A Paraphrase on the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians
The Firſt Epiſtle of PAUL the Apoſtle to the THESSALONIANS.
CHAP. I.
1. PAul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Theſſalonians, which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
1. To the Aſſembly of Chriſtians aſſociated in the profeſſed Belief of God the Father, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, &c.
2, 3. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembring without ceaſing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in the ſight of God, and our Father.
2, 3. We thankfully remember your working Faith, your laborious Love, and patient Hope in Chriſt, which is all ſeen and accepted by God our Father.
4, 5. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our goſpel came not unto you in word onelyonly, but alſo in power, and in the holy Ghoſt, and in much aſſurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your ſake.
4, 5. For I was aſſured, that God had freely elected you to be honoured as a Church of Chriſt, in that he ſent me particularly to you, and that with Power of Miracles, and pouring out of the Holy Ghoſt, he confirmed my Miniſtry, and cauſed me to fulfil it, as your Experience telleth you.
6. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the holy Ghoſt:
6. And becauſe he bleſſed all with ſuch Succeſs that you obeyed our Word, and were converted to God, receiving the Word in the trial of ſharp Affliction and Oppoſition, and yet with Joy, and the participation of the Holy Ghoſt.
7. So that ye were enſamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
7. So that your Example tended to the happy imitation of all that now believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8. For from you ſounded out the word of the Lord, not onelyonly in Macedonia and Achaia, but alſo in every place your faith to God-ward is ſpread abroad, ſo that we need not to ſpeak any thing.
8. For from you the Word of God ſpread abroad, even in many other Countries it is known; ſo that I need not tell it them, to your praiſe, and their imitation.
9. For they themſelves ſhew of us, what manner of entring in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from Idols, to ſerve the living and true God,
9. They tell abroad themſelves, what Succeſs we had in your Converſion from Idolatry to the true God.
10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raiſed from the dead, even Jeſus which delivered us from the wrath to come.
10. And to wait in Faith and Hope, that his Son, that is raiſed from death, and aſcended, will come from Heaven for our Salvation, even Jeſus, who delivereth us from the Wrath that will come on Unbelievers.
CHAP. II.
1. FOr your ſelves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain.
1. For you are my Witneſſes, that I came not to you in deceit, on any falſe deſign or manner.
2. But even after that we had ſuffered before, and were ſhamefully entreated, as ye know at Philippi, we were bold in our God to ſpeak unto you the goſpel of God with much contention.
3. But our ſhameful uſage at Philippi did not diſcourage us; but our truſt in our God did embolden us to preach his Goſpel to you, though in a conflict of great oppoſition.
3. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanneſs, nor in guile: 4. But as we were allowed of God to be put in truſt with the goſpel, even ſo we ſpeak, not as pleaſing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
3, 4. For I came not to you to deceive you into Errour, nor to plead for fleſhly Luſts, nor craſtily to make advantage of you to our gain: But as God approved and choſe me to be put in truſt with the Preaching of the Goſpel, I do it to pleaſe him who trieth our Hearts, and not to pleaſe the Humours and Luſts of Men.
5. For neither at any time uſed we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetouſneſs; God is witneſs.
5. For you your ſelves know, that I flattered you not, nor indulged fleſhly Pleaſures; and God knoweth, that I made not the Goſpel a Cloak to hide any covetous Deſign.
6. Nor of men ſought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdenſom, as the apoſtles of Chriſt.
6. Nor did I preach up my ſelf, for Vain-glory (Power or Profit), neither with you, or any others; though as Chriſts Apoſtle I might have pleaded my Power, and demanded Maintenance.
7. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurſe cheriſheth her children:
7. But we ſought not our Gain and Glory, but your Good; and that with all the love and tenderneſs to you, as a Nurſe cheriſheth her Children, in ſelf-denial.
8. So being affectionately deſirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the goſpel of God onelyonly, but alſo our own ſouls, becauſe ye were dear unto us.
8. So my ſtrong Love to you made me not onelyonly willingly to preach the Goſpel to you, (without any ſelfiſh, proud, or covetous deſign) but you are ſo dear to me, that I think not my Life too dear for you.
9. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travel: for labouring night and day, becauſe we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the goſpel of God.
9. Ye cannot but remember my great Toil and Labour, how working at my Trade Night and Day, becauſe I would not be chargeable to any of you, I preached the Goſpel to you freely.
10. Ye are witneſſes, and God alſo, how holily, and juſtly, and unblameably we behaved our ſelves among you that believe.
10. I appeal to your ſelves, and to God, as Witneſſes, that our Behaviour with you was holy, juſt, and blameleſs.
11. As you know how we exhorted and comforted, and charged every one of you (as a father doth his children) 12. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
11, 12. As you know how tenderly I exhorted, and comforted, and charged not onelyonly the Aſſemblies, but every one that I could ſpeak to, even as a Father will do to every Child; that now you are Chriſtians, you will live as is ſuitable to the God you ſerve, and the Kingdom and Glory to which he hath called you.
13. For this cauſe alſo thank we God without ceaſing, becauſe when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh alſo in you that believe.
13. And it is the matter of our unceſſant thanks to God, that you received not the Goſpel as Mens Word, with a meer Humane Faith and Obedience; but as Gods Word, with a Divine: which it appeareth to be, by the powerful efficacy of it on your ſelves, who are true Believers.
14. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God, which in Judea are in Chriſt Jeſus: for ye alſo have ſuffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews.
14. Ye follow the Churches in Judea, in ſuffering by your own Neighbours, as well as in the ſame Faith.
Note, The ſame Faith, Hope, and Holineſs, will meet with the ſame Enmity in all Countries.
15. Who both killed the Lord Jeſus, and their own prophets, and have perſecuted us; and they pleaſe not God, and are contrary to all men: 16. Forbidding us to ſpeak to the Gentiles, that they might be ſaved, to fill up their ſins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermoſt.
15, 16. Note, 1. That the Carnal Church hath been more perſecuting and bloody than the Heathens.
2. That Chriſt himſelf ſeemed not to them good enough to live, or to be endured among them; but was murdered as a Traytor and Blaſphemer, by pretended Law and Juſtice. And Prophets and Apoſtles had the like uſage.
3. That bloody Perſecution oft goeth with the Carnal Church for a great Duty.
4. That God is not pleaſed with the Perſecutors of his Servants, though they do it as to pleaſe him.
5. That malignant Perſecutors are oft ſo mad as to be contrary to all Men, or engage themſelves againſt the common Intereſt of Mankind, that they may perſecute the Faithful.
6. It is the ſilencing of the beſt Preachers of the Goſpel, which hath the heat of their malignant Zeal.
7. It is that Preaching which would ſave Souls, which they forbid: And becauſe this Preaching is the Means to ſave Souls, it is that Satan aimeth his Militia againſt it.
8. Perſecuting and ſilencing Faithful Preachers, is the way to fill up the Sins of the malignant Enemies.
9. God uſeth not to bring the utmoſt Wrath on Men, till they have filled up their Sins.
10. How long ſoever they proſper, Wrath will come at laſt to the uttermoſt on malignant Sinners and Perſecutors of the faithful Preachers of the Goſpel.
17. But we, brethren, being taken from you for a ſhort time, in preſence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to ſee your face with great deſire.
17. But our conſtrained abſence from you, (in Perſon, not in Heart) made us the more earneſtly deſire to ſee you.
18. Wherefore we would have come unto you (even I Paul) once and again, but Satan hindred us.
18. I would oft have come to you, and attempted i… but by Gods permiſſion Satan hindred me, (by ſtirring up Perſecution and Reſtraints, and making me Work elſewhere by Oppoſition.)
19. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoycing? are not even ye in the preſence of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt at his coming? 20. For ye are our glory and joy.
19, 20. For what is that Hope, and Joy, and Crown, for which I labour ſo hard, and ſuffer ſo much? Is it not your Converſion and Salvation, which before Chriſt at his coming will be my Joy? Yes, ye are our Glory and Joy, that God hath ſo bleſt our Labours to your Salvation.
Note, 1. True Miniſters of Chriſt thirſt and labour far more for Mens Converſion and Salvation, than for Reputation, Honour, Riches, Preferment, or Domination.
2. Though God will reward Faithful Preachers though they have ſmall Succeſs, yet to have great Succeſs, to the ſaving of many, is far more comfortable, not onelyonly now, but at the Coming of Chriſt.
CHAP. III.
1. WHerefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone: 2. And ſent Timotheus our brother and miniſter of God, and our fellow-labourer in the goſpel of Chriſt, to eſtabliſh you, and to comfort you concerning your faith.
1, 2. Note, That in the time of trying Perſecutions, Chriſtians have ſpecial need of confirming and comforting Helps.
3. That no man ſhould be moved by theſe afflictions: for your ſelves know that we are appointed thereunto.
3. Note, Sufferings for Chriſt ſhould be ſo expected, that they ſhould ſeem no ſtrange ſurpriſing thing.
4. For verily when we were with you, we told you before, that we ſhould ſuffer tribulation; even as it came to paſs, and ye know.
4. Gods foretelling us of Suffering, ſhould forearm us for it.
5. For this cauſe when I could no longer forbear, I ſent to know your faith, leſt by ſome means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
5. Note, That though cenſorious Suſpicions of Men be forbidden, yet Man is ſo mutable and weak a thing, that loving Suſpicions for preventing Hart, are neceſſary to them that have the Care of Men.
6. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, deſiring greatly to ſee us, as we alſo to ſee you: 7. Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and diſtreſs by your faith.
6, 7. Note, That they that by Affliction are not drawn to Sin, are matter of Joy to themſelves and their Friends, notwithſtanding their Sufferings.
8. For now we live, if ye ſtand faſt in the Lord.
8. Your Stedfaſtneſs and Victory is the Joy or Life of our Lives.
9. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your ſakes before our God,
9. We can never be thankful enough to God, for the Comfort which we have in you.
10. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might ſee your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
10. Note, That the Faith of good Chriſtians is wanting (in Act and Object), and needeth Increaſe and Help thereto.
11. Now God himſelf, and our Father, and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt direct our way unto you: 12. And the Lord make you to increaſe and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men, even as we do towards you:
11, 12. Note, That to abound in Love to Saints as Saints, and to all Men as Men, is the ſtate of true Increaſe in Grace.
13. To the end he may eſtabliſh your hearts unblameable in holineſs before God even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, with all his ſaints.
13. Note, That it is confirmed Faith working by abounding Love, which is the Qualification in which we may ſtand uncondemned, as truly holy before God, at the coming of Chriſt to Judgment.
CHAP. IV.
1. FUrthermore then we beſeech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jeſus, that as ye have received of us how you ought to walk, and to pleaſe God, ſo ye would abound more and more.
1. Note, That Paul's Doctrine againſt Juſtification by the Works of the Law, conſiſteth with vehement urgency, for Men to pleaſe God, by doing their Duty, and abounding therein.
2, 3, 4, 5. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jeſus. For this is the will of God, even your ſanctification, that ye ſhould abſtain from fornication: That every one of you ſhould know how to poſſeſs his veſſel in ſanctification and honour; not in the luſt of concupiſcence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
2, 3, 4, 5. You know how we charged you from Chriſt, as that which God requireth in you, that you be a Holy People, and therefore that you be no Fornicators, but be careful to uſe your Bodies in purity and honour, and not in fleſhly Luſt, like the ignorant Heathens.
6. That no man go beyond, and defraud his brother in any matter: becauſe that the Lord is the avenger of all ſuch, as we alſo have forewarned you, and teſtified.
That no Man tread upon or defraud his Brother in any Matter, &c.
Note, Some think that it is Unnatural Luſt that is here obſcurely named by Modeſty: But that it forbids all ſorcible or fraudulent Wrong to another in Body or Eſtate, is moſt probable. And note, That God is eſpecially the Avenger of ſuch Wrongs, in which the Power and Fraud of Oppreſſors leaveth Men no other Help but Gods.
7. For God hath not called us unto uncleanneſs, but unto holineſs.
7. It is to Holineſs, and from all Uncleanneſs, that God hath called us by Chriſt: And we muſt live according to our Vocation, if we are converted indeed.
8. He therefore that deſpiſeth, deſpiſeth not man, but God, who hath alſo given unto us his holy Spirit.
8. Thoſe therefore that plead for ſuch Sins as harmleſs, and deſpiſe theſe Bounds of Luſt, deſpiſe Gods own Commandments and him, and not onelyonly us that preach them; and they deſpiſe the Spirit of Holineſs, given by God to all the Faithful, which condemneth theſe Luſts.
9. But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you: for ye your ſelves are taught of God to love one another.
9. As for Brotherly Love, you have not ſuch need to be taught it as thoſe that know it not: For God (who hath a way of teaching by Efficiency, beyond that of Words) hath taught you to love one another, by giving you this Love, by his Holy Spirit.
10. And inded ye do it towards all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beſeech you, brethren, that ye increaſe more and more;
10. Note, 1. That it is a wiſe way to make Men better, to praiſe ſo much Good as is in them.
2. Even thoſe that God hath taught by his own Operations, have need to be entreated by Men to increaſe, even in the Duty of Loving others.
11. And that ye ſtudy to be quiet, and to do your own buſineſs, and to work with your own hands (as we commanded you)
11. And to that end, that you make it your earneſt care and ſtudy to avoid all ſtrife, and to live in quietneſs with all Men: And for this, that you avoid medling in other Mens Matters unneceſſarily, but mind and meddle with the Buſineſs which is your own; and that Idleneſs caſt you not on others for Supply, but that you work for your ſelves, as I commanded you.
Note, That he that will increaſe in Love, muſt 1. Study Quietneſs: 2. And not meddle uncalled with other Mens Matters: 3. Nor make himſelf need the Help of others: 4. And therefore not live in impoveriſhing Idleneſs.
12. That ye may walk honeſtly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
12. That ſo your Condition in the World may enable you to live in a comely ſort, with Reputation, and not expoſe you to Contempt, and that Want may not afflict you.
13. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are aſleep, that ye ſorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
13. And left you be tempted to doubtful or over-ſorrowful Thoughts of the Dead, like them that believe not a better Life hereafter, I would not have you cheriſh ſuch Sorrows by ignorance of their Caſe.
14. For if we believe that Jeſus died, and roſe again, even ſo them alſo which ſleep in Jeſus, will God bring with him.
14. For how can we believe that Chriſt died and roſe, but we muſt alſo believe the Reſurrection of thoſe that are the departed Members of Chriſt? He will bring their Souls with him, for they are with him now: and he will raiſe their Bodies, and ſo bring the entire Man with him in Judgment.
Note, That Death is called a Sleep to the Faithful, with reſpect to the Body, and the Reſt of the Soul f…o… Sorrow; but not as if the Soul were but in a ſleepy Inactivity.
15. For this we ſay unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, ſhall not prevent them which are aſleep.
15. For I ſay this not as my Word, but Gods, That ſuch of us Believers as ſhall be found alive then, ſhall not go before them that are dead to Chriſt at his coming.
16. For the Lord himſelf ſhall deſcend from heaven with a ſhout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt:
16. For the Lord himſelf coming down in his viſible Humanity from Heaven, ſhall call the World together, as Men call Aſſemblies, by Shout, by Voice, or by a Trumpet; ſo ſhall Chriſt by his unknown way, called the Voice of an Archangel, and the Trumpet of God; and firſt the dead Chriſtians ſhall be raiſed to Life.
17. Then we which are alive and remain, ſhall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and ſo ſhall we ever be with the Lord. 18. Wherefore, comfort one another with theſe words.
17, 18. Then thoſe of us who ſhall be alive and remain, ſhall by his Power be caught up with them, to meet Chriſt in the Air; who will adjudge us to Everlaſting Life, and ſo we ſhall ever after that be with Chriſt in Glory where he is: Therefore encourage and comfort your ſelves, and each other, with the lively Belief, the joyful Hopes, and the frequent mention of this moſt Bleſſed Time and State.
Note, 1. That though Paul knew not the time, it's a groundleſs Reproach of Paul by them that ſay, He thought that he ſhould have lived here till the coming of Chriſt to Judgment. Had Paul made Men believe that Chriſt ſhould come again in that very Age, what a Deluſion would it have been to the Churches? and what falſe Expectations and Religious Duties would it have enticed them to? and have tempted the next Age, that ſaw the fruſtration, to have revolted to Infidelity.
2. Though we are told, that we muſt meet the Lord in the Air, and then be ever with him; it pleaſed not God to give us yet a diſtinct knowledge of the Place, nor what he will do with the New Earth in which Righteouſneſs will dwell: But whereever it is, it will be in Heavenly Glory with Chriſt.
3. They that will have true Chriſtian Comfort, muſt fetch it from the daily and lively Belief and Conſideration of this, That we ſhall for ever be in Happineſs with Chriſt our Lord, and the holy Society of the Bleſſed.
4. Qu. Why doth not Paul comfort them with the mention of the Souls Immortality and Happineſs before the Reſurrection of the Body? Anſ. Becauſe, 1. It was the Body that ſuffered by Perſecution, and that ſlept, and that they mourned for too much; and therefore it was about it that they needed Comfort. 2. And the Souls Immortality was a more undoubted thing▪ (without which a Reſurrection of the ſame Man had been impoſſible.) 3. And the Felicity or Perfection of entire Man is greater than that of the Soul alone, the State of which God hath leſs clearly and diſtinctly revealed to us.
CHAP. V.
1. BUt of the times and ſeaſons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2. For your ſelves know perfectly that the day of the Lord ſo cometh as a thief in the night.
1, 2. But to write to you of the particular time of Chriſts coming, I ſuppoſe you expect not; for you have been told, that he cometh as a Thief in the Night, unexpected, Men not foreknowing when.
3. For when they ſhall ſay, Peace and ſafety; then ſudden deſtruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they ſhall not eſcape.
3. So much muſt the time be unknown, that it will ſurpriſe them with ſudden unavoidable Deſtruction when they moſt preſume that all is well with them, and ſafe.
4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkneſs, that that day ſhould overtake you as a thief. 5. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkneſs.
4, 5. But though you know not the time, it will not ſo ſurpriſe you, as Thieves do Men aſleep in the Night: For ye are all in the Day-light; and not unprepared, in a ſtate of Darkneſs.
6. Therefore let us not ſleep as do others; but let us watch and be ſober.
6. Therefore let this remember you to avoid the careleſs Preſumption, the Vices and unprepared ſtate of the ſleepy World; and to live as awake, and in ſobriety.
7. For they that ſleep, ſleep in the night; and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night.
7. For the Night is the time of ſleep, and to hide the ſhame of Drunkenneſs by Darkneſs.
8. But let us who are of the day, be ſober, putting on the breſtplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of ſalvation.
8. But let us, whom God hath brought out of Darkneſs into the Chriſtian Light, live ſoberly, wearing Faith and Love as Soldiers do a Breaſtplate, and the Hope of Salvation as they do an Helmet, to ſave Heart and Head from all Aſſaults.
9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath; but to obtain ſalvation by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
9. For it is not us, that are his faithful Servants, but his rebellious Enemies, whom God hath appointed to Wrath; but us he appointeth to obtain Salvation by Chriſt.
10. Who died for us, that whether we wake or ſleep, we ſhould live together with him.
10. Who died for us, that whether we wake or ſleep in Body, live or die, we ſhould live with him.
11. Wherefore comfort your ſelves together, and edifie one another, even as alſo ye do.
11. Therefore continue as you do to aſſemble and comfort your ſelves together with theſe Hopes, and to edifie one another thereby.
Note, Paul knew that Rulers were againſt ſuch Aſſemblies and Exerciſes. Qu. But muſt they not be forborn, if Men forbid them? Anſ. Not as an Act of Obedience, when God commandeth us to uſe them: But Force may make it impoſſible to us; as it is to relieve the Poor, when Men diſable us, and take away all that we have to give them.
12. And we beſeech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admoniſh you; 13. And to eſteem them very highly in love for their works ſake. And be at peace among your ſelves.
12, 13. Acknowledge their Office and Worth, and your Obligations, to them that are truly called to be your Biſhops, or Spiritual Guides and Rulers, and labour among you in that Office, and admoniſh you: And as their Office is high, their Labour and your Benefit great, let them be greatly eſteemed by you, and dearly loved for their Work. This due Love and Submiſſion to them, and living in Peace among your ſelves, will make you a happy Church.
Note, 1. That every Church ſhould have their proper Overſeers and Guides among them.
2. That theſe Paſtors are over them in the Lord, and not to be ruled by the People.
3. That the Work of Biſhops is to labour among them, and admoniſh their particular Churches.
4. That their Authority muſt be owned, and they highly eſteemed and loved.
5. That it is for their Works ſake that this is due to them, and therefore not to thoſe that work not.
6. The Biſhops whom in this Text they were intreated to own, honour, and love, were thoſe that laboured among them, and not onelyonly thoſe that lived far off, and never laboured among them.
7. Due Love and Reſpect between the Paſtors and the Flock, and being at peace among themſelves, are the way to eſtabliſh a Church in a proſperous ſtate.
14. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, ſupport the weak, be patient toward all men.
14. Thoſe that are diſorderly and unruly, warn: Thoſe that are feeble-minded, comfort: Thoſe that are weak, ſupport, and help them to hear their Burdens: And be gentle and patient to all.
Note, How contrary to this reviling and deſtro… ing all theſe ſorts? yea, ſilencing the ſtrongeſt, that fear ſinning againſt God, by ſwearing, ſubſcribing, and conforming to the needleſs and wicked Canons of Papal Uſurpers.
5. See that none render evil for evil unto any man: but ever follow that which is good, both among your ſelves, and to all men.
15. Though Men by doing evil to you, deſerve evil, return it not by Revenge, by Word or Deed: But ſet your ſelves to do good, both to Chriſtians, and to all Men.
16, 17, 18. Rejoyce evermore. Pray without ceaſing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Chriſt Jeſus concerning you.
16, 17, 18. Whatever you ſuffer, always rejoice, becauſe ſtill your Cauſe of Joy remaineth: And let Prayer be your conſtant Practice, and your Habit of holy Deſire be a continued virtual Prayer. And in every Caſe give Thanks to God, becauſe your Mercies are ſtill greater than your Sufferings: And this God hath made your Duty, by the great Bleſſings which he hath given you in Chriſt.
19, 20. Quench not the ſpirit. Deſpiſe not propheſyings.
19, 20. Quench not Divine Operations of the Spirit, by Neglect, or by wilful Sin. Set not light by thoſe Inſtructing Gifts which any exerciſe by the ſpecial Aſſiſtance of the Spirit of God: For the Witneſs of Jeſus is the Spirit of Prophecy.
21. Prove all things: hold faſt that which is good.
21. Receive not haſtily or raſhly, without ſufficient Proof, any Doctrines, or pretended Revelations, or Practices; but the Good that is tried and proved, hold faſt.
22. Abſtain from all appearance of evil.
22. Avoid all Sin ſo carefully, as not to venture on that which you have juſt cauſe to ſuſpect to be ſinful, till you have tried whether it be ſo or not.
23. And the very God of peace ſanctifie you wholly: and I pray God your whole ſpirit and ſoul and body be preſerved blameleſs unto the coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
23. And God who giveth and loveth the Peace and Proſperity of his Servants, ſanctifie you wholly: And I pray God that you may wholly, in Spirit, Soul; and Body, be ſo preſerved from Sin, that you may ſtand uncondemned, approved as faithful, at the coming of Chriſt.
Note, 1. It is of great uſe for our Comfort and …mitation, to know God to be the God of Peace.
2. Paul meaneth not that their Bodies ſhould live till Chriſts coming, or that they ſhould be without all Sin and Blame; but without all condemning Sin, and ſo juſtified and forgiven as to their Imperfetions.
3. He doth not make Spirit, Soul, and Body three ſubſtantial compounding Parts of Man, (as far as can be proved;) but ſeemeth onelyonly to mean, that he deſireth that they may ſtand approved in all theſe three reſpects: 1. In the Spirit, that is, the Habits and Diſpoſition of the Soul, looking beyond it ſelf to its End. 2. In the Soul, as it acteth the Body which it animateth. 3. In the Body, as it is the Inſtrument of the Soul. But of theſe things even Chriſtian Philoſophers differ. 1. Some think Man hath three diſtinct Souls, Intellectual, Senſitive, and Vegetative. 2. Some, that he hath two, Intellectual and Senſitive; and that the Vegetative is a part of the Body. 3. Some, that he hath but one, with theſe three Faculties. 4. Some, that he hath but one, with two Faculties, Intellectual and Senſitive. 5. Some, that he hath but one, with the Faculty of Intellection and Will; and that the Senſitive is corporeal. So little do we know our ſelves. What I think moſt probable, I have opened in Methodo Theologiae; That Man hath but one ſubſtantial Soul, with both Intellectual and Senſitive Faculties; and that it is uncertain whether the Vegetative be its Faculty, or onelyonly the Faculty of the Igneous or Etherial Subſtance, which is the immediate Vehicle of the Soul. It is enough for us to know ſo much of our Souls as our Duty in uſing them, and our Felicity do require: As he may know to uſe his Clock, Watch, Houſe, Horſe, who knoweth not how to make them, nor can anatomiſe them.
24. Faithful is he that calleth you, who alſo will do it.
24. Note, Gods Faithfulneſs may give the Sanctified great Hope of their Perſeverance.
25. Brethren, pray for us. 26. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiſs.
25, 26. Note, 1. Apoſtles needed the Prayers of weak Chriſtians.
2. The Ceremony of Kiſſing, and ſuch other, are mutable, fit or unfit, as the Cuſtom of Countries varieth the Signification.
27. I charge you by the Lord, that this epiſtle be read unto all the holy brethren.
28. The grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt be with you. Amen.
27, 28. Note, That the Epiſtles written to ſingle Churches were not confined to their uſe, but by them to be communicated to as many as they well could.