Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the divine appointment to the converts which are at Ephesus, who stand firm in the faith of Christ Jesus:

to display the glory of his grace, which has render'd us acceptable by his beloved son:

It is by him, that we have a share in the inheritance, which was before allotted to us, in consequence of his design, who executes the whole plan, as he himself had contriv'd it:

by whom you also have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: and having believed in him, ye were mark'd with the seal of the holy spirit, which was promised:

and how exceedingly great that power is, which he has employ'd upon us who believe, a power corresponding to that energy of his mighty strength;

which he exerted in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at the head of his heavenly kingdom,

which is his body, a work compleatly finished in all its parts.

in which you formerly liv'd, influenc'd by the customs of this world, and by the prince of the aerial powers, the spirits that now actuate the incredulous:

of which number we all have formerly been, leading our dissolute lives in gratifying the desires of our sensual imaginations: and were indeed obnoxious to the divine displeasure, as other. Gentiles were:

for he hath made us a-new, and form'd us by Christ Jesus to do good works, for which God had before prepared us, that we might live in them.

(which kept us at variance) by abolishing the dogmatical injunctions of the law, that having made the peace, he might incorporate the two into one new body under himself;

on which the whole structure rises with symmetry into a temple, consecrated by the Lord:

if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles;

which preceeding was not discover'd to men, as now it is to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; to wit,

and display to all the world that mysterious dispensation, which from all past ages has been conceal'd in the secret purpose of God, who created all things:

in pursuance of that dispensation which he made to former ages by Christ Jesus our Lord:

Wherefore I desire that you be not dejected at the tribulations I am under for your sake, which are matter of glory to you.

but to every one of us a different charge is given, according to the distribution which Christ has made;

from which the whole body fitly framed, and compacted by the entire adherence and contribution of every part performing its respective function, increases and improves itself by the mutual concern of the parts.

which are overspread with darkness, and averse to a religious life, thro' their innate ignorance and obduracy:

nor buffoonry, which they call pleasantry, but is indecent: be you rather exercised in social virtue.

of which we are the several parts constituting his body.

for which I am an embassador, tho' in chains: that I may duely represent it to the full.