Who then willeth life,

And loveth good days to see?

Let him keep his tongue from evil,
And his lips that they speak not guile.
Let him depart from evil and do good,
And seek peace and run after it.

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,
And his ears, to hear them;

And the face of the Lord is against the wicked. And who (is he) who will do you evil if you be emulous of good 2 (actions)? And (yet) if you suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are happy. And you will not fear them who would make you afraid, nor be shaken. But sanctify in your hearts the Lord Meshiha.

V.

AND be prepared to make defence to every one who shall seek of you speech concerning the hope of the faith, with meekness and with seriousness, while you have a good conscience; that as they speak against you as against evil men, they may be made ashamed who have traduced your good conversations in the Meshiha. For it helpeth you (if) while doing goodly works you have to sustain evil, if so it be the will of Aloha, and not while working evils. Because the Meshiha also once died on account of sins, the just on might bring us unto Aloha. alive in the Spirit, he preached unto those souls who were held in sheul, those who before were disobedient in the days of Nuch; while the long-suffering of Aloha commanded that he should make the ark, upon the hope of their conversion, and eight souls only entered therein, and were saved in the waters. After which very type

2 Plural.

account of sinners, that he And dead in the body and

also you are saved in baptism,5 not while you cleanse the body from filth, but while you make confession of Aloha with a pure conscience, and of the resurrection of Jeshu Meshiha; who is exalted unto heaven, and is at the right hand of Aloha, and unto whom are subject angels and authorities and powers.

For

If then the Meshiha hath suffered for you in the flesh, be also armed in it with the same mind; for every you one who dieth in his body hath ceased from all sins, that henceforth to the lusts of men he should not live, what time he is in the body, but to the will of Aloha. the time which hath passed sufficeth to have served the will of the Gentiles in indulgence, in drunkenness, in vileness, in revellings, and in the service of demons. And, behold, now they wonder and blaspheme at you because you riot not with them in that former indulgence; they who shall give account to Aloha, who will judge the dead and the living. For on this account the dead also have been evangelized; that they might be judged as men in the flesh, and live with Aloha in the Spirit.

VI.

BUT the end of all cometh; therefore be sober, and watch unto prayer. And before every thing have ardent love for one another; for love covereth a multitude of sins. And be lovers of guests without murmuring. And every man of you the gift which he hath received from Aloha, let him minister thereof unto his neighbours as good stewards of the various grace of Aloha. Whoever shall speak, as the word of Aloha let him speak; and whoever ministereth, (he shall minister) as from the power which Aloha giveth to him, that in every thing which you do Aloha may be glorified through Jeshu

Meshiha, whose are the glory and honour to the age of ages. Amen.

My beloved, be not amazed at the temptations which you have, as that something strange happeneth to you, because for your probation they have been; but rejoice that you are partakers of the sufferings of the Meshiha, that so also at the revelation of his glory you may rejoice and exult. And if you be reviled for the sake of the name of the Meshiha, you are happy; for the Spirit of the glory of Aloha resteth upon you. Only, let no man of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as a doer of evils. But if he suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify Aloha in that very name.

For the time is, that judgment shall begin from the house of Aloha. But if from us it begin, what is the end (to be) of them who obey not the gospel of Aloha? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, the wicked and the sinner where shall he be found? Wherefore, let them who suffer according to the will of Aloha commend to him their souls in good works, as unto the Faithful Creator.

VII.

BUT I entreat of the presbyters who are among you, I, a presbyter, your companion, and a witness of the sufferings of the Meshiha, and a partaker of his glory that is to be revealed; feed the flock of Aloha which is delivered to you, and take care (of it) spiritually, not by constraint, but with the will; not for corrupt gain, but with all your heart; not as lords of the flock, but that you may be to them a goodly example; that when the Chief of pastors shall be revealed, you may receive from him a crown of glory which fadeth not.

8

7 Vasuru ruchonoith.

8 Rab Roauthö.

And you younger, be subject to your presbyters, and be clothed carefully with humility of mind towards one another; because Aloha is against those who exalt themselves, and to the humble he giveth grace. Be humbled, therefore, under the mighty hand of Aloha, that he may exalt you at the right time. And all your anxiety cast upon Aloha, because he is careful over you.

Watch, and be mindful, because your adversary Satana, as a lion, roareth and walketh and seeketh whom he may devour. Withstand him then, being confirmed in the faith; and know that upon your brethren also who are in the world, these same sufferings come. But the God of grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory by Jeshu Meshiha, will give to us while we endure these few afflictions to be strengthened, and confirmed, and established in him for ever. To Him be glory and dominion and honour unto the age of ages. Amen.

These few, as I consider, I have written to you by the hands of Silvanos, a faithful brother; and I persuade and testify, that this is the true grace of Aloha, this wherein you stand.

The elect church which is in Babel, asketh for your peace, and Markos my son. Salute one another with the holy kiss. Peace be with all of you who are in the Amen.

Meshiha.

Finished is the Epistle of Petros the apostle.

9 Or, closely.

THE

EPISTLE OF JUHANON THE APOSTLE.

I.

WE announce1 to you that which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, and seen with our eyes, have seen, and touched with our hands, that which is the Word of life. And the life was manifested, and we have seen, and testify, and preach to you the eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested to us. And what we have seen and heard, we make known also to you, that you may have communion with us; and our communion is with the Father, and with his Son Jesh u the Meshiha.

And these write we unto you, that our joy which is in you may be complete. And this is the annunciation which we have heard from him, and announce to you, that Aloha is light, and in him is no darkness at all. And if we say that we have communion with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and in the truth do not proceed; but if in the light we walk, as He is in the light, we have communion with one another, and the blood of Jeshu his Son cleanseth us from all our sins. And if we

say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And if we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My sons, these write I to

And

you, that you 'sin not. if a man shall sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,

1 Mesabrinan.