by divisions. The Apostle knew this; consequently he must have looked beyond the great apostasy, to the period of the gathering of the remnant of GOD'S people, when he said, "Till we all come into the unity of the faith." Hence the gifts that were set in the church have not yet served out their time. p. 13, Para. 1, [1SG].
1 Thess. v, 19-21. "Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." p. 14, Para. 1, [1SG].
In this epistle the Apostle introduces the subject of the second coming of the LORD. He then describes the state of the unbelieving world at that time--saying, "Peace and safety," when the day of the LORD is about to burst upon them, and sudden destruction come upon them as a thief in the night. He then exhorts the church, in view of these things, to keep awake, watch and be sober. Among the exhortations that follow are the words we have quoted, "Quench not the Spirit," &c. some may think that these three verse are completely detached from each other in which they stand. The person who quenches the Spirit will be left to despise prophesyings, which are the legitimate fruit of the Spirit, "I will pour out my Spirit, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy." Joel ii, 28. The expression "Prove all things," is limited to the subject of discourse -- prophesyings -- and we are to try the sprits by the tests which he has given us in his word. Spiritual deceptions and false prophesyings abound at the present time; and doubtless this text has a special application here. But, mark, the Apostle does not say, Reject all things; but, Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. p. 14, Para. 2, [1SG].
Joel ii, 28-32. "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." p. 14, Para. 3,