in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure."f-We see from these passages, what was the fruit, in quality and in measure, which these Thessalo nians bore; and how by bearing it they glorified the gospel. They were distinguished by the exercise of those truly Christian graces, Faith, Hope, and Love, They displayed these fruits of the spirit in their daily life and conversation; and they displayed them in a very eminent degree. Their Faith grew exceedingly? Their Love abounded. And their hope most signally shewed itself in the patience and perseverance, which they manifested under all their heavy trials. Nay, so great was their proficiency in these Christian attainments, that they became examples to all the believers in the neighbouring countries; that "from them sounded out the word of the Lord," in these striking and bles sed effects produced by it; and even the Apostle himself glorified of them in the churches of God.

Happy is the preacher, who can thus appeal to the fruits of his doctrine, as displayed in the lives of those, who profess to have embraced it! Strong indeed is the testimony given to the power and excellence of the gospel, when those who profess it, thus adorn and recommend it by their conduct.

Here then is a still further subject for personal enquiry. Do we thus adorn and glorify the Gospel? Do we thus shew forth its power and excellence in our lives? Do we abound in faith, hope, and love, those

f1 Thess. i. 3, 3—7, 8.—ïïi. 6, 7.—iv. 9, 10.—v. 11.—2 Thess. i. 3, 4.

pure and genuine fruits of true Christianity? If the Apostle were writing to us and enforcing the exercise of these Christian graces, could he justly say, as he said to the Thessalonians, “even as ye also do?" Let us endeavour to feel the importance of this enquiry. As Christians, we have not only our own salvation at stake, but the honour of our divine religion. We are required to uphold that honour; and to this end to let it be seen in our own conduct, that the doctrine which we hold is a doctrine according to Godliness. We are required to be "careful in maintaining good wooks,” to "let our light shine before men," to "hold forth the word of life." Without such an agreement between our profession and our practice, far from glorifying the Gospel, we shall dishonour and disgrace it, and shall furnish occasion to those who are inclined to speak evil of it. Besides, if we are Christians indeed, we shall anxiously desire that other persons should become so too. If we have ourselves tasted that the Lord is gracious, it will be one of the first wishes of our heart to be instrumental in making others partakers of the like precious faith with ourselves. We cannot desire that the Word of the Lord should have free course; that it should run and he glorified; that it should spread from heart, from house to house, from place to place. There are probably some, possibly many individuals among our friends, our acquaintance, and our neighbours, in whose spiritual concerns we feel a lively interest; and for whose conversion and salvation we anxiously long. The Apostle's exhortation in the text shews us, in this case, to what means we must primarily have recourse.

We must pray for this blessed work. It is God only, who giveth, the increase. It is the Spirit only, whe can open the heart to receive, to understand, and to love the truth as it is in Jesus. There is no teacher like him; nor will any one learn to any real purpose, till he is thus taught of God. But in respect to this, as well as to every other gift from above, prayer is the appointed instrument for obtaining it. We must not omit, we must not cease to pray for those, whose spiritual good we have at heart. In due time we may hope to reap, if we faint not.

But to the efficacy of our prayers for them in secret, let us add also the benefit of our good example in their sight. Let it be our aim by a suitable, a consistent, and an irreproachable conduct to soften their prejudices, and to win them to Jesus Christ. Let them see in us a clear and a bright example of what religion really is; that so their mistakes respecting it may be corrected. Let them see, that it leads those, who embrace it, to be kind, cheerful, and contented, to be meek, patient, and industrious. Let them see that it enlivens the spirits, amends the tempers, and improves the dispositions; that it makes persons orderly, and submissive, and faithful in discharging the duties of their station, and ready and disposed, so far as their means may extend, to every good work. In short, let them see in our example, that true religion is a reasonable and a happy thing that while it elevates the affections and purifies the heart, it makes its followers happier and better, than all the rest of mankind. Thus shall we

:

glorify the word of the Lord, and shall be instrumental in spreading the savour of real Christianity.

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Finally, brethren, (in the words of the Apostle,) "pray for us." Pray for the Ministers of the Gospel, and especially for those, who minister the word of life to yourselves. Pray that they may be fitted and strengthened for their office, and directed and comforted in it. Pray that the Lord's work may be prospered in their hands; that his word may run and be glorified through their means. Your duty and your interest require these things of you. See then, that you do them. So may you hope that a larger blessing will attend their labours and that through the abundant Mercy of God both to you and to them, you may be their "joy and crown of rejoicing, even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His Coming."g

g1 Thess. ii. 19.

THE ENO.