Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your Faith:
Argum. 2. I have sent unto you Timothy my very fa∣milar friend, who although hee is my most intimate Bro∣ther, and a faithful Minister of God, and my fellow-la∣bourer in the Gospel of Christ, yet I am willing to bee deprived of his company, That yee might receive com∣fort and confirmation in the Faith: Therefore yee ought to bee most dear unto mee.
Vers. 3. That no man should bee moved by these af∣flictions: for your selves know that wee are appoin∣ted thereunto:
Argum. 3. I was more affraid, lest yee should bee offended at my afflictions for the Gospel, than I regar∣ded my own trouble: Therefore I would have you now strengthened against this scandal. (1) Because yee have learned out of the Gospel, how it is appointed of God, that wee Apostles before all others should suffer many af∣flictions for the truth of the Gospel.
Vers. 4. For verily when wee were with you, wee told you before, that wee should suffer tribulation, even as it came to pass, and yee know.
(2) Because I had told you before, that afflictions for the Gospel did abide for mee, as the event hath made it manifest.
Vers. 5. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your Faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour bee in vain.
Argum. 4. I feared lest the Devil by some of his arts, had moved you from the Faith, and so my labour had been lost: Wherefore I have sent to you Timotheus, who might understand your constancy in the Faith: There∣fore, &c.
Vers. 6. But now when Timotheus came from you un∣to us, and brought us good tidings of your Faith and Charity, and that you have good remembrance of us alwaies, desiring greatly to see us, as wee al∣so to see you:
Argum. 5. I much rejoyce upon the message that Ti∣motheus brought of your Faith towards Christ, of your love towards the Saints, and of your desire of seeing my face: Therefore, &c.
Vers. 7. Therefore, Brethren, wee were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress, by your Faith:
Argum. 6. The consolation arising to mee from your Faith, hath allayed, and excelled all my grief, which I took from the afflictions and necessities, either lying upon, or hanging over mee: Therefore, &c.
Vers. 8. For now wee live, if yee stand fast in the Lord.
Argum. 7. It shall bee certain happiness, if you a∣bide constant: Therefore it is necessary that yee bee most dear to mee.
Vers. 9. For what thanks can wee render to God a∣gain for you, for all the joy wherewith wee joy for your sakes before our God,
Argum. 8. Confirming the former; so great occasion was offered mee of sincere rejoycing in the presence of God for your perseverance, that I know not how great thanks to render to God: Therefore, &c.
Vers. 10. Night and day praying exceedingly that wee might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your Faith?
Argum. 9. I continually pray God, that I may see your faces, and amend the defects of your Faith, and encrease the measure of it, by opening to you more ful∣ly the mystery of the Gospel: Therefore, &c.
Vers. 11. Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Iesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
Argum. 10. How dear yee are to mee, yee may ga∣ther out of the summe of my prayer for you. There are three Articles of my prayer. (1) I alwaies pray that God would grant mee a prosperous journey to you, whereby I might confirm you in the Faith.
Vers. 12. And the Lord make you to increase and a∣bound in love one towards another, and towards all men, even as wee do towards you:
(2) Also I pray, that God would grant you encrease and abundance of love one towards another, and towards all, as my love abounds towards you.
Vers. 13. To the end hee may stablish your hearts un∣blameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ, with all his Saints.
(3) Lastly, I pray, that God would stablish your hearts, and make your consciences unblameable in true holiness, which is required before God, and our Father, that at length, at the comming of our Lord, with all his Saints (that is, Angels and men) yee may not bee a∣shamed: Therefore do none of you doubt, but that yee are most dear to mee.