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CHAP. I.
Ver. 1. PAul and Sylvanus, and Timotheus, unto the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Fa∣ther, 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 no∣thing said as touching the authority of the Apostle, nei∣ther in the former Epistle, because they were all confirm∣ed sufficiently in this Church concerning Pauls Apostle∣ship; onely mentioning their communion with the one∣ly 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 ad∣ministers to them comfort against all the rage of perse∣cutors, 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 a∣bounding 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 suf∣fer, is so much, that I am compelled to praise you, be∣fore 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 suf∣fer.
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 re∣compence 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 ju∣stice will punish in the day of judgement, your perse∣cutors, and will set you at liberty from all evil: There∣fore yee ought to bee comforted, and strengthened in Faith.
With us] Argum. 5. Yee shall at length obtain, to∣gether 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 circumstan∣ces of the last judgement, which makes the revenge ter∣rible, that shall bee taken upon them. The Lord Jesus, (1) shall bee made manifest and visibly come from Hea∣ven, a Judge and avenger of injuries. (2) The mighty Angels shall accompany him, who shall execute the sen∣tence of the Judge, vers. 7. (3) Hee shall kindle a fla∣ming 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 Obe∣dience) 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 migh∣tily: Therefore yee ought to bee comforted and confirm∣ed 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 joy∣ful 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 mani∣fest 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 consola∣tion applied to them, Because the Thessalonians had be∣leeved the Testimony of the Apostle preaching the Gos∣pel: 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 Ar∣ticle ascribes as well the glory unto which wee are cal∣led, to the grace or favour of God, as well as all the pre∣paration 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 onely salvation, but all means to salvation, are foun∣ded in the good pleasure of God, acknowledging nothing except the Grace of God in the whole course of salva∣tion, 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 begin∣ning, increase, and perfecting of Faith, as part of his good pleasure. Lastly, Hee shews that Faith is not one∣ly not a work of our power, but exceeds whatsoever can