church which uses to meet in his house. when this epistle has been read among you, take care that it be read likewise in the church of the Laodiceans, and

that you read the epistle from Laodicea. give Archippus this instruction from me, take care to discharge the function, you

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.

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

this indeed you practise towards all our brethren in Macedonia; and we only exhort you to advance more and more therein:

therefore comfort one another with this information.

he that has called you, is faithful, and this he will effect.

I conjure you by the Lord, that this epistle may be read to all our christian brethren.

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

to this he has called you, to a life of glory with our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

I Paul salute you, this salutation being my own hand writing, which is the distinguishing mark of all my letters, so I write.

This charge, my son Timothy, I recommend to you, agreeably to the prophetic gifts heretofore conferr'd on you, by virtue of which you might carry on a successful warfare,

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.

however the women may be saved by educating their children, and persevering themselves in faith, in charity, in holiness and chastity. this may be depended upon as true.

This I write, tho' I hope to make you a visit in a little time, that in case I am retarded,

if a widow has children or grand-children, let them above all things instruct their own family to be religious, and let them be grateful to their parents, for this is acceptable to God.

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.

If any one deviate from this doctrine, not adhering to the wholesome instructions of our Lord Jesus Christ, the true doctrine of piety,

Charge those that are rich in this world, not to be elated, not to depend upon their perishable wealth, but upon the God of life, who furnishes us with every thing in plenty for our enjoyment;

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

however, the foundation of the divine architect is still immoveable, having this inscription, " the Lord discerns who are his." and, " let every one that invokes the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity."

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,

for Damas, out of love to this world has abandon'd me, and is gone to Thessalonica: Crescens, to Galatia: and Titus, to Dalmatia.

teaching us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and to practise temperance, justice and piety in this present world;

This is a secure rule, and what I would have you constantly maintain, that they who have believed in God, should take care to be examples of virtue, for that is commendable and useful to mankind.

for the Lord's sake, brother, let me have this satisfaction: refresh my heart for his sake.

I writ this upon the presumption of your compliance, being persuaded that you will even do more than I mention.

for to which of the angels did he ever say, " thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be his father, and he shall be my son?

and this is attested by a certain writer, who says, "what is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him?

but in this place 'tis said, "they shall not enter into my rest."

this was Jesus, who while he was in a mortal body, having offered up prayers and supplications, with strong cries, and with tears, to him that was able to save him from that death, was heard so as to be delivered from his fear;

On this head we have many things to say, not easily to be comprehended, because of your prejudices.

for though by this time you ought to be capable of teaching others, you want to be instructed anew in the first principles of the divine oracles; and are in such a state as to stand in need of milk, rather than of solid nourishment.

But though we speak in this manner, my dear brethren, we expect better things of you, and such as are more suitable to your salvation.

For this Melchisedec was both king of Salem, and a priest of the most high God; 'twas he who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him:

Now consider the dignity of this person, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

This appears still more clear from another priest's arising like Melchisedec,

for the law made no man perfect, but this was effected by introducing a better hope, which brings us nearer to the divine presence.

Besides those priests were establish'd without any oath: but this with an oath,

as those high priests of the law were, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people: having done this once for all, by offering up himself.

What we have said amounts to this; we have an high priest, who sits in heaven on the right hand of the throne of the divine majesty.

but this is the alliance that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

This type subsists to the present time, both gifts and sacrifices being still offered, which cannot purify the mind of him that officiates

and for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that, the transgressions that were unexpiated by the first testament, being expiated by his death, they who are called might receive the eternal inheritance, which was promised.

saying, "this is the blood of the testament which God has made in your behalf."

and this is what the holy spirit declares, when after having said,

"this is the alliance that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their mind will I write them:

and this expression, yet once more" signifies the abolition of those changeable things which were only contriv'd, that what is unalterable might lastingly succeed.

I conjure you the more earnestly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Pray, my brethren, favourably receive this exhortation, which I have writ to you in brief.

Consider the various tryals that surround you, my brethren, as matter of great joy; knowing this,

consider, my dear brethren, has not God chose the poor of this world to be rich by faith, and to inherit the kingdom he has promised to those who love him?

from the same mouth shall blessing and cursing proceed? this ought not to be practis'd, my brethren;

your language ought to be this, "if the Lord pleases to give us life, we shall do this, or that."

This it is that fills you with joy, notwithstanding the various tryals, which still necessarily afflict you,

'Twas this salvation, that employ'd the most profound enquiries of those, who predicted the dispensation that was to be in your behalf:

and since you invoke him as your father, who without respect of persons judges every one according to his actions; while you are passing thro' this world, be fearful of offending him:

and this they were destin'd to. but you are the chosen race, you are kings and priests, the holy nation, the peculiar people, that you might display his glory, who called you out

this will conciliate the divine favour. and this is the condition of your vocation, since Christ himself has suffer'd for us,

Since then Christ has with respect to his mortal nature died for us, arm yourselves with this reflection, that he, who is dead with respect to sensuality, has renounced sin;

so that for the future he does not pass the rest of this life in gratifying his sensual passions, but in conformity to the divine precepts.

for to this end was the gospel preach'd to those, who are now dead, that after having suffer'd the loss of this frail life from men, they might enjoy an immortal life with God.

for this reason I shall never omit to put you in mind of these things, however knowing you are already, and settled in the truth.

knowing that I must soon leave this tabernacle, as our Lord Jesus Christ has signify'd to me.

for he received this honourable and glorious testimony from his father, when the voice broke out from the magnificent splendor, in these words, "this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased."

we our selves heard this voice, that came from heaven, when we were with him upon the holy mountain.

for whilst this good man was among them, it daily pierc'd his virtuous soul, to see and hear of their detestable behaviour: this consider'd,

This is the second letter I now write to you, my brethren, by which I would awaken your sincere attention,

But there is one thing, my brethren, you ought to be appriz'd of, which is this, that "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

Since then this whole system is to be destroyed, how holy should your conduct be, and how ardent your piety?

This then is the commission we have from him, to declare unto you, that God is light, and in him there is no darkness.

but he that observes his precepts, loves God with a true and perfect love: 'tis by this we know that we are truly christians.

and this is the reward that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

beloved, we are now the sons of God, tho' it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know, that when this change shall be, his immediate presence will give us a divine resemblance.

he that lives in sin, imitates the devil; for the devil was a sinner from the beginning. for this purpose the son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

In this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: he that does not practise virtue, and fraternal benevolence, is not of God.

for this is the doctrine that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

this is the proof of the divine love, Christ expos'd his life for us: and we ought to expose our lives for the brethren.

now this is his commandment, that we believe in his son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another, as he commanded us.

by this you may distinguish the spirit of God: "every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is from God.

and every spirit that does not own that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not from God." this is that anti-christian spirit which you have heard was to come, and even now it appears in the world.

we are of God: he that knoweth God, heareth us; he that is not of God, heareth not us. by this we distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of imposture.

by this was the love of God displayed towards us, in that God sent his only begotten son into the world, that we might live thro' him.

and what heightens his love, was this, that it was not we who first loved God, but it was he that first loved us, and sent his son to expiate our sins.

the divine love to us will be in the highest degree, if our condition in this world be the same as was that of Christ Jesus; so that we may appear with confidence in the day of judgment.

by this we may know that we love the children of God, if we love God, and keep his commandments.

if we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater: now this is the testimony, which God has given us of his son.

Now what is testified, is this, that God has given to us eternal life: and this life is by his son.

Besides, we have this confidence in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he will hear us.

now love consists in the practice of the divine precepts. this is the precept you have originally receiv'd, as the rule of your conduct.

whoever comes to you unaccompanied with this doctrine, don't admit him to your house, nor treat him with the common term of civility.

for which reason, when I come, I shall animadvert upon his conduct, and the malicious aspersions he casts upon us: not contented with this, he will neither receive the brethren himself, nor suffer those who are better inclin'd, to do it; but drives them out of the church.

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to shew to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; this he signified by his angel whom he dispatch'd to his servant John:

Happy is he that reads, and attends to the words of this prophecy, and observes the matter therein contain'd: for the time draws nigh.

the conceal'd meaning of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and of the seven golden candlesticks, is this: the seven stars signify the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which you saw, signify the seven churches.

but in this thou art right, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

but I say to the rest that are in Thyatira, who do not follow this doctrine, and have not been initiated in the depths, as they are called, of satan, I will put upon you no other burden, but what you have:

After this I beheld, and there was a great multitude, which no man could number, of every nation, tribe, people, and language, who stood before the throne, and before the lamb cloathed in white robes, having palms in their hands.