But in all things approving ourselves,.... It is not sufficient for a minister of the Gospel to avoid everything that might bring any blot or scandal on his ministry; but he should in all things, and by all ways and means, proper, lawful, and laudable, approve, prove, and show himself to be a true and faithful dispenser of the word.
All in such an office ought to make it appear, that they are such by behaving and conductingas the ministers of God; as becomes such, whom he has chosen, called, and fitted for that service; and particularly in, orby much patience; by a large, constant, and continued exercise of that grace; and by bearing patiently many things for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel, without murmuring at the hand of God, or being angry with men, and without fainting and sinking in their own spirits:in afflictions; that is, in patiently bearing, them.