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4.
1
MAY I therefore have joy of you in all things, if I shall be worthy of it. For though I am bound, yet I am not worthy to be compared to one of you that are at liberty.
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4.
2
I know that ye are not puffed up; for ye have Jesus Christ [*175:1] in your hearts.
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4.
3
And especially when I commend you, I know that ye are ashamed, as it is written, [*175:2] The just man condemneth himself.
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4
Study therefore to be confirmed in the doctrine of our Lord, and of his Apostles; that so whatever ye do, ye may prosper both in body and spirit, in faith and charity, in the Son, and in the Father and in the Holy Spirit: in the beginning, and in the end.
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5
Together with your most worthy bishop, and the [*175:3] well-wrought spiritual crown of your presbytery, and your deacons, which are according to God.
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4.
6
Be subject to your bishop, and to one another, as Jesus Christ to the Father, according to the flesh: and the Apostles both to Christ, and to the Father, and to the Holy Ghost: that so ye may [*175:4] be united both in body and spirit.
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4.
7
[*175:5] Knowing you to be full of God, I have the more briefly exhorted you.
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4.
8
Be mindful of me in your prayers, that I may [*175:6] attain unto God, and of the Church that is in Syria, from [*175:7] which I am not worthy to be called.
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4.
9
For I stand in need of your joint prayers in God, and of your charity, that the church which is in Syria may be thought worthy to be [*175:8] nourished by your church.
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4.
10
The Ephesians [*175:9] from Smyrna salute you, from which place I write unto you: (being present here to the glory of God, in like manner as you are,) who have in all things refreshed me, together with Polycarp, the bishop of the Smyrnaeans.
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4.
11
The rest of the churches in the honour of Jesus Christ, salute you.
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4.
12
[*175:10] Farewell, and be ye strengthened in the concord of God: [*175:11] enjoying his inseparable spirit, which is Jesus Christ.
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4.
Footnotes ^175:1 In yourselves.
^175:2 Prov. xviii. 17 Sept.
^175:3 Worthily complicated.
^175:4 There may be a union both fleshly and spiritual.
^175:5 Eph. iii. 4.
^175:6 Find, enjoy.
^175:7 Whence.
^175:8 Bedewed. Vid. Epist. Inter. in loc.
^175:9 Which came to Smyrna upon my account.
^175:10 Errusthe.
^175:11 Possessing.
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