Study Desk

not that I am sufficient of myself to effect any thing by the strength of my own reason: but my sufficiency is from God.

I am press'd on every side, yet not crush'd; perplexed, but not in despair;

for which cause I am not discouraged, but tho' my body decays, yet my mind is daily renewed.

while I am thus incas'd, I groan with desire to have that celestial vehicle superinduc'd:

therefore being always certainly assur'd that whilst I sojourn in this body, I am absent from the Lord,

Shall I then, who know this terrible judgment of the Lord, endeavour to appease men? as for God, I am approved by him, and I trust also you are convinced of my being so approved.

for if I glory even to transport, my glorying is in God: if I am moderate, my glorying is for your service.

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,

as unknown, and yet celebrated; as dying, and yet I am alive; as chastised, but not slain;

I speak not this to your reproach: for I have already assured you, that I am so heartily well affected to you, I could live and die with you.

I use indeed great freedom of speech toward you, yet I greatly glory upon your account: I am filled with comfort, and my joy is still superiour to all my affliction.

so that I am not ashamed of the commendations I have formerly given you to him; but as I have always preached the truth to you, so in my commendation to Titus, I have said nothing but truth of you.

I who am a person of a mean presence, when among you, but exert myself upon your account, when absent; I Paul intreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, not to let me exert that authority,

when I am present, which I think to exercise against some, who censure me, as if I was actuated by worldly views.

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

and I am prepar'd, when you have discharg'd your duty, to make examples of the rest for their disobedience.

contemptible) let such a one depend upon this, that the same authority which appear'd in my letters, when I was absent, will appear in fact, when I am present.

for I am jealous over you with religious jealousy: since I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

for I think I am not at all inferior to the chiefest of the apostles.

Are they Hebrews? so am I: are they Israelites? so am I: are they of the race of Abraham?