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

and the favour I ask of him is this, that your kindness to me may be crown'd with farther improvements in knowledge and all prudence;

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

even many of our brethren, encourag'd by my bonds, preach the word with greater freedom and intrepidity.

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;

whether it be an advantage to me or not still to lead this mortal life, what to chuse I cannot tell.

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

that by my being present with you again, I may be the occasion of heightning your christian joy.

without being under any the least apprehension from your adversaries: this will be to them a sign of their ruin, and to you of salvation, by the divine appointment.

If then there be any christian consolation, any charitable relief, any communion of the spirit, if any tenderness of compassion,

compleat my joy, by pursuing the same view, living in mutual love, by being unanimous, and cultivating that harmony.

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

by assuming the form of a servant: being made in the likeness of men,

that at the name of Jesus both angels and men, the living and the dead, should pay their adorations,

that you may be without reproach, the inoffensive spotless children of God in the midst of a depraved and perverse generation (among whom you should shine as stars in the world,

and you too should be glad and congratulate me upon that account.

However, I hope by the favour of the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you very soon, that I may have some encouragement by knowing the state of your affairs:

I sent him therefore with the greater dispatch, that I might have the less disquietude, by the satisfaction you will find in seeing him again.

receive him then in the Lord with all alacrity, and let such be the objects of your esteem:

be upon your guard against snarlers, against the contrivances of the crafty, against the spurious breed;

being circumcised the eighth day, of the family of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew by descent, by sect a Pharisee.

if zeal is to be regarded, I persecuted the church; if the integrity prescrib'd by the law, I am without reproach;

and be his true disciple, not professing that justification, which is derived from the law, but that which is from the gospel,

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

who in the. end will be ruin'd, who place their religion in sensuality, their glory in that which is their shame, and fix their thoughts upon this earth.

it is he, that will change our vile body into a like form with his glorious body, by displaying that power which is able to subdue all things unto himself.

I conjure Euodias, and I conjure Syntyche to be perfectly united in the Lord.

let your meekness be known unto all men.

the Lord is coming: be not in any manner of sollicitude, but in all your occasions lay your requests before God by prayer and supplication accompany'd by thanksgiving.

Finally, my brethren, whatever has the character of truth, of dignity, of justice, of chastity, whatever can procure you esteem and reputation, in a word, if there be any thing virtuous or praise-worthy, let that be the object of your enquiry.

practise what I have taught, what you have learnt of me, what you have heard me preach, and seen me practise. this do, and the God of peace will then be with you.

it is not my indigence that makes me say this: for I have learn'd, in whatevever state I am, therewith to be content: I know how to be in want,

I have now receiv'd the whole, and have more than sufficient: I am loaded with the presents you sent by Epaphroditus, which I have receiv'd as grateful incense, as a sacrifice which God accepts and approves.

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

to God our father be glory for ever. amen.

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