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work: that you may be perfect and down from the Father of lights, entire, failing in nothing. with whom there is no change, nor

5 But if any of you want wis-shadow of alteration. dom, let him ask of God who giv- 18 For of his own will hath he eth to all men abundantly, and up-begotten us by the word of truth, braideth not: and it shall be given that we might be some beginning him. of his creature.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth, is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind.

7 Therefore let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

19 You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger.

20 For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God.

21 Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of

8 A double minded man is in-naughtiness, with meekness receive constant in all his ways. the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

9 But let the brother of low condition glory in his exaltation:

10 And the rich, in his being low, because as the flower of the grass shall he pass away.

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if a man be a hearer of 11, For the sun rose with a burn-the word and not a doer: he shall ing heat, and parched the grass, be compared to a man beholding and the flower thereof fell off, and his own countenance in a glass. the beauty of the shape thereof perished: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

24 For he beheld himself, and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he was.

12 Blessed is the man that endu- 25 But he that hath looked into reth temptation: for when he hath the perfect law of liberty, and hath been proved, he shall receive the continued therein, not becoming a crown of life, which God hath pro-forgetful hearer, but a doer of the mised to them that love him. this man shall be blessed in

13 Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God. For God is not a tempter of evils, and he tempteth no man.

14 But every man is tempted by hisown concupiscence,being drawn away and allured.

work;
his deed.

26 And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

27 Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, 15 Then when concupiscence to visit the fatherless and widows hath conceived, it bringeth forth in their tribulation: and to keep sin. But sin, when it is completed, one's self unspotted from thisworld. begetteth death.

16 Do not err therefore, my dearest. brethren.

CHAP. II. Against respect of persons. MY Lord Jesus Christ of Y brethren, have not the faith 17 Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming glory with respect of persons.

Ver. 18. Some beginning. That is, a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.

Ver. 1. With respect of persons. The meaning is, that in matters relating to faith, the administering of the sacraments, and other spiritual functions in God's church, there should be no respect of persons: but that the souls of the poor should be as much regarded as thos of the rich.

For if there shall come into And mercy exalteth itself above your assembly a man having a judgment. golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire,

3 And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well: but say, to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool:

-4 Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?

14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?

15 And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food:

16 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be you warmed and filled yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body: what shall it profit?

17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.

to 5 Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in 18 But some man will say: Thou this world, rich in faith, and heirs hast faith, and I have works: shew of the kingdom which God hath me thy faith without works; and promised to them that love him? I will shew thee, by works, my 6 But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress 19 Thou believest that there is you by might; and do not they one God. Thou dost well: the dedraw you before the judgment vils also believe and tremble.

seats?

7 Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?

8 If then you fulfil the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: you do well:

19 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.

10 And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all.

faith.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou that faith did cooperate with his works and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.

24 Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?

11 For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt 25 And in like manner also Rakill: thou art become a transgres-hab the harlot, was not she justified sor of the law. by works, receiving the messen12 So speak ye, and so do, as gers, and sending them out another being to be judged by the law of way? liberty. 26 For even as the body without 13 For judgment without mercy the spirit is dead: so also faith to him that hath not done mercy. without works is dead.

Ver. 10. Guilty of all. That is, he becomes a trangressor of the law, in such a manner, that the observing of all other points will not avail him to salvation: for he despises the lawgiver; and breaks through the great and general commandment of charity, which is the falfilling of the whole law.

CHAP. III.

Of the evils of the tongue. BE ye not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgment.

2 For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word; the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body.

3 For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.

4 Behold also ships, whereas they are great, and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the force of the governor willeth.

5 So the tongue also is indeed a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire what a great wood it kindleth?

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body,and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by hell.

7 For every nature of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of the rest, is tamed and hath been tamed by the nature of man :

8. But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison.

9 By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth, out of the same hole, sweet and bitter water?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear grapes: or the vine, figs? So neither can the salt water yield

sweet.

13 Who is a wise man and endu

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ed with knowledge among you Let him shew, by a good conver sation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter zeal, and there be contentions in your hearts; glory not and be not liars against the truth.

15 For this is not wisdom descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and contention is, there is inconstancy, and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom, that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation.

18 And the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that make peace. CHAP. IV.

FR

Admonitions against pride, &c. AROM whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your concupiscences, which war in your members?

2 You covet, and have not: you kill and envy, and cannot obtain. You contend and war, and you have not, because you ask not.

3 You ask and receive not: because you ask amiss: that you may consume it on your concupiscences.

4 Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world, is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world becometh an enemy of God.

5 Or do you think that the scripture saith in vain: To envy doth the spirit covet which dwelleth in you?

6 But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

7 Be subject therefore to God, but resist the devil, and he will fly from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will shall eat your flesh like fire. You draw nigh to you. Cleanse your have stored up to yourselves wrath hands ye sinners; and purify your against the last days.

hearts, ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy, into

sorrow.

10 Be humbled in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

4 Behold the hire of the labourers, who have reaped down your fields, which by fraud has been kept back by you, crieth: and the cry of them hath entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

5 You have feasted upon earth: and in riotousness you have nourished your hearts, in the day of slaughter.

11 Detract not one another, my brethren. He that detracteth his brother, or he that judgeth his brother, detracteth the law, and judg- 6 You have condemned and put eth the law. But if thou judge the to death the just one, and he relaw, thou art not a doer of the law,sisted you not. but a judge.

12 There is one law-giver, and judge, that is able to destroy and to deliver.

13 But who art thou that judgest thy neighbour? Behold, now you that say: To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and there we will spend a year, and will traffick, and make our gain.

14 Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow.

15 For what is your life? It is a vapour which appeareth for a little while, and afterwards shall vanish away. For that you should say: If the Lord will; and, if we shall live, we will do this or that. /

16 But now you rejoice in your arrogancies. All such rejoicing is wicked.

17 To him therefore who knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin.

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7 Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth: patiently bearing till he receive the early and the latter rain.

8 Be you therefore also patient, and strengthen your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

9. Grudge not, brethren, one against another, that you may not be judged. Behold the judge standeth before the door.

10 Take, my brethren, for an example of suffering evil, of labour and patience, the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord:

11 Behold we account them blessed who have endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate.

12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven nor by the earth, nor by any other oath. But let your speech be, yea,

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church, and let them pray over him that it might not rain upon the anointing him with oil in the name earth, and it rained not for three of the Lord. years and six months.

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.

17 Elias was a man possible like unto us: and with prayer he prayed

18 And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

19 My brethren, if any of you err from the truth, and one convert him:

20 He must know, that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.

Ver. 16. Confess your sins one to another. That is, to the priests of the church, whom, v. 14, he had ordered to be called for, and brought into the sick.

The first EPISTLE of St. PETER the Apostle.

CHAP. I.

8 Whom having not seen, you He exhorts to holiness of life. love: in whom also now, though ETER an apostle of JESUS you see him not, you believe: and Christ,to the strangers dispers-believing shall rejoice with joy uned through Pontus, Galatia, Cappa-speakable and glorified,

PET

docia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect, 9 Receiving the end of your 2 According to the foreknow- faith, even the salvation of your ledge of God the Father, unto the souls. sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord JESUS Christ, who according to his great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 Unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that cannot fade, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who by the power of God, are kept by faith unto salvation ready

to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein you shall greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in divers temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ ·

10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and diligently searched, who prophesied of the grace to come in you,

11 Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did signify when it foretold those sufferings that are in Christ, and the glories that should follow:

12 To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you they ministered those things which are now declared to you by them that have preached the gospel to you, the Holy Ghost being sent down from heaven, on whom the angels desire to look..

13 Wherefore having the loins of your mind girt up, being sober, trust perfectly in the grace which is offered you in the revelation of JESUS Christ,

14 As children of obedience, not fashioned according to the former desires of your ignorance:

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