yield then to our advice: there are four men here, who have made a vow:

this the high-priest and the senate know too well: from them I receiv'd my warrant directed to the Jews of Damascus, where I went, to bring the converts there in chains to Jerusalem, in order to be punished.

then I said, Lord, what must I do? and the Lord answer'd, arise, go to Damascus; there you will be inform'd what you are to do.

there one Ananias a religious observer of the law, who had the good word of all the Jews in that place, came to see me,

for the Sadducees maintain, there is neither resurrection, nor angel, or spirit, whereas the Pharisees acknowledge both: the clamour was great,

there religiously employ'd some Asiatic Jews found me, without crowd or tumult:

but Festus willing to oblige the Jews ask'd him, will you consent to go to Jerusalem, and take your trial before me there?

as they continued there for some time, Festus represented Paul's case to the king: Felix, said he, had left here a certain prisoner:

being at a loss how to determine such an affair, I ask'd him if he would go to Jerusalem, and take his tryal there.

there the centurion met with a ship of Alexandria, bound for Italy, and put us on board.

After having been there three months, we embark'd on board the Castor and Pollux from Alexandria, that had put in there by hard weather:

we landed at Syracuse, and stay'd there three days.

the brethren there having had news of us, came as far as Appiiforum, and the Three inns to meet us: whom when Paul saw, he gave thanks to God, and was greatly encourag'd.

There it is that divine justification is revealed to be wholly by faith: as it is written, " the just shall live by faith."

there the divine wrath is revealed from heaven against all impiety, and injustice of men, who wickedly suppress the truth.

since with God there is no respect of persons.

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what benefit is there from circumcision?

as it is written, " there is none righteous, no not one:

there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

they are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doth good, no not one.

there is no fear of God before their eyes."

that divine justification, which by faith in Jesus Christ is extended to all, that believe; for there is no distinction:

what reason then is there for boasting? it is excluded. what, by the ceremonial law? no: but by the law of faith.

because the effect of the law is punishment: for if there had been no law, there could have been no transgression.

sin indeed was in the world all the time before the law: but then sin is not punished when there is no law.

What do we say then? is there injustice in God?

and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people; there shall they be called, the children of the living God."

In reality there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile: they have all the same Lord, who is bountiful to all that call upon him.

in like manner at this time there is also a remnant chosen by the divine favour;

and then all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, "there shall come out of Sion the deliverer, and shall turn away Jacob from his impiety.

for as there are many members in one and the same body, but all the members have not the same office:

loves others hath fulfilled the law. for this, "thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet;" and whatever social precept there be, it is reduced to this single head,

I know, being fully assured by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: it is only so to him that thinks it is unclean.

besides Esaias saith, "there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope."

but now there being no further occasion for me in these parts, and having had a great desire these many years to visit you;

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

that is, when you are assembled, and I virtually there, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

what, is there not a man of experience amongst you, capable of being arbitrator between his brethren?

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."

there is the same difference between a married woman and a virgin: the last is religiously concern'd to be holy, both in body and mind: but she that is married is taken up with worldly cares to please her husband.

As to the eating therefore of what is offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that the heathen deities have no real existence, and that there is but one God.

for tho' there are several titular deities, both in heaven and on earth: such as the whole crowd of gods, and lords among the Gentiles;

yet to us there is but one God, the father, from whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

for there must be factions among you, whereby it will appear who among you are the approved.

Now there are different gifts, but the same spirit.

and there are different offices, but the same Lord.

and there are different operations, but it is the same God who performs them all in every one.

thus, tho' there are many members, yet there is but one body.

that there might be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same mutual concern for one another.

there are, it may be, as many different languages in the world as there are people, and none of them without signification.

But since there is emulation among you concerning spiritual gifts, seek to abound in the exercise of such gifts as tend most to the edification of the church.

and if any man do speak in an unknown tongue, let but two speak, or three at the most, and that by turns: and let there be but one to interpret.

but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and tacitly address himself to God.

Let your women be silent in your assemblies: for they are not allowed to discourse there; but are to observe orders, as indeed the law implies:

Now if it has been declared, that Christ rose from the dead, how comes it, that some among you assert, "there is no resurrection of the dead?"

for if there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.

All flesh is not of the same kind: but there is one kind that belongs to men, another to beasts, another to fishes, and another to birds.

there are celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is of one kind, and the glory of the terrestrial of another.

it is sown an animal body, it will rise a spiritual body. there is an animal body, and there is a spiritual body.

every sabbath-day let every one of you set apart something of what he has happily gain'd, for the common treasury, that there may be no collection when I come.

for I have a very fair and promising opportunity given me of propagating the gospel, tho' there are many opposers.

Are you not become associates with infidels? but what affinity is there between virtue and vice? and what communication has light with darkness?

that as your present sufficiency supplies their wants, their sufficiency may supply your occasions another way: and thus there will be an equality.

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:

yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in him, and not by the works of the law, by which there is no justification.

Is the law then opposite to the promises? by no means. for if there had been a law given, which could have given life, certainly justification should have been by the law.

there is now no distinction of Jew or Greek, of bond or free, of male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

for it is there written, Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free-woman.

as for me, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why am I yet persecuted? for then there would not be so much objection to the doctrine of the cross.

against such there is no law.

there is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

and you masters have a just regard to them, by softning your authority: knowing that both their and your master is in heaven, where there is no respect of persons with him.

it is true, there are some who preach Christ out of a spirit of envy and contention; but others do it out of pure affection.

If then there be any christian consolation, any charitable relief, any communion of the spirit, if any tenderness of compassion,

for there is no one that is so dear to me as he, and no one will more sincerely interest himself in your concerns.

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:

Finally, my brethren, whatever has the character of truth, of dignity, of justice, of chastity, whatever can procure you esteem and reputation, in a word, if there be any thing virtuous or praise-worthy, let that be the object of your enquiry.

let there be no fraud among you, since you have discarded your former habits and practices, and are become new men,

by which there is now neither Greek, or Jew; circumcised, or uncircumcised; Barbarian, or Scythian; slave, or freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

now being inform'd, that there are among you people of an irregular conduct, who neglect their own business, and busy themselves with the affairs of others:

for there is but one God, and but one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

in a palace there are vessels not only of gold, and of silver, but of wood and of earth likewise: some are for honourable uses, and others for meaner purposes.

For there are many, especially among the Jews, who are obstinate, vain talkers and deceivers;

When I shall send you Artemas, or Tychicus, endeavour to meet me at Nicopolis: for I have determined to winter there.

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you such incredulity as to make you desert the living God.

Since there remains then a rest which some are still to enter into, for they to whom the promise was first made, did not enter in, because of their incredulity;

so that there is not a creature that is concealed from his view: but all is naked and open to the eyes of him of whom we speak. Having then so great a high priest,

besides here they that receive tithes are men who die: but there 'twas he of whom it is testified that he liveth.

If therefore the Levitical priesthood, concerning which the people received a law, could have given perfection, what further need was there that another priest should rise, to be named after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Aaron?

for he who was there mention'd was of another tribe, none of whom ever gave attendance at the altar.

for if the first alliance had been without defect, there could have been no occasion for the second.

there was the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant gilded all over with gold, wherein was the golden urn containing the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the alliance.

For where a testament is, there the death of the testator is necessarily pre-suppos'd.

and indeed according to the law almost every thing is purified with blood, without the effusion of which, there is no remission of sins.

now where they are remitted, there is no need of any further oblation for sin.

for if we wilfully apostatize, after having received the knowledge of the truth, it is as a sin for which there is no sacrifice appointed.

let there be no licentious or profane person, such as Esau, "who sold his birth-right, for a single mess."

if you should respectfully say to the suit of fine cloths, sit you there, that's for quality; and to the poor man, stand thou there, or place your self at my feet:

you believe there is but one God, very well: the demons believe as much, and tremble."

where false zeal, and a spirit of contention reign, there confusion and every vice prevail.