme suffer- inys. Was ever there sorrow like his? Gross insult was added to cruel torture; and insult tries patience worse than pain. 3. Bis Benllitive nature. '!'here are men who seem to feel a needle-prick more acutely than others feel a sword-thrust. Our Lord was one who felt most acutely, with the painfully delicate perception of the most refined nature. 4. His powers of resistance. He might have summoned legends of angels to his assistance. 5. The manJelloU8 spirit with which he endured all. " He was led as a lamb to the slau;:hter." He 11ot only prayed for his murderers, but he calmly weighed their guilt and defended them on account of their ignorance. This wonderful patience of our Lord is a model for us ; it is also an inspiration. As we turn from the petty complainta of men to the sight of that awful, Divine patience, surely our murmurings must be shamed and silenced. Ill IT IS REQUISITE THAT GoD SHOULD DIRECT OUR HEARTS INTO THE PATIENCE or CmusT. L The patience must penetrate to our hearts. Patience of language and of constrained demeanour ill superficial and will not satisfy God, nor can it remain long without the deeper patience of the heart. 2. Our hearts cannot receive this patience till they are directed aright by God. It depends on our disposition, which we mu~t have moulded by the hand of God into a firm faith and a calm endurance. 3. This patience follow, luve to (Jod, Our hearts are to be first directed into love. When we love as ChriBt loved we can endure as he endured.-W. F. A. 011. m. 1-18.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. 85