Study Desk

why so? is it because I love you not? far otherwise, God knows.

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.

for these are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguised so as to pass for true apostles.

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.

as if I was inferior to them. but whatever they pretend to, (I must be so vain) I pretend to the like.

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

so am I: are they ministers of Christ? is it my vanity? I am more so: in toilsome labours I surpass them, in stripes I am exceedingly beyond them, in prisons I have been oftner, and frequently in the very jaws of death.

but thro' a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and so escap'd.

and lest I should be exalted above measure by the extraordinary revelations I have had, I was afflicted in my person, so that the messenger of satan insulted me; concerning which,

'tis own'd I did not put you to any charges myself: but was so crafty, as to over-reach you, by others.

Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; bring yourselves to the proof; are you so little acquainted with yourselves, as not to know whether Jesus Christ be in you? but if you are destitute of proofs,

I trust you shall know that we are not so destitute,

whom be glory for ever and ever. amen. I wonder you have so soon deserted unto another gospel,

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.

have you so little understanding, as having begun in the spiritual doctrine of the gospel, to turn again to the law?

have you suffered so many things in vain?

so hence ye know, that it is they who believe who are the children of Abraham.

so that it is they who believe, who are blessed with Abraham, who did believe.

this therefore I say, that the law, which was not till four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul the promise, that was ratified before by God, so as to set the promise afoot.

so that the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.