Letters to the Churches

And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and saluation, which is wrought in the induring of the same sufferings, which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and saluation.

And our hope is stedfast concerning you, in as much as we know that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

For brethren, we woulde not haue you ignorant of our affliction, which came vnto vs in Asia, howe we were pressed out of measure passing strength, so that we altogether doubted, euen of life.

Yea, we receiued the sentence of death in our selues, because we shoulde not trust in our selues, but in God, which rayseth the dead.

Who deliuered vs from so great a death, and doeth deliuer vs: in whom we trust, that yet hereafter he will deliuer vs,

So that ye labour together in prayer for vs, that for the gift bestowed vpon vs for many, thankes may be giuen by many persons for vs.

For our reioycing is this, the testimonie of our conscience, that in simplicitie and godly purenesse, and not in fleshly wisedome, but by the grace of God wee haue had our conuersation in the worlde, and most of all to you wardes.

For wee write none other thinges vnto you, then that ye reade or els that ye acknowledge, and I trust ye shall acknowledge vnto ye end.

Euen as ye haue acknowledged vs partly, that we are your reioycing, euen as ye are ours, in the day of our Lord Iesus.

And in this confidence was I minded first to come vnto you, that ye might haue had a double grace,

And to passe by you into Macedonia, and to come againe out of Macedonia vnto you, and to be led foorth towarde Iudea of you.

When I therefore was thus minded, did I vse lightnesse? or minde I those thinges which I minde, according to the flesh, that with me should be, Yea, yea, and Nay, nay?

Yea, God is faithfull, that our worde towarde you was not Yea, and Nay.

For the Sonne of God Iesus Christ, who was preached among you by vs, that is, by me, and Siluanus, and Timotheus, was not Yea, and Nay: but in him it was Yea.

For all the promises of God in him are Yea, and are in him Amen, vnto the glorie of God through vs.

And it is God which stablisheth vs with you in Christ, and hath anoynted vs.

Who hath also sealed vs, and hath giuen the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Nowe, I call God for a recorde vnto my soule, that to spare you, I came not as yet vnto Corinthus.

Not that wee haue dominion ouer your faith, but wee are helpers of your ioy: for by faith yee stande.

Bvt I determined thus in my selfe, that I would not come againe to you in heauinesse.

For if I make you sorie, who is he then that shoulde make me glad, but ye same which is made sorie by me?

And I wrote this same thing vnto you, lest when I came, I should take heauines of them, of whom I ought to reioyce: this confidence haue I in you all, that my ioye is the ioye of you all.

For in great affliction, and anguish of heart I wrote vnto you with many teares: not that yee should be made sorie, but that ye might perceiue the loue which I haue, specially vnto you.

And if any hath caused sorowe, the same hath not made mee sorie, but partly (lest I should more charge him) you all.

It is sufficient vnto the same man, that hee was rebuked of many.