¶ An exhortacyon to receyue the word of God with than∣kefulnesse and amendement of lyfe. The dyligence of Paule in the Gospell, and howe he warneth them to exchewe the company of the Heythen.
CAPI. VI.
WE also as helpers exhort you that [unspec A] ye receyue not the grace of god in vayne. For he sayeth: * 1.1 I haue herde the in a tyme accepted: and in the day of saluacion, haue I suckered the. Beholde, nowe is that accepted tyme: beholde, nowe is the day of saluacyon. Let vs gyue no oc∣casyon of euyl, that in our offyce be founde no faute: but in al thinges let vs behaue our selues * 1.2 as the ministers of God.
In much paciēce, in affliccyons, in neces¦syties, [unspec B] in anguyshes, in strypes, in presonmē¦tes: in strytes: in laboures, in watchīges, in fastinges, in purenes, in knowledge, in lōge suffryng, in kyndnes, in the holy Ghoste, in loue vnfaynedly, in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armour of ryghtuous¦nes of the ryght hande & on the lefte be ho∣noure and dishonour: by euyl report & good reporte: as disceyuers, and yet true, as vn∣knowen, and yet knowē: as dying, & behold, we lyue: as chastned, & not killed: as sorow∣ing, & yet alway mery: as pore, and yet make many ryche: as hauyng nothyng, & yet pos∣sessyng al thynges.
O ye Corinthians, our mouth is opē vn∣to you. Our hert is made large: ye are in no [unspec C] strayte in vs, but are in a strayte in youre owne bowels: I promyse vnto you lyke re∣ward, as vnto chyldren. Set your selues at large, & ✚ * 1.3 beare not ye the yocke with the vnbeleuers. For what fellyshyp hath rygh∣tuousnes with vnryghtuousnes? Or what company hath lyght wyth dackenesse? * 1.4 Or what concorde hath Christe wyth Beli∣all? Eyther what parte hath he that bele∣ueth, with an infydell? Or howe agreeth the temple of God with ymages? For ye * 1.5 are the Temple of the lyuynge God, as sayde God? * 1.6 I wyll dwell amonge them, and walcke among them, and wyll be their God: and they shall be my people. Wherfore * 1.7 come out from among them, and seperate your selues from them (sayth the Lorde) and touche none vncleane thyng: so wyll I re∣ceyue you, and wil be a father vnto you, and ye shalbe my sonnes & daughters, sayth the Lorde almyghty.