1 And you are satisfied, my
brethren, that our address to
you was not fallacious:
2 on the
contrary, notwithstanding the
outrages, you know we suffer'd
at Philippi, we had still the
resolution, by the divine assistance,
to preach the gospel of
God to you without reserve against
all opposition.
3 for our
doctrine was free from all imposture,
avarice, and fraud.
4 we
preach the gospel just as God
-- --
thought fit to intrust it with us,
not being studious to please men,
but God, who approves our sincerity.
5 our address to you was
without any flattery, as you
yourselves can witness, and God
is witness that we had no avarice
to disguise.
6 we never courted
you nor any others, from
an affectation of human applause.
instead of making our apostolical
character any ways
expensive to you, as we might;
7 we behav'd to you with a tender
regard, even as a mother, who
nurses her own children.
8 Our affection therefore to
you being so great, we were as
ready to give our lives for you,
as we were to communicate
the divine gospel to you, so
much did you engage our love.
9 for you remember, my brethren,
our labour and toil:
how we worked day and night,
that in preaching the gospel of
God, we might not be chargeable
to any of you.
10 you are
witnesses, and God is so too,
how holy, how just and irreproachable
our behaviour was
to you, who believe.
11 you likewise
know, that we exhorted
and encouraged every one of
you, as a father doth his children,
12 conjuring you to live
suitably to the favour of God,
who has called you to his kingdom
and glory.
13 nor do we
fail of giving thanks to God
-- --
continually, that, when you
received the word of God,
which we preach, you did not
receive it as the doctrine of
men, but as a doctrine that
appears to be truly divine,
by the influences it displays
in you, who believe.
14 for,
my brethren, you have followed
the example of the
christian churches in Judea;
by having suffer'd the same
persecutions from your own
nation, as the churches have
suffer'd from the Jews,
15 the
very men who have persecuted
the Lord Jesus, and the prophets
even to death; who have
persecuted us; they who are
regardless of pleasing the deity,
and are enemies to all mankind;
16 who by obstructing our
endeavours to save the Gentiles,
continue to fill up the
measure of their enormities;
for which consummate vengeance
is falling upon them.
17 As for me, my brethren,
having been so abruptly separated
from you, in person, tho'
not in affection, I have the
more ardently endeavour'd to
see you again.
18 this I Paul
have frequently attempted,
but Satan has been my obstacle.
19 for what can be our
hope, or joy, what can
crown our pretensions, unless
it be you, when we shall appear
-- --
before the Lord Jesus
Christ at his coming?
20 for
ye are our glory and our joy.
Mace [1729], THE NEW TESTAMENT IN Greek and English. Containing the ORIGINAL TEXT Corrected from the Authority of the most Authentic Manuscripts: AND A NEW VERSION Form'd agreeably to the Illustrations of the most Learned Commentators and Critics: WITH NOTES and VARIOUS READINGS, AND A Copious Alphabetical Index (Printed for J. ROBERTS [etc.], LONDON) [word count] [B11200].