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

from the first day to the present time. being persuaded that

for God is my witness, that I love you with a christian tenderness.

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;

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

Now I would have you know, my brethren, that what has happen'd to me, has only conduc'd to the progress of the gospel;

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

the others act from affection, as knowing that I suffer for having defended the gospel.

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;

which consideration persuades me that I shall abide, and even continue some time with you all, to improve your advancement in the faith, and to promote your joy:

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

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,

being engag'd in the same conflict, in which you saw I was formerly, and hear that I am at present engag'd.

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

Do nothing out of a spirit of contention, or for vain-glory, but modestly look upon others as if they were better than yourselves.

and his whole exterior showing nothing more than a meer man, he abased himself, and carried his submission so far as to die, even the death of the cross.

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

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

for it is God that influences your desires and endeavours, out of his benevolence to you.

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,

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.

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:

for there is no one that is so dear to me as he, and no one will more sincerely interest himself in your concerns.

nay, I trust in the Lord, that I myself too shall visit you very soon.

for he long'd to see you all, and was greatly concern'd, that you should hear he was sick. and indeed he was sick almost unto death:

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.

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:

which I might do more justly than any other man can pretend to:

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,

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

I don't imagine, my brethren, that I am arriv'd at the goal; but this I do, unmindful of what is pass'd, I stretch towards that which is in view,

Let us therefore, who have been instructed, have this in view: and if you are sollicitous about any thing else, God will reveal even that unto you.

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:

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.

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.

Now I joyfully thank the Lord, that your concern for me has at length reviv'd. not that you wanted the disposition, but only the opportunity.

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,

and you yourselves know, O Philippians, that when I first preach'd the gospel, at my departure from Macedonia, I receiv'd no manner of assistance from any other church but yours;

for you sent more than once to Thessalonica to supply my occasions.

not that I desire a present; but what I desire is, that the fruits of your liberality may greatly redound to your own account.

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.