Colossians 2 Cross References - Mace

¹ 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: ² that their hearts might be comforted, and that being firmly united in love, they might possess the highest and fullest persuasion of the truth of this doctrine, by entring into this mystery, even of God the father, and of Christ, ³ in whom are reserv'd all the treasures of wd om and knowledge. ⁴ I mention this, lest any one should deceive you by specious pretences. ⁵ for tho' I am absent in person, yet I am present with you in my mind, and am glad to perceive the regularily of your affairs, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. ⁶ continue therefore to follow the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you have receiv'd it: ⁷ 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. ⁸ beware lest any one seduce you by the vain illusions of philosophy, founded upon human traditions, and meer shadows, and not upon Christ: ⁹ for in him all divine plenitude does substantially reside. ¹⁰ and ye are filled by him, who is the chief of all principality and power: ¹¹ 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, ¹² which were buried (as Christ was) in your baptism, by virtue of which you rise (as he did) to a new life, through a belief of that divine power, which raised him from the dead. ¹³ Even you, who were in a dying sinful state, and were uncircumcised Gentiles, has God raised to life, as he did Christ, having pardoned all your sins: ¹⁴ and cancell'd the obligation of the ceremonial law, which was disadvantageous to us, removing that which divided us, and nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ and having divested principalitys and powers, he made them an example of obedience, and caus'd them to triumph in Christ. ¹⁶ Let no man therefore condemn you for meats or drinks, or in respect of feasts, or new moons, or sabbaths: ¹⁷ for these were only the shadows of future things, prefiguring Christ, who is the substance. ¹⁸ Let no man condemn you, from an affectation of humility, in worshipping of Angels, boldly prying into matters which he knows nothing of, being vainly puft up with his Jewish conceits: ¹⁹ not adhering to the head, from which all the parts of the body derive its nutrition, and being firmly united together by its joints and ligaments, receives a divine increase. ²⁰ If then you are dead with Christ, in respect of those shadows of the Jewish state; why do ye, as if you were still in that state, submit to those ordinances? ²¹ "don't eat this, don't taste that, nor touch it:" ²² which yet were all made to be consumed for our use, notwithstanding the injunctions and doctrines of men: ²³ by which indeed they make a pretence to wisdom, by a worship of their own devising, by an air of humility, and self-denial, and a disregard to the gratifications of sense.

⁴⁴ and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was like grumes of blood falling to the ground.

²⁵ and now I am persuaded you will none of you see my face any more: whilst I have been among you, I have proclaim'd the kingdom of the Messias:

³⁸ being more particularly afflicted at his having said, "they should see his face no more." and then they conducted him to the ship.

¹⁹ my dear children, how am I in pain, till Christ be formed in you?

³⁰ being engag'd in the same conflict, in which you saw I was formerly, and hear that I am at present engag'd.

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and am filling up the measure of those remaining afflictions, which in my turn I am to suffer in this life, in the cause of Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the church:

²⁹ this is what I earnestly strive to effect, by virtue of that power, which effectually operates in me.

⁵ for tho' I am absent in person, yet I am present with you in my mind, and am glad to perceive the regularily of your affairs, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

¹² 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, ¹³ the whole will of God. for I can witness for him, that he is ardently concern'd for you, and the christians of Laodicea,

¹⁵ Salute our brethren of Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the ¹⁶ 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

² on the contrary, notwithstanding the outrages, you know we suffer'd at Philippi, we had still the resolution, by the divine assistance, to preach the gospel of God to you without reserve against all opposition.

⁷ 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;

⁸ whom though you have not seen, you love: and though he is not now the object of your view, yet you believe in him, and triumph with such a laudable transport, as cannot be express'd:

¹¹ saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what you shall see, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia; to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."

¹⁴ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, write, "these things saith the AMEN, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; ¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. ¹⁶ but since thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. ¹⁷ you say you are rich, and have increased your gain, and have need of nothing; but you do not consider that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel thee to purchase of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayst be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayst be cloathed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and an ointment for thine eyes to make you see clear. ¹⁹ as many as I love, I rebuke and chastise: be warm therefore with zeal, and repent. ²⁰ behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, I will sup with him, and he shall afterwards be entertain'd by me. ²¹ to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my father in his throne. ²² he that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches.

²⁵ At the same time Jesus, continuing his discourses, said, "I thank thee, O father, Lord of heaven and earth, for having revealed unto babes what thou hast hid from the wise and prudent.

²⁷ my father has instructed me in every thing: and no one knoweth the son, except the father: nor does any one know the father, except the son, and he to whom the son is pleased to reveal him."

²¹ At that very time Jesus fell into a divine transport, and said, "I magnify thee, O father, the Lord of heaven and earth, for having conceal'd these things from the artful and the crafty, whilst thou hast reveal'd them to the unskilful. justly, O father, hast thou thus dispens'd thy favour." ²² the management of every thing is committed to me by my father: no one knows what character the son is invested with, except the father; nor who the father is, except the son, and he to whom the son shall please to reveal it.

¹ In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with God, and the Logos was God. ² the same was in the beginning with God. ³ all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made.

¹⁷ But Jesus answered them, my father works without intermission, and so do I.

²³ that all men should honour the son, even as they honour the father. he that honoureth not the son, honoureth not the father who hath sent him.

⁶⁹ and we have believed and we have acknowledged that you are the Christ, the son of God.

³⁰ I and my father are one.

³⁸ but if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and believe that the father is in me, and I in him.

⁹ Jesus said to him, have I been with you so long, and don't you know me yet? Philip, he that hath seen me, hath seen the father; why then do you say, shew us the father? ¹⁰ don't you believe that I am in the father, and the father in me? the words that I speak unto you, I speak indeed, tho' not from my self; but as to the works, the father, who dwells in me, he is the agent. ¹¹ believe me, I am in the father, and the father in me: at least believe me upon account of the very works.

¹⁵ all that the father has is mine: that is the reason of my saying, "he shall communicate to you the information that I shall give him."

³ and this is life eternal, to acknowledge thee to be the only true God, and Jesus to be the Messiah whom thou hast sent.

²¹ that they all may be one, as thou, father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. ²² and the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them: that they may be one, even as we are one. ²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may have a perfect union, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

³² Now the whole body of believers were but one heart, and one soul: no one look'd upon what he possessed, as his own, but every thing was held in common.

¹³ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy spirit.

²⁵ Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, conformable to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret from antient times, but now is laid open,

¹² now the spirit which we have received, is not the spirit of this world, but that which comes from God; that we might know what he has graciously bestowed upon us.

⁴ 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. ⁵ for as I have greatly suffered for Christ, so I have been greatly comforted thro' Christ. ⁶ but whether I am afflicted, it is for your consolation and relief, which is effected by your perseverance, patiently enduring the same sufferings which I also undergo: or whether I am comforted, it is for your consolation and relief.

²⁸ there is now no distinction of Jew or Greek, of bond or free, of male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, whereby ye may know him: ¹⁸ an enlightned understanding, that ye may see what great expectations he has called you to, and what abundant glory it is to the saints to be the lot of his inheritance. ¹⁹ and how exceedingly great that power is, which he has employ'd upon us who believe, a power corresponding to that energy of his mighty strength;

⁹ and display to all the world that mysterious dispensation, which from all past ages has been conceal'd in the secret purpose of God, who created all things: ¹⁰ that the manifold wisdom of God, in ordering his heavenly kingdom, might by his church be now made known, to princes and magistrates,

²² I have sent him to you on purpose to acquaint you with our concerns, and to comfort your hearts.

¹ If then there be any christian consolation, any charitable relief, any communion of the spirit, if any tenderness of compassion,

⁸ nay I think them disadvantages when put in competition with the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord: for whose sake I abandon all these things, and count them as straw, that I may gain Christ,

⁹ For this cause, ever since we heard of it, we incessantly pray for you, requesting that you may be endued with respect to the knowledge of his will, with all wisdom and spiritual discernment:

¹⁵ he is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of the whole creation. ¹⁶ for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth, both visible and invisible, the thrones, and the sovereigntys, the principalitys, and the powers: all were created by him, and for him: he is before all things, ¹⁷ and by him all things consist.

²⁷ 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."

¹⁴ to all this add love, which is the band of perfect union:

⁸ I sent him on purpose to acquaint you with my circumstances, and give you matter of comfort.

⁵ since the gospel we preach'd, did not consist only of words, but was fully confirm'd by miracles and gifts of the holy spirit, you yourselves being witnesses, what we did among you and for you.

² a minister of God, and our collegue in preaching the gospel of Christ, that by establishing you in the faith, and by his exhortations,

¹⁴ and we exhort you, brethren, reprove the disorderly, comfort the pusillanimous, support the weak, and be patient toward all men.

¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ, and God our father, who has loved us, and by his favour given us the advantageous hopes of eternal joys, consolate your souls, ¹⁷ and establish you in all sound doctrine and virtue.

¹⁶ the mystery of piety is the pillar and basts of truth; and certainly most extraordinary. God has appear'd in the flesh, been justified by the spirit, seen by angels, proclaim'd to the Gentiles, believ'd by the world, and assum'd into glory.

¹¹ but we desire that every one of you may shew the same concern, continuing to discharge the condition upon which your hopes are founded: that ye be not unactive,

²² let us draw near with sincerity, in full assurance of faith, having our consciences purified from guilt, and our bodies washed with pure water.

³ It is thus his divine power has given us every thing conducive to life and piety, by making us acquainted with him, who has called us by his illustrious power;

¹⁰ Wherefore be the more diligent, my brethren, to secure your vocation and election by your virtuous actions, for by so doing, you will never relapse:

¹⁸ on the contrary, may you increase in the favour, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! to him be glory both now and for ever. AMEN. ¹⁹ Hereby we shall know that we are true professors, and set our consciences securely at rest.

¹² no man hath ever seen God. if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and our love for him is then sincere. ¹³ Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his spirit.

⁷ There are three witnesses in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three testify the same thing.

²⁶ fear them not therefore: for there is nothing hid that shall not be revealed; or secret that shall not be made known.

³³ O the depth of the divine goodness, wisdom, and contrivance! how impenetrable are his decrees, and his ways past finding out!

²⁴ both Jews and Gentiles, he is the Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

³⁰ for from him it is that ye believe in Christ Jesus, whom God has made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that,

⁶ However, what we preach is wisdom, to those who are thoroughly instructed: yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who will soon come to nothing. ⁷ but we explain that mysterious plan of divine wisdom, which God had contriv'd before the ages, for our glory: ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age understood: for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

⁸ out of the over-flowing treasures of his comprehensive wisdom and contrivance.

¹⁹ for it seemed good to the father to inhabit the whole body of the church by Christ:

³ for you are dead to them, and Christ has secured your life with God.

¹⁶ Let the christian doctrine be the familiar subject of your entertainment: in all wisdom instructing and exhorting one another, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, melodiously tuning your grateful praises to God.

¹⁵ and that from your infancy you were acquainted with the sacred writings, which point you the way to salvation, by believing in Christ Jesus: ¹⁶ for all divinely inspired writings are conducive to instruction, to conviction, to reformation, and the practice of virtue; ¹⁷ that the minister of God may be perfectly accomplished for every office of religion.

¹⁷ he that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches: to him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man understands, except he that receives it."

⁴ Jesus answered them, take care not to be deceived by any one:

²⁴ for there shall arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and shall shew such astonishing miracles and prodigies, as to deceive, if that can do it, the very converts themselves.

²² for false Christs, and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and prodigies, so as to seduce, if it were possible, even the very elect.

³⁰ nay, among your own body some will start up to vent their intricate conceits, and draw a number of followers.

¹⁸ for such as these serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own selfishness; and by flourish and flattery, deceive the open-hearted simple. ¹⁹ your christianity is very well known in the world. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you as expert in that which is good, as unpractis'd in what is evil.

⁴ my discourse, and my preaching did not consist in the persuasive reasonings of human wisdom, but in demonstrating the spiritual meaning of the scriptures:

³ but I fear lest by some means or other, as Eve was beguiled by the subtilly of the serpent, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is due to Christ.

¹¹ why so? is it because I love you not? far otherwise, God knows. ¹² 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. ¹³ for these are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguised so as to pass for true apostles.

⁴ 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;

¹⁴ that we should be no longer children, fluctuating, and carried about with every empty doctrine, by men vers'd in sleight and the crafty arts of deceit:

⁶ let no man mislead you by vain reasonings: for it is for these vices, that the wrath of God lights upon the incredulous.

⁸ beware lest any one seduce you by the vain illusions of philosophy, founded upon human traditions, and meer shadows, and not upon Christ:

¹⁸ Let no man condemn you, from an affectation of humility, in worshipping of Angels, boldly prying into matters which he knows nothing of, being vainly puft up with his Jewish conceits:

⁹ who by the instigation of satan will make his parade with various arts, with fallacious signs and prodigies, ¹⁰ and with all the vile methods of imposture, to the ruin of those, who are averse to the truth, by which they might be saved. ¹¹ wherefore God will suffer a spirit of delusion to work them into the belief of a lye:

¹ Now the spirit says expresly, that in the latter times some shall abandon the faith, by giving credit to seducing spirits, and the doctrine concerning demons; ² broach'd by hypocrititical impostors, whose consciences are cauteriz'd,

¹⁶ discountenance such as hold vain irreligious discourse; for they will grow bold in impiety,

¹³ as for these impious impostors, they will go on from bad to worse, seducing others, and deluding themselves.

¹⁰ For there are many, especially among the Jews, who are obstinate, vain talkers and deceivers; ¹¹ who ought to be curb'd, who pervert whole families, teaching things which they ought not, for sordid lucre.

¹ Renouncing therefore every kind of malice, and knavery, hypocrisy, envy, and detraction, as new-born infants desire that mystical milk, ² which is without any mixture, and will make you thrive. Since you have tasted how good the Lord is, ³ adhere to him as to a living stone,

¹⁸ Dear children, the last time is come: as ye have heard that antichrist was to come, accordingly many antichrists have already appeared; whereby we know that we are now in the last times.

²⁶ These things have I written to you concerning those that would seduce you.

¹ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

⁷ For there are many impostors started up in the world, who will not own that Jesus Christ was incarnate. such a one is an impostor and an anti-christ.

⁹ the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, call'd the devil or satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were precipitated with him.

⁸ all that dwell upon the earth will worship him, whose names are not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the lamb, that was slain.

³ then cast him into the bottomless pit, there shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should seduce the nations no more, till the thousand years should he fulfilled: and after that, he was to be loosed for a short time.

⁸ and shall go out to seduce the nations, which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to assemble them to battle: they will be as numerous as the sand of the sea.

⁴² they continued stedfastly in the apostolical doctrine of a community, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

³ as for me, though I am absent in person, yet being present by my authority, with regard to him that has committed this fact, I am come to the same resolution, as if I was present, ⁴ that is, when you are assembled, and I virtually there, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

³⁴ and if any one is press'd with hunger, let him eat at home; that ye may not otherwise meet with punishment. as for other matters, I will set them in order when I come.

⁴⁰ let all things be done with decency, and without disorder.

⁵⁸ therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye inflexibly steady, and continually surpass others in the work of the Lord, knowing that he will not leave your christian labour unrewarded.

¹³ Be upon the watch, stand firm in the faith, behave your selves like men of fortitude:

¹ 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:

¹⁷ 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.

⁸ for now I am reviv'd, since you continue stedfast in the christian profession.

¹⁴ for we were receiv'd into the communion of Christ, upon condition of inviolably maintaining the hope we had at the beginning even unto the end,

¹⁹ might have strong consolation to serve as a sure and stedfast anchor to the soul: till it arrives within the veil,

⁹ resist him by the steadiness of your faith, considering that your brethren among the Gentiles, suffer the same persecutions as you do.

¹⁷ Do you then, my dear brethren, being thus forewarn'd, take care not to be seduc'd by those prophane impostors, and so lose the reward of your constancy. ¹⁸ on the contrary, may you increase in the favour, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! to him be glory both now and for ever. AMEN.

⁴⁰ He that receives you, receives me; and he that receives me, receives him that sent me.

¹² but to as many as received him, and believed on him, he granted the privilege of being the sons of God. ¹³ a birth which they had not from circumcision, nor from the constitution of the body, nor the institution of man, but from God.

²⁰ I declare unto you, he that receiveth him that I send, receiveth me: and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me.

⁶ Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man can come to the father, but by me.

⁷ (for I regulate my conduct by my future expectations, not by visible enjoyments:

²⁰ 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.

¹ I therefore the prisoner for the Lord, beseech you to live suitably to the offers that have been made to you:

¹ Be ye therefore imitators of God, as his dear children; live together in love, ² for Christ loved us, and for us gave himself an offering and a sacrifice acceptable to God.

²⁷ 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,

¹⁰ that your conduct may be worthy of the Lord, in every respect agreeable to him, being friutful in every kind of virtue, and increasing in divine knowledge:

¹⁷ let your discourse and your actions be all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father by him.

¹ Finally, my brethren, we intreat and conjure you by the Lord Jesus Christ, to observe the instructions we gave you about your religious conduct, and to make continual progress therein.

⁶ he that says he is attach'd to Christ, ought to regulate his conduct by his example.

¹¹ Now what is testified, is this, that God has given to us eternal life: and this life is by his son. ¹² he that receives the son, is intitled to life; and he that does not receive the son of God, has no title to life.

²⁰ We know that the son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true: and we are with him that is true, by his son Jesus Christ. "he is the true God, who is the author of eternal life."

⁸ be upon your guard, that we may not lose the fruit of our labours, but that we may receive our full reward. ⁹ no renegado that deserts the doctrine of Christ, has any interest in the deity: he that adheres to the doctrine of Christ, has an interest both in the father, and in the son.

³ My beloved, as I was strongly bent upon writing to you of our common salvation, I thought it necessary to write to you at present, and exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith, which was once delivered to the saints.

²⁴ therefore, whoever heareth these instructions of mine, and puts them in practice, I will compare him to the prudent man, who built his house upon a rock: ²⁵ the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew, and beat upon that house: but it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

⁴⁸ he is like a man who in building a house, digg'd deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: an inundation came, the current beat impetuously upon that house, but could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

⁴ be attach'd to me, and I shall be so to you. as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self, except it be attach'd to the vine: so neither can you, except you continue attach'd to me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for independent of me ye can do nothing.

¹⁷ if then, some of the branches are broken off, and thou like a wild olive, were grafted in their place to partake of the root and sap of the olivestock; ¹⁸ don't triumph over the branches: or if you do, remember the root is not dependent upon you, but you upon the root.

⁹ For we are fellow labourers employed by God: you are his field, and his mansion. ¹⁰ according to the free gift of God bestowed upon me, I, as a skilful architect, have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. but let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. ¹¹ for no one can lay any other foundation, than what is laid, which is, that Jesus is the Messias. ¹² now if upon this foundation somebody builds gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble: he that builds such work, ¹³ will be expos'd. for the time of tryal will show it: it shall be discovered by the fire, which will put each sort of work to the test. ¹⁴ if the work abide which somebody has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵ if that man's work should be burnt, he will suffer loss: but should he himself escape, it will be as out of the fire.

²¹ now it is God who keeps you fix'd in the doctrine of Christ; who has appointed me,

²⁰ being built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, whereof Jesus Christ himself is the main stone of the angle: ²¹ on which the whole structure rises with symmetry into a temple, consecrated by the Lord: ²² who by his spirit has likewise made you a part of this divine mansion.

¹⁷ so that your souls may be possess'd with faith in Christ.

²¹ if you have heard of him, and have been taught the truth as he preach'd it:

²⁰ and this the burthen of the song, "thanks be to God, even the father, for his son Jesus Christ our Lord."

¹² giving thanks to the father, who has qualified you to share in that light he affords to his people: ¹³ who has deliver'd you from the state of darkness, and has translated you into the kingdom of his beloved son.

²³ provided you continue well-grounded and settled in the faith, and do not abandon that hope which has been offer'd to you by the gospel, and is proclaim'd to all mankind; of which I Paul am made a minister.

¹⁸ be thankful to God for every thing, for so christians are oblig'd to be.

¹⁷ and establish you in all sound doctrine and virtue.

¹⁵ Let our sacrifice then, which we are to offer to God by Jesus Christ, be that of incessant praises, the offering of our lips, which celebrate his name:

⁴ which however rejected it is by men, is the precious stone, which God has chosen: and ⁵ you your selves are as so many living stones, you are the edifice, the spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, agreeable to God by Jesus Christ. ⁶ wherefore it is said in the scripture, I lay in Sion the principal stone of the angle, a choice one of great value: he that

¹⁰ but may the all-gracious God, who has called us to eternal glory, perfect, confirm, fortify, and settle you, during the short interval of your sufferings.

¹² they are a disgrace to your love-feasts, they indulge themselves at your festivals without reserve: clouds without water, transported with every wind: trees whose fruit soon withers and is useless, twice dead and rooted up:

²⁰ but you, my brethren, improve yourselves in your most holy faith, present your addresses by the holy spirit,

²⁴ Now to him that is able to keep you from falling, and make you appear in his glorious presence, without defect, and full of joy:

¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, who to outward appearance are sheep, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

¹⁷ be upon your guard with such men, for they will deliver you up to their tribunals, and scourge you in their synagogues.

² why do your disciples violate the tradition of our ancestors, in not washing their hands when they eat bread? ³ but he answered them, why do you violate the law of God to follow your tradition? ⁴ for this is a commandment of God, "honour thy father and mother; and, he that curses father or mother, let him be punish'd with death." ⁵ but your doctrine is this, if any man declares to his father or mother, that whatever he has to give for their relief is dedicated to the temple; he is not oblig'd to regard his father or his mother. ⁶ thus have ye disannull'd the commandment of God by your tradition. ⁷ the prophecy of Esaias exactly suits such hypocrites as you; ⁸ "this people, says he, draw nigh to me, they honour me with their lips: while their hearts are far from me. ⁹ but in vain they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men."

⁶ and Jesus said to them, have a care of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees.

³ for the Pharisees, and the Jews in general, in pursuance of their antient traditions, never eat till they have wash'd their hands up to their elbows. ⁴ nay, when they have been at any publick place, they never eat till they have washed. they observe besides several traditions, such as the washing of cups, pots, brass vessels, and beds. ⁵ the Pharisees, and Scribes therefore ask'd Jesus, why don't your disciples observe the tradition of the antients? why do they take their meals without washing their hands? ⁶ Jesus answered, to such hypocrites as you may well be applied those words of the prophet Esaias, "this people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. ⁷ in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men." ⁸ for laying aside what is of divine appointment, you stick to their human traditions, about the washing of pots, and cups, and many other the like practices. ⁹ You are in the right, said he, to abolish the laws of God, to make way for such traditions. ¹⁰ Moses said, "honour thy father and thy mother;" and, if any one speak contemptibly of his father, or his mother, let him be put to death. ¹¹ but your doctrine is this, if any one shall tell his father or his mother, that what he could bestow for their relief, is corban, that is, to be given to the temple; ¹² you discharge him from the obligation of doing any thing for his father or his mother. ¹³ by such traditions, and such a number of practices, as you have settled, the word of God is stript of all its authority.

¹⁸ there certain Epicurean and Stoick philosophers encountred him: "what does this mountebank mean?" said some: "he seems to proclaim some strange deitys," said others: because he talk'd to them of Jesus and the resurrection.

³² When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some made it a matter of ridicule: others said, we will hear you again upon this subject;

²¹ because when they knew God, they did not with gratitude glorify him as God, but their reasoning became extravagance, and their minds, void of judgment, were involv'd in darkness. ²² pretending to be wise, they became fools:

¹⁷ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark those who cause divisions and revolts against the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them.

¹⁹ for it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." ²⁰ where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputant of this age? has not God prov'd the wisdom of this world to be downright folly. ²¹ for whereas the world, with all their learning, did not distinguish the characters of his divine wisdom, in his works, it pleased God to save those who believe, by preaching, which they counted folly. ²² while the Jews require signs, and the Greeks seek wisdom: ²³ we preach Christ crucified, an obstacle to the Jews indeed, and to the Gentiles foolishness: but to those who believe,

¹⁸ let no man deceive himself: if any among you pretends to worldly wisdom, let him commence fool, in order to be truly wise. ¹⁹ for the wisdom of this world is folly, in the eye of God: as it is written, "he surprizes the wise in all their artifices."

³⁵ But some will say, how will the dead be raised? with what kind of body will they appear? ³⁶ foolish as you are, the grain you sow, is not revived except it die.

⁵ to level all the barriers they contrive for obstructing the divine doctrine, and to make their pride captive to the authority of Christ.

¹⁴ and that I made a greater proficiency in Judaism than many my contemporaries of my own nation, being an extraordinary zealot for the traditions of my forefathers.

³ even so we, whilst we were children, were in a state of servitude to the elements of the world. but when the time appointed was accomplished,

⁹ or rather that you are favoured by him, how can ye turn again to the weak and beggarly elements of the law, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

² in which you formerly liv'd, influenc'd by the customs of this world, and by the prince of the aerial powers, the spirits that now actuate the incredulous:

²⁰ but you have learned other things from Christ,

² be upon your guard against snarlers, against the contrivances of the crafty, against the spurious breed;

²⁰ If then you are dead with Christ, in respect of those shadows of the Jewish state; why do ye, as if you were still in that state, submit to those ordinances?

²² which yet were all made to be consumed for our use, notwithstanding the injunctions and doctrines of men:

²⁰ O Timothy, keep what is deposited in your care, avoiding the prophane empty declamations and objections of a spurious science, which some have profess'd,

¹⁷ and their doctrine will spread like the gangrene. Hymeneus and Philetus are such: ¹⁸ they have deserted the faith themselves, and debauch'd the faith of others, by maintaining, "the resurrection is already past."

⁹ for the mind is better improv'd by the gospel-dispensation, than by the distinctions about meats, in which some have been so uselesly vers'd.

¹⁸ considering, that it was not by such perishable things as silver or gold, that you were releas'd from those vain rites and customs impos'd upon you by your fathers,

¹⁷ Do you then, my dear brethren, being thus forewarn'd, take care not to be seduc'd by those prophane impostors, and so lose the reward of your constancy.

⁸ be upon your guard, that we may not lose the fruit of our labours, but that we may receive our full reward.

²³ a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel," that is to say, God our Saviour.

²² and the holy spirit descended upon him in a corporeal form like a dove. and a voice came from heaven, which said, thou art my beloved son, in thee I am well pleased.

¹⁴ The Logos became incarnate, and had his tabernacle among us, being full of grace and truth; and we contemplated his glory, such glory as the Monogenes derived from the father.

²¹ but by the temple he meant his body.

⁹ Jesus said to him, have I been with you so long, and don't you know me yet? Philip, he that hath seen me, hath seen the father; why then do you say, shew us the father? ¹⁰ don't you believe that I am in the father, and the father in me? the words that I speak unto you, I speak indeed, tho' not from my self; but as to the works, the father, who dwells in me, he is the agent.

²⁰ then shall you know, that I am in my father, and you in me, and I in you.

²¹ that they all may be one, as thou, father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

¹⁹ for it is God that has reconciled the world to himself, by Jesus Christ, by not imputing their sins to them; and hath committed to us the gospel of reconciliation.

² that their hearts might be comforted, and that being firmly united in love, they might possess the highest and fullest persuasion of the truth of this doctrine, by entring into this mystery, even of God the father, and of Christ, ³ in whom are reserv'd all the treasures of wd om and knowledge.

¹³ in expectation of that desirable happiness, the glorious appearance of the supreme God, and of our saviour Jesus Christ,

¹⁶ and of his Plenitude have we all received, even abundant grace.

³⁰ for from him it is that ye believe in Christ Jesus, whom God has made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, ³¹ according as it is written, "he that glorieth, should glory in the Lord."

²⁶ for you are all the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ for as many of you as have been baptized into christianity, have been invested as christians. ²⁸ there is now no distinction of Jew or Greek, of bond or free, of male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ and if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's offspring, and his heirs by virtue of the promise.

²⁰ which he exerted in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at the head of his heavenly kingdom, ²¹ far above all the principalities, all the powers, all the potentates, all the dominations, and whatever order can be named, not only in this age, but also in the age to come: ²² for he has subjected all things to him, and constituted him supreme head of the church, ²³ which is his body, a work compleatly finished in all its parts.

¹⁹ and be sensible of his exceeding love, in giving you the knowledge of Christ, that you may be filled with all the supplies of divine bounty.

¹⁵ but being sincere in mutual love, may be entirely united to Christ, who is the head: ¹⁶ from which the whole body fitly framed, and compacted by the entire adherence and contribution of every part performing its respective function, increases and improves itself by the mutual concern of the parts.

⁹ wherefore God has highly exalted and given him a name, which is above every name; ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus both angels and men, the living and the dead, should pay their adorations, ¹¹ and that every nation should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the father.

¹⁶ for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth, both visible and invisible, the thrones, and the sovereigntys, the principalitys, and the powers: all were created by him, and for him: he is before all things, ¹⁷ and by him all things consist. ¹⁸ he himself is the head of the church, which is his body. he is the prince, the first-born from the dead, that in all things he might be chief.

¹¹ by which there is now neither Greek, or Jew; circumcised, or uncircumcised; Barbarian, or Scythian; slave, or freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

⁹ and by a perfect obedience he procured eternal salvation for all that obey him;

²² who being ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God, where angels, dominations, and potentates have been subjected to him.

⁹ and they sung a new song, saying, "thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every tribe, and language, and people, and nation; ¹⁰ and hast made us kings and priests unto our God: and we shall reign on the earth." ¹¹ Then in my vision I heard the voice of many angels which surrounded the throne, the animals, and the elders: to the number of ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; ¹² saying with a loud voice, "worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." ¹³ and every creature which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I, saying, "blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the lamb for ever and ever."

⁵⁸ saying, we heard him say, "I will pull down this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."

²¹ The eighth day, when the child was to be circumcised, being come, he was named Jesus, the name, which the angel had given before his conception.

⁴⁸ altho' the most high does not dwell in temples made with hands; as the prophet said, "heaven is my throne,

²⁴ the GOD who made the world and every thing therein, and is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples erected by men:

²⁹ but it is the Jew, who is so inwardly, and it is the circumcision of the heart, according to the spiritual, not the literal sense, which have the approbation, I do not say of men, but of God.

⁶ considering this, that our vicious passions were crucified with him, that the body of sin being destroyed, we might not any longer be vassals to sin.

¹ For I know, that if my body, which is but a tent for my sojourning upon earth, were dissolved, I have what is not fram'd by human art, but by the divine architect, a mansion eternal in the heavens.

¹⁷ therefore, if any man be a christian, he is in a new creation: the old state of things is chang'd to one entirely new.

⁴ God sent forth his own son born of a woman, and subject to the law, to redeem those, ⁵ who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

²⁴ now they who belong to Christ, have crucified the animal nature with the affections and passions thereof.

¹⁰ for he hath made us a-new, and form'd us by Christ Jesus to do good works, for which God had before prepared us, that we might live in them. ¹¹ Wherefore remember that you were heretofore Gentiles, being denominated the uncircumcised, by those who are the circumcised by a manual operation; ¹² 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. ¹³ but now you who were formerly at a distance, are brought near by the death of Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ for he is our peace-maker, who hath united both Jew and Gentile, and hath by his flesh broken down the middle wall of partition ¹⁵ (which kept us at variance) by abolishing the dogmatical injunctions of the law, that having made the peace, he might incorporate the two into one new body under himself; ¹⁶ that he might reconcile both in one body unto God by the cross, wherefore he destroyed the enmity that was between them: ¹⁷ and being come, he preached the glad tidings of peace to YOU who were afar off, and to US that were nigh. ¹⁸ for thro' him both of us have access by the same spirit to the father.

²² to quit the vicious habits of your former conversation, corrupted by deceitful passions:

³ for we are the genuine sons of Abraham, who worship God in the spiritual manner, and value no other dependance than that on Jesus Christ, without confiding in any external advantages:

⁸ but now renounce them all, as well as anger, animosity, malice: let calumny and obscene discourse be banish'd from your lips. ⁹ let there be no fraud among you, since you have discarded your former habits and practices, and are become new men,

¹¹ but Christ, the high priest of a better dispensation that was to come, having appeared, is enter'd into the holy of holys by a nobler and more perfect tabernacle, not the effect of human art, but of a higher nature;

²⁴ for Christ is not entred into a sanctuary made by human art, such as is only representative of the true one, but into heaven itself, to appear from henceforth in the presence of God on our behalf:

⁵ The Apostles having said to the Lord, increase our faith, he answer'd them,

³ Jesus answered him, I declare unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ⁴ Nicodemus replied, how can a man be born when he is old? can he enter into his mother, and be born a second time? ⁵ Jesus answered, I tell thee, except a man be renewed by the spiritual baptism, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶ the cleansing of the body is only external, but the purification of the spirit is spiritual. ⁷ be not surprized that I said to thee, you must be born again.

²⁴ having delivered him from the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be overpower'd by it.

²⁷ when they were arrived, and had assembled the Church, they related what great things God had wrought by them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles:

²⁴ but for us also, to whom it shall be accounted, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

³ don't you know that when we were all baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, we were plunged into a state figurative of his death. ⁴ therefore we are buried with him by being plunged into a sort of death: that as Christ was raised up from the dead into a state of glory with the father, even so we also should proceed to a new state of life. ⁵ for if we resembled him with regard to death, certainly we shall likewise do so with regard to his resurrection:

⁸ since then we died with Christ, we are persuaded that we shall also live with him: ⁹ knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, is to die no more; death hath no more dominion over him. ¹⁰ for as to his death, he died upon the account of sin once for all; but as to his being alive, he lives to the glory of God for ever. ¹¹ in like manner consider your selves as dead to sin; but alive to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

⁴ thus, my brethren, the law is become dead with respect to you by the body of Christ; that you might be subject to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

¹³ for by one spirit we have all been baptized, to be form'd into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and have been all made to drink of one spirit.

²⁰ But Christ is actually risen, as previous to those who were dead.

²⁷ for as many of you as have been baptized into christianity, have been invested as christians.

¹⁹ and how exceedingly great that power is, which he has employ'd upon us who believe, a power corresponding to that energy of his mighty strength; ²⁰ which he exerted in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at the head of his heavenly kingdom,

⁴ then it was that God, who is rich in mercy, thro' his great love, wherewith he loved us, ⁵ did raise us all, who were in that deadly state of sin, to life by Christ, for by grace ye are saved: ⁶ he hath raised us up together, and made us partakers of his heavenly kingdom.

⁸ for by grace are ye saved, thro' faith (and that not from us:

⁷ of this I was made a minister, according to the gracious gift God bestowed on me, by the effectual operation of his influence:

⁵ there is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

¹⁴ wherefore 'tis said, " awake thou that sleepest, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

²⁹ for it is a favour bestowed upon you, that you not only believe on Christ, but suffer also for his sake,

¹ If then you are risen with Christ, seek the things, that are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. ² let the things above, and not such worldly matters be the object of your thoughts.

⁵ he saved us not in consideration of any virtuous actions which we had done, but out of his meer mercy, by the baptism of regeneration, he form'd us anew, by the plentiful effusion of the holy spirit, ⁶ thro' Jesus Christ our saviour:

² the doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment:

² having Jesus in our view, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God.

²⁰ May the God of peace, who has raised from the dead our Lord Jesus (who by the blood of the eternal covenant is become the grand pastor of ²¹ the sheep) make you perfect in every virtue, to the accomplishment of his will: effecting that in you by Jesus Christ, which is agreeable to him: to whom be glory thro' all ages.

¹⁶ Don't be deluded, my brethren; ¹⁷ every thing that is valuable, every gift that leads to perfection is deriv'd from heaven, it descends from that original light, which knows no change, no shadow, or decline:

²¹ thus baptism, which corresponds to the deluge, does now save us, not as it is a cleansing from external filth, but as it is an engagement to lead a divine life, from the belief of the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

¹ 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; ² 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. ³ for the time past of your lives may suffice, to have liv'd in conformity to the Gentile customs, in impurity, licentiousness, sottishness, in dissolute festivals, and the criminal rites of idolaters.

⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, let the dead bury their dead; but do you go and preach the kingdom of God.

²⁴ for this son of mine was dead, and is come to life: he was lost, and is found again. and then they began their feast.

³² but it was necessary to feast and rejoice, because your brother here was dead, and is again alive: he was lost and is now found.

²¹ for as the father raiseth up the dead, and restores them to life: even so the son gives life to whom he will.

⁶³ it is the action of the mind that vivifies, that of the body profits nothing: the words that I have delivered to you, spiritually understood, give life.

³⁸ know then, my brethren, it is by him, that the remission of sins is offer'd to you: ³⁹ by him, every one who believes, is purged from all that guilt, for which the law of Moses had made no such provision.

¹⁷ " I have made thee a father of many nations," then existing in the sight of God, whom he believed, who gives life to the dead, and calls forth things that are not, as if they were:

¹³ neither yield your members as instruments to iniquity: but yield yourselves unto God, as being alive after having been dead; and your members as instruments of righteousness.

¹¹ for if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you; he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall likewise restore your mortal bodies to life, by his spirit that dwelleth in you.

³⁶ foolish as you are, the grain you sow, is not revived except it die.

⁴⁵ and so it is written, the first man Adam was made an animating soul, the last Adam was made a vivifying spirit.

⁶ who also hath enabled me to be a minister of the new covenant, not of the literal sense, but of the spiritual meaning: it is the letter that denounces death, but the spirit gives life.

¹⁴ to this I am urg'd by the love I bear to Christ, persuaded as I am, that if one died for all, then were all in a dying state: and that he died for all, ¹⁵ 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.

¹ When you were in that destructive state of transgression and sin,

¹¹ Wherefore remember that you were heretofore Gentiles, being denominated the uncircumcised, by those who are the circumcised by a manual operation;

⁶ the widow of pleasure is dead tho' she lives.

¹³ I enjoin you, before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who made a glorious confession before Pontius Pilate;

¹ Therefore omitting for the present the principles of the christian doctrine, we shall proceed to something more sublime, without mentioning those fundamental articles of repentance from destructive vices, and of divine faith:

¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ they shall no longer instruct every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. ¹² for I will pardon their iniquity, and their sins and their trangressions will I remember no more."

¹⁴ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the holy spirit offered himself a spotless victim to God, purify our souls from deadly sins, to serve the living God?

¹⁷ just so faith, if it be not operative, is intirely lifeless.

²⁰ Vain man, must I show you how lifeless a thing faith is, without its effects?

²⁶ as the body then without the soul is a meer carcase, so faith without its effects is lifeless.

⁷ but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have society one with another, and the blood of his son Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we are without sin, we deceive ourselves, and have no regard to truth. ⁹ if we confess our sins, as he is faithful and just, he will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all iniquity.

¹² I write to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven you upon the account of Christ.

⁶ they were both of them sincerely pious; observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; with unspotted reputation.

¹⁹ repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshment shall come from the presence of the Lord, who shall send Jesus Christ,

¹ Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, is in a state of servitude, tho' he is to be lord of all; ² being under tutors and guardians, 'till the time prefix'd by his father. ³ even so we, whilst we were children, were in a state of servitude to the elements of the world. but when the time appointed was accomplished, ⁴ God sent forth his own son born of a woman, and subject to the law, to redeem those,

¹⁴ for he is our peace-maker, who hath united both Jew and Gentile, and hath by his flesh broken down the middle wall of partition ¹⁵ (which kept us at variance) by abolishing the dogmatical injunctions of the law, that having made the peace, he might incorporate the two into one new body under himself; ¹⁶ that he might reconcile both in one body unto God by the cross, wherefore he destroyed the enmity that was between them:

⁷ for the secret spirit of misrule is ready to break out as soon as the obstacle is taken away:

¹⁸ wherefore the preceeding law is abolished for its being weak and useless.

¹³ now by stiling the second a new alliance, he has antiquated the first. but to be antiquated and obsolete is next to being abolished.

⁹ This type subsists to the present time, both gifts and sacrifices being still offered, which cannot purify the mind of him that officiates ¹⁰ only in matters relating to meats and drinks, and divers baptisms, meer external rites which were to subsist only till the time of reformation.

⁸ after having said, "victims, oblations, holocausts, and sacrifice for sin, thou wouldst not, neither hadst pleasure therein," tho' they are all prescrib'd by the law; ⁹ he immediately adds, "lo, I come to do thy WILL, O God." he abolishes the first to establish the second:

²⁴ he himself cancel'd our sins by the crucifixion of his body, that we being set free from sin, might live in the service of virtue. it is by his bruises that you were healed:

²⁹ besides, how could any one enter into the house of a man of might to rob him of his goods, except he first master the strong man? and then indeed he might plunder his house.

¹⁸ upon which he said to them, I beheld satan falling, like lightning, from heaven.

²² but if a stronger than he should assault, and overcome him, he will strip him of all his furniture on which he relyed, and divide the plunder.

³⁹ Now one of the malefactors, that was crucified with him, impiously said, if thou art the Christ, save thy self, and us. ⁴⁰ but the other answered, and thus reprov'd him, art thou under no awe of God, thou that art condemned to the same punishment? ⁴¹ as for us, it is with justice, that we suffer the penalty due to our crimes: but as for him, what misdemeanour has he been guilty of? ⁴² then said he to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you enter into your kingdom. ⁴³ Jesus answer'd, verily I tell you, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

³¹ now is this world condemn'd: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. ³² as for me, when I shall be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.

¹¹ of judgment, because the prince of this world is condemn'd.

³⁰ when Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, it is finished: and bowing his head, he expir'd.

²³ him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by means of the wicked, have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, ²⁴ having delivered him from the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be overpower'd by it.

³² 'tis this Jesus whom God hath raised up, of which we all are witnesses. ³³ therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the father the promise of the holy spirit, he has diffused that spirit, the effects of which ye now see and hear. ³⁴ for David is not ascended to heaven: yet he saith himself, "the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, ³⁵ until I make thy foes thy footstool." ³⁶ therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

⁴ to those unbelievers, whose minds the God of this world has so blinded, that the glorious lustre of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, does not enlighten them.

⁸ wherefore 'tis said, " when he ascended up on high, he made a number of captives, and gave gifts to men."

¹² for our conflict is not barely with men, but with principalities, with potentates, with the princes of darkness, with wicked aereal spirits.

¹⁶ for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth, both visible and invisible, the thrones, and the sovereigntys, the principalitys, and the powers: all were created by him, and for him: he is before all things,

¹⁴ Since then the children were made subject to a state of mortality, so he himself likewise was subject to the same condition: that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

² and he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil and satan, and bound him for a thousand years, ³ then cast him into the bottomless pit, there shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should seduce the nations no more, till the thousand years should he fulfilled: and after that, he was to be loosed for a short time.

¹⁰ the devil that seduced them, shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

¹¹ that which entereth by the mouth is not what defiles a man: but what defiles the man is that which is discharged by the mouth.

²⁷ adding this observation, "the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath." ²⁸ therefore the son of man has a power of dispensing with the law of the sabbath.

¹⁹ because that does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, whence it is discharg'd, the purest part of the food being left for nutrition.

³ and ask'd him, why did you go to eat with the uncircumcised? ⁴ but Peter represented the whole affair to them, ⁵ saying, as I was at prayers in Joppa, I saw something like a great sheet, tied at the four corners, which descended from heaven, and came just to me. ⁶ as I was considering it very attentively, I saw several quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. ⁷ then I heard a voice, which said, rise, Peter; kill and eat. ⁸ but I said, Lord, by no means: for I never did eat any thing impure, and defiled. ⁹ but the voice from heaven address'd it self to me again, and said, don't call that impure, which God has purified. ¹⁰ this was done three times, and then the whole scene was mounted to heaven. ¹¹ at that very instant three men, dispatch'd from Cesarea to me, were just arrived at the house, where I was. ¹² and the spirit bid me make no difficulty of going with them. these six brethren accompany'd me, and we went together to the man's house. ¹³ he told us how he had seen an angel, who had presented himself to him, and had said, send to Joppa, to fetch Simon, surnam'd Peter: ¹⁴ who will give you such instructions, as will be the means of saving both you and all your family. ¹⁵ and while I was speaking to them, the holy spirit descended upon them, as it did on us, at the beginning. ¹⁶ then I remember'd that expression of the Lord, "John baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the holy spirit." ¹⁷ if therefore God has bestow'd the same favour upon them, as on us, after we had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I make any opposition to the divine will? ¹⁸ Having heard this, they were appeas'd, and glorified God, saying, God has then granted salvation likewise to the gentiles, on the terms of their repentance.

²⁰ that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, from fornication, from animals that are strangled, and from their blood.

² for one makes no difficulty of eating all sorts of food: another is so scrupulous, he lives upon herbs. ³ let not him that eateth, despise him that does not; and let not him that refrains, pass censure on him that eateth: for God hath received him.

⁵ one man thinks one day fitter for religious worship than another: another thinks every day alike. let every man follow the persuasion of his own mind. ⁶ he that observes a day, and he that obobserves it not, act both from a sense of duty. he that eats, consisiders it as the bounty of his Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that forbeareth to eat, considers his forbearance as enjoined by his Lord, and giveth God thanks for the rest.

¹⁰ why then dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou think contemptibly of thy brother? since we shall all of us be brought before the judgment-seat of Christ.

¹³ let us not judge one another any more: but rather come to this determination, not to put a stumbling-block, or any thing in a brother's way, that may make him fall. ¹⁴ I know, being fully assured by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: it is only so to him that thinks it is unclean. ¹⁵ now if your brother be endanger'd by your eating, you violate the obligations of love: for such a matter as eating, will you risk his life, for whom Christ died? ¹⁶ Don't let our religion then be expos'd to reproach. ¹⁷ for the gospel dispensation does not consist in meats and drinks, but in piety and peace, and spiritual joy.

²⁰ do not for such a thing as meat, pull down what God has been raising. all things indeed are pure; but they become evil to him who by eating giveth offence. ²¹ it is better to abstain from flesh, and wine, and every thing whereby your brother is in danger of falling off.

⁷ But every one has not this knowledge: for some still imagine the idol represents a deity: and eat the meat under the notion of an offering to such a being: by which erroneous opinion they are infected with idolatry. ⁸ meat does not recommend us to God: if we eat, we are not the better men; if we don't eat, we are not the worse. ⁹ but take care that this liberty of yours does not prove a scandal to the weak. ¹⁰ for if any man see you who have a just notion of idols, sitting at table in their temple, will not the person who is wrong in his notions be incouraged to eat what is offered to idols, tho' contrary to his own opinion? ¹¹ so that your notions may endanger the life of thy weak brother, for whom Christ died. ¹² but when you thus offend against the brethren, by wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³ wherefore if my eating makes my brother offend, I will never eat flesh rather than make my brother offend.

²⁸ but if any man say to you, this is offered in sacrifice to an idol, don't eat, for his sake that mentioned it, and for conscience sake. ²⁹ when I say conscience, I don't mean your own, but that of the other: for why should I expose my liberty to the censure of another man's conscience? ³⁰ if I am thankful for what I have, why should I chuse to be evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? ³¹ whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.

¹² for till certain Jews came thither from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, for fear of those, who were for circumcision: ¹³ and the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him, insomuch that Barnabas himself was carried away with their hypocrisy.

¹⁰ observing as you do, the days, the moons, the feasts and years.

³ interdicting marriage; and the use of animal food; which God created for the repast of the faithful, who embrace the truth with thankfulness. ⁴ for all that God has created is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it be receiv'd with thanksgiving: ⁵ since it is sanctified by the divine permission, and by prayer.

¹⁰ only in matters relating to meats and drinks, and divers baptisms, meer external rites which were to subsist only till the time of reformation.

¹¹ Don't, my brethren, treat one another with detraction. he that reflects upon his brother, and censures his brother, reflects upon the law, and censures the law: if you censure the law, instead of obeying it, you set up for a judge.

²⁸ Believe in me, all ye that labour under oppression, and I will give you relief. ²⁹ take my yoke upon you, and learn to be meek like me, and of an humble temper: and ye shall enjoy tranquillity of mind.

¹⁷ the law indeed was delivered by Moses, but grace and truth was the dispensation of Jesus Christ.

¹ Let us therefore fear, lest any of us by rejecting the promise of entring into his rest, should be excluded from it. ² for to us was the good promise made, as well as to them: but the word address'd to them was not effectually receiv'd with faith by those that heard it. ³ Whereas 'tis we who have believed that shall enter into rest, as he said, "wherefore I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my rest." which is different from that rest, at the beginning of the world, when the work of creation was finished. ⁴ of which in a certain place relating to the seventh day, 'tis said, "and God did rest the seventh day from all his works." ⁵ but in this place 'tis said, "they shall not enter into my rest." ⁶ Since there remains then a rest which some are still to enter into, for they to whom the promise was first made, did not enter in, because of their incredulity; ⁷ he pointed out another time in the words, which were spoken by David, a long time after their going into Canaan, in the passage just now quoted, "today since ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts." ⁸ for if Joshuah had given them rest, David would not afterwards have mentioned another day. ⁹ which shows that the people of God have a sabbath still to come. ¹⁰ then he that enters into divine rest, will indeed rest from his works, as God did from his. ¹¹ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any of us by imitating their incredulity, should fall short thereof like them.

⁵ and officiate in the sanctuary, which was a gross representation of that in heaven, agreeable to the order given by God to Moses, when he projected the tabernacle, "be very exact, said he, in following the model which was laid before thee in the mount."

⁹ This type subsists to the present time, both gifts and sacrifices being still offered, which cannot purify the mind of him that officiates

¹ For the law being only an allusion to a future dispensation that was more excellent, and not an exact imitation of such a state, cannot by the anniversary sacrifices, which are offered, entirely purify those that present themselves.

²⁵ they changed the true God for an idol, and adored and served the creature more than the creator, who is blessed for ever.

⁶ now sensual inclinations lead to death; but spiritual affections to a life of tranquillity. ⁷ because a sensual disposition of mind is averse to God: for it is not subject to the divine law, nor indeed can it be. ⁸ so that they who are in a carnal state, cannot be acceptable to the divine being. as for you,

¹⁸ for such as these serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own selfishness; and by flourish and flattery, deceive the open-hearted simple.

³ for you are still subject to your passions. since envy, and strife, and divisions are among you, are you not actuated by the vices of the animal part?

¹⁸ Some make their boast as if I would not come to you.

¹ Now as to things offered to idols, 'tis certain that the knowledge you all pretend to have, swells you with pride, but 'tis charity that edifieth.

⁵ for tho' there are several titular deities, both in heaven and on earth: such as the whole crowd of gods, and lords among the Gentiles; ⁶ yet to us there is but one God, the father, from whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

²⁴ You know, that in a race, tho' all run, but one receives the prize: so run, that you may obtain.

⁴ Social affection is patient, is kind; is a stranger to envy; is not insolently vain, nor arrogant: does not behave indecently,

²⁰ 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:

¹⁹ now the effects of vicious passions are manifestly these, fornication, uncleanness, ²⁰ brutality, idolatry, poisoning, enmities, quarrels, emulations, animosities, strife, seditions, factions, envyings,

¹⁴ I press towards the mark for the prize to which God has called me from above by Jesus Christ.

⁴ I mention this, lest any one should deceive you by specious pretences.

²³ by which indeed they make a pretence to wisdom, by a worship of their own devising, by an air of humility, and self-denial, and a disregard to the gratifications of sense.

⁷ pretending to be doctors of the law, tho' they neither understand what they advance, nor upon what it is founded.

¹ Now the spirit says expresly, that in the latter times some shall abandon the faith, by giving credit to seducing spirits, and the doctrine concerning demons;

¹⁴ but if envy and contention imbitter your minds, don't think your false pretences can stand against the truth: ¹⁵ such wisdom is not derived from heaven; but is terrestrial, sensual, demoniacal. ¹⁶ where false zeal, and a spirit of contention reign, there confusion and every vice prevail.

¹ you breathe slaughter and revenge for what you cannot obtain. ² you quarrel and go to war, but without success, because you don't petition for it: and if you did, ³ you would not obtain it, because you wickedly request to have your passions gratified. ⁴ Degenerate race, don't you know that friendship with vice is hostility against heaven. he that is a friend to the vicious world, is an enemy to God. ⁵ or do you imagine that passage of scripture to be insignificant, "does the spirit that dwells in you, incite you to vice?" ⁶ on the contrary, he heaps his favours upon you. wherefore 'tis said, "God defeats the proud, but is gracious to the humble."

¹⁴ their eyes are inflam'd with adultery, and unextinguishable vice: they insnare the souls of the inconstant. their minds are practis'd in the arts of avarice: an execrable race, who have deserted the right way,

¹ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ² by this you may distinguish the spirit of God: "every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is from God.

⁷ For there are many impostors started up in the world, who will not own that Jesus Christ was incarnate. such a one is an impostor and an anti-christ. ⁸ be upon your guard, that we may not lose the fruit of our labours, but that we may receive our full reward. ⁹ no renegado that deserts the doctrine of Christ, has any interest in the deity: he that adheres to the doctrine of Christ, has an interest both in the father, and in the son. ¹⁰ whoever comes to you unaccompanied with this doctrine, don't admit him to your house, nor treat him with the common term of civility. ¹¹ for he who shows that respect to such a man, is accessary to his wicked actions.

¹¹ behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, let no man take your crown.

¹⁴ and he deceived the inhabitants of the earth, by the prodigys which he had power to effect by the influence of the beast, by telling the inhabitants of the earth, that he had made an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, but yet did revive.

¹⁰ then I fell at his seet to worship him: but he said to me, "forbear: I am the servant of God, as you and your brethren are, that bear testimony to Jesus: worship God: for to give testimony to Jesus, is the very design of prophecy."

⁸ I John saw these things, and heard them. and when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel, who shewed me these things. ⁹ but he said to me, "forbear, I am the servant of God, as you are, and your brethren the prophets, and those who observe the words of this book: worship God."

⁴ be attach'd to me, and I shall be so to you. as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self, except it be attach'd to the vine: so neither can you, except you continue attach'd to me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for independent of me ye can do nothing. ⁶ if a man abide not in me, he is cast away as withered branches that are gather'd up to be thrown into the fire, where they are burned.

¹⁷ if then, some of the branches are broken off, and thou like a wild olive, were grafted in their place to partake of the root and sap of the olivestock;

⁴ for as there are many members in one and the same body, but all the members have not the same office: ⁵ so we who are many, make all but one body in Christ, and every member subservient to one another.

¹⁰ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to maintain all the same doctrine, to suffer no divisions among you; but to be perfectly united in the same mind, and in the same judgment.

⁶ I have planted, Apollos watered: but God gave the increase.

¹⁶ the cup of benediction which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷ for the bread being one, as many as we are, we are one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

¹² For as the body is one, tho' it has many members, and all the members of that one body, tho' many, are one body: so also is the body of Christ. ¹³ for by one spirit we have all been baptized, to be form'd into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and have been all made to drink of one spirit. ¹⁴ the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵ if the foot should say, "because I am not the hand, I am not of the body;" is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶ and if the ear should say, "because I am not the eye, I am not of the body;" is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷ if the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? if the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? ¹⁸ now God disposed every one of the members in the body as he thought fit. ¹⁹ but if they were all one member, where would be the body? ²⁰ thus, tho' there are many members, yet there is but one body. ²¹ and the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of thee:" nor again, the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." ²² nay, those parts of the body, which seem to be of the least account, are much more necessary. ²³ what we think to be less honourable, is loaded with additional ornaments, and the less graceful have adventitious finery, ²⁴ of which the graceful have no need: but God has contrived the symmetry of the body, by bestowing an additional advantage where it seem'd to want it. ²⁵ that there might be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same mutual concern for one another. ²⁶ so that if one member suffer, they all suffer with it: or if one be honoured, they partake of it. ²⁷ Thus you are the body of Christ, being the particular members of it.

⁶ from me, who called you by the grace of Christ; this can be ⁷ owing to nothing but your being practised upon by some, who would overturn the gospel of Christ. ⁸ but tho' I, or an angel from heaven should preach any thing to you for gospel, different from the gospel I have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ⁹ as I said before, so say I now again, if any one preach any other thing to you for gospel, than what you have received, let him be accursed.

² take notice, 'tis I Paul declare it to you, that if you are circumcised, Christ shall be of no advantage to you. ³ for I testify to every man that is circumcised, that he is under an obligation to perform the whole law. ⁴ 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.

²² for he has subjected all things to him, and constituted him supreme head of the church,

³ endeavouring to preserve the spiritual union by your affectionate attachment to one another.

²⁹ no man was ever yet averse to his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord doth the church:

² compleat my joy, by pursuing the same view, living in mutual love, by being unanimous, and cultivating that harmony. ³ Do nothing out of a spirit of contention, or for vain-glory, but modestly look upon others as if they were better than yourselves. ⁴ let no man consult only his private interest, but let every man consult likewise the interest of others. ⁵ for the same temper of mind ought to be in you as was in Christ Jesus:

¹⁸ he himself is the head of the church, which is his body. he is the prince, the first-born from the dead, that in all things he might be chief.

² that their hearts might be comforted, and that being firmly united in love, they might possess the highest and fullest persuasion of the truth of this doctrine, by entring into this mystery, even of God the father, and of Christ,

⁶ continue therefore to follow the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you have receiv'd it: ⁷ 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. ⁸ beware lest any one seduce you by the vain illusions of philosophy, founded upon human traditions, and meer shadows, and not upon Christ: ⁹ for in him all divine plenitude does substantially reside.

¹² may the Lord make you increase and abound in mutual love, in love towards all men, as we do towards you:

¹⁰ this indeed you practise towards all our brethren in Macedonia; and we only exhort you to advance more and more therein:

³ We are oblig'd, my brethren, to render thanks to God continually upon your account, as it is but just; since your faith still improves, and your mutual love is always increasing.

⁴ who wills that all men be saved, by embracing the truth. ⁵ for there is but one God, and but one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself for the redemption of all mankind: this is what was to be promulg'd in due time:

⁸ In a word, live all of you in perfect agreement and sympathy, be full of fraternal love, compassion, and affability.

¹⁹ if you were of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world does hate you.

¹⁴ I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not pray you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the malignity of it. ¹⁶ they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

² God forbid, that we who have died to sin should live any longer therein. ³ don't you know that when we were all baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, we were plunged into a state figurative of his death. ⁴ therefore we are buried with him by being plunged into a sort of death: that as Christ was raised up from the dead into a state of glory with the father, even so we also should proceed to a new state of life. ⁵ for if we resembled him with regard to death, certainly we shall likewise do so with regard to his resurrection: ⁶ considering this, that our vicious passions were crucified with him, that the body of sin being destroyed, we might not any longer be vassals to sin. ⁷ for by its being dead, we are set free from sin.

⁴ thus, my brethren, the law is become dead with respect to you by the body of Christ; that you might be subject to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. ⁵ for when we were in the carnal state of the law, the sinful passions of that state set our animal faculties to work in the service of death. ⁶ but now we are delivered by the death of the law, which held us in bondage: that we might serve according to the living spirit, and not in the dead letter of the law.

³ for tho' I am involv'd with the world, I don't sustain the war with their poor arts:

¹⁹ for by one law, I am dead to the other law, that I might live unto God: ²⁰ 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.

⁹ or rather that you are favoured by him, how can ye turn again to the weak and beggarly elements of the law, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰ observing as you do, the days, the moons, the feasts and years. ¹¹ you make me apprehensive, that the labour I have bestowed upon you will be all in vain. ¹² I beseech you, brethren, be as I am, for I was as you are.

¹⁴ but far be it from me that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world is as contemptible to me, as I am to the world.

¹⁵ (which kept us at variance) by abolishing the dogmatical injunctions of the law, that having made the peace, he might incorporate the two into one new body under himself;

¹⁴ and cancell'd the obligation of the ceremonial law, which was disadvantageous to us, removing that which divided us, and nailing it to the cross.

¹⁶ Let no man therefore condemn you for meats or drinks, or in respect of feasts, or new moons, or sabbaths:

⁴ Degenerate race, don't you know that friendship with vice is hostility against heaven. he that is a friend to the vicious world, is an enemy to God.

¹⁹ we know that we are the children of God, and the rest of the world are subject to the evil spirit.

¹⁷ wherefore come out from among them, be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

³ interdicting marriage; and the use of animal food; which God created for the repast of the faithful, who embrace the truth with thankfulness.

¹⁸ and he said, are you likewise so void of understanding? don't you perceive that what passes from without into a man cannot defile him? ¹⁹ because that does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, whence it is discharg'd, the purest part of the food being left for nutrition.

²⁷ work not for the food which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto everlasting life, and which the son of man shall give unto you, for to him it is that the father, that is God, has given his credentials.

¹³ "meat is design'd for the belly, and the belly for meat:" true, yet God has design'd both for destruction. now the body is not design'd for licentiousness, but for the glory of the Lord; since the Lord died for the glorification of the body:

¹⁴ not doating on Jewish Fables, and the tenets of men, that deviate from the truth.

¹⁸ and the woman which you saw, is that great city, which reigns the empress of the kings of the earth.

²⁷ wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like whited sepulchres, which to outward appearance are fine. but within are full of dead mens bones, and all sort of filth. ²⁸ just so ye put on an air of probity in the sight of men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

¹³ for these are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguised so as to pass for true apostles. ¹⁴ and no wonder; for satan himself may put on the appearance of an angel of light. ¹⁵ 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.

⁸ exercise yourself in piety: for those exercises which relate only to the body are of little consequence, but piety is of absolute use, having the promises both of the present life, and of the life that is to come.