courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.

II CORINTHIANS V, VI

I Corinthians iv

Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. For all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. And working together with him, we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit; in love unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour

and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

II CORINTHIANS VIII, IX

Now concerning the collection for the brethren, it is superfluous for me to write to you: for I know your readiness, whereof I glory. But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, see that ye abound in this grace also. For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of their wants, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God: seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel. I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving the sincerity of your love. For this is fitting for you, not only to do, but continually to be willing to do. Wherefore shew ye unto all the churches the proof of your love.

And this I say, brethren, not that others may be eased, and ye burdened: but for the sake of equality; your present abundance being a supply for their pressing want, that their abundance also may become a supply for that wherein ye may want; that there may be equality, even as it is written, He that gathered much had noth

ing over; and he that gathered little had no lack. But this also I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

According therefore as each of you hath prospered, as each man hath purposed in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace rebound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work: as it is writ

ten:

He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor;

His righteousness abideth for ever.

Now he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.

II CORINTHIANS XI, XII

Galatians vi

Now if any man have whereof to boast, so also have I. Whereinsoever any is bold, might I be bold also. Are they ministers of Christ? I more; in labours more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft! Of the Jews five times received I the forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice did I suffer

shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in labour and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are without, there is that which weigheth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.

But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Or if I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my weakness. And lest I should be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may rest upon me. Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake for when I am weak, then am I strong.

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL

TO THE GALATIANS

GALATIANS III, IV, V

Now I would not have you ignorant, that before the faith came, we were kept in ward under the law of commandments and ordinances, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. So that the law hath been our tutor to bring us to Christ. But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor. For in Christ Jesus ye are all sons of God through faith.

But I say that so long as he is a child, the son differeth not from a servant, though he is heir of all; but is under guardians and stewards until the term appointed of his father. Even so we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the law: but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born under the law, that he might release them that were under the law, that we might receive our inheritance as sons. And because ye are sons, God sent forth his Spirit into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So then, brethren, we are not under the law, but under grace. Yea, Christ hath made us free from the law, that we should serve, not in oldness of the letter, but in newness of the spirit.

Stand fast therefore in the freedom wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled