CHAP. XII.

1 For commending of his apostleship, though he might glory of his wonderful revelations, 9 yet he rather chooseth to glory of his infir mities, 11 blaming them for forcing him to this vain boasting: 14 he promiseth to come to them again: but yet altogether in the affection of a father, 20 although he feareth he shall to his grief find many offenders, and public disorders there.

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IT is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will 2 come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew3 a man in Christ about fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth ;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth ;)

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4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter,

5 Of such a one5 will I glory: yet of myself. I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

'But it is. Ham. A. V. I know. Ham.

Nevertheless I will. Co. Dod. Gr. for I will.

possible. A. V. 5 such manner of things. Wi.

The disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

CHAP. XII.

a ROM. xvi. 7: Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 2 COR. v. 17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. GAL. 1. 22: And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judæa which were in Christ.

ACTs, xxii. 17: And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance.

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LUKE, Xxiii. 43: And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. REV. ii. 7: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. d2 COR. xi. 30. See on 1 COR. ii. 3.

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

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7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, themessenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

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8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

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9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my 'infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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6 * greatness of. Rh.

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7 dwell in. Co. Ma. Cr. Bi. Rh.

2 COR. x. 8: Though I should boast somewhat more of our authority-I should not be ashamed. do. xi. 16.

EZEK. xxviii. 24: There shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord Gon. GAL. iv. 13, 14: Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the Gospel unto you at the first. My temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

8 JOB, ii. 7:. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. LUKE, xiii. 16: And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

DEUT. iii. 23, &c: I besought the LORD at that time, saying, O Lord, &c. MAT. xxvi. 44: He left. them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. iSee on 1 Cor. x. 13.

*ISA. xl. 29: He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Ver. 5. 2.COR. xi. 30.

" 1 PET. iv. 14: If ye be reproached for the name of Christ,

10 Therefore I take "pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

" See on Acтs, v. 41.

2 COR. xiii. 4.

P 2 COR. xi. 1, 16, 17.

42 COR. xi. 5: GAL. ii. 68: Who seemed to be somewhat, whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me : God accepteth no man's person for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: but contrariwise, when they saw that the Gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the Gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (for he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.) LUKE, xvii. 10: So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. 1 Cor. iii. 7: So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. do. iv. 9: I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death. do. xv. 8, 9: Last of all he was seen of me also, as of one bom. out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet sto obe called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. EPH. iii. 8: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given. 1 TIM. i. 13, 15: Who was before a blas-phemer, and a persecutor. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1 ROM. xv. 18, 19: I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. See on $2 Cor. iv. 2.

13 For what is it wherein you were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not "burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

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15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

8 Gr. for your souls. A. V.

t 1 Cor. i. 7: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

u 1 Cor. ix. 12: If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ. See on ACTS, xviii. 3.

v 2 COR. xi. 7.

w 2 COR. xiii. 1.

* 1 COR. x. 33: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. 1 THES. ii. 8: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. See on ACTS, xviii. 3, and do xx. 33.

y 1 Cor. iv. 14, 15: I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel.

JOHN, X. 11: The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. PHI. ii. 17: Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 1 THES. ii. 8: Being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

a2 COR. i. 6: Whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation. COL. i. 24: Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the Church. 2 TIM. ii. 10: I endure all things for the elect's sake.

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2 COR. vi. 12, 13: Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are

16 But be it so, I did not burden you : nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

18 I desired 10 Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

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20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be i found unto you such as ye would not lest there be debates, 12 envyings, wraths, strifes, *backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

21 And lest, when I come again, my God 1 will humble me among you, and that I shall

9 Did I make a prey of you? Dod. 10 persuaded, or besought. Ham. 11 I. Ma. 12 contention. Dod.

straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

12 COR. v. 12: We commend not ourselves again unto you. 8.2 COR. xi. 31. See on Roм. i. 9.

See on Roм. xiv. 19.

12 COR. xiii. 2, 10. See on 2 Cor. i. 23.

*Lev. xix. 16: Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people. Ps. xv. 3: He that backbiteth not with his tongue [shall abide in the tabernacle of the Lord]. do. 1. 20: Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. do. ci. 5: Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off. PRO. X. 18: He that uttereth slander is a fool. do. xxv. 23: The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. Rom. i. 30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful.

12 COR. ii. 1, 4: But I determined this with myself, that I