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In his second epistle to the same less grace of God, as it appears in church, he writes, "We are bound the election of his people unto salvation, they rise to the highest and purest source of spiritual consolation. In view of this subject, the apostle writes "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace." The doctrine of election, when it is rightly and humbly considered by christians, affords such a bright display of the love, the mercy and the sovereignty of God, as is suited to fill their hearts with comfort amidst all the evils and sorrows they experience on earth. such persons, as the apostle believed to be chosen and appointed unto salvation, he prays in these words-"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father, who hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts."

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to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning, chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." The divine appointment of christians to eternal salvation is mentioned in the different epistles to the churches, as a source of comfort to believers in Jesus Christ. This subject Christ often mentioned to his disciples for their comfort. It is to their appointment unto salvation, that we are to ascribe, whatever God has done for the benefit of his people in this life, and for their future glory in heavWhen christians have a sight and sense of their sin and guilt, they feel wholly unworthy of the least favor; and they are sensible that they deserve the wrath of God forever. They are sensible that God would have been righteous and glorious, if they had been appointed unto wrath. They perceive, that it is of the infinite goodness and sovereign mercy of God, that any of mankind are sayed from sin, shame and woe.When christians consider, that God was pleased, for the glory of his name, to choose and appoint, in the counsel of his own will, that they should be saved, their hearts are withdrawn from themselves and from every created object and fixed upon the exceeding riches of his grace in Jesus Christ. In brethren to take "for an hel view of the sovereign and bound- met the hope of salvation." And

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2. The death of the Lord Jesus Christ for his people is a source of mutual comfort to christians.— This is also mentioned in the context. The apostle urges his

he then adds, " For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us." The death of Christ for his people is a permanent foundation of comfort to their hearts. It exhibits an af fecting and glorious evidence and expression of the goodness of God. John says to his brethren, " In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins." In view of the death of Christ, christians are consoled, because it so fully displays the justice and the mercy of God, while it opens a way for the forgiveness and salvation of every sinner, who repents and believes the gospel. No holy being could ever consent that one sinner should be saved from the curse of the law, at the expence of the truth and justice of God. Now while sinners are justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption, that is in Christ Jesus, God is just and his justice appears very glorious in justifying every one, who believes in Jesus. When christians turn their hearts to the cross of Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses from all sin, though laboring and heavy laden with sin and guilt, with shame and sorrow, with afflictions and temptations, yet there they find rest to their souls. Though they be feeble,

wretched and needy in themselves, yet through faith they can say→ "If God be for us, who can be against us? He, that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God, that justifieth. Who is he, that condemneth? It is Christ that died." From the sorrow and death of Christ, christians receive their life and comfort. In view of his death they will forever re joice and sing "Unto him, that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever." The death of Christ is the life and strength, the hope and joy, the refuge and comfort, the glory and salvation of believers. The apostle says "God forbid, that I should glory, save in the cross of Jesus Christ, my Lord, by whom I am crucified unto the world and the world unto me,"

3- Christians may be mutually comforted by the gracious effects, which the Holy Spirit produces in their hearts. In the context the apostle mentions the knowledge, love, faith and hope of christians. In view of these blessed effects of the Holy Spirit, they are urged to comfort themselves together. Writing to the same persons the apostle says "When I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some

means the tempter have tempted they strengthen and comfort their brethren. How often have the faint and weary hearts of christians, who are ready to say in their haste, "all men are liars,” been revived by seeing in their brethren, the tenderness and beauty of holy affections! They, who love holiness and hate wickedness, are greatly comforted by perceiving in Christians the gracions effects, which the Holy Spirit produces in their hearts.

you and our labor be in vain.But now, when Timotheus came from you unto us and brought us good tidings of your faith and love; and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you; therefore brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith. For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord." It is con

soling to christians to behold in their brethren the excellent and lovely graces, which are produced by the special influence of the Holy Spirit. By the influence of the Spirit christians are caused to see the glory and beauty of God and of the law, of Jesus Christ and the gospel. As christians are united in their religious sentiments, they have mutual love in the truth. While they see the image of Jesus Christ in his beloved people, their hearts are comforted in their friendship and society. The psalmist says unto God, "They, that fear thee, will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in thy word."

4. Christians may be mutually comforted in the prospect of their eternal residence with the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. It is by this consideration, that christians are directly urged in the text, to comfort themselves together. The apostle says, "God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." He then adds the words of our text-" Wherefore comfort yourselves together; and edify one another, even as also ye do." Again he says The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we, who are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these

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The beloved disciple says to the well-beloved Gaius"I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." When Christians walk in the truth and feel and express the love, the faith, the hope and joy, which the Holy Spirit produces in their hearts, words." By similar considera

II. To show that the members of a christian church ought to promote their mutual comfort.

To show that this is their duty, it may be observed.

tions, the Saviour comforted his may well comfort themselves todisciples before his death. He gether. Having considered the said, "Let not your hearts be sources of mutual comfort to troubled ye believe in God; be- christians, it is now proposed, lieve also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go & prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." The prospect of being with Christ and his people in heaven is suited to relieve and comfort the hearts of christians in their darkness and distress in this evil world. Notwithstanding his afflictions, temptations, and conflicts, the psalmist was consoled, when he was able by faith to say unto God, "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to glo

ry."

The affliction of christians in this life seems light and but for a moment, in view of the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory in heaven. They shall be "before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more; neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat. For the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." In prospect of the perfect and eter:nal blessedness of heaven believers

1. That they are required, in the scriptures, to promote the comfort of their brethren. By Isaiah, God says, "comfort ye, comfort ye my people." To the saints at Corinth, Paul writes,

For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be comforted." In the epistle, from which the text is chosen, the members of the church at Thessalonica are repeatedly required to comfort one another by very weighty and affecting considerations. These divine requirements bind christians at the present day, as well as in the days of the apostles. For the members of a church now need to be comforted as well as in former times. And every member needs to be comforted by the attention, the tenderness and kindness of the other members. The members of a church are able to comfort one another. And if they will only consider, that they are required by the Lord their God to comfort themselves together, they will at once perceive that they are bound to promote their mutual comfort by such an obligation as can never be broken.

2. The members of a church

solemnly engage to promote their with it." To the saints at Corinth,

own mutual comfort. When a church receives any persons into their communion, they bind themselves by their covenant with God to promote the spiritual welfare of every such person, and by their mutual covenant, they bind themselves to a faithful performance of the same duty. When a person joins a church, he engages to seek and to promote the peace and comfort of all its members. The members of a church mutually and solemnly promise and covenant to labor together for the common edification and consolation of all their brethren, with whom they are especially united by a public profession of religion. If then, they do not comfort one another and comfort themselves together, they break their solemn covenant and their endearing engagements. 3. By comforting their brethren the members of a church greatly increase their own spiritual consolation. "It is more blessed to give than to receive.” To comfort the afflicted, tempted, and weary people of God, produces a high degree of happiness. For it is the exercise and expression of holy and gracious affections. Every pious member of a church enjoys the peace and comfort of the other members. Christians are so united," that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice

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the apostle writes, “Ve comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all." The apostle was also greatly consoled by Philemon, because he comforted the hearts of the saints. He says, "We have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother." Faithful christians are always greatly comforted in the comfort of their brethren. They, who the most desire and labor to promote the comfort of other christians, enjoy the most comfort in their own hearts.

4. By promoting their mutual comfort the members of a church will secure and enjoy the presence and favor of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit iscalled the Comforter. He produces in christians all the light, love, faith, hope, peace, joy and comfort, which they experience. The Holy Spirit delights in the comfort of his people.And he greatly delights in ali, who seek their comfort. Such persons as labor to promote the mutual comfort of christians, please the God of peace and comfort, and enjoy his special presence and favor. Such persons work together with God and perform a service, which is very important and pleasant in his sight. Hence Paul says to the members of the church in Corinth, "Be perfect; be of good comfort; be of one mind; live in peace;

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