upon the fruit of his labours among the Lords people So he should beware in so doing to sacrifice unto his own drag and net 1 Cor. 15. 10. but ought to ascribe the praise of all his success unto God who alone doth teach his people to profit Isaiah 48. 17. for Paul reflecteth upon his success with thanksgiving to God for this cause also thank we God 3. Though it be matter of thanksgiving to God from a Minister that he himself hath obtained grace to discharge his duty faithfully whatever be his success among a people seeing in that case he is alwayes a sweet savour unto God 2 Cor. 2. 15. yet a tender hearted servant of Christ doth never find his heart so much inlarged in this duty of thanksgiving and all restraints so fully taken off which might discourage him in it as when the Lord is pleased to bless his faithful diligence with fruit and success among the people of his charge for Paul doth then find himself inlarged most to this duty when his assiduous pains did get an answerable return of fruitfulness for this cause also thank we God 4. It is a great incouragement whether for Ministers or private Christians to bear burthen by prayer and thanksgiving unto God with and for others of whom it may be in charity presumed that they are dealing earnestly with God for themselves for he saith we also thank God The particle also implyes they themselves were making Conscience of this duty and therefore he and his associates did discharge it the more heartily 5. Our hearts should be disposed to and kept in such a frame for duties of Gods immediate worship and especially for speaking to God in prayer or praise that when ever occasion is offered and the Lord doth call us to it we may be alwayes in a readiness to close with it for Paul did thank God without ceasing that is he was alwayes ready for it and when occasion offered did go about it 6. The Scripture in hand doth point at some steps wherein people must walk who would have the Gospel blessed with success upon them 1. As the word of God and chiefly the Gospel Preached by sent Ministers is the ordinary means of converting sinners to God So they who would be converted by it must lend an attentive ear to hear it and carefully wait upon such occasions of hearing it as God doth offer for Paul speaking of the means of their conversion and fruitfulness saith The word of God which ye heard of us 2. They must seriously ponder and meditate upon the word heard and especially bring it to the proof whether it be the word of God or not otherwise bare hearing cannot profit for saith he ye received the word which ye heard of us See the Exposition 3. As the word of God delivered by his sent Ministers doth still remain Gods word speak it who will Matth. 23. 2 3. or let men think of it what they will Ezek. 2. 4 5. the nature of the word is nothing altered So the man who would have the word blessed with success unto him must labour to settle himself in this perswasion that the word delivered from Scripture is the word of the eternal God And indeed after an accurate search it will be found to be so by the consent of all its parts though written at divers times and several hands by the fulfilling of its prophesies the majesty and simplicity of its stile the and wonderful efficacy of it in changing mens hearts the malice of Satan against it in all ages and yet the Lords wonderful preserving of it c. for Paul affirms it to be Gods word and that they after search had found it to be so ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth as the word of God 4. When a man is thus perswaded that the word delivered from Scripture is no humane invention but the word of God he may receive and entertain it as his word trembling at threatnings Isa. 66. 2. rejoycing at and imbracing promises Heb. 11. 13. yielding obedience to precepts Act. 4. 6. and submitting with patience to sharpest reproofs 1 Sam. 3. 18. for that is to receive the word as Gods word and such a receiving is the ordinary consequent of the forementioned perswasion for they being perswaded it was Gods word did receive and by faith embrace it ye received it saith he not as the word of man but as the word of God 5. When a man hath thus received and imbraced the word he must labour to prove his so doing by making it appear that the word hath wrought effectually and over the belly of all impediments a mighty and gracious change in him from sin to holiness and the word so received by faith is alwayes attended with such efficacy in those who receive it It is the power of misbelief in hearers which maketh so much Preaching to so little purpose for saith he which to wit the word so received effectually worketh also not in all but in you that believe Ver. 14. For ye brethren became followers of the Churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus for ye also have suffered like things of your own Countrymen even as they have of the Jews He proveth what he spoke of the success of his Ministry and efficacy of the word among them from their constancy and patience under sharp sufferings for truth which for their incouragement and comfort he doth set forth under a comparison of likes or equals to this sense that they were followers or made conform to the Christian Churches in Judea here called the Churches in Judea which are in Christ who are thereby distinguished from the Jewish Synagogues who held themselves for Churches of God but rejected Christ The ground of which conformity and likeness he sheweth did lye in this that they the Christian Church at Thessalonica had for the same truth endured and suffered the like evils and hardships and with the same constancy and courage from their own Countrymen and fellow Citizens even as the Christian Jews had endured and suffered from the obdured Jews at home in Judea Heb. 10. 32 33 34. Doct. 1. So effectual and powerful in working is the word of truth that it makes the imbracers of it endure the greatest hardships and sharpest sufferings for love to it rather than to deny it a testimony when God calls for it for he gives this as an instance of the efficacy of the word that they became followers of the Churches of God in suffering for truth 2. There is not a more convincing evidence that the word of God is received as it ought and of its supernatural efficacy in those who do receive it than that it works a conformity in them with others in that which is good and especially in bearing afflictions and sufferings for truth with Christian courage and patience as they ought for among all others he pitcheth on this one evidence that they
Minister should and may please man without sin and in what respects not upon Gal. 1. 10. doct 6. for he gives that as an instance of his sincerity and study to please the Lord he spoke not as pleasing men but God 2. It is one of Satans great designs to possess the minds of people against the most faithful of Christs servants with strong suspicions that though there be nothing blame-worthy in their external walk they may yet be guilty of inward abominations as of pride hypocrisie covetousness unstreightness and such like because he knows that as nothing marreth the edification of people more than rooted prejudices of that kind against their Ministers So that though honest Ministers may justly deny the charge yet they cannot so easily demonstrate to the prejudged party their own freedom from the guilt charged there being alwayes somewhat in the best actions of most innocent men that may by an uncharitable and prejudged on-looker be constructed to spring from some of those bitter roots and therefore the servant of Christ should labour not only to keep himself free of those evils but also from doing any thing which may savour of them or give unto people any just occasion to conceive that he is tainted with them for Pauls clearing himself of those inward abominations here and in the preceding and following verses implyeth that some did suspect him guilty and that he walked so as he might justly clear himself that he was free of them even so we speak not as pleasing men 3. Then do we walk sincerely when as in every other thing so especially in the duties of our particular calling we labour to please and to approve our selves unto the Lord to wit by doing not only what he commands Rom. 12. 2. but also in the manner which he prescribes 1 Cor. 10. 31. and especially by seeking after and resting satisfied with his approbation of what we do for matter and manner without stepping one hair breadth off the road way of duty for catching applause or approbation of man for Paul gives this as an instance of his sincerity that in the duties of his particular calling as a Minister he did labour to please God or approve himself unto him even so we speak not as pleasing men but God 4. As the ministerial calling is of any other the greatest trust there being no less concredited to the person imployed in it than the Gospel of Christ and the souls of his people Heb. 13. 17. so none should be intrusted with that weighty charge but such as after tryal are found in some tolerable measure fitted for it for Paul sheweth he was when made a Minister put in trust with the Gospel and this after he was allowed of God the word signifieth proved and judged fit which implyeth not that he had any fitness of himself but the Lord of unfit did make him fit Gal. 1. 18. and did then intrust him with the Gospel 5. There is not any thing prevails more strongly with an ingenuous and gracious heart to make him in all things please the Lord than the serious remembrance of his rich receipts from him and how much he stands a debtor to Gods free grace and favour on that account for Paul makes the mercy manifested by God in making him a Minister a reason why he studied in all things to please him But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel even so we speak 6. It is a speaking evidence of a Ministers call from God when the conscience of his calling prevaileth with him to order himself in all the pieces of his imployment both for matter and manner as that he may approve himself to God who hath called him for the conscience of Pauls calling prevailed so with him as we were allowed to be put in trust even so we speak not as pleasing men but God 7. As God who knoweth the heart doth chiefly judge of mans actions according to that frame of heart wherewith he doth discharge them So then do we know and believe that it is so when our faith and knowledge of it doth make us in all our actions take such inspection of the heart as that for our inward sincerity we may approve our selves unto him who tryeth our hearts for the knowledge of this truth did so work upon Paul while he saith we speak as pleasing God who tryeth the hearts Ver. 5. For neither at anytime used we flattering words as ye know nor a cloak of covetousness God is witness The Apostle doth here remove from himself and his Ministry two other vices which are inconsistent with that single hearted sincerity that ought to be in a Minister and hereby doth also meet with the false Apostles who were tainted with the vices following first he used not flattering words that is speeches fitted to please the carnal corrupt humours of men for gaining of favour or some reward from them The word in the original is taken from another which signifieth meat implying that flattery is a base belli-god vice whereby the flatterer becomes a slave to every bodies humour for a piece of bread And for his freedom from this vice he appealeth to their own knowledge who might easily judge of his words whether they were flattering or not 2. He used not a cloak or pretext of covetousness that is neither was he avowedly covetous or inordinately desirous of worldly gain neither did he make a scug pretext or cloak of piety or of any laudable vertue to cover any such covetous desire as the false Apostles did Rom. 16. 18. And because men could not so well judge of his freedom from this sin as from the former seeing it is usually hid under some specious pretext therefore he appealeth unto God to judge and bear witness whether he spoke truth or not Doct. 1. The sin of flattery at least when given way to and allowed cannot consist with the Grace of sincerity as in no man so much less in a Minister where a man inslaveth himself to please the sinful humours of people and upon any terms not to irritate them he will not spare to wrest the truth of God to make it subservient to his base design by strengthning the hands of the wicked and promising him life Ezek. 13. 22. for Paul denyeth that he used flattering words as inconsistent with that sincerity formerly spoken of which appears by the causal particle for for neither at any time used we flattering words 2. Though flatterers be deep dissemblers and bend their wit to make all men believe they respect and love them when they but seek to prey upon them Prov. 29. 5. yet a man of understanding will easily discern them And it argues â—â—ther great stupidity or blind self-love in the man who when he is flattered to his face knoweth iâ— not but taketh foulest flatteries for real praises for while he appealeth to themselves to judge if he used flattering words he implyeth they might
of and to dispense the word to every one in private severally and apart so far as he may without appearance of evil chap. 5. 22. or wasting the time which should of necessity be spent in fitting him for and discharging of the publick duties of his Ministry which he oweth unto all for Paul exhorted comforted and charged every one of them 5. The Minister of Christ should so behave himself with meekness and gentleness as that he do not by an excess of those weaken his Ministerial gravity authority and respect A mixture of both is an excellent composition which if any other doth most beseem a Minister for Paul having shewn that for gentleness he was a nursing mother v. 7. c. he declareth here that for authority and gravity he was as a father As a father doth his Children c. Ver. 12. That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory Here is first what he exhorted them to even to walk worthy of the Lord not as if they could have demerited his favour which is free Rom. 11. 6. but that they might so walk as to resemble him in what concerned their duty 1 Pet. 1. 14 15. As a child is said to be worthy of such a father when he imitateth him and so as their life might be accounted worthy to be taken notice of by him when they with all their actions should come to stand and be judged in his sight Next there is a reason to inforce this walk in a description of God from his gracious act of calling them to partake not only of his Kingdom of grace here but also of glory hereafter Doct. 1. As Christians are not called to Idleness or to stand still doing nothing but to walk and make progress So the rule by which they ought to walk is not their own corrupt wit nor yet the approbation or example of men but that excellent pattern of divine properties and vertues which Scripture ascribeth to God and are held forth to be imitated by us in so far as our duty is expressed by them for Paul says they were called to walk worthy of the Lord. 2. Though there is no walk attended with such real profit credit or comfort as our walking worthy of the Lord and labouring to resemble him yet so backward are we to the way so apt to be discouraged in it so resolute are men by nature never to own it that there must be no small work before we condescend to enter it yea the Godly themselves do need a sharp spur to pouse them forward to keep them from fainting in it or turning away from it for Paul saw it needful to exhort comfort and charge even those whom God had already called that they would walk worthy of God 3. As none can walk worthy of God but those who are effectually called all others being dead and destitute of any principle of spiritual life and motion So then do we improve those excellent priviledges which follow upon effectual calling aright when we do not turn grace unto wantonness but look on all our gracious receipts as so many ingagements and incitements unto duty for he supposeth they were called and draweth an argument from their calling and those gracious priviledges which follow on it to make them walk worthy of God walk worthy of God who hath called you saith he to his Kingdom and glory 4. As there is an inseparable connexion betwixt a mans being a kindly subject of Gods Kingdom of Grace here and his partaking of glory hereafter So there is not any thing of greater force to make a man walk worthy of God by leading an holy life than his well grounded faith and hope of glory to be injoyed in Heaven The man who looketh to be in Heaven for ever cannot choose but have his conversation in Heaven and iâ—â—ure himself somewhat to the custome and manners of that Country where he intends to live eternally for Paul makes the partaking of Gods glory to follow necessarily upon reception to his Kingdom and both an argument to make them walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and glory Ver. 13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because 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 also in you that believe The Apostle having already set forth his own ministerial carriage doth now in further prosecution of his main scope which is to incite them unto constancy put them in mind of the success of his Ministry among them and thereby confirmeth that his entrance unto them was not in vain as to the third thing which I shewed on v. 1. was pointed at by that expression And first he expresseth his success among them briefly while he sheweth that uncessantly or at all times when occasion offered and God required he made conscience of thanksgiving to God for the work of their effectual calling by his Ministry implyed in the expression for this cause which relates to the close of v. 12. even because God had called them to his Kingdom and glory And next he proves they were effectually called and thereby doth more fully express the success of his Ministry by shewing 1. They had heard the word of God preached by him attentively 2. They received it being heard or did take it to their second consideration whether it was the word of God or not for so the word rendered received in the former part of the verse doth imply even to receive what is spoken in order to the tryal of what truth is in it 3. After tryal they found and were perswaded that it was no humane invention but the truth of God and here Paul inserts in a parenthesis that it is so indeed and consequently that they were not mistaken in their perswasion 4. They did receive and embrace it as such for the word rendered received in the second place differs in the original from the former and signifieth so to receive as with the heart and by faith to embrace what after tryal hath been found to be truth 5. The word being thus received did work effectually in believers among them a gracious and real change from sin to holiness of life as the fruit of the word is set forth 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. The word in the original signifieth to work with a kind of irresistable efficacy Doct. 1. The Lord doth usually bless with success the pains of those Ministers whose life and conversation doth prove exemplary for piety unto the flock and an ornament unto the Gospel which they Preach for Pauls pains whose life and conversation was such as is formerly held forth were blessed with that measure of success among the Thessalonians as he seeth reason to thank the Lord for it for this cause also thank we God 2. As a Minister may sometimes reflect with joy
for that at least what ever be his dealing with us otherwaies For though this people did labour under sad afflictions Chap. 2. 14. yet Paul doth look upon their Election as a ground of thanksgiving to God from him and much more from themselves We give thanks ver 3. Knowing your Election 4. A gracious heart doth judge it a piece of his highest credit to reckon spiritual kindred unto all who are born of God and will love them dearly and carry himself affectionately and affably towards such as are beloved by him For because they were beloved by God they were brethren to him the latter compellation containing in it the cause of the former Ver. 5. For our Gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake Followeth a third reason of their thanksgiving to God which serveth also for an evidence that there was an Elect people among them which reason is first propounded to wit the lively manner after which he and his associates had Preached the Gospel among them called their Gospel because they were intrusted to Preach it 2 Cor. 5 19. and the manner of their Preaching is set down 1. Negatively it was not in words only that is as he explains himself 1 Cor. 2. 4. not with the inticing words of mens wisdom or varnished over with some fair sophistical flourishes of eloquent language tending more to amuse the hearers tickle the ears and commend the Preacher than to edifie the judgement to work upon the affection and to commend Christ to peoples hearts Next positively it was 1. in power that is accompanied with such boldness liberty Gospel simplicity plainness of language seriousness and fervent edge of affection in the Preachers as did render the word so spoken in some measure apt to work powerfully upon the hearers For so doth Paul himself seem to explain what is meaned by Preaching in power 1 Cor. 2. 4 13. and 4. 19 20. Secondly Their Preaching was in the Holy Ghost that is it was confirmed by Signs and Miracles wrought among them by the Apostle and his Associates as they were extraordinarily assisted thereunto by the Holy Ghost See the Holy Ghost so taken Acts 19. 2. 3. It was in much assurance whereby is meaned that full perswasion above all doubt which was in Paul and the other Preachers of the truth of what they Preached so that they spoke not of these truths doubtingly but confidently and as of things which they had heard and seen 1 Joh. 1. 1. Now that all these three expressions do set forth somewhat in the Preachers according to the sense given rather than the effect of their Preaching upon the hearers spoken of ver 6. appears from the last clause of this Verse where he appeals to the consciences of the Thessalonians if they the Preachers had not in all things carried themselves among them answerable to what he presently spoke and withal sheweth that all that they did of that sort and that God did by them was for their sake and good which doth make the present purpose subservient to the Apostles scope to wit that therefore even upon the account presently mentioned there was ground of thanksgiving to God for them and that they were bound to persevere in that doctrine which God had made to be Preached among them in such a lively manner for their good Hence learn 1. That God hath sent the Gospel in life and power unto a people and given them a lively and powerful Ministry though but for a season to sow the seeds of grace and saving knowledge among them It is no small matter of thanksgiving unto God both from themselves and others on their behalf even though their faithful Pastors afterwards should by force of persecution be for a time removed from them The good and fruit of such a Ministry is not alwaies removed with them but lasteth after they are gone Joh. 4. 37 38. For Paul doth thank the Lord upon behalf of this Church that he and his Associates had Preached the Gospel in life and power among them though they were for the present driven from them We give thanks c. Ver. 2. For our Gospel came unto you in power 2. The Lords usual way is not to send a lively and powerful Ministry unto a place but where he hath some of his Elect to be converted and saved by that means For Paul having affirmed ver 4. that he knew there was an Elect people among them he giveth this as one evidence upon which that knowledge was grounded even because God had sent such a Ministry unto them For our Gospel came unto you in power 3. That a people or person may prove constant in Faith and Piety they would often remember the Love of their first espousals to Christ with what fervency and seriousness he did bear himself in upon them how sweet how lively how ravishing the glad tidings and report of him in the mouth of his servants were once unto them and how much they were then convinced of a beauty in truth and in the feet and carriage of those who did carry the message of truth and peace unto them The remembrance whereof may stir up some longing desires to find that in Christ in Truth and in a sent Ministry which once they found at least may render them ashamed to make defection from them For the Apostles remote scope as we shew in calling them to mind of the lively manner wherein the Word was first Preached among them and how they themselves were witnesses to it and convinced of it is hereby to excite them unto constancy and perseverance For our Gospel came unto you in power 4. As there doth usually but little fruit accompany a Ministry when Ministers do study words more than purpose and to busle their purpose in such a dress of words as may set out themselves rather than commend Christ and tickle the ear rather than edifie the hearer So where a Minister doth make it his study to get Christ formed in and ground gained upon the hearts of hearers and to fall upon such purpose such words and such strains of utterance and delivery of his purpose from affection plainness and holy boldness as may conduce most for that end the pains of such a Ministry are usually seconded most by the Holy Ghost and does afford much matter of thanksgiving to the Lord for by the former the Gospel cometh in word only and by the latter it cometh in power also and Paul sheweth that not the former but the latter was accompanyed with the Holy Ghost and looks upon it as a reason of his thanksgiving to God For our Gospel came not unto you in word only but in powâ—â— also and in the Holy Ghost 5. That the truths of the Gospel were once confirmed by such signs and wonders as none could work but they who were
extraordinarily gifted by the Holy Ghost for that end may abundantly fix us in the Faith of those truths it being impossible that the God of truth should ever have set his Seal unto a Lye Rom. 3. 4. For Paul would have them confirmed and constant in the Faith of these truths Preached by him because they were confirmed with such signs and wonders and in the Holy Ghost 6. The more a Minister be perswaded and above all doubt of the truth of what he Preaches the more he believes and doth therefore speak and the more he speaks as one who believes and hath ventured his soul upon the truth which he Preaches his Preaching will prove the more powerfull and apt to work effectually upon the hearts of hearers and the more he doubts the less he believes and is perswaded of these truths which he Preacheth his Preaching will prove the more warsh lifeless and coldryf For we may look on the third expression as one ground and cause of what is held forth in the first their Gospel came in power because it came in much assurance or the Preachers did assuredly believe the truths which they Preached see 1 Cor. 3. 12. Psal. 16. 10. 7. The Lord hath indued his Church and eespecially believers in his Church with a gift of discerning whereby they may be enabled in some measure to put difference betwixt a lively powerful Ministry and that which is coldryf dead and lifeless betwixt the man who speaks because he believes and him who though he speak yet believeth not In the exercise of which gift they would not be rash in passing an immediate sentence upon the hearts of Ministers Col. 2. 23. except in so far as their inward temper doth kyth in their external actions Matth. 7. 16. They would not be peremptory in passing certain judgement especially to the worst upon a doubtful evidence 1 Cor. 13. 7. Nor yet too open minded to vent what they judge Jam. 1. 19. especially when they can gain nothing by so doing but the raising of prejudices against a Minister in the minds of others and consequently the marring of that good which they were reaping by him However that they are indued with this gift is clear from this that Paul appeals to the Thessalonians as witnesses of that power and much assurance in which he Preached while he saith As ye know what manner of men we were among you 8. It is a Ministers wisdom and a piece of Christian modesty in speaking to his own commendation to hold himself most by that for the truth whereof he may appeal to the ears eyes and chiefly to the consciences of his hearers For so doth Paul appeal to their consciences for the truth of what he spoke As ye know what manner of men we were among you 9. These excellent gifts and graces and other ministerial qualifications which Christ bestoweth upon godly and able Ministers are not bestowed upon them for their own sake or particular satisfaction and advantage only or so much as for the behoof of the Church and especially of the Elect in it he dealeth the more liberally with Ministers for the sake of those and therefore they should improve and make use of all their receipts for the good of â—uch For Paul sheweth that he was inabled to Preach in power in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance for their sake Ver. 6. And ye became followers of us and of the Lord having received the Word in much affliction with â—â—y of the Holy Ghost Here is a fourth reason of their thanksgiving to God which serveth also as an evidence moving Paul in Charity to judge all these to be elected of God unto Eternal Life in whom he had ground to conceive that this here spoken of was verified And this reason of thanksgiving or evidence of election is taken from the saving effects of the Gospel Preached upon them which are first generally proponed to wit that in their life and practice they had been followers of or conformed themselves to that excellent pattern and example held forth unto them by their Preachers and the Lord Christ. 2. Illustrated 1. from the necessary antecedent or moving cause of their so doing which was their receiving the Word Preached to wit in their judgements by understanding the sense Act. 8. 30. and assenting to the truth of it Heb. 4. 2. and in their heart and affections by embracing the good things offered by it 1 Tim. 1. 15. and subjecting themselves in all things to be ruled by the prescript of it Matth. 7. 24. 2. From an instance of some things wherein they did imitate such excellent patterns to wit that as Christ and his Servants had readily Preached the Gospel with much spiritual joy Joh. 4. 34. notwithstanding many hard pressures and afflictions both from men and Devils Acts 5. 41 42. So they had chearfully embraced the Gospel and adhered to it in the midst of much affliction and persecution unto which they were so far from a base ceding that they did couragiously sustain the dint of it with joy and a joy not carnal and natural but spiritual and such whereof the Holy Ghost is Author Doct. 1. Though charity believeth all things 1 Cor. 13. 7. and maketh a man easie to be perswaded of any good thing in another yet a Christian ought not to be foolishly credulous so as to believe things without far less against evidence But his charity in judging ought to be ruled by prudence so as he believe nothing but upon some probability and appearance For Paul did not judge them Elect but upon some evidence even this that they were followers of him and of the Lord. 2. The way approved of God for attaining the Faith of our own Election or a charitable perswasion of the Election of others is not to dive in immediately and at the first step upon the secrets of Gods decree as if we had stood in his counsel Jer. 23. 18. But by way of discourse and reasoning to collect and conclude that God hath elected us or others from the work of saving grace and the effects of that work kything in us or them For the Apostles scope here as I shew is not only to give an additional reason of his thanksgiving but also an evidence from which he did conclude their Election from the fruits and effects of saving grace in them Ye became followers of us and of the Lord saith he 3. It is the duty of Christians and such as being made conscience of doth strongly savour of a gracious change in them to propound unto themselves for imitation not the example of a multitude to do evil Exod. 23. 2. but of those in whom they observe the most eminent evidences of a work of saving grace For the Apostle doth mention this as a matter of their commendation a reason of thanksgiving to God on their behalf and as an evidence of their Election that they did imitate him and his Associates And ye became