for do I now act in obedience to men, or to God? or do I seek to please men? if I had hitherto pleased men, I should not have been the servant of 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:

and I went up according to revelation, and communicated to them that gospel, which I preach among the Gentiles; but privately to those who were of note, lest the pains, that I have already taken, or may hereafter take in the gospel, should be in vain.

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;

yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in him, and not by the works of the law, by which there is no justification.

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

I am crucified with Christ, it is not I that now live, but Christ that liveth in me; the life I have in this body I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

O foolish Galatians, who hath deluded you, you that have had the crucifixion of Jesus Christ represented to your view?

have you so little understanding, as having begun in the spiritual doctrine of the gospel, to turn again to the law?

have you suffered so many things in vain?

Is the law then opposite to the promises? by no means. for if there had been a law given, which could have given life, certainly justification should have been by the law.

for as many of you as have been baptized into christianity, have been invested as christians.

you make me apprehensive, that the labour I have bestowed upon you will be all in vain.

It is not you that have done me any injury: tho' you knew through what infirmity of the flesh I heretofore preached the gospel to you,

what benedictions did you then pour out upon me! for I bear you witness, that, had it been practicable, you would have pulled out your very eyes, and given them to me.

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.

these things have an allegorical meaning: the two women signify the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, which is represented by Agar, whose children were born in a state of servitude.

Christ is of no use to you, whoever of you seek to be justified by the law; you have lost all interest in the gospel-dispensation.

I have confidence in you, that, through the Lord, you will be of the same mind with me, so that he who troubles you shall fall under the censure he deserves, whoever he be.

for, brethren, you have been called to liberty. only abuse not this freedom as a pretext to vice, but in offices of love be as servants one to another.

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.

but let every one bring his own work to the test, and then he will have matter of glorying in himself alone, and not in another.

therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good offices to all men, especially to the family of believers.

You see how long a letter I have writ to you with my own hand.

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.

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:

of which number we all have formerly been, leading our dissolute lives in gratifying the desires of our sensual imaginations: and were indeed obnoxious to the divine displeasure, as other. Gentiles were:

for thro' him both of us have access by the same spirit to the father.

if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles;

by whom we have freedom of access to God, with confidence, by faith in him.

I therefore the prisoner for the Lord, beseech you to live suitably to the offers that have been made to you:

Being one body, acted by one spirit, since you all have but one expectation in view;

who without remorse, have abandon'd themselves to brutality, in gratifying every lewd unnatural passion.

but you have learned other things from Christ,

if you have heard of him, and have been taught the truth as he preach'd it:

are you angry? have a care you don't sin. "let not the sun go down upon your wrath,"

let him that stole, steal no more: but rather let him labour, to encrease his fortune with his own hands, that he may have wherewithal to relieve the needy:

and you masters have a just regard to them, by softning your authority: knowing that both their and your master is in heaven, where there is no respect of persons with him.

in particular for me, that I may have leave to speak without any restraint, and make known the mystery of the gospel,

I have sent him to you on purpose to acquaint you with our concerns, and to comfort your hearts.

may our brethren have peace, social affection, and faith from God the father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

grace be with all those that have love uncorrupted for our Lord Jesus Christ. amen.

I should have this opinion of you, being sensible you make the dispensation I am under a common concern, with respect to my confinement, and the defence and confirmation of the gospel.

Now I would have you know, my brethren, that what has happen'd to me, has only conduc'd to the progress of the gospel;

agreeably to that expectation and persuasion I have, that I shall not labour in vain; but as I always have, so I shall still glorify Christ in my body, whether it be by life or by death: for if I live, I live to Christ;

only conduct yourselves in a manner becoming the gospel of Christ, that whether I come to see you, or else am absent, I may have this account of you, that you are stedfastly of the same resolution, and unanimously contend for the faith of the gospel,

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:

you, who display the doctrine of eternal life) that in the day of Christ I may have the satisfaction of not having pursued my laborious course in vain.

However, I hope by the favour of the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you very soon, that I may have some encouragement by knowing the state of your affairs:

but God had pity on him, and not on him only, but on me likewise, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

I sent him therefore with the greater dispatch, that I might have the less disquietude, by the satisfaction you will find in seeing him again.

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. it is not uneasy to me to write what I have already said, and it is an advantage to you.

for I am not yet secure of the prize, I have not yet finish'd my course: but I press to obtain the reward, which Jesus Christ invited me to.

Let us therefore, who have been instructed, have this in view: and if you are sollicitous about any thing else, God will reveal even that unto you.

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:

practise what I have taught, what you have learnt of me, what you have heard me preach, and seen me practise. this do, and the God of peace will then be with you.

it is not my indigence that makes me say this: for I have learn'd, in whatevever state I am, therewith to be content: I know how to be in want,

I know how to abound: every where, and in every circumstance, I have been prepar'd for fulness or famine, for plenty or penury:

I have now receiv'd the whole, and have more than sufficient: I am loaded with the presents you sent by Epaphroditus, which I have receiv'd as grateful incense, as a sacrifice which God accepts and approves.

having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the affection you have to all christians;

for the sake of that happiness, which you hope for, and is reserv'd for you in heaven, of which you have already been inform'd by the preaching of the truth, that is, the gospel:

It is by him, that we have obtain'd the redemption, even the remission of our sins:

of which I have been established a minister, according to the charge which God has given me to preach his gospel faithfully among you. ---

to whom God does disclose the glorious advantages of this mystery to you Gentiles, to wit, "that by Christ you may have the expectation of glory."

For I wish you knew how great my concern is for you, and for those of Laodicea, and for such as have never seen me in person:

continue therefore to follow the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you have receiv'd it:

being firmly attach'd to, and founded upon him: establishing yourselves in the faith you have been taught, and being thankful for the improvement you make therein.

by whom also ye have obtain'd the true spiritual circumcision, not effected by men, when you were by a christian circumcision divested of all your carnal affections,

let there be no fraud among you, since you have discarded your former habits and practices, and are become new men,

servants, be entirely obedient to those, whom the laws have made your masters, and not meerly out of regard to their observation, as designing only to please men, but from a principle of integrity, as fearing God:

as for you, masters, give to your servants what is just and suitable: considering that you also have a master in heaven.

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

Aristarchus my companion in bonds salutes you. and so does Mark, nephew to Barnabas, for whom you have receiv'd recommendations. if he come to you, give him a kind reception.

have cordially reliev'd me. Epaphras a servant of Christ, and your countryman, salutes you, who is always very earnest in his prayers, that you may be perfectly acquainted with, and constantly observe,

have received from the Lord. I Paul salute you, and this salutation I write with my own hand. remember my bonds. grace be with you. AMEN.

for, my brethren, you have followed the example of the christian churches in Judea; by having suffer'd the same persecutions from your own nation, as the churches have suffer'd from the Jews,

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;

As for me, my brethren, having been so abruptly separated from you, in person, tho' not in affection, I have the more ardently endeavour'd to see you again.

this I Paul have frequently attempted, but Satan has been my obstacle.

not being able therefore to wait any longer, I sent Timothy to know the state of your faith, for fear the tempter should have seduc'd you, and all our labour have prov'd abortive.

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

that no man should be exorbitant, and behave contumeliously to his brother: because the Lord is the avenger of all such crimes, as we have formerly remonstrated to you.

As to brotherly love, I have no occasion to write about it, God himself having instructed you to love one another.

Now I would not have you, my brethren, be mistaken about the state of the dead, lest you should be as greatly afflicted as those, who have no hope.

for one thing I have in charge to tell you from the Lord, that we, who shall be found still alive at the coming of the Lord, shall not get the advance of those that are dead:

wherefore comfort and edify one another, as you have hitherto done.

be stedfast therefore, and firmly maintain the doctrine I have delivered to you, either by word of mouth, or by my letter.

and that we may be delivered from vexatious wicked men; for all have not the faith.

and we have this hope in the Lord, that you will still continue to observe the directions we give you.

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

and if any one should disregard what we have prescrib'd, signify it to us by letter, and don't converse with him, that he may be put to shame.

for want of which, some have lost themselves in frivolous disputes,

assisted by faith and a good conscience: for some having discarded the one, have entirely lost the other.

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

a bishop therefore ought to be of an unspotted character, to have but one wife, to be sober, prudent, grave, hospitable, and qualified for teaching:

a deacon must have but one wife, and govern his children, and the rest of the family in a proper manner.

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.

Let none be put upon the list of widows, but such as are at least threescore years of age, and have been married but once: