18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.



Ver. 18. In everything give thanks] If God give prosperity, praise him, and it shall be increased, saith Augustine. If adversity, praise him, and it shall be removed, or at least sanctified. Job blessed God as well for taking as giving, Job_1:20-22. He knew that God afflicted him, non ad exitium, sed ad exercitium, to refine him, not to ruin him. But this is Christianorum propria virtus, saith Jerome, a practice proper to Christians, to be heartily thankful for crosses. Basil spends all his sermon upon this text in this theme. Every bird can sing in a summer’s day, and it is easy to swim in a warm bath; but in deep affliction to cover God’s altar, not with our tears, as Mal_2:13, but with the calves of our lips, Hos_14:2, this none can do but the truly religious.