far from being weak in faith, unconcern'd at his own bodily decay, being then about an hundred years old, and at Sarah's incapacity of child-bearing,

now for a wicked man no one would willingly die; but for a benefactor some have readily offer'd to die.

for as by one man's disobedience many receiv'd the punishment of sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many receive the reward of the righteous.

Do we then conclude thus, let us continue in sin, that the divine favour may be more fully display'd?

but sin receiving strength by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. for before the law sin appear'd dead.

then it was I once liv'd secure; but when the prohibition came, sin exerted it self, and I was in a dying condition:

You are, therefore, brethren oblig'd to oppose your sensual passions;

for I consider, that the sufferings of this present life are infinitely over-ballanc'd by that glory which shall hereafter be discovered to us.

who were not, by their own choice, expos'd to this uncertain state, but by virtue of him, who subjected them thereto:

for I could wish to be as one anathematiz'd from the christian church for my brethren, who are of the same race as my self,

have the same respect for one another. let not your behaviour be haughty, but soften'd to the condition of those below you. be not wise in your own conceits.

now if your brother be endanger'd by your eating, you violate the obligations of love: for such a matter as eating, will you risk his life, for whom Christ died?

Don't let our religion then be expos'd to reproach.

for he that makes a difference, is self-condemn'd, if he eats against his own persuasion: for every action of that kind is sin .

I add, we that are better inform'd ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not study our own pleasure.

May the God of patience and consolation, make you equally concern'd for one another, according to the example of Christ Jesus,

nevertheless, brethren, I have writ to the Gentile part of you, and admonish'd you with the greater freedom by virtue of the commission that God has given me,

when I take my journey into Spain, I hope to see you in my way, and be forwarded by you to that place, after having for some time enjoy'd the pleasure of your company.

salute Andronicus and Junias my relations, and fellow-prisoners, who are distinguish'd among the apostles,

your christianity is very well known in the world. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you as expert in that which is good, as unpractis'd in what is evil.

for I have been inform'd, my brethren, by some of Chloe's family, that there are contentions among you.

for Christ did not send me to baptize: but to preach the gospel: tho' not with the preaching of the wise, lest the cross of Christ should have been hinder'd in its efficacy.

where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputant of this age? has not God prov'd the wisdom of this world to be downright folly.

As for me, my brethren, when I appear'd among you, it was not to represent to you the divine mystery in sublime language, and with human literature.

but we explain that mysterious plan of divine wisdom, which God had contriv'd before the ages, for our glory:

but they are all expos'd to the judgment of the spiritual, whilst he himself is not subject to the judgment of any man.

will be expos'd. for the time of tryal will show it: it shall be discovered by the fire, which will put each sort of work to the test.

These things, my brethren, I have represented to you in my own person, and that of Apollos, out of respect to you: to show you how to moderate your esteem by the rule prescrib'd, that you may not be transported in favour of one rather than another.

for who has distinguish'd thee above another? or what have you, that you did not receive? now if you did receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it?

we are fatigu'd by our manual toil: when reviled, we pray: when persecuted, we don't repine:

and when we are defamed, we intreat: in a word, we are look'd upon as the dregs and scum of mankind, even to this day.

Which would you chuse, that I should come to you arm'd with resentment? or, in a mild and benevolent temper?

we have it from all quarters, that incest is practis'd among you, and such as is not among the Gentiles, that of a man's having his father's wife.

this you have made a matter of levity, instead of being concern'd in discarding him that has done such an action.

but he that is attach'd to the Lord, is united to him by one and the same spirit.

let every man continue in the same state he was in when he turn'd christian.

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 weep, as those that are unconcern'd; and they that rejoice, as those that do not; and they that buy, as those that have no possessions;

he that is married is worldly concern'd, how he may please his wife.

there is the same difference between a married woman and a virgin: the last is religiously concern'd to be holy, both in body and mind: but she that is married is taken up with worldly cares to please her husband.

but he that has been steady in his purpose, and finds no necessity to alter it; if he is a master of his passion, and is heartily determin'd to keep his virginity, it is well.

I therefore so run, not as one that is distanc'd: I fight, but not with the air.

or prophesies with her head uncovered, dishonoureth the man who is her head: for it is the same thing as if her head was shav'd.

A man ought not to be veil'd: he has the honour of being invested with authority from God, and may glory in his priority to the woman.

therefore the woman ought to be veil'd, out of regard to the angels.

For I received it from the Lord, and I inform'd you of it: that the Lord Jesus, the night in which he was betrayed, took bread:

and if any one is press'd with hunger, let him eat at home; that ye may not otherwise meet with punishment. as for other matters, I will set them in order when I come.

for by one spirit we have all been baptized, to be form'd into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and have been all made to drink of one spirit.

of which the graceful have no need: but God has contrived the symmetry of the body, by bestowing an additional advantage where it seem'd to want it.

for if the trumpet give an undistinguish'd sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

but if you all expound, and an unbeliever, or one unlearned come in, he is examin'd by all, he is tryed by all:

if any one pretends to be a prophet, or to spiritual gifts, let him be assured that the rules which I have here prescrib'd, are the commandments of the Lord.

What I have explain'd to you, my brethren, is the gospel which I preached to you, which you have received, and wherein you have persisted:

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

every sabbath-day let every one of you set apart something of what he has happily gain'd, for the common treasury, that there may be no collection when I come.

For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of that insupportable weight of affliction that over-whelm'd me so in Asia that I despaired even of life:

nay, I abandon'd my self to death, that I might not rely upon my self for deliverance, but on God who raiseth the dead.

being assisted by your prayers for me, so that thanks may be returned by many, for the gracious deliverance procur'd me by their prayers.

as some of you have already own'd, that I am matter of joy to you, as you will be to me in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ:

now it is God who keeps you fix'd in the doctrine of Christ; who has appointed me,

and mark'd me with his seal, and given me the earnest of the spirit in my heart.

so that now you ought rather to forgive, and comfort him, for fear he should be overwhelm'd by an excess of sorrow.

for we are not like others, who adulterate the word of God; but we preach the pure gospel of Christ, as I receiv'd it from God, and as in the presence of God.

since that which distinguished the first had no glory, when compared to that of the other, which far excell'd it.

but this treasure is lodg'd in such earthen vessels as we are, that the exceeding efficacy of it may appear to be from God, and not from us.

always bearing about in my body the marks of sufferings like those of Jesus, so that Jesus might be plainly prov'd to be alive by the sufferings of my body.

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 I know, that if my body, which is but a tent for my sojourning upon earth, were dissolved, I have what is not fram'd by human art, but by the divine architect, a mansion eternal in the heavens.

therefore being always certainly assur'd that whilst I sojourn in this body, I am absent from the Lord,

to this I am urg'd by the love I bear to Christ, persuaded as I am, that if one died for all, then were all in a dying state: and that he died for all,

Wherefore, henceforth I have no regard to any man for his external appearance: for tho' I formerly look'd for worldly grandeur in the Messiah, yet now I see things in another light.

therefore, if any man be a christian, he is in a new creation: the old state of things is chang'd to one entirely new.

in honour and disgrace, under infamy, and in repute: look'd upon as an impostor, while I say what is true;

but by the consolation I received from you by him, when he acquainted me with your earnest desire to see me, with your concern, and your zeal for me; which greatly increas'd my joy.

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.

in this I only advise you: it being for your credit, since you have not only begun to execute it, but you were the first that form'd the design a year ago.

my meaning is not, that you should be distress'd to relieve others, I only recommend an equality;

for he not only complyed with my exhortation, but being more than ordinarily concern'd, he voluntarily went to you;

with whom I have sent one of the brethren, who is not only distinguish'd among all the churches, by his preaching the gospel,

this I did, to prevent any suspicion that might be rais'd from my having the management of so great a sum:

I have sent likewise another of our brethren, whose diligence I have experienc'd in several affairs.

and God is able to make every charitable gift redound to your advantage; that being always sufficiently supply'd in every thing, you may excel in every good work:

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;

for tho' I am involv'd with the world, I don't sustain the war with their poor arts:

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.

I will not boast of any thing done without my province, but confine myself within that line by which God has mark'd out my bounds, and in which you are included.

if my language is inelegant, my knowledge is not contemptible; but has been fully display'd among you on all occasions.

expos'd to toil, to fatigue, to frequent watchings, to hunger and thirst, to frequent fastings, to cold and penury.

who is afflicted, and I not suffer? who is offended, and I not inflam'd?

If I must be compell'd to glory, I will glory on the account of my sufferings.

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.

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.

Am I become vain? 'tis you have forc'd me to it: for I ought to have been commended by you: since I am not inferior to the chiefest of the apostles, tho' in myself I am nothing.

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

I am therefore glad when I am disarm'd by the strength of your integrity: and this is what I pray for, even your perfection.

on the contrary, if I re-establish what I have demolish'd, I show myself a prevaricator.

this one thing I desire to know of you, did you receive the spirit by the works of the law, or by the gospel preach'd to you?

but the scripture has declar'd all guilty of sin, that the blessing promised on condition of faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

being under tutors and guardians, 'till the time prefix'd by his father.