Study Desk

of which we are the several parts constituting his body.

the scripture says, "for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and they two shall be as one."

wherefore let every one of you without exception, love his wife even as himself; and let the wife respect her husband.

for it is a favour bestowed upon you, that you not only believe on Christ, but suffer also for his sake,

let no man consult only his private interest, but let every man consult likewise the interest of others.

and his whole exterior showing nothing more than a meer man, he abased himself, and carried his submission so far as to die, even the death of the cross.

for it is God that influences your desires and endeavours, out of his benevolence to you.

you know he has stood the test, and has serv'd with me in the gospel, as a son serves with his father.

for he was upon the brink of death for the service of Christ, having expos'd his life to the greatest dangers, to perform those kind offices, which you could not do yourselves.

and be his true disciple, not professing that justification, which is derived from the law, but that which is from the gospel,

the justification which God grants to those who acknowledge Christ and the power of his resurrection, who suffer after his example, and die to sin, as he died to the world,

it is he, that will change our vile body into a like form with his glorious body, by displaying that power which is able to subdue all things unto himself.

For this cause, ever since we heard of it, we incessantly pray for you, requesting that you may be endued with respect to the knowledge of his will, with all wisdom and spiritual discernment:

giving thanks to the father, who has qualified you to share in that light he affords to his people:

who has deliver'd you from the state of darkness, and has translated you into the kingdom of his beloved son.

he himself is the head of the church, which is his body. he is the prince, the first-born from the dead, that in all things he might be chief.

and having made peace by the blood of his cross, to reconcile all things to himself, both those in heaven, and those upon earth.

You then that formerly were alienated from God, and were enemies by your imaginations and wicked practices, even you has Jesus Christ now reconciled to the body of his church,

through his own death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable in his own sight:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and am filling up the measure of those remaining afflictions, which in my turn I am to suffer in this life, in the cause of Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the church: