Paul's Thanksgiving after Affliction
2 Corinthians 1:3-24
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort,
4 Which comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any affliction by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation aboundeth through Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is wrought in the enduring of the same sufferings, which we also suffer; or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope is steadfast concerning you, in as much as we know, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 8 For brethren, we would not have you ignorant of our affliction, which came unto us in Asia, how we were pressed out of measure passing strength, so that we altogether doubted even of life. 9 Yea, we received the sentence of death in ourselves, because we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth the dead. 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doeth deliver us, in whom we trust, that yet hereafter he will deliver us; 11 So that ye labor together in prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us for many, thanks may be given by many persons for us. 12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly pureness, and not in fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world, and most of all toward you. 13 For we write none other things unto you, than that ye read or else that ye acknowledge, and I trust ye shall acknowledge unto the end. 14 Even as ye have acknowledged us partly, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. 15 And in this confidence was I minded first to come unto you, that ye might have had a double grace; 16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and to be led forth toward Judea of you. 17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? Or mind I those things which I mind, according to the flesh, that with me should be, Yea, yea, and Nay, nay? 18 Yea, God is faithful, that our word toward you was not Yea, and Nay. 19 For the Son of God Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, that is, by me, and Silvanus, and Timothy, was not Yea, and Nay, but in him it was Yea. 20 For all the promises of God in him are Yea, and are in him Amen, unto the glory of God through us. 21 And it is God which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us. 22 Who hath also sealed us, and hath given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 23 Now, I call God for a record unto my soul, that to spare you, I came not as yet unto Corinth. 24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but we are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye stand.
1 Corinthians 14:8
And also if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?
"Let not Geneva be forgotten or despised. Religious liberty owes it most respect." John Adams, the second president of the United States