Lectures Upon the Epistles to the Thessalonians, Part 1 · Lecture 11
THE ELEVENTH LECTVRE VPONUPON THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE THESSALONIANS.
1. THESSA. CHAP. 3. verſ. 5. 6. 7. 8.
5 Euen for this cauſe, vvhen I could no longer forheare, I ſent him that I might knovve of your faith, leſt the tempter had tempted you in any ſort, and that our labour had bene in vaine.
6 But novv lately vvhen Timotheus came from you vntounto vsus, and brought vsus good tidings of your faith and louelove, and that ye hauehave good remembrance of vsus alvvayes, deſiring to ſee vsus, as vve alſo doe you.
7 Therefore brethren, vve had conſolation in you, in all our affliction and neceſſitie through your faith.
8 For novv are vve aliue, if ye ſtand faſt in the Lord.
IN the beginning of this chapter (Brethren) the Apoſtle Paul telles of the purpoſe he did take to ſend Timothie to the Theſſalonians, to eſtabliſhe them in the faith and to exhort them; and of the accompliſhment of that purpoſe: that as he tooke purpoſe to ſend Timothie to them, ſo he ſent him. And this was one of the Arguments whereby he excuſes him ſelfe for that hee did not come to them himſelfe, being impeaded by Sathan. The next he could do was to ſend that brother Timothie, who was a faithfull man in the miniſtrie of the Lord: and therfore they ſhould hauehave him excuſed. Then thereafter ye heard he fell out in a ſhort exhortation, exhorting them to beare patientlie thoſe afflictions and croſſes that they ſuffer in this life. The firſt argument vvas from the appointment of God: God had ſo appointed from all eternitie that they ſhould ſuffer: therefore ſeeing that neceſsitie was impoſed on them, why ſhold they not bear the burden pauentlie? The ſecond argument was from his fore warning of them of the troubles for the Goſpels ſake. There is nothing come but that I did forewarne you of; therefore when they are come what reſts but that ye ſhould beare them patientlie?
Now, leauing that which we ſpok the laſt day vponupon the text preceeding, I come to this preſent text. The Apoſtle in the fift verſe of this chapter returnes again to that which he ſpoke concerning Timothie and the ſending of him to the Theſſalonians. In the next verſe he hes a narratiue of Timothie his returning againe, and of that good report he made in his returning of the Theſſalonians, of their faith, louelove and remembrance they had of Paul. After that in the verſe following he ſhowes what effect that report of Timothie wrought in him: it brought to him joye and conſolation, notwithſtanding of all his affliction he was in for the preſent. The reaſone is giuen: becauſe we liue when ye ſtand in the faith: your perſeuerance is our life; and therefore what maruell if vve rejoice in your faith? And thereafter he vtters that he can not thanke God eneugh for that grace they had gotten of God.
Now to come back againe. The text containes a plaine narratiue. Wherefore ſaies he, vvhen I could no longer forbeare, I ſent Timothie to you. Of this vve ſpoke the laſt day in the beginning of the chapter: and therfore vve goe forward. The end is ſet down wherefore he ſent Timothie, to vnderſtand of your faith. That is, of your perſeueeing, of your abiding and of your ſtanding in that faith yee hauehave receyued. This is an other end from that which vvas before. Before he ſent Timothie to eſtabliſh and to comfort them: nowe he ſends Timothie to vnderſtand of their faith and perſeuerance. No matter albeit there be ſundrie ends wherefore he ſent Timothie; one for their cauſe, to eſtabliſhe them: an other for his owne cauſe, that hee him ſelfe might vnderſtand of their per…euerance in faith, and might hauehave joye in the report of their perſeuerance therein. So ye ſee, the Apoſtle, brethren, is euer carefull of this Church at Theſſalonica planted and begun by him there. So that in the beginning he vvas carefull to lowe the ſeede of the vvorde amongſt them, to conuert them and turne them to the faith of Chriſt. When he hes done this he leaues not off his care; but that vvorke he had begunne he is carefull that it bee brought to ſome perfection in Chriſte: So that he leaues behinde him this leſſon vntounto all paſtors and vntounto all that trauaile in that calling:The care of the Paſtor … his ſtock ſhold be instant. to hauehave a continuall care ouer the people that are committed to them; to hauehave a care of their perſeuerance and continuance in faith to the end. It is not enengh to raiſe them vp once, and to ſet them on their feete and thereafter to plucke away his hand from them, and to let them ſtand as it were them allone: but hee muſt ſtriue to holde them vp; as he hes laide the foundation of faith, ſo he muſt build vponupon that foundation continuallie, ſo far as lies in him, while the building be ended. He is an euil workman that wil lay the foundation of an houſe & then leape away: he is an euill teacher that will found any people on faith, and then goes away and leaues them Brethren, the beginning of faith is by the … way this miniſtrie there ſhall be no foundation on … perſſeuerance in ſaith is by this miniſtry; take it avvay, … once founded ſhall fall dovvne againe … … preaching of the Goſpel … of God from the Congregations, and leaue … your owne reaching & meditation, thogh ye be … ſhall ye: all your reading and meditation ſhall not holde you vp for that is the onelie meane whereby perſeuerance in faith is effectuate, & without the which thou ſhalt not perſeuere in faith, but ſhalt fall, and the laſt fall ſhall be worſle then the firſt.
The cauſe is ſubjoined in the next vvords wherfore he wold vnderſtand of their faith & their perſeuerance in faith, Leſt ſaith he, in anie ſort the tempter had tempted you. As he wold ſay, I know well eneugh the craft of the diuell, and if there be not a wattring after the planting, I knowe his temptation, hovve buſie he is to roote out that which is planted: and therefore fearing he had tempted you and drawne you from faith, I vvas verie carefull to vnderſtand of your faith and perſeuerance therein. Then vvhat ſhould hauehave falne to me through your falling by the temptation of the Enimie? I Paul who had grounded you in the faith ſhould hauehave loſt trauaile, and all my labour in planting you in that faith ſhould hauehave beene loſt. This is the meaning of all. Then vvhat made Paul ſo carefull of the ſtanding and perſeuerance of the Theſſalonians? the tempter, the diuell, Sathan that neuer ceaſſes from tempting the faithfull made Paul ſo carefull to vnderſtand of their perſeuerance in faith.Temptats …n of Sathan ſhold make the Pastour vvalkrife. What ſhould make a paſtor carefull and vvalkeryfe, to vvalke when others ſleepe? There is a tempter in the vvorlde, and there is not a Church in the vvorlde but there is a tempter in it, and there is no perſon in it but he hes a tempter. Goe where thou vvilt go thy tempter followes thee: ſit, ly, riſe, doe what thou wilt doe thou ſhalt not vvant thy tempter. So long as the diuell is in the world, ſo long there is neceſsity requyred of walkryfeneſſe: paſtors muſt be walkryfe, people muſt be walkeryfe, and euerie man and woman muſt be on their gua…rd VValke ſaith the Lord in the Goſpell of ſanct Matth. 26. 41. leſt ye enter into temptation. Ther is a tempter at your eare that vvill tempt you: be walkeryfe therefore, be ſober and vvatch ſaith Peter in his firſt Epiſt. 5. 8. Wherefore? For the enemie the diuell is going about like a roaring lyon ſeeking vvhome be may denoure. Goe thou where thou wilt, he is about thee: thy eye beginnes not ſo ſoone to vvinke and loſe the preſence of the Lord, but as ſoone his mouth is oppin to deuoure. A ſlipperie bodie, be he paſtor, be he anie of the people, he knowes not that there is a Diuell, a tempter. Would all this ſlumbring and fleſhlie ſecuritie be trow ye, if men were perſwaded that ther is a diuell readie to deuoure▪ So when men ſleepe in ſinne, in murther, in harlotrie, in theft, in blaſphemie, in all the reſt of thoſe ſinnes, they teſtifie that they know not there is a diuell in the world. Alas, manie neuer knovv that there is a tempter vvhile they be ſwallovved vp and be in his grip pes: manie neuer know that there is an hell. Of all ſorts of men in the vvorld a ſlipprie paſtor, a careleſſe man in the miniſtrie is the vvorſt, he loſes both him ſelfe and manie others: a careleſſe man in the miniſtrie is vnmeete for that calling, avvay with him. And therefore the Lord woulde hauehave vsus learne that there is not one man he ſends out, but beſides all other properties giuen him, he giues him this walkryfenes, this vigilancie for one propertie: and more then this, the Lord vvill acquaint him with tentation, and let him ſee a tempter going vp and downe: & will aſſure him in his hart that there is a Diuell going about with euerie man. Paul therefore ſpeaking of the inceſtuous man ſaies, Comfort him, leſt the tempter deuoure him. 2. Corinth. 2. 10. and in his ovvne perſon 2. Cor. 12. 7. that the meſſi…ger of Sathan vvas ſent to buffet him. The Lord vvill let the miniſter ſee in his ovvne perſon there is a tempter, that he may be the more careful of the people: as Chriſt himſelfe was ſubject to all tentations that he ſhould pittie them that are tempted.
Then to returne. By your defection and falling away, what ſhould I hauehave loſt? He ſayes, and that our labour had bene in vaine. Therefore labours he, that he ſhould not loſe them. It is a paine to a man to take trauell, to labour night and day, and then in the end to loſe all, and not to receiue frute of his trauell. It is a paine to a man to ſuffer for the Goſpell, and then in the end to loſe all. Alwayes I marke of this place. When any people makes defection from the faith of Chriſt, not onelie the people them ſelues who makes defection, but alſo the Paſtor who trauels among them, makes loſe in their defection. Paul profeſſes in the Epiſtle to the Galathians, 4. 11. that he feared his labour had bene in vaine, ſaying, I hauehave feared concerning you, that I hauehave vvearied my ſelfe in vaine. I feare my paines and trauell toward you be in vaine: yea brethren, the carefulleſt and walkryfeſt man in the miniſtrie loſes his paine and labour, when he attaines not to that end that he ſets before him, to wit, ſaluation of the people. Well then if a faithfull Paſtor loſe by the falling away or the people: what loſe makes an vncarefull Paſtor, when through his default any people falles away to defection? Iudge ye then, vvhat is his loſe and damage: he loſes not onelie the people, but himſelfe: the people periſhes, and the bloude of the people is craued at his hand, and ſo he loſes himſelfe too. A faithfull man in whoſe default the people falles not away ſhall triumphe, their fall ſhall not take away his triumphe, and he ſhall be a ſweete ſmell in the ſight of God: fall who will fall if it be not in his default, he ſhall not loſe his laboures, his labours and paines ſhall euer ſtand before God, as acceptable to him: but as ſo a careleſſe bodie, by whoſe defaulte any people or perſone is loſt in the Church of God, there is no triumphe for him; neither in this lyfe, nor in the lyfe to come, if he repent not; he ſhall be no ſweete ſm…ll in Chriſt to God, he is a ſtincking creature. Therfore let eueryevery man that is in that charge ſtudie to walkrifeneſſe, that no man periſh through his default, and ſo he ſhall be a ſweete ſmell to God, both in them that are ſafe, and in them who periſhe. 2. Cor. 2▪ 14.
In the next verſe we hauehave the narratiue of Timothie. returning backe againe from the Theſſalonians to Paul who abode at Athens: he reported againe to Paul good nevves of the Theſſalomans and their perſeuera…ce, to his great joy and conſolation. But novv latelie, ſayes he, vvhen Timothie came from ye… vntounto vsus, and brought vsus good tidings of your faith and louelove, and that ye hauehave good remembrance of vsus alvvaies deſiring to ſee vsus, as vve deſire to ſee you. Paul vvas impeaded in his owne perſon from going vntounto Theſſalonica, but he ſent Timothies who is not impeaded, but goes forward, and does his turne among them: he watters that which Paul had planted in Theſſalonica. Timothie in ſa…ene returnes back to Paul with good newes, that all was well: Paul rejoyſes greatlie in the report of Timothie, and in the meane time Paul remaning at Athens, does his turne, and brings ſome to the faith of Chriſt there. Now brethren, I aske, hes Sathan gotten any vantage heere by ſtaying Paul, to goe to Theſſalonica? Hes he hindered the Goſpell?God ouer turns the enterpriſe of Sathā. No the Goſpell is furthered thereby: Paul abydes and does his turne at Athens: Timothie goes and does his turne at Theſſalonica, and filles Paul with good tidings that he brought from Theſſalonica. Learne Sathan when he thinkes to hinder the progreſſe of the Goſpell moſt, he furthers it moſt. When he thinkes he is moſt againſt the Church, he is moſt vvith the Church: yea, if he ſhould hauehave ſet himſelfe of purpoſe to further the Goſpell if he had taken counſell thereto, vvhen he impeaded Paul to goe to Theſſalonica, he could not hauehave deuyſed a better vvay. This is vvonderfull, the Lord hes euer diſappointed him, and ſhall to the end: he vvho vvorkes light out of darkneſſe ouerturnes and vvhirles about ſo all his interpr…ſes, that in deſpyte of the Diuell, he makes all the thinges, the Diuell thought to doe to the diſhonour of God and hurt or the Church, to ſerue to his glorie and the vvell of his Church, I tell you in one vvord, Sathan neuer yet gotte the aduauntage of the Church nor of no godlie man no not in the ſl…ughter of Abel, he neuer got it, nor ſhall get it: but that vvhereby the vvicked men thinkes they get victorie ouer the Church the Lord turnes about ſo that one day ye ſhal ſee, it ſhal be the profite and honour of the Church.
To goe to the wordes he ſaies, after Timothies returning he broght him good newes. Of whom wer they? of yo… Theſſalonians What wer they? that ye wer in a good eſtate, flooriſhing, full of wealthe, full of honour, all things going well and proſpering with you, all things ſucceeding to your hearts deſyre? were theſe the newes that Timothie tolde to Paul? no, no neuer one word or ſyllabe of this: what were they then? He telles me good tydings of your faith, that ye perſeuere in faith in Chriſt, that is the firſt. He telles me of your louelove and that bond whereby ye are bound together in louelove: there is an other he telles me of that ſpeciall affection ye beare to me.The best nevves of any people Theſe are all his nevves. Why then (I as…) vvhat are the beſt nevves that can be reported of any people Common vveale and Cittie? It is not of their flouriſhing eſtate in this vvorld, nor of their vvealth and riches, nor of their honour in this world al theſe things are tranſicprious all the honour of this vvorld vvill avvay, the riches of this vvorld vvill avvay. The beſt nevves of any people are vvhen thoſe thinges are reported of them that abydes for euer. When faith and louelove is reported▪ vvhichwhich they will take to Heauen with them: … in Ieſus gripped in thy heart vvil goe to Heauen vvith thee, louelove vvill goe to Heauen vvith thee. The beſt nevves that euer vvas tolde is the Goſpell of peace to the worlde in God the Father through Chriſt. Fyon thee that receyues not theſe newes. As this Goſpell and Euangell is nothing but theſe glad tydings of Gods merciemercy through Chriſt. So lykewiſe the beſt newes that can come of any people is, that the people hes receyued the Goſpell and that faith in Chriſt. There is great matter of joye vvhen vve heare that grace, merciemercy and peace is preached to any people: There was neuer ſuch joy, if we knew what is true joy, but alas we are lying on the earth, we hauehave no ſenſe of heauenlie things, our eye is ay on the earth, as thogh there were no grace nor glorie, but in this lyfe.
But brethren to goe to euerie word, and to ſpeake of theſe things Timothie reportes to Paul. The firſt pointe of theſe tydinges is faith; he beginnes at faith. Timothie ſayes: Paul, the Theſſalonians continewes ſtill in that faith of Chriſt, and embraces that Goſpell of Chriſt, which thou taught them. There is the firſt part of the newes. Then ye ſee plainlie heere. the firſt part of the good tydinges that can be reported of any people, is that they holde faſt the faith of Chriſt. and embrace the Goſpell of Chriſt. There is the firſt and beſt …ydinges that can be reported of any people. And learne, He that hes not and keepes not this faith, I ſay in a vvorde there can be no good tale tolde of him. If he had all the vvorlde, vvithout this Goſpell, it is all in vaine, becauſe he hes no goode propertie, and there is no bleſſing of God in him: That vvhichwhich ſeemes to be a bleſſing is a verie curſſing to him. The more honour and riches he hes in this world, the mo are the maledictions of God, and all his actiones, all his ſpeakinges, or vvhat euer he does or thinkes, all is ſinne. What euer flovves not from faith in Chriſt, is ſinne, if it vvere neuer ſo gliſtering. Rom. 14. 13. So then I holde this ground. Thou canſt not tell a goode taile of anie man that embraces not Chriſt and his Goſpell. They will ſay, he is a ſtoutman, he is a riche man, the vvorlde goes vvell vvith him, but all is curſſing to him, except hee hauehave faith in Chriſt: faith bleſſes all, and therefore no lyfe to thee, except that thou hauehave faith.
What is the next pointe of the tydings? LoueLove. Faith beginnes and ſhe goes forvvard as the Queene of all grace. Next to her comes in louelove, ſhe is next in honour, and among all the reſt of the graces that accompanies with faith, louelove is the chiefeſt, Then in one vvord. The next pointe of good tydinges of any people, is to be a louing people, a people that intertaines louelove and charitie: no oppreſſion among them, but euere one is readie bent to helpe an other: ſuch kyndneſſe, lenitie and louelove, that the tongue of man can not expreſſe it. I tell you (as I hauehave ſaid before) vvhere theſe tydings can not be tolde, that a people intertaines louelove and charitie, it is impoſſible thou canſt tell a good taile of them. Tell me he is not charitable: I will conclude, there is no grace in that perſone. O but ye will ſay: yet he beleeues, and vvho hes bene ſo inſtant an hearer of the Goſpell as he? but all is vanitie; thy lyfe ſhovves the contrare: for vvho loues not their nighbour, and ſaies that they louelove God, they lye ſayes Ioha in his firſt Epiſtle 4. 20. For certainlie louelove is an vnſeparable companion of faith, as the ſhadovve is of the bodie, ſo that if louelove be ſeuered from it, thy faith is of no value. Where charitie is not, there is no true faith, and therefore bee charitable, and louelove thy neighbour, othervvviſe thou haſt no good propertie.
The thrid pointe of the nevves, is, concerning Paul in ſpeciall, that remembrance they had of him in his abſence, and of this rememberance a deſyre to ſee him: and that becauſe he had grounded them in that faith in Ieſus Chriſt, and that louelove to their neighbour. Brethren, as the firſt pointe of goode tydinges that can bee reported of anie, is the imbracing of this Goſpell of Chriſt and Chriſt in the Goſpell: So the laſt thing that can bee reported, is the imbracing of the Miniſters of this Goſpell, the imbracing of them in their preſence, the remembring of them, and the deſyring of them in their abſence. Theſe are Paules ovvne vvordes. And I affirme if anie people hauehave no lyking of the Miniſter of the Goſpell, no man can tell one good vvord of good tydinges of them. If Timothie could not hauehave reported this farre of the Theſſalonians concerning Paul that they had remembrance of him: but had ſaid that they remembred not of Paul; Trovvye that Paul vvould hauehave counted of the report of their faith and charitie? No he vvould hauehave ſaid, they had no faith nor charitie: for where there is not a louelove to the Miniſter of the Goſpell, no faith nor louelove there. Many vvill ſay, I louelove the Goſpell. I louelove my nighbour: but vvhen it comes to the miniſtrie; then if there be any vyle and contemptible ſpeaking it will be of them. My Lord or the laird will ſit vp and ſpeak of that calling with ſuch diſdaine and deſpite that the verſe Ethnick can not go beyond him; and in ſcoffing will ſay, away with theſe fellowes, wherefore ſerue they? they holde the countrie in ado. Fyon thee, that euer thou ſholdſt take the name of Chriſt in thy mouth, when thou ſo heatſt his ſeruants For it is impoſſible where the louelove of Chriſt and the Goſpell is to ſeuere thee from the louelove of the ſeruants of Chriſt. Thou deceiueſt thy ſelf, thou neuer loueſt the maſter when thou heatſt his ſeruants: thou neuer loueſt God, when thou heatſt the faithfull Miniſter he ſends to thee. Alas, among all the curſes that procures heauie judgement at Gods hand. this is one. the contempt of this miniſtrie: God is (as it were) wreſtling with vsus in this great contempt to hold in this light but if we continue, we ſhall loſe this light, to our vtter ruyne: for God will not wreſtle ay vvith vsus. Take heed to this, and learne this leſſon vvith Paule. As ye would hauehave a report of well doing, looke that this report may be tolde of you, that ye hauehave a remembrance and deſyre of your faithfull miniſtrie, otherwiſe all other reports is nothing worth. For where there can not be a report of your lyking of the good Miniſters, it can not be poſſible that a goode tale can be tolde of you.
The wordes in the end of the verſe is to be marked. Deſyring to ſee vsus as vve alſo doe you. There is a meeting. Marke the vvord. There is a mutuall duetie craued betvveene the Paſtor and the ſtock, a mutuall deſyre and remembrance euerie one of other, a mutuall lyking euerie one of others. Kyndneſte vvill not ſtand on the one part onelie. Now who ſhould beginne? one muſt beginne Paul beginnes he remembers of them before they remember of him, he deſyres their preſence, ere they deſyre his preſence, he lykes of them ere they lyke of …. Speaking to the Corinthians: Epiſt. 6. 1…. he ſayes, Our mouth hes … opened vntounto …, our heart … made large, … hauehave not dvvelt narrovvlie in our bovvels. Then he ſayes. … to you … be children, deſiring … lyke recompence. And teiles them as he was the beginner to louelove them, he deſyred a rendring of the lyke louelove to him. Gal. 4. 12. Be ye as I am, for I am as ye are. I craue not firſt of you, but I ſhal beginne with louelove to you: render ye me the lyke. And certainelie when the Paſtor beginnes not louelove to the flock, the people is not to be accuſed for not louing of their Paſtor. So the Paſtor muſt beginne; and when they follow him not, be it betweene them and their God: and without queſtion it will not goe away without judgement.
Now to goe to the effect of theſe things. Therefore brethren, ſayes he, vve had co…ſ…lation (and to aggreadge this conſolation he ſayes) when he tolde me theſe good tydings, my miſerie was great. I was lying at Athens miſerable: but when Timothie reported theſe good newes to me, I vvas quickned in hearing of your faith, perſeuerance, louelove among your ſelues, and towards vsus. So brethren, theſe tydings are not without great joy, they miniſter comfort. Neuer one of theſe things are tolde, but joy and comfort breaks vp in the heart. Trow ye that it was the good report that raiſed this conſolation in the heart? No, there was an higher ground. If Paul had not had an greater louelove to the Theſſalonians, all the good tydings that was reported by Timothie of them to him, ſhould not hauehave wakned joy in his heart. It is true in deed, when we heare of the grace of God to be in any other, there is matter of joy to vsus, we ſhould not heare ſo ſoone that the grace of God is in any man or woman, but we ſhould rejoyce therein, euen as it were in our ſelues. When thou heareſt of faith or louelove in any man or woman, thou ſhouldſt rejoice: when thou heareſt of any ſinner that is penitent, & turnes to God, rejoyce when thou heareſt of any louelove in any perſon, there is matter of joy, all is true. But brethren: Who rejoyces when it is reported that any grace is in any perſon? I anſwere. None but the louer; he that loues that people or perſon will rejoice. As for others that hauehave no louelove to the perſone the more is tolde to them of the grace of God in him, either ſpirituall or temporall, the more they inuy it. This is all our nature. What is it that inuyes not? Paul ſayes, Charitie inuyes not 1. Cor. 13. 4. And vnderſtand this, he who loues, rejoyes when he heares of any others well. Take me away louelove and charitie no rejoyſing in the heart of any man for an others well. Alas, this inuy that is among men of the proſperitie of an other teſtifies there is no louelove. When thou heareſt the report of the graces of thy nighbour, a…mnyes it, and ſpeakes euill of thy nighbour, thou vtteſt thou haſt no louelove to God and thou depryueſt day ſelfe of a great grace: for thou depriueſt thy ſelf of that joy thou ſhouldſt hauehave of the grace of God: thou rejoyſing, thou getſt part of that grace, he that hes the grace gets not all that grace his alone, but when thou rejoyceſt, thougetſt a part of that grace. By the contrare, if thou inuy, thou ſpoiles thy ſelfe of that joy: the joy thou ſhalt hauehave in Heauen ſhall not be of the grace thou ſhalt hauehave in thy ſelf onlie (and aſſure thee as thou ſhalt hauehave joy in Heauen thou muſt hauehave joy in earth) but it ſhall riſe of the graces of god beſtowed on others on the earth: and thou ſhalt not ſee a glorious member beſide thee, but of ſight of it thou ſhalt hauehave ſuch joy as no tongue can tell. So I beſeech you as ye would rejoice in Heauen, beginne to joy, and learne in tyme to rejoyce for the graces of God beſtowed on others here, and learne in time to louelove thy nighbour…ó thou licentious bodie learne to louelove, ô contemner, learne to louelove, thou back byter, learne to louelove, thou who wouldſt rejoice with a true joy, learne to louelove, or thou ſhalt neuer rejoyce in Heauen. What trow ye `Paul is doing now when Timothie is turned back to him, and makes this good report of this charitie and is rejoyſing? I tell you, he is gathering vp the frutes of his trauell, taking vp his rent and ſtipend from the Theſſalonians.Paſtors ſtipend. What is the rewarde of a faithfull Paſtor and his proper ſtipend? Is it this little thing on the earth, his gleab and manſe, two or three chalders of victuall? no. What then is the proper rewarde of the Paſtor? It filles not the hand, but the heart; not the mouth of this world, but the mouth of the ſoule with joy. Fill out my ioy (ſayes Paul Philipp. 2. 2.) fill it out, I hauehave not gotten it all. What is that that fils the hart of the Paſtor with joy?The grace of God fils the heart vvith ioy. ye heare not that Timothie bringes any ſubſtance from the Theſſalonians. But the thing that filles Pauls heart, is the grace of God in the Theſſalonians the ſaith of the Theſſalonians, the louelove and good affection the Theſſalonians bare to him. That is the matter of his joy. Men ſtandes on this earth, and is loath to giuegive one penny to an other, but to draw al in to them ſelues: but I ſay to thee, if thou be one of Gods, and of his people, he ſhall get more of thee, nor al thy heritage, nor all thy lands and riches in the world, if he be a faithfull Paſtor he ſhall get more of thee: For thou ſhalt hauehave no grace, nor faith, nor charitie, but he ſhall get the glorie of it: thou ſhalt hauehave no glorie in Heauen, but that glorie ſhall redound to his glorie: for that chiefe Paſtor of al Paſtors hes communicate this to his Paſtors, that all the graces beſtowed by him on the people ſhal redound to their glorie. So he will hauehave all the trauels beſtowed on the people by his Paſtour to redound the glorie of his Paſtor. Paul ſayes. 1. Theſſa. 2. 19. What is our ioy, or crovvne of …? are not ye (Theſſalonians) my glorie and my joy? The Lord ſhall take you by the hand, giuegive you to me, and ſay: hauehave there the man thou haſt win, take the glorie thereof to thee, and giuegive me the whole glorie of him, and of all: ô the ſhinning glorie that Paul ſhall hauehave in Heauen! ô the ſhinning glorie of theſe men, who hes trauelled on earth to get ſoules to God! they hauehave a glorious preferment, but it is not ſeene heere, in that day ye ſhall ſee it clearlie.
Now he aggreadges that joy he receiued of that report, from the great trouble he had in Athens: and ſayes, vve had conſolation in all our affliction and neceſſitie. In Athens he was troubled by the Epicurian and Stoick Philoſophers (Alas, worldlie-wiſe men are not meete for the kingdome of God▪ he that would be wiſe in God let him be a foole) So he is in trouble:Heauēlie ioy ſvvalovves vp vvorldlie payne. yet this conſolation through the report of Timothie, ſwalowes vp the trouble: ô that heauenlie conſolation and joy, how it will ſwalow vp the diſpleaſure and heauines of the ſoule! Albeit the ſoule wer filled with ſorrow, when this heauenlie joy comes in, it ſwalowes vp that heauineſſe: it is true that this is not without a battell, and a hard battell but in the end the ſpirituall joye vvill get the victorie. Therfore thou vvho art in heauines, preaſe to get ſome ſpark of that heauenlie joy, preaſe to rejoice in Chriſt, grow in rejoycing in God. Thou who wouldſt hauehave any paine mitigate that is laid on thy bodie, if it were ſickneſſe or death it ſelfe, if thou wouldſt hauehave it made light, ſeeke that ſpirituall joy, for as it ſwalowes the dolor and diſpleaſure of the hart, ſo it ſwalowes vp the paine of the bodie: trow ye tha… the Martyres could hauehave ſuffred ſo great paine as they did, if that the joy of the heart had not ſwalowed vp the half of the paine? No, if the joy had not impared the paine, they vvould hauehave curſſed God and man, So let a man or vvoman vvho would hauehave their paine mitigate ſeeke to get this joy. We ſee how ſweetlie they vvill depart out of this life vvho hes that joy in Chriſt, and therefore differre not till the laſt houre, thinking to get joy then, but in tyme vvhen thou art neither ſicke nor ſore, in ſoule nor bodie, prepare thee to get a ſenſe of that joye that may be ſteadable in trouble: acquaint thee vvith heauen, as euer thou vvouldſt goe to heauen. Avvaye with the ſecuritie of men who playe the vvanton, and will promiſe to them ſelues heauen, if they get but leaue to aske merciemercy in their laſt breath. Fy on them, they ſhall be deceyued. It is true,Delay of repentāce dāgerous. the theefe that hung at Chriſts right hand got merciemercy; but the other theefe got none. Therefore repent & amend your liues in time: for vvhere one gets repentance at the laſt houre of their death, a thouſand wants it.
Now ere I leaue this marke. Certainelie it appeares that Paul loued the Theſſalonians well: for vvhen he heares the report of theſe good newes, he who was in trouble is reuiued: and if he had not loued the Theſſalonians exceeding well hee had not receiued ſuch exceeding joye.LoueLove is the occaſion of ioy. Ye ſee, who loues a man vvell, when anie good report is made of him he will rejoice for it. O the great louelove of Paul in all parts! it may be a mirror to all paſtors. Woulde to God that ſuch louelove or halfe louelove were in our hearts: wee are bounde to a Congregation, and yet we can not louelove them as he did hauing manie Congregations: for he vvas miniſter as well at Corinthus, Galatia, Epheſus &c. as Theſſalonica. Neuer did any man louelove a ſonne begotten of himſelf more intirelie nor Paul did all his Churches. Surelie a Paſtor ſhould louelove his flock ſo well, that he ſhould giuegive his life for them.
In the end of the verſe he giues the reaſon wherefore he rejoyced, vve liue (ſayes he) if ye ſtand in the Lord. Ioy comes of life; and naturall life brings naturall joy: that heauenlie lyfe begun in this life brings joye vnſpeakable. He reaſones; Ye are n…y life: what wounder then that hearing of your ſtanding in the Lord, which is my life, I rejoice? Then if he be a louing Paſtor, who loues the ſoule of the people well. as Paul did, the grace that the people gets of God it is a quickning grace to him, it is a viuifying of him, if he be in dolour and diſtieſſe it is a walkning of him. Therefore looke what aduantage thou getteſt through louelove. Art thou a paſtor? thou ſhalt get life. Art thou one of the people? if thou louelove thou ſhalt get life to: and thy louelove ſhall euer report to thee a joye in thy greateſt dolour. If thou be departing off this life, and haſt beene a faithfull paſtor, the report of the ſtanding of thy flocke ſhall comfort thee: if thou be one of the people, thou ſhalt euer hauehave comfort: for the grace of any member of the Church reported to thee ſhall bring joy to thee. But the man who hes nothinge but inuie can hauehave no joye: hee knowes not what this ſpirituall joye meanes. Therefore as thou wouldſt liue in joye and conſolation ſtriue to be louing, charitable and tender hearted to euerie one in whome thou …eeſt the graces of God: and ſo thou ſhalt get infinite matter of joy; thou shalt get peace heere and life euerlaſting hereafter. The Lorde for his great mercies ſake bring vsus to this life through Chriſt: To whom be all praiſe and honour for euer.
Amen.