16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.12

18 In every thing give thanks :13 for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 *Prove11 all things; hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.15 23 And the very h God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I

pray God your whole spirit and

12 Pray without intermission. Rh. Leave not off praying. Pu. every thing be thankful, &c. Pu. 14 Examine. Ma. Bi. Gen. suspicious things. Co. Ma. every sort of evil. Ham.

z See on Roм. xii. 12; and on Acts, v. 41.

a

13 At

15 all

1 PET. iv. 7: But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. See on LUKE, Xviii. 1. b See on Roм. i. 8.

c1 Cor. xiv. 30: If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. See on EPH. iv. 32. d1 COR. xiv. 30. The words under ver. 19. do. xiv. 1, 39: Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.-Covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

e See on 1 Cor. ii. 11, 15.

PHI. iv. 8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

8 ISA. xxxiii. 15, 16: He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppres sions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. 1 THES. iv. 12.

h See on ROм. xv. 33.

i See on 1 COR. i. 8.

* 1 Cor. vi. 20: Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. do. vii. 34: The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. GAL. vi. 18: The grace of our Lord

soul and body 16 be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.17

n

25 Brethren, " pray for us.

26 ° Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. 27 I charge 18 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.19

¶ The first epistle unto the Thessalonians was written from Athens.

16 whole constiution, spirit, &c. Dod. 17 perform that. Pu. 18 adjure. A. V. 19 so let it be. Pu.

Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (Repeated PHILE. 25.) 2 TIM. iv. 22: The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit.

1 COR. i. 8: Who shall alsó confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. m See on 1 COR. i. 9.

" See on ROM. xv. 30. See on Roм. xvi. 16. P See on COL. iv. 16.

9 See on Roм. xvi. 20, 24.

THE

SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE

Thessalonians.

THIS second epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Corinth, a little time after the first, and probably at the end of the year 52. In this St. Paul animates the Thessalonians "against the fears occasioned by a false interpretation of a passage in his first epistle, as if he had said, that the day of the Lord was at hand. He exhorts them to continue stedfast in the doctrine he had taught them, and to suffer with constancy under persecution. He reproves, more vehemently than before, those who lived in idleness and vain curiosity; he would have the rest notice these people, and separate from them, that

at least they might be ashamed of their trifling, and reform their conduct. He signs the letter with his own hand, and desires them to mark it well, that they might not be imposed on by letters written in his name that were not genuine, and by which the Thessalonians had perhaps formerly been deceived.

CHAP. I.

1 Saint Paul certifieth them of the good opinion which he had of their faith, love, and patience; 11 and therewithal useth divers reasons for the comforting of them in persecution, whereof the chiefest is taken from the righteous judgment of God.

A. D. 54. PAUL, and a Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

e

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the

a See on 1 THES. i. 1..

CHAP. I.

b 1 THES. i. 1: Unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

• See on ROM. i. 7.

d2 THES. ii. 13. See on Roм. i. 8.

I THES. i. 8: For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only 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. do. iii. 6, 9: Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God? f2 COR. vii. 14: If I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. do. ix. 2: I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 1 THES. ii. 19, 20: What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

churches of God for your patience and faith in ball your persecutions and tribulations that ye

endure :

i

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted 2 worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

m

6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled "rest with us,

1 THES. i. 3: Remembering 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.

h1 THES. ii. 14: 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. JAMES, v. 11: Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

PHI. i. 28: And in nothing terrified by your adversaries : which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

* See on LUKE, XX. 35.

11 THES. ii. 14: The words under ver. 4. HEB. X. 32, 33 : But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

m ZEC. ii. 8: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. MAT. xvi. 27: Then shall he reward every man according to his works. REV. vi. 10: They cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

n HEB. iv. 9, 10: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. REV. vi. 11: It was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren,

when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,3

8 In P flaming fire taking 4 4 vengeance on them

3 Gr. the angels of his power. A. V. yielding. A. V.

that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. do. xiv. 13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours. See on ROM. viii. 18.

• See on ACTS, i. 11.

P EXOD. xix. 18: Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. do. xxiv. 17: The sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. LEV. x. 2: There went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, [Nadab and Abihu,] and they died before the LORD. NUMB. XVI. 35: There came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. DEUT. iv. 24: The LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. do. ix. 3: Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them. Ps. xcvii. 3: A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. ISA. lxvi. 15: Behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. EZEK. xxxvi. 5: Thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen. DAN. vii. 9: I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sithis throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. ZEP. i. 18: Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy. do. iii. 8: All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. HEB. X. 27: A certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. do. xii. 29 Our God is a consuming fire. 2 PET. iii. 7: The heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and dition of ungodly men. REV. xxi. 8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

per

9 Deut. xxxii. 41, 43: If I whet my glittering sword, and