I. PETER, To suffer patiently Relative duties. 25 For ye were as sheep going in your hearts: and be ready astray; but are now returned unto always to give an answer to every the Shepherd and Bishop of your man that asketh you a reason of souls. the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. CHAP. III. Duty of Wives and Husbands. IKEWISE, ye wives, be in sub that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 7. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise, blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile : 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of as of ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil-doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffer ing of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God; by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God. angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject unto him. CHAP. IV. FOR Of ceasing from Sin. NORASMUCH then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that bata suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh t the lusts of men, but to the will God. 3 For the time past of our li may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when w walked in lasciviousness, hus 11 Let him eschew evil, and do excess of wine, revellings, bar good: let him seek peace, and en-quetings, and abominable ido sue it. tries: 12 For the eyes of the Lord are 4 Wherein they think it stran over the righteous, and his ears that ye run not with them to t are open unto their prayers: but same excess of riot, speaking es the face of the Lord is against of you: them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ve; and Te not afraid of their terror, neither troubled; 5 But sanctify the Lord God 226 5 Who shall give account to h that is ready to judge the quick a the dead. 6 For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them the are dead, that they might judged according to men in the spirit. flesh, but live according to Gods Comfort in persecution. CHAP. V. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified hrough Jesus Christ; to whom be praise and dominion' for ever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, think it not strange, concerning the fiery trial which is o try you, as though some strange hing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye re partakers of Christ's sufferings; at, when his glory, shall be reealed, ye may be glad also with xceeding joy. Humility commended CHAP. V. The Duty of Elders, &c. THE elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is thereof, not by constraint, but wilamong you, taking the oversight lingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him: for he careth for you. 14 If ye be reproached for the 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because ame of Christ, happy are ye; for your adversary the devil, as a roarme Spirit of glory and of God rest-ing lion, walketh about, seeking h upon you. On their part he is whom he may devour: wil spoken of, but on your part he glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as murderer, or as a thief, or as an il-doer, or as a busy-body in her men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a 17 For the time is come that judg- 19 Wherefore, let them that suf- 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brothren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that yo have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. 13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. 14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. ¶ The Second Epistle general of PETER. CHAP. I. Exhortation to several Duties. IMON Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them at have obtained like precious th with us through the righteousEs of God and our Saviour Jesus arist: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue The apostle's charge. II. PETER, A description af 4 Whereby are given unto us ex-| until the day dawn, and the dayceeding great and precious pro- star arise in your hearts: mises; that by these ye might be 20 Knowing this first, that no partakers of the divine nature, hav-prophecy of the scripture is of any ing escaped the corruption that is private interpretation: in the world through lust. 5 And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6 And to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. CHAP. II. False Teachers foretold. 7 And to godliness, brotherly BUT there were false prophets kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover, I will endeavour that ye may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly, devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye well that ye take heed, as unto ight that shineth in a dark place, 228 also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judg ment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth persen, a preacher of righteousness, bring ing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an over throw, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7And delivered just Lot, vered with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwe ing among them, in seeing sa hearing, vexed his righteous sod from day to day with their unk ful deeds; 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of tempt tions, and to reserve the unjus unto the day of judgment to be pe nished: 10 But chiefly them that wa after the flesh in the lust of uncless ness, and despise government Presumptuous are they, self-willed they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. il Whereas angels, which a greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute CHAP. III. false teachers. Of the last judgment beasts made to be taken and de- commandment of us the apostles of stroyed, speak evil of the things the Lord and Saviour: that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corrup tion: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 13 And shall receive the reward 4 And saying, Where is the pro of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own feceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; Deguiling unstable souls: a heart hey have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, followng the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniuity: the dumb ass, speaking with nan's voice, forbade the madness f the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, louds that are carried with a temest; to whom the mist of darkness reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great welling words of vanity, they llure through the lusts of the flesh, rough much wantonness, those at were clean escaped from them ho live in error. 19 While they promise them lierty, they themselves are the sernts of corruption: for, of whom man is overcome, of the same is brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped e pollutions of the world through e knowledge of the Lord and Saour Jesus Christ, they are again tangled therein, and overcome, e latter end is worse with them an the beginning, 21 For it had been better for em not to have known the way righteousness, than, after they ve known it, to turn from the ly commandment delivered unto em. 22 But it is happened unto them cording to tho true proverb, The g is turned to his own vomit ain; and,, The sow that was ashed, to her wallowing in the mise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ig norant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concern ing his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as John's testimony of Christ. II. PETER. Of brotherly love they do also the other scriptures, fall from your own steadfastunto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, ness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sa viour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. ¶ The First Epistle general of JOHN. CHAP. I. Person of Christ described. which was from the beTrinning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;. 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. ̧ 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and Fateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 6 If we say that we have fellow- 10 He that loveth his brother ship with him, and walk in dark-abideth in the light, and there is ness, we lie, and do not the truth: none occasion of stumbling in him. 7 But if we walk in the light, as 11 But he that hateth his brother he is in the light, we have fellow-is in darkness, and walketh in darkship one with another, and the ness, and knoweth not whither he blood of Jesus Christ his Son clean- goeth, because that darkness hath seth us from all sin. blinded his eyes. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. CHAP. II. not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that 12 I write unto you, little childr because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, be cause ye have known him that from the beginning. I write unte you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fr thers, because ye have known his written unto you, young men, be that is from the beginning. I have cause ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the work the lust of the flesh, and the lust e the eyes, and the pride of life, s |