The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…

Answ. This interpretation, is indeed travelled for, and far fetched, but such is our nature, willing enough to travel, far and wide, to avoid the authority of an unwelcome truth; how much nearer at hand and fitter were it, to fetch the Apostles meaning from himself, and to take the sense of his words here, according to the sense and use of the same words in a like place, 1 Thes. 5.12. where the Apostles [Greek or Hebrew], are not travellers abroad, but [Greek or Hebrew], labourers amongst you. Their own Pastors, and Teachers, resident with them, and labourers amongst them. Pauls labouring more abundantly then all the rest of the Apostles, if it were not in word and doctrine, is impertinently alleged to show the sense of the word in this place, where he speaks expressly of labouring in word and doctrine: Nor had it been arrogancy in Paul to have spoken of his own greater labours, then of his fellow-Apostles in the Ministry of the Gospel, without respect to his travels, for his Ministry was accompanied more then all the rest, with greater afflictions and wrestlings, both within and without, whether he stayed in any place, or travelled abroad; and he might well think it necessary for him (as indeed the law of righteousness and gratitude required it of him) to take the more pains for Christ in preaching of the Gospel after his conversion, who had laboured more busily then all the rest against Christ, and against the Gospel before his conversion; nor is [Greek or Hebrew], or [Greek or Hebrew] an usual word in that language, to express travelling to be more then any other labour either of body or mind.

Answ. This interpretation, is indeed travelled for, and far fetcht, but such is our nature, willing enough to travell, far and wide, to avoid the authority of an unwelcome truth; how much neerer at hand and fitter were it, to fetch the Apostles meaning from himself, and to take the sense of his words here, according to the sense and use of the same words in a like place, 1 Thes. 5.12. where the Apostles 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, are not travellers abroad, but 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, labourers amongst you. Their own Pastors, and Teachers, resident with them, and labourers amongst them. Pauls labouring more abundantly then all the rest of the Apostles, if it were not in word and doctrine, is impertinently alledged to shew the sense of the word in this place, where he speakes expresly of labouring in word and doctrine: Nor had it been arrogancy in Paul to have spoken of his own greater labours, then of his fellow-Apostles in the Ministery of the Gospel, without respect to his travels, for his Ministery was accompanied more then all the rest, with greater afflictions and wrastlings, both within and without, whether hee stayed in any place, or travelled abroad; and he might well think it necessary for him (as indeed the law of righteousnesse and gratitude required it of him) to take the more pains for Christ in preaching of the Gospel after his conversion, who had laboured more busily then all the rest against Christ, and against the Gospel before his conversion; nor is , or an usuall word in that language, to expresse travelling to be more then any other labour either of body or mind.