But if doing well you suffer and patiently endure it, this is grace with God. For unto this you are called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps. And in another place: In like manner let wives be subject to their husbands, that even if any believe not the word, they may be won without the word by the conversation of the wives, considering your chaste conversation in fear. Whose adorning let it not be the outward plaiting of the hair, or the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel: but the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptibility of a quiet and modest spirit, which is rich in the sight of God.
For after this manner also the holy women of old, hoping in God, adorned themselves, being subject to their own husbands: as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, doing well and not fearing any disturbance. Husbands likewise, dwelling together according to knowledge, giving honour to the woman as to the weaker vessel, and as to co-heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. And in faith be all of one mind, compassionate, lovers of brotherhood, merciful, humble, not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing, for unto this you are called, that you may inherit a blessing.
For he that will love life and see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him decline from evil and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it: because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers, but the countenance of the Lord upon them that do evil. And who is he that can hurt you, if you be zealous of good? But if also you suffer anything for justice' sake, blessed are you. And fear not their fear, and be not troubled. But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asks you a reason of that hope which is in you:
but with modesty and fear, having a good conscience, that whereas they detract from you, they may be confounded who calumniate your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God so wills, to suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. And after some verses: Christ therefore having suffered in the flesh, be you also armed with the same thought: for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sins, that now he may live the rest of his time in the flesh, not after the desires of men, but after the will of God. For the time past is sufficient to have fulfilled the will of the Gentiles, who walked in luxuries, desires, drunkenness, revellings, drinkings, and unlawful worship of idols. And after a few verses:
Be therefore prudent and watch in prayers, above all things having a continual mutual charity among yourselves, for charity covers a multitude of sins, hospitable one to another without murmuring, every one as he has received grace, ministering the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let it be as the words of God: if any minister, let it be as of the power which God administers: that in all things God may be honoured through Jesus Christ, to whom is glory and empire for ever and ever. Dearly beloved, be not surprised at the burning heat which comes to you for a trial:
do not be afraid as though some new thing happened to you, but rejoice in communicating with the sufferings of Christ, that in the revelation also of his glory you may be glad, rejoicing exceedingly. If you be reproached in the name of Christ, blessed are you: for the Spirit of the glory and power of God rests upon you: by them he is blasphemed, but by you he is honoured. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or a railer or a coveter of other men's goods: but if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For the time is that judgment should begin at the house of God. And if first at us, what shall be the end of those who believe not the gospel of God? And if the just man shall scarcely be saved, where shall the impious and the sinner appear? Therefore let also
those who suffer according to the will of God commend their souls in well-doing to the faithful Creator. The elders therefore that are among you I beseech, who am myself also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of that glory which is to be revealed in time to come: feed the flock of God that is among you, providing for it not by constraint but willingly according to God, not for the sake of filthy lucre, but voluntarily, neither as lording it over the clergy, but being made a pattern of the flock from the heart. And when the prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive the unfading crown of glory. In like manner, you young men, be subject to the elders. And do you all insinuate humility one to another, because God resists the proud, but to the humble he gives grace.
Be humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation, casting all your care upon him, for he has care of you. Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist, strong in faith, knowing that the same sufferings befall your brotherhood which is in the world. But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, will himself perfect you, confirm you, and establish you. To him be empire for ever and ever. Amen. XLV. ON THE SECOND EPISTLE OF THE SAME.
By whom he has given us most great and precious promises, that by these you may be made partakers of the divine nature, fleeing the corruption of that concupiscence which is in the world. But you, applying all care, minister in your faith virtue, and in virtue knowledge, and in knowledge abstinence, and in abstinence patience, and in patience godliness, and in godliness love of brotherhood, and in love of brotherhood charity. For if these things be with you and abound, they will make you neither empty nor without fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he to whom they are not present is blind, and groping with his hand, having received forgetfulness of the purging of his old sins.
Therefore, brethren, be the more diligent, that by good works you may make your calling and election sure. For doing these things, you shall not sin at any time. And a little later: As there were also among us lying teachers, who shall bring in sects of perdition and deny the Lord who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their wantonness, through whom the way of truth shall be blasphemed; and in covetousness with feigned words they shall make merchandise of you. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their perdition slumbereth not. And in another place: The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, but to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be tormented.
But chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise dominion. Presumptuous, self-pleasing, they fear not to bring in sects, speaking evil; whereas angels, though they are greater in might and power, bring not against themselves a railing judgment.
But these, as irrational beasts, made naturally for capture and destruction, blaspheming in the things which they know not, shall perish in their own corruption, receiving the reward of unrighteousness; counting the pleasures of a day as delight, spots and blemishes, abounding in delights, rioting in their feasts with you, having eyes full of adultery and of ceaseless sin, alluring unstable souls, having a heart exercised in covetousness, children of malediction, who, forsaking the right way, have gone astray. And after a few verses:
For speaking swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through wantonness, those who but a little while escape from them that live in error, promising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also the slave. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they had known it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. For that of the true proverb has happened unto them: The dog is returned to his own vomit, and: The washed sow to her wallowing in the mire. And after somewhat:
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God. And a little later: Dearly beloved, looking for these things, be diligent that you may be found immaculate and inviolate before him in peace; and account the longsuffering of our Lord as salvation. And in another place: You therefore, brethren, knowing these things beforehand, take heed lest, being led away by the error of the foolish, you fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and unto the day of eternity. Amen. XLVI. FROM THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. Count it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into divers temptations, knowing.
That the trying of your faith worketh patience. And let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. But if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved by the wind and carried about. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord — a double-minded man, inconstant in all his ways. But let the brother of low degree glory in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
For the sun is risen with burning heat and hath withered the grass, and its flower hath fallen, and the beauty of its appearance hath perished: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which God hath promised to them that love him. And a little later: Do not err therefore, my dearly beloved brethren. Every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. And after a few verses: You know, my beloved brethren: but let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Wherefore, laying aside all uncleanness and abundance of malice, receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding the face of his birth in a mirror: for he beheld himself and went his way, and straightway forgot what manner of man he was. But whoso shall look into the perfect law of liberty and shall continue therein, being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. But if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself unspotted from this world. My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with respect of persons. And after some verses: Hearken, my dearly beloved brethren: hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But you have dishonoured the poor. Do not the rich oppress you by their power, and themselves draw you before the judgment seats? Do they not blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you? If yet you fulfil the royal law according to the scriptures: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, you do well.
But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. And after a few verses: For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy: but mercy triumpheth over judgment. And after somewhat: Be not many masters, my brethren, knowing that you receive the greater judgment. 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. And in another place: But the tongue no man can tame: it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God and the Father, and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God.
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. These things ought not so to be done, my brethren. And after a few verses: Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among us? Let him show out of a good conversation his work in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter zeal and contentions in your hearts, glory not, and be not liars against the truth. This is not the wisdom that descendeth from above, but earthly, sensual, devilish. For where zeal and contention is, there is inconstancy and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first indeed chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by them that make peace. Whence come wars and strifes among you? Come they not hence, out of your lusts, which war in your members? Likewise after a few verses: You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world is constituted an enemy of God. And a little later: Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Be subject therefore to God: but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Be afflicted and mourn. Weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. And after a few verses: There is one lawgiver and judge, who is able to destroy and to deliver. But who art thou that judgest thy neighbour? Behold now you who say: Today or tomorrow we will go into that city, and there we will spend a year and traffic and get gain — who know not what will be on the morrow: for what is your life? It is a vapour appearing for a little while, and then it is destroyed — instead of your saying: If the Lord will and if we shall live, we will do this or that. But now you exult in your pride:
All such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Go to now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold the hire of the labourers who have reaped your fields, which by you have been defrauded, crieth out; and the cry of them hath entered into the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have feasted upon the earth, and in wantonness you have nourished your hearts in the day of slaughter. You have brought and slain the just one: he resisteth you not.
Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. And a little later: Be you also patient, establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, that you be not judged. And in another place: But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven nor by earth, nor by any other oath: but let your speech be Yea, yea, Nay, nay, that you fall not under judgment. Is any of you sad? Let him pray with an even mind and sing psalms. Is any sick among you? Let him bring in the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Confess therefore your sins one to another and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual supplication of a just man availeth much. And after some verses: My brethren, if any of you err from the truth and someone convert him, let him 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. XLVII. FROM THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he also is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things I write unto you, that you sin not: but if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. And in this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith he knoweth him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar: in him the truth is not.
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. And after some verses: He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no scandal in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes. And a little later: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: for all that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the concupiscence thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. And in another place: Every lie is not of the truth. And a little later: Dearly beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every one that hath this hope in him sanctifieth himself, as he also is holy. Every one that committeth sin committeth also iniquity, and sin is iniquity. And we know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. Every one that abideth in him sinneth not: every one that sinneth hath not seen him, neither hath known him. My little children, let no man seduce you.
He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God committeth not sin, for his seed abideth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever is not righteous is not of God, and he that loveth not his brother: for this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. And after a few verses: Marvel not, brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren: he that loveth not abideth in death.
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. In this we have known charity, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. He that hath the substance of this world and shall see his brother in need and shall shut up his bowels from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth. In this we know that we are of the truth, and in his sight we shall persuade our hearts: because if our heart reprehend us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Dearly beloved, if our heart reprehend us not, we have confidence toward God, and whatsoever we ask we shall receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as he gave commandment unto us. And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby is the Spirit of God known:
Every spirit that confesseth the Lord Christ to have come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that dissolveth Jesus is not of God: and this is that of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it cometh, and now already is in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore of the world they speak, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us: he that is not of God heareth us not. Hereby we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Dearly beloved, let us love one another, for charity is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is charity. And a little later:
Dearly beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abideth in us, and his charity is perfected in us. Likewise a little later: Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him and he in God. And we have known and have believed the charity which God hath toward us. God is charity, and he that abideth in charity abideth in God, and God in him. Herein is charity perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, so also are we in this world. Fear is not in charity, but perfect charity casteth out fear: because fear hath torment, and he that feareth is not perfect in charity.
We therefore love God, because God first loved us. If a man say I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he seeth, how can he love God whom he seeth not? And this commandment we have from him, that he who loveth God love also his brother. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and every one that loveth him who begat loveth him also who is born of him. In this we have known that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous, for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. And a little later:
For this is the confidence which we have toward him, that whatsoever we shall ask according to his will, he heareth us: and we know that he heareth us. And after three verses: He that knoweth his brother to sin a sin not unto death, let him ask, and life shall be given to him who sinneth not unto death. There is a sin unto death: for that I say not that any should pray. All iniquity is sin, and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not, but the generation of God preserveth him, and the wicked one toucheth him not. And in another place: My little children, keep yourselves from idols. XLVIII. FROM THE SECOND EPISTLE OF THE SAME. Not as writing a new commandment unto thee, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.
And this is charity, that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. And after a few verses: Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God: he that continueth in the doctrine, he hath both the Son and the Father. If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither say to him hail. For he that saith to him hail communicateth in his malignant works. XLIX. FROM THE THIRD EPISTLE OF THE SAME. Dearly beloved, thou dost faithfully whatsoever thou workest toward the brethren, and that toward strangers, who have borne witness to thy charity in the sight of the church: whom thou shalt do well to bring forward worthily of God.
For they went forth for his name's sake, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow-workers of the truth. And a little later: Dearly beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God. L. FROM THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. For certain men have secretly entered in, who long ago were foreordained unto this judgment, ungodly, turning the grace of our God into wantonness, and denying our only ruler and Lord. And a little later: These are spots in their feasts, feasting without fear, feeding themselves. And in another place: These are murmurers, full of complaints, walking after their own desires, and their mouth speaketh blasphemy.