The Mystery of the Gospel

1This it is that makes me Paul a prisoner for Jesus Christ upon your account, O Gentiles; 2if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles; 3having revealed to me the secret, I now mention'd in short, 4by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. 5which preceeding was not discover'd to men, as now it is to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; to wit, 6"that the Gentiles should be heirs as well as the Jews, make one body together, and partake of the divine promise in Christ by the gospel." 7of this I was made a minister, according to the gracious gift God bestowed on me, by the effectual operation of his influence: 8upon me, who am the meanest of all christians, is this favour bestowed, that I should proclaim to the Gentiles the undiscoverable advantages by Christ; 9and display to all the world that mysterious dispensation, which from all past ages has been conceal'd in the secret purpose of God, who created all things: 10that the manifold wisdom of God, in ordering his heavenly kingdom, might by his church be now made known, to princes and magistrates, 11in pursuance of that dispensation which he made to former ages by Christ Jesus our Lord: 12by whom we have freedom of access to God, with confidence, by faith in him. 13Wherefore I desire that you be not dejected at the tribulations I am under for your sake, which are matter of glory to you.

Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians

14for this cause I bow my knees unto the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15from whom the whole family in heaven and earth are denominated his children: 16that by his immense power he would strengthen the faculties of your minds by his spirit: 17so that your souls may be possess'd with faith in Christ. 18Be ye rooted and grounded in social virtue, that you may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of this mystery: 19and be sensible of his exceeding love, in giving you the knowledge of Christ, that you may be filled with all the supplies of divine bounty.

20Now unto him that is able to do infinitely above what we ask or comprehend, by his power operating in us, 21unto him be glory in the church, even by Christ Jesus, thro' all the successions of future ages, amen.