The Epistle of PAUL, the Apostle, to

TITUS.

[Written from Macedonia, A. D. 56.]

L-PAUL, a servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, (according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledgment of the truth, 2 which is according to godliness;-in hope of eternal life, which God, 3 who cannot lie, promised before the times of the ages;-who has now manifested his word, at the proper season, by the proclamation with which I am entrusted, according to the appointment of God our Saviour;) 4 to Titus, my genuine son, according to the common faith: Favor, mer cy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

For this purpose, I left you in Crete, that you might set in order the things left unfinished, and to ordain seniors in every city, as 1 com. 6 manded you. If any one be without blame, the husband of one wife, having believing children, not accused of riotous living, nor unruly.7 For a bishop should be blameless; as the steward of God; not self-willed, not prone to anger, not given to wine, not a striker, not one who makes 8 gain by base methods; but hospitable; a lover of good men, prudent, 9 just, holy, temperate; holding fast the true doctrine, as he has been taught; that he may be able by wholesome teaching, both to exhort and 10 to confute the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and foolish talk

ers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths 11 must be stopped; who subvert whole families, teaching things which 12 they ought not for the sake of sordid gain. One of themselves, a proph

et of their own, has said, "The Cretans are always liars, evil wild 13 beasts, lazy bodies." This testimony is true; for which cause rebuke them 14 sharply, that they may be healthy in the faith,-not giving heed to Jew. 15 ish fables, and precepts of men who pervert the truth. To the pure, all meats are pure; but to the polluted and unbelieving, nothing is pure; for 16 both their understanding and conscience are polluted. They profess to know God; but by works they deny him, being abominable and disobe dient, and to every good work reprobate.

II.-But do you inculcate the things, which become wholesome doc 2 trine: that aged men be vigilant, grave, prudent, healthy by faith, love, 3 patience. That aged women, in like manner, be in deportment as be comes sacred persons;-not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, good 4 teachers; that they may persuade the young women to be lovers of their 5 husbands, lovers of their children;-to be calm, chaste, careful of their families, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may 6 not be defamed.-The young men in like manner exhort to govern their 7 passions. In all things make yourself a pattern of good works: in teach 8 ing show incorruptness, gravity, wholesome speech which cannot be condemned; that he, who is on the opposite side, may be ashamed, bay. 9 ing nothing bad to say concerning you. Exhort servants to be subject to their own masters, and in all things to be careful to please, not answer 10 ing again, not secretly stealing, but showing all good fidelity, that they 11 may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the favor 12 of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, 13 righteously, and godly, in this present world;-expecting the blessed hope, namely, the appearing of the glory of the great God, and of our Sa 14 viour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of

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15 good works. These things inculcate, and exhort and reprove with all authority; let no one despise you.

III.-Put them in mind to be subject to governments and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work; to speak evil of no one; 3 to be no fighters, but equitable, showing all meekness to all men. For even we ourselves were formerly foolish, disobedient, erring, slavishly serving divers inordinate desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the goodness and phi6 lanthropy of God'our Saviour shone forth, he saved us,-not on account of works of righteousness which we had done,-but according to his own mercy, throught the bath of regeneration, and the renewing of the 6 Holy Spirit; which he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our 7 Saviour: that being justified by his favor, we might be made heirs ac. 8 cording to the hope of eternal life. This doctrine is true: and concerning these, I charge you to affirm strongly, that those who have believed in God, be studious to stand foremost in good works;-These are the 9 things that are honorable and profitable to men. But foolish questions, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about the law, resist; for they 10 are unprofitable and vain. A factionist, after a first and second admoni 11 tion, reject; knowing that such a person is perverted, and sins, being 12 self-condemned. When I shall send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, make

haste to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there. 13 Diligently help forward on their journey, Zenas, the lawyer, and Apol 14 los, that nothing may be wanting to them. And let ours also learn to stand foremost in good works, for necessary uses, that they may not be un15 fruitful. All who are with me salute you. Salute them who love us in the faith. Favor be with you all.

The Epistle of PAUL, the Apostle, to

PHILEMON.

[Written from Rome, A. D. 62.]

PAUL, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy the brother, to Phil 2 emon the beloved, and our fellow-laborer; and to Apphia the beloved; and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the congregation in your 3 house: Favor to you, and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, 5 (having heard of the faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and 6 of your love to all the saints,)-that the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledgment of every good thing that 7 is among us toward Christ Jesus. For we have much joy and consolation in your love; because the souls of the saints are refreshed by you, 8 brother. Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin 9 you what is fit; yet, for love's sake, I rather beseech, being such a one 10 as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech 11 you for my son, whom I have begot in my bonds, even Onesimus; who

formerly was to you unprofitable, but now will be very profitable to you, 12 even as he has been to me;-whom I have sent back: do you, therefore, 13 receive him as an object of my tenderest affection; whom I was desir.

ous to have detained with myself, that, in your stead, he might have 14 ministered to me, in these bonds for the gospel: but without your mind I would do nothing, that the good derived might not be as if by constraint, 15 but as voluntary. Perhaps also, for this reason he was separated for a 16 little while, that you might have him forever: no longer as a slave only,

but above a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me;- and how much 17 more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord! If, then, you hold me

18 as a partner, receive him as myself. And if he have injured you, in any 19 thing, or owes you, place it to my account. I, Paul, have written with my own hand-I will repay. I forbear to urge upon you, that you owe 20 to me even your ownself. I beseech you, brother, let me have joy of 21 you in the Lord;-gratify my tender affections for Christ's sake. Having confidence in your obedience, I have written to you, knowing that you 22 will even do more than I ask. But at the same time, prepare me also a lodging; for I hope, that through your prayers, I shall be granted to 23 you. These salute you, Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner for Christ Jesus; 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-laborers. The favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

The Epistle of PAUL, the Apostle, to the HEBREWS.

[Written from Rome, or Italy, A. D. 63.]

I-GOD, who in ancient times spoke often, and in various ways, to 2 the fathers, by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by a Son, whom he has constituted Lord of all things; by whom also he made the 3 universe: who, being an effulgence of his glory, and an exact represen tation of his charac er, and controlling all things by his own powerful word, after he had by himself made expiation for our sins, sat down at 4 the right hand of the Majesty on high; being exalted as far above the an5 gels, as the name he has inherited, is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did he at any time say, "Thou art my Son: today I have begotten thee"? and again, "I will be his Father, and he shall 6 be my Son"? But when he brings again the first-born into the world, he 7 says, "Let all the angels of God worship him." Whereas concerning angels, he says, "Who makes winds his angels, and flaming fire his min8 isters." But to the Son, "Thy throne, O God, endures forever. The 9 sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of rectitude. Thou hast loved right

eousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee 10 with the oil of gladness above thy associates. And, "Thou, Lord, in

the beginning didst lay the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are 11 the works of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou dost remain; and 12 they as a garment shall grow old; and as a vesture thou wilt fold them

up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same; and thy years shall 13 never fail." Moreover, to which of the angels did he say, at any time, 14 "Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thy enemies thy footstool." "Are

they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall II. inherit salvation?" (On this account, we ought to attend the more earnestly to the things which were heard; lest at any time we should let 2 them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was firm, and every trans3 gression and disobedience received a jusi retribution; how shaif we es cape if we neglect so great salvation? which beginning to be spoken by 4 the Lord, was confirmed to us by them who heard him; God also bear. ing witness, both by signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and distri5 butions of the Holy Spirit, according to his own pleasure.) Moreover, he has not subjected to the angels the world to come, of which we are 6 speaking. But one in a certain place has testified, saying. "What is man, that thou art mindful of him;-or the son of man, that thou dost 7 regard him? Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels; theu 8 hast crowned him with glory and honor, thou hast put all things under his feet." Now, by putting all things in subjection to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him: but now, we do not yet see all things sub9 jected to him; but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, that he, by the favor of God, might taste death for all; for the

10 suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor! For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, to make him, who leads many sons to glory,-even the Captain of their salvation,-perfect 11 through sufferings. For both he who sanctifies, and they who are sanctified, are all of oue father: for which cause he is not ashamed to call 12 them brethren; saying, "I will announce thy name to my brethren: in 13 the midst of the congregation I will sing praises to thee." And again,

"I will put my trust in him." And again, Behold I and the children 14 whom God has given me." Since, then, the children partook of flesh and blood; he also, in like manner, partook of these; that, through death, he might vanquish him, who had the power of death, that is, the 15 devil; and deliver them, who, through fear of death, were all their life16 time subject to bondage. For, indeed, he has not at all assumed the na17 ture of angels; but he has assumed the seed of Abrahamn. Hence, it was

necessary for him, to be made like his brethren in all things; that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest, in matters pertaining to 18 God, in order to expiate the sins of the people: for by what he suffered himself, when tried; he is able to succor them who are tried.

III. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, at tentively consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest whom we have 2 confessed; who, as well as Moses, is faithful to him that appointed him 3 over all his house. Indeed, he has been accounted worthy of glory, as

far superior to Moses, as that of the builder is superior to the house. 4 Now, every house is built by some one; but he, the builder of all things, 5 is God. And Moses, indeed, as a servant, was fa thful in all his house, 6 for a testimony of the things, that were to be spoken by him; but Christ, as a Son, over his own house;-whose house we are, if we hold fast our 7 confidence, and the rejoicing of our hope, unshaken to the end. Where8 fore, as the Holy Spirit says, "To-day, if you will hear his voice, hard

en not your hearts, as in the bitter provocation, in the day of temptation 9 in the wilderness; where your fathers tempted me, and proved me, yet 10 saw my works for forty years. Wherefore, I was displeased with that

generation, and said, They always err in heart, and they have not known 11 my ways. So I swore, in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest." 12 Brethren, take heed, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, 13 by departing from the living God. But, lest any of you be hardened,

through the deceitfulness of sin, exhort one another every day, while it 14 is called To-day: (for we are all partakers of Christ, if, indeed, we hold 15 fast the first confidence firm to the end;) with this saying, "To-day, if you

will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the bitter provocation." 16 For some, when they heard, did bitterly provoke; yet not all that came 17 out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he displeased forty years? Was it not with them who sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear, that they should not enter into his rest, but 19 to them who did not believe? So we see, that they could not enter in IV. because of unbelief. Wherefore, let us be afraid, lest a promise of entrance into his rest being left, any of you should seem to fall short 2 of it. For glad tidings have been proclaimed to us, as well as to them: but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed 3 with faith in them who heard it. For we who have believed do enter into the rest, as he said, "So I swore, in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest;" namely, from the works that were finished at the forma 4 tion of the world. For he has spoken somewhere concerning the sev enth day, thus: "And God rested on the seventh day, from all his works." And in this, again, "They shall not enter into my rest." Since, then, it remains for some to enter into it, and that they who first received the good tidings, did not enter in on account of unbelief;-again he limits a certain day, saying by David, "To-day," after so long a time; as it is said, 8 "To-day, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." For, if Joshua had caused them to rest, he would not, after that, have spoken

9 of another day. There remains, therefore, a divine rest for the people 10 of God. For he who is entered into his rest, has himself also rested 11 from his own works, like as God also rested from his. Wherefore, let

us carefully strive to enter into THIS REST, lest any one should fall af12 ter the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and 13 is a discerner of the thoughts and purposes of the heart. And there is no creature concealed from his sight, for all things are naked and open 14 to the eyes of him, to whom we must give an account. Now, having a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of 15 God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a High Priest, who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses; but one who was tried in all points, according to the likeness of his nature to ours without sin. 16 Let us, therefore, approach with boldness to the throne of favor, that we may receive mercy, and obtain favor for the purpose of seasonable help.

V.-For every high priest taken from among men, is appointed to per form for men the things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts 2 and sacrifices for sins: being able to have a right measure of compassion on the ignorant and erring: because he himself, also, is surrounded with 3 infirmity. And for that reason he must, as for the people, so also for 4 himself, offer sacrifices for sins. Now, as no one takes this honor to him5 self, but he who is called of God, as Aaron was; so also Christ did not assume to himself the honor of being a High Priest: but, he who said to 6 him, "Thou art my Son; to-day I have begotten thee,"-also says, in another place, "Thou art a Friest forever, according to the order of 7 Melchizedec." He, (who, in the days of his flesh, having, with loud cries, and with tears, offered up prayers and supplications to hini, who was able to save him from death, and was delivered from his fear,) 8 though being a Son, learned obedience by the things which he suffered 9 and being made perfect, became the author of eternal salvation to all 10 who obey him; being proclaimed by God a High Priest forever, after the 11 order of Melchizedec: (concerning whom we have much to say, and of

difficult interpretation, since you have become dull of apprehension. 12 For, when, by this time, you ought to be teachers, you have need of some one to teach you again the first elements of the oracles of God; and have 13 become such as need milk, rather than solid food. Now every one who uses milk, is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe: 14 but solid food is for those of mature age, whose faculties have been habituated by long practice to discriminate both good and evil.

VI.-Wherefore, leaving the first principles of Christian doctrine, let us progress towards maturity, not laying again the foundation conorn2 ing reformation from dead works, and faith toward God; concern.ng the doctrine of immersions, and of imposition of hands, of a resurrec 3 tion of the dead, and of eternal judgment; and this we will do, if God 4 permit. For it is impossible to renew again to reformation, those wao have been once enligh ened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and 6 have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the god 6 word of God, and the powers of the age which was to come, and yet have fallen away, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, aad exposing him to contempt.

7 For the land that drinks in the rain, which often comes upon it, and brings forth herbs, fit for them by whom it is cultivated, receives a blo 8 sing from God: but that, which produces thorns and briars, is reprobated, and nigh to a curse; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we hope better things of you, even 10 connected with salvation, though we thus speak. righteous, to forget your work, and the love which toward his name, in that you have ministered to the

things which are For God is not unyou have showed saints, and do min