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¹ Invested then with such a commission, I beseech you let not the offers of divine favour be made to you in vain. ² for he saith, " I have heard thee in a favourable time, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee." now this is the favourable time; this is that day of salvation. ³ as for us, we give no occasion of offence, that our ministry may not be blamed: ⁴ but in all things I approve myself as the minister of God, by great constancy in afflictions, in torments, in distresses, from stripes, ⁵ from imprisonments, from tumults, from labours, from watchings, from penury. ⁶ I approve myself, by chastity, by knowledge, by meekness, by kindness, by sanctity of mind, by undisguised benevolence, ⁷ by the preaching of truth, by the power of God, by the arms of justice, both offensive and defensive. ⁸ in honour and disgrace, under infamy, and in repute: look'd upon as an impostor, while I say what is true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet celebrated; as dying, and yet I am alive; as chastised, but not slain; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, though always cheerful; as poor, tho' inriching many; as having nothing, though contented with every thing.

¹¹ O Corinthians, my heart is so full, my tongue cannot be silent: ¹² our affections are as enlarged towards you, as yours are contracted towards us. ¹³ I address myself to you as a parent, be not you wanting in the returns of filial respect to me. ¹⁴ Are you not become associates with infidels? but what affinity is there between virtue and vice? and what communication has light with darkness? ¹⁵ what concord can Christ maintain with Belial? what concern has a believer with an infidel? ¹⁶ and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God has said , "I will dwell with, and walk among them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ wherefore come out from among them, be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, ¹⁸ I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."