January 7

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: - 1 Thessalonians 1:6.

THE gospel is a system of consolation and comfort. Here it is worthy of our notice, that the very word gospel signifies good news-glad tidings-great joy; and with this name the truth well agrees. What is its principal and distinguishing theme? Is it a matter of mere curiosity-the solution of a problem-a scientific theory, in acquiring the knowledge of which, it is merely necessary to inform the judgment? It is not only “a faithful saying,” but “worthy of all acceptation.” If it be any thing it is every thing; if at all important it is all-important. It is a message to the heart, and a message that contains all that the poor, wretched heart of man requires in his woes, wounds, and weaknesses. It is an answer to the questions, “What must I do to be saved?” “Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God?”

It tells us how “he remembered us in our low estate;” that his thoughts towards us are thoughts of peace, and not of evil; “that he has sent his only-begotten Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world, through him, might be saved;” that he has made peace by the blood of his cross; that he has wrought out and brought in everlasting righteousness, so that we may say, “Poor as I am, I shall attain unsearchable riches; and degraded as I am, I shall rise to glory, honour, immortality, and eternal life.” And how ought this gospel to be received?

We know that when the Roman conqueror proclaimed the liberty of the Grecian States, the people for hours together filled the air with exclamations of delight. And shall we not receive joyfully the word which proclaims peace, and brings glad tidings of great joy, that publisheth salvation, that says unto Zion, Thy God reigneth? The dispensation of the gospel is characterized by the prophets as a mission of joy. We find them employing every image to express the joyfulness of the scene.” They tell us that then “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped; that the lame man shall leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.” They call upon the whole material creation to rejoice, for the Lord is come. “Shout, ye lower parts of the earth, break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein; for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.”

If we pass from the language of prophecy to that of history, we shall find that in this manner the gospel was originally received. When Philip preached Christ in Samaria, “there was great joy” manifested. When Paul went among the Galatians, they “received him as an angel of God,” and were ready to make every kind of sacrifice to such a messenger of mercy. And here the apostle states that the Thessalonians received the word “with joy of the Holy Ghost.” And he describes the Philippians as “rejoicing in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in flesh.” And the Apostle Peter thus addresses believers:-“Whom, having not seen, ye love, and in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing ye rejoice, with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”