1 Thessalonians 5:28

REFLECTIONS

READER! here is a Chapter highly calculated, under God, to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: While the ungodly are scoffing at the threatened judgment of the Lord's coming, behold with what awful and alarming account it is said that day will be known. As a thief in the night, so sudden, so unexpected. And, while the graceless will be thus surprised, both with the greatness and unlooked for horrors of that day; the prospect, like the Cloud in the camp of Israel, while dark with the blackness of despair to the enemies of our God and his Christ, will be bright and shining to all the Lord's people, who are the children of the light, and of the day. Oh! the blessedness of that assurance, God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but unto salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Blessed be God the Holy Ghost for commanding his Scriptures to be read unto all the holy brethren. A plain proof of the sin and folly of that class of men, who would shut up the word of God from the common people. God be blessed for his mercy to this land, in that we have the Scriptures open to us, which are able to make us wise unto salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. And blessed be the Lord for the ministry of his faithful servant Paul; in this very sweet Epistle, and for all the inspired writings which God the Spirit taught him to send to the Churches! Ere long, the Church will meet with him, and all the faithful servants of the Lord, in every age of the Church, which have ministered in the name of the Lord. In the mean time, may God the Spirit cause his unction to enlighten all his people in the reading of them. And while the grace of God is directing the Church upon earth, may both the Church in earth and heaven be continually ascribing glory to the united source of all mercy, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, now, and forevermore. Amen