V. 18.— Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. The Apostle then requests their prayers, and he does this the more confidently because he trusted he had a good conscience. He was indeed maligned by many; but, whatever his calumniators might allege, he had the testimony of his conscience. “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.” 2 Corinthians 1:12. It may appear strange that the Apostle does not speak with more confidence. He trusts he had a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. Here he seems to glance at the deceitfulness of the heart. We may compare this with 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 :— "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’ s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.” He was not conscious of acting unfaithfully, but this did not justify him. His heart was deceitful and desperately wicked. He might form a false estimate of himself, but the judgment was the Lord’ s; and here he does not affirm that he has a good conscience, but he trusts he has a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.