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Purity of life recommended. CHAP. VII.

Good effect of godly sorrow. is open unto you, our heart is no man, we have defrauded no enlarged.

man.

12 Ye are not straitened in 3 I speak not this to condemn us, but ye are straitened in your you: for I have said before, that own bowels. ye are in our hearts to die and

13 Now for a recompense in live with you. the same (I speak as unto my 4 Great is my boldness of children,) be ye also enlarged. speech toward you, great is my

14 Be ye not unequally yoked glorying of you: I am filled with together with unbelievers: for comfort, I am exceeding joyful what fellowship hath righteous- in all our tribulation.

ness with unrighteousness? and 5 For, when we were come what communion hath light with into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled

darkness?

15 And what concord hath on every side; without were Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

fightings, within were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, that com-
forteth those that are cast down,

16 And what agreement hath comforted us by the coming of the temple of God with idols? Titus;

for ye are the temple of the 7 And not by his coming only, living God; as God hath said, but by the consolation whereI will dwell in them, and walk with he was comforted in you, in them; and I will be their God, when he told us your earnest and they shall be my people. desire, your mourning, your fer

17 Wherefore come out from vent mind toward me; so that among them, and be ye separate, I rejoiced the more. saith the Lord, and touch not 8 For though I made you the unclean thing; and I will sorry with a letter, I do not receive you; repent, though I did repent: for

18 And will be a Father unto I perceive that the same epistle you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye

CHAP. VII. Exhortations to purity. H AVING therefore these pro- were made sorry after a godly mises, dearly beloved, let us manner, that ye might receive

cleanse ourselves from all filthi-damage by us in nothing. ness of the flesh and spirit, per- 10 For godly sorrow worketh fecting holiness in the fear of God. repentance to salvation not to be 2 Receive us; we have wrong-repented of: but the sorrow of ed no man, we have corrupted the world worketh death.

The apostle praiseth the II. CORINTHIANS, liberality of the Macedonians:

11 For behold this self-same of affliction, the abundance of thing, that ye sorrowed after a their joy, and their deep poverty, godly sort, what carefulness it abounded unto the riches of wrought in you, yea, what clear- their liberality.

ing of yourselves, yea, what in- 3 For to their power, I bear dignation, yea, what fear, yea, record, yea, and beyond their what vehement desire, yea, what power, they were willing of themzeal, yea, what revenge! In all selves;

things ye have approved your- 4 Praying us with much enselves to be clear in this matter. treaty, that we would receive

12 Wherefore, though I wrote the gift, and take upon us the unto you, I did it not for his fellowship of the ministering to cause that had done the wrong, the saints.

nor for his cause that suffered 5 And this they did, not as we wrong, but that our care for you hoped, but first gave their own in the sight of God might appear selves to the Lord, and unto us unto you. by the will of God:

13 Therefore we were com- 6 Insomuch that we desired forted in your comfort: yea, and Titus, that as he had begun, so exceedingly the more joyed we he would also finish in you the for the joy of Titus, because his same grace also. spirit was refreshed by you all. 7 Therefore, as ye abound in

14 For if I have boasted any every thing, in faith, and utterthing to him of you, I am not ance, and knowledge, and in all ashamed; but as we spake all diligence, and in your love to things to you in truth, even so us, see that ye abound in this our boasting, which I made be-grace also. fore Titus, is found a truth. 8 I speak not by command

of

15 And his inward affection ment, but by occasion of the is more abundant toward you, forwardness of others, and to whilst he remembereth the obe- prove the sincerity of your love. dience of you all, how with fear 9 For ye know the grace and trembling ye received him. our Lord Jesus Christ, that 16 I rejoice therefore that I though he was rich, yet for your have confidence in you in all sakes he became poor, that ye things.

CHAP. VIII.

Paul exhorteth to liberality.

rich.

through his poverty might be 10 And herein I give my expedient for

MOREOVER, brethren, we advice: for this is

do you to wit of the grace you, who have begun before, of God bestowed on the church-not only to do, but also to be

es of Macedonia;

forward a year ago.

2 How that in a great trial 11 Now therefore perform the

CHAP. IX.

He commendeth Titus; and exhorteth to charity. doing of it; that as there was 21 Providing for honest things, a readiness to will, so there may not only in the sight of the Lord, be a performance also out of but also in the sight of men. that which ye have.

22 And we have sent with

12 For if there be first a them our brother, whom we willing mind, it is accepted ac- have often times proved diligent cording to that a man hath, and in many things, but now much not according to that he hath more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

not.

13 For I mean not that other 23 Whether any do inquire men be eased, and you burdened: of Titus, he is my partner and

14 But by an equality, that fellow-helper concerning you: now at this time your abundance or our brethren be inquired of, may be a supply for their want, they are the messengers of the that their abundance also may churches, and the glory of be a supply for your want: that Christ.

there may be equality:

24 Wherefore shew ye to

15 As it is written, He that them, and before the churches, had gathered much had nothing the proof of your love, and of over; and he that had gathered our boasting on your behalf. little had no lack.

CHAP. IX

16 But thanks be to God, Bountifulness recommended.

which put the same earnest care FOR as

into the heart of Titus for you.

touching the ministering to the saints, it is

17 For indeed he accepted superfluous for me to write to the exhortation; but being more you: forward, of his own accord he 2 For I know the forwardness went unto you. of your mind, for which I boast

18 And we have sent with of you to them of Macedonia, him the brother, whose praise that Achaia was ready a year is in the gospel throughout all ago; and your zeal hath prothe churches;

voked very many.

19 And not that only, but 3 Yet have I sent the brethren, who was also chosen of the lest our boasting of you should churches to travel with us with be in vain in this behalf; that, this grace, which is administered as I said, ye may be ready: by us to the glory of the same 4 Lest haply if they of MaceLord, and declaration of your donia come with me, and find ready mind: you uprepared, we (that we say

20 Avoiding this, that no not, ye) should be ashamed in man should blame us in this this same confident boasting. abundance which is administered by us:

5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethOf bounty to the saints. II. CORINTHIANS, Paul's spiritual power, ren, that they would go be-tion unto the gospel of Christ, fore unto you, and make up be- and for your liberal distribution forehand your bounty, whereof unto them, and unto all men; ye had notice before, that the 14 And by their prayer for same might be ready, as a mat-you, which long after you, for ter of bounty, and not as of the exceeding grace of God in

covetousness.

you.

6 But this I say, He which 15 Thanks be unto God for soweth sparingly, shall reap also his unspeakable gift. sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also boun- Of Paul's spiritual might. tifully.

CHAP. X.

NOW TOW I Paul myself beseech

7 Every man according as you, by the meekness and he purposeth in his heart, so let gentleness of Christ, who in him give; not grudgingly, or of presence am base among you, necessity: for God loveth a but being absent am bold toward cheerful giver.

you:

8 And God is able to make all 2 But I beseech you, that I grace abound toward you; that may not be bold when I am ye, always having all sufficiency present with that confidence, in all things, may abound to wherewith I think to be bold every good work: against some, which think of us

9 (As it is written, He hath as if we walked according to dispersed abroad; he hath given the flesh. to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the

10 Now, he that ministereth flesh: seed to the sower, both minister 4 (For the weapons of our bread for your food, and multi- warfare are not carnal, but ply your seed sown, and increase mighty through God to the the fruits of your righteousness;) pulling down of strong holds;)

11 Being enriched in every 5 Casting down imaginations, thing to all bountifulness, which and every high thing that ex causeth through us thanksgiving alteth itself against the know. ledge of God, and bringing into

to God.

12 For the administration of captivity every thought to the this service not only supplieth obedience of Christ; the want of the saints, but is 6 And having in a readiness to abundant also by many thanks-revenge all disobedience, when givings unto God; your obedience is fulfilled.

13 While by the experiment 7 Do ye look on things after of this ministration they glorify the outward appearance? If God for your professed subjec-any man trust to himself that he

CHAP. XI.

and authority : He excuseth his boasting. is Christ's, let him of himself hope, when your faith is inthink this again, that, as he is creased, that we shall be enChrist's, even so are we Christ's. larged by you, according to our

8 For though I should boast rule abundantly, somewhat more of our authority, 16 To preach the gospel in the which the Lord hath given us regions beyond you, and not to for edification, and not for boast in another man's line of your destruction, I should not things made ready to our hand. be ashamed: 17 But he that glorieth, let

9 That I may not seem as if him glory in the Lord. I would terrify you by letters. 18 For not he that commend10 For his letters (say they) eth himself is approved, but are weighty and powerful; but whom the Lord commendeth. his bodily presence is weak, and

his speech contemptible.

CHAP. XI.

Paul's forced self-commendation.

11 Let such a one think this, WOULD to God ye could

that such as we are in word by me a little in letters when we are absent, such my folly: and indeed bear with will we be also in deed when we me.

are present.

2 For I am jealous over you

12 For we dare not make with godly jealousy: for I have ourselves of the number, or com- espoused you to one husband, pare ourselves with some that that I may present you as a commend themselves: but they, chaste virgin to Christ. measuring themselves by them- 3 But I fear, lest by any selves, and comparing them-means, as the serpent beguiled selves among themselves, are Eve through his subtilty, so not wise. your minds should be corrupted

13 But we will not boast of from the simplicity that is in things without our measure, but Christ. according to the measure of the 4 For if he that cometh rule which God hath distributed preacheth another Jesus, whom to us, a measure to reach even we have not preached, or if ye unto you. receive another spirit, which ye

14 For we stretch not our-have not received, or another selves beyond our measure, as gospel, which ye have not acthough we reached not unto cepted, ye might well bear with you; for we are come as far as him. to you also in preaching the gos- 5 For I suppose I was not a pel of Christ : whit behind the very chiefest

15 Not boasting of things apostles. without our measure, that is, of 6 But though I be rude in other men's labours; but having speech, yet not in knowledge;

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