glorified the word of the Lord; but we dishonour it. They valued his gracious message, but we make light of it. They received it with gladness, and rejoiced in `it under all their afflictions. We turn a deaf ear to it, and think to be happy in rejecting it. Let us remember the declarations of the Almighty, which applies to his word no less than to himself; "them that honour me, I will honour but they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed."c

Let us now consider,

II. The Change, which the word of the Lord had wrought in these Thessalonians.

The Gospel, or the Word of the Lord, is the instrument, which he has appointed for the reformation of mankind; for "turning them from darkness to light, from the power of satan unto God." Now when the Word produces this effect; when it thus turns and changes men; then it is glorified. Its power is seen, felt, and acknowledged. All who witness the effect, must own the power of the instrument by which it has been wrought, and must, secretly. at least, confess "This hath God done."-How then in this respect had the Thessalonians glorified the Word of God? What change had it wrought in them? St. Paul tells us, that it had wrought effectually in them" and the effect was this, "They had turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven."d Before the Gospel had been preached among them, they had been idolaters, wor shipping the creature instead of the Creator. They

c 1 Samuel, ii. 36. d 1 Thess. i. 9, 10.

had been sunk in heathen ignorance and darkness, had served idols of wood and stone, and were living altogether without God in the world. But now, having received the Word with joy, they had been brought out of darkness into marvellous light." They had forsaken these vanities, had renounced their idols, and had relinquished their heathen practices. Instead of the gods m'any, and the lords many, whom they had formerly served, they were now become the servants of Jehovah; they "worshipped God in the spirit and rejoiced in Christ Jesus," looking for his glorious appearance, when he should be revealed from heaven to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believed." What a change was this! How clearly did it prove that the instrument, which had wrought such an effect, was indeed "mighty in operation," "mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds,' ""the power of God unto salvation (!” Who could behold these Christian converts turned from their dumb idols to serve the living and true God, without feeling that the preaching of the Gospel had done great things? Wicked men indeed might resist this conviction; they might deny this conclusion. But surely every considerate mind must allow that the Word of the Lord was glorified in the conversion of these Thessalonians.

Here then is another subject for enquiry. Has the Word of the Lord been thus glorified in us? Has it wrought effectually in us? Has it turned and changed us, and proved itself to be the Word of the Lord by the evident alteration, which it has made in our hearts and

lives? Perhaps it may be said, 'We have never been Gentiles. We have never served idols. We have 'been always Christians. How then can such a change as was wrought in the Thessalonians, have been producer in us?'-It is true, we have been Christians; so far as having belonged to the outward and visible Church can have made us Christians. But have we been Christians within? Has the inner state answered to the outward profession? Does it answer to it now? Before this can be the case, there must have been as great a moral change in us as there was in the Thessalonians. Let us recollect, that we were by nature Gentiles in heart. Our soul was estranged from God, and had no pleasure in him. And what has our practice been? If we have been free from gross sins, and scandalous vices, yet surely we must admit that we have served divers lusts and pleasures; that we have followed the course of" this present evil world ;" and have loved and served the creature more than the Creator. And what is all this, but spiritual idolatry? Have we then been turned from these things? In these respects has a great change been wrought in us? Have we renounced these vanities, these idols? Are we no longer living after the flesh, and the world? Has the Gospel redeemed us from our vain conversation, so that we are no longer fashioning ourselves after our former lusts in our ignorance? In a word, are we now serving the living and true God, and waiting for his Son from heaven? Are we spiritual worshippers of God? Do we daily prove our hearts before him, and serve him with our spirit in the Gospel of his Son? Are we

sincere believers in that Son? Do we depend solely on his merits and promises for pardon and strength? Do we constantly keep in mind the account which we must give to him as our Judge? And are we desirous only of winning him," and of" being found in him?" If the Word of the Lord have not wrought these things in our hearts; if it have not thus turned us, and brought us to be new creatures in comparison of what we once were, it is not as yet glorified in us. We may have heard of its transforming power: but we have never ourselves experienced it. We are yet strangers to its gracious and mighty operations. However it may have obtained the assent of our understanding, it ha never yet reached our heart, so as to have fixed itsel there, and to shed abroad its heavenly influence in our soul. Let us be assured, that the Gospel has more to do in us and for us, than we are yet aware of. God grant that it may do this! That it may come to us, as it came to the Thessalonians, not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost! So shall we find it, as they found it, "The Power of God unto Salvation." Let us consider,

III. The Fruit, which the Gospel had produced, and still continued to produce, on these Thessalonian converts.

The preaching of the word is frequently compared in scripture to the sowing of seed. Now the intention of sowing the seed is that it may bring forth fruit: and in proportion to the fruit produced is the husbandman rewarded for his toil and pains. Thus in proportion to the fruit which the gospel produces, is God's design in VOL. II. 33

publishing it answered, and his wisdom manifested. "Herein is my Father glorified (says our Saviour) that ye bear much fruit." The gospel never appears so clearly to be "the power of God and the wisdom of God;" as when those who profess to have received and embraced it, shew forth the fruits of it in their life and conversation. Let us see then how the Thessalonian converts in this respect glorified the word of God. What is the testimony which St. Paul bears to them in reference to this point? "We give thanks to God always for you all (says the Apostle,) making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. " "So that ye were ensamples

to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia: for from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to Godward is spread abroad.' "But when Timothe us came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith." "As touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another; and indeed ye do it towards all the brethren, which are in all Macedonia."" Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." "We are bound to thank God always for you, Brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all towards each other abound th. So that we ourselves glory

e John, xv. 8: