With which the Epiftle concludes. 393 Sect. 8. Ver. 21. themselves, with all their Plenitude of Inspiration did not think it beneath them to do. But they, who thus candidly enquire, and are determined to hold fast what is truly good, knowing how excellent an Office the Miniftry is, knowing how much the Edification of the Church depends upon it, will efteem those that bear it very highly in Love, for their Works Sake, and in whatever Instances they may be constrained, by what they judge to be the Evidence of Truth, to differ from their Brethren, or even from their Teachers, will be folicitous to maintain Harmony and Love in the Societies to which they belong, as it becomes them to do, who are the Disciples of that Wisdom from above, which hath Ver. 13. taught them infeparably to connect their Regards to Purity and Peace. The END of the FAMILY EXPOSITOR on the. FIRST EPISTLE to the VOL. V. Ddd The The Family Expofitor: OR, A PARAPHRASE ON THE SECOND EPISTLE O F PAUL the APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. WITH Critical NOTES, and a practical IMPROVEMENT of each SECTION. D d d 2 Ι T has been already obferved, that the first Epistle to the Theffalonians was written from Corinth, about the Year of our Lord 52; and as Timothy and Silas appear, from the Infcription of this fecond Epifle, to have been ftill with the Apoftle, it has generally been concluded, that he wrote it, while he continued in the fame City, and not long after the former. (See Vol. iii. §. 41. Note (i). The general Defign of it is to confirm the Theffalonians in their Christian Profeffion, and to comfort them under the Sufferings, to which they were expofed. Befides which, the Apostle fets himself to rectify some mistaken Apprehenfions they feem to have entertained about the Coming of Chrift; and to direct them in the Exercife of Chriftian Difcipline towards fome irregular Members of the Society. This Epiftle, (which, like the former, bears St. Paul's Name, with thofe of Timothy and Silas, in the Infcription,) begins with a devout Acknowledgment to God, for the eminent Attainments which: the Theffalonians had made in Religion, and particularly for the Zeal and Fidelity, with which they adhered to the Chriftian Cause in the Midft of Perfecution. To fupport and animate them under their Trials, the Apole reminds them of the diftinguished Honour, that would be conferred on all the Saints, at the Coming of Chrift, and the |