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3.
1
THE prince of this world would fain carry me away, and corrupt [*181:12] my resolution towards my God. Let none of you [*181:13] therefore help [*181:14] him: Rather do ye join with me, that is, with God.
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3.
2
Do not speak with Jesus Christ, and yet covet the world. Let not any envy dwell with you; No not though I myself when I shall be come unto you, should exhort you to it, yet do not ye hearken to me; but rather believe what I now write to you.
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3.
3
For though I am alive, at the writing this, yet my desire is to die. My love is crucified; [*181:15] (and the [*181:16] fire that is within me does not desire any water; but being alive and [*181:17] springing within me, says,) Come to the Father.
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3.
4
I take no pleasure in the food of corruption, nor in the pleasures of this life.
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3.
5
I desire the bread of God [*181:18] which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, ( [*181:19] of the seed of David; and the drink that I long for) is his blood, which is incorruptible love. [*181:20]
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3.
6
I have no desire to live any longer after the manner of men, [*181:21] neither shall I, if you consent. Be ye therefore willing, that ye yourselves also may be [*181:22] pleasing to God. I [*181:23] exhort you [*181:24] in a few words; I pray you believe me.
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3.
7
Jesus Christ will shew you that I speak truly. My mouth is without deceit, and the Father hath truly spoken [*181:25] by it. Pray therefore for me, that I may accomplish what I desire.
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3.
8
I have not written to you after the flesh, but according to the will of God. If I shall suffer, [*181:26] ye have loved me; but if I shall be rejected, [*182:1] ye have hated me.
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3.
9
Remember in your prayers the church of Syria, which now enjoys God for its shepherd instead of me: [*182:2] Let Jesus Christ only [*182:3] oversee it, and your charity.
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3.
10
But I am even ashamed to be reckoned as one of them: For neither am I worthy, being the least among them, and as one [*182:4] born out of due season. But through mercy I have obtained to be somebody, if I shall get unto God.
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3.
11
My spirit salutes you; and the charity of the churches that have received me in the name of Jesus Christ; not as a passenger. For even they that were not near to me in the way, have gone before me to the next city to meet me.
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3.
12
These things I write to you from Smyrna, by the most worthy of the church of Ephesus.
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3.
13
There is now with me, together with many others, Crocus, most beloved of me. As for those which are [*182:5] come from Syria, and are gone before me to Rome, to the glory of God, I suppose you are not ignorant of them.
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3.
14
Ye shall therefore signify to them, that I draw near, for they are all worthy both of God and of you: Whom it is fit that you refresh in all things.
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3.
15
This have I written to you, the day before the ninth of the calends of September. [*182:6] Be strong unto the end, in the patience of Jesus Christ. [*182:7]
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3.
Footnotes ^181:12 Mind: will.
^181:13 Who are present.
^181:14 Vid. Voss. Annot. in loc.
^181:15 (And there is not any fire within me that loves matter, but living and speaking water saying within me. Gr.)
^181:16 Cotelerius aliter explicat. Annot. in loc. Usser. N. 79.
^181:17 Voss. in loc. Contr. Coteler. q. y.
^181:18 The heavenly bread which is. Gr.
^181:19 (The Son of God made in these last times of the seed of David and Abraham, and the drink of God that I long for. Gr.).
^181:20 Gr. Adds, and perpetual life.
^181:21 And that, shall he.
^181:22 Willed.
^181:23 Vid. Annot. Voss. in loc.
^181:24 By a short letter.
^181:25 In.
^181:26 Ye have willed it.
^182:1 Viz. as unworthy to suffer.
^182:2 Vid. Vet. Interp. Lat.
^182:3 Shall oversee it.
^182:4 1 Cor. xv. 8.
^182:5 Vid Vet. Intern. Lat.
^182:6 That is the xxxiiid of August. Gr.
^182:7 Amen. Gr.
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