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 frùit, 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 Lòrd unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Il 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 invisible Gòd, the first-born of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vísible and invisible, whether they be thrónes, or domínions, or príncipalities, or powers: all -things were created by him, and for him : 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist,

DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST'S COMING.

1 THESSALONIANS V.-1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep,

I THESSALONIANS V, I TIMOTHY VI.

245 as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore, comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concern

ing you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

PAUL'S CHARGE TO TIMOTHY.

1 TIMOTHY VI.-13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spòt, unrebùkable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto: whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

21*

PAUL'S SOLEMN

CHARGE TO TIMOTHY.

2 TIMOTHY IV.-1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, òut of season; repròve, rebùke, exhòrt with all long-suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day and not to mè only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

OF FAITH, AND ITS

FRUIT S.

:

HEBREWS XI.- -1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen: 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Càin, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Nòah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear,

prepared an àrk to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is Gòd. 11 Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea-shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have retùrned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a cìty. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten sòn, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bònes. 23 By faith Mòses, when he was born, was hìd three months of his pàrents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. 24 By faith Móses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son Pharaoh's daughter; 25

33

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season ; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in 'Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the pássover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the first-born should touch them. 29 By faíth they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egytians assaying to do, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I say more? for the time would fail me to tell of Gédion, and of Bárak, and of Sámson, and of Jéphthae, of Dávid also, and Sámuel, and of the prophets : Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mòckings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisònment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asùnder, were tèmpted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in shéep-skins, and goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy :) they wandered in desérts, and in mountains, and in déns and cáves of the earth. 39 And these all having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.