A. D. 52. put in truft with the gofpel, even fo we fpeak, not as pleafing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time ufed we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of coveteousness, God is witness; 6 Nor of men fought But we were gen- her children: > own; aiming at nothing but the faithful Discharge of the great Truft committed to me by God the Searcher of Hearts. 5 & 6. Who can testify how perfectly clear I was of all flattering Expreffions to promote my private Intereft ; how far from seeking popular Applause, or temporal Profit; infomuch that I refufed to be maintained by yours, and several other Churches, though I could have claimed that Privilege belonging to me as a Chriftian Apoftle and Minister. 7. But, on the contrary, ufed you with the Tenderness of a Mother to her Child, giving Nourishment to you, but receiving none from you. 8. Thus affectionately defirous of your fpiritual Good, was I ready not only to preach the Gospel to you of free-coft, but to die for you: So dear are you to me. 8 So being affection- 9 For ye remem- 10 Ye are witnef fes, and God alfa, how you 9. For you cannot but remember, that I and my Companions wrought at our Trades early and late, to maintain our felves, and live without any Contributions for preaching the Gofpel to you. gofpel of God. 10. God, and your felves, can teftify, what Care I took to cut off all Objections, from every Sort of Chriftian Converts, while we con verfed among you. 11 & 12. * Our own Soul, ràs Yuxàs iaurã, my own Life. 13 For this cause alfo thank we God without ceafing, becaufe when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh alfo in you that believe. 14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God, which in Judea are in Chrift Jefus : for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, e ven as they have of the Jews: 15 Who both killed the Lord Jefus and their own prophets, and have perfecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all 11 & 12. And both by Doctrine, A.D. 52. and Example, treated you, as good and kind Parents do their own Children, encouraging you all to your Duty, comforting you under your Affliction, and charging you in the moft earnest manner, to live in all refpects worthy of this mighty Favour of God, in making you Members of Chrift's Kingdom and Reto your eternal Glory hereafter. 13. I am now therefore conftantly bleffing and praifing God for the happy Effects of my Endeavours upon you; that you entertained my Doctrine, not as a well-laid Scheme of Human Philofophy, but (what it really is) as the pure Word, and Revelation of God, fo powerful in its Influences on the Principles and Practices of all that fincerely embrace it. 15. Being both of you perfecuted by that obftinate and malicious People, that Crucified Jefus Chrift their own Meffiab, as their Forefathers, by the fame wicked Principles, flew their own Prophets that foretold his Coming; and fo 'tis no wonder they still perfecute us his Difciples and Followers, being a People that have very few true men. Notions * A&ts xvii. 5-8. 4. D. 52. Notions of Religion themselves, and yet proudly infult, contemn, and scorn all other People that are not of their own Nation and Perfwafion. 5---10, 16 Forbidding us on them to the utter- 16. They are averfe to us for preaching the Gospel of Salvation to the Gentile World; utterly refufing to embrace the Religion of Chrift, unless they can engross all the Mercies and Privileges of it to themselves. By their incurable Obftinacy, in which Pride and Pre judice they are likely to fill up the Measure of their become ripe for a compleat and final Iniquities, and * 17 But we, bre* As xvii. thren, being taken from you for a fhort time, in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to fee your face with great defire. 18 Wherefore, we to you (even I Paul) 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye in the prefence of our Lord Jefus Chrift at his coming? 17. But though, dear Brethren, I am, by their Malice, * detained from you for the prefent; be affured my Heart is with you; and my Defires and Refolution to vifit your Church again, are thereby only heighten'd and confirmed. 18. Do not therefore mifinterpret my Stay from you: For I had been with you long ago, had not these wicked Inftruments of Satan prevented me. 19 & 20. And believe me fincere in what I fay; for there is nothing I fo much delight and rejoice in, nothing I expect fo much Glory from, at the great Day of Chrift's Appearance to Judgment, as from you my fteddy Converts to his Religion, and from the Succefs of my converting you to it. 20 For ye are our CHAP. It is a moft * Ver. 17. Taken from you, roppanolivres· emphatical Word, Taken away, as a dying Parent is from his Orphant Children. See Ads xvii. 5-10. CHA P. III. The CONTENTS. A Teftimony of his great Affection for them, in fending W TH * Herefore when 1 & 2. HIS ardent and fin- A. D. 52. cere Affection for your Church, put me under fuch Dread * Chap. ii. and Concern at the Perfecutions you 19, 20. were expofed to, from the malicious Jews; that I no fooner left you, and arrived at Athens, but I fent Timothy, that faithful and good Minifter of Chrift, back again to you, to fee how you did, to comfort and fupport you under your Diftreffes. And though I much wanted his Affistance there, yet I chofe rather to be left only with Silas, amongst thofe proud || and contentious Philofophers, As xvii. than not serve you and hear from you. fhould be moved by thefe afflictions; for your felves know that we are appointed thereunto. 3 That no man 3, 4 & 5. I fent him, therefore, for fear any of you fhould be dif Couraged from your Profeffion; and to remind you of what I had often told you, viz. That Chriftianity is, what you have found it to be, a State of Trials and Sufferings, and those so hard too, that I was under Apprehenfions the Devil, by these his wicked Inftruments, might fucceed in his Attempts, and draw K 4 For verily when we were with you, we told you before, that we should fuffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5 For fome 14, 15, 16. A. D. 52. 5 For this caufe, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, left fome of you from the true Faith, and fo defeat my Labours in your Converfion. by fome means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, jee you: 6 & 7. But Timothy, at his Return, gave me fo comfortable an Account of your Steddinefs, Confancy, and good Affection to me, as made me eafy under the worst Afflictions that can befal me. defiring greatly to fee us, as we also to 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith : * As xvii. 1, 10. and Chap, iv. 13. of this Eriftle. |