Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Thessalonians 5:13

13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake . And be at peace among your selves .

Now the duty they owed to them is, 1. To know them, as in the former words, that is, to own them in their office; to have regard to their teaching, and to submit to their government, and to reward their labours, as knowing is often taken in Scripture to express the acts of the will and affection, and the actions also of the outward men, as well as of the mind, as Psal. 1.6. and 101.4. 2. To esteem them very highly in love for their works sake, [non-Latin text not transcribed] vid. Rom. 5.20. 2 Cor. 7.4. The words in the Greek carry such an emphasis as cannot well be exprest in English, importing esteem and love to an hyperbole, their love was to be joyned with esteem, and esteem with love, and both these to abound and superabound towards them. We read of a double honour 1 Tim. 5.17. which contains the whole duty of people to their Ministers.

Whether of Teaching, Ruling, or admonition. Their work is in it self honourable, and work that tends to your Salvation, and though their persons be meant, yet to esteem and love them for their work; or if upon any other account they deserve it of you, yet their work is to be the chief reason thereof; especially considering that their work more immediately respected them of this Church rather than any others; and their labour was amongst them. Or as some read it in you; to instruct edifie, and comfort your inward man.

Some copies read it, with them, [non-Latin text not transcribed] for [non-Latin text not transcribed], by a little alteration of the Greek word, and then it still refers to their Teachers; they should be at peace, or live in peace with them. For oftentimes dissensions arise betwixt Ministers and people, whereby their edification is hindred. But I rather follow our own translation; and so it is a new duty of the people towards one another, to preserve mutual peace among themselves, and yet these words may respect the former. For if the people give honour and respect to their Ministers, it may be a means to preserve peace among themselves: among the Corinthians the applauding of some of their Teachers, and the con[illegible: 1 letter]empt of others made great Schisms and divisions amongst them. Our Saviour useth these very w[illegible: 1 letter]rds to his D[illegible: 1 letter]sciples, Mark 9.50. from whence the Apostle might take them. And the duty of peace he often presseth in his Epistles, Rom. 14.19. 1 Cor. 7.15. 2 Cor. 13 11. Col. 3.15. Heb. 12.14. which was to pr[illegible: 1 letter] vent Schisme, which breaks the bonds of peace, and may make the labours of their Teachers less successfull.