perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, be ing not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, he shall be blessed in his deed.

26. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this, To take care of the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

CHAP. II.

WE ARE NOT TO RESPECT PERSONS.

My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2. For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in gay apparel, and there come in also a poor man in mean dress: 3. And ye respect him that weareth the gay clothing, and say to him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool; 4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges who reason ill?

5. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world (to be) rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6. But ye have de-pised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats? 7. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name, by the which ye are called?

8. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well; 9. But if ye respect persons, ye commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all. 11. For he that said, Do not commit whoredom, said

also, Do not kill. Now, if thou commit no whoredom, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12. Speak ye, and do like them who shall be judged by the law of liberty, (the gospel). 13. For he shall have judgment without mercy that shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth over judgment.

14. What doth it profit, my brethren, tho' a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him (without works)? 15. If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily food, 16. And one of you say, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; but ye give them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit?

17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me thy faith out of thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19. Thou believest there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe and tremble.

20. But wilt thou know, O vain man! that faith without works is dead? 21. Was not Abraham our father, justified (before the world) by works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22. Thou seest how his faith wrought in his works, and faith was justified and perfected by works.

23. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness; and he was called, The Friend of God. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25. Likewise also, was not Rahab the hostess justified by works, when she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

CHAP. III.

THE TONGUE MUST BE BRIDLED.

My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing we shall undergo the greater judgment. 2. For in many things we all offend. If any offend not in word, he is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3. Behold we put bridles into the horses' mouths, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body. 4. Behold also the ships, tho' they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small rudder, wherever the steersman willeth. 5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; it is even such among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7. For every kind of (wild) beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fishes is subdued, and hath been tamed of mankind; 8. But the tongue can no man subdue; it is an insuperable evil, full of deadly poison.

9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the similitude of God. 10. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11. Doth'a spring send from the same opening sweet water and bitter? 12. My brethren, can the fig-tree bear olive-berries? or a vine figs? so no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

13. Who is wise and knowing among you? let him shew by his works a good behaviour, with meekness and wisdom. 14. But if ye have bitter zeal and strife in your hearts, boast not, and lie not against the truth. 15. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16. For where envying and contention are, there

is confusion, and every evil work. 17. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, by them that make peace.

CHAP. IV.

OF STRIVING AGAINST COVETOUSNESS.

WHENCE Come wars and contentions among you? come they not even from your lusts, that war in your members? 2. Ye covet, and have not; ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain; ye fight and contend, and yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it on your lusts.

4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God. 5. Think ye the scripture saith in vain, the spirit that dwells in us lusteth to envy? 6. But he giveth greater grace; Therefore, he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

7. Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.

9. Lament, and mourn, and weep, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to sorrow. 10. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

11. Speak not evil of one another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law (that forbids it); but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12. There is one Lawgiver and Judge, who is able to

save and to destroy: who art thou, that judgest another?

13. Come now, ye that say, To-day, or to-mor row, we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain; 14. For ye know not what shall be to-morrow, for what is your life? but a vapour that appears for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15. Whereas ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that. 16. But now ye rejoice in your boastings; all such rejoicing is evil.

17. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, it is sin.

CHAP. V.

OF PATIENCE IN AFFLICTION.

COME now, ye rich men, weep and howl over the miseries coming upon you. 2. Your store is corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3. Your gold and silver are cankered, and their rust shall be a witness against you, and eat your flesh as fire. Ye have treasured up for the last days, (destruction.) 4. Behold, the hire of the labourers who reaped your fields, kept back by your injustice, cries out, and their cries are entered into the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5. Ye have lived luxuriously on the earth, and rioted in pleasure; ye have pampered your hearts, as for a day of slaugh

6. Ye have condemned and killed the righteous who doth not resist you.

7. Be patient, therefore, brethren, till the Lord's coming, Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruits of the earth, and bears long, until he receive the early and latter rain.

8. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the Lord's coming draws near.

9. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the Judge stands before the door, (being ready to judge you.)