and the hopes I had of you continue still the same, knowing that as you have had your share of suffering, so you will likewise have of consolation.

In reality, we writ nothing to you, but what you may perceive by the reading, and I trust you ever will perceive.

as some of you have already own'd, that I am matter of joy to you, as you will be to me in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ:

and I wrote to you upon that disagreeable subject, that when I came, I might not receive uneasiness from those from whom I ought to receive comfort, being persuaded that you will all think yourselves interested to promote my satisfaction.

for if the ministration of condemnation was illustrious, the ministration of righteousness will be much more glorious.

for the light affliction, which I at present suffer, will be infinitely over-ballanced by an eternal weight of glory;

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.

wherefore come out from among them, be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

that as you excel in every thing, in faith, in language, mystical knowledge, in all virtue, and in your affection to us; I hope you will excel too in this charitable disposition.

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

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:

contemptible) let such a one depend upon this, that the same authority which appear'd in my letters, when I was absent, will appear in fact, when I am present.

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.

I don't assume to myself the credit of other men's labours in another province, but hope, that when your faith is increased, the bounds now prescribed will be enlarged by you yet farther;

but this I do, and shall do, to make them drop their hire, who are so bent upon hire: and then indeed they will be as they pretend to be, like me.

since many glory in outward advantages, I will glory too.

If I must be compell'd to glory, I will glory on the account of my sufferings.

I might glory in being the man; but I will not glory in any thing relating to myself, unless it be my sufferings.

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 in what were ye inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? an injury I hope you will easily forgive.

This is the third time I purposed to come to you; but I will not be burdensome to you; for I seek not yours, but you: since it is not expected children should lay up for their parents, but parents for their children: on the contrary,

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:

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.

I told you once before, and now being absent I write to forewarn you and all that have sinned, that when I shall arrive, I will not spare them;