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

whether we be sober, it is for

your cause.

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus

CHAP. VI.

Paul's faithfulness in the ministry.

WE then, as workers to

gether with him, beseech

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 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

more.

new.

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watch

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 us 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. 110 ye Corinthians, our mouth

him.

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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

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15 And what concord hath on Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth 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 fer

17 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.

unto you.

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 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

CHAP. VIII.

Paul exhorteth to liberality.

MOR

rich.

10 And herein I give my OREOVER, brethren, we advice: for this is expedient for 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

CHAP. IX.

He commendeth Titus ; and exhorteth to charity. doing of it; that as there was 21 Providing for honest things, a readiness to will, so there may not only in the sight of the Lord, be a performance also out of but also in the sight of men. that which ye have. 22 And we have sent with

not.

12 For if there be first a them our brother, whom we willing mind, it is accepted ac- have often times proved diligent cording to that a man hath, and in many things, but now much not according to that he hath more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. 13 For I mean not that other 23 Whether any do inquire men be eased, and you burdened: of Titus, he is my partner and 14 But by an equality, that fellow-helper concerning you: now at this time your abundance or our brethren be inquired of, may be a supply for their want, they are the messengers of the that their abundance also may churches, and the glory of be a supply for your want: that Christ.

there may be equality:

24 Wherefore shew ye to

15 As it is written, He that them, and before the churches, had gathered much had nothing the proof of your love, and of over; and he that had gathered our boasting on your behalf. little had no lack.

16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

F

CHAP. IX

Bountifulness recommended. NOR as touching the ministering to the saints, it is 17 For indeed he accepted superfluous for me to write to the exhortation; but being more you:

forward, of his own accord he 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast

went unto you.

18 And we have sent with of you to them of Macedonia, him the brother, whose praise that Achaia was ready a year is in the gospel throughout all ago; and your zeal hath prothe churches; voked very many.

19 And not that only, but 3 Yet have I sent the brethren, who was also chosen of the lest our boasting of you should churches to travel with us with be in vain in this behalf; that, this grace, which is administered as I said, ye may be ready: by us to the glory of the same 4 Lest haply if they of MaceLord, and declaration of your donia come with me, and find ready mind: you uprepared, we (that we say 20 Avoiding this, that no not, ye) should be ashamed in man should blame us in this this same confident boasting. abundance which is administer- 5 Therefore I thought it ed by us : necessary to exhort the breth

Of bounty to the saints. II. CORINTHIANS,

Paul's spiritual power. ren, that they would go be- tion unto the gospel of Christ, be-tion fore unto you, and make up be- and for your liberal distribution forehand your bounty, whereof unto them, and unto all men ; ye had notice before, that the 14 And by their prayer for same might be ready, as a mat- you, which long after you, for ter of bounty, and not as of the exceeding grace of God in covetousness. you.

6 But this I say, He which 15 Thanks be unto God for soweth sparingly, shall reap also his unspeakable gift. sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully.

CHAP. X.
Of Paul's spiritual might.

7 Every man according as NOW I Paul myself beseech

you, by the meekness and he purposeth in his heart, so let gentleness of Christ, who in him give; not grudgingly, or of presence am base among you, necessity for God loveth a but being absent am bold toward cheerful giver.

you:

8 And God is able to make all 2 But I beseech you, that I grace abound toward you; that may not be bold when I am ye, always having all sufficiency present with that confidence, in all things, may abound to wherewith I think to be bold every good work : against some, which think of us 9 (As it is written, He hath as if we walked according to dispersed abroad; he hath given the flesh.

to the poor: his righteousness 3 For though we walk in the remaineth for ever. flesh, we do not war after the

10 Now, he that ministereth flesh: seed to the sower, both minister 4 (For the weapons of our bread for your food, and multi-warfare are are not carnal, but ply your seed sown, and increase mighty through God to the the fruits of your righteousness;) pulling down of strong holds ;)

11 Being enriched in every 5 Casting down imaginations, thing to all bountifulness, which and every high thing that excauseth through us thanksgiving alteth itself against the knowto God. ledge of God, and bringing into

12 For the administration of captivity every thought to the this service not only supplieth obedience of Christ; the want of the saints, but is 6 And having in a readiness to abundant also by many thanks- revenge all disobedience, when givings unto God; your obedience is fulfilled.

13 While by the experiment 7 Do ye look on things after of this ministration they glorify the outward appearance? God for your professed subjec- any man trust to himself that he

If

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