Study Desk

For though I made you sorie with a letter, I repent not, though I did repent: for I perceiue that the same epistle made you sorie, though it were but for a season.

I nowe reioyce, not that ye were sorie, but that ye sorowed to repentance: for ye sorowed godly, so that in nothing ye were hurt by vs.

For godly sorowe causeth repentance vnto saluation, not to be repented of: but the worldly sorowe causeth death.

Wherefore, though I wrote vnto you, I did not it for his cause that had done the wrong, neither for his cause that had the iniurie, but that our care toward you in the sight of God might appeare vnto you.

Therefore we were comforted, because ye were comforted: but rather we reioyced much more for the ioye of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

For if that I haue boasted any thing to him of you, I haue not bene ashamed: but as I haue spoken vnto you all things in trueth, euen so our boasting vnto Titus was true.

And this they did, not as we looked for: but gaue their owne selues, first to the Lorde, and after vnto vs by the will of God,

This say I not by commaundement, but because of the diligence of others: therefore prooue I the naturalnesse of your loue.

And I shewe my minde herein: for this is expedient for you, which haue begun not to doe onely, but also to will, a yeare agoe.

Neither is it that other men should be eased and you grieued: But vpon like condition, at this time your abundance supplieth their lacke:

(And not so onely, but is also chosen of the Churches to be a fellowe in our iourney, concerning this grace that is ministred by vs vnto the glorie of the same Lorde, and declaration of your prompt minde)

Prouiding for honest thinges, not onely before the Lord, but also before men.

And we haue sent with them our brother, whom we haue oft times prooued to be diligent in many thinges, but nowe much more diligent, for the great confidence, which I haue in you.

For the ministration of this seruice not onely supplieth the necessities of the Saintes, but also aboundantly causeth many to giue thankes to God,

Nowe I Paul my selfe beseech you by the meekenes, and gentlenes of Christ, which when I am present among you am base, but am bolde toward you being absent:

(For the weapons of our warrefare are not carnall, but mightie through God, to cast downe holdes)

For the letters, sayeth hee, are sore and strong, but his bodily presence is weake, and his speache is of no value.

For wee dare not make our selues of the nomber, or to compare our selues to them, which praise themselues: but they vnderstand not that they measure themselues with themselues, and compare themselues with themselues.

But we wil not reioyce of things, which are not within our measure, but according to the measure of the line, whereof God hath distributed vnto vs a measure to attaine euen vnto you.

But let him that reioyceth, reioyce in the Lorde.