just as he was entring into the castle, Paul said to the officer, may I be favour'd with a word? you can speak Greek then, said he?

they can testify, if they will, that I early profess'd myself a Pharisee, a member of the most rigorous sect of our religion:

upon this Paul said to the centurion and his men, "except the crew stay aboard, you can't be safe:"

I owe what service I can do to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians, to the learned, and to the illiterate.

How then can we assert, "that Abraham our father obtained this from circumcision?"

because a sensual disposition of mind is averse to God: for it is not subject to the divine law, nor indeed can it be.

for we are saved but by hope: but hope supposes things not yet present; for how can a man hope for what he has now in possession?

The spirit likewise softens our afflictions: for being at a loss to apply for the most proper relief; the spirit it self affects us with those pious ejaculations, which we can't well express.

What shall we conclude then from this? if God be for us, who can be against us?

But you will object, why does he then find fault? for "who can resist his will?"

nay, even the Jews, if they don't continue still incredulous, shall be grafted in: since divine power can graft them in again.

do all you can to live peaceably, if it be possible, with all mankind.

for who knows the thoughts of a man, but the spirit of man which is in him? even so the thoughts of God no one can know, but the spirit of God.

but the animal man does not receive the effusions of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; neither can he understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

for how can he, that does not know the mind of the Lord, instruct another? but as for us, we are acquainted with the mind of the Lord.

for no one can lay any other foundation, than what is laid, which is, that Jesus is the Messias.

but if the Lord pleases, I will visit you very soon; and then I shall try, not what these boasters can say, but what they can do:

Don't you know, that your bodies are parts of Christ's mystical body? now, how can that which is Christ's, be made the property of a very creature?

were you called being a slave? be not perplex'd about it; but if you can obtain your freedom, don't refuse it.

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.

wherefore I give you to understand, that no man who has the spirit of God, can pronounce Jesus anathema: and that no man can acknowledge Jesus to be the Lord, but by the holy spirit.

for he that speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks not to men, but to God: for no man can understand the mysteries he delivers by the spirit.

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?

otherwise if you should give thanks by the spirit in an unknown tongue, the hearer cannot but appear unlearned upon this occasion; how then can he say Amen to thy thanksgiving? since he does not conceive what you say.

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?

this I say, my brethren, because the body, as it is at present, cannot possess the kingdom of God; and what is corruptible, can't enjoy incorruptibility.

what concord can Christ maintain with Belial? what concern has a believer with an infidel?

tho' if I had a mind to glory, I might do it without vanity, for I should say nothing but what is true: but now I forbear, lest any man should ascribe more to me than my actions, or my preaching can justify.

for I can employ no power against the truth, but for the truth.

from me, who called you by the grace of Christ; this can be

or rather that you are favoured by him, how can ye turn again to the weak and beggarly elements of the law, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

far above all the principalities, all the powers, all the potentates, all the dominations, and whatever order can be named, not only in this age, but also in the age to come:

it is the gift of God) but not by works, so that no man can boast:

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

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.

the whole will of God. for I can witness for him, that he is ardently concern'd for you, and the christians of Laodicea,

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

for what can be our hope, or joy, what can crown our pretensions, unless it be you, when we shall appear before the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

how can I be sufficiently thankful to God upon your account, for all the joy, which by your means we have been affected with,

Don't allow any one to return evil for evil, but strive to do all the good you can to one another, and to all the world.

for if a man is incapable of governing his own family, how can he take care of the church of God?

as we brought nothing into the world, certain it is, we can carry nothing away. having therefore food and raiment,

who alone is essentially immortal, dwelling in that inaccessible light, which no mortal ever saw, or can see: to whom belongs everlasting honour and empire. amen.

the labourer must work before he can obtain his reward.

he is obliged to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for those of the people. besides, no man can assume

For if the blood of goats and of bulls, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkled on the unclean, can cleanse them from external impurities;

happy is he that can stand the tryal: for when he has undergone the test, he shall receive that crown of life which the Lord has promised to those that love him.

Let no man under temptation, say, it is God that tempts him; for as he is incapable of moral evil, he can't influence any one thereto.

What advantage is it, my brethren, for a man to say he has faith, if he has no beneficence? can such a faith save him?

the tongue is a brand that sets the world in a combustion: it is but one of the numerous organs of the body, yet it can blast whole assemblies: tipp'd with infernal sulphur it sets the whole train of life in a blaze.

can a fig-tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine figs? no more can the sea yield water that is fresh.

but if envy and contention imbitter your minds, don't think your false pretences can stand against the truth:

in the enjoyment of a state, that can never change or decay, a state reserv'd in heaven for us,

for who can hurt you, if you strive to excel in virtue.

he that possesses the enjoyments of life, and seeing his brother in want, has no compassion for him, how can he be said to have any divine love?

if a man says he loves God, and yet hates his brother, he is a lyar: for he that does not love his brother, who is before his eyes, how can he love God who is invisible?

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write, "THESE things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth what no man can shut; and shutteth what no man can open:

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for tho' few in number, you have kept my word, and have not renounced my name.

my Lord, answer'd I, you can tell. and he said to me, these are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

As for the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues, they did not repent of their evil actions, so as to forbear worshipping demons, and idols of gold and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:

he shall drink of the wine of the divine vengeance, the strongest wine that can be poured out of the cup of his indignation; He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the lamb: