The .vj. Chapter.
We as helpers therefore exhort you, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. For he saith: I have heard thee in a time accepted: and in the day of health, have I succoured thee. Behold now is that well accepted time: behold now is the day of health. Let us give no man occasion of evil, that in our office be found no fault: but in all things let us behave ourselves as the ministers of God.
In much patience, in afflictions, in necessity, in anguish, in stripes, in prisonment, in strife, in labour, in watch, in fasting, in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the holy ghost, in love unfeigned, in the words of truth, in the power of God, by the armour of righteousness of the right hand and on the left hand, in honour and dishonour, in evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true, as unknown, and yet known: as dying and behold we yet live: as chastened and not killed: as sorrowing and yet alwaye merry: as poor and yet make many rich: as having no thing and yet possessing all things.
O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you. Our heart is made large: ye are not brought into cumbrance by us, though that ye vex yourselves of a true meaning. I speake unto you as unto children, which have like reward with us: Stretch yourselves therefore out. bear not the yoke with the unbelievers. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? What company hath light with darkness? What concord hath Christ with beliall? Either what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? how agreeth the temple of God with images? And ye are the temple of the living God, as said God: I will dwell among them, and walk among them, and will be their God: and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and separate yourselves (saith the lord) and touch none unclean thing: so will I receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be unto me sons and daughters, saith the lord almighty.
The .vij. Chapter.
Seeing that we have such promises derely beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and grow up to full holiness in the fear of God. Understand us: we have hurt no man: we have corrupted no man: we have defrauded no man. I speak not this to condemn you: for I have shewed you before that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. I am very bold over you, and rejoice greatly in you. I am filled with comfort, my joy exceeding in all our tribulations. For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side: Outward was fighting, inward was fear. Nevertheless he that comforteth the abject, comforted us at the coming of Titus.
And not with his coming only: but also with the consolation wherewith he was comforted of you. For he told us your desire, your mourning, your fervent mind to meward: So that I now rejoice the more. Wherefore though I made you sorry with a letter I repent not: though I did repent. For I perceive that that same Epistle made you sorry though it were but for a season. But I now rejoice, not that ye were sorry, but that ye so sorrowed, that ye repented. For ye sorrowed godly: so that in nothing were ye hurt by us. For godly sorrow causeth repentance unto health, not to be repented of: when worldly sorrow causeth death.
Behold what diligence this godly sorrow that ye took hath wrought in you: yee it caused you to clear yourselves. It caused indignation, it caused fear, it caused desire, it caused a fervent mind, it caused punishment. For in all things ye have shewed yourselves that ye were clear in that business. Wherefore though I have written unto you, I did it not for his cause that did hurt, neither for his cause that was hurt: but that our good mind which we have toward you in the sight of God, might appear unto you.
Therefore we are comforted, because ye are comforted: yee and exceedingly the more joyed we, for the joy that Titus had: because his spirit was refreshed of you all. I am therefore not now ashamed, though I boasted myself to him of you. For as all things which I preached unto you are true, even so is our boasting, that I boasted myself to Titus with all, found true. And now is his inward affection more abundant toward you, when he remembereth the obedience of every one of you: how with fear and trembling ye received him. I rejoice that I may be bold over you in all things.
The .viij. Chapter.