since it is agreeable to his justice to afflict those in their turn, who afflict you:

and that you, who are distress'd, should obtain your repose, together with us, when the Lord Jesus, with his angels, the ministers of his power, shall descend from heaven,

in flaming fire, to take vengeance on those, who know not God, and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

and come to be glorified by his saints, and to be the object of admiration to all who believed, that the testimony we gave you, would be justified in that day.

and then the lawless will be discover'd, whom the Lord will extirpate by the spirit of his mouth, and at his glorious advent, will intirely abolish him,

who by the instigation of satan will make his parade with various arts, with fallacious signs and prodigies,

and with all the vile methods of imposture, to the ruin of those, who are averse to the truth, by which they might be saved.

to the condemnation of all those, who instead of embracing the gospel, had pleasure in iniquity.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ, and God our father, who has loved us, and by his favour given us the advantageous hopes of eternal joys, consolate your souls,

but as for you, the Lord, who is faithful, will establish you, and protect you from the malicious one.

now being inform'd, that there are among you people of an irregular conduct, who neglect their own business, and busy themselves with the affairs of others: