Letters to the Churches

For though I preach the Gospel, I haue nothing to reioyce of: for necessitie is laid vpon me, and woe is vnto me, if I preach not the Gospel.

For if I do it willingly, I haue a reward, but if I do it against my will, notwithstanding the dispensation is committed vnto me.

What is my reward then? verely that when I preach the Gospel, I make the Gospel of Christ free, that I abuse not mine authoritie in ye Gospel.

For though I bee free from all men, yet haue I made my selfe seruant vnto all men, that I might winne the moe.

And vnto the Iewes, I become as a Iewe, that I may winne the Iewes: to them that are vnder the Lawe, as though I were vnder the Lawe, that I may winne them that are vnder the Lawe:

To them that are without Lawe, as though I were without Lawe, (when I am not without Lawe as pertaining to God, but am in the Lawe through Christ) that I may winne them that are without Lawe:

To the weake I become as weake, that I may winne the weake: I am made all thinges to all men, that I might by all meanes saue some.

And this I doe for the Gospels sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Knowe ye not, that they which runne in a race, runne all, yet one receiueth the price? so runne that ye may obtaine.

And euery man that proueth masteries, abstaineth from all things: and they do it to obtaine a corruptible crowne: but we for an vncorruptible.

I therefore so runne, not as vncertainely: so fight I, not as one that beateth the ayre.

But I beate downe my body, and bring it into subiection, lest by any meanes after that I haue preached to other, I my selfe should be reproued.

Moreouer, brethren, I woulde not that yee shoulde bee ignorant, that all our fathers were vnder that cloude, and all passed through that sea,

And were all baptized vnto Moses, in that cloude, and in that sea,

And did all eat the same spiritual meat,

And did all drinke the same spirituall drinke (for they dranke of the spiritual Rocke that folowed them: and the Rocke was Christ)

But with many of them God was not pleased: for they were ouerthrowen in ye wildernes.

Nowe these things are our ensamples, to the intent that we should not lust after euil things as they also lusted.

Neither bee ye idolaters as were some of them, as it is written, The people sate downe to eate and drinke, and rose vp to play.

Neither let vs commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and fell in one day three and twentie thousand.

Neither let vs tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted him, and were destroyed of serpents.

Neither murmure ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Nowe all these things came vnto them for ensamples, and were written to admonish vs, vpon whome the endes of the world are come.

Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heede lest he fall.

There hath no tentation taken you, but such as appertaine to man: and God is faithfull, which will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you be able, but wil euen giue the issue with the tentation, that ye may be able to beare it.