An Exposition of Pauls Epistles, Letter 9
The Second Epistle of Paul to the THESSALONIANS, Analytically expounded.
THE CONTENTS.
THe occasion of writing this Epistle seems to have been this: Some of the Thessalonians abused the Doctrine touching the suddain comming of Christ, even to negligence in their Vocations, and to the wasting of their goods, as if there was no need that they should care for their Estates any more, seeing Christ was about to come, perhaps to morrow, perhaps the day after, as they did suppose, but others did abuse the simplicity and mistake of some, and intending to live upon the goods of others, left off working. In the mean while the persecution of enemies did rage, and concurred to cherish this errour. Wherefore the Apostle writes this second Epistle to them, solves the difficulty, and first of all comforts them against persecutions or afflictions, Chap. 1. Secondly, Hee explains the Doctrine touching Christs comming, which will approach before the Antichristian Apostacy from the true Faith of Christ should appear, and bee discovered to the world, Chap. 2. Lastly, Hee exhorts them to Christian duties, and namely, to Diligence in every ones vocation, Chap. 3.
CHAP. I.
Ver. 1. PAul and Sylvanus, and Timotheus, unto the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ:
2. Grace unto you, and Peace from God our Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ.
In the direction of the Epistle the same persons salute the Thessalonians, which did in the former: Here is nothing said as touching the authority of the Apostle, neither in the former Epistle, because they were all confirmed sufficiently in this Church concerning Pauls Apostleship; onelyonly mentioning their communion with the onelyonly true God, and his Son Jesus Christ, hee distinguishes this Church, both from the assemblies of the Heathens, and unbeleeving Jews; by wishing them both Grace and Peace, hee certifies them of all things which make to eternal salvation and righteousness, which are to bee communicated to them from God through Christ.
Vers. 3. Wee are bound to thank God alwaies for you, Brethren, as it is meet, because that your Faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth.
In the remaining part of the Chapter, by giving God thanks for them, hee also confirms their Faith, and administers to them comfort against all the rage of persecutors, wherewith they were vexed. The Arguments of comfort and confirmation of their Faith are eight: All which do prove that they ought to bee strengthened in Faith, and bee comforted in their persecutions.
Argum. 1. The condition of your Church, (if I may judge) is most happy in the sight of God, wherein all yee (none excepted as far as can bee known) embrace the Lord Jesus with a sincere Faith, and one another with a sincere love, and proceed in both virtues, daily abounding more and more in both virtues: Therefore whatsoever your condition is in the sight of the world, yee ought to bee comforted and strengthened in Faith.
Vers. 4. So that wee our selves glory in you in the Churches of God, for your patience and Faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that yee endure.
Argum. 2. The constancy of your Faith and Patience in the midst of persecutions, and afflictions which you suffer, is so much, that I am compelled to praise you, before other Churches, and to set you out for an example to others: Therefore yee ought to bee comforted and strengthened in Faith.
Vers. 5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgement of God, that yee may bee counted worthy of the Kingdome of God, for which yee also suffer.
Argum. 3. Your afflictions which yee suffer by those impious persecutors, are a manifest token that there will at length bee a general judgement, wherein it shall go ill with the bad, and well with the good, when you shall be pronounced meet through the divine favour to injoy the Kingdome of God, because yee suffer many evils for promoting of it.
Vers. 6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you:
7. And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Iesus shall bee revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels,
8. In flaming fire, taking vengeance of them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ,
9. Who shall bee punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Argum. 4. Explaining the former: God in his justice will punish in the day of judgement, your persecutors, and will set you at liberty from all evil: Therefore yee ought to bee comforted, and strengthened in Faith.
With us] Argum. 5. Yee shall at length obtain, together with us, and with others the Martyrs of Christ, as your fellow-souldiers, rest from all evil and misery: Therefore yee ought together with us to bee comforted, and strengthened in Faith.
In the Revelation] Argum. 6. From those circumstances of the last judgement, which makes the revenge terrible, that shall bee taken upon them. The Lord Jesus, (1) shall bee made manifest and visibly come from Heaven, a Judge and avenger of injuries. (2) The mighty Angels shall accompany him, who shall execute the sentence of the Judge, vers. 7. (3) Hee shall kindle a flaming fire, wherein this whole world shall burn. (4) Hee shall bee revenged of all those that are found destitute of saving knowledge (which is joyned with Faith and Obedience) and that have not obeyed the Gospel, vers. 8. (5) Then the wicked shall bee punished with everlasting destruction. (6) This punishment shall bee inflicted by an angry Judge, who shall eternally cast them out from his presence.
From his presence] (7) The Lord shall manifest to all how glorious his power is, by punishing them mightily: Therefore yee ought to bee comforted and confirmed in Faith.
Vers. 10. When hee shall come to bee glorified in his Saints, and to bee admired in all them that beleeve (because our testimony among you was beleeved) in that day.
Argum. 7. Of consolation, from those circumstances of the last judgement, which make the glorious and joyful redemption of the godly: For (1) In the same day wherein Christ will destroy his adversaries, hee will set at liberty his faithful ones, and especially you. (2) Hee will communicate his glory to the Saints, and will manifest his glory for their glorification. (3) His glory shall surpass all our hope and apprehension; for Christ shall bee admired in the greatness of his glory communicated. (4) Hee will shew his glory in all that beleeve, so that there shall bee no beleever, wherein Christ shall not bee admired: by the way hee gives the reason of this consolation applied to them, Because the Thessalonians had beleeved the Testimony of the Apostle preaching the Gospel: Therefore hee dare confidently apply the afore-said consolation to them, which indeed they shall finde in that day: Therefore, &c.
Vers. 11. Wherefore also wee pray alwaies for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of Faith with power.
Argum. 8. Of comforting and confirming them in Faith. Yee have our continual prayers, that yeee may happily attain your end: Therefore yee ought to bee comforted in your afflictions, and strengthened in Faith. There are four Articles of his prayer.
Artic. 1. I pray, that God, (who is ours by a free Covenant) would vouchsafe to make you meet for the vocation or glory whereunto you are called. This Article ascribes as well the glory unto which wee are called, to the grace or favour of God, as well as all the preparation which leads us to it.
And fulfil] Artic. 2. I pray that God would fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness according to his free bounty towards you. In which Article hee shews that not onelyonly salvation, but all means to salvation, are founded in the good pleasure of God, acknowledging nothing except the Grace of God in the whole course of salvation, and in all the parts of it.
And the work of Faith] Artic. 3. I pray, that God would compleat the work of Faith with power in you. In which Article hee affirms Faith to bee the work of God, which hee works in his, and hee determines the beginning, increase, and perfecting of Faith, as part of his good pleasure. Lastly, Hee shews that Faith is not onelyonly not a work of our power, but exceeds whatsoever can bee in us, and requires the power of God, without which it can neither bee begun, or continue, or bee increased, or compleated.
Vers. 12. That the name of our Lord Iesus Christ may bee glorified in you, and yee in him, according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Iesus Christ.
Art. 4. I pray that both in this life, and in that which is to come, Christ may bee glorified in you, as in his members, and yee may be glorified in him, as in your head, which is the end of the former Articles. Neither in this Article will hee have the grace of God concealed, but teaches that the whole glory which Christ receiveth from his, or which hee communicates to them, is to bee ascribed to the grace of God and Christ onelyonly; In all which the Thessalonians had no mean supports for their consolation and confirmation in the faith.
CHAP. II.
THe resolution of the Doubt concerning Christs coming follows.
There are two parts of the Chapter: In the first hee confutes the errour touching Christs last coming, whilst the Thessalonians were alive, to vers. 13.
In the other, hee confirms the faith of the Thessalonians.
Vers. 1. Now wee beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
An errour had crept in amongst the Thessalonians concerning Christs coming immediately, whilst they were alive, which errour the Devil cherished, that as for other causes, so also for this, that at leastwise after that age hee might expose the whole Christian Doctrine, together with this Article, to a mockery; therefore the Apostle admonishes them, that they suffer not themselves to bee moved from the sound sense and faith of this Article. In the mean while hee affirms two things, as most certain, whereof hee would not have them doubt: The first was, That Christ will come, as he had taught before, in his appointed time. The other was, It will come to pass that all the faithful should be gathered together from the four quarters of the world to meet the Lord: But hee beseeches them, if they would bee wise for themselves in that day, that they would have a care of that errour, whereof wee speak.
Vers. 2. That yee bee not soon shaken in minde, or bee troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Because Impostors did brag partly of some Revelations from the Spirit, partly some speech of the Apostle, which they affirmed they had heard, they did partly say, that it was manifested by the former Epistle written by the Apostle to the Thessalonians, as if in the fourth and fifth Chapters, hee had taught that Christ would come while they were yet alive, the Apostle commands to take heed, lest they should bee by this, or any like imposture deceived, troubled, or by any other means bee moved from the faith.
Vers. 3. Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin bee revealed, the son of perdition.
Hee gives a reason of his dehortation, Because Christ would not come before the Antichristian defection should bee, and Antichrist should bee revealed, the chief Captain and Patron of this Apostasie: Therefore it behoveth two things to precede Christs coming, a falling from the faith received (whereof 1 Tim. 4.1.) and the revelation of the chief or great Antichrist: That which concerns the falling away, hee doth not understand the falling away of one or a few, or of many in many Churches, for day by day in those times there were not a few Runagates from the tents of Christ, almost through all the Churches, and many followers of many errours; but hee understands the universal falling away of the external or visible Church; so that false opinions contrary to the Gospel should bee received, and openly defended, and that commonly in the visible Christian Church, by those that should boast in the name of Christians.
As concerning him, who should bee the head of this Apostasie, hee fore-tells that hee shall bee revealed by God, partly by permitting him to erect his Kingdome in his Church, and openly, and in very deed, shew himself to bee Antichrist, partly by making of him manifest by the Doctrine of the Gospel (which should make his impostures manifest, and open to all those that are unwilling to bee deceived) of which Antichrist, or head of Apostates, that hee may bee better discerned in his time by those that were circumspect, The Apostle propounds seven Articles, which are exactly to bee observed.
Art. 1. Contains the description, and nine Notes of Antichrist, all which, and every one, agree to none better, yea to none other than to the Pope of Rome, as it will appear by those that observe them.
Man] Note 1. Hee shall bee a Man, in spight of those that in favour of the Pope, feign, that the evil Spirit Antichrist is to come: Therefore hee is called foreign, a Man, both in nature and kinde, and foreign, The Man, in the singular number, that hee may shew that the famous, chief and great Antichrist in kinde so called, is described; He doth not only intimate some individual man, or a single person, but the series of shavelings that were to succeed in one seat, Heb. 9.7.25. foreign, The high Priest denotes the whole series or succession of Priests, and foreign, The man of God signifies not one Pastor, but the series of faithful Ministers; and that according to the stile of the Prophets when they speak concerning the order of Kings, as Dan. 7.2.
Of sin] Note 2. Hee shall bee the man of sin, as well because hee is a notable sinner, yea highly addicted to sin, as because both by fraud and impostures, and by force and tyrannical compulsion, hee was to bee the famous author of sinning unto others.
The son] Note 3. Hee shall bee the son of perdition, or the successor of Iudas the Traytor: For by this title Christ heretofore noted Iudas in the New Testament, Ioh. 17.12. which Iudas Antichrist resembles, partly in the assumed title of the Apostolical calling, partly by dissimulation, covetousness, cruelty, obstinacy, and final perdition, bringing destruction upon many, and principally upon himself, destroying others, and destroyed himself.
Vers. 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped: So that hee as God sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that hee is God.
Note 4. Hee will bee foreign, an Adversary, who really and indeed will bee opposite to God and his Ordinances, whatsoever hee pretends, hee will really prove and shew himself an Adversary, who will also oppose the Gospel of Christ in fundamentals, such the Apostles shews some of his fore-runners, 1. Cor. 16.9. For hee will bee an adversary to Christ himself, as to the carriage, offices, and benefits of Christ: Wee see that the Roman Bishop is such an one, who hath opposed himself against Christ more, and in more things, and more cruelly and subtilly: and longer than any one ever did.
Exalteth] Note 5. Hee exalteth himself by his pride above all that is called God, or every thing that is worshipped, i. e. above all Magistrates, Princes, Kings, and Emperours, who in Scripture are called Gods, or are worshiped as it were foreign August or illustrious, as Act. 25.21.25. & Psal. 82.1.
In the Temple] Note 6. Hee will bee in the Temple of God, or in the visible external Christian-Church, which will profess indeed the Faith of Christ, and vaunt himself to bee the Temple of God.
Sitteth] Note 7. Hee will sit in that society which profess themselves the Temple of God, i. e. hee will possess the publick Ecclesiastical office, the Episcopal seat or chair.
Note 8. Hee will sit in the Temple, hee will set himself over the Temple, hee will sit super-incumbent over the Church, arrogating to himself the chief seat, the preheminence, the Bishoprick, the Prelacy in the Christian-Church.
Shewing himself] Note 9. Hee will boast himself, as if hee was God, i. e. not thinking that hee is sufficiently exalted above the Common-wealth, and the Church of God, as the Prince and chief Governour thereof, hee will also indeavour to carry himself as God: partly by falsely boasting himself to have all the power of Christ communicated to him, and that hee is by delegation, the Vicar of Christ, i. e. Vice-Christ, or Antichrist, according to the signification of the Preposition, foreign, in the words, foreign, like to God, equal with God, and foreign, a Vice-Roy, partly by assuming the Titles which are prop…r to God, as the chief Pastor, or Prelate, the head of the Church, &c. which Titles are due onelyonly to Christ. Lastly, by arrogating to himself priviledges in Heaven, Earth, and Hell, which belong to God alone, such as now the Pontificians acknowledge without shame in the Romane Pope. About which things yee may read more at large in the controversies touching the Bishop of Rome amongst the writers of Controversies.
Vers. 5. Remember yee not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Artic. 2. Containing the certainty of this Prophecy, as that which the Apostle had taught before, and whereof, hee being present, had instructed the Thessalonians, and now being absent, hee repeats it, that hee may confirm the Truth, and may fasten it in their memory.
Vers. 6. And now yee know what with-holdeth, that hee might bee revealed in his time.
Artic. 3. Containing that which hindred the Revelation of Antichrist, whose spirit did then attempt to erect himself a Throne, but hee could not, because as yet the seat was not vacant, designed to receive the Throne of Antichrist, in that seven-hill'd City, Rome, as the Spirit of God describes, Apocal. 17.9. For the Romane Empire must bee taken away in the West: Caesar was to bee taken away from that City before Antichrist could bee revealed, wherein wee have also the Pontificians consent: Touching this hinderance, our Apostle in express words had before admonished the Thessalonians, and knew that they understood and remembred it, but the reasons were weighty, wherefore the Spirit of God was unwilling to express that hinderance to them in this Epistle: For it was not much matter to them that hee should discover it, nay, this mystery ought to bee kept secret from the world: Partly, that more easily the permission of this mystery of iniquity decreed by God might bee fulfilled: Partly, lest from hence hee should give any occasion of persecuting the Christians: For if the Emperors had understood that any one amongst the Professors of Christ, would erect unto themselves a Throne at Rome, and that hee should extinguish the Romane Empire, and that Emperour; All of them might have thought it very just to shew their cruelty against the whole name of Christ.
Vers. 7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: onelyonly hee who now letteth, will let, until hee bee taken out of the way.
Artic. 4. Containing, together with the imp…diment of the Revelation of Antichrist, the beginning of his falling away; or of Antichristianism, which is called here the mystery of iniquity: Because, as all Christianity, the Head whereof is Christ, is the great Mystery of Godliness, so all Antichristianism, whereof Antichrist is the Head, is the great Mystery of Iniquity. The Devil had before, from the beginning of the Gospel preached, spread abroad in the Church the seeds of this mystery, in ambition, covetousness, wickedness of teachers, in humane ceremonies, errours, and false Doctrine, and did now daily cherish, diligently indeavouring, that at length hee might erect openly the Kingdome of Antichrist, in the visible Church, under the colour of piety, but God putting a let, it did remain until when those things were written. The Romane Emperour did possess Rome, which was to bee the seat of Antichrist, and being vacant Antichrist would invade, and also assume to himself the dominion both of God and men.
Vers. 8. And then shall that wicked one bee revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his comming.
Artic. 5. It contains the visible Kingdome of Antichrist, or the beginning, middle, and end of his Kingdome.
What pertains to the beginning of his Kingdome, So soon as the Romane Empire, or the Romane Emperour shall bee removed from that which was to bee the seat of Antichrist, i. e. Rome, then in that City the Patron of Antichristianism will advance and discover himself, by exalting himself above all Laws, and that hee is bound to none, neither Civil nor Ecclesiastical, and also to have power in dispensing in divine matters, openly professing himself to bee foreign, that lawless one (whereof the Spirit of God had fore-told) this shall bee the manner of revealing him, and the beginning of the clear possession of his Kingdome. The Romane Pope hitherto doth boast himself to bee such an one from that time wherein Rome ceased to bee the seat of the Empire, who impudently doth break in peeces the bars of Laws, doth extol himself above right and the Laws, hee disanulls the Laws made by God, and doth dispence concerning them, as they say, and doth establish others in their stead, hee determines his will for reason, as the Orthodox have made manifest in their controversies: The Pontificians are not ashamed to confess these, and many other of the like sort concerning their Bishops, and publickly in their writings, so that there is no further need to enquire who hee is, that sits Antichrist in the Temple, or in the Visible Church, as to his Title, when wee know that the name foreign may signifie two things, according to the various acceptation of the Preposition foreign, viz. the Vicar of Christ, and the Adversary of Christ, and wee hear the Pope of Rome boasting himself Antichrist in one of these significations, i. e. professing himself the Vicar of Christ, but in the mean while wee apprehend, the same as it were in the very act, openly affirming himself to bee amongst Christians, that hee is neither subject to Civil nor Ecclesiastical Laws, but without blushing to profess himself above them: And whereas now it is manifest to the world that the authority of the Pope of Rome is by himself, and by his attendants, extolled above Scripture, or divine Laws, as to the constitution of the Canon, determination of the sense, judgement and deciding of controversies, dispensatian (as it is called) about divine commands, &c. shall wee doubt who hee is that sits lawless in the Temple of God, or amongst the Professors of Christian Religion? As to what concerns the second, or the possession of his Kingdome, Antichrist shall not possess his Kingdome without war, Christ shall fight against him with the sword of his mouth, i. e. by preaching of the Truth revealed in the Gospel, and by the power of his Spirit concurring with the Word.
As to the third, touching the end of Antichrists Kingdome, or the issue of his War and Kingdome. Christ will detect and confute the lyes of Antichrist, the deceits, wickednesses, tyranny, false interpretations, and allegations of Scriptures, and will by degrees demolish, consume, and waste his Kingdome, and at length will destroy and abolish it by the illustrious manifestation of his comming to the last general judgement.
Vers. 9. Even him whose comming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs, and lying wonders,
Artic. 6. Wherein hee resumes, and furthermore describes the rise and progress of Antichrist, his arms, arts, and helps, wherewith hee will acquire his Kingdome, and as much as hee can, will uphold it.
The first help is Satan, who will with his manifold crafts instruct Antichrist, and by him hee will strongly put forth his effectual power in the whole time of Antichrists dominion.
Signs] Help 2. His faculty of dissimulation or power of setting forth some miracles, with deceitful signs and wonders, used for the confirmation of their false opinions: In the Popish Legends, as they are called, thou mayest read a thousand such.
Vers. 10. And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness, in them that perish; because they received not the love of the Truth, that they might bee saved.
Help 3. All deceiveableness of unrighteousness, or all unjust or fraudulent deceit, such are false, counterfeit, or fawning Doctrines, sophistical disputations, the inticements of riches, honours, or dignities of this world, together with threatnings and terrors, the top and height of which deceit will bee in him, because hee will not openly or directly fight against Christ, but hee will set upon the matter secretly, and in an hidden manner, counterfeiting himself to act the cause of Christ, when, as much as hee can, hee subverts it.
Because] Artic. 7. Touching the subjects of Antichrist, and their perdition, and the causes thereof: The retinue of Antichrist, properly called his houshold, and familiars, are described to bee such as with obstinate minds stubbornly cleave unto him, even to the end, and in whom the Devil is very effectual. (1) From the property of Reprobates, They perish, they are of the number of those that perish. (2) From the meritorious cause of their perdition, because they receive not the Truth offered in the Word of God with love, that they might bee saved.
Vers. 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions, that they should beleeve a lye.
They are described (3) From the most just revenge of the Judge upon them, punishing sin with sin, and delivering them to bee blinded by the Devil, that they which have refused to behold light, and have renounced divine truth, should beleeve errors and delusions, the devices of men, most gross fables, and lyes, and so should perish.
Vers. 12. That they all might bee damned, who beleeved not the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
They are described (4) From their last condition, and from the meritorious cause of their condemnation, They shall bee all eternally damned at that last judgement, because they have not beleeved the plain truth of God, laid open in the Gospel, but with a full will have most unrighteously rested in the belief of lyes, and obedience to their carnal desires: And this is the issue of them, who obstinately cleave to the Bishop of Rome, and his errours, fore-told by the Spirit of God.
The Second Part.
Vers. 13. But wee are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, Brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the Truth.
The other part of the Chapter follows, wherein hee confirms (three waies) the Faith of the Thessalonians, lest they should bee moved by this sad Prophecy. (1) By thanksgiving in their behalf. (2) By an exhortation of them to constancy; and (3) By prayer for them: As for the first way in their thanksgiving hee produces three Arguments for the confirmation of their Faith.
Brethren, beloved] Arg. 1. Yee are our Brethren, comprehended with the same love of God with us: Therefore yee need not fear perishing with the Antichristian sect.
Chosen] Arg. 2. In his decree touching the end and saving means, God hath chosen you that yee may obtain salvation through Faith, and Sanctification by the Holy Ghost, as by means, whereby yee may attain salvation, freely appointed for you: Therefore, &c.
Vers. 14. Whereunto hee called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the Glory of the Lord Iesus Christ.
Arg. 3. God hath now effectually called you through the Gospel preached by mee, that yee may obtain glory purchased by Christ: Therefore there is no reason, that yee should bee moved by this sad Prophecy.
Vers. 15. Therefore, Brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which yee have been taught, whether by word, or our Epistle.
The second way of confirming their Faith, By an exhortation to constancy in the Faith, that they stand fast, and strongly maintain the traditions, or the Doctrines delivered to them by the Apostles, against all enemies, which Doctrines they had learnt, either by voice, whilst Paul was present, or by writing, as they had received in the former and this Epistle, and in other Scriptures.
Vers. 16. Now our Lord Iesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through Grace,
17. Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
The third way of confirming their Faith is, Prayer to God, that hee would effectually comfort their hearts, and stablish them in the Faith of the Gospel, or of all sound Doctrine, and in holiness of life. The Arguments of his praying and confirmation of their Faith are four.
Arg. 1. From the relation of God and Christ to them. Jesus Christ is our Lord, and God the Father, is our Father: Therefore hee will confirm us in the Faith, or will stablish you with us.
Hath loved] Argum. 2. Because God hath loved us.
Hath given] Argum. 3. Because God hath given us solid reasons of perpetual consolation, and right to all those which may everlastingly comfort us.
And hope] Argum. 4. Because God hath given us good hope, i. e. not onelyonly the best object of good hope, or the best reasons or causes of hoping well, but also a large measure, as to the habit of this hope, and because hee hath granted all these things to us out of his grace and meer favour, induced by none of our good deservings, which are none, or hindred by our evil deserts, which are great and many: Therefore hee will confirm you together with us, lest yee bee deceived by the errours of Antichrist, and perish.
CHAP. III.
HEe exhorts in this Chapter, partly expresly, partly indirectly, to some Christian duties, after which hee shuts up the Epistle. The Exhortations are seven.
Vers. 1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and bee glorified, even as it is with you:
Exhort. 1. That they ask these two things:
(1) That by the Apostles Ministry, the Gospel might bee speedily and fruitfully propagated, and bee magnified amongst other Nations, as it was magnified amongst them.
Vers. 2. And that wee may bee delivered from [unreasonable and wicked men: For all, men have not faith.
(2) That God would keep the Apostle, and deliver him from the snares of his enemies, who without all reason perversely opposed themselves against him: Hee gives the reason of their hostile minde, because many were destitute of true faith: Therefore that they might bee delivered from them, there was need of Divine assistance.
Vers. 3. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
Exhort. 2. Indirect, To confidence and courage of minde, lest being fore-warned touching the Infidelity and Apostacy of some, and hearing of the dangers which the Apostle underwent, they should bee shaken in minde, or some way made weaker: For which end hee would have them certified, and confirmed touching the purpose of God …wards them, viz. That hee will establish them in goodness, i. e. in faith and holiness, and will defend them from the evill, dangers, or temptations of Satan, and his instruments, whereof hee gives a reason, because that hee, who had effectually called them, is constant and faithful for the promoting his work, and compleating it in them.
Vers. 4. And wee have confidence in the Lord touching you, that yee both do, and will do the things which wee command you.
Exhort. 3. To the performance of obedience to Apostolical commands, which hee had given to them in the Name of the Lord, or should give. Hee propounds this Exhortation indirectly, by commending their readiness to obey, of which alacrity hee was already perswaded.
Vers. 5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Exhort. 4. To the love of God, and patience untill the Lords coming, folded in a prayer to the Holy Ghost, whom hee calls the Lord, praying for them, that the Lord would go before them in the way, and keep, and direct them in streight paths.
Vers. 6. Now wee command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ, that yee with-draw your selves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which hee received of us.
Exhort. 5. That they by Ecclesiastical censures would restrain the sluggish, and drones eating up the honey, and by fit course… would correct all that are imployed in no honest labour or business, but covered after other mens goods: The censure of these (the remedies of lighter censures and admonitions being premised) is excommunication: For hee forbids their being familiar with them, viz. after their rejection of private admonitions, and the publick sentence of the Church: And that they withdraw themselves from them, nor admit them to their society, which is the consequent of excommunication. The reasons of the Precept are five:
Reas. 1. Because this is the will of Christ, in whose authority hee comm…nds that.
Disorderly] Reas. 2. Is contained in the description of sin, because whosever lives disorderly, and not according to the rule of the Doctrine, delivered to the Church by mee, are to bee excommunicated.
Vers. 7. For your selves know how yee ought to follow us, for wee behaved not our selves disorderly among you.
8. Neither did wee …at any mans bread for nought: but wrought with labour and travel night and day, that wee might not bee chargeable to any of you.
Reas. 3. Because, hee that liveth disorderly, doth not carry himself according to my example, who have laboured day and night, that I might not bee burdensome to any one.
Vers. 9. Not because wee have not power, but to make our selves an ensample unto you to follow us.
The confirmation of the reason, by preventing an Objection, from that, that the Apostle might use his own liberty, and require wages due to him from them, yet hee of his own accord departed from his right, that he might propose an example to them: Therefore these sloathful Drones, profitable to none, were bound to work, that if they would not bee helpful unto others, at least-wise they should not bee burdensome to them.
Vers. 10. For even when wee were with you, this wee commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should hee eat.
Reas. 4. Because it is meet, that hee should not eat, who withdraws himself from honest labour, as I have heretofore advised you.
Vers. 11. For wee hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busie bodies.
Reas. 5. Wherein hee alleadges the cause why hee urges this Precept. Because sloathful idleness nourisheth busie curiosity, as they had sufficient testimony of it by some examples amongst themselves: For some known well enough to them worked not honestly in their affairs, but busie bodies, wandring up and down, were curious about the affairs of others, which did nothing belong to them.
Vers. 12. Now them that are such wee command and exhort by our Lord Iesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
For the sake of this idle sort of persons hee repeats and applies the Exhortation.
Vers. 13. But yee, brethren, bee not weary in well-doing.
Exhort. 6. Lest in the mean while they should bee weary of well-doing to them that had need (poor indeed, who were not brought to poverty by idleness, but by calamity) lest they waxe sloathful in the actions of any vertue, but go couragiously forward to do th…se things, which are decent and excellent.
Vers. 14. And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that hee may bee ashamed.
Exhort. 7. That they note the refractory, and brand them, that obey not the Apostolical doctrine, that is, that they excommunicate those, which is manifest from this, that hee commands that they have no society with him that is thus noted, which is the consequent of excommunication, and for this end commands that the excommunicate person, segregated from the society of others, being ashamed might enter into himself, and repent.
Vers. 15. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Hee expounds the Commandement, that they bee not cruel toward the excommunicated person, or esteem him as an enemy, but to shew their hatred to his sin, that the excommunicated person may understand that under that severe correction, there is brotherly love, and so hee may bee reduced into favour with God, and the Church, by repentance.
Vers. 16. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace alwayes, by all means. The Lord bee wi…h you all.
The Epilogue remains, whereof there are three Articles.
In the first hee praies the God of Peace so to direct their waies, and bridle the turbulent spirits of the disobedient, that they may injoy peace towards God, and amongst themselves, and with those that are without, which work did require a divine hand. Furthermore, hee praies that God by his gracious presence would bee alwaies present with them all.
Vers. 17. The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is the token in every Epistle: so I write.
Artic. 2. Contains the obsignation of the Epistle by the subscription of Paul himself, who for the most part did use the help of Scribes in writing the body of every Epistle, but hee subscribed the conclusion with his own hand, that his genuine Epistles might bee known from the adulterate and counterfeit, which were carryed about in the name of Paul, and by Impostors thrust upon the Churches.
Vers. 18. The Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ bee with you all. Amen.
Artic. 3. Contains the Apostolical vote set down by his own hand, wherein hee wishes the eternal influence of the Grace of Christ (as the fountain of all good things) to them, for their sanctification and salvation.