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6 Salt is an emblem of wisdom. As salt preserves food for the service of man, so holiness fits the heart for the service of God.

are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow- 8 In the midst of his own troubles, servant in the Lord: whom as a prisoner, St. Paul continues to I have sent unto you for the provide for the comfort of others. same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him :) 11 and Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

11 Faithful friends and fellow workers are ever a minister's valued comfort.

16 As you hear this Epistle read now, so was it read aforetime, in the congregation of the faithful.

Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the
Thessalonians.

CHAPTER I.

MARCH 10, JULY 9, Nov. 5.

'PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is

unto you,

1 St. Paul wrote this Epistle; but he declares the sentiments of Silvanus and Timotheus also.

2 To pray for his people was St. Paul's habitual consolation.

in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; know

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3 He rejoiced to witness the living faith of his people, and their praetical piety.

patience of hope in our Lord + Elected to receive the Gospel of Christ.

ing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, 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. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in Holy Ghost: so that ye were Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but God-ward is spread abroad; thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of in a new life. entering in we had unto you, idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Though afflicted and persecuted. they had peace by the Spirit of God. The same peace is yours. much affliction, with joy of the ensamples to all that believe in 8 Their changed life proclaimed, eloquently but unostentatiously, the power of the word of God. also in every place your faith to so that we need not to speak any 9 A renewed heart was evidenced

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and how ye turned to God from

10 They sustained their faith by the new and bright hopes of final recompense at the bar of Christ's judg

ment.

CHAPTER II.

MARCH 11, JULY 10, Nov. 6.

FOR yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you,

that it was not in vain: 2 but even after that we had suffered before, and were shame

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2 Many a difficulty the preacher of the Gospel contends against, for the sake of those entrusted to his care.

fully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile : 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. 5 For neither at any time used we

4 We preach boldly and guilelessly, for though we strive to benefit you, our aim is to please God. bear with us!.

Then

5 Thus an oath-or calling God to witness-is lawful on solemn occasions.

flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God

is witness: 6 nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when

6 He asserts his right to be supported by the Church, though he waives the right. (See 1 Cor. ix. 15.)

we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 so being affec

tionately desirous of you, we were willing to have impart

8 St. Paul thus strongly expresses his deep and ardent affection for them.

ed unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gos- 10 What a blessing is it to have a pel of God. 10 Ye are wit- clear conscience!

unto his kingdom and glory.

nesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 He reminds us that election 12 that ye would walk worthy saveth not without holiness. of God, who 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

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So, my reader, receive thou the word "with pure affection." Our lips utter the words-but, remember! they are the words of God!

that believe. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judæa are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 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 forbid ding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. 17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not abundantly to see your face

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with great desire. Where

16 This was awfully fulfilled in the forthcoming destruction of Jerusa lem, about eight years subsequently. to fill up their sins alway: for 17 St. Paul fled from Thessalonica to Berea, and was prevented from returning.

in heart, endeavoured the more

18 The persecutors of the Church and of her ministers are considered fore we would have come unto by St. Paul as the agents of Satan you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

Thus the ministers of Christ humbly trust that they and their spiritual charge may meet at his judgment seat, and share together their rejoicing and their crown.

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CHAPTER III.

MARCH 12, JULY 11, Nov. 7.

3 Jesus has told us we must have

tribulation. Art thou then a child of sorrow Be not moved from thy faith! (John xvi. 33.)

WHEREFORE When we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 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: that no man should be moved by these afflictions for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 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. 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. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and

6 What a noble
warmth of heart!

tions forgotten for
faith failed not !

bearing! what His own affe

joy that their

that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly

to see us, as we also to see you: 'therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10 night 10 St. Paul never wearies in prayer. and day praying exceedingly As trials accumulate, he is but more that we might see your face, importunate.

7 Reader, this is the feeling of your minister's heart towards you. He lives in joy, if you live in faith.

and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 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 toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 to the end he may stablish your hearts un

12 If the advent of Christ was to bring glory to God, it was also to bring peace on earth-good-will to

wards men.

13 If men look to the coming of Christ in judgment, how can their hearts not be unblameable and holy?

blameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

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CHAPTER IV.

MARCH 13, July 12, Nov. 8.

then we A Christian must be always advancing in holiness. He can never be so good but that he must strive

to be better.

FURTHERMORE beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

God, even your sanctification, that ye

For this is the will of

should abstain from fornication that every one of you should know how to pos

:

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sess his vessel in sanctification and honour: not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 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. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holi

idolatries the most licentious prac5 The Gentiles mingled with their tices.

6 To overreach our neighbour by cunning is a sin against God.

ness.

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man,

8 Do not despise the counsel of your teachers, lest you despise God. but God, who hath also given

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