on Ideb r 3. 8. 287 Sew fb nation ; left any thing of that fhould flick_ with them, or flans in the way of their praying for him, he obviates their objection (as it were) and fays, Ye mar pray for us ; for, however we be miftaken and mifrepre- ported of by many, yet we have a good-Confcience, wil- ling, deigning and endeavouring to live honeftly, fo as the gofpel of Chrifl may fuller in nothing by us; but that rather the repute and intereft thereof may be fur - thered and advanced : And by this he binds on them, as ye (hall (God willing) hear, the exhortation to pray for him. We intend. to infafl on the Tatter part of the verfe ; yet, becaufe the confideration of the fcope may he of confide- rabic ufe, we ¡hall fiiortly, and but in paffing, touch on forme obfervations from it ; T he fart whereof, which is infi- nuated, is, That a man that endeavours fincerely and ferioufly to keep a food Confcience, may yet, notwith- flanding, be exceedingly miflaken and mifreprefented in the world : Paul here found it needful to clear him - felf thus, which he needed not to have done, if he had .not been much miflaken and mifreprefented. idly, Obferve, That a man, under many miftakes, mil reprefentations and reproaches, may have a good Confci- ence ; fo that a man is not, in reference thereto, obliged to ifand to others thoughts and judgment of him. Thus it was a ¡mall thing for this fame apoflle, to be judged by man's judgment ; as he tells us, t Cor. 4. 3. Therefore ye would beware to lay weight on 'miffakes, mifrepre- fentations or falle reports of men, f nce a good report and a good Confcience go not always together. Paul went through good report and ill report, and digefted all thefe things, fo that his peace, and the teflimony of a good Confcience, were not thereby marred. idly, Obferve, That clearnefs as to a good Confcience under miftakes and reproaches, is a great and notable ground of confidence and boldnefs, to finch as are fo mi- ftaken and reproached. Many times men care but little' for a good Confcience : But when all the world (as it were) comes in a man's tops, the confidence of a good Confcience is an excellent and none -fuch friend and companion it bath great weight with Pintil here,, and is a tuff-
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