Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Thessalonians 1:6

6 And ye became followers of us , and of the LORD , having received the word in much affliction , with joy of the holy Ghost .

As you received our Gospel in the Power of it into your hearts, so you shew'd it forth in your Conversation, becoming followers or imitaters of us in our patient and cheerful sufferings, and our Holy, and Self-denying Carriage. The Doctrine of the Gospel which we taught you, we practised it before your eyes, and you followed us therein; though before you walked according to the course of the World- and were followers of the Religion and manners of the Heathen. The Examples of Ministers ought to be teaching as well as their Doctrine.

We have followed the Example of Christ, and ye followed us. So that as you believed on Christ as your Saviour, so you followed his Commands and Examples as your Lord and Master. As he exhorts the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 11.1. Be ye followers of me as I also am of Chri[illegible: 1 letter]t.

Though Affliction and Persecution attended the word, yet you received it; and this receiving was not only into your heads by knowledge of it, and into your hearts by an effectual believing it, but into your practice by a walking according to it. For receiving the word, in the Scripture phrase comprehends all this in it.

Tho' attended you, they did not deject your Spirits, but you had afflictions joy in your hearts by the Holy Ghost. Who usually doth give forth his joy most to the Saints when under suffering, which is one instance of the Gospels coming to them not in word only, but in the Holy Ghost, as was said before. The glad tydings of the Gospel did more comfort them, than all their sufferings did cast them down.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 3.17.; [illegible: 1 word] 3.9 [illegible: 1 word] 5.41. [illegible: 1 word] 1[illegible: 1 letter].34.