Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the divine appointment, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God, which is at Corinth, with all the christians throughout Achaia: favour,

and peace be to you from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God, and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of mercies, and the God of all consolation:

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.

nay, I abandon'd my self to death, that I might not rely upon my self for deliverance, but on God who raiseth the dead.

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.

God is my witness, I never prevaricated with you.

for what I, and Timothy, and Silvanus preached concerning Jesus Christ, the son of God, is not inconsistent, but invariably the same.

for all the promises of God do center in him, and are verifyed by him to the glory of God by our preaching.

now it is God who keeps you fix'd in the doctrine of Christ; who has appointed me,

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.

witness) lest satan should have got some advantage of us: for we are apprized of his artifices.

but thanks be to God, who maketh me triumph, thro' Christ, and spreads his healing doctrine by me, in eevery place:

for God is pleased to accept my christian labours, in favour both of those who are in a saving, and of those who are in a ruinous state:

for we are not like others, who adulterate the word of God; but we preach the pure gospel of Christ, as I receiv'd it from God, and as in the presence of God.

which shows you to be the epistle of Christ, written by my ministration, not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on living tables of the heart.

It is by Christ that I have this confidence in God.

not that I am sufficient of myself to effect any thing by the strength of my own reason: but my sufficiency is from God.

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.

to those unbelievers, whose minds the God of this world has so blinded, that the glorious lustre of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, does not enlighten them.

for God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to enlighten others in the knowledge of the glory of God, which shines in the person of Jesus Christ.

but this treasure is lodg'd in such earthen vessels as we are, that the exceeding efficacy of it may appear to be from God, and not from us.

for all things are for your sakes, that the grace which was conferr'd upon many, might by the gratitude of so many, redound to the glory of God.

now he that hath prepared us for this very state, is God, who hath given us the spirit as a pledge of it.

) in this assurance, I say, I think it best to be quit of this body, and be present with the Lord.

for we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ; that every one may receive the retribution, according as his actions in the body were either good or evil.

Shall I then, who know this terrible judgment of the Lord, endeavour to appease men? as for God, I am approved by him, and I trust also you are convinced of my being so approved.

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

Now this is all owing to God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath made us the ministers of this reconciliation;

for it is God that has reconciled the world to himself, by Jesus Christ, by not imputing their sins to them; and hath committed to us the gospel of reconciliation.

we then are ambassadors for Christ, and 'tis God who makes you the offers by us: we pray you in the name of Christ, to make your peace with God.

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.

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

by the preaching of truth, by the power of God, by the arms of justice, both offensive and defensive.

and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God has said, "I will dwell with, and walk among them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

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.

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

But thanks be to God, who disposed Titus to be so industrious for you.

always considering what is virtuous, with respect to God, and with respect to men.

let every man give as he is disposed in his own mind, without any regret or reluctance: for God loves a cheerful benefactor.

and God is able to make every charitable gift redound to your advantage; that being always sufficiently supply'd in every thing, you may excel in every good work:

so that being enriched in every thing, you may be continually beneficent to the glory of God by our thanksgiving.

for the execution of this charitable office, does not only supply the necessities of the converts, but by the thanksgivings of many redounds also to the glory of God.

having this proof of you by such a supply, they will glorify God for your profess'd subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution to them as well as others;

and you will have the advantage of their earnest prayers, for the exceeding favour God has bestowed upon them by you:

thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

I will not boast of any thing done without my province, but confine myself within that line by which God has mark'd out my bounds, and in which you are included.

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

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

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.

but tho' I don't know whether it was in the body, or out of the body, which God only knows,

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.

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.

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.

now I pray God that I may not punish you; not that I may show you my proofs to your cost, but that by your acting honestly, I may be as if I had no proofs:

Finally, brethren, be cheerful: redress yourselves, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

the favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communication of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. amen.