the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the christians that are at Philippi, to the bishops, and to the deacons.

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

he who has begun this good work in you will bring it to perfection against the appearance of Christ. it is but just

that being capable to distinguish what is best, you may remain stedfastly sincere until the day of Christ,

abounding in good works by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

so that the whole court and publick are well appriz'd that I am a prisoner upon the account of Jesus Christ.

it is true, there are some who preach Christ out of a spirit of envy and contention; but others do it out of pure affection.

those preach the gospel of Christ, not in sincerity, but from a principle of contention, with a view to inflame the persecution against me:

is it not however some advantage? since in either way, whether it be occasionally, or professedly, Christ is preach'd; which is now, and always will be matter of joy to me.

for I know that this shall turn to my deliverance, thro' your prayers, by the spirit, which Jesus Christ will supply me with,

agreeably to that expectation and persuasion I have, that I shall not labour in vain; but as I always have, so I shall still glorify Christ in my body, whether it be by life or by death: for if I live, I live to Christ;

I am doubly press'd between my desire to depart, in order to be with Christ, which is by far the best for ME;

only conduct yourselves in a manner becoming the gospel of Christ, that whether I come to see you, or else am absent, I may have this account of you, that you are stedfastly of the same resolution, and unanimously contend for the faith of the gospel,

for it is a favour bestowed upon you, that you not only believe on Christ, but suffer also for his sake,

for the same temper of mind ought to be in you as was in Christ Jesus:

and that every nation should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the father.

you, who display the doctrine of eternal life) that in the day of Christ I may have the satisfaction of not having pursued my laborious course in vain.

the most consult their private advantage, and neglect the dispensation of Jesus Christ.

for he was upon the brink of death for the service of Christ, having expos'd his life to the greatest dangers, to perform those kind offices, which you could not do yourselves.

for we are the genuine sons of Abraham, who worship God in the spiritual manner, and value no other dependance than that on Jesus Christ, without confiding in any external advantages:

these advantages I renounce for Christ,

nay I think them disadvantages when put in competition with the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord: for whose sake I abandon all these things, and count them as straw, that I may gain Christ,

the justification which God grants to those who acknowledge Christ and the power of his resurrection, who suffer after his example, and die to sin, as he died to the world,

for I am not yet secure of the prize, I have not yet finish'd my course: but I press to obtain the reward, which Jesus Christ invited me to.

I press towards the mark for the prize to which God has called me from above by Jesus Christ.

for there are many that wander about, of whom I have frequently told you, and now repeat it with tears, that they are enemies to the cross of Christ:

but we are the denisons of heaven, from whence we expect the saviour Jesus Christ our Lord.

and the favour of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall keep your hearts and mind attach'd to Jesus Christ.

to these things I am equal, thro' Christ who strengthens me.

for which may my God crown all your desires with glory by Christ Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. AMEN.