putings, 15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, faultless in the midst of a froward and perverse nation, among whom shine ye as elevated lights in the world, 16. Holding fast the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain. 17. For if I should even be offered up as a sacrifice, having my blood poured forth as a drinkoffering, on the ministrating to your faith, I rejoice and congratulate you all therein. 18. For the same cause also rejoice ye, and be joyful with me.

19. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly to you, that I may be comforted when I know your state. 20. For I have no man likeminded who will sincerely care for your affairs. 21. For all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. 22. But ye know the proof of him, that as a son with the father, he served with me in the gospel.

23. I hope therefore to send him presently, as soon as I shall see how it will go with me. 24. But I trust in the Lord to come shortly also myself.

25. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and companion in labour, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger to me, who ministered to my wants. 26. For he longed after you all, and was grieved, because ye heard he was sick. 27. And indeed he was sick nigh to death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28. I sent him, therefore, the more carefully, that seeing him again ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

29. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in high estimation. 30. Because for the work of Christ he was near to death, having hazarded his life, to supply the remainder of your service to me.

CHAP. III.

PAUL WARNETH OF FALSE TEACHERS.

་

FINALLY, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things (which I spoke) to you, is not grievous to me, and it is safe for you.

2. Beware of (dogmatic) dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision, (of schismatics). 3. For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, (in forms, or the externals of religion). 4. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinketh_he hath whereof to trust in it, I have more; 5. Circumcised the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, (by both father and mother); according to the law, a Pharisee; 6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness of the ceremonial law, blameless. 7. But what things were once gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8. Yea, doubtless, indeed, I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowlede of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as dross that I may win Christ, 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the ritual law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith; 10. Savingly to know him, and the power of his resurrec tion, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death, (Gal. vi. 14.) 11. If by any means I may attain to the first resurrec tion of the dead, (Acts xxiv. 15. John v. 29. 1 Thess. iv. 16.), 12. Not as though I had already attained to all, or were already perfected, but I follow after, if I may apprehend that for which also Į am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13. Brethren, I count not myself to have attained;

but this one thing I can say, forgetting the things behind, and stretching forth to those before, 14. I press toward the mark, for the prize of the hea venly calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15. Let us, therefore, as many as seek to be perfect, be of this mind; and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even that to you. 16. However as far as we have attained, let us walk therein, and mind the same thing.

17. Brethren, be imitators of me, and mark them who walk so, as ye have us for an example. 18. For many, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19. Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and who glory in their shame, who mind earthly things. 20. But we live as citizens of heaven, whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21. Who shall transform our vile body, and fashion it like to his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.

CHAP. IV.

ADMONITIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS.

THEREFORE, my brethren, dearly beloved and greatly desired, my joy and crown, thus stand fast in the (Lord's work) my dearly beloved. 2. I beseech Euodias, and Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the (Lord's work). 3. I entreat thee also, true Syzygus, help those women who laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and my other fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of

life.

4. Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice. 5. Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is near, (Rev. xxii. 12.) 6. Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by

prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known before God. 7. And the peace of God, which far surpasseth all compre hension, shall keep your hearts and minds thro' Christ Jesus.

tent.

8. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are friendly, whatever things are of good report; think on these things, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise in them. 9. Those things which ye have learned and received, and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you. 10. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last your care of me revived, wherein ye were indeed careful before, but wanted opportunity. 11. Not that I speak of want; for I learned, in every state and condition, to be con12. I know both how to be brought low, and how to abound: every where and in all things, I learned both to be full and hungry, to abound and to want. 13. I can do all things thro' Christ strengthening me. 14. Yet ye did well to contribute to the relief of my afflictions. 15. For ye, Philippians, well know, that in the beginning of the gospel to you, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me, concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again relief to my necessity. 17. Not that I desire a gift: but that fruit may abound to your account. But I have received all and abound; I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things sent from you, an odour of a sweet savour, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19. But my God shall supply all your wants, according to his riches in goodness, by Christ Jesus.

18.

20. Now, to our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The

21. Salute every man in Christ Jesus. brethren who are with me greet you. 22. All the saints salute you, chiefly they of Cesar's household. 23. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Written to the Philippians from Rome, by
Epaphroditus.

ST. PAUL'S EPISTLE TO THE

COLOSSIANS.

CHAP. I.

FAITH IN CHRIST RECOMMENDED.

PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2. To the holy and faithful brethren in the church of Christ at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4. Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of your love to all the saints, 5. For the hope of what is laid up for you in heaven; whereof ye heard before in the true word of the gospel; 6. Which is come to you, as it is into all the world; and brings forth fruit, and increaseth, since the day ye heard it, and truly knew the grace of God: 7. As ye also learned of Epaphras, our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8. Who also declared unto us your love in the (union of the) Spirit.

9. For this cause also, since the day we heard it, we cease not to pray for you, and desire ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in al