Study Desk

who also hath enabled me to be a minister of the new covenant, not of the literal sense, but of the spiritual meaning: it is the letter that denounces death, but the spirit gives life.

but when their mind shall turn to the Lord, that veil too shall be taken away.

but as we lay aside the veil, the divine light gradually informs the mind, according as we attend to that spiritual sense, which points out the Lord.

but if our gospel be obscure, it is so only to those who are lost:

for we preach not our selves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, professing our selves your servants for his sake.

but this treasure is lodg'd in such earthen vessels as we are, that the exceeding efficacy of it may appear to be from God, and not from us.

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

persecuted, but not forsaken; dejected, but not destroyed;

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

for I have no regard to the things which are visible, but to such as are invisible: since visible things are temporary, but the invisible are eternal.

For I know, that if my body, which is but a tent for my sojourning upon earth, were dissolved, I have what is not fram'd by human art, but by the divine architect, a mansion eternal in the heavens.

we that are in this tabernacle do groan under the burden of it: not that we desire to be divested of it, but we desire to have our celestial body, that this mortal state may vanish into immortality.

and this I say, not to commend myself again unto you, but to give you an occasion of glorying on my account, that you may confront those who make a false show of glorying.

that they who are in a state of life should not live at their own discretion, but to the service of him who died for them, and rose again.

but in all things I approve myself as the minister of God, by great constancy in afflictions, in torments, in distresses, from stripes,

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

Are you not become associates with infidels? but what affinity is there between virtue and vice? and what communication has light with darkness?

but by the consolation I received from you by him, when he acquainted me with your earnest desire to see me, with your concern, and your zeal for me; which greatly increas'd my joy.

now I rejoice, not at your uneasiness, but at your repentance which succeeded: for your sorrow was a religious sorrow, such as convinc'd you I had done you no wrong.

for religious sorrow produces that salutary repentance, which we never regret: but worldly sorrow preys upon life.