Study Desk

if my language is inelegant, my knowledge is not contemptible; but has been fully display'd among you on all occasions.

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.

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.

I say it again, let no man think me vain; but if they do, yet as such, bear with me, that I too may applaud my self a little.

what I say, I say it not as an apostle, but as it were to indulge my vanity in this matter of boasting.

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

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

but tho' I don't know whether it was in the body, or out of the body, which God only knows,

I might glory in being the man; but I will not glory in any thing relating to myself, unless it be my sufferings.

tho' if I had a mind to glory, I might do it without vanity, for I should say nothing but what is true: but now I forbear, lest any man should ascribe more to me than my actions, or my preaching can justify.

but he said to me, "my favour is sufficient for thee: for my strength is shown to be perfect by thy weakness." with pleasure therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may be seen to dwell in me.

This is the third time I purposed to come to you; but I will not be burdensome to you; for I seek not yours, but you: since it is not expected children should lay up for their parents, but parents for their children: on the contrary,

'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,

now I pray God that I may not punish you; not that I may show you my proofs to your cost, but that by your acting honestly, I may be as if I had no proofs:

for I can employ no power against the truth, but for the truth.

Paul an apostle (not from men, nor by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the father who raised him from the dead) and all the brethren,

owing to nothing but your being practised upon by some, who would overturn the gospel of Christ.

but tho' I, or an angel from heaven should preach any thing to you for gospel, different from the gospel I have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.