Matthew Poole and continuators on Galatians 1:10

10 For do I now perswade men, or God? or do I seek to please men ? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ .

There is an Emphasis in the particle now, since I became a Christian, and was made an Apostle; while I was a Pharisee I did otherwise, but since I became an Apostle of Jesus [illegible: 1 letter]hrist, do I perswade you to hear what men say, or what God saith? Or (as others) do I perswade the things of men, their Notions and Doctrines, or the things of God? Or do I in my preaching aim at the gratifying or pleasing of men, or the pleasing of God?

The last is plainly said in the next words, which must not be understood in the [illegible: 1 letter]ull latitude of the terme, but restrainedly, do I seek to please and humour men in things wherein they teach and act contrary to God? It is the duty of inferiours to please their Superiours, and of all good Ministers and Christians, to please their Brethren, so far as may tend to the advantage of their Souls; or in civil things, so as to maintain a friendly and peaceable Society; but they ought not to do any thing in humour to them, by which God may be displeased: In which sense it is that the Apostle adds,

For if I pleased men, that is, in saying as they say, and doing as they do, without regard to pleasing or displeasing of Christ, I should not shew my self the servant of Christ, for his servants we are whom we obey, and our Lord hath taught us, that no man can serve two Masters, (that is, commanding contrary things).

Marginal references: 1 Thes. 2.4.; [illegible: 1 word]. 4.4.