spiritual wisdom and understanding; 10. To walk worthy of the Lord in all that is pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; 12. Giving thanks to the Father, who hath prepared us to partake of the inheritance of the saints in glory. 13. Who delivered us from the power of darkness, (ignorance and wickedness), and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son; 14. By whose blood we have redemption, even the for giveness of sins; 15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the Prince of all the creation; 16. For by him were all things created in heaven, and in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities or powers; all things were created by him, and for him; 17. And he was before all things, and by him all things consist; 18. And he is the head of the body, the church, and the chief, and the author of the resurrection; in all things having the preeminence; 19. For it pleased the Father, that he should possess all fulness; 20. And having made peace thro' his blood shed on the cross, to reconcile all things to himself; by him, I say, whether things on earth, or in heaven.

21. And you that were formerly aliens and enemies in your minds by wicked works, hath he now reconciled, 22. In his corporeal body by death, to present you holy, unblemished, and unreproachable in his sight, 23. If ye continue grounded and steadfast in the faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature under heaven; whereof Ï Paul am made a minister; 24. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is wanting of the afflictions of Christ, even the remains he enjoined for his body's

sake, the church, (Acts ix. 4.) 25. Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God, given to me for you, fully to preach the word of God; 26. The mystery hid from ages and generations, but now inade manifest to his saints: 27. To whom God would make known the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is, Christ in you (by his grace) the hope of glory; 28. Whom we preach, warning, and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every one perfect in Christ Jesus; 29. Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working in me mightily.

CHAP. II.

OF VAIN TRADITIONS.

Now I would have you know what great care I have for you, and them at Laodicea, and whoever have not seen my face in the flesh; 2. That their hearts might be comforted, being united in love, and having a full and certain persuasion of the riches of the grace of the gospel, to the acknowledgment of that mystery of God, even the Father, and of Christ; 3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4. Now this I say, that none may deceive you with enticing words. 5. For tho' I be absent in the flesh, yet in spirit I am with you, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6. Therefore as ye have received the faith of Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, (even as he walked); 7. Rooted and built up in him, even in the faith, as ye have been taught, and abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8. Beware lest any spoil you by a false and deceitful philosophy, according to the tradition of men, (whether Jews or Gentiles), and the elements 3 N

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of the world, (literary or ceremonial), but not according to Christ; 9. For in him, (in his human nature, as a temple), dwells all the fulness of the Divinity substantially. 10. And ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and power; 11. Thro' whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the sins of the carnal body, in the circumcision Christ enjoins. 12. Buried with him in baptism, whence also ye are risen with him thro' the faith of the operation of God, who raised him from the dead. (Rom. vi. 4.) 13. And you, being dead in your sins, (or under their dominion), and the uncircumcision (or pollution of the lusts) of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven all our trespasses; 14. Having blotted out, with respect to us, the hand-writing of Jewish ordinances, which was against us, (Acts xv. 10.) and taken it away, nailing it to his cross, (whereby he hath cancelled it, Eph. ii. 14.) 15. And having spoiled diabolic principalities and powers, he made a triumphant spectacle of them openly, triumphing over them in the cross, (as his victorious chariot of war).

16. Therefore, let no man judge you with regard to meat or drink, (forbidden by the ceremonial law), or with respect to a festival, or a new-moon, or Jewish (ritual) sabbaths; 17. Which were a shadow of good things to come; but the body (and substance they prefigured) is in the gospel of Christ.

18. Let none (who may desire it) deprive you of your reward, by an affected humility, and the worship of angels, intruding into what he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his carnal (sensual) mind; 19. And not holding by (Christ) the head, from whom the whole body (of the church), being supplied and connected by (the union of) joints and bands, increase to the highest degree in grace.

20. If ye have died with Christ, (as in baptism

ye profess to be) to the elements of the world, (ceremonies and rites), why, as if ye were living in (such ages and places of) the world, do ye meddle with these appointments, 21. Touch not, taste not, handle not, 22. All which things tend to corrupt the gospel (by the abuse thereof), according to the commands and doctrines of men? 23. Which things have indeed a pretence of wisdom in will-worship, and voluntary humility, and severity to the body, to the dishonourable satisfying of the flesh, (and sensual fancy).

CHAP. III.

OF SEEKING CHRIST.

IF ye then be risen with Christ (from the death in sin, to the spiritual life), seek the things above, where Christ sits at God's right hand. 2. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. 3. For ye are dead (to sin and the world, being delivered from their power), and your (new) life is hid (from the world) with Christ in God. 4. When Christ, who is (the author of) our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

8.

5. Therefore, mortify (those lusts that dwell in) your members on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desires, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6. For which things God's wrath comes on the disobedient; 7. Among whom ye also once walked, when ye lived among them. But now ye also put away all these, rage, resentment, malice, blasphemy, lewd conversation, out of your mouth. 9. Lie not one to another, seeing ye have put off the old man, (the corrupt disposition), with his evil deeds; 10. And have put on the new man, (the good disposition and conduct), renewed by knowledge, after his image who created him: 11. Where there is no distinction between Gen

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tiles and Jews, the uncircumcised and the circumcised, Barbarians, Scythians, the slave, and the free man; but Christ is (the Saviour of) all, and (rules) in all.

12. Put on, therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and beloved, bowels. of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; 13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14. But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of all perfection. 15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, into which also ye are called in one body (or church), and be ye thankful. 16. Let 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. 17. And whatever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, even the Father, through him.

18. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fit, in the Lord. 19. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20. Children, obey your parents in all things law. ful; for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21. Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged. 22. Servants, obey your earthly masters in all things lawful; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23. And whatever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men; 24. Knowing that you shall receive from the Lord the recompence of an inheritance (in heaven); for ye (herein) serve the Lord Christ. 25. But he that doeth wrong shall receive its punishment; for there is no respect of persons.

CHAP. IV.

EXHORTATIONS AND SALUTATIONS.

MASTERS, do to your servants justice and equity: