The Epistle of PAUL, the Apostle, to the
COLOSSIANS.

CHAP. I.

Paul describeth the true Christ. DAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We give thanks to God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel:

6 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:

7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow-servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not 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;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the inisible God, the first-born of every

eature:

16 For by him were all things
ted, that are in heaven, and

or dominions, or principalities, powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist,

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the be ginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell:

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, br him to reconcile all things unlo himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind, by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled,

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, unblameable, and unreprovable, in his sight:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every c ture which is under heaven; where of I Paul am made a minister;

24 Who now rejoice in my f ferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictos of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

25 Whereof I am made a mini ter, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me it you, to fulfil the word of God

26 Even the mystery which ha been hid from ages, and from nerations, but now is made me fest to his saints:

27 To whom God would ma known what is the riches of t glory of this mystery among tr Gentiles; which is Christ in y the hope of glory:

28 Whom we preach, warni every man, and teaching eve man in all wisdom; that we s present every man perfect in Chris Jesus:

29 Whereunto I also labour, str ing, according to his working which worketh in me mightily. CHAP. II.

Exhortation to Constanty.

aren hart visible and in- FOR I would that ye knew wou

le, whether they be thrones,

great conflict I have for you

Ritual law abolished.
and for them at Laodicea, and for
s many as have not seen my face
the flesh;

CHAP. III. Exhortation to holiness lity and worshipping of angels, in truding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

2 That their hearts might be omforted, being knit together in ove, and unto all riches of the full ssurance of understanding, to the cknowledgment of the mystery of od, and of the Father, and of "hrist;

3 In whom are hid all the treaares of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man ould beguile you with enticing -ords.

5 For though I be absent in the sh, yet am I with you in the irit, joying and beholding your der, and the steadfastness of ur faith in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received rist Jesus the Lord, so walk ye him:

Rooted and built up in him, stablished in the faith, as ye o been taught, abounding therewith thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you ough philosophy and vain de, after the tradition of men, er the rudiments of the world, I not after Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fuls of the Godhead bodily. 0 And ye are complete in him, ich is the head of all principality power:

1 In whom also ye are circumed with the circumcision made hout hands, in putting off the ly of the sins of the flesh by the cumcision of Christ:

2 Buried with him in baptism, erein also ye are risen with him ugh the faith of the operation God, who hath raised him from dead.

3 And you, being dead in your and the uncircumcision of ir flesh, hath he quickened toher with him, having forgiven all trespasses;

4 Blotting out the hand-writing -ordinances that was against us, ich was contrary to us, and took out of the way, nailing it to his

5 And having spoiled principaes, and powers, he made a shew them openly, triumphing over m in it.

19 And not holding, the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20 Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

CHAP. III.

Exhortation to sundry Duties. ye

IF yo then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked sometime, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:.

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncir Let ro man therefore judge cumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, in meat, or in drink, or in re- bond nor free: but Christ is all, ct of a holy-day, or of the new-and in all.

on, or of the sabbath-days: 12 Put on therefore, as the elect Which are a shadow of things of God, holy and beloved, bowels ome; but the body is of Christ. of mercies, kindness, humblenes Let no man beguile you of mind, meekness, long-suffering ar reward in a voluntary humi-l 13 Forbearing one another,

Duties of nusbands, &c. COLOSSIANS. Salutations and greetings

forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against any: even as
Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put
on charity, which is the bond of
perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; 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 whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto 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: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

25 But he that doeth wrong, shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

CHAP. IV.

Fervent Prayers recommended.
ASTERS, give unto your ser-

Mvans that which is just and

equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord:

8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done

here.

10 Aristarchus,my fellow-prisoner, saluteth you; and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumersion. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto

me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand per fect and complete in all the will of God.

13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laod

ceans; and that ye likewise read

the epistle from Laodicea.

17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and One simus.

The First Epistle of PAUL, the Apostle, to the
THESSALONIANS.

CHAP. I.
History of their Conversion.
ersion.
DAUL, and Silvanus, and Timo-
theus, unto the church of the
hessalonians which is in God the
ather, and in the Lord Jesus
hrist: Grace be unto you, and
ace, from God our Father and
e Lord Jesus Christ.

2 We give thanks to God always you all, making mention of you our prayers;.

3 Remembering without ceasing ur work of faith, and labour of ve, and patience of hope in our ord Jesus Christ, in the sight of od and our Father;

Knowing, brethren beloved, ur election of God.

For our gospel came not unto u in word only, but also in wer, and in the Holy Ghost, and much assurance; as ye know at manner of men we were ong you for your sake.

And ye became followers of us, I of the Lord, having received word in much affliction, with of the Holy Ghost:

So that ye were ensamples to that believe in Macedonia and haia.

even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:

6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

11 As ye know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

For from you sounded out the 'd of the Lord not only in Maceia and Achaia, but also in ry place your faith to Godis spread abroad; so that we 13 For this cause also thank we d not to speak any thing. God without ceasing, because, For they themselves shew of when ye received the word of God vhat manner of entering in we which ye heard of us, ye received unto you, and how ye turned it not as the word of men, but (as od from idols, to serve the liv-it is in truth) the word of God, and true God; which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

And to wait for his Son from ven, whom he raised from the 1, even Jesus, which delivered rom the wrath to come.

CHAP. II.

ow they received the Gospel. OR yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that as not in vain:

But even after that we had sufd before, and were shamefully eated, as ye know, at Philippi, were bold in our God to speak you the gospel of God with h contention.

For our exhortation was not of it, nor of uncleanness, nor in e;

But as we were allowed of God e put in trust with the gospel,

14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches, of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in pre sence, not in heart, endeavoured

199

I. THESSALONIANS,

18 Wherefore we would have you, brethren, and exhort come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered

you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

5 Not in the lust of concu piscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

7 For God hath not called as unto uncleanness, but unto hol