2 Thessalonians 1

The body may grow too great, as in the dropsy, but faith cannot grow too great. (2 Thessalonians 1:3) Your faith grows exceedingly; here was exceeding, yet no excess. As a man cannot have too much health, so not too much grace; grace is the beauty of holiness (Psalm 110:3).

First, temporal judgments (Leviticus 26:15-16). Second, eternal: Christ comes in flames of fire to take vengeance on them that obey not (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Such as break the golden chains of God's commands, God has iron chains to hold them, chains of darkness, in which the de…

(3.) Not to do God's will is dangerous; it brings a spiritual praemunire. If God's will be not done by us, he will have his will upon us; if we obey not God's will in commanding, we shall obey his will in punishing, (2 Thessalonians 1:7) The Lord Jesus shall be revealed with his…

They are able to do more than all men can. Therefore Paul calls them mighty angels (2 Thessalonians 1:7). Indeed their power is far superior to the power of the wicked angels, who since the fall are under them and can not prevail against them.

These are three sad sights indeed, and oh that my head were waters and my eyes fountains of tears, that I might weep abundantly over them all! For the first I would mourn heartily, considering that they (so continuing) must be damned eternally (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; 1 Corinthia…

Accordingly we find it termed the work of faith (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Which when God has fully wrought, and brought to that degree he aimed at in this life; (or to use the Apostle's own expression of it, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, when God has fulfilled the work of faith with power)…

When He shall be seen coming to judge slighters of Him, what horror will then rise in consciences when He shall appear and be avenged on them that were not obedient to this Gospel? As is most clear, (2 Thessalonians 1) when our Lord Jesus shall be revealed in flaming fire, with…

Look but to two or three words, that hold out the dreadful danger, and hazard of your condition, who are ignorant. The first is (2 Thessalonians 1): Christ will come in flaming fire, to render vengeance to all them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel. The second is (Hosea…

Say but with yourself, Oh! shall I weep, and gnaw my tongue for pain, in a sea of fire and brimstone? Do but fore-fancy, I pray you, how you shall look on it, what thoughts you will have, what you shall do, when you shall (2 Thessalonians 1:9) be punished with everlasting destru…

Answ. 1. We are to make believers know if they believe not, and walk not worthy of Christ, in all holy duties; their faith is a fancy, and a dead faith, and the wrath of God abides on them, and they are not believers. 2. Though they be believers, wrath must be preached to them,…

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us." Not love only, but the manner and the kind of the Father's love in Christ, is a world's wonder, and (2 Thessalonians 1:10) Christ when he comes shall be wondered at in them that believe. 2. Then again when we see, and e…

God in justification accounts us righteous in Christ, and positively guiltless, as freed from obligation to eternal wrath, and clothed with Christ's righteousness; but he accounts us not non-sinners and free from indwelling sin, that should be an unjust account, for we are not s…

When he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (2 Thessalonians 1:10) Christ shall be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe, all these places show we shall be partakers of this glory. 3. The manner; glorification takes not away…

To us Christians. Our religion is true — oh let us be true in the profession of it; otherwise it will little help us in the day of our accounts (2 Thessalonians 1:8), 'Taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.' You stand u…

1. Against all the miseries and afflictions of this present life, these are necessary, we would sleep too quietly in the world, if we did not sometimes meet with thorns in our beds, we should be so pleased with our entertainment in the way, as we should forget home; but God awak…

And every defect of the image of God, is a branch of original sin. And vengeance is the punishment of this sin (2 Thessalonians 1:8). It may be objected, that Paul here excuses the Galatians by their ignorance.

A time will come, wherein God will speedily turn our captivity, and our enemies in their turn shall be plagued to the utmost. For it is just with God (as Paul says) to render affliction to those which trouble you and to you that are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus sh…

It is needful therefore that in the deliverance thereof they should be chastised. According to which Paul says (2 Thessalonians 1:6) that it is a righteous thing with God to render vengeance to the enemies who unjustly afflict the faithful, and to give rest to the afflicted. Nei…

Afterward, when the time of their deliverance was accomplished, then he encountered with an outstretched arm, with the profane nations, and never ceased to give them diverse signs of his coming; by which he showed himself present to his people, and came in fire to judge his enem…

Therefore he will next consume and destroy it with fire: so that there shall then nothing appear but fire, as before there was nothing seen but water. Of this also Saint Paul says (2 Thessalonians 1): When the Lord Jesus shall show himself from heaven with his mighty angels, in…

So he speaks of the Triumphs of his Soul, 2 Corinthians 2:14. And of his glorying in [tribulations], 2 Thessalonians 1:4 and Romans 5:3. He also expresses the affection of Hope; in Philippians 1:20 he speaks of his [earnest expectation], and his Hope.

Though this Sylvanus appears to have been a very eminent Minister of Christ, and an Evangelist, and a famous Light in God's Church at that Day, and an intimate Companion of the Apostles. See 2 Corinthians 1:19, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, and 2 Thessalonians 1:1. PART 2.

Ephes. 6. 10. Phil. 3. 10. 2 Thess. 1. 9. and might do it from other places innumerable, although the first of these will not confirm what it is produced to give countenance to; Schlicting. de Trinitat. ad. Meisner. p. 605.

And (2.) it is called the New Man, because it is the Effect and Product of God's Creating Power, and that in a way of a New Creation; see Ephes. 1. 18. Col. 2. 12, 13. 2 Thess. 1. 11. and it is here said to be Created after God, v. 24. Now the Object of a Creating Act is an inst…

Know you not, that you are men and women condemned to wrath by the plain sentence of the Law? Mark 16:16 John 3:36 2 Thess. 1. 6, 7. And if so, ure there are other matters to exercise your thoughts, desires, fears and cares about than these. Alas! if you cannot bear a frown of P…

That he attain an Ascription, an Attribution of praise, and glory to himself upon their account. His design is to be admired in all them that believe, 2 Thessalonians 1:10. That is, that upon an apprehension of his Excellencies, which he has revealed, and as he has revealed them…

God spoke terribly by fire when London was in flames, of which in the application; but he will speak far more terribly when Babylon shall be in flames; and not only in part, but wholly, and utterly, and irreparably burnt and turned into ashes: when not only the city shall be con…

That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by Faith, that you being rooted and grounded in Love, may be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the Breadth etc. 2 Thessalonians 1:10. When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints, and admired in all them that believe.

So does grace thrive better, and grow faster in some persons than in others. Your faith grows exceedingly (2 Thessalonians 1:3). While the things that are in others are ready to die (Revelation 3:2).

Many of you put off all with this: God forgive us, we know no better. I renew my old answer: (2 Thessalonians 1) — the judge is coming in flaming fire with all his mighty angels, to render vengeance to all these that know not God and believe not. I have often told you security s…

Secondly, this reward, certainly it is that which is beyond all the expression that we have in Scripture of it: Great things are spoken in the word, but there is more to be revealed and to be enjoyed, then is yet revealed in all the Book of God, Isa. 64:4 For since the beginning…

God made rich promises to Moses, yet he could not be satisfied without the presence of God: If your presence be not with us, bring us not hence. And the Apostle, when he would set out the misery of those that are damned, in 2 Thess. 1:9 says the Text, They shall be punished with…

Hence Paul and Barnabas acquainted those new Converts, Acts 14:22. That through much tribulation, they must enter into the Kingdom of God: And we find the state of the Church, in this World, set out (Isaiah 54:11.) by the similitude of a distressed Ship at Sea: O you afflicted […

And all this out of such a condition as wherein it was impossible that it should enter into the hearts of angels or men how ever the glory of God should be repaired, and one sinning creature delivered from everlasting ruin. Hence it is said that at the last day God shall be glor…

He will miserably destroy them, and make such work with them in the issue, that whoever hears, both his ears shall tingle. 2. In eternal vengeance will he plead with the adversaries of his beloved (Matthew 25:41-44; 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Jude 15). It is hence evident, that Christ…

Answer: 1. It is no otherwise the work of the Spirit, but as all graces and good works which are in us, are his: he works in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). He works all our works in us (Isaiah 26:12); the work of faith with power (2 Thessalonia…

Then shall the music of that new song be full, when there is not one wanting of those that are appointed to sing it for eternity. In that day shall our Lord Jesus be glorified in his saints and admired in all them that believe (2 Thessalonians 1:10). You see what it is that the…

Secondly, He actuates these graces by putting good motions into our hearts, or sweet and gracious thoughts, whereby all the aforementioned graces are drawn out. When we are conflicting with sin in an hour of temptation, faith is set a-work; that God may fulfill all the good plea…

Grace wrought in us, is but a creature, and not to be preferred before the Creator. See how the Apostle prays, (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12) We pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work o…

We set up ourselves in the room of Christ, if he be not at the end of all. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12) That God might fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power, and that Christ may be glorified in you. If you have the power of Christ's kingdom…

So (John 14:21): "He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me." No love of Christ should encourage us to cast off duty, but continue it: he takes himself to be honored, when his people obey (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12): "Therefore also we pray always for you…

God is resolved to honor Christ's faithful servants (John 12:26): He that honors me, him shall my Father honor. He will honor us at death, that is our private entrance into heaven; but he will much more honor us, more publicly at the day of judgment, when we shall be owned (Reve…

Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will he teach sinners in the way: He begins, carries on, and completes their salvation. (2 Thessalonians 1:11) Therefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of his calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of…

Instruction in the ways of God in the text: you are good, and do good; teach me your statutes. And in short, all the means and helps that are necessary to everlasting glory (2 Thessalonians 1:11): Therefore also we pray always for you that God would count you worthy of this call…

Fifthly, another demonstration of the dreadfulness of this wrath shall be drawn from this consideration, that God will forever inflict it for the glorifying of his power on the damned. "What if God, willing to show his wrath and make his power known" (Romans 9:22) — "And they sh…

At the end of the world, the Angels will be the reapers, and will gather out all that does offend (Matthew 13:39-41). The Lord will come with his holy and mighty Angels to take vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalo…

More particularly 'tis called 1 Destruction (namely, moral destruction) not of man's being, but well being (2 Peter 2:12), they shall be taken, destroyed, and utterly perish: And (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) they shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the…

Repentance takes in many things; it's made up of sorrow and shame, confession and reformation, all and every of which speak sin's sinfulness: Repent, that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19). If sin be not blotted out, man is undone; his name will be blotted out of the Book…

It's the determination, he has [reconstructed: fixed it] as a conclusion beyond control (Hosea 4:14): The people that do not understand, shall perish. It's the last execution he will put forth (2 Thessalonians 1:8): He will come in flaming fire; rendering vengeance to them that…

[reconstructed: But] when God shall awaken conscience, and quicken [reconstructed: it], and renew the commission in the hand of [reconstructed: it], so that it comes enlightened and armed with [illegible] from Heaven, he then makes open [illegible] to the sinner, forewarns and t…