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For oure reioycyng is this, euen the testimonie of oure conscience, that in singlenes (of heart) and godlye purenesse, and not in fleshly wisedome, but by the grace of God, we haue had ou•• conuersacion in the worlde, and moste of all to youwardes. We write none other thynges vnto you, then that ye reade, and also knowe. Ye and I truste ye shall finde vs vnto the ende, e∣uen as ye haue founde vs partelye: for we are youre reioy••ing, euen as ye are ours in the daye of the Lorde Iesus.
Were not this, as touchyng my selfe, I haue in my owne breste, wherewyth to comforte me sufficientlye in the middes of my troubles: yea and to make me reioyce and to glorye: that is to were, my conscience, whiche is witnesse, and priuy to this poynte, that we neuer laboured in the ministerie of Christes gos∣pell, sekyng for any gaynes by auauncing our selfes in worldlye wisedome, as among you some dooe, but taught it with all simplicitie and godly puritie bothe in all Greece, and speciallye among you, for whose sake albeeit wee haue suffered suche greate thynges, yet neuer loked wee for, or tooke any rewarde at your handes, leste some myght take occasion to thynke, that wee for oure ad∣uauntage so muche sought vpon you. And this muche haue I sayed, not arro∣gantly, but as y• trueth is. Nor boast we this otherwise of our self, than ye haue hadde experience of, for neuer founde ye vs other, than suche as wee saye we are by these letters, which ye reade, nor make wee ourselfes other in woordes by writyng, than wee among you shewed oureselfes in dooyng. Yea and I truste more ouer, that of what sorte ye haue hytherto partely founde vs: suche shall ye alwayes finde vs hereafter: that eche of vs maye glorie of other, if ye lyke thank∣full and apte children on your sydes in godly lyfe and deedes, bee lyke vnto your father & teacher, as I haue in al pointes bene vnto you goddes true messenger▪ Lette them in the meane season boste themselfes neuer so muche among menne, that disdeine at me, as an outcaste, and one in affliccions, yet certaynelye, when the Lorde shall come, beefore whome paynted coulours shall nothyng serue, then wyl I reioyce of you, whom I haue wonne vnto Christ, then shall ye also glorie of me, whome I nothyng taughte but Christes trewe doctrine.