due all things unto himself. Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

I BESEECH Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of 2 the same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, true yoke- 3 fellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and 4 again I say, Rejoice! Let your moderation be known unto all 5 men. The Lord is at hand: 'be careful for nothing; but in 6 every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever 8 things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things; those 9 things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

BUT I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your 10 care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: 11 for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: 12 everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need: I can do all 13 things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding, 14 ye have well done that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians, know also, that in the beginning of the gos- 15 pel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only: for 16 even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound 17 to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having 18 received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his 19 riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father 20 be glory for ever and ever! Amen.

SALUTE every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are 21 with me greet you: 'all the saints salute you; chiefly they that 22 are of Cesar's household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

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THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE

COLOSSIANS.

PAUL an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and 1 Timotheus our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in 2 Christ which are at Colosse. Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

WE give thanks to God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus 3 Christ, praying always for you, ' since we heard of your faith in 4 Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 'for 5 the hope which is laid up for you in heaven; whereof ye heard 6 before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: as ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow-7 servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ: who also 8 declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

FOR this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not 9 cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding: that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleas- 10 ing; being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his 11 glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet 12 to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who hath 13 delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemp- 14 tion, through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the 15 image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature: for 16 by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things 17 consist; and he is the head of the body, the church: who is the 18 beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence: for it pleased the Father that in 19 him should all fullness dwell; and having made peace through 20 the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

AND you, that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your 21 mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 'in the body 22 of his flesh through death; to present you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight; if ye continue in the faith 23 grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to

every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill 24 up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: whereof I am made a 25 minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God: even the mystery which 26 hath been hid from ages, and from generations; but now is made manifest to his saints, to whom God would make known what is 27 the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we preach, warning 28 every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also 29 labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

6

FOR I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, 2 and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being 2 knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, in whom are hid all the trea- 3 sures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man 4 should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be ab- 5 sent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, 'rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, 7 as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain de- 8 ceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the 9 Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head 10 of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised 11 with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh: by the circumcision of Christ, 'buried with him in baptism; wherein also ye are risen with 12 him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the 13 uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the hand- 14 writing of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having 15 spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in 16 meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy-day, or of the newmoon, or of the sabbath-days: which are a shadow of things to 17 come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of 18 your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the head, from which 19 all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Where- 20

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fore, if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not!' which all are to perish 21 with the using :) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, 23 and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are 3 above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your 2 affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye 3 are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

MORTIFY therefore your members which are upon the earth; 5 fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the 6 wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience; in the 7 which ye also walked sometime, when ye lived in them: but 8 now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth; lie not one to another, 9 seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have 10 put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: where there is neither Greek 11 nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as 12 the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; (forbearing one 13 another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.) And 14 above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the 15 which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let 16 the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And what- 17 soever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

WIVES, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit 18 in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against 19 them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well- 20 pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to 21 anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things 22 your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 'and whatso- 23 ever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men: know- 24 ing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong, 25 shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Masters, give unto your servants that which 4 is just and equal: knowing that ye also have a Master in hea

ven.

CONTINUE in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiv- 2 ing; withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a 3 door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 4 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the 5 time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, 6 that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

ALL my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a be- 7 loved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord: whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, (that he 8 might know your estate, and comfort your hearts,) with Onesi- 9 mus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here. Aris- 10 tarchus, my fellow-prisoner, saluteth you; and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas; (touching whom ye received commandments; if he come unto you, receive him;) and Jesus, which is called 11 Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, sa- 12 luteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I 13 bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved 14 physician, and Demas, greet you. Salute the brethren which 15 are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it 16 be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, 17 Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.' The salutation by the hand of me Paul. 18 Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE

THESSALONIANS.

PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the 1 Thessalonians which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

WE give thanks to God always for you all, making mention 2 of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work 3 of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, 4 brethren beloved, your election of God: for our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, 6