(2) Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
I detain the Reader at this verse only to remark, that when the Apostle pronounceth this blessing of grace and peace, it will be proper for us to consider, that the latter is the fruit of the former. Grace is the source and cause of all our blessings, because this is the free, unpurchased, everlasting love and favor of Jehovah, in his threefold character of Persons, towards the Church in Christ, and from whence all the effects in pardon, mercy, and peace, result. And when the Apostle adds; from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost is included, because neither of, those mercies could be known by us, much less enjoyed by us, but from the manifestation of them by the Lord the Spirit. It is blessed, indeed, to observe, bow each glorious Person graciously cooperate in this, and every act, as it concerns the Church's welfare. God the Father manifests grace in the original choice of the Church in Christ before all worlds. God the Son manifests grace in the betrothing the Church to himself from everlasting, and in the time-state of the Church, makes her peace in the blood of his cross. And God the Spirit manifests grace in regeneration from the Adam-nature of the fall, and revealing all that we are brought into acquaintance with, of the love and favor of each glorious Person, for our joy here, and, our happiness hereafter. Hence, Paul, upon another occasion prays, that the Lord, (that is, the Holy Ghost), may direct the hearts of the redeemed into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5.