who comforteth me in all my tribulations, that I may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith I myself am comforted of God.

for all the promises of God do center in him, and are verifyed by him to the glory of God by our preaching.

for this was one view I had in writing, to have this trial of you, whether you are intirely obedient.

witness) lest satan should have got some advantage of us: for we are apprized of his artifices.

for God is pleased to accept my christian labours, in favour both of those who are in a saving, and of those who are in a ruinous state:

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.

you are my epistle, your conversion being writ in. my heart, known and read by all men:

but if our gospel be obscure, it is so only to those who are lost:

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.

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 have no regard to the things which are visible, but to such as are invisible: since visible things are temporary, but the invisible are eternal.

we that are in this tabernacle do groan under the burden of it: not that we desire to be divested of it, but we desire to have our celestial body, that this mortal state may vanish into immortality.

Shall I then, who know this terrible judgment of the Lord, endeavour to appease men? as for God, I am approved by him, and I trust also you are convinced of my being so approved.

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.

we then are ambassadors for Christ, and 'tis God who makes you the offers by us: we pray you in the name of Christ, to make your peace with God.

our affections are as enlarged towards you, as yours are contracted towards us.

Are you not become associates with infidels? but what affinity is there between virtue and vice? and what communication has light with darkness?

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.

nevertheless, God who comforteth those that are cast down, gave me comfort by the arrival of Titus: not barely by his presence,

I don't mean to prescribe to you, but that the zeal of others may show you are as sincerely well-affected.

for you are sensible of the beneficence of our Lord Jesus Christ; powerful as he was, for your sake he became poor, that you through his poverty might be made rich.

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.

our military arms are not so defective, but divinely effectual to demolish all their ramparts;

Do ye judge of things by the outward appearance? if any man is confident in himself, that he is Christ's, let him from himself conclude too, that as he is Christ's, even so are we.

(for 'tis objected that my letters are weighty and powerful, but my bodily presence weak, and my preaching

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.

for I do not stretch beyond my limits to take you in; since in preaching the gospel of Christ, we are advanced even to you.

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.

for these are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguised so as to pass for true apostles.

therefore it is not strange if his agents are so disguised as to appear like ministers of the gospel; but their end shall be answerable to their actions.

for as wise as you are your selves, you easily bear with the folly of others.

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.

yet I fear when I do come I shall not find you such as I would, and that you will find me such as you least desire: I am afraid there are among you debates, envyings, animosities, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, arrogance, tumults:

for tho' he was crucified with the appearance of weakness, yet he lives by the power of God; tho' we are afflicted upon his account, we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; bring yourselves to the proof; are you so little acquainted with yourselves, as not to know whether Jesus Christ be in you? but if you are destitute of proofs,

I trust you shall know that we are not so destitute,