Now when I intended this, was I chargeable with levity? or what I purpose, do I purpose from carnal motives, that with me there should be yea, yea, and then no, no?

So that on the contrary, ye ought rather to forgive and comfort him, least such a one should be swallowed up with excessive sorrow.

For I do not mean that others should have relief, and you be burdened:

least if the Macedonians should come with me, and find you unprepared, we should be ashamed (not to say you also) in this confident boasting.

For though I should boast yet more of our authority, (which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction) I should not be ashamed:

But I fear least as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the purity that is in Christ.

For though I should incline to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I should speak truth. But I forbear least any one should think of me above what he seeth me to be, or heareth from me.

And least I should be too much lifted up with the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, least I should be too much elevated.

And I will with the greatest pleasure spend and be spent for your souls; even though the more I love you, the less I should be loved.

For I am afraid least when I come, I should not find you such as I could wish, and I should be found to you such as ye would not: least there should be contentions, emulations, animosities, strifes, thwartings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: and least,

when I come again, my God should humble me among you, and I should be grieved for many of those who have sinned heretofore, and have not repented of the impurity, and fornication, and lewdness which they have practised.

I pray to God that ye may do no evil: and not that we may appear to be approved by your punishment, but that ye may do that which is good, though we should seem to be disapproved.