and he did deliver me from so terrible a death, and on him I have relied for further deliverance: especially,

so that now you ought rather to forgive, and comfort him, for fear he should be overwhelm'd by an excess of sorrow.

Having by the same spirit the same faith as David had when he said, "I believed, and therefore have I spoken:" I also believe, and therefore I speak;

knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up me also by Jesus, and shall present me with you:

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

to this I am urg'd by the love I bear to Christ, persuaded as I am, that if one died for all, then were all in a dying state: and that he died for all,

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.

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.

for he saith, " I have heard thee in a favourable time, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee." now this is the favourable time; this is that day of salvation.

but by the consolation I received from you by him, when he acquainted me with your earnest desire to see me, with your concern, and your zeal for me; which greatly increas'd my joy.

and his affection to you is abundantly increased, whilst he remembers your obedience, and that fear and reverence with which you all received him.

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

for you are sensible of the beneficence of our Lord Jesus Christ; powerful as he was, for your sake he became poor, that you through his poverty might be made rich.

for what a man gives with a ready mind, according to his abilities, is well received; but not when he goes beyond his circumstances.

as it is written, " he that had much, had nothing over, and he that had little, had no lack."

for he not only complyed with my exhortation, but being more than ordinarily concern'd, he voluntarily went to you;

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.

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

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?

remember, " he who sows sparingly, shall reap also sparingly: and he who sows bountifully, shall reap also bountifully."

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

as it is written, " he hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his liberality remaineth for ever."

now he that furnishes seed to the sower, and bread for food, shall furnish and multiply what you sow, and increase the fruits of your liberality.

Do ye judge of things by the outward appearance? if any man is confident in himself, that he is Christ's, let him from himself conclude too, that as he is Christ's, even so are we.

but he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

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

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:

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;

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.

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.

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.