Paul a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to declare the faith which recommends men to the divine favour, and to convince them of that truth, which leads to piety,

to speak evil of no man. to avoid contention, to be moderate and entirely inoffensive to all men.

James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the TWELVE TRIBES dispers'd thro' the world, sends greeting.

Must

he shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

upon which Paul and Barnabas having warmly contested the point with them, it was resolved, that Paul and Barnabas and some others should go to Jerusalem to consult the apostles upon this question.

our military arms are not so defective, but divinely effectual to demolish all their ramparts;

Do nothing out of a spirit of contention, or for vain-glory, but modestly look upon others as if they were better than yourselves.

not given to wine or violence, but of a gentle temper, averse to contention and avarice: a master of economy,

for a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not morose, not soon angry, not given to wine, not violent, not desirous of unlawful gain.

Wherefore, my dear brethren, let every one be eager to hear, averse to contradiction, and deaf to passion.

My beloved, as I was strongly bent upon writing to you of our common salvation, I thought it necessary to write to you at present, and exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith, which was once delivered to the saints.

But

I who am a person of a mean presence, when among you, but exert myself upon your account, when absent; I Paul intreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, not to let me exert that authority,

but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, sweetness of disposition, beneficence, faithfulness, meekness, temperance:

we behav'd to you with a tender regard, even as a mother, who nurses her own children.

to speak evil of no man. to avoid contention, to be moderate and entirely inoffensive to all men.

but wisdom deriv'd from heaven is first dispassionate, then pacific, equitable, and obsequious: full of beneficence, and all social virtue, free from partiality, and hypocrisy.

In a word, live all of you in perfect agreement and sympathy, be full of fraternal love, compassion, and affability.

Apt

a bishop therefore ought to be of an unspotted character, to have but one wife, to be sober, prudent, grave, hospitable, and qualified for teaching:

attach'd to the truth, that has been taught him, that he may be able to teach others sound doctrine, and to convince those who oppose it.

General references

he shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

for he that is not dispassionate is a stranger to the practice of true virtue.