3 Whose 2 adorning let it not be the outward plaiting of the hair, or the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel:

4 But the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptibility of a quiet and a meek spirit, which is rich in the sight of God.

5 For after this manner heretofore the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands. 6 As 3 Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, doing well, and not fearing any disturbance.

7 Ye4 husbands likewise dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the female as to the weaker vessel, and as to the coheirs of the grace of life: that your prayers be not hindered.

8 And in fine be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, being lovers of the brotherhood, merciful, modest, humble:

9 Not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this are you call ed, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.

11 Let him decline from evil, and do good: let him seek after peace, and pursue it:

12 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 things.

such be the will of God) to suffer, than doing ill;

18 Because 16 Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust, that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit.

19 In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were inj prison:

20 Which had been sometime incredulous, 11 when they waited for the patience of God in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building; wherein a few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 Whereunto baptism being of the like form, now saveth you also: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the examination of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST,

22 Who is on the right hand of God, swallowing down death, that we might be made heirs of life everlasting: being gone into heaven, the angels and powers and virtues being made subject to him.

CHAP. 3.-1. Ephes. 5, 22; Colos. 3, 18. -2. 1 Tim. 2, 9.-3. Gen. 18, 12.-4. 1 Cor. 7, 3.-5. Prov. 17, 13; Rom. 12, 17; 1 Thess. 5. 15.-6. Psal. 33, 13.-7. Isai. 1, 16.-8. Matt. 5, 10.-9. 1 Pet. 2, 12.-10. Rom. 5, 6; Heb. 9, 28.-11. Gen. 7, 7;

Matt. 24, 37; Luke 17, 26.

CHAPTER IV.

you, if you be zealous of good?

14 But if also you suffer any thing for justice' sake, blessed are ye. And be not afraid of their fear, and be not troubled.

15 But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you;

16 But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

17 For it is better doing well (if

ed in the flesh, be you also armed with the same thought: for he that hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased from sins:

2 That now he may live the rest of his time in the flesh, not after the desires of men, but according to the will of God.

3 For the time past is sufficient to have fulfilled the will of the gentiles, for them who have walked in riotousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and unlaw ful worshipping of idols.

CHAP. 3, ver. 19. Spirits in prison. See souls. here a proof of the middle state of

4 Wherein they think it strange, | that you run not with them into the same confusion of riotousness, speaking evil of you.

5 Who shall render account to him, who is ready to judge the liv ing and the dead.

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

7 But the end of all is at hand. Be prudent therefore, and watch in prayers.

8 But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: 2 for charity covereth a multitude of sins.

9 Using hospitality one towards another 4 without murmuring:

10 As 5 every man hath received grace, ministering the same to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the words of God: if any man minister, let him do it as of the power, which God administereth: that in all things God may be honoured through JESUS CHRIST: to whom is glory and empire for eyer and ever: Amen.

12 Dearly beloved, think not strange the burning heat which is to try you, as if some new thing happened to you:

13 But if you partake of the suf fering of Christ, rejoice, that when his glory shall be revealed you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

14 If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed: for that which is of the honour, glory and power of God, and that which is his Spirit, resteth upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a railer, or a coveter of other men's things.

16 But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed: but let him glorify God in this name;

17 For the time is that judgment should begin at the house of God. And if first at us: what shall be the end of them that believe not the gospel of God?

18 And if the just man shall

scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God, commend their souls in good deeds to the faithful Creator.

CHAP. 4.-1. Ephes. 4, 23.-2. Prov. 10, 12.-3. Rom. 12, 13; Heb. 13, 2.-4. Phii. 2, 14.-5. Rom. 12, 6.-6. 1 Cor. 4, 2.-7. Prov. 11, 31.

CHAPTER V.

He exhorteth both priests and laity to their respective duties, and recom mendeth to all humility and watchfulness.

TH

HE ancients therefore that are among you, I beseech, who am myself also an ancient and a witness of the sufferings of Christ: as also a partaker of that glory, which is to be revealed in time to come:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care of it not by constraint, but willingly according to God: not for filthy lucre's sake, but voluntarily:

3 Neither as lording it over the clergy, but being made a pattern of the flock from the heart.

4 And when the prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory.

5 In like manner ye young men be subject to the ancients. 1 And do ye all insinuate humility one to another, 2 for God resisteth the proud, but to the humble he giveth grace.

6 Be you humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation:

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

8 Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist ye, strong in faith: knowing that the same affliction befalleth your brethren who are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory in Christ JESUS, after you have suf fered a little, will himself perfect

CHAP. 4, ver. 18. Scarcely; that is not without much labour and difficulty.

13 But I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance: 14 Being assured that the laying away of this my tabernacle is at hand, according as our Lord JESUS CHRIST also 1 hath signified to me.

15 And I will do my endeavour, that after my decease also, you may often have, whereby you may keep a memory of these things.

16 For 2 we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and presence of our Lord JESUS CHRIST: but having been made eye-witnesses of his majesty.

17 For, he received from God the Father honour and glory, this voice coming down to him from the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son in whom I have pleased my self, hear ye him.

18 And this voice we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 And we have the more firm prophetical word: wherunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts:

20 Understanding 4 this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is made by private interpretation.

21 For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost..

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not: and their perdition slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the an gels that sinned: but delivered them drawn down by infernal ropes ta the lower hell, unto torments, to be reserved unto judgment:

5 And spared not the original world, 2but preserved Noe the eighth person the preacher of justice, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

6 And 3 reducing the cities of the Sodomites and of the Gomorrhites into ashes, condemned them to be overthrown: making them an example to those that should after act wickedly:

7 And delivered just Lot oppressed by the injustice and lewd conversation of the wicked:

8 For in sight and hearing he was just: dwelling among them who from day to day vexed the just soul with unjust works.

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly from temptation: but to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be tormented:

10 And especially them who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government, audacious, self-willed, they fear not to bring in sects, blaspheming:

11 Whereas angels who are great er in strength and power, bring not against themselves a railing judg

ment.

snare and to destruction, blaspheming those things which they know not shall perish in their corruption,

13 Receiving the reward of their injustice, counting for a pleasure the delights of a day: stains and spots, sporting themselves to excess, rioting in their feasts with you,

14 Having eyes full of adultery and of sin that ceaseth not: Alluring unstable souls, having their heart exercised with covetousness, children of malediction:

15 Leaving the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity:

16 But had a check of his madness; the dumb beast used to the yoke, which 5 speaking with man's voice, forbade the folly of the prophet.

17 These are fountains without water and clouds tossed with whirlwinds, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved.

18 For, speaking proud words of vanity, they allure, by the desires of fleshly riotousness, those who for a little while escape, such as converse in error:

19 Promising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the slaves of corruption: for by whom a man is overcome, of the same also he is the slave.

20 For if, flying from the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST,8 they be again entangled in them, and overcome: 9 their latter state is become unto them worse than the former.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of justice, than after they have known it to turn back from that holy commandment which was delivered to them.

22 For, that of the true proverb has happened to them: 10 The dog is returned to his vomit: and, The sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

CHAP. 2-1. Job. 4, 8; Jude 1, 6.-2. Gen. 7, 1.-3. Gen. 19, 254. Jude' 11.-5. Num. 22, 28.-6. Jude 12.-7. John 8, 34; Rom. 6, 16 and 20.-8. Heb. 6, 4.-9. Matt.

12, 45.-10. Prov. 26, 11.

CHAPTER III. Against scoffers, denying the second coming of Christ, he declareth the sudden dissolution of this world: and exhorteth to holiness of life.

BEwout this second epistle I write to you, my dearly be loved, in which I stir up by way of admonition your sincere mind;

2 That you may be mindful of those words which I told you before from the holy Prophets, and of your

Apostles, of the precepts of the Lord and Saviour;

3 Knowing this first, that in the last days there shall come deceitful scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

2

4 Saying: Where is his promise or his coming? for since the time that the fathers slept, all things con tinue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they are wilfully ignorant of, that the heavens were before, and the earth, out of water, and through water, consisting by the word of God:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.

7 But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of the ungodly men.

8 But of this one thing be not ignorant, my beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord delayeth not his promise, as some imagine: but dealeth patiently for your sake, not wiliing that any should perish, but that all should return to penance.

10 But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief: in which the heavens shall pass away with great violence, and the elements shall be melted with heat, and the earth and the works which are in it, shall be burnt up.

11 Seeing then that all these things are to be dissolved, what manner of people ought you to be in holy conversations and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord, by which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with the burning heat?

13 But 4 we look for new heavens and a new earth according to his

promises, in which justice dwelleth.

14 Wherefore, dearly beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent that ye may be found undefiled and unspotted to him in peace;

15 And 5 account the longsuffer