Paul’s Apostolic Authority

1I Paule my silfe beseche you by the mekenes and softnes of Christ which when I am present amoge you am of no reputacio but am bolde towarde you beinge absent. 2I besech you that I nede not to be bolde when I am present (with that same confidece wher with I am supposed to be bolde) agaynst some which repute vs as though we walked carnally. 3Neverthelesse though we walke compased with ye fleshe yet we warre not flesshlye 4For the weapes of oure warre are not carnall thinges but thynges myghty in god to cast doune stronge holdes 5wherwith we overthrowe ymaginacyons and every hye thynge that exalteh it silfe agaynst the knowledge of god and brynge into captivite all vnderstondynge to the obedience of Christ 6and are redy to take vengeaunce on all disobedience when youre obedience is fulfilled.

7Loke ye on thynges after ye vtter apparence? Yf eny man trust in him silfe yt he is Christis let the same also considre of him silfe yt as he is Christis even so are we Christes. 8And though I shuld bost my silfe somewhat moare of oure auctorite which the lorde hath geven vs to edifie and not to destroye you it shulde not be to my shame. 9This saye I lest I shuld seme as though I went about to make you a frayde with letters. 10For ye pistles (sayth he) are sore and stronge: but his bodyly presence is weake and his speache rude. 11Let him yt is soche thynke on this wyse that as we are in wordes by letters when we are absent soche are we in dedes when we are present.

12For we cannot fynde in oure hertes to make oure selves of ye nombre of them or to compare oure selves to them which laude the selves neuerthelesse whill they measure the selves wt them selves and copare the selves wt the selves they vnderstode nought. 13But we wyll not reioyce above measure: but accordynge to the quantitie of ye measure which god hath distributed vnto vs a measure that reacheth even vnto you. 14For we stretche uot out oure selves beyode measure as though we had not reached vnto you. For even vnto you have we come with the gospell of Christ 15and we bost not oure selves out of measure in other mens labours. Ye and we hope when youre fayth is increased amoge you to be magnified acordynge to oure measure more largely 16and to preache ye gospell in those regions which are beyode you: and no t to reioyce of that which is by another mans measure prepared all redy. 17Let him yt reioyseth reioyce in the lorde. 18For he that prayseth him silfe is not alowed: but he whom the lorde prayseth.