+I. To debar the Lord's people from acquainting themselves with
Scripture is a great sin.+--Scripture should be translated into the
native tongue of every nation where Christ has a Church, that people
may read it, hear it, and be acquainted with it. They ought
diligently to improve all helps to acquaint them with the mind of God
revealed in Scripture and look upon their doing so as a duty of
greatest importance and weight.
+II. Ministers and Church guides should see that the people of their
charge be acquainted with Scripture.+--Should invite them to read it
in secret and in their families, and use their influence that
children of both sexes be trained up at schools to read the Lord's
words distinctly in their own native language.
+III. Scripture should be publicly read to God's people assembled
together for His worship.+--Even though not immediately expounded and
applied, the reading of God's Word allows it to speak for itself and
impress its own Divine authority.--_Fergusson._
* * * * * * * *
+Transcriber's Notes+
- Page 483, Introduction, apply RC to "Gospel."
- Page 484, Contents, apply RC to "Gospel."
- Page 485, notes on chapter i., verse 1, apply RC to "Gospel."
Verse 5, apply RC to "Gospel." Verse 8, apply RC to "Word"
(twice). Verse 10, change "Lord's return" to "lord's," referring
to the traveler spoken of in the parable.
- Page 486, lesson "Phases," introduction, apply RC to "Gospel."
Point I, change "first person plural" to "first-person plural";
apply RC to "Divine." Point II 1, apply RC to "Divinely"; add
"John xvii. 21" reference; apply RC to "Divine" (thrice), "Word,"
and "Divine." Point II 2, apply RC to "Divinely."
- Page 487, same lesson, point III 1, change "finding i#" to
"finding it"; add comma to "So our." Point III 2, apply RC to
"Divine"; add "Eph. ii. 15" reference. Application ("Lessons"),
point 1, apply RC to "Gospel."
- Page 488, lesson "Thanksgiving," introduction, remove comma from
"epistles, and." Point I 1, add comma to "sees and"; add "James
ii. 26" reference. Point I 4, apply RC to "Divine."
- Page 489, same lesson, point II, remove comma from "God, and."
Point III, apply RC to "Gospel."
- Page 490, lesson "Gospel," introduction, apply RC to "Gospel."
Point I, apply RC to "Gospel" (twice). Point I 1, apply RC to
"Victim" and add "Isa. liii. 3" reference. Point I 2, apply RC to
"Divine." Point I 3, apply RC to "Gospel's," "Divine," and "Gospel
Word." Each of points II and II 1, apply RC to "Gospel."
- Page 491, application ("Lessons"), point 1, apply RC to "Gospel,"
"Word," and "Gospel." Point 2, apply RC to "Gospel" (twice). Germ
note, each of points I, I 1, I 2, and II, apply RC to "Gospel."
Point III 4, apply RC to "Word." Lesson "Practical Result,"
introduction, apply RC to "Divine." Point I, apply RC to "Gospel,"
"Word," and "Gospel." Point I 1, apply RC to "Word."
- Page 492, same lesson, point I 2, apply RC to "Word" and "Gospel."
Point II, apply RC to "Gospel." Point II 2, apply RC to "Word" and
"Gospel" (twice); remove comma from "Sea, and." Application
("Lessons"), point I, apply RC to "Gospel."
- Page 493, "Evidences" note, point IV, apply RC to "Gospel."
"Power" note, point I, apply RC to "Gospel." Lesson "Conversion,"
point I, apply RC to "Gospel." Point I 1, apply RC to "Divine"
(twice). Point I 2, apply RC to "Deity."
- Page 494, same lesson, application ("Lessons"), point 3, apply RC
to "Gospel" and "Divinely." "Wrath to come" note, point I, apply
RC to "Divine."
- Page 495, notes on chapter ii., verse 3, apply RC to "Gospel."
Verse 4, apply RC to "Gospel" (twice). Verse 5, add em-dash before
poem; add left double quotes to poem.
- Page 496, notes on chapter ii., verse 10, change "unblamably" to
"unblameably." Verse 13, apply RC to "Word." Verse 15, in the Luke
quotation, move the right double quote from after "Son" to after
"off." Verse 18, remove comma from "one, and." Lesson "Essential
Elements I," introduction, apply RC to "Gospel."
- Page 497, same lesson, introduction, apply RC to "Divine." Point
I, apply RC to "Divine" and "Gospel"; remove comma from
"invectives, or"; add "Matt. xxiii. 33" reference; apply RC to
"Gospel." Point II, apply RC to "Gospel." Point III, apply RC to
"Divinely" and "Divine"; remove comma from "God, and"; apply RC to
"Divine"; add "Jer. xx. 9-11; Jer. i. 7" and "Phil. iv. 13"
references.
- Page 498, germ note, each of points I and II 1, apply RC to
"Gospel." Point II 3, change "His" to "his," referring to Paul.
Lesson "Essential Elements II," in each of introduction and points
I 2, I 3, II 1, apply RC to "Gospel." Point II 2, apply RC to
"Divine" and "Gospel."
- Page 499, same lesson, point II 2, apply RC to "Divine"; add
"2 Cor. ii. 17" reference. Point II 3, change "cloak" to "cloke"
to match A.V. text. Application ("Lessons"), point 2, apply RC to
"Divine."
- Page 500, lesson "Essential Elements III," point I 1, add "2 Tim.
ii. 24, 25" reference. Point I 2, apply RC to "Divine." Point
II 2, apply RC to "Divine."
- Page 501, same lesson, point II 2, add "Matt. xx. 28; Mark x. 45"
and "Acts xx. 24" references. Lesson "Essential Elements IV,"
point I, add "1 Cor. ix. 13, 14" reference.
- Page 502, same lesson, point I, apply RC to "Gospel." Point II,
change "unblamably" to "unblameably"; remove comma from "truth,
and"; add left double quote before poem. Point III 2, apply RC to
"Divine"; remove comma from "earth, and." Germ note, point I,
apply RC to "Gospel." Point III 3, change "unblamable" to
"unblameable."
- Page 503, lesson "Correct Estimate," introduction, apply RC to
"Gospel" (twice). Point I, apply RC to "Gospel." Point II, apply
RC to "Gospel" and "Divine." Point II 1, apply RC to "Gospel" and
"Visitor." Before poem, add em-dash. After poem, apply RC to
"Word." Point II 2, add "1 Peter i. 23" reference. Point II 4,
apply RC to "Word." Add warning about the word "niggardly." Point
III, apply RC to "Gospel."
- The break between pages 503 and 504 is in the word "effectually":
effec|tually.
- Page 504, same lesson, point III, apply RC to "Word" (twice) and
"Divine Word." Point IV, apply RC to "Gospel" and "Word"; add
"Isa. ix. 3" reference. Application ("Lessons"), point 2, apply RC
to "Gospel" and "Word." Point 3, apply RC to "Word." Germ note,
each of points I and I 1, apply RC to "Word." Lesson "Suffering,"
introduction, remove comma from "character, and"; add comma to "So
there."
- Page 505, same lesson, point I, add "Ps. lv. 12, 13," "2 Tim.
iii. 12," and "Matt. x. 36" references. Point II, add "Matt.
xx. 22" and "Matt. x. 38" references; apply RC to "Gospel."
Application ("Lessons"), point 1, apply RC to "Gospel." Lesson
"Fury," introduction, add comma to "vegetation the."
- Page 506, same lesson, introduction, apply RC to "Divine" and
"Divinely." Point I 1, add "Matt. xxvii. 25" reference. Point II,
apply RC to "Divine"; remove comma from "memory, and."
- Page 507, germ note, point III, apply RC to "Gospel." Lesson
"Power," point I 1, add "Gen. xliii. 14" reference.
- Page 508, same lesson, point III 2, add "Ps. xvi. 11" reference.
Application ("Lessons"), each of points 1 and 2, add comma to
"therefore we."
- Page 509, "Joy" note, point I, apply RC to "Gospel." Notes on
chapter iii., verse 2, add "Luke xxii. 32" reference. Verse 3, add
"James i. 6" reference. Verse 8, add "Phil. i. 21" reference.
Verse 11, change "ii. 18" to "ch. ii. 18."
- Page 510, lesson "Mission," introduction, apply RC to "Gospel."
Point II, remove comma from "Paul, and"; add em-dash before poem.
Point III, add "1 Tim. i. 2; 2 Tim. i. 2" references; add comma to
"finally he"; apply RC to "Gospel"; add comma to "Thus Timothy."
- Page 511, same lesson, point IV 1, apply RC to "Gospel" and
"Divine." Point IV 2, apply RC to "Gospel"; add "ch. iii. 3"
reference. Lesson "Perils," introduction, add comma to "is when";
apply RC to "Gospel." Point I 1, apply RC to "Divine" and
"Gospel"; add "Acts xiv. 22" and "John xv. 19" references.
- Page 512, same lesson, point I 1, apply RC to "Divine." Point I 2,
apply RC to "Gospel."
- Page 513, germ note, point V, apply RC to "Gospel." Lesson "News,"
introduction, add "Prov. xv. 25" reference.
- Page 514, same lesson, point I 1, apply RC to "Gospel" and
"Divine." Point III 1, apply RC to "Gospel"; remove comma from
"difficulties, and." Point III 2, remove comma from "love, and."
Application ("Lessons"), point 1, add comma to "maintained and."
- Page 515, lesson "Steadfastness," introduction, apply RC to "Word"
and "Gospel." Point II, change "3 John v. 4" to "3 John 3, 4."
- Page 516, same lesson, point III 2, add "ver. 9" reference for
consistency. Point III 3, apply RC to "Author" and "Preserver."
- Page 517, lesson "Prayer," point I 1, add "John v. 19" reference.
Point II, add "Jer. x. 23" and "Prov. iii. 6" references; apply RC
to "Divine." Point III 1, remove comma from "graces, and."
- Page 518, same lesson, point III 1, add "1 John iii. 11" and
"1 Pet. i. 22" references. Point III 2, add "ver. 12" reference
for consistency, add "Lev. xix. 18" and "1 Tim. i. 5" references.
Point III 3, add "ver. 12" reference for consistency; change
"ii. 8, 9, 13; iii. 3-5" to "ch. ii. 8, 9, 13; ch. iii. 3-5."
Point IV, change "unblamable" to "unblameable." Point IV 1, add
"Col. iii. 14" reference. Point IV 2, change "unblamable" to
"unblameable" (twice). Point IV 3, apply RC to "Divine."
Application ("Lessons"), point 3, apply RC to "Divine." Germ note,
point I, apply RC to "Divine." Point III, change "unblamable" to
"unblameable."
- Page 519, notes for chapter iv., verse 5, add single quotes around
the word "passion."
- Page 520, notes for chapter iv., verse 15, change "ii. 16" to "ch.
ii. 16." Lesson "Exhortations," introduction, remove comma from
"annihilated, but"; apply RC to "Divine." Each of points I, I 2,
and I 3, apply RC to "Divine." Point I 3, change "It is, possible,
then" to "It is possible, then"; add comma to "vain the."
- Page 521, same lesson, points I 4 and II, apply RC to "Divine."
Point II 1, apply RC to "Divine" (twice), remove comma from
"nature, and"; apply RC to "Divine." Point II 2, apply RC to
"Divine"; change scripture quotation from "For this the will" to
"For this is the will"; apply RC to "He." Point II 3, apply RC to
"Divine" (twice); add "Rom. xiv. 14" and "Luke xxii. 42"
references. Point III, apply RC to "Divinely."
- Page 522, same lesson, application ("Lessons"), point 3, apply RC
to "Divinely." Lesson "Features," introduction, remove comma from
"defect, and."
- Page 523, same lesson, point I 1, add comma to "Christianity it."
- Page 524, same lesson, point II 2, change "Prov. xxii. 10" to
"Prov. xxiii. 10"; add "2 Pet. ii. 3" reference; apply RC to
"Divine." Point III, apply RC to "Divine," "Caller," and "Divine."
- Page 525, lesson "Word," point I, apply RC to "Divine." Point II,
apply RC to "Word." Point III, remove comma from "alone, but";
apply RC to "Divinely"; remove comma from "own, but"; apply RC to
"Word"; remove comma from "Heaven, and." Application ("Lessons"),
each points 1 and 2, apply RC to "Divine."
- Page 526, lesson "Brotherly Love," point I, apply RC to
"Divinely." Point I 1, remove commas from "taught, and" and
"Christianity, and." Point I 4, apply RC to "Divinely," "Word,"
and "Divine."
- Page 527, same lesson, point II, add comma to "Accordingly the."
Point III, scripture quote, remove comma from "beseech, you";
text, remove comma from "self-love, and." Germ note, point II,
apply RC to "Divinely."
- Page 528, lesson "Pacific Spirit," point I, remove comma from
"another, and." Point II 1, add "Prov. xx. 3" reference; change
"your neighbours" to "your neighbour's." Point II 2, remove comma
from "evils, and."
- Page 529, same lesson, point II 3, remove comma from "business,
and." Application ("Lessons"), point 3, apply RC to "Gospel."
- Page 530, lesson "Sorrow," introduction, remove comma from "child,
and." Point II, remove commas from "life, and" and "son, and."
- Page 531, same lesson, point III 1, add "Rom. viii. 23" reference.
Point III 2, apply RC to "Divine"; add "Hos. xiii. 14" reference.
Point III 3, apply RC to "Word" (twice); remove comma from "grave,
and." In-line note about eschatology before "Second Advent" lesson.
- Page 532, lesson "Second Advent," introduction, add comma to
"words the." Point I, apply RC to "Divine"; remove comma from
"heaven, and"; apply RC to "Divine." Point II 1, apply RC to
"Divine."
- Page 533, same lesson, point IV, apply RC to "Word"; remove comma
from "death, and."
- Page 534, germ note, point II, add comma to "general we." Point
II 1, apply RC to "Word." Notes on chapter v., verse 2, in the
Findlay quote, change left double quote before "You already know"
to a left single quote and add a right single quote after "known."
Verse 13, change "iii. 10" to "ch. iii. 10." Verse 14, change
"ii. 11" to "ch. ii. 11."
- Page 535, lesson "Attitude," introduction, change "The book that
records the _first_ advent" to "A book written by one who knew of
[it]" because neither John's Gospel nor his Revelation discuss it;
add "Rev. xxii. 20" reference. Point I 1, change "untamable" to
"untameable"; add comma to "time there."
- Page 536, same lesson, point I 2, remove comma from "approach,
but"; apply RC to "Divine." Point II 1, apply RC to "Gospel."
Point II 2, add comma to "therefore our"; remove comma from "day,
and."
- Page 537, same lesson, point IV 1, apply RC to "Divinely" (thrice).
- Page 538, "Moral Sleep" note, point I, apply RC to "Gospel."
Lesson "Treatment," introduction, apply RC to "Word."
- Page 539, point II 1, apply RC to "Divine." Point II 3, apply RC
to "Word."
- Page 540, lesson "Precepts," point I, remove comma from
"themselves, and"; add comma to "cases warning." Point II, change
"ii. 14" to "ch. ii. 14" and "iv. 13" to "ch. iv. 13."
- Page 541, same lesson, point IV, remove comma from "duties, and."
- Page 542, lesson "Happy Life," introduction, remove comma from
"mould, and"; apply RC to "Divine"; capitalise "Divine" referring
to a churchman. Point I, change "iv. 4" to "Phil. iv. 4" for
concreteness; apply RC to "Divine Word."
- Page 543, same lesson, point II, apply RC to "Divine" and
"Gospel." "Self-recollectedness" note, point I, remove comma from
"wanderings, and." Lesson "Influence," introduction, add comma to
"verses we."
- Page 544, same lesson, point III, add "1 John iv. 1" reference.
Poem, set the second line flush left with the rest of the poem.
- Page 545, "Despise" note, point IV, apply RC to "Divine." "Prove"
note, point I 1, apply RC to "Word."
- Page 546, same note, point IV 2, apply RC to "Word."
- Page 547, lesson "Prayer," point I 3, change "iv. 16" to "ch.
iv. 16." Point I 4, add "Matt. v. 8" reference. Point II, apply RC
to "Divine." Point II 2, apply RC to "Divine"; change "iv. 3" to
"ch. iv. 3." Point III, apply RC to "Divine." Application
("Lessons"), point 2, apply RC to "Divine."
- Page 548, "Trinity" note, point I, apply RC to "Author." Point
III, apply RC to "Gospel." Lesson "Closing Words," point III,
apply RC to "Word"; remove comma from "Bible, and."
- Page 549, same lesson, application ("Lessons"), point 3, apply RC
to "Word." "Public Reading" note, point I, remove comma from
"Scripture, and." Point III, apply RC to "Word" and "Divine."
+THE SECOND EPISTLE+
+TO THE THESSALONIANS.+
* * * * * * * *
+INTRODUCTION.+
+Occasion and design.+--Probably little more time elapsed between the
two epistles than was necessary for the messenger of Paul to return
to him. This appears likely from the fact that Silvanus and Timothy
were still with Paul, at Corinth, as when the first letter was sent.
The condition of the Church at Thessalonica had meanwhile grown more
trying, the flame of persecution burnt more fiercely, and the
conviction that this presaged the immediate appearance of the Lord
from heaven grew stronger. "Religious effervescence had come to a
sort of paroxysm; an ever-increasing number of Christians gave up all
their worldly concerns and duties for the sake of living a life of
contemplation, inquisitive idleness, and begging. In order,
therefore, to abate the intensity of this carnal rather than
spiritual flame the apostle is obliged to make use of all the means
at his disposal, and the two principals of these are instruction and
discipline" (_Godet_).
The design of the epistle is heard in the phrase, "that ye be not
quickly shaken from your mind nor yet be troubled . . . as that the
day of the Lord is immediately impending" (ch. ii. 2).
+Style and character of the epistle.+--In style these two epistles to
Thessalonica are alike. We need not expect the style in which St.
Paul writes to the Churches which had become faithless--then his
language defies style--nor of that to those whose edification in the
doctrines of the Christian faith is his aim. There is much in common
between these letters and that to the other Macedonian Church. "They
are neither passionate, nor argumentative; but practical,
consolatory, prompted by affection, by memory and hope. Hence they
represent, as it has been aptly said, 'St. Paul's normal style,' the
way in which he would commonly write and talk to his friends"
(_Findlay_).
In their character, "they are (1) the letters of a missionary,
(2) singularly affectionate letters, (3) especially cheering and
consolatory letters, and (4) eschatological letters, _i.e._ they set
forth the last things in Christian doctrine" (_Ibid._).
+Outline of the Epistle.+
i. 1, 2. Greeting.
3-12 & ii. 13-17. The thanksgiving, with exhortations and prayers.
ii. 1-12. The doctrinal section: the Man of Sin.
iii. 1-16. The practical section, with messages, concluded with
prayer.