III. The ways in which men quench the Spirit.—1. By continuing in known sin. 2. By indulging in a light, frivolous spirit. 3. By refusing to believe in anything they cannot see or touch. 4. By allowing worldly affairs to absorb the affections. 5. By neglecting religions duties. 6. By not exercising the gifts already bestowed.—Local Preacher’s Treasury.

Ver. 20. Despise not Prophesyings—

  1. Because they are the sayings of God.
  2. They are the grand appointed means of our salvation.
  3. Because we greatly need them.
  4. We grieve the Spirit of God thereby.
  5. It is the sure way of contracting a habit of despising Divine things in general.
  6. It lays stumbling-blocks in the way of others.
  7. Those who despise destroy themselves.—E. Hare.

Abuse of Public Worship.

I. The offence.—1. Habitual neglect of public worship. 2. Attendance on public worship in an improper state of mind. 3. Failure to improve public worship for the purposes for which it is intended.

II. Its sin and danger.—1. It involves contempt of the authority of God. 2. It involves contempt of an institution with which God has specially identified Himself. 3. It involved contempt of one of the appointed means of grace. 4. It involves contempt of our own soul.—G. Brooks.

Ver. 21. Rationalism.

I. Prove all things.—1. Our own sentiments. 2. The sentiments of others.

II. Hold fast that which is good.—1. Against the assaults of proud reason. 2. Against the assaults of mad passions. 3. Against the assaults of a menacing world.—Ibid.

Prove all things.