1 Thessalonians 3

19,20. Every Gentile convert was a jewel in his crown. Again and again he asseverates that he mentions them without ceasing in his prayers. Though himself a prisoner, he exclaims, “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?” Contemplate here the true temper of the missionary. To such a one, life will seem a rapid current, for it will be filled with the haste of fervid action. Oceans will become mere straits to such a zeal. The place, the circumstances of labor, will be mere dust on the balance. So that the gospel be preached, it will matter little in what language or amid what dangers. The preacher thus fired will hence be able to fly from the impulsive thought of his own unworthiness and the glory of the gospel. J. W. A.

It was divine love and mercy which made sacred truth so pleasant to me, that my life, under all my infirmities, has been almost a constant recreation. How far beyond my expectation has a merciful God encouraged me in his sacred work, choosing every place of my ministry and abode to this day, without my own seeking, and never sending me to labor in vain? How many are gone to heaven, and how many are in the way, through a divine blessing on the word which in weakness I delivered? Baz.—My heart hath been so wrapped up in the glory of this excellent work, that I counted myself more blessed and honored of God by this, than if he had made me emperor of the Christian world or the lord of all the glory of the earth without it. Bun.—He who at the great day will have for his crown of rejoicing tens, or hundreds, or thousands, to whom many others were “teachers,” but only he a “father”—he rises to such joy and dignity that he may look back upon the best and most honored of God’s ancient servants, and feel that, in comparison with them, he has only to be thankful for his own more blessed lot. His crown and his prize are the highest to which man may aspire. How close the servant is brought to the Master! The Master is Saviour, the servant the instrument of saving! Arthur.

1. WHEREFORE when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens 2 alone; and sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the 3 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. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; 5 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 6 be in vain. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly 7 to see us, as we also to see you: therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all 8 our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For 9 what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your 10 sakes before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and 11 might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself and our Father, and 12 our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and 13 abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

“STAND fast in the Lord.” Christians are “saved” and “sanctified in Christ”; are “rooted, built up,” and “made perfect in Christ.” Their faith, hope, love, joy, their whole life, is “in Christ.” They think, they speak, they walk “in Christ.” They labor and suffer, they sorrow and rejoice, they conquer and triumph “in the Lord.” They receive each other and love each other “in the Lord.” The fundamental relations, the primal duties of life, have been drawn within this all-embracing relation. The influence of