not a deviſed Fable, and did not iffue out of any errour of Judgment ; and fo the Apoſtle gives a reaſon why they were ſo bold in preaching it, becauſe they knew it was all truth, Or to their ſincerity in preach- ing, we did not uſe any impoſtures, we defigned not to ſeduce Men, as the falſe Apoſtles did, but we really ſought your Convefion and Salvation. E'FZ dyafarmeas, If this refers to the Dottrin preached, it denotes th2 purity of it, which did not tend to gratifie the Fleſh, as that of the Nicolaitans and Libertines, &©c, Tf we refer it to the manner of their preaching, it denotes the purity of their hearts ; they were not acted by any impure Luſts in their preaching, as Covetouſneſs, Pride, or vain Glory. / This ſeems to be mention'd before,and therefore ſome Expoſitors refer the two former expreſſions to the matter that they taught, and this only to the manner, which is moſt probable. They had no cunning defipns upon them to make Merchandiſe of them as the falſe Apoſtles did; but approve their hearts to God, and make themſelves manifeſt to every man's conjcience in the ſight of God, And the Apolile alledgeth all this as a further reaſon of his boldneſs in preaching, for ſincerity breeds boldneſs ; Or as ſome cauſe alſo of his great ſucceſs; tor uprizhtnels is uſually attended with a Bleſſing, or as an Argument to thele Theſſalonians to continue their aftettion to him, and to ahide in the Doetrin preached to them, For ſuſpicion of infincerity in the Preacher, hinders the efficacy of the word upon the People,
4. But as we wereallowed of God * to be put in truſt with the goſpel mz, even fo we ſpeak 7, not as pleaſing men, but God which tryeth our hearts 0.
7 1his Verſe gives the realons of what the Apoſtle ſpake in the tormer about his fincerity, The one is taken from his Trutt, God en- ruſted him with the Goſpel, to preſerve it from Corruption by Errour, theretore his Exhortation or Dottrin .was not of errour or deceit, but he preached the Goſpel in ſimplicity and purity ; he did not, he durft not adulterate, or corrupt it, for it was committed to his Truſt. As he calls the Goſpel his Truſt, i 7:m. 1.11, And the ſenſe of this great iruſt kept him alſo from uncleanneſs and guile in the diſcharge of his Miniftry. And he had this truſt by God's appointment or ap- psobation; Gol approved of him for this Iruſt, and that upon know- tedge and judgment, as the word ſignifies AeSziudoueds, and as he ſpeaks, 171m, 1. 12. be judged me faithful, putting me into the Mini- {iry, Not fo betore his Converſion, being a Perſecutor, Blaſphemer,&c. Bur God fitted him by extraordinary Revelations, Gifts, Graces, and
q Their words in preaching being an Overt Att, they them(c] judge of, and therefore the Apoftle doth appeal co their own |! ledge in that, » In what they conld not know, which was their ward aims and deſigns, he appeals to God, which is a form of tn... ing. And in all Oaths men folemaly do concern Gol therein, {!. ſame in effect that is call'd Proteſting, 1 Cor, 15. my. Aid that wh (© in he thus appeals, is, that he had nv coyetous deſign in his Miniftr. which he calls a Cloak of Coverouſmſs; which lies either in v: withholding that we have, or inordinate defire of mure., -1 8 litter is here meant as the Greek word iniports, And the work Clo ', 5 Metaphor as the wo1d is Tranſlated here, and Job”, 15. 22, As; covers the inner garments, ſo when bad deſigns are covercd with 17: cious pretexts, this we call a Cloak; The word in the Text t{ =: &dowu matorifiag, is often uſed, Mar, 23, 14. Mark 12, 40, Lit: 22, 47+ and ſometimes rendred, occa''on, but for the moſt part pretcnc:, and fo to be underſtood here. And jn Heathen Authors fometim: uſed for accuſation, And-this is contrary to what is ſaid of fil: Prophets, z Per, 2, 3. Through Cquetouſueſs ſhall they with feigne! wi: make Merchandiſe of you. | Wh
6 * Nor of men ſought we glory s, neither of you, nor yet of others ft, when we might have-been * burden ſome as the apoſtles of Chriſt «,
s This is the third vice he vindicates his Minitry from, The wo: Glory firft ſignifies ſome excellency in any Subject, Secondly, 1
excellency 1s diſplaying and manifefting it ſelf, Thirdly, 114 and eſteem thereof in the minds of men, as the Greek wor! 1/4 And ſo taken in the Text, we did not ſeek Mens Honour, 2g cen or applauſe; we ſo.ght them not in the inward bent of our $1087, or the ſtudies of our mind, nor in the outward courſe of 047 be ſtry and Converſation, to form them ſo as to gain Gloz v Though honour and eſteem was their due from men, yet thu yl! ſeek it, Honour is to follow men, men not to follow it; I'is 4. reproved in the Scribes and Pharijees, that in their Pravers, Faſting, affe&ted Habits, and Titles, they fought the praiſe or Mo, Marth, 6, And how can ye b-lieve, ſeeing y2 eee honour 032 of ancth'r, and not the bonour that comes from Gol, - Toh. «, $4. every man oh with reference to attions honourable, and praite worthy, a2 Name is a bleſhng, bur to ſeek honour, that's the evil, Ani as tr 4 poſtle did not ſeek it himſelf, fo he forbids it to others,” (4!. 5,
Be not defirous of vain-glory,&c, And notes ſome falle'Feacters us git ty of it, 2 Cor, 10, 12, It 15 a vice direQly oppoſite to hunicy, Uh:
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becoming a man as man, and highly diſhonourable to Go:!, C0." trary to the Goſpel. The Heathens cheriiht it as the 51714 66 77e Atchieyements, 1t is one of Tul/ies Rules for the inflicutio!: ©; | 16 but the Chriftian Religion that gives all Glory to God, © 4.4
And yet we may ſeek the vindication of our Name, when 11Crc0y
may provide for the honour of the Name of God, as the 5 poille 24% often did, 4
made him faithful, and then put him into the Miniſtry, and intrufted
him with the Goſpel, And becauſe he [peaks in the Plural Numder, |
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Il'e were allowed of God, G:, therefore Silvanus anl Timotheus, yea, and other Apoſtles and Miniſters are to be undertiood as comprehend- ed with him in this Truſt, » That is, as men thus approved of by Gud, and entruſted with che Goſpel, that we may faithtully diſcharge our {ruſt, and be able to give a good account of it, as Stewards of their Irvit, 1Ccr,4.1,2, 0 This 1s another reaſon of their faithfulneſs and i1tegrity mentioned in the toregoing yerſe, which was the ſenile of Ged's Omnilcience, knowing and trying their hearts ; trying imports