the punishment, which was inflicted by the community, is sufficient on this occasion.

for this was one view I had in writing, to have this trial of you, whether you are intirely obedient.

When an opportunity was given me by the Lord to preach the gospel of Christ, upon my arrival at Troas,

I was so uneasy in my mind for not finding Titus my brother, that taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

now if the law engraven on stone, the letter of whose sanction is death, was delivered with such glory, that the children of Israel could not steadily behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, tho' it was transient;

for if the ministration of condemnation was illustrious, the ministration of righteousness will be much more glorious.

if that which was only temporary was glorious, much more shall that which is permanent be glorious.

and do not act as Moses did, who threw a veil over his face so as to hinder the children of Israel from perceiving the end of that which was to cease:

for all things are for your sakes, that the grace which was conferr'd upon many, might by the gratitude of so many, redound to the glory of God.

For tho' I was sorry my letter gave you some uneasiness, I do not repent of it, perceiving, that the uneasiness you had from that letter, did not dwell upon your minds.

now I rejoice, not at your uneasiness, but at your repentance which succeeded: for your sorrow was a religious sorrow, such as convinc'd you I had done you no wrong.

so that your comfort was no small satisfaction to me: yea, and I was the more exceedingly pleased for that cheerful tranquillity of mind which Titus received from the behaviour of you all.

and in this they out-did my expectation; such was the divine pleasure, they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then made me an offer to go themselves to Corinth.

for you are sensible of the beneficence of our Lord Jesus Christ; powerful as he was, for your sake he became poor, that you through his poverty might be made rich.

but was chosen by the churches to accompany me with this collection; which service I undertook for the sake of Christ, and to encourage your generous design.

for I know your generous propensity, and I mention'd it with applause to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; so that your zeal has influenc'd many others.

when I am present, which I think to exercise against some, who censure me, as if I was actuated by worldly views.

contemptible) let such a one depend upon this, that the same authority which appear'd in my letters, when I was absent, will appear in fact, when I am present.

but I fear lest by some means or other, as Eve was beguiled by the subtilly of the serpent, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is due to Christ.

when I was present among you, and in want, I was chargeable to no man: for the brethren which came from Macedonia, supplied my necessities: and as I have, so I always shall keep myself from being burdensome to you.

as if I was inferior to them. but whatever they pretend to, (I must be so vain) I pretend to the like.

thrice was I whip'd with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I was shipwreck'd; a night and a day I was floating on the deep:

but thro' a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and so escap'd.

I knew a christian who above fourteen years ago, was snatch'd up even to the third heaven, whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows.

but tho' I don't know whether it was in the body, or out of the body, which God only knows,

this I know, that he was snatch'd up into paradise, and heard such secrets as it is not lawful for a man to reveal.

and lest I should be exalted above measure by the extraordinary revelations I have had, I was afflicted in my person, so that the messenger of satan insulted me; concerning which,

for in what were ye inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? an injury I hope you will easily forgive.

'tis own'd I did not put you to any charges myself: but was so crafty, as to over-reach you, by others.

for tho' he was crucified with the appearance of weakness, yet he lives by the power of God; tho' we are afflicted upon his account, we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

you have heard of my former behaviour, whilst I was of the Jewish religion, with what excessive violence I persecuted the church of God, and laid it waste:

but was personally unknown to the churches of Christ in Judea,

however, Titus who was then with me, being a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised:

Peter, and John, who were esteemed to be pillars, perceived the favour that was bestowed on me, they admitted me and Barnabas into fellowship, and agreed, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

only they recommended to us to get collections for the poor in Judea: which I was very careful to do.

But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, for he was to be blamed.

and the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him, insomuch that Barnabas himself was carried away with their hypocrisy.

As Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness:

that the blessing promised to Abraham might come on the Gentiles thro' Jesus Christ; that we by believing might receive the spirit that was promised.

this therefore I say, that the law, which was not till four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul the promise, that was ratified before by God, so as to set the promise afoot.

"To what purpose then was the law?" it was added as a check to transgressors, till the offspring should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels with the intervention of a mediator.

but before faith came, we were shut up together as prisoners under the custody of the law, 'till faith was to be revealed.

so that the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

even so we, whilst we were children, were in a state of servitude to the elements of the world. but when the time appointed was accomplished,

I beseech you, brethren, be as I am, for I was as you are.

he, who was of the bond-woman, was born according to the ordinary course of nature; but he, who was of the free-woman, was born by virtue of the promise.

Now we, my brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise.

but as then, he that was born in the ordinary course of nature, persecuted him, who was born by an extraordinary power; even so it is now.

when the full time of the dispensation was come, to reduce all things both in heaven and on earth, under one head in Christ.

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:

then it was that God, who is rich in mercy, thro' his great love, wherewith he loved us,

that he might reconcile both in one body unto God by the cross, wherefore he destroyed the enmity that was between them:

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

of this I was made a minister, according to the gracious gift God bestowed on me, by the effectual operation of his influence:

no man was ever yet averse to his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord doth the church:

serve them with affection, as if it was to the Lord,

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

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

who tho' he was the image of God, did not affect to appear with divine majesty, but divested himself thereof,

Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obey'd the gospel, not only when I was with you, but much more now while I am absent, continue the work of your own salvation, whatever persecutions you apprehend:

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:

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.

which you heard was offer'd to you, by the instructions of Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who is to you a faithful minister of Christ:

which were buried (as Christ was) in your baptism, by virtue of which you rise (as he did) to a new life, through a belief of that divine power, which raised him from the dead.

and cancell'd the obligation of the ceremonial law, which was disadvantageous to us, removing that which divided us, and nailing it to the cross.

since the gospel we preach'd, did not consist only of words, but was fully confirm'd by miracles and gifts of the holy spirit, you yourselves being witnesses, what we did among you and for you.

how successful our arrival was among you, and how you renounc'd your idols to serve the living and true God,

And you are satisfied, my brethren, that our address to you was not fallacious:

for our doctrine was free from all imposture, avarice, and fraud.

our address to you was without any flattery, as you yourselves can witness, and God is witness that we had no avarice to disguise.

you are witnesses, and God is so too, how holy, how just and irreproachable our behaviour was to you, who believe.

don't you remember, I told you this, when I was with you?

for you know what an example we have given for your imitation: that our conduct among you was regular:

it being plain, that the law was not design'd against the just, but against the lawless and refractory, against irreligion and vice, impiety and prophaneness, parricide and man-slaughter,

who was before a blasphemer, and a violent persecutor; but I obtained mercy, because I acted thro' ignorance in incrudelity.

but the favour of our Lord display'd itself by that faith and charity, which was wrought in me by Jesus Christ.

who gave himself for the redemption of all mankind: this is what was to be promulg'd in due time:

for this I was establish'd a herald and an apostle, I speak the truth without disguise, a doctor to instruct the Gentiles in the true faith.

for Adam was the first that was form'd, then Eve.

Adam was not seduc'd, but the woman, who was the cause of his transgression.

don't neglect the gift you have, which was given you with the ministerial charge, when you receiv'd imposition of hands from the presbytery.

For this I was establish'd the herald, the apostle, and doctor of the Gentiles. this has drawn upon me the evils I suffer.

the Lord be favourable to the family of Onesiphorus; for he often reliev'd me, and was not asham'd of my chains:

but when he was at Rome, he enquired for me very diligently, and found me.

however the Lord assisted and strengthen'd me, that the gospel might be confirm'd by my remonstrance, and all the nations might hear it; so that I was deliver'd out of the mouth of the lion:

I left you in Crete, to regulate what was amiss, and to ordain pastors in every city, as I had appointed you,

and intercede with you for my son Onesimus, whom I made a convert whilst I was in chains.

'tis true he was formerly useless to you, but now he will be useful to us both:

for if the law deliver'd by angels was put in execution, and every transgression and disobedience was justly punish'd as it deserv'd;

how shall we escape, if we neglect that salutary doctrine? which was first published by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those that heard him;

but Jesus, who was for a while inferior to the angels by his sufferings and death, we see was crown'd with glory and honour; when by the divine goodness, he had pass'd thro' death for every man.

For it was agreeable to his wisdom, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to consecrate the author of their salvation by his sufferings.

Since then the children were made subject to a state of mortality, so he himself likewise was subject to the same condition: that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

whence it was necessary he should be in all things like his brethren; that he might be a merciful high priest, and faithfully discharge the divine office of expiating the sins of the people.

who was faithful to him that constituted him such, as Moses likewise was faithful in all his administration of God's house.

but as the architect is of much greater dignity than the house he has made; so the glory which Christ received was greater than that of Moses.

besides Moses throughout his whole administration acted in quality of a servant, representing to the people what he was order'd to say.

wherefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, they do alway err in their hearts; and they have not known my ways.