By J.C. Philpot
Preached at Providence Chapel, Eden Street, London, on Tuesday Evening, August 25, 1846
"Your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope." 1 Thessalonians 1:3
I cannot but admire the affection and tenderness that breathe through the epistles of the Apostle Paul; and especially in those to the church of God at Thessalonica. Largely had "the God of all grace" bestowed the gift of love on his servant Paul; and largely do we see this grace manifested in every epistle that flowed from his inspired pen. But what drew this affection and tenderness forth? It lay in his bosom as the gift of God; but it was drawn forth by the grace that he saw manifested in the Lord's people. This is the case wherever love to the brethren dwells in the heart. Immediately that the image of Christ is seen in another, love spontaneously flows forth. Immediately that we believe there is grace in any person with whom we are brought into contact, a union is felt which love cements. It was so with the Apostle Paul. What drew out of his bosom the affectionate expressions to the church of God at Thessalonica, which we read in these epistles? He himself shall tell us: "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God." (1 Thess. 1:4.) He knew in his soul that they belonged to the election of grace. And what gave him that knowledge? Had he been up into heaven, and there seen their names recorded in the Book of Life? Had a bright messenger from the Lord of hosts appeared, and told him that the parties to whom he was writing were among God's elect family? It was by no such supernatural revelation that he knew those to whom he was writing to be the children of God. He himself, in this epistle, tells us whence his knowledge sprang: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." The Lord had sent him to preach the gospel among them; they had received the word from his lips, "not as the word of man, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in them that believe." (2:13.) They "had turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." (1:9, 10) They had "received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost," (1:6); and became "followers of the churches of God, which in Judea were in Christ Jesus." (2:14.)
It was these things which drew forth the tender affection of his bosom towards them. It was because they were thus taught and blessed that he felt soul union to, and soul communion with then. And it was a feeling persuasion of what God had done for their souls, that drew forth these tender and affectionate expressions of his love to them. In consequence of this love, he tells them that he "gave thanks to God always for them all, making mention of them in his prayers." No sooner did he bow his knee before the Lord, than the churches among whom he had gone ministering came before his eyes, and fell warm upon his heart; and thus he was led--not as a matter of duty or privilege, but by the blessed Spirit laying them upon his conscience, and drawing forth the tender affections of his heart toward them--to make mention of them in his prayers before the throne of grace. And this is the only prayer for others that the Lord really indites. Persons have said to me sometimes, 'Remember me in your prayers.' I have answered, or could have answered them, 'I often cannot pray for myself, and how am I to pray for you?' But as when the Lord lays our personal wants upon our conscience, we lay them before his footstool, so when the Lord brings those whom we love in the Spirit upon our heart, and raises up in our souls a feeling of affection toward them, we pray also for them--not as a matter of duty, nor because they have asked us to pray for them; but it springs up out of our souls, as the spontaneous presentation of our petitions on their behalf. And no other prayer but this, for ourselves or for others, will bring an answer.
