I. II. CHAP. displayed in the last time. Where- | your Father, who without respect CHAP. of persons, will judge every man according to his work, pass the 17 time of your sojourning in this world with reverence; knowing 18 that ye were not bought off from your unprofitable course of life, delivered down from your fathers, by perishable things, such as silver and gold; but by the precious blood of 19 Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot, predeter- 20 mined indeed of old before the foun 10 ere fore himself in these latter times, for the in ye greatly rejoice, though now for a short time, (if need be) ye be grieved by various trials; that this proof of your faith, which is much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though proved by fire, may be found praiseworthy, and honourable, and glorious,at the ma8 nifestation of Jesus Christ: whom, though ye knew him not, ye love; on whom, though ye see him not now, ye believe, with transports of 9 joy unspeakable and glorious: be-dation of the world, but showing ing to receive the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Concerning which salvation, the hich prophets who foretold this kindid by the ness, which has been shown to us, searched with diligent enquiry; ex- Having therefore purified your 22 ophets. amining what time, or what kind souls, by obeying the truth unto an to love one 11 of time the spirit of Christ which unfeigned brotherly kindness, see sincerely 3 was in them signified, when it de- that ye love one another with a clared beforehand the sufferings of pure heart fervently: having been 23 Christ, and the glories which were born again, not by a perishable 12 to follow. To whom it was re-birth,but by an unperishable, through vealed, that not for themselves, a divine doctrine that liveth and but for us, they were ministering endureth for ever. For all flesh 24 those things, which have now been is as the herb, and all the glory of told you by those who preached man as the flower of the herb: the the gospel to you with a holy spirit herb withereth, and its flower fallsent from heaven; things which eth off; but the word of the Lord 25 even * angels are desirous to ex- endureth for ever; and this word is amine. the gospel, which has been preached to you. cient 13 exhorts m to in a nner ir call 4 2 another at the highest Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope en- Laying aside, therefore, all ma- CHAP. 11. tirely in that kindness which is lice, and all guile, and hypocrisy, coming to you at the manifesta- and envy, and slander, desire, like and to aim thy of tion of Jesus Christ. Like obedi-new-born babes, the pure milk of ent children, conform not to the reason, that ye may thrive thereby Christian former lusts of your ignorance; but to salvation, since ye have tasted excel15 as he who has called you is holy, the kindness of the Lord. Come be ye also holy in the whole con- unto him as to a living stone, re- 4 16 duct of your lives; because it is jected indeed by men, but elect written," Be ye holy, for I am and honourable with God; and 5 holy." And since ye call him build yourselves up as living stones, 44. 1 Prepared for the righteous at the great day of retribution. Whether warlike or peaceable, whether That prophetic spirit which pre-signified 4 This is a strong and beautiful way of expressing the high value and importance of the Christian dispensation. 5 Who is the original author and giver of all the blessings of the gospel. lence; Jsaiah, the king. III servants. CHAP. into a spiritual house, for a holy love the brethren, fear God, honour CHAP. priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ, according to this portion of scripture, "Behold I place in Sion a chief-corner stone, 6 choice, honourable, and he that trusteth on it will not be disappointed." xxviii. 16. of God. suffering wrong with tience. Servants! submit yourselves with 18 all reverence to your masters; not Duty of only to the kind and gentle, but also to the froward and peevish. For 19 this is deserving of reward, if any one under a consciousness of what God is, endure grief, suffering 7 To you, therefore, who trust wrongfully. For what credit is 20 as becomes thereon, this stone is honourable; there in bearing chastisement for the peple but to those who are not persuad-faults? but, if ye endure it, when ed to do so, it is a stone to strikeye suffer whilst ye do your duty, 8 upon and stumble against; at this will be rewarded by God. which they stumble, who believe For unto this ye were called; in- 21 not the word, even the gospel to asmuch as Christ even suffered for Christ was which they were appointed to be us, leaving you an example, that at of 9 called. But ye are a chosen race ye should follow his steps; who of kings and priests, a holy na- did no sin, neither was guile found the great tion, a people gained from the in his mouth: when he was reviled, est paworld, that ye may show forth the he reviled not again; when he sufvirtues of him who hath called youfered, he did not threaten, but re- 23 out of darkness into his marvel-signed himself to the righteous 10 lous light; you, who were once no judge; and bore the ill effects of 24 people, but are now a people of our sins in his own body on the God; who had not obtained mercy, cross, that we might die to sin, but have now obtained mercy. and live to righteousness; by whose Beloved! I beseech you as stran-bruise ye have been healed. For 25 gers on earth, and sojourners, to ab-ye were as sheep going astray, but submis- stain from fleshly lusts, which war have now turned back to the shepmagistrates against the soul; having your herd and guardian of your souls. course of life blameless amongst the Likewise ye wives, submit your- CHAP. 12 Gentiles; that in whatsoever they selves to your own husbands; for speak against you as evil-doers, even some, who are not persuaded Duty of they may glorify God for the good by our doctrine, may be won over works which they have seen in without believing that doctrine, by 13 the day of enquiry. Submit your- the behaviour of their wives, whilst 2 selves, therefore, to every appoint-they consider the chastity and rement of man, for the Lord's sake; spectfulness of behaviour. 14 to the king, as supreme; to gover-Nor let your ornament be that out- 3 nors, as commissioned by him forward ornament of plaited hair with the punishment of evil-doers, and braided gold, or of costly raiment ; the praise of them that do well.but let it be the hidden person of 4 15 For so is the will of God, that by the heart, with the unperishable orwell doing, ye put to silence the nament of a meek and gentle mind, 16 ignorance of foolish men; as free, which is in the sight of God of but not using your freedom for a great price. For so indeed the ho- 5 17 cloak of mischief; but as servants ly women in former times, who of God be respectful unto all men: trusted in God, used to adorn them 11 Purity and sion to civil enforced. your When you are brought before a civil dience to the ruling powers. magistrate to answer to the charge of disobe III. wives; General Psalm &c. Likewise, ye husbands! live with your wives under a conviction of the woman's being the more weak person; giving them honour also as fellow-heirs of the gracious gift of life, that your prayers be not 1 hindered. 1 IV. eth you a reason of the hope that is CHAP. 4 8 Finally, be ye all of the same mind, have a common feeling for directions. each other, with brotherly love, with compassionate affections, with 9 friendly dispositions; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but on the contrary, giving good words; knowing that ye were called to an inheritance of the blessing implied in these good 10 words: "Whoso wisheth life, and desireth to see good days, let xxxiv. 12, him refrain his tongue from mis-body, but the answer of a good chief, and his lips from speaking 11 guile; let him turn away from evil and do good, let him seek peace 12 and follow after it; for the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against 13 them that do evil." And who is he that will hurt you, if ye be zea-selves also with the same mind, A total relous of that which is good? that ye will die to sin, (for he that of all sins But if ye even suffer for the sake suffered in the flesh, being spiritu- required of righteousness, happy are ye, and ally crucified in imitation of from all be not afraid of the terrors of your Christ's death, hath ceased from persecu- enemies, nor be troubled; but sin); that ye may not live the rest 2 3 sanctify the Lord God in your of your time in the flesh, after the 15 hearts. And be always ready to lusts of men, but may live agreemake a defence with gentleness, ably to the will of God: since the 3 and respect to every one that ask-time past is sufficient for you to 14 Rules suited to a time of tion. conscience unto God), through 6 IV. Since therefore Christ hath suf- CHAP. fered for us in the flesh, arm your nunciation Christians. IV. CHAP. have performed the will of the Gentiles, when ye walked in impurities, in lusts, in drunkenness, in revellings, in feastings, and wicked 4 idolatries; wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them the same dissolute course of un5 ruliness, and speak evil of you; but they will give an account to him who is prepared to judge the 6 living and the dead; for the gospel hath been therefore preached to those also that were dead in sins, that though they should be judged by carnal men, they might live according to God in the spirit. talent. V. but glorify God on this account; CHAP V. their peo To the elders who are among you, I who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and Duty of Now the end of all earthly an heir of that glory which will be hi How each things (death) is near: be sober, manifested, give this charge: Tend, ple, should em therefore, and watchful in prayer. as shepherds, the flock of God 2 ploy his But, above all things, have an earn- which is among you, not by con8 est love of cach other; for love straint, but willingly, not for discovereth a multitude of sins, dis-honourable gains, but with a ready 9 posing us to overlook them. Use mind, not as domineering over 3 hospitality among yourselves, with- those allotted to you, but as pat10 out murmuring. Let each employ terns for the flock; so when the 4 the gift which he hath received for chief shepherd shall appear, ye will mutual benefit, as excellent stew-receive that crown of glory which ards of the manifold kindnesses of fadeth not away. 11 God. Doth any one instruct? let him instruct as if speaking the oracles of God. Doth any one relieve distress? let him consider his power of doing so as an ability, which God hath furnished: that in all things there may be glory through Jesus Christ unto God: to whom is the glory and power for : Likewise, ye younger men! sub- 5 mit yourselves to the elders and and of the all of you submit to each other, he people to clothing yourselves in humility; for God resisteth the proud, but showeth favour to the humble. Hum- 6 ble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may Lexalt you in due time, casting all 7 your anxiety upon him, inasmuch as he careth for you. Be sober, be 8 watchful: for your slanderous adversary, like a roaring lion, goeth about, seeking whom he may devour: him resist by standing firm 9 in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are undergone by your brethren in the world. ever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved! be not surprized that He warns a fiery persecution among you comthem of ap- eth to pass for your trial, as though proaching severe per- some strange thing befel you, but secution. rejoice, inasmuch as ye share the 13 sufferings of Christ, that ye may rejoice also at the manifestation of 14 his glory with exceeding joy. If ye suffer reproach for the name of Now the God of all favour, who 10 Christ, happy are ye, for the glori-hath called us through these short Benedic ous and powerful spirit of God sufferings to his everlasting glory 15 resteth on you. But let none of in Christ Jesus, make you perfect, you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, establish, strengthen, settle you. or an evil-doer, or a designer upon To him be the glory and the pow- 11 16 others. But if any man suffer as a er for ever and ever. Peace be with 14 Christian, let him not be ashamed, you all that are in Christ Jesus. tion. SECOND EPISTLE OF ST. PETER. | CHAP. Gentile Christians, SIMON I. works can IMON Peter, a servant and an Wherefore, brethren, use the CHAP. apostle of Jesus Christ, unto greater earnestness to make your Address to them who share with us the same call and election sure unto you, by 10 precious reliance on a pardon from good works: for by doing them ye Good our God, and Jesus Christ our will never fail; inasmuch as hereby one in 2 saviour: Favour and peace be mul-ye will be furnished abundantly sure the tiplied unto you, through the know-with an entrance into the everlast- salvation of ledge of God, and of our Lord ing kingdom of our Lord and Christians. 3 Jesus Christ. For his divine pow- | saviour Jesus Christ. 5 | 3 want re er hath kindly given us all things Wherefore I will not neglect to 12 that belong unto life, and godli-remind you always of these things; The best ness, through the acknowledge- though ye know them, and be esta- men often ment of him who hath called us blished in the present truth. For minding. 4 by a glorious kindness : by which I think it right, as long as I am in 13 very great and precious promises this tabernacle of the body, to stir are given unto us, that through up your memory; knowing that I 14 them we may become partakers of must soon lay aside this tabernacle a divine nature, after escaping the of mine, even as our Lord Jesus corruption which is in the world Christ signified unto me. So I 15 through evil desire. will earnestly endeavour that ye be And to this end use all your dili-enabled also on every occasion, to who are re-gence; and add to your faith, for- recollect these things for yourselves quired dili - titude; and to fortitude knowledge; after my departure. gently to cultivate and to knowledge temperance; and every vir to temperance patience; and to patience piety; and to piety bro7 therly kindness; and to brotherly 8 kindness universal love. For if these things be in you and abound, they will make you thrive and bear fruit unto the acknowledgement of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he who is without these things, is become blind, by closing his eyes, and forgetting his former purification from his sins. tuc. mission of Tabor. For we did not follow cunningly 16 devised fables, when we made The divine known to you the powerful appear- Jesus was ance of our Lord Jesus Christ, but attested on had been eye-witnesses of his ma- mount jesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father, when 17 this voice came to him from that magnificent brightness which we said, “This is my beloved son, Matt. in whom I am well pleased;' » xvii. 5. and we heard this very voice utter- ix. 35. ed from heaven, when we were 18 Luke, The apostle is thought to have written this epistle to the Gentile converts to Christianity, in the same year, and from the same place that he wrote the preceding epistle. The general design of it is to confirm the doctrines and instructions which he had before delivered, to excite the Christians to adhere stedfastly to their holy religion, as a religion, not of human contrivance and in vention, but proceeding from God; and to Of God's holiness here, and of his 3 The true gospel now preached and received far and wide. |