28 thy loss is but for a short moment. Christ is risen! The dead in Christ shall follow him in his resurrection. For as in Adam all die, even so 23 Let not your patience weary. This short life ended, you shall meet again. put under him, it is manifest come the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put For he must down all rule and all authority and power. reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed 27 Christ made all things, and is is death. 27 For he hath put Lord of all things. Death therefore all things under his feet. But could not hold him captive. when he saith, All things are that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God 29 Else may be all in all. what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? and why stand we in jeopardy 31 I protest by every hour? your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased 28 When death shall be swallowed up in victory, Jesus shall give up his mediatorial office, and shall stand forth himself-God only-the everlasting Father-God "all in ali.” 29 It is in this hope that at baptism we are taught to believe in a risen Saviour, who will raise the dead. 31 I daily jeopard my life for the Gospel sake. 32 Without this hope, we might as well at once adopt the heathen unbelief in a future state of recompense. advantageth it me, if the dead 33 How many perish from evil example! 36 St. Paul now illustrates, by a very plain yet apt comparison, his former reasoning. 39 39 He proceeds to meet the philosophical objections which mere worldly learning opposed to the doctrine, and shews their weakness. 44 He defies the philosophic doubter to deny his conclusion. The seed is confessedly sown-" bare grain." It plant. So, though man's body unis raised up, evidently, a beauteous dergoes corruption, as the seed corn does, the power which raises the one can raise the other. him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh : but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: "it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and dom of God; neither doth 1 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 31 49 49 Jesus took his raised body into heaven. Thither shall our glorified bodies also ascend. The promise is sure. blood cannot inherit the kingcorruption inherit incorruption. 51 The Sadducees and many of the false philosophers taught the miserable and awful doctrine, that death was an eternal sleep *. The clouds and shadows of heathen ignorance obscured the truth: Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, revealed it. (Mal. iv. 2.) Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 58 Christian! the work of the Lord is" to do his will in an honest and true heart" by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In that, abound. His word will guide, his Spirit comfort you. Your labour then cannot be in vain. CHAPTER XVI. 1 Now concerning the collec- 1 That is, for the Christian brethren in Judæa. 2 As Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, that day has, upon apostolical authority, been observed as the Christian Sabbath. ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me. Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia. And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go. For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit. But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. 'For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. Now if Timotheus come, see out fear for he worketh the 11 Let no man therefore despise him but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren. As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have con 9 St. Paul's long residence in the great city of Ephesus afforded a wide field for his exertions in preaching the Gospel. that he may be with you withwork of the Lord, as I also de. 11 Timothy was young. But his commission to preach the Gospel invested him with ample authority. 13 An animating charge to the soldiers of the Cross. 14 Yet let not zeal overstep your charity or mutual good will. venient time. 13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. "Let all your things be done with charity. 15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and labour 17 eth. "I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortu 15 The family of Stephanas early received the Gospel. 17 What anxiety, that nothing which prudence and forethought could supply, be wanting! natus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. For they have refreshed my spirit and your's: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such. The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. 21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Ana 21 The letter itself, though dictated by the Apostle, was written by the hand of others; the salutation by the hand of Paul himself. thema Maran-atha. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, and Timotheus. How instructive and interesting to trace the progress of the Church in its early days!-days long past, yet bearing with their memory much to strengthen our faith and confirm our hope. The same Providence which sustained the Apostles and their churches then, sustains the ministers of Christ and the people committed to their charge now. Che second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the CHAPTER I. FEB. 5, JUNE 3, Oct. 2. PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, 1 A salutation, equally pious, affectionate, and instructive. and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which 5 For as 4 If we attain not the Apostle's consolations, it is that we seek not the Apostle's God. are in any trouble by the comfort, wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 All the christian's sufferings, from those of the martyr at his stake, to the pain of self-denial in his daily walk of life, are more than recom the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual 9 pensed by the consolation which aboundeth in Christ. • St. Paul's example may well comfort and animate others. in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: but we had 9 Their daily exposure to persecuthe sentence of death in our- tion unto death, led them to trust in selves, that we should not the power and mercy of their God. trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. 12 For our rejoicing 12 What a blessed tranquillity, and is this, the testimony of our firm courage does a good conscience conscience, that in simplicity give! and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; as also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus. And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; and to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judæa. When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I pur |