Of the gospel ministration. II. CORINTHIANS,

The Apostle's integrity

away was glorious, much more man's conscience in the sight of that which remaineth is glorious. God. 12 Seeing then that we have 3 But if our gospel be hid, it such hope, we use great plain- is hid to them that are lost: ness of speech: 4 In whom the god of this

13 And not as Moses, which world hath blinded the minds of put a vail over his face, that them which believe not, lest the the children of Israel could not light of the glorious gospel of steadfastly look to the end of Christ, who is the image of God, that which is abolished: should shine unto them.

14 But their minds were 5 For we preach not ourselves, blinded for until this day re-but Christ Jesus the Lord; and maineth the same vail untaken ourselves your servants for Jesus' away in the reading of the old sake.

testament; which vail is done 6 For God, who commanded away in Christ. the light to shine out of dark15 But even unto this day, ness, hath shined in our hearts, when Moses is read, the vail is to give the light of the knowupon their heart. ledge of the glory of God in the

16 Nevertheless, when it shall face of Jesus Christ. turn to the Lord, the vail shall

be taken away.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the ex17 Now the Lord is that cellency of the power may be Spirit: and where the Spirit of of God, and not of us. the Lord is, there is liberty. 8 We are troubled on every

18 But we all, with open face side, yet not distressed; we are beholding as in a glass the glory perplexed, but not in despair; of the Lord, are changed into 9 Persecuted, but not forthe same image from glory to saken; cast down, but not deglory, even as by the Spirit of the stroyed;

Lord.

CHAP. IV.

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord

Paul's comfort in distress. Jesus, that the life also of Jesus THEREFORE, seeing we might be made manifest in our have this ministry, as we body. have received mercy, we faint

Thave this ministry, as we

not;

11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for 2 But have renounced the Jesus' sake, that the life also of hidden things of dishonesty; not Jesus might be made manifest in walking in craftiness, nor hand- our mortal flesh.

ling the word of God deceitfully; 12 So then death worketh in but, by manifestation of the truth, us, but life in you.

commending ourselves to every 13 We having the same spirit

and comfortable assurance

CHAP. V.

of a blessed immortality. of faith, according as it is writ-tabernacle do groan, being burten, I believed, and therefore dened: not for that we would have I spoken; we also believe, be unclothed, but clothed upon, and therefore speak; that mortality might be swallow

14 Knowing, that he which ed up of life. raised up the Lord Jesus, shall 5 Now, he that hath wrought raise up us also by Jesus, and us for the self-same thing is God, shall present us with you. who also hath given unto us the

15 For all things are for your earnest of the Spirit. sakes, that the abundant grace 6 Therefore we are always might through the thanksgiving confident, knowing that, whilst of many redound to the glory of we are at home in the body, we God. are absent from the Lord: 16 For which cause we faint 7 (For we walk by faith, not not; but though our outward by sight:) man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent 17 For our light affliction, from the body, and to be present which is but for a moment, with the Lord.

worketh for us a far more ex- 9 Wherefore we labour, that, ceeding and eternal weight of whether present or absent, we glory; may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the before the judgment-seat of things which are not seen: for Christ; that every one may rethe things which are seen are ceive the things done in his body, temporal; but the things which according to that he hath done, are not seen are eternal. whether it be good or bad.

CHAP. V.

Paul's hope of immortal glory.

FOR

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade

OR we know that if our men; but we are made manifest earthly house of this taber- unto God; and I trust also are nacle were dissolved, we have made manifest in your cona building of God, a house not sciences.

made with hands, eternal in the 12 For we commend not ourheavens. selves again unto you, but give 2 For in this we groan, ear-you occasion to glory on our nestly desiring to be clothed behalf, that ye may have someupon with our house which is what to answer them which from heaven: glory in appearance, and not in

3 If so be that being clothed heart.

we shall not be found naked.

13 For whether we be beside

4 For we that are in this ourselves, it is to God: or

Reconciliation by Christ. II. CORINTHIANS, Of Paul's fartnful ministry.

whether we be sober, it is for

your cause.

CHAP. VI.

Paul's faithfulness in the ministry.

WE

E then, as workers together with him, beseech

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us: because we thus judge, that if one died for all, you also that ye receive not the then were all dead: grace of God in vain.

15 And that he died for all. 2 (For he saith, I have heard that they which live should not thee in a time accepted, and in henceforth live unto themselves, the day of salvation have I sucbut unto him which died for coured thee: behold, now is the them, and rose again. accepted time; behold, now is

16 Wherefore henceforth the day of salvation.) know we no man after the flesh: 3 Giving no offence in any yea, though we have known thing, that the ministry be not Christ after the flesh, yet now blamed: henceforth know we him no 4 But in all things approving

more.

ourselves as the ministers of 17 Therefore, if any man be God, in much patience, in in Christ, he is a new creature: afflictions, in necessities, in disold things are passed away; tresses, behold, all things are become ⚫5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watch

new.

18 And all things are of God, ings, in fastings; who hath reconciled us to him- 6 By pureness, by knowledge, self by Jesus Christ, and hath by long-suffering, by kindness, given to us the ministry of re-by the Holy Ghost, by love unconciliation; feigned,

19 To wit, that God was in 7 By the word of truth, by Christ, reconciling the world the power of God, by the arunto himself, not imputing their mour of righteousness on the trespasses unto them; and hath right hand and on the left, committed unto as the word of 8 By honour and dishonour, reconciliation. by evil report and good report;

20 Now then we are ambas-as deceivers, and yet true; sadors for Christ, as though 9 As unknown, and yet well God did beseech you by us: we known; as dying, and behold, pray you in Christ's stead, be we live; as chastened, and not ye reconciled to God. killed ;

21 For he hath made him 10 As sorrowful, yet always to be sin for us, who knew no rejoicing; as poor, yet making sin; that we might be made many rich; as having nothing, the righteousness of God in and yet possessing all things. 11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth

him.

Purity of life recommended. CHAP. VII.

Good effect of godly sorrow

is open unto you, our heart is no man, we have defrauded no enlarged.

man.

12 Ye are not straitened in 3 I speak not this to condemn us, but ye are straitened in your you: for I have said before, that own bowels. ye are in our hearts to die and

13 Now for a recompense in live with you. the same (I speak as unto my 4 Great is my boldness of children,) be ye also enlarged. speech toward you, great is my

14 Be ye not unequally yoked glorying of you: I am filled with together with unbelievers: for comfort, I am exceeding joyful what fellowship hath righteous- in all our tribulation. ness with unrighteousness? and 5 For, when we were come what communion hath light with into Macedonia, our flesh had darkness? no rest, but we were troubled 15 And what concord hath on every side; without were Christ with Belial? or what part fightings, within were fears. hath he that believeth with an 6 Nevertheless God, that cominfidel? forteth those that are cast down, 16 And what agreement hath comforted us by the coming of the temple of God with idols? Titus ;

for ye are the temple of the 7 And not by his coming only, living God; as God hath said, but by the consolation whereI will dwell in them, and walk with he was comforted in you, in them; and I will be their God, when he told us your earnest and they shall be my people. desire, your mourning, your fer17 Wherefore come out from vent mind toward me; so that among them, and be ye separate, I rejoiced the more. saith the Lord, and touch not 8 For though I made you the unclean thing; and I will sorry with a letter, I do not receive you; repent, though I did repent: for 18 And will be a Father unto I perceive that the same epistle you, and ye shall be my sons hath made you sorry, though it and daughters, saith the Lord were but for a season. Almighty.

CHAP. VII.

Exhortations to purity.

9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye

AVING therefore these pro- were made sorry after a godly mises, dearly beloved, let us manner, that ye might receive cleanse ourselves from all filthi- damage by us in nothing. ness of the flesh and spirit, per- 10 For godly sorrow worketh fecting holiness in the fear of God. repentance to salvation not to be

2 Receive us; we have wrong- repented of: but the sorrow of ed no man, we have corrupted the world worketh death.

The apostle praiseth the II. CORINTHIANS, liberality of the Macedonians:

11 For behold this self-same of affliction, the abundance of thing, that ye sorrowed after a their joy, and their deep poverty, godly sort, what carefulness it abounded unto the riches of wrought in you, yea, what clear- their liberality.

ing of yourselves, yea, what in- 3 For to their power, I bear dignation, yea, what fear, yea, record, yea, and beyond their what vehement desire, yea, what power, they were willing of themzeal, yea, what revenge! In all selves;

things ye have approved your- 4 Praying us with much enselves to be clear in this matter. treaty, that we would receive 12 Wherefore, though I wrote the gift, and take upon us the unto you, I did it not for his fellowship of the ministering to cause that had done the wrong, the saints.

nor for his cause that suffered 5 And this they did, not as we wrong, but that our care for you hoped, but first gave their own in the sight of God might appear selves to the Lord, and unto us unto you. by the will of God: 13 Therefore we were com6 Insomuch that we desired forted in your comfort: yea, and Titus, that as he had begun, so exceedingly the more joyed we he would also finish in you the for the joy of Titus, because his same grace also.

spirit was refreshed by you all. 7 Therefore, as ye abound in

14 For if I have boasted any every thing, in faith, and utterthing to him of you, I am not ance, and knowledge, and in all ashamed; but as we spake all diligence, and in your love to things to you in truth, even so us, see that ye abound in this our boasting, which I made be- grace also. fore Titus, is found a truth.

8 I speak not by command15 And his inward affection ment, but by occasion of the is more abundant toward you, forwardness of others, and to whilst he remembereth the obe-prove the sincerity of your love. dience of you all, how with fear 9 For ye know the grace of and trembling ye received him. our Lord Jesus Christ, that 16 I rejoice therefore that I though he was rich, yet for your have confidence in you in all sakes he became poor, that ye things. through his poverty might be rich.

CHAP. VIII.

Paul exhorteth to liberality.

MOR

10 And herein I give my OREOVER, brethren, we advice: for this is expedient for do you to wit of the grace you, who have begun before, of God bestowed on the church-not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

es of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial 11 Now therefore perform the