2 Corinthians 12 Cross References - Mace

¹ Have not I reason to glory? for now I shall mention my visions and revelations from the Lord. ² I knew a christian who above fourteen years ago, was snatch'd up even to the third heaven, whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows. ³ but tho' I don't know whether it was in the body, or out of the body, which God only knows, ⁴ this I know, that he was snatch'd up into paradise, and heard such secrets as it is not lawful for a man to reveal. ⁵ I might glory in being the man; but I will not glory in any thing relating to myself, unless it be my sufferings. ⁶ tho' if I had a mind to glory, I might do it without vanity, for I should say nothing but what is true: but now I forbear, lest any man should ascribe more to me than my actions, or my preaching can justify. ⁷ and lest I should be exalted above measure by the extraordinary revelations I have had, I was afflicted in my person, so that the messenger of satan insulted me; concerning which, ⁸ I besought the Lord thrice, to make him leave me. ⁹ but he said to me, "my favour is sufficient for thee: for my strength is shown to be perfect by thy weakness." with pleasure therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may be seen to dwell in me. ¹⁰ I take pleasure then in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am afflicted, then it is I have fortitude. ¹¹ Am I become vain? 'tis you have forc'd me to it: for I ought to have been commended by you: since I am not inferior to the chiefest of the apostles, tho' in myself I am nothing. ¹² the marks indeed of an apostle I have shown among you by my extreme patience, by signs, and prodigies, and miracles. ¹³ for in what were ye inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? an injury I hope you will easily forgive. ¹⁴ This is the third time I purposed to come to you; but I will not be burdensome to you; for I seek not yours, but you: since it is not expected children should lay up for their parents, but parents for their children: on the contrary, ¹⁵ I shall be glad to sacrifice myself and all I have for your service, even tho' it should happen that the more I love you, the less I should be beloved. ¹⁶ 'tis own'd I did not put you to any charges myself: but was so crafty, as to over-reach you, by others. ¹⁷ what, did I make a gain of you by any body I sent to you? ¹⁸ I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother: did Titus make a gain of you? didn't we follow the same principles, and take the same measures? ¹⁹ do you think I have been making excuses for not coming? as I am a christian, in the presence of God, I have, my beloved, in every thing consulted your advantage. ²⁰ yet I fear when I do come I shall not find you such as I would, and that you will find me such as you least desire: I am afraid there are among you debates, envyings, animosities, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, arrogance, tumults: ²¹ and I am afraid, God will humble me when I come again among you, and I shall bewail many who have formerly sinned, and have not yet repented of their impurity, their fornication, and dissoluteness.

⁷ nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I do not go away, the advocate will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him to you.

¹⁴ the same Caiaphas, who in council told the Jews, "it was expedient that one man should die for the people."

¹⁰ Now there was a disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, to whom the Lord said in a vision, Ananias! and he said, Lord, here I am. ¹¹ and the Lord said unto him, arise, and go to the street called Straight, and enquire at the house of Judas, for one Saul of Tarsus: for he is there at prayer. ¹² (at that very instant Saul saw in a vision the said Ananias come in, and put his hand on him, to restore his sight.) ¹³ then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many that this man has done a world of mischief to thy saints at Jerusalem: he is now here, ¹⁴ and is impower'd by the chief priests, to imprison all that make profession of thy name. ¹⁵ go, said the Lord to him: for he is the instrument I have chosen, to bear my name to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel. ¹⁶ for I will make him see how much he must suffer for my name. ¹⁷ Ananias therefore departed, and being arrived at the house, he put his hands on Saul, and said, brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus that appeared to you on your journey hither, hath sent me, that you might obtain your sight, and be filled with the holy spirit.

⁹ then the Lord said to Paul in a vision by night, "be not afraid, but speak, and be not silenc'd:

¹⁷ at length being return'd to Jerusalem, one day as I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance. ¹⁸ then I saw JESUS, who said to me, "make haste, and go out of Jerusalem immediately: for they will not receive the attestations you would give of me." Lord, ¹⁹ said I, they know it is I that imprison'd those who believed on thee, and caus'd them to be scourg'd in the assemblies: ²⁰ that I was present, when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, that I abetted the slaughter, and watch'd the clothes of those who slew him. ²¹ but the Lord said to me, "be gone, for I will send you far hence, even to the Gentiles."

¹¹ The night following, the Lord appear'd to him, and said, Paul, take courage; for the same remonstrances that you have made concerning me at Jerusalem, you must likewise make at Rome.

¹³ when at mid-day, O king, a light from heaven exceeding the splendor of the sun, broke all around me, and those that accompanied me. ¹⁴ we were all struck down: when I heard a voice directed to me pronounce these words in the Hebrew tongue, "Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? it is dangerous for thee to kick against the goad." ¹⁵ I answer'd, who art thou, Lord? he said, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. ¹⁶ but rise upright upon thy feet: for I have appear'd to thee in order to establish you my minister in testifying both what you have seen, and what I shall hereafter show to you, ¹⁷ by delivering you from this people, and from the Gentiles to whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, ¹⁸ and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and partake of the inheritance of the saints, by believing on me." ¹⁹ this heavenly vision, king Agrippa, I presently obey'd:

¹² Are all things lawful for me? however, all things are not expedient: are all things lawful for me? however, I will not be a slave to any.

²³ are all things lawful for me? yet all things are not expedient: are all things lawful for me? yet all things do not edify.

¹⁰ in this I only advise you: it being for your credit, since you have not only begun to execute it, but you were the first that form'd the design a year ago.

¹⁶ I say it again, let no man think me vain; but if they do, yet as such, bear with me, that I too may applaud my self a little. ¹⁷ what I say, I say it not as an apostle, but as it were to indulge my vanity in this matter of boasting. ¹⁸ since many glory in outward advantages, I will glory too. ¹⁹ for as wise as you are your selves, you easily bear with the folly of others. ²⁰ if a man impose upon you, if he preys upon you, if he makes a gain of you, if a man insults you, if he disgracefully assaults you, I mean it as to their reproaches, you take it all; ²¹ as if I was inferior to them. but whatever they pretend to, (I must be so vain) I pretend to the like. ²² Are they Hebrews? so am I: are they Israelites? so am I: are they of the race of Abraham? ²³ so am I: are they ministers of Christ? is it my vanity? I am more so: in toilsome labours I surpass them, in stripes I am exceedingly beyond them, in prisons I have been oftner, and frequently in the very jaws of death. ²⁴ from the Jews I have five times received forty stripes save one. ²⁵ thrice was I whip'd with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I was shipwreck'd; a night and a day I was floating on the deep: ²⁶ in my voyages I have been frequently in perils from rivers, in perils from robbers, in perils from my own countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the country, in perils at sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ expos'd to toil, to fatigue, to frequent watchings, to hunger and thirst, to frequent fastings, to cold and penury. ²⁸ besides these troubles from without, that which crouds upon me daily, the care of all the churches. ²⁹ who is afflicted, and I not suffer? who is offended, and I not inflam'd? ³⁰ If I must be compell'd to glory, I will glory on the account of my sufferings.

⁷ and lest I should be exalted above measure by the extraordinary revelations I have had, I was afflicted in my person, so that the messenger of satan insulted me; concerning which,

¹¹ Am I become vain? 'tis you have forc'd me to it: for I ought to have been commended by you: since I am not inferior to the chiefest of the apostles, tho' in myself I am nothing.

¹² for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

² and I went up according to revelation, and communicated to them that gospel, which I preach among the Gentiles; but privately to those who were of note, lest the pains, that I have already taken, or may hereafter take in the gospel, should be in vain.

³ having revealed to me the secret, I now mention'd in short,

²⁰ We know that the son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true: and we are with him that is true, by his son Jesus Christ. "he is the true God, who is the author of eternal life."

⁵¹ and while he was blessing them, he was taken from them, and carried up into heaven.

⁵⁶ he that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

⁴ be attach'd to me, and I shall be so to you. as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self, except it be attach'd to the vine: so neither can you, except you continue attach'd to me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for independent of me ye can do nothing. ⁶ if a man abide not in me, he is cast away as withered branches that are gather'd up to be thrown into the fire, where they are burned.

²¹ that they all may be one, as thou, father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. ²² and the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them: that they may be one, even as we are one. ²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may have a perfect union, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

³⁹ when they were come out of the water, the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he pursued his way with joy. ⁴⁰ but Philip was found at Azotus: and passing on, he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.

⁶ of which they were appriz'd, and fled to Lystra and Derbe, citys of Lycaonia, and to the adjacent country,

¹⁷ at length being return'd to Jerusalem, one day as I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance.

¹ Sentence of death therefore shall not pass upon those christians who do not lead a vicious life.

⁷ salute Andronicus and Junias my relations, and fellow-prisoners, who are distinguish'd among the apostles,

³⁰ for from him it is that ye believe in Christ Jesus, whom God has made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that,

⁶ therefore being always certainly assur'd that whilst I sojourn in this body, I am absent from the Lord, ⁷ (for I regulate my conduct by my future expectations, not by visible enjoyments: ⁸ ) in this assurance, I say, I think it best to be quit of this body, and be present with the Lord.

¹⁷ therefore, if any man be a christian, he is in a new creation: the old state of things is chang'd to one entirely new.

²¹ for he hath made him who knew no sin to be a sin-offering for us, that we might be justified by God thro' him.

¹¹ why so? is it because I love you not? far otherwise, God knows.

³ but tho' I don't know whether it was in the body, or out of the body, which God only knows, ⁴ this I know, that he was snatch'd up into paradise, and heard such secrets as it is not lawful for a man to reveal. ⁵ I might glory in being the man; but I will not glory in any thing relating to myself, unless it be my sufferings.

⁵ Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; bring yourselves to the proof; are you so little acquainted with yourselves, as not to know whether Jesus Christ be in you? but if you are destitute of proofs,

²² but was personally unknown to the churches of Christ in Judea,

⁶ for in the christian-dispensation, neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but an active benevolent faith.

¹⁰ he that descended, is the same too that ascended far above all heavens, to perfect all things.

²² whether it be an advantage to me or not still to lead this mortal life, what to chuse I cannot tell. ²³ I am doubly press'd between my desire to depart, in order to be with Christ, which is by far the best for ME;

¹⁷ then we, who shall be still alive, shall be convey'd together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall ever be with the Lord.

²⁴ for Christ is not entred into a sanctuary made by human art, such as is only representative of the true one, but into heaven itself, to appear from henceforth in the presence of God on our behalf:

¹⁰ there I was in an exstacy on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a loud voice, like the sound of a trumpet,

² Immediately I was in an extasy: and I saw a throne placed in heaven, and one sitting on the throne.

⁵ and she brought forth a man-child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up to be with God, and about his throne.

⁴³ Jesus answer'd, verily I tell you, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

⁷ he that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith to the churches, to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my God."

³ I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in great agony:

³⁰ If I must be compell'd to glory, I will glory on the account of my sufferings.

⁹ but he said to me, "my favour is sufficient for thee: for my strength is shown to be perfect by thy weakness." with pleasure therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may be seen to dwell in me. ¹⁰ I take pleasure then in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am afflicted, then it is I have fortitude.

¹ I call Christ, and the holy spirit to witness with my conscience, that I speak the truth without guile, when I say,

⁵ who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye have received faith according to the divine gifts imparted to each of them?

⁹ For we are fellow labourers employed by God: you are his field, and his mansion. ¹⁰ according to the free gift of God bestowed upon me, I, as a skilful architect, have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. but let every man take heed how he builds thereupon.

¹⁸ God is my witness, I never prevaricated with you.

¹³ for if I glory even to transport, my glorying is in God: if I am moderate, my glorying is for your service.

⁸ for though I should more than ever magnify my authority, which the Lord hath given us for your improvement, and not for your ruin, I should have no reason to be ashamed; ⁹ but that I may not seem as if I would strike a terror in you by letters: ¹⁰ (for 'tis objected that my letters are weighty and powerful, but my bodily presence weak, and my preaching

¹⁶ I say it again, let no man think me vain; but if they do, yet as such, bear with me, that I too may applaud my self a little.

³¹ the ever-blessed God, and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, knows that I speak truth.

⁶⁷ then they spit in his face, some beat him on the head, others slapt him on the cheeks,

¹⁶ and must not this daughter of Abraham, whom satan has held bound these eighteen years, be disengag'd from this bond, on a sabbath-day?

¹¹ to this very day we suffer both hunger, thirst, and penury: we are buffeted from place to place, as vagabonds:

⁵ to deliver him up to satan, to suffer corporal punishment, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵ to level all the barriers they contrive for obstructing the divine doctrine, and to make their pride captive to the authority of Christ.

²⁰ if a man impose upon you, if he preys upon you, if he makes a gain of you, if a man insults you, if he disgracefully assaults you, I mean it as to their reproaches, you take it all;

¹³ It is not you that have done me any injury: tho' you knew through what infirmity of the flesh I heretofore preached the gospel to you,

⁶ nor must he be a new convert; for fear he should be elated with pride, and so involve himself in the same ruin as the devil.

²¹ and he said to her, what would you have? grant, said she, when you are upon the throne, that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left. ²² but Jesus answered them, ye know not what ye ask. can ye bear to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? they said to him, we can.

³⁹ Then advancing a little further, he fell prostrate in prayer, and said, "O my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not mine, but thy will be done." ⁴⁰ then returning to the disciples, and finding them asleep, he said to Peter, what, could ye not watch by me one hour? ⁴¹ watch and pray that ye may not sink under the trial: the mind indeed is vigorous, but the flesh is weak. ⁴² again, he went away the second time, and prayed thus, "O my father, if I cannot avoid drinking this cup, thy will be done." ⁴³ then returning, he found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ then he left them once more, and went to prayers the third time, using the same words.

⁷ this was Jesus, who while he was in a mortal body, having offered up prayers and supplications, with strong cries, and with tears, to him that was able to save him from that death, was heard so as to be delivered from his fear;

¹¹ Blessed shall you be when men shall revile and persecute you, and falsely charge you with all manner of evil for your attachment to me. ¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great will be your reward in heaven: for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

¹⁹ but when they take you. into custody, be not sollicitous, how or what ye shall speak, for at the very instant you shall be inspir'd what to say. ²⁰ for it is not properly you that speak, but the spirit of your father that speaketh by you.

¹⁸ and Jesus came, and said to them, all power has been given me in heaven and in earth.

²⁰ teaching them to observe every thing which I have enjoin'd you: and be assured I shall be always with you to the end of the world.

¹⁵ for I will make you speak with such strength of argument, as all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict or withstand.

⁵ that your faith might not be owing to human wisdom, but to the divine influence.

¹³ you have met with no trials yet, but such as are common to men: and God who is faithful, will not suffer you to be tempted above your strength; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, by enabling you to bear it.

¹⁰ it is by the divine favour that I am what I am: and his favour to me was not in vain; no, I laboured more than they all: yet it was not I, it was the divine favour which assisted me.

⁵ not that I am sufficient of myself to effect any thing by the strength of my own reason: but my sufficiency is from God. ⁶ who also hath enabled me to be a minister of the new covenant, not of the literal sense, but of the spiritual meaning: it is the letter that denounces death, but the spirit gives life.

⁵ I might glory in being the man; but I will not glory in any thing relating to myself, unless it be my sufferings.

¹⁰ I take pleasure then in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am afflicted, then it is I have fortitude.

¹⁵ I shall be glad to sacrifice myself and all I have for your service, even tho' it should happen that the more I love you, the less I should be beloved.

¹⁶ that by his immense power he would strengthen the faculties of your minds by his spirit:

¹³ to these things I am equal, thro' Christ who strengthens me.

¹¹ being fortified in so effectual a manner, as to sustain your trials with constancy and joy:

²⁸ he it is that we preach, exhorting, and instructing men in every part of divine knowledge, that they may all be perfectly acquainted with the doctrine of Christ Jesus. ²⁹ this is what I earnestly strive to effect, by virtue of that power, which effectually operates in me.

¹⁴ but the favour of our Lord display'd itself by that faith and charity, which was wrought in me by Jesus Christ.

¹⁶ us therefore approach with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may obtain the seasonable assistance of divine mercy and favour.

³⁴ were proof against the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, show'd their resolution in distress, and their valour in fight, putting to flight the armies of the aliens.

¹³ on the contrary, rejoice at the share you have of sufferings, as well as Christ: that you may likewise triumph, when he shall appear in his glory. ¹⁴ if you suffer indignities in the cause of Christ, you are happy: for the glorious spirit of God rests upon you.

²² blessed are you, when men shall hate you, discard you, reproach you, and treat you as infamous, for your attachment to the son of man.

²¹ but all these things will they do unto you, out of hatred to my name, because they know not him that sent me.

⁴¹ full of joy, that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.

³ and not only so, but we triumph in tribulation also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, probation;

³⁵ what shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or penury, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ for as it is written, "for thy sake we are sacrificed every day; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter:" ³⁷ yet after all we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. ³⁸ for I am fully persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹ neither the high, nor the low, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God by Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹⁰ we are made fools for our attachment to Christ, while you, who are christians too, still pass for the wise: we are in poverty, but you are in power: you meet with esteem, but we find contempt.

⁴ who comforteth me in all my tribulations, that I may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith I myself am comforted of God.

⁵ for we preach not our selves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, professing our selves your servants for his sake.

⁸ I am press'd on every side, yet not crush'd; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; dejected, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always bearing about in my body the marks of sufferings like those of Jesus, so that Jesus might be plainly prov'd to be alive by the sufferings of my body. ¹¹ for as long as I live I shall be exposed to death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest by the preservation of our mortal life.

¹⁷ for the light affliction, which I at present suffer, will be infinitely over-ballanced by an eternal weight of glory;

¹⁵ that they who are in a state of life should not live at their own discretion, but to the service of him who died for them, and rose again.

⁴ but in all things I approve myself as the minister of God, by great constancy in afflictions, in torments, in distresses, from stripes,

⁴ I use indeed great freedom of speech toward you, yet I greatly glory upon your account: I am filled with comfort, and my joy is still superiour to all my affliction.

¹⁸ for not he that commendeth himself, but he whom the Lord commendeth, is the approved.

⁹ but he said to me, "my favour is sufficient for thee: for my strength is shown to be perfect by thy weakness." with pleasure therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may be seen to dwell in me.

⁴ for tho' he was crucified with the appearance of weakness, yet he lives by the power of God; tho' we are afflicted upon his account, we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

⁹ I am therefore glad when I am disarm'd by the strength of your integrity: and this is what I pray for, even your perfection.

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, place your strength in the transcendent power of the Lord.

²⁹ for it is a favour bestowed upon you, that you not only believe on Christ, but suffer also for his sake,

¹⁷ and if my blood should serve as a libation to ratify your faith, I should rejoice and congratulate with you all thereupon; ¹⁸ and you too should be glad and congratulate me upon that account.

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and am filling up the measure of those remaining afflictions, which in my turn I am to suffer in this life, in the cause of Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the church:

⁴ so that you are the subject of our glorying in the churches of God, for the constancy of your faith, under all the persecutions and afflictions you endure from men,

² Consider the various tryals that surround you, my brethren, as matter of great joy; knowing this,

⁶ This it is that fills you with joy, notwithstanding the various tryals, which still necessarily afflict you, ⁷ that your faith being put to a more advantageous proof, than that of gold, which loses by the essay, may redound to your praise and highest honour at the appearance of Jesus Christ:

³ thou hast suffer'd, hast patience, for my name's sake thou hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

¹⁰ so when you have done all that you were commanded to do, say, we are unprofitable servants; we have only done what was our duty to do.

⁴ while one cries I am Paul's disciple, and another, I am Apollo's, are ye not vicious? ⁵ who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye have received faith according to the divine gifts imparted to each of them? ⁶ I have planted, Apollos watered: but God gave the increase. ⁷ so then, neither is he that planted any thing, nor he that watered: it is God only that gives the increase.

²² whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come;

⁸ and last of all, he was seen by me too, who am as it were an abortive; ⁹ for I am the meanest of the apostles, not worthy the name of an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ it is by the divine favour that I am what I am: and his favour to me was not in vain; no, I laboured more than they all: yet it was not I, it was the divine favour which assisted me.

⁶ but whether I am afflicted, it is for your consolation and relief, which is effected by your perseverance, patiently enduring the same sufferings which I also undergo: or whether I am comforted, it is for your consolation and relief.

¹ Would you could bear with me a little in my vanity, but indeed you do bear with me.

⁵ for I think I am not at all inferior to the chiefest of the apostles.

¹⁶ I say it again, let no man think me vain; but if they do, yet as such, bear with me, that I too may applaud my self a little. ¹⁷ what I say, I say it not as an apostle, but as it were to indulge my vanity in this matter of boasting.

⁶ tho' if I had a mind to glory, I might do it without vanity, for I should say nothing but what is true: but now I forbear, lest any man should ascribe more to me than my actions, or my preaching can justify.

¹² the marks indeed of an apostle I have shown among you by my extreme patience, by signs, and prodigies, and miracles.

⁶ But as for those who were men of real eminency, how considerable soever they were heretofore, it does not any ways affect me; God accepts not the person of any man: for they who were of note, in conference with me, had nothing new to add. ⁷ on the contrary, when they perceived that I had the province of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, as Peter had that of preaching it to the Jews, ⁸ (for he that had wrought powerfully in Peter with respect to his apostleship among the Jews, had also wrought powerfully in me upon account of the Gentiles:) and when James, ⁹ Peter, and John, who were esteemed to be pillars, perceived the favour that was bestowed on me, they admitted me and Barnabas into fellowship, and agreed, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. ¹⁰ only they recommended to us to get collections for the poor in Judea: which I was very careful to do. ¹¹ But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, for he was to be blamed. ¹² for till certain Jews came thither from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, for fear of those, who were for circumcision: ¹³ and the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him, insomuch that Barnabas himself was carried away with their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ but when I saw, they conformed not their conduct to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all: if you being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, and not according to that of the Jews, why do you constrain the Gentiles to judaize?

⁸ upon me, who am the meanest of all christians, is this favour bestowed, that I should proclaim to the Gentiles the undiscoverable advantages by Christ;

⁴⁸ but Jesus said to him, except you see signs and miracles, you will not believe.

¹⁸ for I will not offer to mention any thing, but what Christ has wrought by me, to make the Gentiles christians, both in profession and practice: ¹⁹ by virtue of the miracles and prodigies wrought by the power of the divine spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and the neighbouring country, quite to Illyricum,

⁵ in your being enriched by him in every gift, with all that light and knowledge, ⁶ whereby the testimony we gave concerning Christ was confirmed among you. ⁷ so that you will be deficient in no gift; during your expectation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

¹ Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not you become christians by my labour? ² if I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you: for your being christians is the proof of my apostleship.

¹⁸ I thank God, I speak more languages than you all:

² renouncing all secret dishonesty, and void of all artifice, I deliver the word of God unadulterated, and recommend my self by urging the truth home to every man's conscience, as in the presence of God.

⁴ but in all things I approve myself as the minister of God, by great constancy in afflictions, in torments, in distresses, from stripes, ⁵ from imprisonments, from tumults, from labours, from watchings, from penury. ⁶ I approve myself, by chastity, by knowledge, by meekness, by kindness, by sanctity of mind, by undisguised benevolence, ⁷ by the preaching of truth, by the power of God, by the arms of justice, both offensive and defensive. ⁸ in honour and disgrace, under infamy, and in repute: look'd upon as an impostor, while I say what is true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet celebrated; as dying, and yet I am alive; as chastised, but not slain; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, though always cheerful; as poor, tho' inriching many; as having nothing, though contented with every thing.

⁴ if he that is come to you, preaches another Jesus whom I have not preached, or if ye receive other gifts of the spirit, than what ye have received from me, or another gospel, than what you have accepted, you might well bear with his pretensions:

⁶ if my language is inelegant, my knowledge is not contemptible; but has been fully display'd among you on all occasions.

⁶ or I and Barnabas, are we only excluded the privilege of not working?

¹² if others partake of your substance, have not I a better title? nevertheless, I have not made use of this privilege; but bear with any thing rather than obstruct the gospel of Christ.

¹⁵ but I have not made use of these advantages. neither have I writ this to obtain such maintenance: for I had rather die for want, than be deprived of such matter of glorying. ¹⁶ for in barely preaching the gospel, I have nothing to glory in: because I am under an obligation to do it; yea, wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel. ¹⁷ now if I do this willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, it is a dispensation of trust which must be discharged. ¹⁸ whence then is my reward? why, from my preaching the gospel of Christ gratis, without making use of the privilege which the gospel gives me.

⁷ If I have degraded myself for your advantage by preaching the holy gospel to you gratis, is that such a trespass? ⁸ by taking wages of other churches, I may have injured them, to do you service. ⁹ when I was present among you, and in want, I was chargeable to no man: for the brethren which came from Macedonia, supplied my necessities: and as I have, so I always shall keep myself from being burdensome to you.

¹⁴ This is the third time I purposed to come to you; but I will not be burdensome to you; for I seek not yours, but you: since it is not expected children should lay up for their parents, but parents for their children: on the contrary,

³³ I have not desir'd to get from any one either silver, or gold, or apparel.

¹⁴ This I don't write to give you any confusion, but by way of remonstrance, to you who are my dear children. ¹⁵ for though you may have ten thousand christian preceptors, you cannot have many fathers; since it was I that first instructed you in the gospel of Christ Jesus:

¹⁹ but if the Lord pleases, I will visit you very soon; and then I shall try, not what these boasters can say, but what they can do:

²⁴ Let no man consult barely his own interest: but every man that of others.

³³ thus I endeavour to be acceptable to all men in all things, not seeking my own advantage, but that of others, so as they may be saved.

³⁴ and if any one is press'd with hunger, let him eat at home; that ye may not otherwise meet with punishment. as for other matters, I will set them in order when I come.

⁵ I shall come to you, by the way of Macedonia: (for I

¹⁵ in this confidence I purposed to visit you before now, (that you might have again the like satisfaction)

¹ This is the third time I am coming to you: "in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." ² I told you once before, and now being absent I write to forewarn you and all that have sinned, that when I shall arrive, I will not spare them;

¹ Wherefore, my dearly beloved brethren, my joy and my crown, whom I long to see, continue firm in your christian profession, my beloved.

¹⁷ not that I desire a present; but what I desire is, that the fruits of your liberality may greatly redound to your own account.

⁵ our address to you was without any flattery, as you yourselves can witness, and God is witness that we had no avarice to disguise. ⁶ we never courted you nor any others, from an affectation of human applause. instead of making our apostolical character any ways expensive to you, as we might;

⁸ Our affection therefore to you being so great, we were as ready to give our lives for you, as we were to communicate the divine gospel to you, so much did you engage our love.

¹¹ you likewise know, that we exhorted and encouraged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

¹⁹ for what can be our hope, or joy, what can crown our pretensions, unless it be you, when we shall appear before the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? ²⁰ for ye are our glory and our joy.

² to exhort you to feed the flock of God, which is among you: to take care of it, voluntarily, without reluctance, not from any view to sordid gain, but out of real affection; ³ not to domineer over the laity, but to be examples for their imitation; ⁴ that when the sovereign pastor shall appear, you may carry off a glorious crown, that will never fade.

¹⁰ the thief comes only to steal, to kill, and destroy: but I am come that they might have life, and have it with all its advantages. ¹¹ I am the true pastor: the true pastor exposes his life for the sheep.

⁸ You have already a sufficiency, you already abound, you live like princes in our absence: and would to God you did reign, that we too might have the advantage of your administration. ⁹ for it seems as if God had exposed us apostles the last upon the stage, as persons appointed to death. for we are made a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. ¹⁰ we are made fools for our attachment to Christ, while you, who are christians too, still pass for the wise: we are in poverty, but you are in power: you meet with esteem, but we find contempt. ¹¹ to this very day we suffer both hunger, thirst, and penury: we are buffeted from place to place, as vagabonds: ¹² we are fatigu'd by our manual toil: when reviled, we pray: when persecuted, we don't repine: ¹³ and when we are defamed, we intreat: in a word, we are look'd upon as the dregs and scum of mankind, even to this day. ¹⁴ This I don't write to give you any confusion, but by way of remonstrance, to you who are my dear children. ¹⁵ for though you may have ten thousand christian preceptors, you cannot have many fathers; since it was I that first instructed you in the gospel of Christ Jesus: ¹⁶ and therefore I intreat you, to copy after me. ¹⁷ 'tis for this end I have sent you Timothy, who is my dear disciple, and a faithful christian, who will inform you how I behave my self in every church where I teach the gospel of Christ. ¹⁸ Some make their boast as if I would not come to you.

¹⁴ as some of you have already own'd, that I am matter of joy to you, as you will be to me in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ:

³ and I wrote to you upon that disagreeable subject, that when I came, I might not receive uneasiness from those from whom I ought to receive comfort, being persuaded that you will all think yourselves interested to promote my satisfaction.

¹² our affections are as enlarged towards you, as yours are contracted towards us. ¹³ I address myself to you as a parent, be not you wanting in the returns of filial respect to me.

³ I speak not this to your reproach: for I have already assured you, that I am so heartily well affected to you, I could live and die with you.

¹⁰ observing as you do, the days, the moons, the feasts and years.

¹⁷ and if my blood should serve as a libation to ratify your faith, I should rejoice and congratulate with you all thereupon;

¹⁰ I therefore bear with every thing for the sake of the converts, that they may obtain that salvation, which Jesus Christ has procur'd us, even eternal glory.

¹⁷ Confide in your guides, and be respectful: that they who are vigilant, as being accountable for your souls, may discharge themselves with cheerfulness, and not with anxiety, which would be to your prejudice.

¹² for this is to me matter of glorying, the testimony of my conscience, that without artifice, and with religious sincerity, not by worldly wisdom, but by God's favourable assistance I have behaved my self towards all men, but more particularly to you.

² Receive me as one who has wronged no man, who has corrupted no man, who has defrauded no man.

² when I am present, which I think to exercise against some, who censure me, as if I was actuated by worldly views. ³ for tho' I am involv'd with the world, I don't sustain the war with their poor arts:

⁹ when I was present among you, and in want, I was chargeable to no man: for the brethren which came from Macedonia, supplied my necessities: and as I have, so I always shall keep myself from being burdensome to you. ¹⁰ I solemnly protest, no man shall hinder me of this applause, in the regions of Achaia.

¹³ for in what were ye inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? an injury I hope you will easily forgive.

³ for our doctrine was free from all imposture, avarice, and fraud.

⁵ our address to you was without any flattery, as you yourselves can witness, and God is witness that we had no avarice to disguise.

³ adhere to him as to a living stone,

¹⁷ 'tis for this end I have sent you Timothy, who is my dear disciple, and a faithful christian, who will inform you how I behave my self in every church where I teach the gospel of Christ.

¹⁰ If Timothy visit you, take care he may be perfectly safe: for he labours in the cause of christianity, as well as I.

⁵ I thought it therefore necessary to counsel the brethren to go before, and settle the management of the contribution by this previous notice, that it might have such dispatch, as shows a bountiful, and not a niggardly temper.

¹⁸ I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother: did Titus make a gain of you? didn't we follow the same principles, and take the same measures?

³³ I have not desir'd to get from any one either silver, or gold, or apparel. ³⁴ you yourselves can witness, that what was necessary for myself and those who were with me, these very hands have supply'd. ³⁵ my constant example has shown you that the disabled should be assisted by your labours, remembring the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, "it is a greater happiness to give than to receive."

¹² and the father of the circumcised, that is of those who are not barely circumcised, but who imitate that faith which our father Abraham had, being yet uncircumcised.

¹² When an opportunity was given me by the Lord to preach the gospel of Christ, upon my arrival at Troas, ¹³ I was so uneasy in my mind for not finding Titus my brother, that taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

⁶ nevertheless, God who comforteth those that are cast down, gave me comfort by the arrival of Titus: not barely by his presence,

⁶ I therefore desired Titus, as he had begun, to finish this contribution among you.

¹⁶ But thanks be to God, who disposed Titus to be so industrious for you. ¹⁷ for he not only complyed with my exhortation, but being more than ordinarily concern'd, he voluntarily went to you; ¹⁸ with whom I have sent one of the brethren, who is not only distinguish'd among all the churches, by his preaching the gospel, ¹⁹ but was chosen by the churches to accompany me with this collection; which service I undertook for the sake of Christ, and to encourage your generous design. ²⁰ this I did, to prevent any suspicion that might be rais'd from my having the management of so great a sum: ²¹ always considering what is virtuous, with respect to God, and with respect to men. ²² I have sent likewise another of our brethren, whose diligence I have experienc'd in several affairs. ²³ now as to Titus, he is my collegue, and assists me in your affairs: as to our brethren, they are the deputies of the churches, and the glory of the christian profession.

¹⁹ However, I hope by the favour of the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you very soon, that I may have some encouragement by knowing the state of your affairs: ²⁰ for there is no one that is so dear to me as he, and no one will more sincerely interest himself in your concerns. ²¹ the most consult their private advantage, and neglect the dispensation of Jesus Christ. ²² you know he has stood the test, and has serv'd with me in the gospel, as a son serves with his father.

²¹ this will conciliate the divine favour. and this is the condition of your vocation, since Christ himself has suffer'd for us,

¹⁹ dear brethren, avenge not yourselves, but leave that to the resentment of another: for it is written, "vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

¹² if others partake of your substance, have not I a better title? nevertheless, I have not made use of this privilege; but bear with any thing rather than obstruct the gospel of Christ. ¹³ don't you know, that they who prepare the sacrifices, do eat of the sacrifice in the temple? and they who wait at the altar, have their portion from the altar? ¹⁴ even so has the Lord ordained, that they who preach the gospel, should live by the gospel. ¹⁵ but I have not made use of these advantages. neither have I writ this to obtain such maintenance: for I had rather die for want, than be deprived of such matter of glorying. ¹⁶ for in barely preaching the gospel, I have nothing to glory in: because I am under an obligation to do it; yea, wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel. ¹⁷ now if I do this willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, it is a dispensation of trust which must be discharged. ¹⁸ whence then is my reward? why, from my preaching the gospel of Christ gratis, without making use of the privilege which the gospel gives me. ¹⁹ for tho' I am independent of all men, yet have I subjected myself to all, that I might gain the more. ²⁰ to the Jews, I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law; ²¹ to those who are without the law, as without that law, (not as being under no law to God, but as under the law to Christ) that I might gain those who are without the law. ²² to the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak: I became all things to all men, that I might save all sorts of men. ²³ and I do all for the gospel's sake, that I may share in the benefits thereof.

¹⁴ wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

²⁶ what is then to be done, my brethren? when you come together, one of you with a psalm, another with a doctrine, another with a strange tongue, another with a revelation, another with an interpretation: let the whole be done to edification.

¹ Do I begin again to commend my self? or need I, as some others, commendatory letters to you, or from you?

¹² and this I say, not to commend myself again unto you, but to give you an occasion of glorying on my account, that you may confront those who make a false show of glorying. ¹³ for if I glory even to transport, my glorying is in God: if I am moderate, my glorying is for your service.

¹ since then, we have these promises, my dear brethren, let us cleanse our selves from all impurity, whether of body or mind, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

⁸ for though I should more than ever magnify my authority, which the Lord hath given us for your improvement, and not for your ruin, I should have no reason to be ashamed;

¹⁰ I solemnly protest, no man shall hinder me of this applause, in the regions of Achaia.

¹⁰ these things therefore I write to you being absent, that when I come I may not use severity, according to the power which the Lord hath given me for edification, and not for destruction.

²⁹ they were full of all injustice, fornication, mischief, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, contention, fraud, malignity;

¹¹ for I have been inform'd, my brethren, by some of Chloe's family, that there are contentions among you.

³ for you are still subject to your passions. since envy, and strife, and divisions are among you, are you not actuated by the vices of the animal part? ⁴ while one cries I am Paul's disciple, and another, I am Apollo's, are ye not vicious?

⁶ These things, my brethren, I have represented to you in my own person, and that of Apollos, out of respect to you: to show you how to moderate your esteem by the rule prescrib'd, that you may not be transported in favour of one rather than another. ⁷ for who has distinguish'd thee above another? or what have you, that you did not receive? now if you did receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it? ⁸ You have already a sufficiency, you already abound, you live like princes in our absence: and would to God you did reign, that we too might have the advantage of your administration.

¹⁸ Some make their boast as if I would not come to you. ¹⁹ but if the Lord pleases, I will visit you very soon; and then I shall try, not what these boasters can say, but what they can do: ²⁰ for the gospel dispensation does not consist in talk, but in power. ²¹ Which would you chuse, that I should come to you arm'd with resentment? or, in a mild and benevolent temper?

³ as for me, though I am absent in person, yet being present by my authority, with regard to him that has committed this fact, I am come to the same resolution, as if I was present, ⁴ that is, when you are assembled, and I virtually there, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁵ to deliver him up to satan, to suffer corporal punishment, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷ beside, you are absolutely in the wrong in going to law with one another at all: why don't you rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer loss? ⁸ nay, in this case, you act injuriously, and do damage even to your brethren.

¹⁶ but if any man has a mind to be contentious, I answer, we have no such custom, nor any of the churches of God. ¹⁷ Now in what I am going to say, I do not commend you, because your assemblies are not to your advantage, but to your prejudice. ¹⁸ for first, I hear, that when you come together in the church, you fall into parties; and I believe it is true of some of you. ¹⁹ for there must be factions among you, whereby it will appear who among you are the approved.

³³ for God is not the God of confusion, but of peace, in all christian assemblies.

³⁶ What, did the gospel take its rise from you? or was it communicated to you alone? ³⁷ if any one pretends to be a prophet, or to spiritual gifts, let him be assured that the rules which I have here prescrib'd, are the commandments of the Lord.

²³ I call God to witness, and may I die if it is not true, that the reason of my not coming yet to Corinth, was to avoid using any severity towards you.

² when I am present, which I think to exercise against some, who censure me, as if I was actuated by worldly views.

⁶ and I am prepar'd, when you have discharg'd your duty, to make examples of the rest for their disobedience.

⁸ for though I should more than ever magnify my authority, which the Lord hath given us for your improvement, and not for your ruin, I should have no reason to be ashamed; ⁹ but that I may not seem as if I would strike a terror in you by letters:

²¹ and I am afraid, God will humble me when I come again among you, and I shall bewail many who have formerly sinned, and have not yet repented of their impurity, their fornication, and dissoluteness.

² I told you once before, and now being absent I write to forewarn you and all that have sinned, that when I shall arrive, I will not spare them;

⁹ I am therefore glad when I am disarm'd by the strength of your integrity: and this is what I pray for, even your perfection. ¹⁰ these things therefore I write to you being absent, that when I come I may not use severity, according to the power which the Lord hath given me for edification, and not for destruction.

¹⁵ but if you bite and tear one another, take heed that you be not consumed by one another.

¹⁹ now the effects of vicious passions are manifestly these, fornication, uncleanness, ²⁰ brutality, idolatry, poisoning, enmities, quarrels, emulations, animosities, strife, seditions, factions, envyings, ²¹ drunkenness, revellings, and such like, concerning which I forewarn you now, as heretofore I have done, that they who practise such vices, shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

²⁶ let us not be vain-glorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

³¹ banish all resentment and indignation, anger, vehemence, detraction, and every thing like malice. ³² be mutually kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

¹⁴ but if envy and contention imbitter your minds, don't think your false pretences can stand against the truth: ¹⁵ such wisdom is not derived from heaven; but is terrestrial, sensual, demoniacal. ¹⁶ where false zeal, and a spirit of contention reign, there confusion and every vice prevail.

¹ you breathe slaughter and revenge for what you cannot obtain. ² you quarrel and go to war, but without success, because you don't petition for it: and if you did, ³ you would not obtain it, because you wickedly request to have your passions gratified. ⁴ Degenerate race, don't you know that friendship with vice is hostility against heaven. he that is a friend to the vicious world, is an enemy to God. ⁵ or do you imagine that passage of scripture to be insignificant, "does the spirit that dwells in you, incite you to vice?"

¹ Renouncing therefore every kind of malice, and knavery, hypocrisy, envy, and detraction, as new-born infants desire that mystical milk,

¹⁸ when their language swells with vanity, by applying to the sensual passions of the licentious, they allure those who were escap'd for a while, from such deceivers:

¹⁶ These are murmurers, complainers, who pursue their own passions: their language swells with flattery, which they offer to the personages of men from a prospect of gain.

⁴¹ then said Jesus, O incredulous, and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? bring hither your son. ⁴² as the child was advancing, the demon threw him down, into convulsions: but Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, cured the child, and delivered him to his father.

² that I have great heaviness, and continual sorrow in my heart.

¹³ let us behave with decency as in open view; not with rioting and drunkenness, not with lewdness and brutality, not with strife and envy.

¹ we have it from all quarters, that incest is practis'd among you, and such as is not among the Gentiles, that of a man's having his father's wife.

⁹ When I formerly writ to you, not to keep company with the vicious: ¹⁰ I did not mean the vicious Gentiles, the misers, the raparees, or with idolaters; for then you must have gone out of the world. ¹¹ but my meaning was, not to keep company with any christian known to be vicious, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or rapacious, no not even to eat with such a one.

⁹ Know you not that the unjust shall not inherit the kingdom of God? be not deceived: neither the licentious, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor the brutal, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor misers, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor raparees, shall inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ and such were some of you: but you have been washed, you have been sanctified, you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the spirit of our God.

¹⁵ Don't you know, that your bodies are parts of Christ's mystical body? now, how can that which is Christ's, be made the property of a very creature? ¹⁶ it cannot be. why, don't you perceive, that where there is such an attachment, they are but as one person? for the scripture says, "they two shall be as one." ¹⁷ but he that is attach'd to the Lord, is united to him by one and the same spirit. ¹⁸ flee licentiousness. no other sin that a man commits does affect the church as a body: but the licentious commits a fraud against the whole body to which he belongs.

¹ But I purposed in my self, I would not be the occasion of any uneasiness to you when I come again. ² why should I make you uneasy, for who then could give me comfort, but those to whom I give uneasiness? ³ and I wrote to you upon that disagreeable subject, that when I came, I might not receive uneasiness from those from whom I ought to receive comfort, being persuaded that you will all think yourselves interested to promote my satisfaction. ⁴ for out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote to you with many tears; not to make you uneasy, but to make you sensible of the overflowing tenderness which I have for you. ⁵ The affliction I have had, comes only from a particular quarter, so that my resentment does not affect the whole church. ⁶ the punishment, which was inflicted by the community, is sufficient on this occasion. ⁷ so that now you ought rather to forgive, and comfort him, for fear he should be overwhelm'd by an excess of sorrow. ⁸ wherefore, pray, convince him of your affection to him: ⁹ for this was one view I had in writing, to have this trial of you, whether you are intirely obedient. ¹⁰ to whom you forgive any thing, I also forgive: for if I have forgiven any thing, I forgave it, for your sakes (as Christ is ¹¹ witness) lest satan should have got some advantage of us: for we are apprized of his artifices.

⁹ now I rejoice, not at your uneasiness, but at your repentance which succeeded: for your sorrow was a religious sorrow, such as convinc'd you I had done you no wrong. ¹⁰ for religious sorrow produces that salutary repentance, which we never regret: but worldly sorrow preys upon life. ¹¹ 'tis observable, even this religious sorrow which you had, what solicitude has it not wrought in you, what apologies, what indignation, what fear, what desire, what zeal, yea, what revenge! so that by your whole conduct, ye have shown your selves to be clear from guilt in this matter.

²⁴ wherefore show how much you love them, and how well you deserve the character I gave you, before all the churches.

³ yet have I sent the brethren, that my character of you may not appear to be groundless, with respect to that part wherein I said, ye would be ready: ⁴ for if the Macedonians should come with me, and find you unprepared, how shall I, not to say you, be ashamed for having had so little ground to boast of you?

¹⁹ now the effects of vicious passions are manifestly these, fornication, uncleanness,

⁵ for this you know, that no licentious or dissolute person, no lewd libertine, that is, an idolater, hath any part in the kingdom of Christ, and of God. ⁶ let no man mislead you by vain reasonings: for it is for these vices, that the wrath of God lights upon the incredulous.

¹⁸ for there are many that wander about, of whom I have frequently told you, and now repeat it with tears, that they are enemies to the cross of Christ: ¹⁹ who in the. end will be ruin'd, who place their religion in sensuality, their glory in that which is their shame, and fix their thoughts upon this earth.

⁵ Mortify therefore your sensual appetites, fornication, impurity, irregular passions, wicked desires, and that licentiousness practised by idolaters.

³ and such is the will of God, that you should be holy, and avoid licentiousness; ⁴ that every one of you should take care to preserve the dignity of his ⁵ person unsullied by the vices of the Gentiles, who know not God: ⁶ that no man should be exorbitant, and behave contumeliously to his brother: because the Lord is the avenger of all such crimes, as we have formerly remonstrated to you. ⁷ for God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness:

⁴ Marriage is every where honourable, and that state is innocent: but the licentious and adulterers God will punish.

² so that for the future he does not pass the rest of this life in gratifying his sensual passions, but in conformity to the divine precepts. ³ for the time past of your lives may suffice, to have liv'd in conformity to the Gentile customs, in impurity, licentiousness, sottishness, in dissolute festivals, and the criminal rites of idolaters.

¹⁰ especially those, who prostitute themselves to sensual infamous passions: who despise magistrates, who being audacious, and insolent, intrepidly calumniate the higher powers; ¹¹ whereas the angels, who are of superiour power and dignity, don't inveigh against one another. ¹² But as for these, they have no more reason than brute beasts that are naturally made for hunting, and slaughter: so these who calumniate what they do not understand, shall receive the reward of their iniquity by perishing in their own corruption. ¹³ they place their felicity in daily pleasure: they are a vile scandal to religion: when they are present at your love-feasts they indulge their luxury: ¹⁴ their eyes are inflam'd with adultery, and unextinguishable vice: they insnare the souls of the inconstant. their minds are practis'd in the arts of avarice: an execrable race, who have deserted the right way,

⁷ so it was with Sodom, Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, who abandoning themselves to the same licentiousness and abominable passions, were made examples by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

²³ of others be compassionately tender, snatching them, as it were, out of the fire: and avoid even the garment of the infected.

⁸ but the fearful, and incredulous, the abominable, the murderer, the licentious, the poisoner, the idolater, and every lyar shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: this is the second death."

¹⁵ "but without are the execrable, the poisoners, the licentious, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who are pleas'd with, or practise deceit.

²⁰ he who testifieth these things, saith, "I come quickly." Amen. even so, come, Lord Jesus.