for we are persuaded, my brethren, that you are the peculiar objects of divine favour;

and you imitated us, and were imitators of the Lord, having receiv'd the word, notwithstanding all your afflictions, with that alacrity, which the holy spirit inspires.

so that you became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

for the gospel has made so favourable a progress not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every other place, where the reputation of your divine faith has spread, that 'tis needless to mention any thing of it; since they all relate of us,

And you are satisfied, my brethren, that our address to you was not fallacious:

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 you remember, my brethren, our labour and toil: how we worked day and night, that in preaching the gospel of God, we might not be chargeable to any of you.

you likewise know, that we exhorted and encouraged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

nor do we fail of giving thanks to God continually, that, when you received the word of God, which we preach, you did not receive it as the doctrine of men, but as a doctrine that appears to be truly divine, by the influences it displays in you, who believe.

a minister of God, and our collegue in preaching the gospel of Christ, that by establishing you in the faith, and by his exhortations,

none of you might be stagger'd by these persecutions: for you know that we are destin'd to suffer.

and even when we were with you, we foretold you, that we should be persecuted, as you know it happen'd.

but Timothy, upon his arrival here from you, brings us the agreeable news of the perseverance of your faith and charity, that you always make honourable mention of us, and that you desire to see us as ardently as we do to see you.

whilst night and day we make our ardent requests to him, that we may once more be present with you, that nothing may be wanting to the perfection of your faith?

that by the sanctity of your affections, you may stand unreprov'd in the presence of God our father, when our Lord Jesus Christ shall come with all his holy angels.

and such is the will of God, that you should be holy, and avoid licentiousness;

that every one of you should take care to preserve the dignity of his

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.

he therefore that violates these precepts, does not despise man, but God, who has endued me with his holy spirit.

so that your way of life may stand fair to the world, and prevent your being dependent upon any man.

for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we must believe that God by Jesus will raise the dead, and assemble them with him.

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:

for you very well know, that the day of the Lord steals on like a thief in the night.

but you, my brethren, are too well inform'd to be surpriz'd by that day, as by a thief.

they that are sober take their rest in the night, whilst they that are sots, are drunk in the night:

that whether we happen to be alive or dead, we may be secure of living with him.

bring every thing to the test: if it be proof, abide by that:

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.