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…

I speak as a man, God forbid! for then how shall God judge the world? (2 Thessalonians 1:6) It is a righteous thing with God, to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. (Hebrews 12:29) For our God is a consuming fire, from (Deuteronomy 4:24).

So that God judges the world by Jesus Christ; and although it be a great comfort to Believers, that they shall be judged by Christ, because he who is their Judge, is also their Savior, and they could not be made partakers in the imputation of his righteousness without his knowle…

And this worship is called natural, upon a double account. First, because it depends on the nature of God, a due perception and understanding whereof, makes all this worship indispensibly necessary: for none can know God, but it is his duty to glorify him as God, that is, to bel…

And the Lord Christ has not left that as a matter of liberty, choice or conveniency, which he has made the foundation of the due manner of the performance of all those duties whereby his disciples yield obedience to his commands, to his glory in the world. Sixthly, the principal…

Q. What is the eternal misery? A. Damnation and destruction in another world (2 Thessalonians 1:9; John 5:29). Q. Wherein does that consist?

Q. What shall be the last act of this glorious power and authority of Christ, and so the last degree of his exaltation? A. His return to judgment at the last day, when he shall come a second time into this world with unspeakable majesty and glory, to judge the quick and dead (2…

For 3. As to the outward manner of this judgement it shall be with solemnity and great glory (2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8, 9, 10, Jude 14, 15, Daniel 7:9, Revelation 20:4, 5). And this shall be partly for the demonstration of the glory and honor of Jesus Christ, who has been so despi…

He that believes not shall be damned. And although they shall also perish to whom the Gospel is not preached (Romans 2:12), yet the Gospel though it speaks not exclusively to others, yet principally it declares the inevitable destruction, the everlasting damnation of them who be…

But that is not the fire that is here intended. It is devouring, consuming, destroying, such as answers the severity of God's justice to the utmost, as Isaiah 9:5; chapter 30:33; chapter 66:15; Amos 7:4; Matthew 18:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Psalm 11:7; Deuteronomy 32:22. Therefore…

That the Lord Christ shall assuredly come to that judgment, is that which they principally resolve their satisfaction into. See (2 Thessalonians 1:6, 7, 8, 9, 10). 1. It is essential to faith to be acted on the promised coming of Christ to all that look for his appearance.

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.

6. In Heaven there is a perfect peace; In the new Jerusalem all is quiet. 'Tis just with God to give you that are troubled [illegible], rest (2 Thessalonians 1:7). And there is a rest that remaineth for the children of God (Hebrews 4:9), there we rest both from our sorrows and o…

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)…

The second, which requires concerning ourselves. This teaches, that first and chiefly, we must desire all things to God's glory, above our own salvation, and that the other must be asked to that end, as depending on it, and no further, than as it may serve to his glory, which is…

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…

If you say, you have fellowship with Christ, you ought also to walk as he walked (1 John 1:6). 3. Do nothing that may any way blemish this holy calling of yours; this the Apostle presses (2 Thessalonians 1:11): We pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this…

8. Lastly, the ministry of Angels respects the general resurrection and day of judgment. The Lord Christ is every where described coming to judgment at the last day, attended with all his holy and glorious Angels (Matthew 24:31; Chapter 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8; Jude 14:15)…

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).

2. In the eternal kingdom; into which the righteous shall be received, and partake in the everlasting vision of God, these shall then be excluded (Matthew 8:12): The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness. We observed that the word signifies, a settled con…

2. Few know the sorrow and sadness of an absent husband: every wind is blessed in the wife's thought that blows where he is; every ship that is thought to carry him home is a ship of desire; the earth is loved that he walks on; the house blessed that he lodges in; and when the h…

5. His actings are in matter of lots that seem to be ruled by fortune and chance (Proverbs 16:33; Genesis 49; Deuteronomy 33, compared with Joshua 14:1, 2, 3). 6. Especially in bowing the free will, and determining all the actions of evil angels (1 Kings 22:21, 22, 23; Job 1:6,…

And also verse 20. They are then rightly called the Angels of the Lord Jesus (2 Thessalonians 1:7), for they cover their faces (it is no blushing for sin) and their feet with wings (Isaiah 6) while they stand before and see the face of their sovereign and high Master; and so it…

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…

For to them we are enabled by grace. One end of his illustrious coming to the judgment of the last day is, that he may be admired in all them that believe (2 Thessalonians 1:11). Even believers themselves shall be filled with an overwhelming admiration upon his glorious appearan…

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…