in the days of Noah, while | riot, fpeaking evil of you: the ark was a preparing, 5 Who fhall give account wherein few, that is, eight to him that is ready to judge fouls, were faved by water. the quick and the dead. 6 For for this caufe was the gofpel preached also to 21 The like figure whereunto, even baptifm, doth alfo now fave us (not the put-them that are dead, that they ting away of the filth of the might be judged according flesh, but the answer of a to men in the flesh, but live good confcience toward God) according to God in the by the refurrection of Jefus fpirit. Chrift: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, being made fubject unto him. F 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore fober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity fhall cover the multitude of fins. 9 Ufe hofpitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath re CHAP. IV. Orasmuch then as Chrift hath fuffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves like-ceived the gift, even fo miwife with the fame mind: for he that hath fuffered in the flefh, hath ceafed from fin; 2 That he no longer should live the reft of his time in the flesh, to the lufts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time paft of our life may fuffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lafciviousness, lufts, excefs of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idola-. tries: 4 Wherein they think it ftrange that ye run not with them to the fame excefs of nifter the fame one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him fpeak 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 Jefus Chrift; to whom be praife and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, think it nos ftrange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though fome ftrange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's fufferings; that when his glory fhall be revealed, ye may be glad alfo with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Chrift, happy are ye for the fpirit of glory and of God refteth upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you fuffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busy body in other men's 17 For the time is come that judgement muft begin at the house of God: and if it firft begin at us, what fhall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous fcarcely be faved, where fhall the ungodly and the finner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that fuffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their fouls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. TH CHAP. V. HE elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Chrift, and alfo a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed? 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the overfight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being enfamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd fhall appear, ye fhall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewife, ye younger, fubmit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be fubject one to another, and be clothed with humility. For God refifteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Cafting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. 8 Be fober, be vigilant, because your adverfary the I 4 devil, devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about feeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom refift, ftedfaft in the faith, knowing that the fame afflictions are accomplished in brethren that your are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Chrift Jefus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, ftablifh, ftrengthen, fettle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 By Silvanus a faithful brother unto you (as I fuppofe) I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying, that this is the true grace of God wherein ye ftand. 13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, faluteth you; and fo doth Marcus my fon. 14 Greet ye one another with a kifs of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jefus. Amen. The Second Epiftle General of PETER. SVM CHAP. I. IMON Peter, a fervant and an apoftle of Jefus Chrift, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteoufnefs of God and our Saviour Jefus Chrift: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jefus our Lord, 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promifes; that by thefe ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having efcaped the corruption that is in the world through luft. 5 And befide this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness; 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the 7 And to godliness broknowledge of him that hath therly kindness, and to brocalled us to glory and vir-therly kindness charity. tue : 8 For 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye fhall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jefus Chrift. 9 But he that lacketh thefe things is blind, and cannot fee afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old fins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election fure: for, if ye do thefe things, ye fhall never fall: II For fo an entrance fhall be miniftered unto you abundantly, into the everlafting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the prefent truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to ftir you up, by put ting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that fhortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jefus Chrift hath fhewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour, that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not follow ed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, but were eye-witnesfes of his majefty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came fuch a voice to him from the excellent 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 him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more fure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arife in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the fcripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. СНАР, CHAP. II. UT there were falfe prophets alfo among the people, even as there fhall be falfe teachers among you, who privily fhall bring in damnable herefies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themfelves fwift deftruction. 9 The Lord knoweth how 2 And many shall follow to deliver the godly out of their pernicious ways; by temptations, and to referve reafon of whom the way of the unjuft unto the day truth fhall be evil spoken of. of judgement to be pu3 And through covetouf-nifhed: nefs fhall they with feigned 10 But chiefly them that words make merchandize of walk after the flesh, in the you; whofe judgement now luft of uncleannefs, and defof a long time lingereth not, pife government. Prefumpand their damnation flumber-tuous are they, felf - willed, eth not. they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 4 For if God fpared not the angels that finned, but caft them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be referved unto judgement; 5 And fpared not the old world, but faved Noah, the eighth perfon, a preacher of righteoufnefs, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accufation against them before the Lord. 12 But these as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and deftroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not, and shall utterly perifh in their own corruption; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha 13 And fhall receive the into afhes, condemned them reward of unrighteousness, as with an overthrow, making they that count it pleasure to them an enfample unto thofe riot in the day-time. Spots that after fhould live un-they are, and blemishes, fport |