TO THE THESSALONIANS

I THESSALONIANS I, II, IV, V
II Thessalonians i

We give thanks to God always for you, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love and stedfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; knowing how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in much fulness; so that ye became an ensample to all that believe. For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, so that we need not to speak anything. For in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth: how ye turned from idols to serve the living and true God. And for this cause thank we God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.

And we give thanks to God always for you, brethren, that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith. And we beseech you, and exhort you, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,that ye abound more and more. But concerning love of the brethren, ye have no need that one

write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another; yea, indeed ye do it. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound yet more and more; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God. And to this end we pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and every work of faith, with power.

Finally, comfort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do. Be at peace among yourselves. Admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, strengthen the weak, be longsuffering toward all. See that none render unto any evil for evil; but alway follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all. Rejoice alway; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward. Quench not the Spirit; despise not prophesyings; prove all things; hold fast that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body. be preserved entire, without blame in the sight of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I THESSALONIANS IV, V

Romans viii, xiv. I Corinthians ii. II Corinthians iv, v. II Thessalonians ii

Now we would not have you ignorant concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not as they that have no hope. For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtain

ing of eternal life: that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

And I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us. For eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. And we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.

We beseech you therefore, touching these things, that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled. For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of God our Father.

And now may God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and stablish them in every good work and word.

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL

TO TIMOTHY

I TIMOTHY II, III

Titus

I exhort that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for rulers and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. I desire therefore that men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and without disputing. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.

For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession.

For we were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared, according to his mercy he saved us, through the renewing of the

Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly; that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs, according to hope, of eternal life.

These things I write, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and stay of the truth.

I TIMOTHY IV, VI

II Timothy ii, iii, iv

Now in the latter days grievous times shall come. For the time will come, when men will not endure healthful teaching; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. And there shall arise teachers having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth firm, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness. If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to healthful words, and to the teaching which is according to godliness; he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words.

Of these things put the brethren in remembrance, charging them in the sight of God, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear them; but that they set their hope on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men.