Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Thessalonians 1:5

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 yoar sake .

The former part of the verse asserts the Reasons on which the Apostle built the knowledge of their Election, which is the manner of the Gospels coming to them,

because preached by him, and others to them; or intrusted with them [non-Latin text not transcribed].

Confirmed by Miracles, and had powerful Operation upon your hearts. The Power of God went along with our Ministry, which did not with the false Teachers, 1 Cor. 4.19. And the Kingdom of God is not Word, but Power, ver. 20.

Either in gifts of the Holy Ghost which ye received, or that Power which ye felt from the Gospel upon your hearts, was through the Holy Ghost. That they might not think it was their Ministry, or the World alone that had this Power upon them.

Ye giving full assent to the Truth of the Gospel without doubting on your parts, or preached to you with much confidence and assurance on our part. The former sense is best. And there is an allusion in the word to a ship riding upon the Sea with a full Gale, and not turned out of its course by a contrary Wind. Your Faith Triumpht over the Waves of all Objections, Disputes, or hesitations of mind. For doubtings of mind do much hinder the Power of the Word upon the heart. And this assurance they had from the holy Ghost.

We did not carry our selves among you like ordinary men, but by our laboriousness, and zeal in preaching, our patient suffering for the Gospel we preached, by our Holy Conversation, by our denyal of our selves in labouring with our hands amongst you, and by our great tenderness and affection to you, you might perceive that we were men sent of God, and our Ministry was from Heaven, and that We sought not yours, but you; whereby you had an advantage to entertain the Gospel preached by us with greater assurance. And in all these things we had respect to your Salvation. And for the Truth of all this, he appeals to their own knowledge, and that mighty presence and assistance of God in their Ministry among them, as they could not but perceive it, so it was all for their sake.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 letter].20.; [illegible: 1 paragraph]; [illegible: 1 word]. 6.6.; [illegible: 1 word]. 2.1.