§. 154. Of ones Perswasion of his own good Conscience.
THe substance of the reason consisteth in this, That their Ministers had a good conscience; the evidence whereof he expresseth in this word, a 1.1 We trust. This is the same word, though of another Tense, which was used Ch. 6. v. 9. §. 56. There it is translated, We are perswaded, and so it might be translated: for the trust which the Apostle here speaketh of, is such as ariseth from a full perswasion of a thing, See Ch. 2. v. 13. §. 119.
The perswasion that is intended, Chap. 6. 9. can be no other, then according to the judgement of charity, because it was of other men: but the perswasion here meant may be according to the judgement of certainty; because it is of a mans own self. For the spirit of man which is in him, knoweth the things of himself, 1 Cor. 2. 11.* 1.2 A believer may know that he hath a sound and true faith, as is proved in The whole Armour of God, on Ephes. 6. 16. Treat. 2. Part. 6. Of Faith, §. 36, 37, &c. In like manner may a man of a good conscience know that he hath a good conscience: and in that respect say with confidence, We trust we have a good conscience.
Thus this phrase, We trust, giveth evidence of the Apostles modesty on the one side, and confidence on the other.
Of his modesty, in that he doth not peremptorily say, We have a good conscience; but we trust we have.
Of his confidence, in that he useth a word which implieth a full perswasion.
It is further observable, that in setting down this confidence of a good conscience, he* 1.3 useth the plural number, thus, We trust; shewing thereby that he hoped of others, as much as he knew of himself. For the rule of charity puts us on to believe all things, and to hope all things, 1 Cor. 3. 7.* 1.4