and they that possess this world, as those that can't make an ill use of it. for the scene of this world is continually shifting. I would have you free from anxiety.

But every one has not this knowledge: for some still imagine the idol represents a deity: and eat the meat under the notion of an offering to such a being: by which erroneous opinion they are infected with idolatry.

don't you know, that they who prepare the sacrifices, do eat of the sacrifice in the temple? and they who wait at the altar, have their portion from the altar?

even so has the Lord ordained, that they who preach the gospel, should live by the gospel.

every one that strives for the mastery, is extremely temperate: now, they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible one.

they all eat the same spiritual meat,

and all drank the same spiritual drink: (for they drank of what flowed from the spiritual rock: and that rock was Christ.)

now these things were examples to deter us from longing after things that are pernicious, as they did.

consider the custom of the Jews by descent, are not they which eat of the sacrifices, partakers of the altar? what say I then?

no, but that what the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not have you partake of the sacrifices of demons.

thus I endeavour to be acceptable to all men in all things, not seeking my own advantage, but that of others, so as they may be saved.

now to particular men the spirit gives particular gifts, that they may be displayed to greater advantage.

but if they were all one member, where would be the body?

so that if one member suffer, they all suffer with it: or if one be honoured, they partake of it.

Social affection will never fail: but as for prophecies, they shall be out of use; as for languages, they shall cease; as for knowledge, it shall vanish away.

And even inanimate instruments of sound, whether pipe or harp, except they have a distinct variety of notes, how can they express any significant tune?

in the law it is written, " with men of other tongues and other lips, will I speak unto this people: and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord."

when therefore the whole church is assembled, and all speak different languages, if such as are either unlearned, or are unbelievers should come in, will they not say you are all mad?

Let your women be silent in your assemblies: for they are not allowed to discourse there; but are to observe orders, as indeed the law implies:

and if they desire to have information about any point, let them consult their husbands at home: for it does not become women to ask questions in the church.

it is by the divine favour that I am what I am: and his favour to me was not in vain; no, I laboured more than they all: yet it was not I, it was the divine favour which assisted me.

but whether I or they labour'd most, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

then they too who died christians, are entirely lost.

but every one in proper order: Christ has the precedence, next they who were Christians shall rise at his advent.

If it be not so, what can they effect who are baptized for the dead? if the dead rise not at all, why are they then baptized for the dead?

But some will say, how will the dead be raised? with what kind of body will they appear?

as was the terrestrial, such are they also that are terrestrial: and as is the celestial, such also shall they be who are to be celestial.

and if it be so considerable as to induce me to go, they shall accompany me.

I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus are come: for what was wanting on your side, they have supplied.

for they have quieted my mind as well as yours: therefore to such have a regard.

that they who are in a state of life should not live at their own discretion, but to the service of him who died for them, and rose again.

and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God has said, "I will dwell with, and walk among them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

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.

now as to Titus, he is my collegue, and assists me in your affairs: as to our brethren, they are the deputies of the churches, and the glory of the christian profession.

having this proof of you by such a supply, they will glorify God for your profess'd subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution to them as well as others;

to level all the barriers they contrive for obstructing the divine doctrine, and to make their pride captive to the authority of Christ.

for I dare not rank or compare my self with some who vaunt themselves: but they making their self-conceit the only standard whereby to judge of themselves, show their want of judgment.

but this I do, and shall do, to make them drop their hire, who are so bent upon hire: and then indeed they will be as they pretend to be, like me.

I say it again, let no man think me vain; but if they do, yet as such, bear with me, that I too may applaud my self a little.

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

Are they Hebrews? so am I: are they Israelites? so am I: are they of the race of Abraham?

so am I: are they ministers of Christ? is it my vanity? I am more so: in toilsome labours I surpass them, in stripes I am exceedingly beyond them, in prisons I have been oftner, and frequently in the very jaws of death.

and they glorified God upon my account.

and as to the false brethren, who insidiously crept in to spy out our liberty which we have by Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into servitude;

But as for those who were men of real eminency, how considerable soever they were heretofore, it does not any ways affect me; God accepts not the person of any man: for they who were of note, in conference with me, had nothing new to add.

on the contrary, when they perceived that I had the province of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, as Peter had that of preaching it to the Jews,

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.

for till certain Jews came thither from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, for fear of those, who were for circumcision:

but when I saw, they conformed not their conduct to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all: if you being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, and not according to that of the Jews, why do you constrain the Gentiles to judaize?

so hence ye know, that it is they who believe who are the children of Abraham.

so that it is they who believe, who are blessed with Abraham, who did believe.

but they that rest themselves upon the works of the law, are obnoxious to the curse: for it is written, " cursed is every one, who continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them:"

they court your affection, but not in a fair way; for they design to exclude me, that you might have the greater esteem for them.

I wish they who unsettle you were entirely circumcised.

drunkenness, revellings, and such like, concerning which I forewarn you now, as heretofore I have done, that they who practise such vices, shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

now they who belong to Christ, have crucified the animal nature with the affections and passions thereof.

they who desire to make a figure in the world, constrain you to be circumcised, only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

for even they who are circumcised, do not themselves observe the law in other respects; but they dedesire to have you circumcised, that they may have matter of glorying upon that account.

nor buffoonry, which they call pleasantry, but is indecent: be you rather exercised in social virtue.

for it is a shame even to mention what they practise in secret.

the scripture says, "for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and they two shall be as one."

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

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:

yea, I intreat thee too, my faithful collegue, to assist them both, for they assisted me in the gospel, as well as Clement, and my other collegues, whose names are in the book of life.

he it is that we preach, exhorting, and instructing men in every part of divine knowledge, that they may all be perfectly acquainted with the doctrine of Christ Jesus.

that their hearts might be comforted, and that being firmly united in love, they might possess the highest and fullest persuasion of the truth of this doctrine, by entring into this mystery, even of God the father, and of Christ,

by which indeed they make a pretence to wisdom, by a worship of their own devising, by an air of humility, and self-denial, and a disregard to the gratifications of sense.

fathers, don't treat your children with severity, lest they be discourag'd.

I have sent him with Onesimus a faithful and beloved brother, who is of your city: they will inform you of what passes here.

for the gospel has made so favourable a progress not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every other place, where the reputation of your divine faith has spread, that 'tis needless to mention any thing of it; since they all relate of us,

the very men who have persecuted the Lord Jesus, and the prophets even to death; who have persecuted us; they who are regardless of pleasing the deity, and are enemies to all mankind;

for the Lord himself will descend from heaven, and by the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet of God, resound the summons: they who died christians shall rise first:

whilst they flatter themselves with peace and safety, destruction shall fall upon them, like the pangs of a woman in travail, and they shall not escape.

they that are sober take their rest in the night, whilst they that are sots, are drunk in the night:

by which you may be assur'd, that they will be punish'd by the divine justice, and that you shall be rewarded with the kingdom of God, for which you suffer;

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.

We direct you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from all those of your brethren, whose conduct is irregular, and not agreeable to the instructions they received from us.

pretending to be doctors of the law, tho' they neither understand what they advance, nor upon what it is founded.

Hymeneus and Alexander are of that number, whom I have deliver'd to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

let them be first examin'd, and if they are without reproach, let them enter upon their office.

for they who duly discharge that office, prepare their way to a higher degree, and may promote the christian faith with the greater freedom.

these things recommend to them, that they may be without reproach.

as for young widows, don't admit them: for being impatient of religious restraint, they will be marry'd:

for which they are much to be condemn'd, because they violate the engagements they had before enter'd into:

besides, having nothing to do, they get the habit of rambling from one house to another, and are not only idling, but prattle and intermeddle, and utter what is not decent.

The vices of some men are so notorious, they prevent any inquisition: others don't discover themselves till they have been ordain'd.

let them not treat their christian masters, on pretence of being their brethren, with less respect: but be the more obsequious, because they are believers, and deserve to be belov'd, for the kind provision they make for them. let this be the subject of your instructions, and exhortation.

we ought to think that sufficient. but they who will be rich, expose

I therefore bear with every thing for the sake of the converts, that they may obtain that salvation, which Jesus Christ has procur'd us, even eternal glory.

discountenance such as hold vain irreligious discourse; for they will grow bold in impiety,

they have deserted the faith themselves, and debauch'd the faith of others, by maintaining, "the resurrection is already past."

decline all impertinent barren disputes, since they only serve for contention.

and so they may rouze out of the snare of the devil, who leads them captive at his discretion.

of which they wear the appearance, but disclaim its influence. have no intercourse with such.

Of this number are they, who insinuate themselves into families, to make a prey of the weaker sex, who are inveigled by their vitious suggestions, abetted by their own subtle passions,

and by lending an assiduous ear to such lessons, render it impossible they should ever be acquainted with the truth.

but they will be stop'd in their career; for they shall be expos'd to the world for impostors, as those magicians were.

as for these impious impostors, they will go on from bad to worse, seducing others, and deluding themselves.

for the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine, but get teachers of their own corrupt taste, to sooth their ears that itch for flattery: