nicating to the world, or the blessings of the Gospel, which at different times are called grace, the grace of God, and the grace of Christ.

The apostle's wish or prayer, therefore, in the text, for the Thessalonians, signifies the same thing as if he had said; May all the blessings of the Gospel be yours! a devout wish, which it was very proper to express at the close of this and other epistles, written for the purpose of establishing their faith in the Gospel, or of correcting some errours into which they had fallen respecting it.

His words imply, that the blessings for which he prays were, in his estimation, of great value; that his friends were in danger of being deprived of them, or at least of having their value greatly impaired. If such were the meaning of the words when origi, nally used, I believe it will be found that the prayer may be offered with equal propriety for Christians of the present day, on the same ground.

I. The apostle's wish implies, that the blessings which were the object of it were, in his estimation, of great value.

His words are the farewel address of a friend to those whom he esteemed and loved; his wish at parting, when it is usual for men to sum up, in a few words, the substance of their wishes, or the most important of the blessings which they desire. It is as if he had said: "I have now finished what I proposed to say, and am about to take my leave of you, never perhaps to address you any more, My

heart overflows with affection for you at this moment. I am anxious to express my regard in the best manner I am able; and I find, that the best wish I can form for you is, that you may continue to possess the blessings of the Gospel in their full extent and efficacy, without any doubt of their divine origin and happy tendency, without any mixture of human inventions. If this wish should be gratified, there will remain nothing for me to ask, or for you to enjoy your happiness will be complete. Others may wish you health and temporal prosperity in these circumstances; but my desires extend to more important objects. If the grace of God in Christ be with you, you will have something of more value praying for this blessing for you all, I conclude my letter."

The blessings of the Gospel are, in the apostle's regard, well entitled to this superiority over every other good which they had obtained; for they were the grace of God bringing salvation, that is, spiritual deliverance from the most unhappy condition. It rescued the heathen from the worship of deities, who had all the vices and passions of human nature in the worst state, whose favour was to be obtained by rites the most absurd and superstitious, the most cruel and licentious; by practices, which could not fail to debase the mind, and corrupt the character of the worshipper in the highest degree; and it introduced him to the knowledge of one God, the great creator and governor of the universe, whose nature

is perfect, and whose favour is to be obtained only by genuine piety of heart, by purity and righteousness of life. It rescued him from the uncertainty and darkness which hung over his future prospects, and gave him a clear and well founded hope of a resurrection from the dead to immortal happiness, as the reward of sincere although imperfect virtue. A better hope than this, more consoling to the mind, more powerfully animating to the faithful discharge of every personal and relative duty, a frail and mortal creature could not possible enjoy. Enlightened by such discoveries, and instructed by the excellent examples of Jesus and his apostles, the heathen enjoyed the best means of improving and perfecting his character in religious virtue, of securing permanent tranquillity of mind now, and of preparing himself for eternal felicity hereafter.

The Gospel of Christ was, therefore, in the apostle's idea, a pearl of great price, a prize of inestimable value, the best foundation of morals, the only ground of hope of a future existence. He, therefore, prays for the Thessalonians, that this blessing may be theirs. Nor is it of less value to us; nor is the same prayer less necessary at this time than at any other period. The Gospel is still the best guide and surest consolation to man. We see, from many modern examples, that those who give up their belief of it leave themselves without any certain rule of morals, abandon the hopes of a future life, and plunge into the darkness of atheism. If

the moral characters of all do not immediately suffer, it is owing to previous habits founded on a better system. So far as their new principles operate, they lead to the most fatal consequences. Whenever this benediction is pronounced, then, let Christians remember, that it is intended to remind them of the inestimable value of their faith.

II. The apostle's prayer was founded on the apprehension, that his friends were in no small danger of losing the advantage of these blessings, either by apostacy, or neglecting to improve them.

He was aware, that the temptations, to which the Thessalonians were exposed to desert Christianity, were many and powerful. The religion of the heathen, however absurd in itself, was recommended by the veneration, which is usually attached to whatever is ancient. It allowed a free indulgence to the various passions, and injoined no moral duties of painful performance; but Christianity was a new religion, without any pompous rites to strike the imagination, and with nothing to recommend it but the simplicity of truth. It strictly forbad all immoral actions and every criminal desire; it injoined duties, which, however reasonable and easy in themselves, were painful and difficult to those, who had been accustomed to practices of an opposite nature. To these internal discouragements were added many of an external nature. To continue with the Christians was to continue with the small, despised, and persecuted party, The Jews had

sometimes influence enough to excite the populace against them. This was the case at Thessalonica ; and Paul was actually obliged to withdraw from that city in consequence of the opposition which they raised against him. But the heathen were of themselves sufficiently disposed to the work of persecution. It was a settled maxim with them, that the prosperity of the state depended upon the ob servance of the rites and ceremonies, which were employed in heathen worship. While they were maintained, the Gods, for whose honour they were intended, it was supposed would be pleased, and testify their satisfaction by granting them healthful and fruitful seasons; but whenever they were neglected, it was imagined, that the Gods manifested their displeasure by visiting the people with war, pestilence, or fa mine, or some other great national calamity. Chris. tians, therefore, who forsook the ancient rites and encouraged others to do so likewise, were considered as guilty of a civil crime, and regarded as enemies to their country. Hence the violence, with which they were persecuted in all heathen states, whenever their numbers became so great as to excite alarm, and that even under some of the mildest and most enlightened princes and governors, death being inflicted upon all, who were proved to be Christians, although guilty of no crime.

Whether it were owing to the Jews, or the ope ration of this more general principle, it is certain, that the Thessalonians were exposed to severe trials