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ren, of our trouble in Asia, that we were exceedingly pressed above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9. Yea, we received the sentence of death in ourselves, (expecting to die,) that we might not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead; 10. Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver; in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us: 11. Ye also helping together with others by prayer for us, that for the benefit obtained to us by the prayers of many persons, thanks may be given by many for us. 12. For the testimony of our conscience is our rejoicing, that in simplicity and sincerity toward God, not with carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have behaved ourselves in the world, and more especially towards you. 13. For we write none other things to you than what ye know or acknowledge, and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end: 14. Yea, indeed ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, as ye also will be ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15. And in this confidence I was desirous before to come to you, that ye might have a second benefit; 16. And to pass by you into Macedonia, and return from it to you, and by you to be conducted toward Judea.

17. Therefore, when I thus purposed, was I unsteadfast? or the things that I purpose, do I so according to fleshly views, that with me there should be yea, yea, and nay, nay, (or inconstancy)? 18. But as God is faithful, our preaching to you was not (wavering) yea and nay. 19. For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was preached among you by us, even by me, and Silvanus, and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him was (immutably) yea. 2). For, all the promises of God are in him yea, and amen (immutable truth), to the glory of God by us.

21. For it is God who establisheth us together

with you (in the faith and love of) Christ, and hath anointed us (with peculiar gifts of the Spirit); 22. Who hath also sealed us (with the likeness of his image in holiness), and given us the earnest of the Spirit in (the joys of) our hearts.

23. Moreover, I call God for a witness to my soul (as I hope for mercy to it), that to spare you, I came not as yet to Corinth, 24. Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

CHAP. II.

THE REASON OF HIS NOT COMING TO THEM.

BUT I determined with myself, not to come again to you in sorrow., 2. For if I make you sor ry, who is there to make me glad, but the same who is made sorry by me? 3. And I wrote thus to you, lest, when I come, I should have sorrow from them, for whom I ought to rejoice; having this confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love I have more abundantly for you. 5. But if any hath caused grief, he hath not grieved me only, that I may not charge you all. 6. Sufficient to such a man is this rebuke, from many. 7. So that ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest such an one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8. Wherefore I beseech you to confirm your love toward him.

9. For this purpose also, I wrote to know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10. Whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also; for if I forgave any thing, for your sakes I did it in the authority of Christ. 11. Lest Satan get an advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

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12. When I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me in the Lord's work; 13. I had no rest in my spirit, as I found not Titus my brother; but taking leave of them, I went thence into Macedonia. 14. But thanks be to God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15. For we are to God a sweet savour of Christ, both with respect to them that are saved, and them that perish. 16. To the one we are the savour of death to death eternal; and to the other the savour of life to life eternal; and who is sufficient for these things. 17. For we are not as many who corrupt the word of God; but as in sincerity, and from God, in his sight speak we in the name of Christ.

CHAP. III.

PAUL COMMENDETH HIS MINISTRY.

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some, epistles of commendation to you, or from you? 2. Ye are our epistle written in your hearts, known and read by all men; 3. As ye are manifestly the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.

4. Now, such confidence we have thro' Christ toward God. 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to reckon upon any thing as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God. 6. Who hath also made us able ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter (which the infidel Jews abuse to their ruin, by mistaking the spiritual sense and design of the ritual law, and other sacred writings), but of the Spirit; for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.

7. For if (the Mosaic law) the ministration of

death (to the breakers of it), being engraven in letters on (two tables of) stone, was attended with such glory, that the Israelites could not look steadfastly on Moses' face, for the glory of it, which was soon to be abolished (in death); 8. How much more shall the ministration of the Spirit be glorious? 9. For if the ministration of condemnation be glorious, much more doth the ministration of mercy exceed in glory. 10. For even what was made glorious had no glory, with respect to the glory that excelleth it. 11. For if what was soon to be done away was glorious, what remaineth immutable, much more is glorious.

12. Having, therefore, such hope, we use great liberty of speech; 13. And are not as Moses, who put a veil over his face, that the Israelites could not look steadfastly to what was to be abolished. 14. But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same veil, in the reading of the old covenant; which veil is taken away by Christ. 15. For still when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

16. But when Israel shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.

17. Now, the Lord Jesus is the Spirit (of the law); and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.

18. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, even as by the Spirit of the Lord, are transformed into the same image (of holiness, proceeding) from glory to glory,

CHAP. IV.

PAUL'S DILIGENCE IN PREACHING.

THEREFORE, having received such a ministration, as we have obtained mercy (of God), we faint not (under the cross). 2. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, 3 G

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nor deceitfully corrupting the word of God; but by the manifestation of the truth, recommending ourselves to every man's conscience in God's sight.

3. But if our gospel (for recovering man from ignorance, sin, and future misery) after all this plainness, be still under a veil, (as the ritual law is to the Jews,) it is veiled to those only that are perishing (by rejecting the remedy); 4. Among whom are they, whose unbelieving minds (Satan, who acts and is served as) their god, by this world, hath blinded (by its dazzling allurements;) lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should enlighten them.

5. For we preach not ourselves, (our own glory or gain,) but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not in us.

8. We are troubled every way, yet not overpressed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9. Persecuted, but not forsaken (of God); cast down, but not destroyed; 10. Always bearing about in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus, (by suffering as he did, and the mortification he enjoins), that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body (in all holiness and purity). 11. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake. 12. So then death worketh in us, but life in you, (being called to live to his glory).

18. Yet having the same spirit of faith, (to support us as the saints of old) as it is written, I believed, and therefore I spoke: we also believe and therefore speak the truth. 14. Knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus, and present us with you. 15. For all

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