that we should celebrate his glory, who were the first that plac'd our hopes in Christ.

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:

When you were in that destructive state of transgression and sin,

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:

did raise us all, who were in that deadly state of sin, to life by Christ, for by grace ye are saved:

Wherefore remember that you were heretofore Gentiles, being denominated the uncircumcised, by those who are the circumcised by a manual operation;

that at that time ye were without all knowledge of the Messiah, being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and living in the world without any true knowledge of God.

but now you who were formerly at a distance, are brought near by the death of Christ Jesus.

and being come, he preached the glad tidings of peace to YOU who were afar off, and to US that were nigh.

you were heretofore altogether in the dark, but now being enlightned by the Lord, behave as children of light: