Part 9

47:012:001 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

47:012:002 I knew a man in Christ above 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.

47:012:003 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

47:012:004 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

47:012:005 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

47:012:006 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.

47:012:007 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

47:012:008 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

47:012:009 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.

47:012:010 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.

47:012:011 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.

47:012:012 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

47:012:013 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

47:012:014 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.

47:012:015 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

47:012:016 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

47:012:017 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

47:012:018 I desired 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?

47:012:019 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.

47:012:020 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

47:012:021 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

47:013:001 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

47:013:002 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

47:013:003 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

47:013:004 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

47:013:005 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

47:013:006 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

47:013:007 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.