Motives to meekness

L PETER.

and self-denial. 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or rail-yourselves likewise with the same ing for railing: but contrariwise, blcs- mind: for he that hath suffered in the sing; knowing that ye are thereunto flesh hath ceased from sin; called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 2 That he no longer should live the 10 For he that will love life, and see rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts good days, let him refrain his tongue of men, but to the will of God. from evil, and his lips that they speak 3 For the time past of our life may no guile: suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolātries:

11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against 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 ye; and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience, that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil-doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation .n Christ.

17 For it is better, if the will of God De so, that ye suffer for well-doing, Jian 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;

4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you; 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

6 For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit.

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 bath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the man ifold 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 through Jesus Christ; to whom be praise and domin

20 Which sometime were disobedi-ion for ever and ever. Ameu. ent, when once the long-suffering of 12 Beloved, think it not strange conGod waited in the days of Noah, cerning the fiery trial which is to try while the ark was a preparing, where-you, as though some strange thing in few, that is, eight souls, were saved happened unto you:

by water. 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are 21 The like figure whereunto even partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, baptism doth also now save us, not when his glory shall be revealed, ye the putting away of the filth of the may be glad also with exceeding joy flesli, but the answer of a good con- 14 If ye be reproached for the name science toward God,) by the resurrec- of Christ, happy are ye; forthe Spir tion of Jesus Christ: it of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

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.

15 But let none of you suller as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busy-body in other men's bath|matters.

FORASMUCH then as Christ, am 18 yet if any man suffer as a Chris

Christian diligence.

tian, let him not be ashamed; but let clothed with humility; for God resisthim glorify God on this behalf. eth the proud, and giveth grace to thie

17 For the time is come that judg- humble. ment must begin at the house of God: 6 Humble yourselves therefore under and if it first begin at us, what shall the mighty haud of God, that he may exalt you in due time ;

the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ?

7 Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring liun walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

19 Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator. knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that

THE

CHAP. V.

HE elders which are among you I are in the world. exhort, who ani also an elder, 10 But the God of all grace, who and a witness of the sufferings of bath called us unto his eternal glory Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed :

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight there of, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's neritage, 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, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder; yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be

by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect,
establish, strengthen, settle you:
11 To him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Ainen.

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother Junto you, (as I suppose,) I have writ. ten briefly, exhorung, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteti 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.

gence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;

IMON PETER, a servant and an 6 And to knowledge, temperance;

Sapostle of Jesus Christ, to them, and to temperance, patience, and to that have obtained like precious faith patience, godliness; with us, through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 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:

7 And to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and Jabound, 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 bath forgotten that he was purged from his

4Whereby are given unto us exceed-old sins. ing great and precious promises; that 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren. ny these ye might be partakers of the give diligence to make your calling divine nature, having escaped the cor-and election sure; for if ye do these raption that is in the world through things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be minis 5 And besides this giving all dli-ltered unto you abundantly into the

luat.

IL PETER.

Christian certainty. Apostate teacher. everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and that sinned, but cast them down te Saviour Jesus Christ. hell, and delivered them into chains 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent of darkness, to be reserved unto judg to put you always in remembrance of ment;

these things, though ye know them, 5 And spared not the old world, but and be established in the present truth. saved Noah, the eighth person, a 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I preacher of righteousness, bringing am in this tabernacle, to stir you up, in the flood upon the world of the by putting you in remembrance: ungodly;

14 Knowing that shortly 1 must put 6 And turning the cities of Sodoin off this my tabernacle, even as our and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. them with an overthrow, making 15 Moreover, I will endeavour that them an ensample unto those that al ye may be able after my decease to ter should live ungodly ; have these things always in remembrance.

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. 16 For we have not followed cun- S (For that righteous man dwelling ningly-devised fables, when we made among them, in seeing and hearing, known unto you the power and com- vexed his righteous soul from day to ing of our Lord Jesus Christ, but day with their unlawful deeds :) were eye-witnesses of his majesty. 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver 17 For he received from God the Fathe godly out of temptations, and to ther honour and glory, when there reserve the unjust unto the day of came such a voice to him from the ex- judgment to be punished; cellent 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 nim in the holy mount.

10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 19 We have also a more sure word 11 Whereas angels, which are greate of prophecy; whereunto ye do well in power and might, bring not ruling that ye take heed, as unto a light that accusation against them before the shineth in a dark place, until the day| Lord. dawn, and the day-star arise in your 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, hearts; made to be taken and destroyed,speak 20 Knowing this first, that no proph-evil of the things that they understand ecy of the scripture is of any private not, and shall utterly perish in their interpretation. own corruption;

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.

BUT

CHAP. II.

13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting them selves with their own deceivings while they feast with you:

UT there were false prophets also 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and among the people, even as there that cannot cease from sin; beguiling shall be false teachers among you, unstable souls: a heart they have exwho privily shall bring in damnable ercised with covetous practices, cursheresies, even denying the Lord that fed children : bought them, and bring upon them- 15 Which have forsaken the right selves swift destruction. way, and are gone astray, following 2 And many shall follow their per-the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, nicious ways; by reason of whom the who loved the wages of unrighteousway of truth shall be evil spoken of │ness,

3 And through covetousness shall 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity; they with feigned words make mer the dumb ass, speaking with man's chandise of you: whose judgment voice, forbade the madness of the now of a long time lingereth not, and prophet. their damnation slumbereth not.

17 These are wells without water. 1 For if God spared not the angelsfclouds that are carried with a tempest,

Scofers foretold.

to whom the mist of darkness is re are kept in store, reserved unto fire
served forever.
against the day of judgment and per-
18 For when they speak great swell-dition of ungodly men.
ing words of vanity, they allure 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of
through the lusts of the flesh, through this one thing, that one day is with
much wantonness, those that were the Lord as a thousand years, and a
clean escaped from thein who live in thousand years as one day.

error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is be brought in boudage.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning
bis promise, as some men count slack-
ness; but is long-suffering to us- ward,
not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come
20 For if, after they have escaped the as a thief in the night; in the which
pollutions of the world, through the the heavens shall pass away with a
kuowledge of the Lord and Saviour great noise, and the elements shall
Jesus Christ, they are again entangled melt with fervent beat, the earth also,
therein, and overcome, the latter end and the works that are therein, shall
is worse with them than the begin-be burned up.

ning.
11 Seeing then that all these things
21 For it had been better for them shall be dissolved, what manner of
not to have known the way of right-[persons ought ye to be in all holy con
eousness, than, after they have knownversation and godliness;

it, to turn from the holy command-12 Looking for and hasting unto the
nent delivered unto them.
coming of the day of God, wherein the
22 But it is happened unto them ac-heavens being on fire shall be dissolv.
cording to the true proverb, The dogled, and the clements shall melt with
turned to his own vomit again; and fervent heat?
the sow that was washed to her wal-
owing in the mire.

CHAP. III.

THIS second epistle,beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance;

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:

2 That ye may be mindful of the
words which were spoken before by 15 And account that the long suffer
the holy prophets, and of the coming of our Lord is salvation; even as
mandment of us the apostles of the our beloved brother Paul also, accord-
Lord and Saviour.
ing to the wisdom given unto him,
hath written unto you;

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last day's scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking
in them of these things; in which are
And saying, Where is the promise some things hard to be understood,
of his coming? for since the fathers which they that are unlearned and
fell asleep, all things continue as they unstable wrest, as they do also the
were from the beginning of the cre-other scriptures, unto their own.de-
ation.
struction.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye
of, that by the word of God the hea-know these things before, beware lest
vens were of old, and the earth stand-ye also, being led away with the error
ing out of the water and in the water: of the wicked, fall from your own
6 Whereby the world that then was, stedfastness:
being overflowed with water, per 18 But grow in grace, and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
earth Jesus Christ. To him be glory Lothi
word now and for ever. Amen.

ished:

7 But the heavens and the which are now, by the same

The First Epistle general of JOHN.

CHAP. I. HAT which was from the begin-Jought himself also so to walk, even ning, which we have heard, as be walked.

6 He that saith he abideth in him,

which we have seen with our eyes, 7 Brethren, I write no new comwhich 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 chow unto you that eternal life which 8 Again, a new commandinent I was with the Father, and was mani-write unto you, which thing is true in fested unto us ;) 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 hateth bis brother, is in darkness even until now.

Y little children, these things 15 Love not the world, neither the write I unto you, that ye sin not. things that are in the world. If any And if any man sin, we have an ad-man love the world, the love of the vocate with the Father, Jesus Christ Father is not in him. the righteous:

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 3 And hereby we do know that we 17 And the world passeth away, and know him, if we keep his command-the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.